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Technical University of Denmark Research Research at DTU Research news and articles Water poses challenge to major cities
Water poses challenge to major cities
Environment and pollution Climate adaption Waste water and water discharge Water supply
Wednesday 07 Oct 15
by Lotte Krull
Peter Steen Mikkelsen
psmi@env.dtu.dk
When a city’s inhabitants exceed 10 million, it becomes a so-called megacity.
Cities act as magnets for investment and job opportunities, thus driving urbanization. The UN estimates that 80 per cent of the world’s GDP is generated in cities and urban areas.
In 1975, there were three megacities: New York, Tokyo and Mexico City.
In 2009, the number had risen to 21 megacities. At the time, the UN estimated the number in 2025 would be at 27.
Source: The UN.
Read more about three specific cases where researchers from DTU are working with metropolitan water management challenges:
Case 1: 'Need for optimum wastewater treatment plant control'
Case 2: 'Protecting cities from extreme rainfall'
Case 3: 'Industry must reduce water consumption'
Too much water, too little water, or contaminated water. Cities around the world are facing major water-related challenges. These challenges are further aggravated by global trends such as urbanization and climate change. The time has come for water to become an asset rather than a problem in ‘smart liveable cities’ of the future.
By Lotte Krull and Christina Tækker
All over the world, people are migrating to ever larger cities. According to the UN, in 2009, for the first time in history, the balance has tipped in favour of more people living in urban areas as opposed to rural areas. Global urbanization poses new water-related challenges—chief among them supplying clean drinking water, disposing of wastewater, and managing extreme precipitation.
“In many parts of the world, there’s not enough water. This is partly due to climate change, but in particular, increasing urbanization. Today, many residents have to travel further and further away to collect water—e.g. in Istanbul, where the city has built a 160 km long water pipe to supply the city with clean water. In California—which is plagued by drought—and in the Middle East—it is no longer possible to supply water to major cities without desalinating it,” says Søren Hvilshøj, Global Market Director, Water from consulting engineers, Ramboll. For the past 20 years, he has been involved in development of the international water and environment sector.
Interdisciplinary approach needed
In 2014, DTU established Water DTU to solve the water-related challenges facing major cities. The aim of the centre is to ensure that the University’s researchers adopt an interdisciplinary approach to identify new solutions in the field of water management. A special task force with experts from 11 departments and DTU Diplom will coordinate interdepartmental expertise. Thus, environmental researchers from DTU Environment will work alongside statisticians and modellers from DTU Compute, management experts from DTU Management Engineering and civil engineers from DTU Civil Engineering—among others.
The researchers will couple their knowledge of risk analyses, for example, with sustainable technologies, water technologies, precipitation simulations, and traffic and system analyses to create ‘smart liveable cities’. Cooperation can also take place in constellations—e.g. where DTU Space, DTU Fotonik, and DTU Nanotech in the future can combine new techniques for monitoring, automation, notification, and control of water flows inside and outside major cities.
“We cannot solve the water problems facing major cities by focusing on the water problem alone. Many areas of expertise are involved. If we are to build cloudburst roads, we also need to think about how we can make the city a nice place to live in. We therefore need new working methods and software that help planners, architects, traffic, and water engineers to work together,” says Peter Steen Mikkelsen, Head of Water DTU and Professor at DTU Environment.
Fit for purpose water
The challenges of supplying sufficient water has led authorities, water utility companies, technology suppliers, and knowledge institutions from all over the world to coin the phrase ‘fit for purpose water’—where water of a quality other than drinking water is used for washing clothes, watering lawns, and cleaning the car, for example.
"The UN estimates that half of the world’s population in 2030 will live in areas with limited access to clean drinking water. "
Vandvision 2015
According to Martin Rygaard, Associate Professor at DTU Environment, in some parts of Australia the authorities supply consumers with two different qualities of water. One is drinking water—and the other—collected rainwater or treated wastewater, which is used to wash clothes and flush toilets, and other daily operations that do not require drinking water quality. Now, the ‘Fit for purpose water’ idea has also found its way to Denmark. As a general rule, Denmark has a plentiful supply of water. However, in the Copenhagen area, extracting sufficient quantities of groundwater to meet the city’s water needs is proving to be a challenge. Heavy precipitation has also spiked interest in using rainwater for purposes that do not require water of drinking water quality. Danish manufacturing companies are also interested in ‘fit for purpose water’ as a way to reduce their consumption of drinking water. By recycling and reusing water for cleaning operations, businesses can reduce the costs associated with clean drinking water and the discharge and treatment of wastewater.
Wastewater is a resource
Urban water consumption also generates large volumes of wastewater. The challenges of wastewater disposal have led to an unexpected development: from being an undesirable product for immediate disposal, wastewater is increasingly considered a resource that can provide energy, nutrients, and new drinking water, explains Barth F. Smets from DTU Environment.
“Nitrogen and phosphorus can be recovered from wastewater and recycled as fertilizer for farming. Through a process of careful cleaning, drinking water can also be extracted from sewage—something they have been doing for several years in Singapore. In addition, the waste-water content of carbon can be converted into methane, which can be used in power production. We are beginning to view wastewater plants as energy producing, rather than energy consuming. However, accomplishing this turnaround will require further development and research,” explains Barth F. Smets.
A parched city
Since 2002, Denmark’s challenge in dealing with extreme rain events has meant that many urban areas have been immersed in water following heavy rainfall. According to Professor Karsten Arnbjerg-Nielsen from DTU Environment, these huge volumes of rainwater must be managed above and below ground:
“From a purely engineering perspective, the most cost-effective approach would be to build larger and broader channels, roads and tunnels that quickly lead the rainwater away. But that would leave you with a boring, parched city that no one wants to live in. It is all about creating value for the people living in the city. We must exploit the rainwater for the benefit of the city while relieving pressure on the sewers. We therefore need to devise models that tell us how the technical solutions impact the environment, how to optimise the infrastructure, how to reduce flood risk, and the overall effect of people being happy.”
According to Associate Professor Lotte Bjerregaard Jensen, DTU Civil Engineering, the task of creating ‘smart liveable cities’ requires that knowledge from different sectors be incorporated into the early stages of city planning.
“Often, we think about water in the design process after decisions have been made about urban space design, landscaping, and the layout of the buildings. But we could avoid problems in the future if we designed cities with water, sun, and wind in mind from the get-go. Good climatic comfort in urban spaces is a key element of ‘smart liveable cities’ because we have to make it desirable to walk and cycle. It is a sustainable approach, and one which creates a city with a greater range of experiences, greater quality and a sense of security in urban spaces.”
Green and blue spaces
In the consulting engineering firm Ramboll, water is seen as a major growth market. Among other things, the company has helped to design a cloudburst mitigation plan for Copenhagen and Frederiksberg. One proposal is to create more green and blue spaces—e.g. planted areas and streams—that can retain rainwater locally. The plan also involves establishing cloudburst roads that quickly and efficiently channel the water out of the city while taking into account traffic flow and urban quality of life. The plan has generated interest in Asia and the USA, among other places.
“Green solutions are attractive. People want to look at something that is blue, green and pleasing to the eye. But residents around the world perceive sustainability differently. Denmark is unique in that we have good conditions for cyclists and people can go swimming in the inner harbour. In the Middle East, the focus is on being able to stroll along the beach promenade. We therefore need to find local solutions,” says Søren Hvilshøj.
He expects an annual growth rate of four to five per cent for water consultancy services in the global market. According to the report ‘Vandvision 2015’ (Water Vision 2015) prepared by the Danish Ministry of the Environment Denmark and the Confederation of Danish Industry in collaboration with several players in the water industry—including DTU—Denmark has an important part to play. Denmark is a world leader in the field of water technology. Professor Hans-Jørgen Albrechtsen, DTU Environment, elaborates:
“In Denmark, we follow a gentle water extraction policy that avoids draining streams and lakes, and where water is treated with as few chemicals and using as little energy as possible. Our technologies for mapping and monitoring water resources and treating water form a complete package which can be very interesting to other countries.”
Article from DYNAMO no. 42, DTU’s quarterly magazine in Danish.
Facts about water
Globally, 80 per cent of water is discharged without purification with major consequences for our ecosystem. (Vandvision 2015).
World Economic Forum points in 2015 to the over-exploitation of water resources as being the biggest global risk to human well-being and prosperity over the next decade.
The UN estimates that half of the world’s population in 2030 will live in areas with limited access to clean drinking water. At global level, approximately 70 per cent of freshwater resources are consumed by agriculture and 20 per cent by industry. (Vandvision 2015).
Currently, 750 million people are without access to sufficiently clean drinking water. (Vandvision 2015).
Global freshwater resources water projects at DTU: 68.9 per cent is accounted for by glacial ice, 30.8 per cent by groundwater and 0.3 per cent by lakes and rivers. (UN).
Every 20 seconds a child dies as a result of diarrhoea caused by a lack of sanitary conditions. (Vandvision 2015).
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https://www.dtu.dk/english/research/research-at-dtu/research-news/Nyhed?id=%7B42746471-DF59-422E-9BD6-6FD886E39174%7D
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Everest North Base Camp - Tibet
Submitted by Tammy Taylor of Twin Valley Middle School on July 26, 2018
Categories: Public, 2018.
Located at 16,404 feet above sea level, the Everest North Base Camp is in the Qomolangma National Nature Reserve in Tibet. This "tourist base camp" is the last point which visitors may travel without a hiking permit obtained by the government. Past this point is the campsite used by expeditions climbing the north (China-side) of Mt. Everest, the highest mountain in the world 29,035 feet above sea level. Unlike the South Base Camp in Nepal it can be reached by road.
Kathmandu, Nepal - 2018 Nepal and Tibet Study Tour
Submitted by Kelly S Muldowney of Eastern York High School on August 29, 2018
Brief History:
• 1768 – the Gorkha family establishes a kingdom which will become the modern Kingdom of Nepal. The Gorkha rulers were anti-British and often
fought off influence and the presence of the British East India Company.
• September 14, 1946 – Kot Massacre – brought to power the Rana family who were pro-British. From this pro-British stance came European
influence into the city’s art, architecture, technology and education.
Nepal/Tibet Trip 2018 Yamdrok Tso
Submitted by Lisa Brimhall of Ephrata Area School District on July 19, 2018
Nature is considered sacred to Tibetans. Yamdrok Tso is considered one of the four most sacred lakes and is thought to encompass the spirit of Tibet. Tibetan belief is that if the lake dries up, Tibetan culture will die. In addition, circumambulating the lake in seven days is believed to wash away one’s sins. Further, Yamdrok Tso is where senior monks go to meditate, chant mantras, and pray after important living Buddhas (like the Dalai Lama) die. It is here at the lake that they wait for a vision or some sign as to where the reincarnation has been reborn.
Nepal/Tibet Trip 2018 Gyantse Monastery
Submitted by Terry Owens of Pine Richland H.S. on July 18, 2018
While the Monastery is beautiful and the nearby fort is lit up at night, the relevance of this site is mainly historical, and definitely, political as well as religious. Touring the Monastery gave us all a chance to observe, once again, a variant iteration of Tibetan Buddhism. There are many buildings and chapels which affirmed the nature of this as an amalgam of temples. There were beautiful statues and paintings and it was actually fun/challenging to circle to the top on our own personal journey to enlightenment (even if it really only meant that we were still in shape, physically).
Norbulingka Palace - Summer Sanctuary
Submitted by Stephanie Rizas of Bethesda CHevy-Chase High School on July 26, 2018
Just on the other side of Lhasa past the Potola Palace is the summer residence of the Dalai Lama, Norbulingka. Imagine being a young boy, forced to move away from home and live in an old, run down palace surrounded by older men whose only form of entertainment seemed to be lecturing you on history and religion. For months at a time, this was the reality for the 14th Dalai Lama. He spent much of his days at Potola palace looking forward to the warmer weather, when he would be moving to his summer residence: Norbulingka.
Pelkor Monastery
Submitted by Joanne Beaver of Cumberland Valley HS on October 8, 2018
Palcho Monastery
Potala Palace-- Nepal and Tibet 2018
Submitted by Niklas Berry of Oakland Mills High School on July 26, 2018
Rising majestically and imposingly over the Lhasa Valley, the architecture of the Potala Palace communicates strength, power, and importance. It is a spectacular and awe-inspiring building. However, the Chinese flag flying high on top of the palace and the monument constructed across the road remind the viewer of the contested meaning of this Tibetan seat of power.
Sera Monastery
Submitted by LaCinda Betz Coup of Warrior Run District on September 16, 2018
Located in the northern suburbs of Lhasa, Sera Monastery is one of the three great schools of Tibetan Buddhism dedicated to the Gelugpa, Yellow Hat Sect. Its name 'sera' derives from a Tibetan word for the wild roses that were blooming on the hillsides when the monastery was built. The complex is large, covering 28 acres and prior to 1959 was home to over 5,000 monks. Sera had been home to three colleges, each one with their own temple. Sera Me and Sera Je colleges focused on the fundamental precepts of Buddhism while the third college Ngaka was dedicated to tantric teachings.
Tibet/Nepal 2018- The Barkhor and the Jokhang Temple
Submitted by Amy Liberatore of Warrior Run School District on July 23, 2018
The scent of burning juniper fills the air, and the soft swirling of prayer wheels meshes with shuffling of feet and the quiet hum of pilgrims uttering their mantras, as devoted Tibetans make their clockwise kora through the streets of the Barkhor, encircling the Jokhang Temple. Joining in stream of pilgrims, one witnesses the fascinating practices of devout Tibetan Buddhists.
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How To Build Up A Small Home Solar Power System?
July 4, 2018 /0 Comments/in Solar Information /by admin
Small home solar power generation systems are divided into off-grid power generation systems and on-grid power system. The main difference is whether there is a battery.
Applicable environment: in the wild, large and medium-sized residential / houses that are difficult in taking electricity (it is not recommended to install in the mains area, or install the mains complementary type).
The system is equipped with high-quality monocrystal silicon or polycrystalline silicon solar panels and has a supporting maintenance-free solar battery, photovoltaic off-grid inverter and charge controller with overcharge and over-discharge protection function, which can be designed as mains / intelligent switching function of the photovoltaic system. The controller adopts LCD screen/indicator display, which is beautiful in appearance, safe and efficient.
Easy maintenance, a long service life of more than 20 years, a variety of charging methods complementary, solar and city power can charge the system.
The small household solar power system is composed of a solar panel, a solar controller, and a battery bank. If the output power is AC 220V or 110V, you need to configure an inverter. All these components you can find it in Eco-Sources solar products at competitive price.
The function of the solar panel is to convert the light energy of the sun into electrical energy, and the output DC power is stored in the battery. Solar panels are one of the most important components in small-scale home solar power generation systems. Their conversion rate and service life are important factors that determine whether solar cells have value in use. It is made up of the following materials:
Solar Cells: High-efficiency (16.5% or more) monocrystalline or polycrystalline silicon solar cells are used to ensure that the solar panel generates sufficient power.
Glass: Low-iron tempered suede glass (also known as white glass) with a thickness of 3.2 mm and a transmittance of over 91% in the wavelength range (320-1100 nm) of the solar cell’s spectral response. For infrared light greater than 1200 nm, there is a higher reflectivity. The glass is also resistant to solar ultraviolet radiation and the light transmittance does not decrease.
EVA: A high-quality EVA film with a thickness of 0.78 mm, which is coated with an anti-UV agent, an antioxidant and a curing agent, is used as a sealing agent for solar cells and a connecting agent with glass and TPT. It has a high light transmittance and anti-aging ability.
TPT: The back cover of the solar cell-the fluoroplastic film is white, reflecting the sunlight, so the efficiency of the component is slightly improved, and because of its high infrared emissivity, the operating temperature of the component can also be lowered. Which helps improve the efficiency of components.
Border: The aluminum alloy frame used has high strength and strong resistance to mechanical shock.
Using a single-chip computer and special software to achieve intelligent control.
Accurate discharge control using battery discharge rate characteristics correction. The discharge end voltage is a control point corrected by the discharge rate curve, which eliminates the inaccuracy of the simple voltage control over discharge and conforms to the inherent characteristics of the battery, it means different discharge rates have different final voltages.
With overcharge, over discharge, electronic short circuit, overload protection, unique anti-reverse protection and other automatic control; the above protection does not damage any parts, do not burn insurance。
The series PWM charging main circuit is adopted, so that the voltage loss of the charging circuit is reduced by nearly half compared with the charging circuit using the diode, and the charging efficiency is 3%-6% higher than the non-PWM, which increases the power consumption time. Overcharged recovery charging, normal direct charge, and floating charge automatic control mode make the system have a longer service life. At the same time, it has a high precision temperature compensation.
The intuitive LED lighting tube indicates the current battery status, allowing the user to understand the usage status.
All control uses industrial grade chips, which can run freely in cold, high temperature and humid environments. At the same time, the crystal timing control is used to ensure accurate control.
Using digital LED display and settings, a one-button operation can complete all settings, the use of extremely convenient and intuitive role is to control the working state of the entire system, and the battery has overcharge protection, over-discharge protection. In places with large temperature differences, qualified controllers should also have temperature compensation. Other additional functions such as light control switches and time control switches should be optional for the controller.
The function of the battery is to store the electrical energy emitted by the solar panel when it is exposed to light and release it when needed. The solar battery is the application of ‘battery’ in solar photovoltaic power generation. Currently, there are four kinds of lead-acid maintenance-free batteries, ordinary lead-acid batteries, colloidal batteries and alkaline nickel-cadmium batteries, and the widely used batteries are lead-acid maintenance-free batteries and gel batteries. These two types of batteries are suitable for solar power systems, especially unattended workstations, because of their inherent ‘free’ maintenance characteristics and less environmental pollution.
The direct output of solar energy is generally DC 12V, 24V, 48V. In order to supply electrical energy to 220V AC appliances, it is necessary to convert the DC power generated by the small household solar power system into AC power, thus requiring the use of a DC-AC inverter.
Advantages Of A Small Home Solar Power System
Safe and reliable, no noise, no radiation, no need to consume fuel, no mechanical rotating parts, low failure rate and long service life.
It is environmentally friendly, not limited by geographical location, short construction period, random size, easy assembly and disassembly, easy to move.
The cost of disassembly and assembly is low, and it can be easily combined with buildings. There is no need to pre-embed high transmission lines, which can avoid damage to vegetation and environment when laying cables over long distances.
The voltage is stable, and it is widely used in various electrical equipment. It is very suitable for electricity use in remote places such as villages, farms, hills, islands, highways, etc. It is also an excellent emergency backup power source.
Design Considerations For Small Home Solar Power Systems
Where is the small household solar power system used?
What is the radiation situation in the area?
What is the load power of the system?
What is the output voltage of the system, DC or AC?
How many hours does the system need to work every day?
How many days does the system need to be powered continuously in the event of rainy weather without sunlight?
What is the starting current?
The number of system requirements.
https://www.eco-sources.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Small-home-solar-power-generation-systems.jpg 443 534 admin https://www.eco-sources.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/logo.png admin2018-07-04 16:57:112018-07-04 17:41:24How To Build Up A Small Home Solar Power System?
800 Watts Complete Off-Grid Polycrystalline Solar Power System
450W Polycrystalline Off Grid Solar Panel Kit with Combiner Box
1.4KW 1KW 5W 10W 12V 12V Solar Panel 20W 24V 25W 35V 40W 50W 100W 120W 150W 160W 160W Solar Panel 180W 200W 300W 400W 600W 1000W Combiner Box Epoxy Solar Panel Flexible Solar Panel Foldable Solar Panel Linear Actuator Mono Solar Panel Poly Solar Panel Solar Accessories Solar Battery Solar Cells Solar Charge Controller Solar Fan Solar Inverter Solar Panel Kits Solar Power System Solar Pumps Solar PV Combiner Joint Box Solar Street Light Solar Tracker Wind Turbine
How To Build Up A Small Home Solar Power System?July 4, 2018 - 4:57 pm
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Fitness and Wellbeing
'The Current War' Trailer: Benedict Cumberbatch, Michael Shannon And Nicholas Hoult Race To Light Up America
The Scorsese-produced thriller follows the 19th Century competition to provide electricity
By Olivia Ovenden
The competition to bring electricity to the world – otherwise known as the 19th Century “war of the currents” – is the premise for a forthcoming thriller, as seen in a newly-released trailer.
Produced by Martin Scorsese, The Current War stars Benedict Cumberbatch as Thomas Edison, America's most celebrated inventor who created the phonograph, the motion picture camera, and the practical electric light bulb.
The film is based on the true story of how Edison was foiled in his attempts to bring light to Manhattan by businessmen George Westinghouse (Michael Shannon) and Serbian-American inventor Nikola Tesla (Nicholas Hoult).
The battle between them resulted in a corporate feud for the ages, with Edison claiming that Tesla's AC currents were dangerous, arguing that their high voltages would kill customers and damage the electricity market.
The Best Films Of 2019 (So Far)
In the fast-paced trailer Edison terms the feud, “A battle of the greatest minds of America,” and later on Westinghouse says dramatically, “If you want to be remembered, it’s simple: Shoot a president. But if you prefer to have what I call a legacy, you leave the world a better place than you found it.”
The film has been a long time in the making. It premiered at the Toronto Film Festival ahead of a scheduled release in November 2017 by the Weinstein Company, but after the infamous allegations about Harvey Weinstein arose it was put on the back-burner with rights eventually sold to 101 Studios. Despite being filmed several years ago now, the movie looks like a good follow-on from what the cast have been seen in recently.
The cast and crew of ’The Current War’ at TIFF
Cumberbatch is au fait with playing geniuses after taking on roles such as Sherlock Holmes, Dr. Strange and Alan Turing. His most recent role as Patrick Melrose in the eponymous series saw him earn a string of awards. Shannon's recent films include TV series' The Little Drummer Girl and Waco, while Hoult has been seen in The Favourite and the recently released J. R. R. Tolkien biopic. The extended cast includes Katherine Waterston, Tom Holland, Matthew Macfadyen, and Tuppence Middleton.
Director Alfonso Gomez-Rejon, who directed Me Earl and the Dying Girl, was in the unusual position of having to edit the film after it had already screened at Toronto Film Festival, even adding in new scenes, however he told Entertainment Weekly that it is now “the film I wanted to make.”
While it's certainly a period piece, Gomez-Rejon said that it is more daring than a costume drama, saying, “Hopefully people will see a period film that is modern and relatable, not stodgy and old-fashioned. They were young men rejecting the past and changing the world, and hopefully the film puts you in their shoes”
The Current War is due for release 26 July 2019
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ESQUIRE, PART OF THE HEARST UK FASHION & BEAUTY NETWORK Esquire participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites.
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Sociology / Society
Essay: Perrucci and Wysong's Work
Pages: 5 (1550 words) · Bibliography Sources: 1 · Topic: Sociology · Buy This Paper
¶ … Perrucci and Wysong's work of literature, The New Class Society: Goodbye American Dream, is that a number of factors have taken place since the end of the 1960's to result in a two-tiered society in which there are a finite number of highly wealthy people whom the masses are exploited by and work to support. The authors utilize several means of substantiating this thesis, which predominantly spans three main areas: economics, politics, and ideology. The result is that the conventional American dream in which anyone can come to this country, work hard, and achieve at least a middle class life or better, is shrinking (if not outright decimated). A thorough evaluation of this thesis indicates that the authors have researched it well, and offer a plethora points of empirical evidence to validate the fact that this country, and the world as it has traditionally been known, is changing…perhaps irrepairably so.
The aforementioned new class society was principally created by economic means. At the same time, however, these economic means were largely enabled by political maneuvering; had the political interests in the U.S. been opposed to the economic advantages of the new class society, they would not have been permitted to take place. Yet the ideological component of this society is inextricably linked to these other two as well, since without the proper ideology the masses of people would not be unaware and allow such manipulations to takes place. From a strictly economic perspective then, the authors cite the fact that the creation of a global economy (which is actually fueled by the greed of multinational U.S. countries) is responsible for the waning U.S. domestic output, shrinking jobs, and low wages that typify the lot of the vast majority of people in the country. They emphasize the fact that beginning in the 1970's, work was routinely shipped overseas for cheaper prices while it steadily declined domestically to the detriment of conventional middle and lower class Americans and to the benefit to the elite ruling class.
The political element of the new class was able to aid the economic tendencies of multinational corporations to abandon conventional investment and resources in America in favor of those in foreign countries in a number of ways, both overt and those that were less so. Some of the more subtle political influences which created the new society were related to tax breaks that corporations got which allowed them to continue routinely conducting work overseas, as opposed to in the U.S. In addition to tax breaks, foreign taxes are significantly less arduous than domestic ones, a fact which the U.S. government could have changed if it had a vested interested in stopping the tendency of domestic companies to conduct their operations in foreign lands. Additional political agreements such as NAFTA and FTAA have been struck so that multinational corporations can continue to exploit the resources of foreign lands, which simultaneously reduce the ability of Americans to access any share of the work or profits from these companies.
As deliberate and as unscrupulous as the economic and the political aspects of the new society are, the ideological facet of this movement towards a socio-economic polarized population is perhaps the most subversive. The principle element of the ideology with which globalization and the reduced job opportunities and wages for Americans is enacted is by the media, which has always cleverly disguised the true reason (avarice) for which globalization is taking place. Instead, the media routinely focuses on myths such as the fact that organized labor unions are inherently bad, instead of reporting the fact that profits can grow outrageously by paying people in foreign companies less money. Also, the media is one of the principle points of distraction -- in the form of movies, internet usage, television, etc. -- which preoccupies the masses with fleeting phenomena so it is less concerned with the real issues negatively impacting them and creating the new class society. The limited education of the majority of the masses also contributes to an ideology in which they do not understand or questions the workings of the class structure.
2)The logical coherence of this thesis is extremely evident, especially as the reader reads more chapters and pages of this particular text authored by Perruci and Wysong. The initial beginning of the new class society was economics, which is logical since the ultimate goal of the new class society is a dominance enforced by economic superiority (which will then manifest itself in virtually all realms of society). Moreover, the authors provide evidence that empirically validates the concept that the main effect of the globalization, which functions as the primary method by which the new class society has been enabled, has served to create a significant divide in the classes. Whereas corporations are able to profit from utilizing cheaper sources of labor and other resources while moving production into foreign countries, it is an empirically validated fact that "between the late 1970s and the mid-1980's, more than eleven million workers lost jobs because of plant shutdowns, relocation to other countries, or layoffs" (Perrucci and Wysong 107). This passage and this evidence shows how the author's idea that globalization benefits corporations to build an elite class of Americans while the vast majority economically suffer and lose jobs is certainly a rational point-of-view.
The authors' empirical evidence to validate the political facet of their theory -- principally that governmental entities are creating legislation or in some cases not creating legislation that would slow the advance of globalization and the widening class divide -- is perhaps the most salient of the three components. The information regarding taxes is fairly staggering, and a perfect example of the deliberate way in which the ruling elite multinational corporations are able to further their own ends while abandoning the general masses of poorer Americans. The authors assert that "In the 1960s, corporations in the United States paid about 25% of all federal income taxes, and in 1991 it was down to 9.2%" (Perrucci and Wysong 115). The implications of this statement is that by taking their operations overseas, multinational corporations that are truly from the U.S. are able to evade paying taxes in this country. They are also able to get tax breaks and reduced rates of taxation. The implications of these statements are that instead of taxing those with the most money, multinational corporations, the U.S. government is instead obtaining the majority of its taxes from the majority of the people who have the least money. Thus, there is a growing divide between the rich and the poor, which are the only two classes in the new class system. Foreign operations are also fueled from a governmental perspective by "new international agreements like NAFTA and FTAA that attack organized labor and threaten workers to keep their wage demands to a minimum" (Perrucci and Wysong 132).
The media is also a key mechanism that is readily used by the privileged elite to perpetuate an ideology in which the true responsibility and benefits of the system of globalization is either marginalized or prioritized beneath fleeting events such as the Super Bowl or some reality television series. The authors provide empirical evidence that the media is not only controlled by the corporate elite, but is very effective in creating an ideology in which resistance to globalization is minimized. The following quotation references these facts.
The major networks of ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, Fox, and turner Broadcasting
determine what the overwhelming majority of Americans will receive as news and entertainment. Two of the major networks are earned by major multinational firms, and institutional investors control…stock in the networks (Perrucci and Wysong 130).
3) The implications of this thesis proffered by Perrucci and Wysong, which is empirically validated and logical, has very real and immediate effects upon… [END OF PREVIEW]
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Apple's Overseas Demand in a Word: Exploding
Where's your company generating its sales?
Eric Bleeker
(TMFRhino)
Jun 27, 2011 at 12:00AM
This article is part of our Rising Stars portfolio series.
In today's world, most companies span several regions and sell across the world. As Foolish colleague Morgan Housel notes, 10 years ago, less than a third of S&P 500 revenue came from outside the United States. Today, more than half of the S&P 500's growth comes from overseas. And that number is growing.
The truth is, investors regularly underestimate how much demand comes from abroad. More importantly, for large, multinational corporations that have already established a presence in their home markets, much of their future growth comes from foreign markets.
With that in mind, today we're looking at Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL). We'll examine not only where its sales and earnings come from, but also how its sales abroad have changed over time.
Where Apple's sales are today
Today, Apple collects 44% of its sales from its home United States market.
Source: Capital IQ, a division of Standard & Poor's.
Where Apple's sales were five years ago
Five years ago, Apple collected a far larger 59% of sales from the United Sates. As revenues climbed from about $14 billion in fiscal 2005 to $64 billion in the past year, overseas sales led the charge. Despite being known as a company with more U.S.-focused sales than its peers have historically had, international revenue soared 78% in fiscal 2010, versus a relatively "sluggish" 28% sales-growth rate at home. Apple's international sales are simply on fire.
But where are the profits coming from?
Another measure to look at is where Apple's profits come from. Sometimes companies can push into new geographies to expand their brand but have limited profits in the new location. That can be a sign of either a growth period or tough dynamics in new markets. In Apple's case, here's the breakdown of its 2010 operating profit before tax.
Source: Capital IQ, a division of Standard & Poor's. Retail sales are distributed in proportion to general sales levels. Accounting for regional differences in retail store sales, end sales may differ slightly.
The Americas are still Apple's largest market in terms of profit, though they beat the European market (which, interestingly, also includes the Middle East and Africa) by only a slim amount. Growth rates continue to soar in Apple's Asia-Pacific region, and it's not unimaginable for that area to constitute the company's largest market in the next half-decade -- or sooner.
Sales Growth Between 2005 and 2010
Profit Growth Between 2005 and 2010
Source: Capital IQ, a division of Standard & Poor's. Retail sales are distributed in proportion to general sales level. Accounting for regional differences in retail store sales, end sales may differ slightly.
Along with the rise of wealth in Asian economies, Apple has seen its fortunes soar. Last year, the company tallied up $8.25 billion in sales (not including retail contributions) to its Asia-Pacific region -- an area that includes Australia and all of Asia except for Japan. In the first half of the year, before its historical peak season, Apple is already reporting that it has just under $5 billion in sales to greater China alone. Apple's sales level to China is up four times year over year, and it's not even on China Mobile (NYSE: CHL), the country's largest carrier, with 600 million subscribers.
Competitor checkup
One last point to check is how Apple's footprint compares with some of its peers across the broader technology industry.
Geography With Most Sales
Percent of Sales
Apple United States 44%
Nokia (NYSE: NOK) Greater China 17%
Motorola Mobility (NYSE: MMI) United States 65%
Research In Motion (Nasdaq: RIMM) United States 39%
Not surprisingly, Apple isn't as geographically diversified as Nokia, which sells low-cost "feature phones" that are popular across the world. What's truly shocking is that Apple has managed to make such surprising inroads into markets such as China, despite the high non-carrier subsidized cost of the iPhone. That's in large part the result of having consumers perceive high-end smartphones as a luxury item worth spending large amounts of money on.
What might be surprising to Apple investors is that Research In Motion is seeing comparable gains in International sales. While its U.S. sales tumbled 10% last fiscal year despite booming smartphone sales, its combined International sales grew 91% in that same time frame. However, the tide can quickly shift in smartphones, and Research In Motion is predicting a steep sequential sales decline in the coming quarter, so its emerging-market stronghold may be beginning to crumble as well.
Keep searching
If you're looking to stay updated on Apple or any other companies discussed here, make sure to add them to our free watchlist service, My Watchlist. It's free, and it helps you constantly stay updated on the news and analysis of your favorite companies.
Add Apple to My Watchlist.
Add Nokia to My Watchlist.
Add Motorola Mobility to My Watchlist.
Add Research In Motion to My Watchlist.
MMI.DL
Motorola Mobility Holdings
UNKNOWN:MMI.DL
NYSE:NOK
NYSE:BB
NYSE:CHL
Apple's Overseas Demand in a Word: Exploding @themotleyfool #stocks $MMI.DL $NOK $BB $AAPL $CHL Next Article
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Is It Time for Investors to Fall Into the Gap?
Gap Inc. recently reported first-quarter 2014 financials and sales results for May. This might be the time for long-term investors to consider the specialty retailer.
Kyle Colona
(kcolona)
Gap, Inc. (NYSE:GPS) is a leader in the highly competitive specialty retail sector. The retailer offers consumers an array of clothing, accessories, and personal care products at its flagship brands including Gap, Banana Republic, and Old Navy. Moreover, the company is diversifying by moving into the sports apparel sector with its Athleta brand, where it will compete with the likes of lululemon athletica (NASDAQ:LULU) and Under Armour (NYSE:UAA).
Gap recently reported first-quarter 2014 financials and sales results for May. While earnings per share seriously declined, revenues continue to hold steady and net sales figures for May 2014 announced earlier this month rose by 4%.
Although the company faces challenges from its rivals and weary consumers in a sluggish global economy, Gap's growth strategy and earnings guidance make the retailer worth considering for investors with a long-term view.
Gap's first quarter at a glance
Gap continues to be solid in a number of ways, despite the fact that EPS in the first quarter fell by 18.3% compared to the year-ago period. The company attributed the decline to the higher cost of goods sold and occupancy expenses as well as challenging foreign currency markets.
Earlier this month, however, the specialty retailer reported a 1% rise in comps for the four weeks ended May 31, 2014, compared with 7% growth reported for the four weeks ended June 1, 2013. The results were primarily driven by sales at its Banana Republic and Old Navy stores, and net sales for the month totaled $1.27 billion, a 4% rise versus the prior-year-period sales of $1.22 billion.
"We delivered a positive comp to start the second quarter, building on last May's strong performance," said Glenn Murphy, chairman and chief executive officer.
Finally, Gap's quarterly online sales came in at $575 million, up 13% from the prior-year quarter. More important, the company affirmed its earnings guidance of $2.90-$2.95 per share for fiscal 2014.
In sum, Gap plans on growing its e-commerce business domestically and increasing its retail presence in the global markets. And by diversifying into the sports apparel sector, the company is charting a course for long-term growth.
Obviously, the question remains whether Gap will be able to compete with an established sports apparel leader like Under Armour. But the recent and well-documented travails of Lululemon may give Gap a window of opportunity.
Why Gap Stock Plummeted 28.4% in May
Why Gap and Old Navy Breakup Is the Right Move
The Gap Brand Is Dying
Lululemon's slip is showing
Some "modest" consumers and investors in the sports apparel sector may have grown accustomed to people in the public square donning yoga pants. But Lululemon's launch and subsequent recall of see-through Luon pants in March 2013 was too much for most people to bear (bare?), so to speak.
And this misadventure, along with a rocky financial performance, recently culminated in an executive shake-up. Furthermore, Lululemon's fiscal first-quarter earnings announcement on June 12 featured a 60% drop in profits to $19 million, or $0.13 per share, compared to $47 million and $0.32 per share in the same period in 2013.
While the company's revenue rose by an impressive 11%, comps were up by 1% compared to a 12% gain in the year-ago period. Lululemon anticipates a similar decrease in comps in the low-to-mid single digits in the second quarter. Finally, the company lowered is fiscal-year revenue guidance.
Whether this might be a case of Lululemon underpromising in the hopes of outperforming remains to be seen. But a bigger question is whether Gap will be able to take advantage of Lululemon's slip-up. Either way, the company's Athleta brand has a long way to go compared to an established player like Under Armour.
Under Armour going up
Under Armour's growth strategy combines serving professional athletes,and using this as an off-ramp to attract so-called weekend warriors. The company also intends to grow by opening new signature stores while forming alliances with professional sports teams.
Under Armour recently opened an apparel shop in the SoHo neighborhood of New York City. The specialty store rolls under the name "SoHo Brand House" -- the company's largest retail outlet so far.
Moreover, Under Armour is forming new alliances with professional sports teams such as the recently announced deal with Rugby Canada. The agreement calls for the company to outfit all senior and junior Rugby Canada teams.
In short, these alliances, along with Under Amour's "Brand House" openings, will enable the company to grow its global brand.
The Foolish takeaway
At this point, it remains to be seen whether Lululemon will right itself and get back on the road to earnings growth. And Under Armour is in a league of its own compared to Gap's Athleta brand. But the company is poised for long-term growth as it expands online sales, penetrates global markets, and slowly continues its diversification into sports apparel. So, it could be time for long-term investors to fall into the Gap.
NYSE:GPS
UAA
Under Armour (A Shares)
NYSE:UAA
NASDAQ:LULU
Why Gap Inc. Stock Sank Today
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Is It Time for Investors to Fall Into the Gap? @themotleyfool #stocks $GPS $UAA $LULU Next Article
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MasTec, Inc. Stock up 13% on Earnings Results, Strong Backlog
The infrastructure construction company turned in a solid result despite taking a hit on some of its assets related to oil production.
(TMFVelvetHammer)
Renewable energy construction projects are a big part of MasTec's backlog. Image source: MasTec.
What: Shares of energy and communications infrastructure construction company MasTec (NYSE:MTZ) were up 12.5% at 12:45 p.m. ET on Feb. 26 following release of fourth-quarter and full-year 2015 earnings results after market close yesterday.
So what: MasTec reported a net loss of $76.9 million in the fourth quarter, which led to a $79 million loss for the year. Revenue fell 17% in the quarter and 9% for the year. But that's about all the bad news there is, with the company having generally good things to report to the market.
It did report that big net loss on a GAAP basis, but that was mainly due to an accounting adjustment, as it took $78.6 million in asset impairments related to the company's western Canadian oil and gas operations. That impairment alone -- which is a non-cash charge that reduces the carrying value of those assets on the balance sheet -- was nearly all of the company's full-year and quarterly net loss. The bad there is the loss of value of the assets. The "not so bad" is that it wasn't a cash loss and that there's the potential for that asset to recover value once oil and gas prices do.
From an operating perspective. MasTec reported $367 million in operating cash flow in 2015, the most ever for the company. It also announced strong guidance for 2016., which calls for revenue growth between 9% and 14% and adjusted EBITDA growth between 35% and 40%, on the back of a very robust backlog. It had an 18-month backlog of $5.7 billion at year-end. That's up 31% year over year and an impressive 24% since the end of the third quarter.
Management also announced that the board of directors had approved a new $100 million share buyback program. That's good for more than 9% of shares outstanding at recent prices.
Now what: MasTec's stock is likely to remain volatile throughout 2016, with so much of its business related to the energy sector, which remains beaten down. The good news, though, is much of its work is tied to vital infrastructure projects and the company's backlog is relatively strong.
2015 was an ugly year, and 2016 could be challenging at times. But MasTec's business looks ready to take a step forward in 2016, after taking maybe two steps back in 2015.
MasTec
NYSE:MTZ
Why Shares of MasTec Soared Nearly 11% in June
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MasTec, Inc. Stock up 13% on Earnings Results, Strong Backlog @themotleyfool #stocks $MTZ Next Article
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Mark T. Spiegel
Prior to co-founding Formation Development Group in 2007, Mark was the President of Argos Realty Partners, a senior living fee development consulting company, from 2004 – 2007. Previously, Mark was one of the co-founders of EdenCare Senior Living Services and served as its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer. He has also held positions with Trammell Crow Realty Advisors in Dallas, the advisory arm of the Trammell Crow Company, and with Greystar in Houston (now based in Charleston, SC), an investor, operator and developer of apartments and other real estate. Mark graduated from Harvard University.
KATHERINE (KATI) POPE, CPA/ABV
Vice President, Accounting & Finance
Kati joinedFormation Capital in 2013 as a Senior Accountant. In 2015 she transferred to the FDG team and assumed the role of Controller, then took on the additional role of VP, Accounting and Finance. Prior to joining Formation, Kati was a Forensic CPA for a boutique forensic accounting firm in Atlanta. Kati received her CPA and ABVdesignations and is licensed to perform business valuations. Prior to her position as a Forensic CPA, Kati was an Accounting & Finance Manager for a mid-sized staffing firm in Atlanta. In Washington D.C., she also worked in forensics, specializing in business interruption and catastrophe services. Kati received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Iowa and attended George Washington University for her graduate accounting courses.
Formation Development Group © 2014 - 2019
The principals of Formation Development Group have worked together for 18 years and have extensive experience in the development, construction, acquisition, disposition, repositioning, operation, marketing, financing and asset management of a variety of senior living communities with an aggregate value of approximately $1.5 billion.
Paul joined FDG in 2017 as Vice President of Asset Management and Finance. Prior to joining FDG, Paul was a municipal advisor and financial analyst for a municipal bond advisory firm in Atlanta. Paul was previously in the family, working for Formation Capital as Asset Manager and Manager of Financial Planning & Analysis. Paul graduated from the University of Georgia and earned an MBA from Georgia State University. Paul earned the CFA Charter in 2010 and is a veteran of the US Marine Corps.
Pam Marano
Pam joined FDG in 2007. She was formerly with Georgian Bank in Atlanta, handling administration and facilities management functions. Prior to the bank, Pam worked with the principals at EdenCare Senior Living Services in Alpharetta, Georgia. At EdenCare, Pam was instrumental in managing the company's rapid growth through new development and acquisitions. It still amazes us that Pam agreed to work with us a second time.
James C. (Jay) Robinson
Before co-founding FDG, Jay was an Executive Vice President with Argos Realty Partners and was formerly Vice President of Development with EdenCare Senior Living Services, with oversight of development, construction and facilities management. He has also held positions with Medcath, Inc, a developer and operator of specialty heart hospitals, and with Henningson, Durham & Richardson (HDR) in Dallas, a national planning and architecture firm. Jay is a graduate of Texas Tech.
Mark P. Maberry
Prior to co-founding FDG, Mark was an Executive Vice President with Argos Realty Partners and was previously an Executive Vice President with EdenCare Senior Living Services, where he headed up real estate development as well as corporate sales and marketing. He previously held positions as Vice President of Development with Sunrise Senior Living in McLean, Virginia, and with Deerfield Healthcare Corporation in Baltimore, a developer and operator of adult day care centers. He is a graduate of Virginia Tech.
Senior Investment Accountant
Chris received her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Accounting from Ramapo University in 1990. She moved to the Atlanta area in 1991 and started a family soon after that. After a break while raising her two sons, she re-entered the work force in 2008 with a small non-profit firm as a Staff Accountant. She joined Formation Capital in 2013 and transferred to her current position with FDG in 2015. Among other responsibilities, Chris focuses on cash management, project account reconciliations, and accounts payable for FDG, its investors and clients.
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HMI Gets An Upgrade
Dec 2, 2015 1:00am
IDEC Corp.
The 5.7” Enhanced HMI, HG2G-5T series human-machine interface (HMI) embarks as a significant upgrade from the company’s Basic 5.7 inch model. The Enhanced HG2G-5T Series color version TFT LCD HMI has a resolution of 65,536 colors and a brightness of 500 cd/m2. The monochrome TFT LCD model has a resolution of 16 shades and a brightness of 1100 cd/m2. Notably, the Enhanced HMI HG2G-5T series supports up to three different communication protocols simultaneously. The serial port can support both RS-232 and RS-422/-485 simultaneously, and the Ethernet port can support up to four hosts and three user communication protocols at the same time. The serial port and the Ethernet port combined can thus support up to nine communication protocols simultaneously, two serial and seven Ethernet. Other features include a built-in web server, allowing full remote monitoring and control via any web browser running on a PC, smartphone or tablet. Available bezel colors include light gray, black, and silver. For complete specifications, visit http://hmi.idec.com
http://www.idec.com/usa
Company: IDEC Corp.
URL: http://www.idec.com/sensors
Machine Manufacturing Manufacturing Automation Components
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TRADE CONFLICTS: WORLD ECONOMY IN PERIL
Evelyn Campbell February 17, 2019 0
Existing trade conflicts between the top nations of the world has pushed the global economy onto a road downhill. The progression or the further deterioration of the same in the year 2019 will now depend on two major deadlines in the month of March.
The Brexit deadlock which has been existing for more than a month now following the parliamentary vote of the 15th of January has now put the future of inter-European businesses in lingering uncertainty. Ruth Lambert, development manager at the Federation of Small Businesses for Somerset and Wiltshire, said, “It is time for politicians to come together and urgently find a way forward from this alarming Brexit stalemate, and now, no-confidence vote. The UK is due to leave the EU in a few weeks, and yet businesses still have no idea what kind of circumstances they should prepare for.”
The UK and the European Union are expected to break this deadlock by the 29th of March, the deadline which if failed to meet, will bring the British economy crashing down, paralyzing it for months.
The United States too had played a significant part in this global economic recession.
The US has issued an ultimatum to China to agree to its terms on a trade deal by the 1st of March or face even higher tariffs. This is expected to hurt the already declining Chinese economy further and have a domino effect on the other countries depending on it.
On the other hand, President Donald Trump has also threatened to impose new taxes on imported cars. While the US Department of Commerce is expected to spearhead this decision-making process, the International Monetary Fund has warned that the recession will get worse if countries keep imposing new taxes and tariffs on each other.
Economists at Berenberg, a private bank in Germany, said last month that,” the risk of recession in the developed world is more acute than it has been since the end of the euro crisis.”
All three conflicts will have impending effects on the German economy. Germany being the pioneer of the automotive industry, its economy is heavily dependent on exports of automobiles.
A decrease in demand from China which is the world’s most populated country, along with the increased tariffs in the US and to top that the Brexit deadlock, all these existing stagnation of the industry will soon turn into a chaotic recession.
The German economy crashed in the final quarter of 2018, and according to official data, the country just marginally escaped a catastrophic recession after GDP contracted by 0.2% in the last three months.
“The next six weeks will be crucial,” said Florian Hence, an economist at Berenberg. “If all these risks were to materialize, the risk of a recession [in Germany] would rise significantly.”
The entire blame of this decline cannot be directed towards the global economic environment
as Germany had its own numerous local issues too.
The car industry took its time to accustom to the new emission testing standards introduced in September, and the low water levels of river Rhine caused a massive blow to the industrial output.
While these factors are fast disappearing, the fate of the German economy now rests in the hands of the decision-makers in Beijing, Brussels, Washington, and London.
“It’s a bit out of Germany’s hands,” said Felix Huefner, an economist at UBS. “As long as the external environment remains weak, we do not expect a strong rebound.”
Optimism though weak continues to thrive. Trump is expected to give more time to the Chinese and let the upcoming deadline pass, and the car tariffs decision may be delayed by two or three months.
While in the neighboring continent, the economic community is hoping for the UK to avoid the Brexit or make the process more orderly entirely and properly executed.
Evelyn Campbell
Stocks making progress after hours of the opening bell, Growth in shares of Cisco, AIG, Yelp, NetApp and others noticed
Indian Start-up Delhivery Acquires Aramex' India Operations
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Sundance Thriller 'Blue Caprice' Set for a Late September Opening
Source: Website
Briefly: Keep an eye out for this film, it's worth catching. There's a very haunting film titled Blue Caprice that premiered at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year and also played New Directors/New Films in New York (where I later caught up with it). Sundance Selects picked it up for release and has scheduled it to open limited starting September 20th, 2013 later this fall (date via twitter). That's right around the same time as TIFF and Venice as well. Blue Caprice is a dramatized retelling of the 2002 Beltway sniper attacks, focusing on the two individuals doing the killing, starring Isaiah Washington and Tequan Richmond.
Blue Caprice is directed by Alexandre Moors, with a screenplay by R.F.I. Porto. Here's an except from our friend Raffi's review on The Film Stage: "Featuring one of the best performances from the festival in the form of Washington’s frightening portrayal of Muhammad, Moors has crafted a multi-layered dissection of one of the countries most incomprehensible crimes… Perhaps the best debut feature film to come out of Sundance 2013, Blue Caprice is a fascinating and haunting portrait that will leave you conflicted regarding the meaning behind a meaningless crime." For more on the film visit their Facebook or bluecapricefilm.com.
Find more posts: Indies, Movie News, Release Dates
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Small plane crashes: three dead, cause unknown
On behalf of Park Avenue Law LLC posted in airplane crashes on Thursday, April 18, 2019.
A twin-engine jet crashed in the woods of northern Mississippi, killing all three people who were onboard: the pilot, his wife and the co-pilot. Police in Union County identified the deceased as residents of Belmont and Booneville, respectively.
A spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration explained that the aircraft, a Rockwell Sabreliner 65, departed University Oxford Airport in Mississippi at around 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 13, and was bound for Marion County-Rankin Fite Airport in Alabama. Around 5 p.m. that same day, the FAA received a call saying that the plane was missing from the radar.
It was around 9:30 p.m. that officials discovered the aircraft, which had crashed in the area between New Albany and Blue Springs. Severe storms had been reported on Saturday, but investigators are still unclear as to whether the storms were a factor in the crash. The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board are currently looking into the case and trying to determine the exact time of the crash.
There can be any number of factors in airplane crashes, and if negligence on the part of the pilot or the maker of the aircraft is one of causes, victims may be able to file a personal injury claim. They might be reimbursed for economic and non-economic losses like property damage, medical bills and pain and suffering.
If the crash is fatal, a family member could sue for loss of support, funeral and burial costs, pre-death medical bills and emotional suffering, among other damages. To show how the other party was negligent may require the assistance of a legal firm. A lawyer may be beneficial for the process of negotiating a settlement or litigating.
Related Posts: Small plane crash kills one, injures two, Is it still safe to fly?, Plane crashes cause panic around the world, Plane grounded after two fatal crashes
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Families search for the missing in the hurricane's aftermath
By Russ Bynum and Kelli KennedyAssociated Press
Oct 15, 2018 at 8:00 PM Oct 15, 2018 at 8:00 PM
PANAMA CITY, Fla. — Joanne Garone Behnke has replayed every possible scenario in her mind a hundred times.
Maybe her 79-year-old aunt sought shelter at the sturdy condo nearby that withstood Hurricane Michael's devastating winds. Maybe she was rescued and is lying in a hospital bed somewhere. The pile of rubble that was once her Mexico Beach home is shallow, too shallow for a body to go unnoticed, Garone Behnke tells herself.
"It's torture," says Garone Behnke, who last talked to her Aunt Aggie Vicari right before the storm hit, begging her to leave her cinderblock home.
Five days after the hurricane slammed into the Florida Panhandle, people are struggling to locate friends and loved ones who haven't been heard from, though how many residents are missing seems to be anyone's guess.
"I've been on the phone to reporters, to fire chiefs, to heads of task force from Miami, to you name it, I've called them. I've called every hospital," Garone Behnke said Monday, then stopped to look at a text from the fire chief in Mexico Beach.
To her disappointment, it read: "We're still working on it ... we'll keep you posted."
As President Donald Trump visited the devastated zone, the death toll from Michael's march from Florida to Virginia stood at 17, and the search for victims continued.
As the hurricane closed in and more than 375,000 people were warned to evacuate, emergency authorities expressed frustration that many residents weren't leaving.
Since the storm, many people have been rescued from the devastated zones. Emergency officials said that because of widespread cellphone outages, others could be safe and just haven't been able to tell friends or family.
Rescue worker Trevor Lewis and the rest of his six-member squad lent their cellphones to storm victims so that they could contact loved ones for the first time in days. He said he watched them "cry out in joy."
"Just the desperation in the family members' voices that hadn't contacted their loved one for a few days was bad," he said. "Then we get on scene and find their family members and they have no food, no water, no power."
There was just one confirmed death so far in Mexico Beach, the town of about 1,000 people that was nearly wiped off the map in a direct hit from the hurricane and its 155 mph (250 kph) winds.
Mexico Beach City Clerk Adrian Welle told local media Sunday that 46 people were unaccounted for. That number had previously been 285, but officials think many left right before the storm hit. Other city officials told reporters that the number of unaccounted for was three.
A Houston-based organization called CrowdSource Rescue that takes calls from worried family members and sends the details to rescue crews on the ground said it has helped find nearly 1,500 people across the region since Michael struck.
George Ruiz, a former Coast Guard rescue boat driver from Alabama who runs Geaux Rescue, a nonprofit search-and-rescue operation, complained that authorities aren't allowing volunteer groups into hard-hit Mexico Beach and Panama City.
"There's a lot of work to be done still as far as the rescue and recovery goes," said Ruiz, whose organization still has 433 requests for help from family members looking for loved ones.
"We listened to voicemails we received overnight," he said, "and you can just hear in their voice their desperation, wanting to know if their family member is alive and well or if their family member has passed."
Melissa and Rodney Reinhardt spent days wondering whether Rodney's 79-year-old father survived the storm at his home in the devastated Port St. Joe area.
"Our hope was that he evacuated but nobody had heard from him," she said. "It's horrifying not knowing. It's scary. Seeing the pictures on the news makes it even scarier."
Emergency officials checked on him Thursday night and said he was there, but that was all the information they received. Rodney finally went in with a church group on Sunday and picked him up.
"It was a happy ending," Melissa Reinhardt said.
During his visit to the devastated zone, Trump commended Republican Gov. Rick Scott for an "incredible" response to the disaster and said: "You're a great governor." Scott, who is running for the U.S. Senate, returned the praise, saying, "Every time I've called, he's come through."
Some in the affected area were lukewarm about the president's visit.
About 5 miles from a neighborhood Trump visited, 57-year-old Sheila Vann sat on a cooler in her garage, taking a break from cleaning up. The hurricane tore off much of her roof in Panama City, and most of her ceiling collapsed. She had four freezers filled with fish and meat that were starting to spoil and smell.
"You want to see the president?" Vann asked her husband, Joseph, with a dismissive tone. "I ain't got time, unless he wants to help clean up."
Nanya Thompson, 68, of Lynn Haven, said of the president: "He's doing this, I believe, to project a different image of himself because of all the bad publicity he's had. He's not going into get into the sewage water with other people and start digging."
"If this is just going to be another reality show, I don't think he should come," she added.
Contributors in Florida include Associated Press writers Russ Bynum in Mexico Beach, Brendan Farrington in Panama City, Gary Fineout in Tallahassee, Kelli Kennedy in Miami and AP Photographer Gerald Herbert in Panama City.
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Feds threaten lawsuit over kids in nursing homes
Federal investigators threatened legal action Tuesday over cases of disabled children sent to adult nursing homes.
MIAMI — Federal investigators threatened swift legal action Tuesday if Florida health officials do not work with them to resolve allegations that children with disabilities are being sent to adult nursing homes unnecessarily.
In a terse letter, U.S. Department of Justice officials said the state is violating the federal Americans with Disabilities Act by allowing more than 200 children with disabilities — including babies — to be segregated in nursing homes, often for years, without a clear path to return home.
"We hope you will reconsider your unwillingness to cooperate with our investigation," Assistant Attorney General Thomas Perez wrote to state health officials, noting his agency has resolved similar issues in Georgia, Virginia, North Carolina and Delaware.
Federal investigators said they requested information from the state nine months ago, but the state declined.
"If a mutually agreeable resolution is not possible, we will not hesitate to take swift and appropriate legal action," Perez said in the letter.
He said his staff would travel to Florida and suggested a meeting in the next two weeks. Agency for Health Care Administration Secretary Liz Dudek signaled in a statement that she was "open to meeting with DOJ to clarify their misunderstanding."
State health officials have repeatedly denied the allegations and insisted they are in compliance with federal law.
Dudek said in a prepared statement that children are receiving the "medically necessary" services they need.
She sent staff to visit the nursing homes earlier this month and noted her staff had also met with parents to make sure they feel the child is in the best place. She said those efforts were well received.
"The state has acted swiftly to ensure that parents are aware of the service options available under the Medicaid program," Dudek said.
But federal investigators said they continue to receive calls from families and advocates.
Investigators said the state has slashed in-home medical services for disabled children, leaving families with no option other than nursing homes. The state has cut 24-hour in-home nursing and other home-based services for children on ventilators, feeding tubes and other complicated technology.
"Time is of the essence ... parents are being forced to confront the cruel choice of struggling daily to find a way to care for their child at home without necessary supports or placing their child in a nursing facility," Perez said in the letter.
The federal investigation mirrors a class-action lawsuit filed on behalf of several children against the state in a South Florida federal court earlier this year.
The lawsuit asserts that children languish in the adult facilities, sharing common areas with elderly patients and having few interactions with others, rarely leaving the nursing homes or going outside. After visiting children in six nursing homes, investigators noted the children are not exposed to social, educational and recreational activities that are critical to child development.
Educational opportunities are limited to as little as 45 minutes a day, according to federal authorities.
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Get drunk, kill a bull shark - new Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag gameplay trailer amazes
By Andy Hartup 2013-09-05T16:00:00.247Z News
The latest Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag gameplay trailer is live, and it's another insightful look at what's fast becoming an essential next-gen launch title. Entitled 'Open Sea' the trailer shows off a handful of cool things you'll be able to do as badass pirate, Edward Kenway. There's bar-brawling, drinking, sea shanties, shark hunting, loot... look, just watch the trailer below, ok?
The footage looks amazing, and the PlayStation controls in the top right show that the game is running on PS4. Remember the last AC gameplay walkthrough? That was running on PS4 too.
Amazon Prime Day deals: see all the best Australian offers at TechRadar!
You'll be able to buy Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag on 1 November, if you want the current-gen console versions. It'll be a launch title for both Xbox One and PS4.
Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag
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Mercyhurst to host American College Dance Festival conference
Preview by Karen Rene MerkleContributing writer
This has been an especially dance-laden February locally, and the trend continues with Friday's opening of the 2010 Northeast Conference of the American College Dance Festival Association.
It marks the first time the conference will be hosted by Mercyhurst College, a local ACDFA member. Not only is it a feather in the cap of the school and the community, but it's also a bit of a miracle that it's been pulled together at all.
Usually, the host has as long as two years to prepare for such an event.
"We did it in five months," said Tauna Hunter, artistic director of the college's dance department.
"It's been a huge learning curve, but my faculty and students, work study students, and my assistant Kelly Stolar have been amazing."
And it doesn't hurt that Mercyhurst faculty member Mark Santillano is on the ACDFA board, so he knows exactly what it takes to mount a successful event.
Now, starting Friday, it's Mercyhurst's turn. Unfortunately, more than 100 people who were registered to attend have had to cancel due to a spending freeze among state universities in New York.
Still, some 500 guests from 39 schools will descend on Mercyhurst for classes, meetings, performances, auditions, and networking. The Northeast region is comprised of New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, but there will be representatives from schools in Ohio, Maryland, and even Wyoming who are coming to participate.
What makes this year's conference even more exciting is that at least one piece performed at each of the 10 regional conferences will be selected for the biennial National College Dance Festival in May at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
And there's no reason why Mercyhurst's dance department couldn't represent the Northeast.
"It depends on the quality of the performances, and on those who are adjudicating," Hunter said cautiously.
Mercyhurst's candidate is a piece that was choreographed in 2003 by Mercyhurst faculty member Michael Gleason. Eighteen dancers will present an excerpt from "Symphonie Italienne," set to the first movement of Mendelssohn's Symphony No. 4 in A Major.
"It's a very classic ballet piece, with the dancers in white tutus," Hunter explained.
The college will also be represented by a piece from last year's "Raw Edges" production. Student Elizabeth Galloway's "Running Up That Hill" is set to music by alternative rock band Placebo and features six Mercyhurst dancers.
Four adjudication concerts will held on Saturday and Sunday. Works from each of those concerts will be chosen to be performed again at the Gala Concert on Monday evening, when the judges will make their final decision and send one piece to Washington.
The three judges are modern dancer and musical theater dance teacher Gail Benedict; ballet teacher and choreographer Leslie Jane Pessemier; and tap dancer and teacher Thomas DeFrantz.
Besides everything else, there will be an opening concert on Friday evening showcasing the wealth of dance talent to be found right here in Erie.
"Erie Dances" will feature the opening ceremonies of the conference and performances by City Style Swing, the Lake Erie Ballet, Shen and Bones Dance Group, SheWorks Dance Theatre, SoMar Dance Works, and more.
The public is invited to attend all of the adjudication concerts, the opening, and the gala, but not the informal concerts or classes.
Anyone with a particular love of or interest in dance will want to be a part of this first-time-in-Erie event.
"We are very lucky to include this conference as part of our 35th anniversary celebration," Hunter said.
And it's not often that Erie can boast of holding previews of what'll next be onstage at the Kennedy Center.
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Erie County smokes, drinks and weighs more than most in Pa.
By David Bruce david.bruce@timesnews.com
Erie County adults smoke more, weigh more and binge-drink more often than adults in almost every other Pennsylvania county.
They also get chlamydia more often, according to County Health Rankings, a new set of state and county health reports released Wednesday.
"It's confirmation of what we have seen in our own reports," Erie County Department of Health Director Andy Glass said. "These are significant health concerns in our community."
The reports, compiled by the University of Wisconsin and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, rank the overall health of every county in the United States.
Counties are ranked within their own state on how healthy people are and how long they live. They are also ranked on smoking, obesity, binge drinking, access to primary-care providers and other health-related factors.
"For the first time, people have a tool to help identify what is making people in every county unhealthy," said Patrick Remington, M.D., associate dean for public health at Wisconsin's School of Medicine and Public Health.
Erie County ranks 30th of Pennsylvania's 67 counties in overall health, which is based on the county's disease and death rates. However, the county is 61st in "health factors," which include the percentages of adults who smoke and children who live in poverty, and the amount of air pollution.
Crawford County ranks 33rd in overall health and 43rd in health factors.
Why does Erie County rank so much higher in overall health than it does in health factors? It could be due to the county's access to hospitals and physicians.
Erie County ranks 20th in clinical-care access. Crawford County ranks 38th.
"We can take solace in that we do well with the access to care and the quality of care in Erie County," Glass said.
Researchers used state and county health data from a variety of sources, Remington said. The most current available data, which ranged from 2000 to 2008, was used.
To measure overall health, researchers used the rate of people dying before age 75, percentage of people who reported being in fair or poor health, the number of days people reported being in poor physical health, the number of days in poor mental health, and rate of low-birth-weight babies.
Health factor data was culled from numerous sources that measure air quality, poverty statistics, and smoking and alcohol-drinking percentages.
"These rankings demonstrate that health happens where we live, learn, work and play," Remington said. "And much of what influences how healthy we are and how long we live happens outside the doctor's office."
Erie County has already began to address its problem with adult smoking and other unhealthy behaviors, Glass said.
The Erie County Tobacco Coalition aims to reduce the adult and child smoking rates, while the Erie Area Safe Kids Coalition's goal is to reduce child injury and death rates. Partnership for a Healthy Community was created to improve the health of all Erie County residents.
"We have a lot of programs going on, things that have long-term goals," Glass said. "These will have an impact of the health of our community."
DAVID BRUCE can be reached at 870-1736 or by e-mail.
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Letters to the editor: Catholic bishops have top authority
The front-page headline proclaimed "Health reform divides two prominent Catholics," referring to our own Erie Catholic Bishop Donald Trautman and Sister Joan Chittister, OSB (Erie Times-News, March 18).
Such language is deceiving and confusing because it fails to make the crucial distinction between a bishop and any other prominent member of the Catholic Church.
A bishop, while he may be a "prominent Catholic," is first and foremost the shepherd of his diocese and a part of the teaching magisterium of the church by the grace of his ordination into the apostolic succession. His primary duty is to oversee and pass on the faith in its purity and integrity. He therefore teaches on matters of faith and morals with the authority vested in him by God.
No other Catholic, regardless of his or her prominence, position or intention, has the authority or responsibility of a bishop. Therefore, the stance of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops on the health-care bill has a weight for a Catholic that no other opinion can have.
We gratefully support Bishop Trautman and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in their efforts to bring the principles of Catholic social teaching to bear on the legislation of this great country.
Sister Kathleen Dietz, Sister Josephine Vuodi|The Spiritual Family The Work, Erie
There are seven tenets in the Preamble of the United States Constitution. One of these commands is to "promote the general welfare" to "we, the people."
Providing health care to "we, the people" falls under this command. Realizing the "blessings of liberty" is another.
When being sworn in to office, U.S. Rep. Kathy Dahlkemper, D-3rd Dist., pledged to uphold the Constitution.
Her positive vote on health care fulfilled two of the Founding Fathers' wishes. By voting yes, she, too, has pledged her honor and fortune.
We, the people, thank her for her vote.
Joe Cieslak Sr.|McKean
How is it that U.S. Rep. Kathy Dahlkemper, whose family developed a thriving business in the competitive marketplace, voted against competition when it comes to the so-called health-care reform bills?
Does she agree with what the Wall Street Journal describes as the president's strategy? "Democrats are telling reporters that Mr. Obama has been telling them in private meetings that his presidency, and the party's claim to any achievement, rests on passing a bill."
Apparently any bill will do. Is this a legacy our first-term congresswoman wishes to embrace?
Bob Chitester|McKean
Your article "Split among ranks" refers to a difference of opinion between two Catholic leaders (Erie Times-News, March 18). In doing so, you presented them as equals within the church hierarchy. They are not.
Erie Catholic Bishop Donald Trautman is the spiritual leader of all Catholics in the Catholic Diocese of Erie. He represents the pope in this diocese, the leader and representative of Jesus Christ on Earth.
Sister Joan Chittister, on the other hand, is the former head of the Benedictine Sisters of Erie, part of a religious order of Catholic sisters. She speaks for that order and not for all Catholics. She is their leader, not ours.
While there are many good things done by the religious women of our faith, there seems to be a disconnect when it comes to health-care reform.
The sisters should have reconsidered its endorsement of a law that (some argue) uses taxpayer dollars to fund the genocide inflicted upon the unborn.
Kenneth A. Williams Sr.|Erie
Maybe it is time that we export health care. This is probably just as good as an idea as most of our politicians and pundits came up with in all of their brainstorming and negotiating.
Japan would be the perfect country to receive the outsourcing. Heck, they export some great cars (despite the Toyota problem) and are honorable.
Japan pays half of what we do in health care. Everyone is covered, and there are no networks or deductibles or any other scheme that would make your health-care experience more painful.
As an added bonus, they live longer than us. They pay for the health care of the rich, poor and middle class.
It's time for our politicos to do what is not only honorable, but what is right.
Anthony Samol|Millcreek Township
I applaud the letter written by David Kelley of Harborcreek defending the National Rifle Association's action in defending Second Amendment rights in Albion ("NRA isn't overreacting in Albion," Erie Times-News, March 11). Many newspapers are quick to attack the NRA position on the Second Amendment. While newspapers cry out for more gun laws, they editorialize against enforcement of the gun laws that exist.
The NRA stands strong on the enforcement of all gun laws. What the editors of your newspaper and all other anti-gun groups want is selective enforcement of gun laws. Well, it doesn't happen that way. The law is the law. Albion was in violation of the state gun laws and wisely rescinded their decision on banning firearms.
Thank you to David Kelley and all the other Second-Amendment supporters for being vigilant and protecting our rights.
Darryl A. Kirschner|NRA Institute for Legislative Action, Connoquenessing
Thanks to Phil Longstreet's great letter to the editor about the boogeyman being a socialist (Erie Times-News, March 12). We are dealing with the most progressive government in our history, and it will take our freedoms away if we don't wake up.
Now to address the real issue on hand: Oil companies and gas pricing being fixed. I guess big oil is to blame again. Wake up. It is about money. Big oil is not the problem.
What happened in 2008? Oil prices shot up and up and up. What was the reason? Demand? Supply? No, it was speculation. And why was everyone dumping their money into oil futures? The big-money fund groups knew the real estate market was falling apart.
This was the first sign of the oncoming economic collapse that caused the biggest bloodless revolution in our country's history.
So I am buying into some crazy theory? I wish this was true. Our nation's debt cannot be maintained. As a student of history, I can only guess that the current speculation of those with the "real money" once again know more than we do.
I say to you: Be careful. The current gas prices are not big oil profits but a sign of things to come. Hold onto your wallet.
Luke Dugan|Millcreek Township
I am the owner of Evelyn's Hallmark in the Kmart East Plaza on Buffalo Road in Harborcreek Township.
On Saturday morning, March 20, a shoplifter stole a large number of pieces of costume jewelry from a display in our store. My employees and I were upset, disgusted and disappointed when we discovered the theft.
Stealing from anyone is wrong, but when you take from a small business, you are taking money out of our community. The small businessperson buys groceries, gas, clothing, pays taxes and provides jobs. The cost of theft comes directly from their bottom line. I suppose it is easy for the thief to rationalize one incident, but that incident is multiplied many times in all retail outlets.
Shoplifting can be an addiction, but it is also a crime. Shoplifters can be any age. A number of years ago, one of our "customers" who was at least 60 years old spent some time in jail for retail theft.
Please pay attention when you are shopping, and if you see anyone who arouses your suspicion, notify an employee. You do not have to get involved directly. Also, if you find a friend or family member who seems to have items he or she cannot account for, please check it out.
I doubt that people who stoop low enough to steal from their neighbor will likely read this letter, but I feel better for having written it.
Evelyn Seyboldt|Evelyn's Hallmark, Erie
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Detroit and New Orleans Have More in Common Than Most Think
Most important, their prospects for survival can teach us about the resiliency of urban areas everywhere.
In the wake of bankruptcy, there is a renewed sense of possibility in Detroit. (David Kidd)
By Peter Harkness | Founder, Publisher Emeritus
It came as a surprise to me, but Detroit and New Orleans are similar in some interesting ways. Both were founded by French settlers in the early 18th century. On the site of modern-day Detroit, explorer Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac in 1701 established Fort Ponchartrain, named for the secretary of the French navy; a decade later, Cadillac decamped south to become governor of Louisiana, where the large lake on New Orleans’ north side was also named for Ponchartrain.
Both are port cities, though the combined ports of New Orleans and South Louisiana form one of the largest port systems in the world, dwarfing Detroit’s. They both identify strongly with their musical history -- jazz and blues in one case, and Motown in the other. And both have experienced catastrophic disasters -- one natural, the other economic. Now they have something else in common: Their prospects for survival can teach us about the resiliency of cities elsewhere.
Detroit’s decline, of course, played out over decades, as the auto industry faded and white middle-class residents fled to the suburbs. In the end, the Great Recession was too much to bear, resulting in the largest municipal bankruptcy in America’s history. The post-Katrina flood in New Orleans a decade ago made its own history as the nation’s worst-ever natural disaster.
Detroit’s 50-Year Plan How Hurricane Katrina Made the Feds More Powerful A Decade After Katrina, Scars Remain on New Orleans The City of No-Frills Innovation
The role of the federal government in these two calamities strikes a powerful note of contrast. The feds played a significant role in New Orleans. It was federally built levees that failed in Hurricane Katrina, leaving 80 percent of the city underwater. It was the federal government that proved hopelessly inept in the days following the storm, which killed 1,800 people and left tens of thousands homeless. President George W. Bush will be forever remembered for one of the signature remarks of his presidency: “Brownie,” he said to Michael Brown, his Federal Emergency Management Director, “you’re doing a heckuva job.” Shortly afterward, “Brownie” was fired.
In the end, the feds chipped in $126 billion to clean up Katrina’s mess throughout the Gulf of Mexico, with $76 billion going to Louisiana. That’s the single greatest contrast: No one expected a massive federal bailout for Detroit, and there was none. Recent federal aid to the city has been comparatively modest -- around $350 million.
Instead, the foundation for an eventual recovery in Detroit is coming from a combination of sources -- the state of Michigan, the private sector, foundations and bottom-up neighborhood efforts. Along with the well-known Quicken Loans’ Dan Gilbert, business leaders have purchased scores of buildings in the heart of the city and, in many cases, moved their employees into them. JPMorgan Chase has committed an investment of $100 million. The Ford, Kresge, Knight and Kellogg foundations have made major commitments.
But when it comes to elected leadership, the two cities begin to look alike again. Both Detroit and New Orleans were in decline well before bankruptcy and Katrina -- and not just for economic reasons. The New Orleans mayor in office during Katrina was Ray Nagin, who eight years after the storm was indicted on 21 corruption charges. He was convicted and sent to jail in February 2014. Kwame Kilpatrick, who in 2001 had become Detroit’s youngest mayor at age 31, was convicted on 24 counts of corruption and sentenced to 28 years in prison.
In the aftermath of these embarrassments, both cities have found the leadership they needed. Mitch Landrieu, who became mayor of New Orleans in 2010, has done such an effective job of controlling spending, modernizing the city’s bureaucracy and fighting corruption that this magazine recently honored him with its Public Official of the Year award.
In Detroit, Mayor Mike Duggan is earning similar plaudits for his handling of the bankruptcy and for establishing a healthy working relationship with Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder, even though Duggan is a Democrat and Snyder is a Republican. “They are trying new ideas and modifying plans as they go along,” JP-Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon told The Wall Street Journal, “never pointing fingers or worrying about taking credit.”
In both cities, there is a renewed sense of possibility that reaches far beyond politics. Besides corruption, Detroit and New Orleans have suffered for decades from high rates of crime, poverty and poor schools. Both lost a majority of their populations. Now, in both places, some of the most discouraging numbers are starting to turn around. In Detroit and New Orleans, young urbanists, artists and techies are flowing in, infrastructure is being repaired and rebuilt, and the atmosphere of hope is starting to penetrate the neighborhoods where ordinary citizens live.
The remaining concern in both cities is inequity, particularly regarding race. Will the entire community share in the turnaround? Or will rapid revival result in massive displacement, as cheap properties are gobbled up by the newcomers, forcing longtime residents to look for housing elsewhere?
In a recent speech at the National Press Club, Landrieu recounted the progress New Orleans had made in recent years, concluding that “this comeback is one of the world’s most remarkable stories of tragedy and triumph, resurrection and redemption. In one word, resilience. We are America’s comeback city.”
It is beginning to look as if Landrieu’s city may have to share that honor with its seemingly much different neighbor far to the north.
Peter Harkness | Founder, Publisher Emeritus | pharkness@governing.com
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This is How Science Helped Hollywood Make More Realistic Explosions
By Jamie Condliffe on at
Everybody knows that embarrassing “nope” moment in the cinema when CGI explosions just don’t look real at all. Fortunately, science has helped Hollywood improve things in recent years — and this video shows how.
This film by Theodore Kim, professor of Media Arts, Technology and Computer Science at the University of California, explains how the software developed by him and three of his colleagues helped film-makers to create far better — and more realistic — smoke effects. The tool, called Wavelet Turbulence, has been used by many film-makers to generate realistic swirling smoke and fiery explosions that are more detailed, easier to control and faster to create.
You can see their results in Avatar, Iron Man 3, Man of Steel, and The Amazing Spider-Man, and in a growing number of other major Hollywood films.
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This is the basic company information. The company provides additional detailed information, such as website, fax and telephone numbers, contact persons, history and company data.
To get access to this information or for printout of the company profile, you need to have a valid "Profile Access" to glassglobal.com. Information for booking are available at Price Info .
Address SPCI Sdn Bhd
No. 59-3, Jalan Cecawi 6/33 Seksyen 6,
Email Get in contact with SPCI Sdn Bhd
Sodium silicate is a white solid that is readily soluble in water, producing an alkaline solution. It is one of a number of related compounds which include sodium orthosilicate, Na4SiO4; sodium pyrosilicate, Na6Si2O7, and others. All are glassy, colorless and dissolve in water.
Sodium silicate is stable in neutral and alkaline solutions. In acidic solutions, the silicate ion reacts with hydrogen ions to form silicic acid, which when heated and roasted forms silica gel, a hard, glassy substance.
It is used in metal repair, as applications involving cementing objects exposed to heat or fire. It is also widely used in food preservation, to treat timber and preserve wood from insects and possesses some flame-retardant properties. It’s uses in the treatment of concrete to reduce porosity and permanently binds the silicates with the surface making them far more wearable and water repellent.
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Foundry Corporate News, Topic Pressure Die Casting, Topic Plant Technology, Equipment
EUROFUSIONI displays an A 170 machine by Italpresse made in 1972
in front of the company's entrance in Reggio Emilia
to provide evidence of its 40 years of work and entrepreneurial success
Antenore Nironi started set up his business as a diecaster in Reggio Emilia with a A 170 Italpresse machine, serial number 171, made in 1972. The business went well and after a few years the machine was fitted with a metal feeder, which further improved its performance. We're in the Seventies and a large part of the Italian foundry sector was trying to improve production in a pioneering way by introducing automation, also thanks to the support of Italpresse. Indeed in those years Italpresse acquired Gauss, a company specialising in automation: it developed and manufactured devices to automatically feed melted metal from the furnace to the shot sleeve and remove the casting, thereby combining various needs: first of all an improvement in terms of quality and an increase in the number of pieces produced, as well as eliminating heavy-duty work previously carried out by the operator.
The years went by and the company expanded its range of machines, though the A 170 kept on working undeterred with a quality level that fully met growing expectations.
With the new generation, the company passed under the control of Antenore's son, Stefano, who decided to overhaul the A 170 to spruce it up, so that it would have been able to face the challenges of an increasingly demanding market.
Today, from back in 1972, 40 years have gone by: the machine performed over 15 million cycles for a higher amount of pieces and kept on producing at a quality level that is shown in the photo of one of the latest parts that have been moulded. However, it is necessary to allow this glorious travelling companion to rest: indeed today it is mandatory to provide a series of reports and quality data for each batch produced. These are variables that only the latest electronic machinery can fully detect.
Stefano had no intention at all of scrapping the machine and decided to place it in a glass case in front of the plant for it to be remembered in time as the reason for the success of Eurofusioni, as the one who always maintained a quality level that far exceeded all expectations.
The original plate was officially handed over by Giorgio Bonvicini, Area Manager at Italpresse, a key figure of the company based in Capriano del Colle, who was also there when the glass case was closed: indeed during the inauguration ceremony Giorgio Bonvicini shared a number of memories and anecdotes with Stefano Nironi and area representative Franco Zecchini.
Sefano Nironi also said that no other machine in his company deserved so much consideration, “this is why I decided to give it a place of honour, so that it will always be remembered and given the right tribute”.
###COMPANY_LINK### ITALPRESSE SpA / GAUSS Automazione S.r.l.
A NEW SITE FOR ITALPRESSE AND GAUSS IN CHINA
STARS AND STRIPES FOR ITALPRESSE & GAUSS
Italpresse
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Podesta: Trump Will Take U.S. Back to the Twentieth Century
By Julia Limitone Published January 09, 2017 DebateFOXBusiness
John Podesta: Trump wants to go back to the 1950s
Clinton Presidential Campaign Chairman John Podesta on the debate and Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton's economic and energy plans.
Clinton presidential campaign chairman John Podesta appeared on the FOX Business Network’s Morning’s with Maria to discuss the first presidential debate, saying “Clinton rocked it."
“Our strategy was to talk about the future. Talk about her plans. Talk about the economy particularly, but to draw contrast. To say that these are two very different choices. They have very different experience. She has a history of getting things done for children, for families, for people as First Lady, as a senator from New York. He [Trump] wanted to attack her for all the ills of the political system over the last 30 years. She was quite specific. I think he was quite vague. He didn’t have a good night last night,” he said.
Podesta then discussed Hillary Clinton’s plan for the economy.
“Her plan is to invest in the middle class. [She has] pledged never to raise taxes on the middle class [and] to make the important investments that we need to create jobs, infrastructure and clean energy in high-tech manufacturing. To do it by going and asking the wealthy to pay their fair share, to close corporate loopholes to put that money to work for the American people and also to really focus on the family economics,” he said.
He added, “What he’s promising is what crashed the economy in 2008 – just going back, going back and I think people aren’t going to buy it.”
Podesta argued Clinton’s 65% tax rate is fair.
“She is looking to where people have made tremendous amounts of money. Tremendous wealth, saying they need to get back and make the right investments for the country…When they got to tax returns, what was his reaction to paying no taxes over many years? He seemed to admit to it last night although we haven’t seen the tax returns…Nothing for the troops, nothing for veterans, nothing for infrastructure, nothing to invest in the country that gave him the wealth that he has today. That’s not patriotic,” he charged.
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When it comes to regulation, Podesta explained why Clinton’s plan will move the needle on economic growth.
“She specifically said that she wants to eliminate regulation for small business, make sure that small businesses have access to credit. I think she wants smart regulation that will take care of the needs of the American people whether that’s making sure that drugs are safe, that meat you’re buying at the grocery store is safe – Donald Trump says he wants to get rid of food inspection. My God, we are going to go back to the early 1900s or the early Twentieth Century?” he asked.
He also compared energy policies.
“With respect to clean energy, he wants to go back and restore the energy systems in the 1950s, I guess. What she wants to do is make sure that we are investing in clean renewable energy. That we are installing half a billion solar panels in her first term, that we are the clean energy super power of the Twenty-First Century – that’s where the future is, that’s where the jobs are, that’s where the growth is [and] that’s where the innovation is,” he said.
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Atlanta Man, 85, Charged With Being a Nazi Guard, to be Deported
ATLANTA – U.S. authorities have begun deportation proceedings against an 85-year-old man who they say served as a Nazi guard and trained and handled attack dogs at the infamous Dachau and Buchenwald concentration camps in Germany, officials said Monday.
The Department of Justice said it has filed a charging document against Paul Henss, a German citizen who lives in the Atlanta suburb of Lawrenceville and who authorities say entered the U.S. in 1955 after hiding his concentration camp service.
The document, filed on Sept. 4 by the Justice Department's Criminal Division's Office of Special Investigations and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said Henss joined the Hitler Youth organization in Germany in 1934 as a 12 or 13-year-old boy and joined the Nazi Party in September 1940.
In February 1941, he entered the Waffen SS then volunteered the following year to become an SS dog handler, the document said. From 1942 to 1944 Henss served as a guard at the Dachau and Buchenwald concentration camps, where he instructed other guards in the use of trained attack dogs to guard prisoners and prevent their escape, authorities said.
SS regulations during Henss' time of service required dogs to be trained "to 'bite without mercy' and to literally tear prisoners to pieces if they attempted to escape," the document said.
According to the charging document, Henss admitted on March 13 that he served as an SS guard at Dachau and Buchenwald for two to three months each as a dog handler.
The deportation case was filed after a review of German records, prosecutors said.
"It's similar to many other cases," said Jaclyn Lesch, a Justice Department spokeswoman. "Historians combed through historical records, including Nazi rosters and other records, and they compare those with immigration records."
The government does not plan to file criminal charges against Henss, she said. The charging documents filed by the government, however, lay out the reasons why the federal attorneys believe the man should no longer live in the U.S.
She said authorities waited until the case was assigned by a chief immigration judge before making it public.
Calls placed to Henss' residence were not answered on Monday. It is not clear whether Henss is in federal custody.
The Office of Special Investigations, which handles cases against people accused of being former Nazis, began operations in 1979. Authorities said it has won cases against 106 participants in Nazi crimes.
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June 22, 2018 June 21, 2019 by Bill Nussey
How Edison’s protege made the power industry into a regulated monopoly (Part 3 of 3)
This is the third and final part in my series exploring the events that shaped the electric industry as we know it. If you haven’t already done so, I recommend reading part one and part two first.
As I mentioned in part one, the power industry was born from the inventions and investments of Thomas Edison, along with a handful of visionaries whose careers he influenced. One such man was Samuel Insull.
Humble beginnings to industry titan
Samuel Insull, source: Wikimedia Commons
Samuel Insull was born in London in 1859. At 19, his modest job as a switchboard operator barely hinted that he’d become one of the wealthiest men of his generation. But, by 23, Insull’s business genius began to show itself. Quick wits and persuasion helped him transform a job opportunity in New York into a role as Thomas Edison’s personal secretary. Once the two men met, their careers became forever linked. Insull quickly rose through the ranks, helping Edison consolidate and organize his sprawling enterprise. In 1892, Edison’s empire was reorganized into Edison General Electric. Despite Insull’s incredible success, he was passed over as president. Frustrated, he relocated to Chicago to assume the presidency of the struggling Chicago Edison Company.
Within a few short years, he turned the company around. One of his most notable improvements was introducing a new pricing model called Time of Use Rates. Rather than a flat fee for electricity, Chicago Edison charged more during busy times and less when demand was low. This encouraged customers to smooth out their usage patterns. This meant the company could build fewer power plants and run existing plants closer to capacity. This simple business model innovation was foundational for Chicago Edison’s amazing turnaround; and it remains the primary pricing model for large electric customers to this day.
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Economies of scale and lower prices
New York streets were a tangle of competing power lines, source: wikimedia commons
Insull realized that lower prices were the key to attracting more customers. His strategy? Build larger power plants. More infrastructure meant more economies of scale. More scale meant bigger profits and lower prices. Unfortunately, the distribution grid technology invented by his mentor, Thomas Edison, was constraining his ambitions. Direct current (DC) grids could only distribute electricity for a half mile or so. This limited the number of customers that could be reached and kept Insull from realizing the benefit of larger power plants. Worse yet, these small power plants were easy to finance, which enticed entrepreneurs of all kinds to rush into the market. Cities quickly became overrun with competing power companies, all building their own plants and pulling their own power lines. The market was becoming overcrowded and fragmented.
Alternating current (AC) grids changed the game. Suddenly, electricity could be distributed for miles, which vastly increased the number of customers who could be served by a single power plant. This also unleashed the economies of scale that Insull had been seeking. He eventually decided to adopt the competing AC technology.
The race to dominate Chicago’s electricity market was on. Over the next few decades, Insull’s company obtained an exclusive franchise from the City of Chicago, acquired their competitor, Commonwealth Electric Light & Power, and largely extinguished any competition in the region. Insull had created a true electric monopoly.
Insull’s economies of scale pick up steam
Insull understood the disruptive power of new technology. His success with AC grids emboldened him to be one of the early adopters of steam turbines in the early 1900s. Steam turbines dwarfed traditional power plants and could produce electricity at higher volumes and for less money than any technology before them. When running on AC power, these turbines could electrify entire communities from a single plant.
Mary-Ann was the nickname given to the first steam turbine used in an electric utility, courtesy: Wikipedia
Insull’s company, now known as Commonwealth Edison, was expanding rapidly. He was buying up utilities and infrastructure inside and outside Chicago. With his financial momentum, his AC power grid, and his mammoth steam turbines, Insull was offering the lowest-cost electricity and sweeping up customers across Northern Illinois. He was achieving so much scale, he could literally shut down the power plants of his acquired competitors and repurpose them as substations connected to his AC grids and steam turbines.
The result of Insull’s audacious strategy was a monopoly that blocked out competitors and provided electricity at cheaper rates than ever before. By 1907, Commonwealth Edison had acquired 20 businesses. This strategy was soon emulated by competitors and, by the late 1920s, 10 holding companies controlled 75 percent of the American electricity industry. At one point, Insull’s electric empire controlled utilities in 5,000 towns across 32 states.
The making of the (Regulated) Monopoly Man
In the early 1900s, monopolies faced growing discontent from politicians and the public. Financial abuses from railroad monopolies further fueled concerns. The public saw these early monopolies as proof that the absence of competition led to higher prices and reduced innovation.
Many cities, towns and other municipalities responded by taking over the private electric companies and becoming their own utilities. They believed their lack of profit motives allowed them to serve customers’ needs better than shareholder-owned companies.
Samuel Insull on the cover of Time Magazine, November 29, 1926
Facing the prospect of this growing trend ultimately leading to a government-run power industry, Insull began promoting the most audacious idea of his career: the regulated monopoly. He argued that municipalities lacked the technical expertise and business acumen to effectively run these complex utilities. For the private sector, he argued that competing power companies would inevitably build their own power lines and power plants. He said these overlapping investments were unnecessary and only led to higher prices for customers. His central argument was that electricity infrastructure was a “natural monopoly.”
Insull’s idea was hotly debated but eventually prevailed. Over the last century, the regulated monopoly has become the primary business model for electricity across America and virtually every other country in the world.
Holding companies or a house of cards?
Regulated monopolies freed Insull from competition. He could access more capital and continue to build economies of scale. But he was far from done. To keep expanding, he needed even more capital. Insull embraced a growing idea called holding companies. These organizations allowed a set of related businesses to be financially managed under a single legal umbrella. Costs could be consolidated via shared services. More capital could be raised at a lower cost. In fact, with only $27 million in equity, Insull built an empire worth more than $300 million (in current dollars, this would be a $300 million investment controlling a $6 billion empire).
The problem was that holding companies were also financially opaque. Investors rarely understood their inner workings. Regulators’ authority was limited to the part of holding companies operating in their state. Holding companies allowed a handful of companies to achieve enormous scale but the lack of transparency invited growing abuses.
Insull’s third and final time being on the cover of Time Magazine, May 14, 1934
Soon, Insull’s holding company strategies were being widely copied. Great wealth was created. The stock market took off. But much of it wouldn’t last. As the Great Depression bore down on America, many holding companies, including all of Insull’s vast empire, proved to be a house of cards. His companies collapsed and took with them the life savings of nearly 600,000 of his investors.
For many of the public, Insull epitomized the greed and excesses that led to the Great Depression. Candidate for President, Franklin D. Roosevelt targeted “the Ishmaels and the Insulls, whose hand is against everyman’s,” as part of his promise to reign in powerful corporations. Charges were filed against Insull. He fled the country, first to Paris then to Greece, to escape the U.S. justice system. He remained on the run for several years. When he finally returned home in 1934, his trial proceeded. To the surprise of many, he was vidicated. He was found not guilty on all charges.
Electrifying every home in America
The Great Depression devastated the entire country, but rural America may have been hit hardest of all. Most farmers and rural families had never been connected to a grid. Homes were too far apart for utilities to profitably reach them with power lines. As part of his New Deal legislation, President Roosevelt believed that reviving rural America was key to reviving the country. He helped pass the Rural Electrification Act of 1935 which provided federal loans and expertise to electrify homes across every part of the country.
Samuel Insull’s risk-taking and commitment to new technology helped fast-track the power industry during its earliest days. While history may see him as both a hero and a villain, there is little doubt his innovations ultimately made electricity affordable to virtually everyone in America.
The era of Edison, Tesla, Westinghouse and Insull was a time of incredible innovation. Unfortunately, much of that spirit has waned. The structure and business model of the modern power industry is remarkably unchanged from that golden era. The industry has become deeply risk averse, falling back for too long on its comfortable position as a natural monopoly.
It’s time for the industry to try new business models, to allow for thoughtfully defined competitive markets, and to embrace new technologies. As Jim Rogers, the retired CEO of Duke Energy told me, “it’s time for electricity to be a technology business again.”
Business Models, HIstory, Utilities
3 thoughts on “How Edison’s protege made the power industry into a regulated monopoly (Part 3 of 3)”
Newton E. Ball says:
In amplification of the final thought in this article: The huge grids that span a third of the country at a time, are fragile, even indefensible. A single act of sabotage, either physical or cyber, can take months to repair. Local generation is needed for safety of electric availability, as well as being the best way to decrease the carbon footprint of energy generation.
Leonard cudzilo says:
I m probably the last person alive who knew Sam insull jr. Spent many hours with him while he had his daily two martinis. Much about him and he father has been misstated or totally wrong. (When he built the Civic Opera house, insull’s throne, yes the back of the throne faced east but it wasn’t that he was turning his back on Chicago, but to jp Morgan and new york) He has been greatly overlooked by the Chicago Historical Society, and the family plot in Graceland Cemetery bordering the pond there is ignored by the guided saturday tours of the cemetery.
Bill Nussey says:
Thank you for sharing. That’s a great perspective on a family who gets far too little attention from history.
← 1,000 solar scientists got together this week – here’s what they’re talking about
Hawaii is a postcard from our electric future (Part 2) →
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Gendered Paths into STEM. Disparities Between Females and Males in STEM Over the Life-Span View all 23 Articles
Bernhard Ertl
Universität der Bundeswehr München, Germany
Tomas Jungert
Sog Yee Mok
University of Zurich, Switzerland
Data Availability Statement
Front. Psychol., 04 December 2018 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.02435
Gender Stereotypes in a Children's Television Program: Effects on Girls' and Boys' Stereotype Endorsement, Math Performance, Motivational Dispositions, and Attitudes
Eike Wille1*, Hanna Gaspard1, Ulrich Trautwein1, Kerstin Oschatz1, Katharina Scheiter2,3 and Benjamin Nagengast1
1Hector Research Institute of Education Sciences and Psychology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
2Leibniz-Institut für Wissensmedien, Tübingen, Germany
3University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
Television programs are a central part of children's everyday lives. These programs often transmit stereotypes about gender roles such as “math is for boys and not for girls.” So far, however, it is unclear whether stereotypes that are embedded in television programs affect girls' and boys' performance, motivational dispositions, or attitudes. On the basis of research on expectancy-value theory and stereotype threat, we conducted a randomized study with a total of 335 fifth-grade students to address this question. As the experimental material, we used a television program that had originally been produced for a national TV channel. The program was designed to show children that math could be interesting and fun. In the experimental condition, the program included a gender stereotyped segment in which two girls who were frustrated with math copied their math homework from a male classmate. In the control condition, participants watched an equally long, neutral summary of the first part of the video. We investigated effects on boys' and girls' stereotype endorsement, math performance, and different motivational constructs to gain insights into differential effects. On the basis of prior research, we expected negative effects of watching the stereotypes on girls' performance, motivational dispositions, and attitudes. Effects on the same outcomes for boys as well as children's stereotype endorsement were explored as open questions. We pre-registered our research predictions and analyses before conducting the experiment. Our results provide partial support for short-term effects of gender stereotypes embedded in television programs: Watching the stereotypes embedded in the video increased boys' and girls' stereotype endorsement. Boys reported a higher sense of belonging but lower utility value after watching the video with the stereotypes. Boys' other outcome variables were not affected, and there were also no effects on girl's performance, motivational dispositions, or attitudes. Results offer initial insights into how even short segments involving gender stereotypes in television shows can influence girls' and boys' stereotype endorsement and how such stereotypes may constitute one factor that contributes to gender differences in the STEM fields.
Women are underrepresented in domains that require intensive mathematical skills (National Science Foundation, 2015; National Science Board, 2016). This bias is crucial to the larger economy and contributes to gender inequity in income: More women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) would diversify the workforce, and mathematically intensive STEM fields usually provide high-status career options (National Science Foundation, 2015). Drawing on expectancy-value theory (Eccles et al., 1983), gender differences in STEM careers can be linked to early emerging gender differences in math motivational dispositions. These are rooted in different socialization processes for girls and boys such as the gender stereotypes children encounter in their environments (see Wigfield et al., 2015). Research on stereotype threat has provided insights into the potential mechanisms behind how gender stereotypes might affect girls and boys, indicating that girls can show lower math performance and motivation in the short-term if they are reminded of the stereotype that females perform worse than males in math, whereas boys' performance can benefit from such stereotypes (for a review, see Spencer et al., 2016).
Television programs are one potential source of gender stereotypes for children. Despite the wide diversity of media available nowadays, television continues to be one of the most popular and widely used media among children (Rideout, 2015; Feierabend et al., 2017). Television shows and programs with STEM content have increased in availability (National Reserach Council., 2009) and popularity (Patten, 2013) within the last decade. They transmit certain beliefs and stereotypes about gender roles in the STEM field, such as showing females as underperforming in math and science (Collins, 2011). It is not yet clear, though, whether stereotypes in television programs affect girls' and boys' performance and motivational dispositions in math. So far, research on expectancy-value theory has focused primarily on the role of stereotypes that are implicitly conveyed by parents, teachers, or peers (see Wigfield et al., 2015), whereas research on stereotype threat has traditionally investigated effects of stereotypes presented as isolated stimuli in laboratory settings with a primary focus on adult samples (see Spencer et al., 2016).
In the present study, we aimed to contribute to closing this gap in the literature by examining effects of traditional gender stereotypes in a math television program for children. To increase the ecological validity of the study, we used a television program that was broadcast on a German national TV channel. Specifically, the end of this program showed two girls who were not doing well in math and copied their homework from a male classmate. To examine the effects of these stereotypes, we conducted a randomized study with a pretest–posttest design in which fifth graders watched this television program about math either with or without the segment in which these gender stereotypes were portrayed. In order to comprehensively investigate possible effects, we studied effects on both girls' and boys' stereotype endorsement as well as their performance, motivational dispositions (i.e., expectancy and value beliefs), and attitudes toward math (i.e., sense of belonging, feelings about the domain).
Gender Differences in Motivational Dispositions and Achievement in Math From an Expectancy-Value Theory Perspective
Expectancy-Value Theory
Eccles et al. (1983) expectancy-value theory is one of the most widely used frameworks for investigating gender differences in motivational dispositions in math and has been highly effective in explaining women's underrepresentation in the STEM fields (Watt and Eccles, 2008; Schoon and Eccles, 2014).
In general, motivation can be defined as “the process whereby goal-directed activity is instigated and sustained” (Schunk et al., 2008, p.4). However, current work on motivation from the perspective of expectancy-value theory focusses mainly on expectancy and value beliefs as motivational dispositions (Eccles et al., 1983; Eccles, 2005). Specifically, Eccles et al. (1983) suggested that the expectation of success in a specific domain as well as several aspects of subjective task values would predict academic decision making and thereby also specific educational outcomes, such as later achievement or educational choices. Young people should thus choose math-intensive STEM careers if they expect to be good at math and science activities and have high values in these domains.
Eccles and Wigfield (2002) defined expectancies for success as a person's beliefs about his or her success in a task in the immediate or long-term future. Expectancy beliefs are therefore closely related to other competence beliefs, such as academic self-concept, which has often been used to measure expectancies for success (see Marsh, 2007; Nagengast et al., 2011). Eccles et al. (1983) differentiated four different components of subjective task values: intrinsic value, attainment value, utility value, and cost. Intrinsic value is defined as enjoyment while performing a task (Eccles, 2005). It is thus similar to other motivational constructs such as intrinsic motivation as defined by Deci and Ryan (1985)—which refers to reasons for engaging in a task, such as inherent satisfaction—or interest as defined by Renninger and Hidi (2011). Attainment value refers to the personal importance of doing well on a task or in a domain (Eccles, 2005). Utility value captures more extrinsic reasons for engaging in a task, namely the perceived usefulness of a task or domain (Eccles, 2005). Finally, cost captures negative aspects of engaging in a task or domain, such as required effort or time (Eccles, 2005).
Gender Differences in Motivational Dispositions and Achievement in Math
Ample research drawing upon expectancy-value theory has consistently indicated that girls exhibit lower expectancy and value beliefs (and higher cost) for math than boys from an early age on (for reviews, see Wang and Degol, 2013; Wigfield et al., 2015). By contrast, meta-analyses investigating gender differences in math achievement have shown rather small advantages for boys compared with girls (e.g., Else-Quest et al., 2010; Reilly et al., 2015). Moreover, these analyses have indicated that such gender differences seem to occur only on math achievement tests (Reilly et al., 2015), whereas girls even show an advantage in teacher-assigned school marks (Voyer and Voyer, 2014).
The Role of Stereotypes in the Development of Children's Motivational Dispositions and Achievement
According to expectancy-value theory, socializers' beliefs and behaviors as well as cultural milieu influence individuals' task perceptions and interpretations of previous academic achievement (Eccles et al., 1983). In explaining gender differences in expectancy and value beliefs and achievement, expectancy-value theory thus indicates that girls and boys are socialized through different processes, which are shaped by the surrounding environment and its gender norms and roles, the individuals' beliefs, and the choices females and males make on the basis of their socialization (Eccles, 2009). In particular, gendered socialization refers to specific gender roles or the gender-stereotypical attitudes and expectancies of parents, teachers, and other socializing influences such as the media, all of which transmit gender stereotypes (Wigfield et al., 2015).
Stereotypes can be broadly defined as associations of group members with specific attributes (Greenwald et al., 2002). Regarding gender, there are specific stereotypes about the traits, abilities, and motivation of males and females, specifically in the domain of math (see Leaper, 2015). Math and science are male-typed domains, and gender stereotypes in these domains include assumptions about lower abilities and less talent in math for females compared with males (e.g., Spencer et al., 1999).
According to expectancy-value theory, as a result of the gender stereotypes children face in their socialization, girls disidentify with math and devalue the subject in the long run, whereas boys may particularly identify with and value math (Eccles et al., 1983; Wigfield et al., 2015). Consequently, boys develop higher competence beliefs and values in male-typed domains such as math and math-intensive STEM domains, whereas girls develop higher competence beliefs and values in female-typed domains such as languages and arts (e.g., Wigfield et al., 2015). It is assumed that such gender differences in math competence beliefs and values may lead to gender differences in math achievement in the long run (Wigfield and Eccles, 2000). Previous studies have supported these assumptions by showing that women's gender stereotypes reduced their domain identification (e.g. their positive attitudes and their sense of belonging; Cheryan et al., 2009; see also Thoman et al., 2013 for a review) as well as their future expectancies of success (Smith et al., 2015) and their future task values (Plante et al., 2013; Smith et al., 2015). Expectancy and task values, in turn, have been shown to be important predictors of later achievement (e.g., Marsh et al., 2005; Denissen et al., 2007).
Stereotype Threat as a Potential Mechanism for How Stereotypes can Influence Children
The repeated experience of stereotypes is one potential mechanism that may explain how stereotypes of others can influence girls' and boys' performance, expectancy and value beliefs, and attitudes toward math. According to expectancy-value theory, such experiences might lead to the internalization of gender-role stereotypes, with the previously described consequences that girls disidentify with and devalue math, and boys particularly identify with and value math in the long run (Eccles et al., 1983; Wigfield et al., 2015).
Research on stereotype threat has provided support for this idea by showing that the activation of traditional gender stereotypes can reduce girls' attitudes and belonging in math as well as their performance and motivational dispositions in the short term (for a review, see Spencer et al., 2016). Steele and Aronson (1995) defined stereotype threat as a situational experience in which group members feel concerned about confirming a negative stereotype that pertained to their own group. They suggested that such concerns might compromise a person's behavior and performance.
Stereotype Threat and Girls' Performance, Motivational Dispositions, and Attitudes
Originally, research on stereotype threat focused on explaining the underperformance of African Americans in performance (Steele and Aronson, 1995), but ample research has also been conducted to examine gender differences in math-intensive domains (e.g., Spencer et al., 1999; Schmader, 2002; Tomasetto et al., 2011). Such research has demonstrated that females show lower math performance if they are reminded of negative stereotypes about women in math, but they perform as well as males if such stereotypes are not made salient before they take a math test (Nguyen and Ryan, 2008; Doyle and Voyer, 2016). Although most of this research has been conducted on college students or older adults, multiple studies have reported similar effects among children or adolescents (e.g., Ambady et al., 2001; Flore and Wicherts, 2015). These studies have demonstrated that children in elementary school are already aware of their own gender and show gender-stereotypical views in the domain of math, as they attribute lower math ability and talent to girls and women than to boys and men (e.g., Signorella et al., 1993; Ambady et al., 2001; Passolunghi et al., 2014). In addition, there is research on the short-term effects of stereotypes on math performance among girls of different ages (Ambady et al., 2001; Muzzatti and Agnoli, 2007; Neuville and Croizet, 2007; Tomasetto et al., 2011; Hermann and Vollmeyer, 2016). A meta-analysis by Flore and Wicherts (2015), for instance, found that girls who are reminded of typical gender stereotypes in math exhibit slightly lower math performance compared to girls who are not reminded of such stereotypes. Such effects have been consistently found for girls younger than 13 years old.
Effects of stereotype threat have also been shown for females' motivational dispositions and attitudes toward a domain, such as their domain identification and their sense of belonging in math and science (e.g., Cheryan et al., 2009; see also Thoman et al., 2013, for a review), their competence beliefs (Cadinu et al., 2003), and their interest (Smith et al., 2007; see also Thoman et al., 2013, for a review). Again, much of this work has been conducted on adult samples. However, there are a few studies reporting similar effects for girls. A study by Muzzatti and Agnoli (2007) indicated stereotype threat effects on 8th grade girls' competence beliefs in math, although no effects were found for 3rd and 5th graders. Furthermore, Master et al. (2015) found stereotype threat effects on 15-years-old female high school students' interest and sense of belonging in STEM courses.
Stereotype Threat and Boys' Performance, Motivational Dispositions, and Attitudes
Effects of stereotypes on boys' performance, motivational dispositions, and attitudes toward a domain are less clear, as there are only a few studies on such effects and contradictory findings have been reported. Muzzatti and Agnoli (2007), for example, found no effects of presenting stereotypes on boys' math performance in Grades 3, 5, and 8 as well as their math competence beliefs in Grades 3 and 5 (see also Hermann and Vollmeyer, 2016 for similar results on boys in elementary school). However, among 8th graders, they found higher competence beliefs among boys who were confronted with the stereotype of males' advantage in math compared to the control group (Muzzatti and Agnoli, 2007). Similarly, Master et al. (2015) found no effects of stereotypes on male adolescents' sense of belonging and interest in enrolling in computer courses.
In addition, there is some work on the effects of stereotypes on males using adult samples that also suggest that males are not much affected by stereotypes (Walton and Cohen, 2003; Cheryan et al., 2009; Fogliati and Bussey, 2013; Doyle and Voyer, 2016). Although a meta-analysis by Walton and Cohen (2003) indicated positive effects of traditional gender stereotypes for men's math performance, a more recent meta-analysis by Doyle and Voyer (2016) found no effects. Furthermore, no effects of traditional gender stereotypes have been reported with respect to men's interest and belonging in computer science (Cheryan et al., 2009) or their motivation to improve in math (Fogliati and Bussey, 2013).
In sum, several studies indicate effects of stereotypes on females' performance, motivational dispositions, and attitudes toward math, whereas most studies have reported no effects for males. Nevertheless, the abovementioned studies on stereotype threat effects should be interpreted with caution because the robustness of such effects has recently been called into question due to indications of publication bias in a meta-analysis of this research (Flore and Wicherts, 2015).
Effects of Stereotypes Presented in the Media
Research on expectancy-value theory has focused primarily on the influence of parents, teachers, or peers on children's endorsement of stereotypes and their expectancy and value beliefs (see Wigfield et al., 2015), but research in the area of media psychology and communication studies has suggested that television programs and movies can contribute to children's gender-role learning in terms of their perceptions of gender-typical occupations (Steinke et al., 2007) or their gender-role values and interpersonal attraction (Aubrey and Harrison, 2004). In addition, research on stereotype threat has indicated a wide range of situations, such as newspaper articles (Cheryan et al., 2013), images in schoolbooks (Good et al., 2010), and photographs (Muzzatti and Agnoli, 2007), in which stereotypes about females' underperformance in math can affect both females and males.
In a recent meta-analysis, Appel and Weber (2017) investigated how stereotypes in mass media (e.g., newspapers, cartoons, advertisements) can affect stereotyped and non-stereotyped groups. In this analysis, negative effects of d = −0.38 for members of the stereotyped group and positive effects of d = 0.17 for members of the non-targeted group were reported.
Additionally, there are a few studies specifically investigating effects of stereotypes in videos and television advertising (Davies et al., 2002; Murphy et al., 2007; Bond, 2016). Bond (2016) presented short clips of different television shows (about 2 min long) to elementary school girls in a gender stereotype condition, a counter-stereotype condition, and a neutral control condition. No effects of the stereotypes were found on math and science competence beliefs or interest in STEM-related careers. However, girls in the stereotype condition reported more interest in stereotypical careers than those in the other two conditions.
In an adult sample, Murphy et al. (2007) found negative effects of reminding women of their underrepresentation in math-intensive STEM fields via video on their sense of belonging as well as intention to participate in a STEM-related conference. In this study, women in the stereotyped condition watched a video in which the male-female ratio reflected the proportion of women in these fields, whereas women in the control condition watched a video with a gender-balanced proportion.
Davies et al. (2002) showed that women experience stereotype threat when they are reminded of existing stereotypes about women in television advertising. In this study, participants watched commercials in which women were very excited about buying cosmetic products or trying a new baking recipe. After watching these commercials, women performed worse on a math test compared with men who watched the same commercials and compared with women who watched gender-neutral commercials. The results furthermore showed that women preferred verbal tasks and avoided math-related tasks after watching such commercials compared with the control group and men in the experimental group. Women also showed less interest in educational and vocational areas that are typically male-stereotyped but higher interest in typically female-stereotyped domains.
The reported studies indicate that stereotypes in videos can have negative effects on females. However, these findings provide only initial insights into the effects of television. Furthermore, these studies investigated stereotypes that were presented in isolated situations. Thus, they were not able to provide insights into how stereotypes might affect children when experienced in their daily lives in more complex situations, for instance, as one part of a whole television program.
In the present study, we investigated effects of gender stereotypes in a STEM television program on girls' and boys' stereotype endorsement, their math performance, their motivational dispositions (i.e., expectancy and value beliefs), and their attitudes (i.e., sense of belonging and feeling) toward math. Despite the importance of television programs in children's everyday lives and the relevance of such programs for children's informal science learning, there is a lack of research on how girls' and boys' reception of STEM television programs might be affected in different ways by presentations of traditional gender stereotypes in such programs. Research on expectancy-value theory and stereotype threat has provided initial insights into how stereotypes might affect children. However, research on expectancy-value theory has mainly focused on the role of stereotypes that are conveyed by parents, teachers, or peers (see Wigfield et al., 2015), and research on stereotype threat has traditionally investigated effects of stereotypes presented as isolated stimuli in laboratory settings on adults (see Spencer et al., 2016). Furthermore, there are indications of publication bias in the stereotype threat literature (Flore and Wicherts, 2015). Accordingly, it is unclear whether and how stereotypes embedded in children's daily activities such as in a television program might affect girls and boys.
Therefore, we conducted a randomized study in which fifth-grade students watched a children's television program about math that either contained or did not contain a clip in which traditional gender stereotypes were made salient. We chose this age group because of specific developmental processes in children's expectancy and value beliefs during that age. During their elementary school years, children become increasingly better at understanding, interpreting, and integrating the feedback of others (for a review, see Wigfield et al., 2015). Therefore, they become more realistic in evaluating their own strengths and weaknesses during that period and link their expectancy and value beliefs more closely to environmental experiences than younger elementary school children (for a review, see Wigfield et al., 2015). Additionally, children become increasingly aware of social gender roles and how behavior might reflect such roles (for a review, see Leaper, 2015). In order to link the study as closely as possible to what children are likely to watch in their everyday lives, we used a television program that was broadcast on a national TV channel in Germany as the experimental material. The chosen program was designed to show children that math could be interesting and fun and included a section with stereotypes in which two girls were frustrated that they had to do math and then decided to copy their homework from a male classmate.
According to expectancy-value theory, experiencing gender stereotypes leads girls to disidentify with math and devalue the subject, whereas boys may particularly identify with and value math. As a result of such processes, boys develop higher competence beliefs and values in male-typed domains such as math and math-intensive STEM domains than girls (e.g., Wigfield et al., 2015). In order to obtain a comprehensive picture of how stereotypes can affect such socialization processes, we examined effects of the experimental manipulation on different outcomes. First, we explored how the stereotypes affect children's stereotype endorsement. Second, we examined effects on sense of belonging in math and feeling toward the domain as indicators of children's identification with the subject. Third, we investigated effects on self-concept (as an indicator of expectancy beliefs), the four task values as well as performance in math. We pre-registered our predictions on the effects for these outcomes before conducting the experiment in order to increase research transparency (https://osf.io/8f7y6/?view_only=d85b73e70f5040b5a54fcf03091811f1). As such, we followed the recommendations of Wagenmakers et al. (2012) and van't Veer and Giner-Sorolla (2016) by pre-registering hypotheses and exploratory research questions as well as information on the experimental design, the sample, the variables, and the analysis strategy.
On the basis of existing literature on effects of stereotypes on math performance (Flore and Wicherts, 2015), self-concept (Cadinu et al., 2003; Muzzatti and Agnoli, 2007), and sense of belonging (Master et al., 2015), we expected that girls who watched the gender-stereotyped television program would show lower math performance, lower math self-concept, and a lower sense of belonging in math compared with girls in the control condition.
We explored effects on girls' task values in math and their feelings about math as open-ended research questions. There is only sparse evidence on how task values might be influenced by gender stereotypes (Plante et al., 2013; Smith et al., 2015), and previous work has not differentiated between the four components (intrinsic value, attainment value, utility value, and cost). Furthermore, to the best of our knowledge, there is no work that has investigated effects of stereotypes on children's feelings about a domain. We therefore did not hypothesize specific effects on task values and feelings about math.
In order to gain insights into possible differential effects of such stereotypes on girls and boys, we explored effects on boys' performance, expectancy and value beliefs, sense of belonging and feeling toward the domain in math-related constructs as well, using the same outcomes measures. Due to the mixed findings from previous research on the effects of stereotypes on such constructs for males, we did not hypothesize specific effects for boys but rather investigated possible effects on these outcomes for boys as exploratory research questions.
We did not formulate any specific hypotheses with respect to the endorsement of gender stereotypes among both girls and boys, because previous research has provided mixed results on the effects of gender stereotypes on children's endorsement of gender stereotypes (Ambady et al., 2001; Schmader et al., 2004; Steffens et al., 2010).
Participants were 335 fifth-grade students. Children were recruited from 18 classes of four academic track schools (Gymnasium) in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. The sample size was based on a power analysis for a randomized block trial with the treatment implemented at the student level using Optimal Design (Raudenbush et al., 2011). We calculated the required number of classrooms by aiming to achieve an acceptable level of power (β = 0.80) to detect medium-sized intervention effects (δ = 0.40) when comparing the experimental with the control condition. We assumed that 10 girls and 10 boys would participate in each class, and they would be randomly assigned to the control and experimental conditions. We furthermore assumed an effect size variability of 0.10 (for more details, see the preregistration protocol).
Children participated in the study on a voluntary basis, and for every participant, we obtained written consent from a parent. The mean age of the sample was 10.08 years (SD = 0.38), and the number of girls and boys who participated in the study was almost equal (48.7% girls).
Design and Procedure
As preregistered, we collected the data using a pretest–posttest design, and we applied a randomized block design to examine effects of gender stereotypes in a television program. Girls and boys were randomly assigned to the experimental and control conditions within each class (experimental condition: N = 87 girls and N = 85 boys; control condition: N = 76 girls and N = 87 boys). Participants were tested in one classroom simultaneously, but every student watched the video separately on an iPad with headphones. We collected the pretest data 1 week before the experimental manipulation and the posttest data directly after the experimental manipulation. The presentation order of the achievement test and the questionnaire was balanced on the class level in both phases of data collection because research on stereotype threat has shown that even small and short manipulations can influence students' performance, motivational dispositions, and attitudes (e.g., Master et al., 2015; i.e., the achievement test might affect students' motivational dispositions and attitudes if assessed first, or the questionnaire might wash out any effects on performance). We randomly assigned the classes to these two conditions (N = 9 classes in each condition). Data were collected in June and July 2016 by trained research assistants during school hours (a maximum of one lesson for the pretest, a maximum of two lessons for the experiment and the posttest).
Experimental Manipulation
As experimental material, we used one episode from a German children's television program, which was broadcast on a German national television channel in June 2015. The episode focused on math and was designed to show children that math could be interesting and fun even though it might be experienced as boring in school (KiKa.de, 2015). The episode had a total duration of 23 min. As preregistered, only 15 min of the episode were used in the present study due to time constraints. This included an introduction by a male television presenter (about 1 min) and two different math tasks solved by fifth-grade children (about 13 min). In addition, the video included a clip that implied traditional gender stereotypes in math (about 1 min). This part showed two girls who were very frustrated that they had to do math homework. Instead of doing their homework, one girl copied it from a male classmate, and in exchange, she promised him that her friend would accompany him to the movies. Her friend was horrified about going out with this boy because he seemed rather geeky. He was wearing very large glasses, a shirt that was completely buttoned up, suit trousers, and suspenders. Such stereotypes of the geeky math boy are often presented in movies or television programs (see e.g., Heyman, 2008; Collins, 2011).
The introduction and the math tasks solved by the children were used in both conditions. The experimental manipulation depended on only the last minute of the video. In the experimental condition, participants watched the gender-stereotyped clip. In the control condition, participants watched a neutral summary of the first 14 min of the video. The summary was comparable in length so that the total length of the video would be held constant between the conditions. Consequently, participants experienced the stereotype as a short section within the whole television program so that the ecological validity of the experiment would be high.
Because the television program was broadcast on a national TV channel in Germany, we assessed whether participants had already seen the video beforehand, which was the case for 41 students. As a robustness check, we computed all analyses without these students, but the results did not differ meaningfully (see the Supplemental Material).
We used an achievement test and a questionnaire to assess effects of the experimental manipulation. The instruments were identical at pre- and posttest, with the exception of questions about the video, which were only assessed at posttest.
Math Performance
We assessed students' math performance with a speed test that consisted of three sections containing basic tasks involving addition, subtraction, and multiplication (basic competence test; Lambert et al., in preparation). Each part consisted of 36 tasks, and for each individual part, we asked the students to solve as many tasks as possible within 2 min. The sum score of all three parts, generated by computing the sum of correctly solved items, was used in the analyses. The test showed high internal consistency (Kuder-Richardson 20 = 0.93/0.94 for the pretest/posttest).
We assessed children's stereotype endorsement, their motivational dispositions (i.e., self-concept and value beliefs) as well as their attitudes toward math (i.e., sense of belonging and feelings) with a questionnaire to capture whether children (dis)identify with and (de)value this domain after watching the video including the stereotypes. Unless otherwise noted, all items on the questionnaire were measured with a 4-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (completely disagree) to 4 (completely agree). The 4-point Likert scale was used to avoid confounding response factors in scales containing a middle category (Kaplan, 1972; Dubois and Burns, 1975). Additionally, four response options seems to be optimal for children, as they are not able to differentiate between more categories (Borgers et al., 2004). Due to the small number of response options, we carefully checked the degree of non-normality in our data. Although there was some variation across scales, the skewness and kurtosis values all fell within an acceptable range (average skewness was −0.36, with no scale having a skewness >1.4, and the average kurtosis was 0.59, with only 2 scales having a kurtosis >1). The questionnaire is available at https://osf.io/8f7y6/?view_only=d85b73e70f5040b5a54fcf03091811f1.
Stereotype endorsement
We assessed stereotype endorsement with three items based on items from Schmader et al. (2004). We adapted the items for children by using “boys” and “girls” in the wording instead of “men” and “women” (e.g., “Boys have higher math abilities than girls”; α = 0.76/0.76 for the pretest/posttest).
We extended the scale by including two items in which the words “boys” and “girls” were interchanged (e.g., “Girls have better math abilities than boys”) and preregistered this extension. We recoded these items before computing the scale score. Because the reliability of the extended scale was rather low (α = 0.52/0.55 for the pretest/posttest), we used only the original scale in our analyses.
Task values
We assessed students' value beliefs in math with scales from Gaspard et al. (2015). The items covered all four conceptual dimensions of task values as specified in the expectancy-value model (Wigfield and Eccles, 2000). Intrinsic value (e.g., “I like doing math”; α = 0.92/0.94 for the pretest/posttest), attainment value (e.g., “It is important to me to be good at math”; four items; α = 0.87/0.93 for the pretest/posttest), and cost (emotional costs, e.g., “Studying math makes me quite nervous”; α = 0.78/.86 for the pretest/posttest) were assessed with four items each. For utility value, we differentiated between two facets: utility for daily life (e.g., “Knowing about the subject of math brings me many advantages in my daily life”; α = 0.82/0.84 for the pretest/posttest) and social utility (e.g., “Sound knowledge in math counts for something with my classmates”; α = .68/.80 for the pretest/posttest), which were both assessed with three items.
We assessed self-concept with a math self-concept scale comprised of four items (e.g., “I am good at math”; α = .86/.86 for the pretest/posttest), which has been well-validated in previous studies (see Gaspard et al., 2016).
Sense of belonging
We assessed students' sense of belonging in math with 10 items (e.g., “I feel like a real part of my class in math”), based on the Psychological Sense of School Membership (PSSM; Goodenow, 1993). The items were translated into German and adapted to math class instead of school membership. Due to low item-scale correlations (rit = 0.03/0.16 for the pretest/posttest), we excluded 1 item when we computed the scale. The final scale therefore consisted of 9 items and showed an acceptable internal consistency (α = 0.76/0.84 for the pretest/posttest). Because we did not preregister the exclusion of the item, we conducted the analysis for this outcome also using the original scale, which included all 10 items. The internal consistency for this scale was acceptable (α = 0.73/0.83 for the pretest/posttest), and the results did not differ meaningfully from those computed with the reduced scale (see the Supplemental Material for this as well as for model fit indices from confirmatory factor analyses of the scales).
Explicit attitudes toward math
We assessed explicit attitudes toward math with a feeling thermometer as used by Kessels et al. (2006). Students were asked to rate their preferences using scales ranging from 0 (cold/unfavorable) to 100 (warm/favorable) for math and German. As done by Kessels et al. (2006), we calculated the difference between the two scores as an indicator of students' attitudes toward the domains. Therefore, the final score consisted of possible values ranging from −100 to +100, whereby positive values indicated positive attitudes toward math relative to German, and negative values indicated negative attitudes toward math relative to German.
Additional scales
As preregistered, we additionally assessed stereotype endorsement with measures based on studies by Ambady et al. (2001) and Steffens et al. (2010) in which the participants were asked how much they would like to engage in activities related to math and German. Due to high rates of missing data and the low reliability of these scales, we refrained from conducting additional analyses on these instruments.
We furthermore preregistered analyses with respect to the same set of constructs (i.e., task values, self-concept, sense of belonging) in the domain of German. Dimensional comparisons of complementary domains are important in the development of students' motivational dispositions (Möller and Marsh, 2013), and there are initial findings on how motivational dispositions in a verbal domain might be affected by traditional gender stereotypes in commercials (Davies et al., 2002). Due to space limitations, the results on girls' and boys' motivational dispositions and attitudes in German are reported in the Supplemental Material. In summary, we found no effects of the experimental condition on girls' and boys' motivational dispositions and attitudes in German except that girls in the experimental condition reported lower cost in German than those in the control condition.
In order to estimate effects of the gender stereotypes in the television program, we computed multiple regression analyses for the different outcomes in Mplus 7.31 (Muthén and Muthén, 2012) as preregistered. All models included student gender (pacifier coded, boy = 1), the experimental condition (a pacifier-coded variable based on students' original assignment, experimental condition = 1), and the Gender × Condition interaction as predictor variables. In addition, we included the respective pretest measures as covariates to estimate the effect of the experimental manipulation more precisely (Raudenbush, 1997). In order to make it easier to interpret the results, we standardized all continuous predictors (i.e., the pretest scores) and the respective dependent variable.
In our analyses, we conducted an intention-to-treat analysis by taking only the original assignment into account in order to keep the randomization to the experimental and control conditions intact (Shadish et al., 2002). As a robustness check, we ran all analyses without the students who did not correctly answer a question about what they had seen in the last minute of the video, that is, two girls who copied the homework of a classmate in the experimental condition or a summary of the video in the control condition (n = 13). This question was assessed at the end of the posttest questionnaire. The results did not differ meaningfully and are presented in the Supplemental Material.
To test whether there were any order effects of the instruments, we computed multiple-group regression analyses with the order of the instruments as the grouping variable. We tested the difference between the models for each group with Wald χ2 tests. If there were no significant differences between the coefficients in the models, we calculated multiple regressions for the whole sample.
Missing data ranged from 2.1% to 9.9% for the different scales because some students were absent when the pre- or post-test was given, and some students did not respond to individual scales. To deal with missing data, we used the full information maximum likelihood approach as implemented in Mplus 7.31 (Muthén and Muthén, 2012).
We considered the clustered structure of the data (students nested in classes) by using the design-based correction of standard errors implemented in Mplus 7.31 (Muthén and Muthén, 2012).
Descriptive Statistics and Randomization Check
The means and standard deviations for all scales are shown by gender and condition in Tables 1–3. Compared with boys, girls showed significantly lower math performance and reported lower levels of the feeling thermometer, self-concept, intrinsic value, and social utility value on the pretest. The correlations for the outcome variables indicate that the mean levels were relatively stable across the two measurement points for all outcomes (0.60 < r < 0.87; see Table 4).
Table 1. Descriptive statistics for all study variables on the pretest separated by gender.
Table 2. Descriptive statistics for all outcome variables at T1 separated by gender and condition.
Table 4. Correlations between all Study Variables.
To test whether the randomization in the two conditions had been successful in the baseline measures, we computed multiple regression models as preregistered (pretest values regressed on the experimental condition, gender, and the Gender × Condition interaction). There were no significant differences between the conditions for girls and boys on the pretest values for all variables (all ps > 0.137) except for the boys with respect to sense of belonging. Here, boys in the experimental condition showed lower baseline scores than those in the control condition [d = 0.36, 95% CI [0.07, 0.65]]. As preregistered, we controlled for the pretest scores in all analyses to estimate the effect of the experimental manipulation more precisely because of the explanatory power of this covariate.
Effects of the Experimental Manipulation
First, we tested if there were any order effects of the instruments by computing multiple-group regression analyses using the order of the instruments as the grouping variable. Wald χ2 tests indicated no differences in these models with respect to any of the studied outcomes (all ps > 0.154) except for social utility value, where the coefficients for the Gender × Condition interaction differed significantly, χ(1)2 = 11.76, p = 0.001. Consequently, we computed multiple regression analyses using the total sample for all outcomes (i.e., averaged across instrument order) except for social utility value (see Tables 5–7).
Table 5. Multiple regression models 1: effects on stereotype endorsement, performance, self-concept, sense of belonging, and feeling thermometer.
Table 6. Multiple regression models 2: effects on intrinsic value, attainment value, utility value for daily life, and cost.
Table 7. Multiple-group multiple regression model: effects on social utility value.
We specified multiple regressions to test effects of the experimental manipulation (see Tables 5, 6). As girls were coded 0, the main effect of the experimental condition was equal to the simple slope for girls, whereas the Gender × Condition interaction term indicated whether the effects differed between boys and girls. Because we were more interested in investigating effects of the experimental manipulation on girls' and boys' performance, motivational dispositions, and attitudes rather than on gender differences in these outcomes, we additionally estimated the simple slopes for boys for all outcomes using the model constraint in Mplus.
With respect to stereotype endorsement, we did not hypothesize specific effects due to mixed previous results for effects of stereotype threat on this outcome. The results revealed a significant positive effect of the experimental condition for girls. The same result held for boys because the Gender × Condition interaction was not statistically significant (see Table 5).
Regarding math performance, math self-concept, and sense of belonging, we hypothesized that girls in the experimental condition would score lower on these outcomes than girls in the control condition. For boys, we did not hypothesize specific effects. For these outcomes, the results revealed no significant effect of the experimental condition for girls. For math performance and math self-concept, there were also no effects of the condition for boys. With respect to sense of belonging, the Gender × Condition interaction was statistically significant, and there was a positive effect of the condition for boys, indicating that in contrast to girls, boys in the experimental condition showed higher values of sense of belonging than boys in the control condition (see Table 5 and Figure 1).
Figure 1. Effects of the experimental manipulation. Error bars represent 95% confidence intervals. CG = control group; EG = experimental group.
Regarding task values and attitudes toward math assessed with the feeling thermometer, we did not hypothesize specific effects of the experimental condition for girls and boys. With respect to the feeling thermometer, intrinsic value, attainment value, utility value for daily life, and cost, we found no significant effects of the experimental condition for either girls or boys (see Table 6).
For social utility, we computed multiple-group regression analyses using the order of the instruments as a grouping variable because a Wald χ2 test indicated effects of the order of the instruments in the assessment as described above. Because we were interested in the effects of the experimental manipulation on social utility assessed with the questionnaire, the results for the students who were given the questionnaire first in the assessment were of major interest. For the students who were given the questionnaire first, there was no significant effect of the condition for girls, but the Gender × Condition interaction was statistically significant, indicating that boys in the experimental condition reported a significantly lower social utility score than those in the control condition (see Table 7 and Figure 1). For the students who were given the achievement test first, there was no significant effect of the condition for girls or for boys (see Table 7).
In this experimental study, we examined how stereotypes embedded in a children's television program about math influence girls' and boys' stereotype endorsement, math performance, motivational dispositions and attitudes in math. We used a randomized study with a pretest–posttest design and a relatively large sample size, which enabled us to detect medium-sized effects. The material we chose was a television program that had been broadcast on a German national television channel, thus contributing to the high validity of the study. Television programs play a central role in children's everyday lives and are an important part of their informal science learning, but such programs can provide specific gender stereotypes about math (National Reserach Council., 2009; Collins, 2011; Rideout, 2015). Previous research has indicated that the stereotypes children encounter in their environment can impact young girls' and boys' math performance, motivational dispositions, and attitudes. Yet, such research has primarily been conducted in laboratory settings where stereotypes have been presented as isolated stimuli, rather than integrated into other information as would be the case in children's daily lives, for instance, in television programs.
Overall, our results did not indicate that children's performance, motivational dispositions, and attitudes were strongly affected by the stereotypes presented in one part of a television program. However, girls and boys in the experimental condition reported a higher endorsement of stereotypes compared with the respective control condition. Furthermore, boys showed a higher sense of belonging but lower social utility after watching the video that included the stereotypes compared with boys in the control condition. We did not find any effects on either the other motivational dispositions, attitudes or math performance for boys. We also did not find any effects on math performance, motivational dispositions, and attitudes for girls.
Discussion of the Findings
First of all, the small number of significant effects found in this study support previous research indicating that the short-term effects of stereotypes on performance, motivational dispositions, and attitudes are not as robust as sometimes claimed. For example, Stoet and Geary (2012) reviewed replication attempts of the stereotype threat effect on women's math performance that was found in Spencer et al. (1999) original study. According to this review, only 30% of replication studies confirmed the original finding. In addition, Flore and Wicherts (2015) found indications of publication bias in their meta-analysis on stereotype threat effects in children. In accordance with these findings, the non-significant effects found in our study indicate that stereotype threat effects might occur only in specific situations or might apply only to some children. Here, the negative effect on boys' social utility might add to this discussion because this effect was found only for students who were given the questionnaire first (in the assessment in which we also assessed social utility). We did not find any effects of condition among boys who were given the questionnaire after the achievement test. Therefore, the stereotypes might have affected boys' social utility in the short term, but were washed out after they completed the achievement test, indicating that even if stereotype threat effects occur, they might be very limited in duration and sensitive to other influences.
Nevertheless, specific characteristics of the present study could have also contributed to the small number of effects found. For example, the duration and frequency of the stereotypes presented in the video provide one possible explanation for the fact that we found hardly any effects on girls' and boys' performance, motivational dispositions, and attitudes even though we found an effect on their stereotype endorsement. According to expectancy-value theory, it is through repeated experience that effects begin to accumulate and can lead to the internalization of gender-role stereotypes and to gender differences in expectancy and value beliefs in math in the end (Wigfield and Eccles, 2000; Eccles, 2009). In our study, we used a television program that was broadcast on national television to ensure that the experimental material was strongly linked to children's daily life experiences. However, the stereotyped clip in this television program had a duration of only about 1 min, and the children in the experimental condition saw this clip only once. Thus, the duration and frequency of stereotype presentation might need to be increased in future studies to substantially affect girls' and boys' motivational dispositions.
Furthermore, when interpreting the results of the present study for girls and for boys, the specific age group of the participants should be taken into consideration. We investigated how stereotypes in a television program affect 5th graders because important processes in the development of children's expectancy and value beliefs and understanding of gender role behavior take place during that age period. Around the age of 10 years old, children become increasingly aware of how gender-stereotypical behavior might reflect social gender roles (for a review, see Leaper, 2015). In addition, children increasingly understand, interpret and integrate others' feedback and become more realistic in evaluating their strengths and weaknesses during their elementary school years (Wigfield et al., 2015). Such processes are believed to influence the development of children's expectancy and value beliefs (Wigfield et al., 2015).
We investigated how stereotypes experienced in the environment might influence students' motivational dispositions among 5th graders because children at that age should be right at the beginning of these developmental processes. In addition, previous research has indicated that even elementary school children can be affected by gender stereotypes—at least with respect to math performance (Flore and Wicherts, 2015). However, the participants' young age could be a reason why we found (almost) no effects on students' expectancy and value beliefs. One reason for this assumption is provided by findings from the stereotype threat literature that have indicated that group and domain identification moderate effects of stereotype threat (e.g, Schmader, 2002; Lewis and Sekaquaptewa, 2016). Given that children increasingly identify with specific school subjects in elementary and middle school but do not differentiate much between the subjects at younger ages (see Wigfield et al., 2015), the participants in our study might have been too young and might not have sufficiently identified with the domain of math.
In addition, the stereotypes that were displayed in the video may provide an explanation for the fact that we did not find any effects on girls' motivational dispositions, attitudes, and performance in math and only a few effects on boys' motivational dispositions and attitudes. With respect to the girls in the video, it was not clear whether the girls in the video thought doing their math homework was boring or whether they were not able to solve the problems; thus, the video might have targeted the low motivation of these girls and not their low performance or talent in math, which has typically been the focus of studies that have investigated the effects of stereotype threat (see e.g., Nguyen and Ryan, 2008).
A video that more directly targets girls' lower performance or talent compared with boys might thus evoke stronger effects on girls' motivational dispositions and attitudes. Such a video might also evoke more positive effects on boys' motivational dispositions and attitudes, effects that would go against previous research that has indicated the experience of stereotype lift for male students in situations in which female students' disadvantage in math was made salient. Stereotype lift describes the effect of a boost for the non-targeted group in settings in which stereotypes are activated (e.g., for men after negative stereotypes of women's math performance have been presented; e.g., Walton and Cohen, 2003; Johnson et al., 2012). The positive effect on boys' sense of belonging could be an indication of effects of stereotype lift on this outcome due to the traditional gender stereotypes in the video such as the stereotype that boys are better at math than girls.
However, the negative effect on boys' social utility can hardly be explained by stereotype lift effects. Here, the specific portrait of the boy presented in the stereotyped clip could have played a role. Although the male classmate from whom the girls copied their homework seemed to be mathematically competent, he was also presented as geeky. To the best of our knowledge, effects of this stereotype have not yet been investigated. However, there is research on the stereotypes of math and science. Such research has indicated that favoring these subjects reduces students' perceived social competence and popularity. A study by Hannover and Kessels (2004) showed that students who admitted to liking science were judged as less popular, less attractive, less socially competent, and less integrated than students who claimed they did not like science. As the social utility scale directly referred to social acceptance, the stereotype of the boy as competent but geeky might thus explain the negative effect of the stereotype on boys' social utility.
Strength and Limitations
One major strength of this study is its high ecological validity. In our experiment, we used a television program that was broadcast on national television. Although the experiment took place in the school context, which does not exactly represent the setting in which children watch television programs in their everyday lives, the experimental material perfectly reflected what children encounter in real-world situations. Contrary to previous research on stereotypes, we furthermore investigated effects of stereotypes embedded into a more complex situation, where a lot of other information was presented to the children. Our results therefore provide initial insights into effects of stereotypes embedded in a television program on young girls and boys in a naturalistic setting. Nevertheless, further studies should also investigate such effects in other real-life settings, such as the home, where children might watch television programs together with their families and therefore might discuss the content of these programs.
In conducting the experiment, we applied a strong research design to address our research questions. We used a randomized block design, randomizing male and female students within classes to the different conditions. Thereby, we investigated possible effects on girls' and boys' performance as well as on different motivational dispositions and attitudes with the aim of obtaining a comprehensive picture of possible effects of traditional stereotypes in television programs. The sample size was based on a power analysis, and in order to increase the transparency of our research, we preregistered all of our hypotheses as well as the analyses. By doing so, we attempted to counter any arguments that might suggest that the effects of stereotype threat were built on p-hacking (Flore and Wicherts, 2015).
To assess possible effects of the stereotypes embedded in the television program, we included several different outcome measures such as scales for measuring all dimensions of the task values, for instance, or scales for assessing students' sense of belonging. The findings thus provide a comprehensive picture of possible effects on different outcomes, although one should keep in mind that the scale to assess students' sense of belonging was adapted from the original study. However, the measures we used were based on an achievement test and a questionnaire, which consisted of self-report measures. Our results thus provide no insights into how individuals might process the information presented in the video. Other assessment tools such as observational outcome measures (e.g., eye tracking) are necessary for investigating such processes.
The specific stereotypes transmitted in the television program also need to be considered when interpreting the results of our study. Whereas previous studies on stereotype threat mostly investigated stereotypes of girls being less able to do math than boys (see e.g., Nguyen and Ryan, 2008), the girls in the video might have only been too bored to do their math homework and the boy is depicted as being geeky. The effects on stereotype endorsement indicate that the children noticed the stereotype of boys being better in math than girls in the video. Nonetheless, it is still an open question if a video that more explicitly presents girls as being less able to do math than boys and boys not as being geeky would have caused effects on the other outcomes under investigation. For example, there is research indicating that favoring math and sciences reduces students' perceived social competence and popularity (Hannover and Kessels, 2004). Based on such findings, it can be speculated that the negative effect on social utility for boys found in the present study might be due to the presentation of the boy as being geeky in the video because the social utility scale directly referred to social acceptance. Additionally, it might be possible that the stereotype of the geeky math boy prevented girls from being negatively affected by the video because girls might have experienced this presentation as a negative stereotype against boys. However, such assumptions are rather speculative and further research is necessary to investigate whether other presentations of gender stereotypes affect girls and boys differently than those used in the present study.
Another limitation refers to the sample, which consisted of academic track students (students attending Gymnasiums). We used this sample because academic track schools are the most frequented type of school in Germany (more than 40% of students attend this type of school after primary school), and the school-leaving certificate from academic track schools entitles students to attend university (State Statistical Office of Baden-Württemberg., 2016). When investigating the influence of stereotypes on gender differences in important predictors of STEM careers, it is therefore most informative to assess samples of academic track students. Nevertheless, further research is required to investigate how the results can be generalized to students from other types of schools.
This study suggests that stereotypes in television can increase children's stereotype endorsement, but hardly affect their motivational dispositions, attitudes, and performance. Consequently, one could argue that traditional gender stereotypes presented in a television programs do not seem to affect young girls in math. This might be positive, particularly in light of the huge amount of time children spend watching television every day (Rideout et al., 2010; Rideout, 2015). However, in our study, we investigated effects of stereotypes in a television program in which only about 1 min of the material had been manipulated, and it might be repeated experience that causes effects to accumulate and sustainably affect boys and girls in the end (Wigfield and Eccles, 2000; Eccles, 2009). Additionally, even such a short clip containing stereotypes presented only once increased children's stereotype endorsement (at least in the short term). The results therefore suggest that television can activate and increase stereotypes about males' advantage in math in children, which might ultimately lead to gender differences in mathematically-intensive STEM fields (Eccles, 2009). Even though we did not find effects on children's motivational dispositions and attitudes, program developers might therefore nonetheless wish to carefully consider including stereotypes in television programs for children.
Our research adds to the discussion of the relevance of stereotype threat effects, particularly with respect to motivational dispositions (see Spencer et al., 2016). Despite effects of the experimental condition on girls' and boys' stereotype endorsement, we found hardly any effects on children's performance, motivational dispositions, and attitudes. Again, it might be repeated experience that renders effects of stereotype threat potentially harmful, and more research is needed to explore the duration of possible effects. Nevertheless, given failed attempts to replicate the original findings on stereotype threat (Stoet and Geary, 2012) and indications of publication bias in the literature on stereotype threat (Flore and Wicherts, 2015), the findings from the present study cast doubt on the robustness of stereotype threat effects. To continue this discussion, it is imperative that non-significant findings are not hidden away in the file drawer.
Datasets are available on request: The raw data supporting the conclusions of this manuscript will be made available by the authors, without undue reservation, to any qualified researcher.
This study was carried out in accordance with the recommendations of American Psychological Association with written informed consent from all subjects. All subjects and their parents gave written informed consent in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. The protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee for Psychological Research of the University of Tübingen.
All authors listed have made a substantial, direct and intellectual contribution to the work, and approved it for publication.
This research was funded by the LEAD Graduate School & Research Network [GSC1028], a project of the Excellence Initiative of the German federal and state governments. This research project was supported by the Postdoc Academy of the Hector Research Institute of Education Sciences and Psychology, Tübingen, funded by the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Science, Research and the Arts. We acknowledge support by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft and Open Access Publishing Fund of University of Tübingen.
The Supplementary Material for this article can be found online at: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.02435/full#supplementary-material
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Steffens, M. C., Jelenec, P., and Noack, P. (2010). On the leaky math pipeline: comparing implicit math-gender stereotypes and math withdrawal in female and male children and adolescents. J Educ. Psychol. 102, 947–963. doi: 10.1037/a0019920
Steinke, J., Lapinski, M. K., Crocker, N., Zietsman-Thomas, A., Williams, Y., Evergreen, S. H., et al. (2007). Assessing media influences on middle school aged children's perceptions of women in science using the draw-a-scientist test (DAST). Sci. Commun. 29, 35–64. doi: 10.1177/1075547007306508
Stoet, G., and Geary, D. C. (2012). Can stereotype threat explain the gender gap in mathematics performance and achievement? Rev. Gen. Psychol. 16, 93–102. doi: 10.1037/a0026617
Thoman, D. B., Smith, J. L., Brown, E. R., Chase, J., and Lee, J. Y. K. (2013). Beyond performance: a motivational experiences model of stereotype threat. Educ. Psychol. Rev. 25, 211–243. doi: 10.1007/s10648-013-9219-1
Tomasetto, C., Alparone, F. R., and Cadinu, M. (2011). Girls' math performance under stereotype threat: the moderating role of mothers' gender stereotypes. Dev. Psychol. 47, 943–949. doi: 10.1037/a0024047
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Wang, M.-T., and Degol, J. (2013). Motivational pathways to STEM career choices: using expectancy-value perspective to understand individual and gender differences in STEM fields. Dev. Rev. 33, 304–340. doi: 10.1016/j.dr.2013.08.001
Watt, H. M. G., and Eccles, J. S. (2008). Gender and Occupational Outcomes: Longitudinal Assessments of Individual, Social, and Cultural Influences. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
Wigfield, A., and Eccles, J. S. (2000). Expectancy–value theory of achievement motivation. Contemp. Educ. Psychol. 25, 68–81. doi: 10.1006/ceps.1999.1015
Wigfield, A., Eccles, J. S., Fredricks, J. A., Simpkins, S., Roeser, R. W., and Schiefele, U. (2015). “Development of achievement motivation and engagement,” in Handbook of Child Psychology and Developmental Science, 7th Edm, eds R. M. Lerner, C. Garcia Coll and M. E. Lamb (Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley and Sons, Inc.), 1–44.
Keywords: stereotypes, gender differences, television, math motivation, math performance
Citation: Wille E, Gaspard H, Trautwein U, Oschatz K, Scheiter K and Nagengast B (2018) Gender Stereotypes in a Children's Television Program: Effects on Girls' and Boys' Stereotype Endorsement, Math Performance, Motivational Dispositions, and Attitudes. Front. Psychol. 9:2435. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.02435
Received: 06 July 2018; Accepted: 19 November 2018;
Published: 04 December 2018.
Bernhard Ertl, Universität der Bundeswehr München, Germany
Tomas Jungert, Lund University, Sweden
Sog Yee Mok, University of Zurich, Switzerland
Copyright © 2018 Wille, Gaspard, Trautwein, Oschatz, Scheiter and Nagengast. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: Eike Wille, eike.wille@uni-tuebingen.de
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Green Solar Technologies Testimony in Front of USITC
By Edward Harner
In August of last year, Green Solar Technologies journeyed to Washington D.C. to testify in front of the United States International Trade Commission in favor of tariffs placed on foreign-made solar panels.
Read the full testimony transcript below or read at https://www.usitc.gov/press_room/documents/testimony/201_75_005.pdf
"Good morning and thank you for the opportunity to appear here today. I am Edward Harner, Chief Operating Officer of Green Solar Technologies, a leader in the U.S. solar installation industry.
Green Solar has been installing the highest quality, American-made solar panels for our highly-valued customers for many years. We are pioneers in our field and have cultivated long-standing relationships with a number of U.S. solar module producers to provide our customers with the best products at the most competitive prices. Although based in California, we sell or operate in 19 states and growing, and have worked on projects throughout the United States, from Los Angeles, California to Raleigh, North Carolina. Green Solar and its roughly 120 employees take pride in being the best in the business. In fact, earlier this year we were one of 36 companies named a "Platinum Installer" by SolarWorld for our superior installation quality, business operations and customer service.
At Green Solar, we believe in American-made solar energy products. Since opening our doors, Green Solar's preference has been to install U.S.-produced solar modules on our residential and commercial projects. Unfortunately, this choice is no longer ours if we want to stay competitive. Because of the rapid rise 1 in global cell and module imports, and their crushing impact on U.S. solar producers, we have had no choice but to supply increasing amounts of foreign made panels.
In the past five years, we have seen solar system prices artificially drop 50% in all U.S. markets. As low-priced imports continue to enter the United States at increasing volumes, it has become progressively harder to find markets not overrun by solar cell and module distributors and installers whose business models are based on foreign imports. All too often, these companies do not even identify the specific module manufacturer; instead, they wait to get the lowest possible price on the date of installation.
While these and other installers have business models that depend on the use of low-priced imports, others are gradually turning to imports out of necessity. For instance, Green Solar has a network of trusted installers that we work with to provide our customers with the best products and services possible. However, many of them are now resorting to imports to stay competitive.
As the Commission is aware from its prior investigations, solar cells and modules are overwhelmingly purchased on the basis of price. This means that if Sunrun and Solar City are offering solar modules from countries like China, Malaysia, and elsewhere at bargain basement prices, they will get the business almost every time. We compete with these companies every single day, and try to 2 respond to the constant and increasing price pressures. However, as import volumes are rising, and import prices are falling, it is becoming much more difficult to do so.
Modules produced by Trina, Hanwha, C-Sun, Yingli, and other foreign producers are being used on solar projects across the United States with increasing frequency. While it is undeniable that Chinese, Taiwanese, Vietnam, and Malaysian exports to the U.S. market have skyrocketed in the past five years, they are not the only problem. Other countries are also contributing to the solar import crisis. As one example, we are seeing growing volumes of solar modules from Korea, which is not surprising given that these modules are being offered in the U.S. market for significantly less than their U.S.-produced counterparts. Put simply, absent much needed trade relief these import trends will only worsen.
On behalf of myself, my family, and Green Solar's employees, I would like to thank the Commission for its time. Without relief, I am concerned that foreign producers will complete their goal of eliminating U.S. competition, and we will be forced to abandon U.S. solar modules altogether to stay in business. We respectfully ask the Commission to help us prevent this from happening.
Thank you for your time and attention."
#solar #solarpower #solarenergy #solarpanels #renewableenergy #usmca #washingtondc #greensolartechnologies #solarindustry #solarcompany #solarinstallation #solarmanufacturing
Nov 16, 2018 By Edward Harner
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Why Guitarists Get Stuck and What to Do About It
By Ben Higgins 2018-08-13T14:15:36Z Lesson
Stuck in a rut with your playing? Learn how to dig yourself out with this lesson.
(Image credit: Courtesy of Ben Higgins)
We all know what it feels like to get stuck with our guitar playing. It can be demoralizing and leave us unsure of what to do to dig ourselves out of the slump.
Awareness of the causes of these plateaus is the first step to climbing out of these periods of inertia. Being stuck is usually down to an emotional or a physical cause. Many times it’s actually both.
I go into more detail in the accompanying video but, to cut a long story short, the emotional cause of being stuck is down to our goals being vague and undefined. Let’s say that you’ve joined a new band and you’ve got several songs to learn. That’s a real reason to get your butt in gear and practice. Or maybe there’s a solo that you’ve always wanted to learn. That’s a real, tangible goal that has an obvious direction. You know why you’re picking up the guitar every time you go to it. A guitar player with a real tangible reason to practice is a more motivated guitarist.
A lot of the time, though, people have the nebulous goal of just wanting to ‘get better.' Whilst this may seem like a very reasonable goal to aim at, it’s also very fuzzy and vague. A generalized goal like this offers no real route to travel. It’s also hard to gauge one’s progress when the metric is undefined.
When you don’t have a clear reason of why you’re cycling a long list of exercises apart from a general sense of ‘I’m not where I want to be yet,' it’s all too easy to give up, as there’s no sense of reward or achievement due to a goal that has no end in sight. It’s no wonder we burn out and lose interest.
The physical factors that keep us stuck is a longer and more detailed subject so I’ll just highlight the first subject from the video, which is the way you hold the pick. Just this aspect alone can really mess you up without you realizing it.
Holding the pick with too much tension can be overlooked when you’re playing slow but as soon as you try to push the tempo and do anything more complex, that iron grip is going to count against you. No matter how many hours of metronome work you do, that one small aspect of guitar playing is sabotaging you right from the start.
I go through the remaining factors in the video and in way more detail but the main thing to know is that the cause of you being stuck will either have an emotional cause or a physical one. Uncovering this is your first step to getting free of the slump and enjoying your guitar playing again.
Ben Higgins started playing guitar at age 10. He’s released five solo albums and continues to teach guitarists from around the world. In 2012, he released the YouTube video “30 Shredders in One Solo,” in which he emulated the style of 30 of the world’s greatest guitarists. He topped this in 2017 with “101 Shredders in One Solo.” In 2016, Ben developed his “Badass…” online courses, which are aimed at improving people’s technique in picking, sweeping and hand synchronization.
To find out more about Ben and his courses, visit benhigginsofficial.com and keep up with him on Facebook.
Ben Higgins
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The Allman Betts Band Hit the Road in Support of Debut LP, 'Down to the River'
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Stories from the September 16, 2010 issue of the GW Hatchet. View a PDF version of this issue.
17 CCAS professors accept buyouts
By Madeleine Morgenstern September 16, 2010
Seventeen professors in the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences accepted the University’s buyout offers this summer, clearing the way for GW to hire additional research-focused faculty. In June, 101 professors were offered packages through a voluntary separation program to help clear the way for the University to hire more faculty to boost GW’s research […]
GW alum discusses U.S. trade policy at Elliott School
By Sarah Ferris September 16, 2010
An expert on trade policy stressed the need for the U.S. to form a complementary trade relationship with China at the Elliott School of International Affairs Tuesday night. Dan Ikenson, a GW alumnus and author of several articles about trade policy, highlighted the positive influence China exerts in the U.S. economy, despite domestic distrust of […]
Sustainable service The GW Institute for Sustainability Research, Education and Policy congratulates the University and its entering freshman class for organizing and successfully conducting last Saturday’s Freshman Day of Service, which focused on various environmental clean-up activities. While many such environmental projects have been conducted by GW students over the years, it’s always great to […]
Health and Human Services Secretary kicks off obesity initiative
By Ian Fenger September 16, 2010
The head of the Department of Health and Human Services emphasized the need for Americans to engage in healthy lifestyles to combat rising levels of obesity Tuesday at the Elliott School of International Affairs. HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius was part of a panel that kicked off the “Million PALA Challenge,” a White House-sponsored initiative to […]
DNC Chairman announces party image change
By Justin Kits September 16, 2010
Tim Kaine, the chairman of the Democratic National Committee, unveiled a new logo and website for the Democratic Party Wednesday at an event in the Jack Morton Auditorium. Kaine used the event, which was booked as a “major announcement” for the party, to hail the accomplishments of President Barack Obama and other Democrats, telling Democratic […]
Jack Anderson files added to Gelman
By Jake Swirsky September 16, 2010
Fox News senior political analyst Brit Hume paid tribute to the late Nixon-era investigative reporter Jack Anderson Tuesday, as Anderson’s files and notes were added to official archives in Gelman Library. Colleagues, friends and longtime admirers of Anderson joined Hume to remember the “last of the old-fashioned muckrakers,” as School of Media and Public Affairs […]
Sports In Brief
Renovated Smith Center hosts first competiton The volleyball team officially re-opened the newly renovated Smith Center Wednesday night with a 3-0 win over Loyola, Md. The contest was the first home game at the Smith Center for any GW squad. The 35-year-old arena did host Freshman Convocation earlier this year, but the Smith Center court […]
Swastikas drawn in Georgetown dorm
By Priya Anand September 16, 2010
Four Georgetown University students found swastikas on whiteboards hanging on their dorm room doors last week, an event that mirrors an incident on GW’s campus three years ago. The Department of Public Safety at Georgetown is investigating the incidents and has notified the Metropolitan Police Department of the swastikas, Georgetown’s newspaper, The Hoya, reported. “Hitler” […]
Women’s soccer wins, stays unbeaten at home
By Elizabeth Traynor September 16, 2010
GW women’s soccer coach Tanya Vogel’s high expectations for her team were on full display Thursday afternoon. The Colonials had just bested American for the second year in a row by a score of 2-1. The win was GW’s (3-3) fifth game in a row decided by a single goal, and kept alive the team’s […]
Ideas sought for monument grounds
By Samantha Stone September 16, 2010
GW is one of the sponsors for a new national design competition seeking ways to improve the area around the Washington Monument. The National Ideas Competition for the Washington Monument Grounds, or WAMO, began Sept. 1 and is asking participants to submit ideas on how to enhance the 60-acre grounds surrounding the Washington Monument, WAMO […]
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Arctic beckons for a Longridge grandma’s marathon walk
Sarah Page, who is off to the Arctic to complete a marathon to help breast cancer sufferers.
A Longridge grandmother is off to the Arctic to complete her fourth marathon walk as part of a 10 year charity challenge.
Sarah Page, 51, who is a mother of four and new grandma of one as well as being managing director of the Preston based, family business Plumbs, is set to take on the marathon for ‘Walk the Walk’, a charity helping to fight breast cancer.
She has already completed marathons in London, Edinburgh and Iceland over the past three years and is off to northern Sweden this Friday, an area that forms part of the Arctic Circle where freezing temperatures of -26C await her, as well as the 26.2 mile trek which will be completed over two days.
Sarah has already raised in the region of £2,000 through donations, events and cake sales and hopes to reach a target of £3,000, every penny of which goes to the charity.
A resident of Longridge for 20 years, Sarah hasn’t suffered from breast cancer herself, but decided to support ‘Walk for Walk’ for a number of reasons.
Besides a challenge for herself and the opportunity to improve her fitness, Sarah describes the breast cancer charity as “an emotional cause,” saying: “We don’t as women know when we will be affected.”
And “by affected” she means either ourselves, someone in our family or someone else we know.
Sarah’s previous marathon challenges have been completed overnight, but because of the temperatures and terrain, the Arctic marathon is longer.
Sarah has also taken up Nordic walking in preparation for the challenge, which she has enjoyed doing and says within her busy life, she has created “a bit of time for myself”.
She says: “My health is important and by giving myself a physical challenge it focusses the mind,” adding: “But it is going to be chilly.”
There’s also no stopping Sarah, who hopes to complete six more walks over the next six years, two of which she hopes will be in New York and Paris.
* Walk the Walk is the UK’s largest grant making breast cancer charity, giving to other charities, etc to reach their goals. If you would like to donate to Sarah’s marathon, please visit https://arcticmarathon2017.everydayhero.com/uk/sarahpage.
Sandra is a celebrant of milestone moments
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1959 ac greyhound
2dr Coupe 6-cyl. 1971cc/125hp 3x2bbl Solex
History of the 1959-1963 AC Greyhound
AC is mostly remembered for the Ace roadster that provided the basis for the Shelby Cobra, but the company has a rich heritage that dates back to the early twentieth century, and during the same years while they were building the Ace and Aceca sports cars, they were also building the lesser known four-seater Greyhound. The AC Greyhound debuted at the Earls Court Motor Show in 1959. It rode atop a modified chassis borrowed from the Aceca coupe, and wore aluminum bodywork. Production began the next year with a new rear screen and nose as well as a stronger square-section chassis.
The venerable Bristol straight-six was the most popular engine, although AC- and Ruddspeed-tuned Fords made their way into a handful of Greyhounds. Suspension was by coil springs and wishbones at the front, and coil springs with semi-trailing arms at the rear. Brakes were discs up front and drums at the rear, and steering was rack-and-pinion. In typical AC fashion, the cabin was very well trimmed.
Just 84 AC Greyhounds were built before production stopped in 1963, and over the years several have been cannibalized for their valuable Bristol engines. They are generally worth enough now to restore, though, as interest in other ACs has pulled values up. While it lacks the elegance and sporting charm of its Ace and Aceca cousins, the Greyhound is nevertheless a handsome GT that is exceedingly rare and makes a great long-distance tour for driving events and casual drives alike.
1959 ac greyhound Info
6-cyl. 1971cc/125hp 3x2bbl Solex
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SUP 8A
View SUP 8A as PDF
View SUP as PDF
SUP 8A.1.1 D 01/04/2014 RP
1This chapter applies to every firm which:
is subject to the requirements as to the form and content of regulated agreements under the Consumer Credit (Agreements) Regulations 1983 (SI 1983/1553) and the Consumer Credit (Agreements) Regulations (SI 2010/1014) made under section 60(1) of the CCA that wishes to apply for a direction from the FCA waiving or varying those requirements;
is subject to the requirement under section 64(1)(b) of the CCA to send debtors or hirers a notice of their rights to cancel a cancellable agreement within the seven days following the making of that agreement that wishes to apply for a determination by the FCA that that requirement can be dispensed with; and
wishes to apply for a direction from the FCA that the hirer's rights to terminate a regulated consumer hire agreement under section 101 of the CCA do not apply to regulated consumer hire agreements made by that firm.
SUP 8A.1.2 G 01/04/2014 RP
This chapter explains how the regime works for obtaining:
a direction from the FCA waiving or varying the requirements as to the form and content of regulated agreements under the Consumer Credit (Agreements) Regulations 1983 (SI 1983/1553) and the Consumer Credit (Agreements) Regulations (SI 2010/1014) made under section 60(1) of the CCA;
a determination by the FCA that the requirement under section 64(1)(b) of the CCA to send debtors or hirers a notice of their rights to cancel a cancellable agreement within the seven days following the making of that agreement can be dispensed with; and
a direction from the FCA that the hirer's rights to terminate a regulated consumer hire agreement under section 101 of the CCA do not apply to regulated consumer hire agreements made by the relevant firm.
Unless italicised, and except where the contrary intention appears, expressions used in this chapter have the same respective meanings as in the CCA.
Directions under section 60(3) of the CCA
Under section 60(3) of the CCA, if, on an application made to the FCA by a firm carrying on a consumer credit business or a consumer hire business, it appears to the FCA impracticable for the firm to comply with any requirement of the Consumer Credit (Agreements) Regulations 1983 (SI 1983/1553) or the Consumer Credit (Agreements) Regulations (SI 2010/1014) in a particular case, it may direct that the requirement be waived or varied in relation to the regulated agreement and subject to such conditions (if any) as it may specify.
Under section 60(4) of the CCA, the FCA will make the direction only if it is satisfied that to do so would not prejudice the interests of debtors or hirers.
An application may be made under section 60(3) of the CCA only if it relates to:
a consumer credit agreement secured on land; or
a consumer credit agreement under which a person takes an article in pawn; or
a consumer credit agreement under which the creditor provides the debtor with a credit that exceeds £60,260; or
a consumer credit agreement entered into by the debtor wholly or predominantly for the purposes of a business carried on, or intended to be carried on, by him; or
a consumer hire agreement.
Determinations under section 64(4) of the CCA
The requirement under section 64(1)(b) of the CCA to send debtors or hirers a notice of their rights to cancel a cancellable agreement within the seven days following the making of that agreement does not apply in the case of the agreements described in SUP 8A.2.5 G, if:
on application by a firm to the FCA, the FCA has determined, having regard to:
the manner in which antecedent negotiations for the relevant agreements with the firm are conducted; and
the information provided to debtors or hirers before those agreements are made;
the requirement can be dispensed with without prejudicing the interests of debtors or hirers; and
any conditions imposed by the FCA in making the determination are complied with.
A determination under 64(4) of the CCA may only be made in respect of agreements specified in the Consumer Credit (Notice of Cancellation Rights) (Exemptions) Regulations 1983.
Directions under section 101(8) of the CCA
If on an application made to the FCA by a firm carrying on a consumer hire business, it appears to the FCA that it would be in the interests of hirers to do so, the FCA may direct that subject to such conditions (if any) as it may specify, section 101 of the CCA shall not apply to consumer hire agreements made by that firm.
Transitional provision
Under article 53 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) (No 2) Order 2013, any of the following given or made by the Office of Fair Trading which were in effect immediately before 1 April 2014 have effect as if they had been given or made by the FCA:
a direction given under section 60(3) of the CCA (form and content of agreements);
a determination made under section 64(4) of the CCA (duty to give notice of cancellation rights) and the Consumer Credit (Notice of Cancellation Rights) (Exemptions) Regulations 1983;
a direction given under section 101(8) or (8A) of the CCA (right to terminate hire agreement).
The FCA intends to include any direction or determination made by the FCA waiving, varying or disapplying CCA requirements in the public register under section 347 of the Act.
Form and method of application
A firm wishing to apply for a direction under section 60(3) of the CCA, must complete the application form in SUP 8A Annex 1 D and submit it to the FCA in the way set out in SUP 15.7.4 R, SUP 15.7.5A R, SUP 15.7.6A G and SUP 15.7.9 G.
A firm wishing to apply for a determination under section 64(4) of the CCA must apply to the FCA in the way set out in SUP 15.7.4 R, SUP 15.7.5A R, SUP 15.7.6A G and SUP 15.7.9 G.
A firm wishing to apply for a direction under section 101(8) of the CCA must complete the application form in SUP 8A Annex 2 D and the information form in SUP 8A Annex 3 D, and submit them to the FCA in the way set out in SUP 15.7.4 R, SUP 15.7.5A R, SUP 15.7.6A G and SUP 15.7.9 G.
Procedure on receipt of an application
The FCA will acknowledge an application promptly and, if necessary, will seek further information from the firm. The time taken to determine an application will depend on the issues it raises. A firm should make it clear in the application if it needs a decision within a specific time.
The FCA will treat a firm's application as withdrawn if it does not hear from the firm within 20 business days of sending a communication which requests or requires a response from the firm. The FCA will not do this if the firm has made it clear to the FCA in some other way that it intends to pursue the application.
If the FCA decides not to give a direction or a determination, it will give reasons for the decision.
A firm may withdraw its application at any time up to the giving of the direction or determination. In doing so, a firm should give the FCA its reasons for withdrawing the application.
SUP 8A.4.1 R 01/04/2014 RP
A firm which has applied for or has been granted a direction or determination must notify the FCA immediately if it becomes aware of any matter which could affect the continuing relevance or appropriateness of the application or the direction or determination.
Firms are also referred to SUP 15.6 (Inaccurate, false or misleading information). This requires a firm to notify the FCA if false, misleading, incomplete or inaccurate information has been provided (see SUP 15.6.4 R). This would apply in relation to information provided in an application for a direction or a determination.
The FCA may revoke or vary any of the directions or determinations referred to in this chapter.
SUP 8A Annex 1 D 27/08/2014
This annex consists only of one or more forms. Forms are to be found through the following address:
Application form for a direction under section 60(3) of the CCA
Application form for a direction under section 101(8) of the CCA
Information form in support of an application for a direction under section 101(8) of the CCA
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5 Games That Tell The History of "Anime" RPGs
Japan has been sharing its pop culture with the rest of the world for decades. One of the earliest such examples of this is the animation Tetsujin 28-go, better known to English speaking audiences as Gigantor. Japanese animation’s always seems to ebb and flow every decade or so, picking up swaths of new fans and reigniting the nostalgic passions of old with every passing wave.
There was also no shortage of such fans who also loved roleplaying games that wanted to leave a mark in the roleplaying game community. They were marks that said “I love both anime and role playing games. I wonder what the two would look like together?”
Let’s take a look at some of these marks, shall we?
1. Mekton
The original Mekton was first released in 1984 by R. Talsorian Games as a table top wargame with players controlling armies of giant humanoid robots, as if it were some kind of love letter to the anime Mobile Suit Gundam. All the following sourcebooks for the original Mekton were very dry rules manuals for adding new elements to the game, such as modular robots that could change shape. (A la Macross or Robotech.)
Years later in 1987, Mekton 2 was released, which takes a form we’d recognize as a proper RPG: players stat out not only their giant robots, but also a pilot for said robots. The rulebook also makes the occasional mention of Japanese animation, making the Mekton series an proto-anime RPG.
It isn’t until 1994 with Mekton Zeta that it becomes apparent that the game is being designed to appeal to fans of anime. Mekton Zeta followed one of the trends of 90’s RPGs by including numerous different optional rules, (many of which were not meant to be used together) including a stat called “kawaii” (lit. “cute” in Japanese) that allowed a character to mimic some of the cartoony, slapstick gags characters from anime.
In the year 2000, a game in Japan called Gundam Senki is released: an RPG explicitly based on the Gundam franchise that makes use of the rules system Mekton Zeta introduced. This effectively makes Mekton a game that has gone full circle from being vaguely to directly related to anime.
As for the game itself, almost every version of Mekton is more or less a war game featuring giant robots with a role playing game attached to it for when characters aren’t piloting mechs. The majority of character creation in Mekton often revolves around devising a build for your character’s war machine, and a bulk of the gameplay rules are how to use them.
Despite this, conflict resolution remains simple: in almost all cases it’s 1d10 + Attritbute + Skill.
2. Teenagers From Outerspace
Teenagers From Outerspace, is another series from the R. Talsorian Games, and is another oft cited title in the list of “anime RPGs.” TFOS was originally released in 1987, and much like its predecessor Mekton, didn’t initially bill itself as an anime themed game.
TFOS eventually became a love-letter to the “strange neighbor” genre of anime. It emulates such shows as Urusei Yatsura where the titular teenagers from outerspace come to earth and live alongside the more ordinary earth teenagers. In fact, the covers of later editions even feature characters that resemble those from Urusei Yatsura!
The 3rd edition of this game was published in 1997, one year before R. Talsorian Games went on an 8 year hiatus. This was also the same year that another company from Canada would take their hand at making an RPG that capitalized on the popularity of anime.
3. Big Eyes Small Mouth
Released in 1997 by Guardians of Order, this title is what many think of when the term “Anime RPG” is brought up. This was the first RPG that explicitly billed itself as a game for fans of Japanese animation. However, it wasn’t necessarily the first RPG that was used as the backbone for a licensed RPG product; prior to the creation of BESM, R Talsorian had published sourcebooks for shows such as Bubblegum Crisis and Armored Trooper VOTOMS.
Guardians of Order came onto the scene at the right time, though. Anime began rapidly picking up in popularity in North America in the late 90s, and without competition from R Talsorian, they were able to amass a considerable amount of licenses for publishing RPG books. (Most of which made use of BESM’s Tri-stat system.)
These acquisitions provided an outlet to develop new rules for specific settings that would later be translated into newer editions of the game. For example, the magic system that was introduced in the first edition of BESM was very loosely defined, though the version that was used in its second edition was first pioneered in their Sailor Moon sourcebook, which was released between the two editions.
This modus operandi of experimentation in sourcebooks and codifying rules in new editions and spin-off games continued until 2007, with the release of the third and final edition of Big Eyes Small Mouth. It was just barely completed before Guardians of Order had to go bankrupt and shutdown, with White Wolf taking over this final publishing effort, and only briefly supporting it under their Arthaus subsidiary.
From a rules standpoint, anybody familiar with GURPs will feel right at home with BESM 1st and 2nd edition. The games are very similar when it comes to character creation, and coincidentally, many writers for GURPS also at some point worked on BESM. The 3rd edition had a lot of great ideas for standardizing how various character powers worked, thus allowing crafty GMs to devise new powers to without damaging game balance too much.
4. OVA (Open, Versatile, Anime)
OVA was originally released in 2005 by Wise Turtle Publishing, with a revised edition being released in 2013. Since this is a game that’s still supported and relatively fresh on the market, this title doesn’t so much tell any sort of history as it’s still in the making. With that in mind, it may be best to keep criticisms and praises for this franchise to a minimum.
One point that can be said for certain to OVA’s credit is that it improved greatly from one edition to the next, as well as compared to some of its predecessors. The illustrations used in OVA were drawn by a singular artist, which gave it marvelously consistent style, unlike what you’d find in the core BESM books.
As far as gameplay goes, OVA stands strong on its own. It takes a more narrativist approach, with most abilities being descriptive characteristics. Descriptions are short, and abilities are distinct enough that knowing the name of it is sufficient for determining if it could apply to a given situation.
5. Defenders of Tokyo (Defensores de Tóquio)
Fondness of roleplaying games and Japanese animation aren’t traits that are exclusive to the people of North America and Europe. In 1994, Brazil joined in on the fun of combining imagination, dice, and a fondness for drawings with oversized eyes with the game Defensores de Tóquio, otherwise known as Defenders of Tokyo.
There currently isn’t much known about this game in English speaking communities, however in recent years (circa 2015) english fan translations of the game’s third edition have appeared on the internet. It features the games basic rules, as well as the cover art for the rulebook, but little else.
There’s something important I’ve learned in all the years I’ve spent reading over these rulebooks, playing many of these games, and researching the histories of these companies. Anime is not a genre; it’s an audio-visual medium from Japan that, at best, has a somewhat unified aesthetic that changes every decade or so.
For anybody who wants to run an “anime” game, I have some advice. Be more specific with your setting, and pick a game suited to that setting. That’ll be much more satisfying than trying to get an a generic game trying to follow a certain aesthetic. However if all it takes is for something to be from Japan to excite you, I do have a few suggestions I can make for you.
Aaron der Schaedel would like to take this opportunity to display some transparency by stating that he is on friendly speaking terms with the creator of OVA. You can follow Aaron on Twitter @Zamubei though there’s no guarantee that it’ll enrich your life in any way. (Yet people still smoke tobacco...)
Picture Reference: https://www.heypoorplayer.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/RPG-Maker-Fes-1024x576.jpg
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5 Rule Systems That Are Fantastic, But Not Popular
It is the easy to get lost in a crowd. With the amount of RPG’s coming out (dare I say daily), every now and again, a gem is produced, only to be immediately swallowed by the avalanche. The following are my opinions on a number of rule systems I’ve came across over the last year or so. Some might be much older (or really well know to all but myself), again, it’s only recently that I came across them, and (no offense meant) they feel like they aren’t as popular as some. Without further ado, here they are.
1) 7th Sea
Aaaarrrrrrr, ya scurvy dogs! It be pirates! 7th Sea, presents a fantasy world heavily influenced by the golden age of piracy. Think Pirates of the Caribbean and also every other pirate movie and/or book ever made. The setting surprised me, in the best possible way. The the world given to us is a series of jagged coastlines and islands. Most of these areas belong to different political units, and work very differently from each other. It’s easy to see that this map is a parody of our own world. It shouldn’t be surprising that someone in the 17th-18th centuries with a Scottish cultural upbringing, would be a different person/sailor/pirate than someone with a Mediterranean early life. Also there are fencing fighting styles, it’s really very cool. The dice system is great, involving a pool of D10’s, adding numbers up to 10, and something called ‘raises’ that allow you to do exceptional things.
http://7thsea.com/
2) Belly of the Beast
This rule system is pretty straight forward, dice-wise, and the setting is amazing. Centuries ago, a huge asteroid slammed into this planet. Massive crater, some destruction. Decades later, something hatches from the site of the impact. According to the description, it looked like an Arrakis Sandworm, just much, MUCH bigger. After many years eating everything that wasn’t nailed down, (and most things that were), the Beast has grown to the size of a mountain range, hundreds, if not thousands of miles long, and as wide as a country. Effectively, you play a medieval fantasy setting INSIDE THE GUTS OF A CONTINENT SIZED WORM. Oh yes, things, survived being swelled hole, and the digestion process looks like it takes millennia. Imagine. Humans being born and dying without seeing the sky, only knowing the country-sized chambers of the Beast’s digestive tract. Action centers around the physical and political dealings of humans with very little resources (so mostly scavengers and mercs), and there’s a sense of heaviness to the scenario, which I love. Dice are a pool of D6’s, rolling to a Target Number.
http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/192736/Belly-of-the-Beast-RPG?term=belly+of+the+beast&test_epoch=0
3) The End Of The World
On the surface, these Fantasy Flight books are simple post-apocalyptic settings, Nothing exciting about that, surely. What makes it different are the characters. If you, Jane Smit, play the game, your character is Jane Smith. As in, YOU are your character and vice versa. Character creation is a collaborative effort, so your character is, to the best of your efforts, YOU. The idea; the world ends (there’s 4 different books, Zombies, Aliens, Robots and Wrath of the Gods), and you are caught in the middle. Your equipment is whatever you usually have about your person. Mobile phone, lighters? That sort of thing. Dice system, you roll D6 for positives and D6 for negatives, and remove matching ones.
https://www.fantasyflightgames.com/en/products/the-end-of-the-world/
4) Atomic Robo
I like to call Atomic Robo what would happen if steampunk was wound forward to the present. A 21st century, where the past 150 years were dedicated to science. The titular Robo was built by Nikola Tesla in the 1930s. He’s a joke-spewing, nuclear-powered robot, who we follow throughout his career with the US military, then a series of scientific institutions. Robo (to his friends) is a sort of metal scientist Indiana Jones. He travels the world looking for alien artifacts and fighting evil geniuses. In this universe, science reigns supreme, so evil scientists pop up like mushrooms. A fun and engaging background, using the FATE rules.
http://www.evilhat.com/home/atomic-robo/
5) Star Wars D6
This is older than old. The D6 system is, well, old, but I do feel it should get a second look. You roll a number of D6s and you see if you reach a target number. That’s it. It makes the whole game run fast and smooth and I do love it to bits. Also there’s an oldness to the background (I’ve said ‘old’ a lot, bear with me). The corebook, I found, is almost incomprehensibly written, when it comes to character creation, for example. But there’s something amazing about a book about Star Wars that was written 2 years after Jedi. Before the Expanded Universe. Before the Phantom Menace. The good bit is that this is a rule system that is still in common usage, so there is A LOT of fan made content out there, including fantastic, easy to understand versions of the above mentioned corebook.
http://krapz.free.fr/
What less known rule systems have you come across?
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Add Photo — Add Link — Add Commentary — Correct this page
Lackawanna in Erie County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Father Baker's Gas Well
By Anton Schwarzmueller, April 10, 2016
1. Father Baker's Gas Well Marker
Inscription.
Father Baker's Gas Well. . Father Baker's Gas Well ——.—— . At this site on August 22, 1891 natural gas was found at a depth of 1137 feet. This well and its twin continued to produce sufficient gas for many of the energy needs of Our Lady of Victory Institutions, Basilica, Hospital and Schools. Father Baker's faith caused him to thank Our Lady of Victory for her intercession with God for the gift of the gas from these wells. . This historical marker was erected in 1976 by Lackawanna Bicentennial Committee. It is in Lackawanna in Erie County New York
At this site on August 22, 1891 natural gas was found at a depth of 1137 feet. This well and its twin continued to produce sufficient gas for many of the energy needs of Our Lady of Victory Institutions, Basilica, Hospital and Schools. Father Baker's faith caused him to thank Our Lady of Victory for her intercession with God for the gift of the gas from these wells.
Erected 1976 by Lackawanna Bicentennial Committee.
Marker series. This marker is included in the The Spirit of 76, America's Bicentennial Celebration marker series.
Location. 42° 49.563′ N, 78° 49.318′ W. Marker is in Lackawanna, New York, in Erie County. Marker is at the intersection of Ridge Road and South Park Avenue (U.S. 62), on the left when traveling east on Ridge Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 780 Ridge Road, Buffalo NY 14218, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Our Lady of Victory Basilica (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line);
2. Marker & Our Lady of Victory Homes Building
The Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens (approx. ¼ mile away); Industrial Icons (approx. 1.4 miles away); Ecological Restoration (approx. 1.4 miles away); Ship Canal Commons (approx. 1½ miles away); Hanna Furnace (approx. 1.6 miles away); Environmental Remediation (approx. 1.7 miles away); Wind Power on the Waterfront (approx. 1.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lackawanna.
More about this marker. Dedicated July 23, 1976 by the Rev. Msgr. Joseph N. McPherson.
Regarding Father Baker's Gas Well. Some consider the finding of the gas to have been a miracle. Father Baker has been declared venerable by the church - a step towards possible sainthood.
Also see . . . Nelson Baker - Wikipedia. (Submitted on April 15, 2016, by Anton Schwarzmueller of Wilson, New York.)
Categories. • Natural Resources •
More. Search the internet for Father Baker's Gas Well.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. This page originally submitted on April 15, 2016, by Anton Schwarzmueller of Wilson, New York. This page has been viewed 180 times since then and 21 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 15, 2016, by Anton Schwarzmueller of Wilson, New York.
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News + Events | April 28, 2017
RSP Architects and HOK to Design New Life Sciences and Innovation Research Center in Minnesota
Development and construction firm Mortenson has announced the design and location for the first building in Rochester’s Destination Medical Center Discovery Square district.
Designed by RSP Architects and HOK, the 60,000-plus-sq.-ft. life sciences research and innovation building features a tenant-focused, amenity-rich environment. The building will help tenants accelerate the translation of promising health-related therapies and technologies to provide solutions that create better health outcomes for patients. Flexible, open workspaces will enable tenants to adapt to ever-changing needs in the life sciences industry.
“Innovation and collaboration are the bedrock of Discovery Square, yet both require a great deal of intentionality,” said Jeremy Jacobs, development executive at Mortenson. “RSP and HOK have integrated best practices from across the world to ensure that tenants will have unrivaled access to spaces that facilitate and encourage collaboration.”
“Development of Discovery Square is a major step forward for the world of life science research,” said Eli Hoisington, AIA, LEED AP, HOK’s design principal. “Discovery Square will be a bridge to the mission of Mayo Clinic. Anchored by Mayo Clinic, the first phase will provide a new address for the future of life science, research, education, technology and innovation. We are extremely excited about this opportunity to bring our experience designing innovative research environments to this globally important project.”
“One of the project’s guiding design principles is to create something completely different for Rochester and for life science research,” said Jon Buggy, AIA, principal, RSP Architects. “Life-enhancing scientific and therapeutic breakthroughs will happen here. Appropriately, this first life science building is planned and designed to establish a very strong visual and programmatic presence for the promise of Discovery Square. Science and discovery will be on display—open to, engaging and committed to the innovation community and public realm of Rochester.”
Pending final approval, the building will be located at the corner of 4th Street SW and 2nd Avenue SW in the 16-block Discovery Square sub-district, near the historic Mayo Clinic campus. The building orientation, massing, wall and roof construction, and mechanical systems will integrate high-performance systems for increased energy efficiency. Groundbreaking is planned for late 2017, with a target completion date in 2019.
Destination Medical Center (DMC) is the largest public-private economic initiative in Minnesota’s history. The 20-year plan to transform Rochester into a global destination for health and wellness will attract developers, investors, startups, and entrepreneurs to live, work, and play in America’s City for Health.
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Tadashi Fujita
Representative Director, Executive Vice President for Japan Airlines
Tadashi Fujita is the Representative Director and Executive Vice President for Japan Airlines. He joined the international airline in 1981 as a Passenger Reservations Agent in Okinawa, and quickly rose up the ranks. His career at the airline has been concentrated primarily in the area of passenger sales, including representative roles in Paris, Osaka and Tokyo.
In 2006, Fujita was promoted to Vice President in the International Sales Planning Department in Tokyo. In 2010, Fujita was appointed as Executive Officer in the Passenger Sales and Marketing Division and was responsible for international passenger sales, including ecommerce and marketing web sales. Thereafter, in 2015, he became Chief Commercial Officer. and President of JAL Sales. He was promoted to his current position in April 2016.
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> Royalty
The Queen's 90th birthday plans revealed
April 01, 2016 - 12:45 BST Chloe Best The Queen will mark her 90th birthday by undertaking two engagements in Windsor with the Duke of Edinburgh
The Queen will mark her 90th birthday by undertaking two engagements in Windsor with the Duke of Edinburgh. Her Majesty will meet locals and well-wishers during a walkabout in the town, after unveiling a plaque marking The Queen's Walkway at the foot of Castle Hill.
The walkway is a 6.3km walking trail which connects 63 points of significance in the town of Windsor. It was designed by The Outdoor Trust to symbolically recognise the moment that The Queen became Britain's longest reigning monarch after more than 63 years on the throne.
CLICK TO VIEW FULL GALLERY
The Queen will carry out two engagements in Windsor on her 90th birthday
In the evening the Queen will be accompanied by Prince Philip, Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall at a beacon lighting ceremony to celebrate her milestone birthday.
THE QUEEN'S 90TH BIRTHDAY: 90 REASONS TO SALUTE HER MAJESTY
Her Majesty will light the principal beacon, and a further 1,000 beacons will be lit across the country and worldwide in honour of the Queen's 90th birthday. Members of the Army Cadet Force will even take beacons to the top of the four highest peaks in the United Kingdom – Ben Nevis, Scotland; Mount Snowdon, Wales; Scafell Pike, England, and Slieve Donard, Northern Ireland.
Prince Philip, Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall will join the Queen for a walkabout
They are not the only official engagements the Queen has planned in the week leading up to her birthday. On Wednesday, the day before her special day, the Monarch will once again be accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh for a visit to the Royal Mail Windsor Delivery Office, to mark the 500th Anniversary of the Postal Service.
As well as meeting representatives from Royal Mail, the royal couple will view a demonstration of mail sorting before unveiling a plaque to mark the visit.
They will then visit Windsor's Alexandra Gardens, where they will officially open the new Bandstand and meet children from six local schools who have been involved in designing commemorative plaques for the project, before watching a short performance from a children's choir.
While the Queen's birthday will be fairly low-key, a number of other events have been planned to commemorate her milestone day in the following weeks, including four nights of celebrations in the grounds of Windsor Castle in May.
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David Cameron announces pubs will open late to celebrate the Queen's 90th birthday
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Sweet new children's book honours Queen's 90th birthday
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US ties Japan 2-2 in Women's World Cup tuneup
US ties Ja...
CHESTER, Pa. (AP) - Jill Ellis watched her team lose a chance to beat a rival in the final minutes. The U.S. women's soccer coach did not, however, lose any confidence ahead of the Women's World Cup.
Alex Morgan scored her 99th international goal, but Yuka Momiki responded with a stoppage-time equalizer and Japan tied the United States 2-2 on Wednesday night in the SheBelieves Cup tuneup tournament for the World Cup.
Megan Rapinoe also scored for the Americans in a rematch of the last two World Cup finals.
"I feel like the result was disappointing, for sure," Ellis said. "But I thought the performance in both halves, there were some really good things."
Emi Nakajima scored in the 67th minute for eighth-ranked Japan after a poor clearance from Tierna Davidson, and Morgan chested home the go-ahead goal in the 76th minute off a pass from Christen Press - a minute after Press entered the game.
"It's not my first chest goal with the national team," Morgan said. "At the end of the day, a goal is a goal. I don't care what part of the body it comes off of."
Ellis called Press' immediate impact "freaking awesome," and indicated she could push for a starting spot in a loaded frontline.
"Something you look at going into the World Cup is your depth and if you have players who can change the game," the US coach said. "She's posing a lot of challenges now in terms of selection because I thought she was an instant game-changer for us."
Momiki stunned the crowd with a 91st-minute goal from close range. Japan finished with two shots on goal, scoring on both of them.
"We made two mistakes in the back that cost us," Ellis said.
The match was part of the opening day of the round-robin tournament that features four o
The match was part of the opening day of the round-robin tournament that features four of the world's top 10 teams. England beat Brazil 2-1 in the first game of the doubleheader at Talen Energy Stadium, home of Major League Soccer's Philadelphia Union.
Exactly 100 days before the World Cup kicks off in France, Ellis deployed a mostly first-choice lineup with the exceptions of the injured Lindsey Horan and Becky Sauerbrunn.
In the 23rd minute, Tobin Heath beat defender Saori Ariyoshi to the end line and set up Rapinoe for an easy tap-in goal.
Rapinoe had other scoring opportunities in the first half, including a 39th-minute free kick that goalkeeper Erina Yamane pushed off the post. Japan's best chance came in the 11th minute when Kumi Yokoyama smashed a shot off the crossbar.
"That's a very organized team, and I think it was actually the best we've ever broke
"That's a very organized team, and I think it was actually the best we've ever broken Japan down," Ellis said. "Ironically, (we beat them 4-2) last year but we feel better about this performance."
The Americans moved to 28-1-8 against Japan, with the only loss coming in the 2011 World Cup final. The U.S. beat Japan in the 2012 Olympic final and in 2015 World Cup final behind a hat trick from Carli Lloyd.
Lloyd, who grew up about 30 miles from Talen Energy Stadium, entered the game for Morgan in the 85th minute to a rousing ovation from the hometown crowd. She took the final shot of the game, but it was easily saved.
"I think we needed about 10 more minutes to get another goal," Heath said. "I hate that when the game kind of cuts you short. I think we definitely had control of the game and momentum, especially at the end. We always have that last kind of push."
The Americans will face England in Nashville, Tennessee, on Saturday, and close out the tournament against Brazil in Tampa, Florida, on Tuesday.
"Having this disappointing tie right now, all eyes are on England," Morgan said. "They're a good team defensively, they're very organized, so it will be a tough challenge for us."
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The Most Popular Fitness Trends Over the Past 6 Decades
Remember a time when people were exercising and weren't trying to look for ways that they can look like models without doing any work and without even breaking a sweat? Yes, never. This exact strive to accomplish the impossible has given rise to many fitness trends over the years, some of which are flat out dangerous. The following list is in no particular order.
This was the exercise of the 1950's. The trend took over when California toy Wham-O put a plastic version on the market. These days the toy, which you twirl around the waist, limbs or neck, is used for fun.
Who can Arnold Schwarzenegger as a young man? He arguably made bodybuilding famous. Lifting heavy weights became really popular in the '70s. The actor was probably the first really big star who changes his physique due to weightlifting.
Vibrating belts
People in the '60s were falling for the myth that you can do very little and be lazy while you are exercising. This is how the craze over vibrating bells came about. Maximum results for minimum effort is still a lie many people fall for. The best you can hope for with the belt is a light massage.
Aerobics and Jane Fonda are synonymous. She is often referred to as the "queen" or "mother" or aerobics; she certainly took the routine mainstream in the '80s. The videos are among the best-selling exercises videos of all time.
Screenshot: Music On TV1/Youtube
Sweatin' to the Oldies
Remember Richard Simmons' Sweatin' to the Oldies from 1988? The routine is basically dancing to music. Who knows whether people actually mostly recall the workouts, the curls or the shorts...Or perhaps it was the energy with which he was doing it all.
Jazzercise
As the name suggests, this is a workout that mixes jazz and some more conventional exercises such as cardio and resistance moves to create a full-body workout. The workout was founded in 1969 by Judi Sheppard Missett, but didn't really take over by mid-1980s.
Screenshot:dinx2582/Youtube
Nordic Track machine
The 1980s were a booming time for the fitness industry. This machine is just another trend from back then. You probably don't have to think for too long to remember someone who had the Nordic Track. This cross-country skiing device basically became the top fitness machine to own.
Over the last decade or so it seems like everyone is training for a marathon, a half-marathon or some other race. It's great that people are taking up running, because its health benefits are seemingly endless, but it's crucial that you don't make training mistakes.
8-minute abs
Abs were big in the '90s. This popular video from 1997 is taking you through 8 minutes of exercises designed to work different parts of your abdominal muscles. You had to do a lot of different crunches, even though this is an exercise some fitness experts say you it's a waste of time.
Low-carb diets
Not eating a lot of carbs was a popular trend for years in the '90s. The body needs a combination of carbs, fat and protein to function properly. Too little of one and too much of another will throw its equilibrium off, resulting in malnourishment, weight gain and muscle loss. Carbohydrates are the body's No. 1 go-to for fuel. Without it you will eventually lack energy, experience brain fog, and feel depressed and moody. This is not to say you have to eat pasta every day. Opt out for vegetables, fruits and whole grains as the best sources of carbs.
Abs roller
It was invented in 1994 and its goal was to help people do crunches while having something supporting the head, neck and upper body. It was also used to do sit-ups and dips. It sold about $1 billion worth of products. You can still buy it on Amazon.
It was created in mid-80s but it took over in the '90s. Anyone hasn't seen the colorful commercials? It was the machine to have if you wanted a gym at home that takes up as little space as possible. There was a recall of some machines in 2004 after which their popularity didn't really recover. You can still find upgraded versions on Amazon.
This full-body cardio workout that is a mixture between tae kwon do and boxing. You work out while listing to music, usually hip hop. The workout was created by martial artist Billy Blanks. Paula Abdul and Brooke Shields were famous clients in the '90s.
Squeeze, squeeze, and squeeze...Who knows? Maybe if it weren't for Suzanne Somers few people will have heard of this small at-home workout device. This was her first fitness products �?? she has since been the face of others �?? and arguably still the most popular one.
The late 2000s brought functional training. The term may sound confusing but it really means doing exercises that improve the overall balance and coordination of your body. It focuses on strength exercises that increase endurance and flexibility so your body has a wide range of motion. All of this helps you perform everyday activities easier.
Founded in 2000, CrossFit didn't take long to take over the fitness industry. The sport has been popular for about a decade but it has reached its peak because of the high injury rate. The workout involves mixing high-intensity cardio and strength exercises with aerobics and gymnastics.
This trend is still going strong. This is basically a portable gym in a small bag. It consists of two nylon straps with handles that can be hung over a door. It can be used to perform a wide variety of full-body exercises and can be used almost anywhere. It's popular because it naturally challenges balance and stability, something very important as people get older.
You've seen people wear trash bags while exercising in order to burn more calories because they sweat more, right? This is similar, and it is NOT a good idea. Your body can get too hot and you're risking extreme dehydration, cramping and even heatstroke.
It became really big in 2010's, even though classes have been order for years before that. Fans love it because it's a killer workout and as well as a party because you get to hang out with lots of people while loud music is playing.
Similar to yoga, but with a slight advantage for building more strength and lean muscle mass, Pilates is a full-body workout that also improves flexibility, making it an especially great option for those who want to stay fit and healthy as they age.
Cardio Striptease
This workout, created by celebrity trainer Jeff Costa, was a thing of the 2000s. It was simply aerobics done in a sexy kind of way. You have probably seen the videos or at least commercials of Carme Electra's Aerobic Striptease. Pole dancing took off as a result.
Kickboxing, also referred to as boxing aerobics and cardio kickboxing is a hybrid of boxing, martial arts and aerobics that offers an intense cross-training and total body workout. Some estimates of kickboxing's calorie burning potential have reached as high as 500 to 800 calories per hour, but ACE-sponsored research suggests that only very large individuals working out at exceptionally high intensities are likely to burn that many calories.
Created by Colombian dancer and choreographer Alberto Perez in the '90s, it really took off in the 2000s. It's basically dancing fitness with hip-hop and moves from Latin dance styles. There is even a Zumba Cruise, a five-day, fitness-focused cruise that, in addition to a tropical trip at sea, offers passengers up to 300 fitness classes and activities.
Ember/Shutterstock.com
There is an app for every kind of fitness you can imagine. You can actually put your smartphone to good use and download a good health and fitness app. However, the apps are not going to do any magic. They won't work unless you really commit to following the steps.
They became popular after 2005. Barre workouts are ballet-based. You work your entire body, as most classes involve mat-based exercises like planks and push-ups in addition to the lower-body portion that focuses on squat- and lunge-type moves performed with the assistance of a mirror-mounted ballet-type bar.
Cleanse diets
Quick and extreme weight loss has always been a goal, but it seemed like everyone was on some kind of cleanse and detox diets throughout the 2000s. They can actually be dangerous in many ways. Don't fall for marketing campaigns - the body cleanses itself naturally on a regular basis without the help of pills, miracle juices, organic teas, or acupuncture foot pads.
In the '90s people started going on trips where the goal was to exercise and eat healthy things all the time under the supervision of experts, of course. Sounds like military training, right? Hence the name. Boot camps can be helpful in making a workout more social and fun. They are usually very intense. Some even claim you will burn about 1,000 calories per session. Routines often consist of treadmill interval training, strength training with and without weights, using resistance bands and medicine balls.
Yoga has been around for about 5,000 years, but it seems like everyone started doing it around 2004. It's not just a workout; people swear by it for improving their mental health as well. Yoga is accessible to exercisers of all levels and backgrounds.
They became a trend as soon as they came out �?? 2007. It and other similar fitness trackers have only grown in popularity. They can't really tell how many calories you have burned �?? this depends on too many natural biological variabilities.
amesy/istockphoto.com
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May the Fourth Be With You: 5 fun facts about Star Wars Day
Alice Coyle More Content Now
1. May the Fourth be with you. Celebrating the Star Wars film franchise, Star Wars Day is observed by fans on May the Fourth, an obvious pun on the popular Jedi phrase "May the Force be with you." Taking puns a step further, May 5 has come to be called "Revenge of the Fifth," a play on "Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith," a day for fans to join the "dark side" and celebrate the Sith lords from the Star Wars movies.
2. Fully fan inspired. While Star Wars Day is a tribute to the movies made by George Lucas, Lucasfilm had nothing to do with the holiday’s creation or its ongoing observance.
3. London calling. The phrase tied to Star Wars Day was first used May 4, 1979, when Margaret Thatcher took office as Prime Minister of the U.K. Members of Thatcher’s Conservative party published full-page advertisement in the London Evening News congratulating the new Prime Minister, which read: "May the Fourth Be with You, Maggie. Congratulations."
4. Kicked off in Canada. The first organized Star Wars Day events were held at the Toronto Underground Cinema on May 4, 2011. Sean Ward and Alice Quinn organized the celebration, which included an Original Trilogy Trivia Game Show; a celebrity judged costume contest and Star Wars tribute films and parodies screened.
5. It’s a Small World After All: The Walt Disney Company, which purchased Lucasfilm in 2012 has officially observed the holiday since 2013 with special Star Wars events May 4 at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland.
Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org and http://www.starwars.com/
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Protect and Serve - SPD lieutenant says helping people has been the best part of his 22-year career
Newly-promoted Sherman Police Lt. Charley Smith had been serving as patrol lieutenant for five days at the time of this interview.
"I’m still getting my feet wet," Smith said. That statement may ring true for his most recent position, but Smith is no newcomer to the Sherman PD or to law enforcement in general.
Smith grew up in several area towns, including Sherman, Denison and Howe. He graduated from Pottsboro High School. During his high school years, Smith got to know some county deputies and the chief at the Pottsboro PD. As he became friends with law enforcement personnel, he decided it was a field he wanted to go into.
After graduating from the Texoma Regional Police Academy, Smith worked at the Pottsboro PD for four and a half years, then worked at the Gainesville PD for three years. Finally he came to the Sherman PD where he has been since Feb. 1, 1992.
Since starting at the Sherman PD, Smith has worked in almost too many positions to count.
"I’ve been a regular patrolman, worked three years in narcotics, one year as the department’s public information officer, one year as the supervisor of the traffic safety unit, eight years as a sergeant, and just varying other jobs," Smith said, before remembering more positions still that he served in. "I’ve been a field training officer. I also supervise our critical accident investigation team, and I’ve been doing that since 2000."
While working in the narcotics division from 1998 to 2000, Smith occasionally went under cover. The Sherman PD would receive tips about locations with known drug activity, and sometimes Smith would go to the location in a disguise and try to gather information.
"I had a beard, and my hair was in a ponytail, and I had an earring," Smith said while laughing, "the whole nine yards."
All of Smith’s positions so far have involved frequent interaction with the public. Smith said the interaction has been his favorite part of being a police officer, whether that be by helping people or "putting bad guys in jail."
When Smith is not putting bad guys in jail or fulfilling one of his many other duties at the Sherman PD, he enjoys spending time with his wife (who was a civilian employee at the Sherman PD for 23 years) and son. Smith owns a piece of property he calls his "mini-ranch," where he raises, breeds and sells longhorns and miniature horses.
As far as plans for the future go, Smith said he hopes to "keep things moving along at the Sherman Police Department."
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This year for Race Relations Day the Human Rights Commission has urged New Zealanders to stand up for one another and to stand up for what we believe in.
A short video highlighting what people can do if they experience or witness a racist attack was launched online.
“We want people to record attacks, to support people who are being attacked and to ensure attacks are reported,” said Race Relations Commissioner Dame Susan Devoy.
“When we see yet another racist attack on the news we need to ask ourselves: Is this us? Is this the kind of country we want to be? If the answer is No, then we need to do something.”
“What we do today is our insurance policy for the future of our nation.”
“This year we are focused on encouraging New Zealanders to answer these two questions: What do you stand for? What do you want against? The world is at a cross roads when it comes to race relations: the way we treat each other will decide what path New Zealand goes down.”
People from ethnic minorities report an increase in the number of personal racist attacks in recent times, this is in step with events taking place overseas.
“What we do now really matters and that’s why we want people to be prepared to stand up for what they believe in: whether we let our country become a place where abusing someone because of their race is normal or not – that part’s up to us, all of us.”
Every 21st of March the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination marks the 1960 Sharpeville Massacre when 69 black South African citizens – including 10 children – were shot to death by their own Police for protesting against racial apartheid laws.
A series of events in provincial and urban communities to celebrate Race Relations Day are being held throughout the month of March.
“A lot of New Zealanders care deeply about race relations and it shows: this year we have an unprecedented number of -events planned,” said Dame Susan.
“With race relations events planned from Oamaru to Gisborne, Wanganui to Invercargill, what’s great is that we are celebrating race relations in our provinces and smaller towns not just our big cities. While we have our tough times we do care about and respect each other and it shows.”
More than 30 events are being held throughout March with more being added to the list every day.
Thats Us
The Commission works for a free, fair, safe and just New Zealand, where diversity is valued and human dignity and rights are respected.
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Back to Countries
Employee Data Privacy HR Electronic Records HR Record Retention Requirements
- Choose a Topic - Employee Data Privacy HR Electronic Records HR Record Retention Requirements
Data Privacy Laws and Regulations
Data privacy laws have become more prominent in recent years. As the amount of personal information available online has grown substantially, there has been an enhanced focus on the processing of personal data, as well as the enforcement of such laws.
Data protection laws sometimes include conformity assessments, which help to ensure businesses follow regulations. Requirements can include registration before the Data Protection Authority and random audits.
A Data Protection Officer (DPO) is a person in charge of verifying the compliance of personal data processing with the applicable law. The DPO communicates information on processing personal data such as its purposes, interconnections, types, categories of data subjects, length of retention and department(s) in charge of implementing processing. DPOs may be required by law or recommended.
Employee Consent
The processing of any personal data can impose obligations to the individuals the data is related to, the data subjects. Some jurisdictions only recognize processing personal data as lawful if the data subject has provided express consent. Other jurisdictions require a legal obligation to process the data, and may not require consent. The processing of HR personal data has raised questions and court decisions in a few countries, and interpretations may vary based on data privacy and labor law requirements.
Employee Access Rights
Data protective jurisdictions tend to guarantee the right of individuals to contact an organization directly and find out whether personal data is being tracked. Access procedures and acceptable exceptions (such as business secrecy) are determined by law and may be subject to the control of data protection authorities. In the context of HR, personal data access requests can include information tracked by the company as well as data tracked by third-party solutions, such as background check vendors.
Cross-Border Data Transfer
Cross-border data transfers affect all organizations that engage online IT services, cloud-based services, remote access services and global HR databases.
Security Requirements
Security requirements may not always be included in the data protection law, but are key to guaranteeing lawful processing of personal data. The entity processing the data must take all useful precautions with respect to the nature of the data and the risk presented by the processing, to preserve the security of the data and, prevent alteration, corruption or access by unauthorized third parties.
A data breach is a security incident in which sensitive, protected or confidential data is copied, transmitted, viewed, stolen or used by an individual unauthorized to do so. Local data protection regulations have required data controllers to report such breaches in certain circumstances.
Fines/Penalties
Compliance with Data Privacy Laws and Data breaches may lead to sanctions, fines, and penalties. The amounts are usually calculated according to the risk to which personal rights were exposed and the preventive measures taken by the data controllers, processors and sub-processors in relation to their respective role in the chain of personal data processing.
HR Electronic Records
Electronic Archiving of Paper Originals
Although some countries require certain types of documents to be kept and archived in their original paper form, for most categories of documents, including HR-related records, there is no such requirement, and it is generally acceptable to use electronic versions of paper records (i.e., scanned copies of paper originals) during most government agencies’ inspections and audits or in court proceedings.
Natively Electronic Documents
The majority of legislation generally recognizes the validity and probative value of documents that are natively electronic (i.e., created as electronic originals), subject to compliance requirements.
Generally speaking, an electronic signature (or e-signature) is a technical process logically associated with a document which two (or more) individuals or organizations (the signatories) agree to rely on in order to express their intent to sign such document. Three components are therefore necessary: a document, a signatory and an e-signature tool. While the tool most commonly used for handwritten signatures is a simple pen, electronic signature tools are typically more complex.
HR Record Retention Requirements
As most HR professionals know, document retention for employee-related records—such as personnel files, payroll information, benefits records, and background checks—is a particularly complicated process, required by law, with variations from country to country. Complicating the process further, each document in each country has its own individual retention requirements, and the financial penalties for noncompliance can be significant. A carefully designed and implemented HR record retention policy is a necessary step to support an employer’s robust compliance program.
Summary Chart
Most countries have minimum and maximum retention periods for certain HR records. Even if there is no statutory minimum retention period for a certain category of records in a particular country, it is often recommended to retain these records until the expiration of the relevant time limits for bringing legal actions or regulatory investigations (statutes of limitations).
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Help us continue to fight human rights abuses. Please give now to support our work
December 2, 2009 10:31AM EST
The Minaret Vote, Europe's Call to Show Bias
Published in EuropeanVoice
Judith Sunderland
Associate Director, Europe and Central Asia Division sunderland_jude
The vote on Sunday amending Switzerland’s constitution to ban minaret construction is a sad reflection of growing intolerance toward Muslims in Western Europe.
As the Swiss People Party’s successful referendum campaign against minarets shows, far-right parties, emboldened by a strong showing in June’s European Parliament elections, have become adept at channeling anxieties about demographic change and international terrorism on two emotive issues: building mosques and wearing the Muslim veil. The campaign poster for the yes vote in Switzerland summed it up crudely: minarets launching like missiles off the Swiss flag behind a woman wearing the niqab (a full-face veil leaving only the eyes visible).
Plans to build mosques in Europe’s cities have often provoked significant protest, sometimes involving acts of grotesque vandalism, involving pigs, for instance, which are considered unclean by many Muslims. In March, a pig’s head without eyes was placed on the fence of the mosque in Prague's Kyje district with a sign that said “Stop Islam.” Spikes topped with pigs’ heads were planted on the site of a planned mosque in Austria on New Year’s Eve 2007. A town councilor for the Northern League in the Italian city of Padua strolled a pig on the grounds of a new mosque in 2008.
Some city governments have embraced the construction of official mosques, but there are countless examples of municipalities across Europe stalling or blocking requests from Muslim communities to approve mosque construction.
Denying religious groups places to worship violates their right to freedom of religion. In October, the UN Human Rights Committee warned Switzerland that a ban on minarets would violate the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; and the UN expert on religious freedom, Asma Jahangir, has condemned the ban, saying it clearly violates the fundamental right to manifest one’s religion.
Conflicts over mosques also do a deep disservice to the important goals of combating discrimination and encouraging integration of Europe’s newer communities. While in some cases there may be legitimate local dynamics and regulations to consider, the most vocal opponents often cast the issue in terms of defending Europe’s Christian heritage or preventing Islamic radicalism. By presenting Islam as a dangerous interloper, these arguments stigmatize Muslims and feed into routine discrimination.
A major survey commissioned by the European Union’s Fundamental Rights Agency in 14 European countries found that one in three Muslims had experienced some kind of discrimination over the past twelve months. One in ten said they had suffered a racially motivated assault, threat or serious harassment at least once during that time. The vast majority never reported the incidents, lacking confidence that they would get help.
As with the mosque issue, national and local policies in France, Germany, and Belgium banning or restricting the veil send a damaging signal that Muslims are not welcome and undermine the confidence of Muslim communities in equal treatment.
In a recent speech on French national identity, President Nicolas Sarkozy reiterated that what he calls the burqa is not welcome in France. A parliamentary committee has been holding hearings since June to identify policy and legislative responses to a perceived increase in women wearing the full-face veils, and a law to ban the practice in all public places is being considered.
More limited bans already have a devastating effect on Muslim women’s rights in Germany. Laws in eight states prohibit teachers and other civil servants from wearing the headscarf at work, forcing women to choose between their religious belief and their profession. Germany has lost talented teachers as a result.
Supporters of bans tend to rely on three main arguments, the need to protect women’s rights; integrate Muslim migrants; and prevent homegrown terrorism. But general bans are a blunt instrument likely to do more harm than good. They stigmatize and marginalize women who choose to wear the veil and violate their fundamental rights, while doing nothing to help those who wear the veil under coercion.
The Swiss vote has already galvanized far-right parties across Europe. The Danish People’s Party, Vlaams Belang in Belgium, Italian Northern League, and the Dutch Party for Freedom immediately praised the vote and pledged to pursue similar initiatives in their own countries. The debate on the Muslim veil in France is being watched by lawmakers around Europe, including in Italy, where two different draft bills have been tabled that would ban full-face veils throughout the country.
National debates about religious and cultural pluralism will continue in European societies struggling with fears about terrorism and integration. Yet a genuine strategy to prevent violent radicalization and promote integration has to be based on giving immigrants and their descendants a real stake in their European home, encouraging participation rather than exclusion. And that means respect for the fundamental rights to freedom from discrimination and freedom of religion.
Judith Sunderland is senior researcher on Western Europe at Human Rights Watch.
Your tax deductible gift can help stop human rights violations and save lives around the world.
February 26, 2009 Report
Discrimination in the Name of Neutrality
July 2, 2009 Commentary
Beyond the Burqa
Kazakhstan: Children in Institutions Isolated, Abused
End Institutionalization, Provide Community-Based Support
Crimean Tatars Face Unfounded Terrorism Charges
Raids, Arbitrary Arrests, Torture of Activists
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Tag Archive: Serious Injury Claims
Injuries are part and parcel of sport, but clubs and medical staff have a duty to put their long-term health first
By Jamie Peacock MBE, former England rugby league captain.
Over the past five or six years the protection of players following injuries in rugby league, particularly with regard to head injuries, has improved dramatically.
We now have clear protocols and systems in place to ensure players suffering any head injury during a game are only allowed to return to action when they are fully recovered and have proved, through a dedicated test, to be so.
At the start of each season, all players now have to undergo a concussion test which sets a recorded base level for the individual player. If they then suffer a knock to the head in any game, they have to be tested and meet that base level to return to the field.
You can’t just send your best player back out onto the field because it is a big game and he is crucial to your chances of winning. Player safety comes first.
It’s fair to say this was not the case in the early days of my career. In days past it was often the player’s decision, and in the heat of the battle, in a big game, no competitive player would choose not to continue.
I can remember a number of occasions when I’d tell our medical team that I felt fine to play on when I was still dazed and not sure where I was, either to get back out on the field or to prevent them from taking me off.
It’s that competitive spirit and desire to win.
Initially, the changes around head injuries were not something welcomed by many players.
I have to say that I have always been someone who believes it is my decision as to how much I put my body on the line. In the same way, I would probably now be against the introduction of head guards becoming mandatory. It’s just my nature.
Rugby players expect to get hurt and expect to have to go through pain to have success. But I think that we’ve now accepted as a collective sport, as individual players, and as coaches that players need extra protection, despite the pressure on all involved to win.
I have come to accept and understand that the safety of players has to come first, and that set standards and procedures are there for a very good reason.
Head injuries can have a life-changing impact, but when it comes to other lesser injuries, the right balance needs to be found between the decision of medical staff and that of a player who is desperate to play.
When is it right for a player to return from a lesser injury such as a back or hamstring strain, and who makes that decision?
With so much at stake in professional sport these days, striking that balance is difficult.
I’d suggest that if all players had to be 100% fit to play a game of rugby league, you’d hardly ever get two teams out on the field, or you’d have to play games much less regularly.
No matter what the medical opinion, most players would choose to play every week. But as sports professionals have short careers, decisions and treatment around injuries do need to be considered with a long-term view, rather than just with the next game in mind.
As I say, it is a difficult balance. Medical professionals have to put players first, but understand their desire to play.
Players have to understand the responsibility placed on their medical teams, and the sport as a whole.
We have come to accept that such decisions can’t always be made by players themselves, and that sports bodies and their clubs have a duty to care for players’ careers and long-term health.
Nobody can really argue with that.
Hudgell Solicitors offer rehabilitative support to sportsmen and women whose injuries have been poorly managed by medical staff. To find out more, visit our sports injury claims page or contact our team today.
Hudgell Solicitors and Hastings Direct shortlisted at national Rehabilitation First Awards for support to man with life-changing injuries from RTA
Hudgell Solicitors has again been recognised for its dedication to making the rehabilitation of seriously injured people its top priority as it has been shortlisted at a prestigious awards event for the second year running.
The firm is again a finalist in the Rehabilitation First Awards, run by The Insurance Post to recognise the very best rehabilitation support provided to those most in need.
Hudgell Solicitors has been shortlisted in the Collaboration category for Rehabilitation Initiative of the Year, for its work with insurers Hastings Direct in supporting Thomas, 30, to rebuild his life after suffering life-changing injuries in an RTA in November 2013.
Thomas has benefitted from an ongoing package of physical, emotional and psychological support which has helped him to make an impressive recovery, and recently begin a University course in Occupational Therapy.
Thomas, who was aged 26 at the time of the accident, suffered a head injury, chest injury, fractured ribs and pneumothorax, fractured left tibia and fibula, fractured left scapular, damage to the liver and a perforated bowel.
When returning home from hospital two months later he was suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), memory loss, nightmares and had difficulties with speech.
Solicitors and insurers worked together to identify ideal rehabilitation strategy
Experienced personal injury specialist Vicky Houghton, of Hudgell Solicitors, sought support from the outset from defendant insurers Hastings Direct in terms of covering the costs of a much-needed package of rehabilitation for Thomas.
Despite the matter of liability still being disputed in the legal case, Hastings Direct agreed to put the needs of Thomas first and cover the cost of his full rehabilitation.
An experienced case manager with extensive knowledge of the assessment and care of people with brain injuries was jointly appointed to oversee the rehabilitation support which has included a dedicated team of specialists including a consultant orthopedic surgeon, physiotherapist, speech and language therapist, neuropsychologist and cognitive behavioural therapist.
Supportive approach of insurers helped ensure treatment matched client’s changing needs
Solicitor Vicky Houghton said: “We have been delighted with the success of collaboratively working with Hastings Direct to deliver a much-needed comprehensive package of rehabilitation support to Thomas via the claims process.
“At Hudgell Solicitors, we know the key to the best recovery is through providing a complete, tailored rehabilitation support package, and thanks to the great support of Katie Jamieson at Hastings Direct we have been able to do this.
“The willingness of Katie and her team at Hastings Direct to trust the expertise and knowledge of the case manager, and agree to cover the cost of updated support packages for Thomas over the past couple of years, has been outstanding.
“Crucially, this has ensured that we have been able to provide relevant and timely support, meaning there have been no breaks or delays in rehabilitation, ensuring continued progress over the years.”
Katie Jamieson, Senior Large and Complex Loss Handler at Hastings Direct, said: “As signatories to the Serious Injury Guide, Hastings fully supports putting the claimant at the heart of the process to ensure the best possible outcome. We are always willing to work collaboratively and consider early intervention rehabilitation.
“In Thomas’ case, once Hudgell Solicitors had hold of the case, the need for rehabilitation was identified and a collaborative approach adopted despite the fact liability had not yet been established.
“We have fully supported the rehabilitation programme in this case without seeing any medical reports to date, as we appreciate and understand that Thomas has required timely support, both physically and psychologically, to make the best possible recovery, and that his long-term prognosis is still to be fully assessed.
“Thomas has come a very long way thanks to the support and collective work of all involved. Everyone involved at Hastings Direct has been delighted to help make such a positive impact on Thomas’ journey.”
Read Thomas’ story
Hudgell Solicitors recognised for second year at Rehabilitation First Awards
The shortlisting for this year’s awards night comes on the back of similar recognition last year for Hudgell Solicitors.
In 2016, chief executive Amanda Stevens was presented with the ‘Outstanding Individual Achievement’ prize, an award selected by judges to recognise those who have ‘set themselves apart from their peers by the sheer weight and significance of their contribution to the UK rehabilitation industry.’
Hudgell Solicitors were highly commended in the Rehabilitation Initiative of the Year category for claimant solicitors, as judges were impressed by an ongoing package of financial, physical, psychological and personal support provided to a family left devastated by a road traffic accident in 2005, which tragically caused the death of a 29-year-old mother-of-three, and her six-year-old daughter.
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Kim Kardashian Wants Reality TV Show To Last Forever
By Lily Karlin
CENTURY CITY, CA - MAY 07: TV personality Kim Kardashian attends USC Shoah Foundation's 20th Anniversary Gala at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza on May 7, 2014 in Century City, California. (Photo by Rich Polk/Getty Images for USC Shoah Foundation)
If Kim Kardashian had it her way, she would live on our TV screens forever.
Speaking to MailOnline in Cannes, France, the reality TV star revealed that she has no qualms about opening her life to public viewership.
"I love sharing my life," she said. "And I hope it goes on for as long as it can."
"Keeping Up With The Kardashians," the show that documents the life of the star and her family, also serves as a useful tool in keeping her looped in. Like viewers at home, Kardashian admits to using the program to keep tabs on her siblings' lives.
"I'll find out things on TV on our show that I might not have noticed," she said. "I’ll see what my sisters are doing when I’m not there, and I’ll notice different things that I wouldn’t have picked up on before."
Kardashian recently married rapper Kanye West in a ceremony at Florence's 16th-century Forte di Belvedere, and she spoke to MailOnline about the importance of striking a balance between her private and public lives.
"It’s been a balance and you figure it out," she said. "I’d say more so when I was pregnant, I didn’t want to be on as much, that’s just where I was in that phase of my life."
Kardashian's daughter, North West, was born on June 15, 2013, and the celebrity says motherhood has been the only thing to shift her "life in the spotlight," perspective. Discussing a scenario in which her TV show did go off the air, she said:
"I would be OK with that too -- I think that’s how motherhood has changed me. You’re kind of OK with whatever is going on as long as your baby is OK."
Lily Karlin
Associate Entertainment Writer, The Huffington Post
Reality TV Kim Kardashian The Kardashians Kim Kardashian North West Entertainment
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DHS leader says fewer than 1,000 family separations
Andre 3000 joins cast of AMC series ‘Dispatches From Elsewhere'
Kevin Spacey's legal woes persist even with groping case out
Ohio to raise smoking age to 21
The Latest: Ocasio-Cortez says Trump rhetoric endangering
Trump protesters rally at gay bar blocks from arena speech
By: MIKE SCHNEIDER, Associated Press
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) - Opponents of President Donald Trump's reelection announcement Tuesday in Florida rebuked his administration's policies at a rally outside a gay bar with performances by a mariachi band and a drag queen, speeches by a transgender woman and women who had abortions and the appearance of a 20-foot-high (6-meter-high) blimp of a scowling Trump in a diaper.
"The goal is to get under his skin," said Mark Offerman, the handler of the blimp known as "Baby Trump."
"Baby Trump" wasn't the only helium-dependent iteration of the president at the rally. Lane Blackwell, who owns a clothing and swimwear store in Orlando, had manufactured 200 small balloons with Trump in a diaper and passed them out.
"People can't get enough of these," he said.
Organizers of the "Win With Love Rally" said Trump's announcement in Orlando on Tuesday night was an affront to a city with a visible gay community and a large Puerto Rican population. Orlando is at the center of the Interstate 4 corridor, stretching from Tampa to Daytona Beach, which is considered the swingiest part of the nation's largest battleground state.
Opponents blame the Republican president for holding up disaster aid to Puerto Rico over a feud with Democratic leaders on the island. The Trump administration also has moved to revoke newly won health care protections for transgender people, restrict their presence in the military , and withdraw federal guidance that trans students should be able to use bathrooms of their choice.
"We're fighting back against an administration that thinks we can be erased," said Gina Duncan, a transgender activist in Orlando. "We won't be erased."
The president's reelection announcement comes a week after the third anniversary of the massacre of 49 people at the gay Pulse club, a turning point for Orlando community leaders in embracing ideas of diversity and tolerance, said Ida Eskamani, a protest organizer. The club closed after the shooting, and a planned memorial is in development on the site.
"Orlando is such a bastion of hope and love and solidarity of marginalized people since Pulse and we have embraced that identity of who we are as a community," Eskamani said. "We want to show the country that Trump's brand of politics doesn't work along the I-4 corridor. We are ready to win with love."
The chairman of the local Republican Party said Trump is fighting for all Americans.
"For them to say Donald Trump doesn't like gay people is wrong. For them to say Donald Trump doesn't like Hispanics is wrong," said Charles Hart, chairman of the Orange County Republican Executive Committee.
Trump's visit in Orlando split Shaun Noble's family. His mother was at the Trump announcement while he was at the anti-Trump protest.
"It's really caused a divide in our relationship," Noble said. "It's my right to believe what I want to believe as a gay man. It's her right to believe what she wants to believe."
Orlando's hometown newspaper said Tuesday in an editorial that it won't endorse Trump.
"Some readers will wonder how we could possibly eliminate a candidate so far before an election, and before knowing the identity of his opponent," the Orlando Sentinel wrote. "Because there's no point pretending we would ever recommend that readers vote for Trump."
The editorial went on to say that it has had "enough of the chaos, the division, the schoolyard insults, the self-aggrandizement, the corruption, and especially the lies."
Several times at the anti-Trump rally, groups of men wearing black "Proud Boy" T-shirts and red "Make America Great Again" hats tried to enter the street where the anti-Trump protesters were gathered. They were stopped by groups of police officers and deputies. As they walked away, a man from the far-right Proud Boys group said, "We're just Americans. This is a sad day."
Later a Trump supporter with a megaphone tried to talk at the anti-Trump supporters across a police barrier but he was drowned out by chants of "Hey, hey, ho, ho. Donald Trump has got to go."
Hours before the Trump rally, Unite Here!, a labor union representing hospitality workers, held a news conference with migrant workers who said they were employed at Trump-owned properties while they were living in the country illegally, WFTV reported.
"This is the one story the administration doesn't talk about: the undocumented immigrants who worked for Donald Trump in his house for many, many years," the station quoted immigration attorney Anibal Romero as saying. "These are the same people he vilifies."
Sandra Diaz, an immigrant who said she worked at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey, said she and others came to the news conference to declare that "we aren't criminals."
This story has corrected the spelling of the Orlando Sentinel. The story summary has been corrected to show the rally was not at the former site of the nightclub Pulse but at another gay club.
Follow Mike Schneider at https://twitter.com/MikeSchneiderAP
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Uber goes to court on Monday to overturn a decision stripping it of its license in London after being ruled unfit to run a taxi service in its most important European market.
10:05 AM | 25 June, 2018
LONDON (Reuters) - Uber goes to court on Monday to overturn a decision stripping it of its license in London after being ruled unfit to run a taxi service in its most important European market. Regulator Transport for London (TfL) shocked the Silicon Valley firm last September by refusing to renew its license, citing failings in its approach to ...
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Shakespeare, concert band, 'Jack and the Beanstalk': What to do this week in Ithaca
Ithaca Shakespeare Company returns, concert band performs, and more
Shakespeare, concert band, 'Jack and the Beanstalk': What to do this week in Ithaca Ithaca Shakespeare Company returns, concert band performs, and more Check out this story on ithacajournal.com: https://www.ithacajournal.com/story/entertainment/2019/07/11/need-plans-heres-weeks-top-ithaca-events/1675669001/
Jim Catalano, Correspondent Published 8:00 a.m. ET July 11, 2019
Bess Greenberg combined her love for music and basketball in a performance piece for Johnson City Elementary School students on June 14. Provided
We move into mid-July with the return of a long-running outdoor Shakespeare series, as well as a pair of free Cornell University events to mark the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing. Find out more in our roundup of 10 great events happening in the Ithaca area this week:
1. Ithaca Shakespeare Company opens season in new location
For its 17th season of outdoor Shakespeare performances, the Ithaca Shakespeare Company will move to Robert H. Treman State Park. ISC is pairing the well-known comedy “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” with the company’s first production of “Pericles” — a thrilling adventure, a timeless romance and a moving family drama that is full of contemporary resonances. “Pericles” will be performed July 11, 13, 19, 21, 25 and 27; “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” will be performed July 12, 14, 18, 20, 26 and 28. All shows begin at 6 p.m. Tickets are $20 for general admission, $30 for reserved seating ($15/$25 for students and seniors; $10 for kids 6 to 11; free for kids 5 and younger). (ithacashakespeare.org)
Bottom (Ross Haarstad), Snout (Peter Shuman) and Flute (Eric Hambury) appear in a scene from the Ithaca Shakespeare Company’s production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” (Photo: Provided photo/Stephen Ponton)
2. Hangar Theatre's Kiddstuff season continues with ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’
The Hangar Theatre Company continues its KiddStuff season with Marjorie Sokoloff’s “Jack and the Beanstalk.” Jack and his mother live a tough life, but that all changes when a mysterious stranger gives him three magic beans. Performances are at 10 a.m. and noon Thursday through Saturday, with a sensory-sensitive show at 3 p.m. Friday. Tickets are $9. (hangartheatre.org)
From left, Diana Truman (Albert's Mother), Jacob Entenman (Jack), Lauren Grajewski (Jack's Mother) and Jess Murphy (Jack's Father) rehearse a scene from "Jack and the Beanstalk." (Photo: Provided photo/Rachel Philipson)
3. ‘The War Boys’ at Hangar Theatre's Wedge series
The Hangar Theatre’s Wedge series continues with Naomi Wallace’s “The War Boys,” which tells the tale of three young Texan men who spend their nights patrolling the Mexican border wall to earn a $10 bounty for every Mexican they catch crossing it. To pass time, they play the game “War Boys.” But things turn from fun to violent when the lines between fantasy and reality become dangerously blurred. Performances are at 6 and 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday at the Cherry Artspace, 102 Cherry St. Admission is free; donations are welcome. (hangartheatre.org)
4. Ithaca Concert Band to perform free downtown show
At 7 p.m. Thursday, the Ithaca Concert Band will return to Dewitt Park to perform an eclectic program of marches, movie themes and more. This is the first in a series of free weekly concerts in July at various locations around Ithaca. (ithacaconcertband.org)
5. Queen-themed storytelling event at Casita del Polaris
Trampoline — Ithaca’s monthly competitive storytelling event hosted by Mickie Quinn — returns to Casita del Polaris at 7 p.m. Thursday to continue its series of Queen-themed shows. This month, participants will tell a five-minute story, without notes, prompted by the theme of “Fat Bottomed Girls”; the winner will advance to the Big Showdown in October. Cover is $5. (facebook.com/trampolineithaca)
6. ‘Watermusic’ brings the arts to Waterfront Trail
On Friday evening, Triphammer Arts, the Cayuga Waterfront Trail Initiative and the Friends of Stewart Park will once again host “Watermusic/Dancing on the Trail.” Free to all, the event will feature musicians performing along the Waterfront Trail and the borders of Cayuga Lake and Fall Creek from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., with a grand finale performance at Stewart Park’s Picnic (Large) Pavilion from 7:30 to 8:30. (triphammer.org)
7. Rob Sullivan’s poetry book captures life at Ithaca Post Office
In his just-published collection of poems, “Post Scripts: Behind the Counter at the Ithaca Post Office,” ex-postal clerk Rob Sullivan chronicles his journey from entrance exam to last day during his 27 years at the Tioga Street office. At 7 p.m. Friday, he’ll host a free reading and release celebration at the First Unitarian Church, with music provided by the Dogpatch String Quartet: Jeff Claus, Judy Hyman, Mac Benford and Sally Freund. (facebook.com/events/2398111390245722/)
8. One-Minute Play Festival returns to Kitchen Theatre
This weekend, the Kitchen Theatre will host the second annual One-Minute Play Festival, with new short works by nearly three dozen local playwrights that attempt “to reflect the values, topics, trends, styles, ideas and big conversations that bubble up to the surface in each community.” Performances are at 8 p.m. Saturday, 3 and 7 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $20. (kitchentheatre.org, oneminuteplayfestival.com)
9. Get romantic with Adriana Herrera
At 3 p.m. Sunday, Buffalo Street Books will welcome romance author Adriana Herrera. She’ll mark the release of her new novel “American Dreamer,” which is set in Ithaca. Free to all, this event also will celebrate the launch of the bookstore’s new Romance section. (buffalostreetbooks.com)
10. Cornell events to mark moon-landing anniversary
At 7 p.m. Tuesday, New York City's acclaimed Aeolus Quartet will present a special concert in Cornell University’s Sage Chapel to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing and Cornell's ties to space exploration. At 7 p.m. Wednesday, space historian and author Andrew Chaikin will discuss the enduring legacies — technical, scientific, and human — of the Apollo program in a free lecture at Kennedy Hall’s Call Auditorium. (facebook.com/CornellSCE/)
Read or Share this story: https://www.ithacajournal.com/story/entertainment/2019/07/11/need-plans-heres-weeks-top-ithaca-events/1675669001/
Got tickets? Theaters roll out summer productions
Finger Lakes Toy Library wins Gannett Foundation grant
See who’s playing at GrassRoots Fest 2019
April 10, 2019, 12:27 p.m.
Library to screen ‘I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang’
Ithaca Bottom Boys release debut album
Aug. 29, 2018, 7:16 a.m.
Cortland tattoo artist vies to be 'Ink Master'
April 12, 2018, 2:24 p.m.
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Features / Photography
“Things just happen, as things do”: the world through the eyes of William Eggleston
Words by Lucy Bourton, Thursday 01 June 2017
Jody Rogac
“I never know if I’m coming to the end of everything I want to know about the world, or just the beginning,” ponders William Eggleston at the age of 77. Hailed as the pioneer of colour photography, William Eggleston has remained loyal to the medium for 60 years, creating endearing photographs despite his atypical subject matter. The result provokes a memory-inducing sigh among viewers the world over, images that resonate but remain otherworldly.
William’s photographs depict the way he sees the world, a method that is never calculated or replicable. “I have a personal discipline of taking one picture of one thing and that is it. One image is quite enough I think,” he explains. “If something doesn’t turn out, it just doesn’t. I don’t worry about it.” His light approach to photography is personal. “I still take photographs now. I find it very difficult to tell photographs from last week from the ones taken 20 years before. They look pretty much the same and I am happy I can say that. I like my own work you see.”
Buy your copy of Printed Pages SS17 here!
Despite exhibitions of William’s work often displaying photographs from the 1960s, they remain relevant through their familiarity and fondness. This is because his photographs are him, a character that in conversation is in equal parts modest and mischievous. When asking William about his recent work, he explains that the changing landscape of America, geographically and politically, hasn’t altered his photography. “I cannot really tell how the change of America is affecting my photographs, it could be, but not noticeable to me. It changes them, I was going to say slowly, but actually I’m not sure that is true. It is dependent on the person.”
William’s recent photographic expeditions apply the same discipline he has always had. In Memphis, where he has lived for the large part of his life, he now goes out into the countryside to photograph. “It’s been quite warm this winter. One day the weather was pretty and I thought I’d have a drive around, we ended up driving around a lot. Oh, we’d stop at anything. I never know what is going to come up, I don’t plan ahead in my photographs. I don’t know why, I don’t think about whatever turns up, it’s always a surprise. Therefore I don’t try to plan on any subject.
William’s work is unaffected aesthetically, a result of the photographer remaining dedicated to using film. “I usually use just Leica’s, they are very well made and they work all the time, I don’t have to worry one bit. I still use film too, I never use digital. It’s not the waiting process of film that I like, it’s just that I understand it so well. I have a lot of digital cameras, but I never use them. I don’t understand them.” To print his photographs William uses two techniques. “I still use dye transfer quite a bit, it’s a wonderful process. At one time I was doing a lot of video printing, I have labs that do that for me. I don’t know how to describe it, when it is really correct it’s very much like dye transfer: prominent and accurate. I don’t think that the colours are any better, they are just that tiny bit different.”
With an unconcerned approach to his work, William has the patience to let the world produce charming moments, linking to his keen interest in quantum physics. An area William says he would have pursued if not photography, he explains “everything about it interests me. It is about how everything works in the world, including us”. On asking the photographer if he has figured it all out yet, he coyly replies: “Oh, quite a bit.”
Outside of physics and photography William’s creative pursuits are famously music and drawing. For our interview, ever the gentleman, he politely turns down the stereo as he speaks. “I was in the middle of Beethoven’s Symphony No.7, the third movement. I’m working on a piano transcription of that symphony, it is one of my favourites. I was just picking up on my mistakes.” Playing the piano is an outlet for the photographer: “I love doing it, I just play for myself, I don’t do it in public. It’s important to me to really carefully listen to yourself, that’s how you know it’s going to be right. Too many pianists don’t listen to themselves, I’m not like that.” William’s musical tastes include “everything from Bach to Beethoven, to Brahms and Tchaikovsky and a lot of American songs as well,” but when shooting he prefers the quiet. “I am silent while photographing, but music is often going on in my head. I think it might be distracting to have the radio on or something. Music certainly can be and is distracting, and the more complex it is the more distracting it can be. Composers like Bach you see are complex, it takes quite a lot of concentration to just understand what he is doing, although it is so beautiful at the same time. In my opinion, Bach really was a quantum physicist because his music works perfectly in the everyday, and at the same time it was so beautiful.”
Drawing is the most consistent creative medium William pursues other than photography, but to him they are separate entities. “I don’t ever think of them at the same time. I think of them as completely different animals that don’t know each other, if that makes any sense.” Where William’s photographs capture realistic attributes of life, his drawings lean towards the conceptual. “I draw abstractions, they’re not ever realistic and I don’t know how to describe what they’re like. I like them though.” These drawings live in hundreds of sketchbooks he has completed over the years and are occasionally exhibited. “Honestly, I could use anything to draw but I particularly enjoy felt tip markers. They’re so quick and you can’t make a mess. I love those, I use them all the time.” These drawings became the inspiration and focus for William’s daughter, Andra Eggleston’s textile line. “She is really busy doing that and I’m really proud of her,” he explains.
Family remains continually important to the photographer. The father of three children, he additionally works closely with his son Winston on The Eggleston Trust. His wife, Rosa Dossett Eggleston unfortunately died in 2015. In asking William what his wife was like he responds: “Well, she liked to criticise my work. Oh, she had a brilliant eye, her comments were always exactly correct.” The pair spent their lives together, in their younger years they were known in the Mississippi Delta for their matching blue Cadillacs. “We got along very well, I wish she was still around. As children we grew up together, she was also a plantation owner, we knew each other since we were four years old. We were together for so many years I can’t quite get it straight in my mind that she is gone. I don’t like it a bit.”
Throughout their lives Rosa and William travelled frequently. “We would go around the world all the time,” and he continues to do so. “The only place I haven’t been is Australia. I would probably like it, I imagine it’d be quite empty.” William elaborates on his travels to “everywhere you can imagine,” including Asia and South America, but most frequently Paris. These trips he says involve, “well, drinking and photographing,” but it is a lifestyle William is grateful to have achieved. “I travel around a lot and I feel very lucky in that way, but I didn’t plan on any of this.”
William Eggleston’s lifestyle mirrors his work, in that he lives in a state of the unplanned and the impromptu. When discussing his work previously it has been thought that William is short and a little sharp of tongue. However, it seems more that he is content. He doesn’t feel the need to provide an answer on technique, or a justification on how he views the world around him when it is simply a second nature. “I’m not conscious of a body of work,” William concludes. “It just is what it is.”
www.egglestontrust.com
Regulars / Nicer Tuesdays “Am I problematic?”: Olivia Rose tackles the big questions in her Nicer Tuesdays talk
The London-based photographer and director gave the Nicer Tuesdays audience a visual run-down of her amazing career to date but the crux of her talk tackled the question of whether, as a white photographer, her work documenting black communities and musicians is problematic.
It's Nice That — 12 July 2019
Sponsored / Animation Studio Moross and video artist Nic Hamilton capture the emotions of clubbing for The Warehouse Project
The design studio rebranded the Manchester club to launch its new venue, The Depot, and is working with a different artist for each season
Work / Photography Photographer Heather Glazzard highlights the importance of queer self-representation
The London-based photographer’s ongoing project, Queer Letters, conducts conversations between queer people and their younger selves, with tender portraits accompanied by hand-written letters.
Regulars / Nicer Tuesdays From physicist to full-time artist, Tishk Barzanji tells the story of his career so far
In a heartwarming talk, visual artist Tishk Barzanji recalls his change in career following an illness, proving that when it comes to creativity, age is but a number!
Work / Graphic Design Querida on art directing the brand everybody wants a piece of, Paloma Wool
The Barcelona-based studio tells us about its on going collaboration with beloved brand (and its neighbours!) Paloma Wool.
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Gators a dangerous team in NCAA baseball tournament
GAINESVILLE | Florida baseball coach Kevin O'Sullivan issued a direct message to his team earlier this week.
"What you've done in the past doesn't matter at this point," O'Sullivan said. "It's a new season."
A coach will sometimes issue that kind of statement as a warning to his team to guard against overconfidence if it has enjoyed tremendous success. That isn't the case for Florida.
The Gators are hoping to take advantage of their second season and put a mediocre past behind them. Florida finished the regular season 29-28, yet made the NCAA Tournament when the 64-team field was announced on Monday.
The NCAA selection committee sent Florida to Indiana, where the Gators will compete in the Bloomington Region. Third-seeded Florida faces No. 2-seed Austin Peay (45-13) at 1 p.m. Friday. The top-seeded Hoosiers (43-14) play No. 4 seed Valparaiso (31-26) at 7 p.m. in the double-elimination tournament.
The Gators will start Jonathon Crawford on Friday. The junior has been Florida's most reliable pitcher all season despite his somewhat disappointing statistics. Crawford is 3-6 with a 4.03 ERA but has logged 801/3 innings on the mound. That's 19 more than any other UF pitcher.
Crawford also has a sensational NCAA Tournament memory to give him confidence. He threw a no-hitter against Bethune-Cookman last season to open postseason play in the Gainesville Regional.
Florida also has an edge in this regional in terms of postseason experience. Indiana is only in its third NCAA Tournament and first since 2009. The teams in this regional have combined for eight College World Series appearances, all by the Gators. They have reached the CWS the last three seasons.
UF also was battle-tested in the Southeastern Conference, which has a tournament-best nine teams in the field.
"I definitely think Indiana and all the other teams aren't very happy to see our names in their regional,'' Crawford said. "We're a young team, and we kind of built a lot of momentum. If we get that momentum, people are not going to like us. We know we can do it."
Florida has shown flashes of strong play this year. The Gators swept South Carolina and have 12 victories over teams in the 64-team field. UF rebounded from an 11-16 start to play excellent ball in April, but then lost nine of its last 11 SEC games.
Florida has waited nine days to return to action since losing to Texas A&M 6-3 in the opening round of the SEC Tournament. The Gators practiced during that layoff, trying to simulate game speed and situations as much as possible.
"We practiced like we anticipated getting in,'' O'Sullivan said. "That's how we attacked it. I feel like we've gotten better."
Florida will need to be better. Austin Peay has won its last 15 games, the longest active streak in the country. The Governors are ninth in the nation in batting average (.315) and 11th in slugging percentage (.458).
Florida has 27 home runs this season. Austin Peay's top two sluggers, Craig Massoni and Jordan Hankins, have combined for 27.
Should UF get past the Govs, the Gators would likely face Indiana. The Hoosiers took two of three games from Florida in Gainesville back in early March.
Indiana is having its best season in school history. The Hoosiers previous school record for victories in a season was 33.
However, as O'Sullivan said, that means nothing heading into this weekend. The winner will meet the Tallahassee Regional champion in next week's Super Regionals, with a berth in the College World Series in Omaha, Neb., at stake.
"Everybody kind of got energized from [making the field],'' Florida senior shortstop Cody Dent said. "We have a chance to play in the tournament and do something. You get to play in the postseason and get to play to get back to Omaha."
Hays Carlyon: (904) 359-4377
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Home » Businesswire News Releases
Glaukos Corporation Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2017 Financial Results
SAN CLEMENTE, Calif. --
Glaukos Corporation (NYSE: GKOS), an ophthalmic medical technology company focused on the development and commercialization of breakthrough products and procedures designed to transform the treatment of glaucoma, today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2017. Key highlights include:
Achieved 26% net sales growth to $41.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2017, compared to $33.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2016.
Reported 39% growth in net sales to $159.3 million for 2017, compared to $114.4 million in 2016.
Introduced 2018 net sales guidance of $160 million to $165 million.
“Our fourth quarter and full year 2017 results illustrate the continuing demand for our novel iStent technologies, which offer physicians and patients a viable alternative to daily, lifelong use of topical glaucoma medications or invasive surgeries,” said Thomas Burns, Glaukos president and chief executive officer. “As we move into 2018, we remain focused on strengthening our beachhead position in the combination-cataract market segment while advancing our comprehensive pipeline of next-generation surgical devices and sustained pharmaceutical therapies, which we believe will significantly expand our addressable market opportunity and facilitate our evolution into a hybrid ophthalmic medical device and pharmaceutical company.”
Net sales rose 26% in the fourth quarter of 2017 to $41.7 million, compared to $33.2 million in the same period in 2016. The growth reflected unit volume increases worldwide, higher average selling prices and expansion of the company’s direct sales operations into new international markets.
Gross margin for the fourth quarter of 2017 was approximately 89%, compared to approximately 85% in the same period in 2016.
Operating expenses for the fourth quarter of 2017 rose 31% to $36.5 million, compared to $27.9 million in the same period in 2016. The year-over-year increase reflected primarily increasing domestic sales, marketing and administrative personnel and expenses and the company’s ongoing investment in, and expansion of, its global infrastructure by adding international sales operations.
Income from operations in the fourth quarter of 2017 was $0.5 million compared to operating income of $0.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2016. Net income in the fourth quarter of 2017 was $1.0 million, or $0.03 per diluted share, compared to net income of $0.1 million, or $0.00 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2016.
Full Year 2017 Financial Results
Net sales rose 39% in 2017 to $159.3 million, compared to $114.4 million in 2016. The growth reflected unit volume increases worldwide, higher average selling prices and expansion of the company’s direct sales operations into new international markets.
Gross margin for 2017 was approximately 87%, compared to approximately 86% in 2016.
Operating expenses for 2017 rose 49% to $140.5 million, compared to $94.0 million in the same period in 2016. In addition to the $5.3 million acquisition-related in-process R&D charge in 2017, the year-over-year increase reflected primarily increasing domestic sales, marketing and administrative personnel and expenses and the company’s ongoing investment in, and expansion of, its global infrastructure by adding international sales operations.
Loss from operations in 2017 was $2.3 million, which included the in-process R&D charge, compared to operating income of $4.2 million in 2016. Net loss in 2017 was $0.1 million, or $0.00 per diluted share, compared to net income of $4.5 million, or $0.12 per diluted share, in 2016.
2018 Revenue Guidance
The company expects 2018 net sales to be in the range of $160 million to $165 million.
Webcast & Conference Call
The company will host a conference call and simultaneous webcast today at 1:30 p.m. PST (4:30 p.m. EST) to discuss the results and provide additional information about the company’s financial outlook. A link to the webcast is available on the company’s website at http://investors.glaukos.com. To participate in the conference call, please dial 866-393-4306 (U.S.) or 734-385-2616 (international) and enter Conference ID 5292739. A replay of the webcast will be archived on the company’s website following completion of the call.
About Glaukos
Glaukos (www.glaukos.com) is an ophthalmic medical technology company focused on the development and commercialization of breakthrough products and procedures to transform the treatment of glaucoma, one of the world’s leading causes of blindness. The company pioneered Micro-Invasive Glaucoma Surgery, or MIGS, to revolutionize the traditional glaucoma treatment and management paradigm. Glaukos launched the iStent, its first MIGS device, in the United States in July 2012 and is leveraging its platform technology to build a comprehensive and proprietary portfolio of micro-scale injectable therapies designed to address the complete range of glaucoma disease states and progression. The company believes the iStent, measuring 1.0 mm long and 0.33 mm wide, is the smallest medical device ever approved by the FDA.
All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that we expect, believe or anticipate will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Although we believe that we have a reasonable basis for forward-looking statements contained herein, we caution you that they are based on current expectations about future events affecting us and are subject to risks, uncertainties and factors relating to our operations and business environment, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control, that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements in this press release. These potential risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, uncertainties about our ability to maintain profitability; our dependence on the success and market acceptance of the iStent; our ability to leverage our sales and marketing infrastructure to increase market penetration and acceptance both in the United States and internationally of our products; our ability to bring our pipeline products to market; our dependence on a limited number of third-party suppliers for components of our products; the occurrence of a crippling accident, natural disaster or other disruption at our primary facility, which may materially affect our manufacturing capacity and operations; maintaining adequate coverage or reimbursement by third-party payors for procedures using the iStent or other products in development; our ability to properly train, and gain acceptance and trust from, ophthalmic surgeons in the use of our products; our ability to successfully develop and commercialize additional products; our ability to compete effectively in the highly competitive and rapidly changing medical device industry and against current and future competitors (including MIGS competitors) that are large public companies or divisions of publicly traded companies that have competitive advantages; the timing, effect and expense of navigating different regulatory approval processes as we develop additional products and penetrate foreign markets; the impact of any product liability claims against us and any related litigation; the effect of the extensive and increasing federal and state regulation in the healthcare industry on us and our suppliers; the lengthy and expensive clinical trial process and the uncertainty of outcomes from any particular clinical trial; our ability to protect, and the expense and time-consuming nature of protecting, our intellectual property against third parties and competitors that could develop and commercialize similar or identical products; the impact of any claims against us of infringement or misappropriation of third party intellectual property rights and any related litigation; and the market’s perception of our limited operating history as a public company. These and other known risks, uncertainties and factors are described in detail under the caption “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2017 and will also be included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for 2017, which we expect to file on or before March 1, 2018. Our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission are available in the Investor Section of our website at www.glaukos.com or at www.sec.gov. In addition, information about the risks and benefits of our products is available on our website at www.glaukos.com. All forward-looking statements included in this press release are expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing cautionary statements. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements in this press release, which speak only as of the date hereof. We do not undertake any obligation to update, amend or clarify these forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities law.
GLAUKOS CORPORATION
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
December 31, Twelve Months Ended
Net sales $ 41,650 $ 33,172 $ 159,254 $ 114,397
Cost of sales 4,630 4,811 21,050 16,177
Gross profit 37,020 28,361 138,204 98,220
Selling, general and administrative 25,963 20,494 96,260 64,756
In-process research and development - - 5,320 -
Research and development 10,525 7,399 38,905 29,223
Total operating expenses 36,488 27,893 140,485 93,979
Income (loss) from operations 532 468 (2,281 ) 4,241
Other income (expense), net:
Interest and other income 437 265 2,326 889
Interest and other expense, net - (696 ) (44 ) (608 )
Change in fair value of stock warrant liability - - - 43
Total other income (expense), net 437 (431 ) 2,282 324
Income before taxes 969 37 1 4,565
Income tax (benefit) provision (37 ) (97 ) 93 43
Net income (loss) $ 1,006 $ 134 $ (92 ) $ 4,522
Basic net income (loss) per share $ 0.03 $ 0.00 $ (0.00 ) $ 0.14
Diluted net income (loss) per share $ 0.03 $ 0.00 $ (0.00 ) $ 0.12
Weighted average shares used to compute basic net income (loss) per share
Weighted average shares used to compute diluted net income (loss) per share 37,287 37,185 34,381 36,459
(in thousands, except par values)
Short-term investments 94,506 89,268
Accounts receivable, net 16,656 14,305
Inventory, net 11,222 6,844
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 2,568 3,032
Restricted cash - 80
Property and equipment, net 11,794 7,593
Intangible assets, net 3,147 6,567
Deferred tax asset, net 235 -
Deposits and other assets 1,200 188
Accounts payable $ 6,244 $ 2,967
Accrued liabilities 20,449 13,911
Deferred rent 95 60
Other liabilities 846 159
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value; 5,000 authorized; no shares issued and outstanding - -
Common stock, $0.001 par value; 150,000 authorized; 34,647 and 33,971 shares issued and 34,619 and 33,943 shares outstanding at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively 35 34
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income (591 ) 648
Less treasury stock (28 shares) (132 ) (132 )
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $ 165,836 $ 134,371
Director, Investor Relations, Corporate Strategy & Development
clewis@glaukos.com
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Christopher Joyce
Doby Photography / NPR
Christopher Joyce is a correspondent on the science desk at NPR. His stories can be heard on all of NPR's news programs, including NPR's Morning Edition, All Things Considered, and Weekend Edition.
Joyce seeks out stories in some of the world's most inaccessible places. He has reported from remote villages in the Amazon and Central American rainforests, Tibetan outposts in the mountains of western China, and the bottom of an abandoned copper mine in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Over the course of his career, Joyce has written stories about volcanoes, hurricanes, human evolution, tagging giant blue-fin tuna, climate change, wars in Kosovo and Iraq, and the artificial insemination of an African elephant.
For several years, Joyce was an editor and correspondent for NPR's Radio Expeditions, a documentary program on natural history and disappearing cultures produced in collaboration with the National Geographic Society that was heard frequently on Morning Edition.
Joyce came to NPR in 1993 as a part-time editor while finishing a book about tropical rainforests and, as he says, "I just fell in love with radio." For two years, Joyce worked on NPR's national desk and was responsible for NPR's Western coverage. But his interest in science and technology soon launched him into parallel work on NPR's science desk.
In addition, Joyce has written two non-fiction books on scientific topics for the popular market: Witnesses from the Grave: The Stories Bones Tell (with co-author Eric Stover); and Earthly Goods: Medicine-Hunting in the Rainforest.
Before coming to NPR, Joyce worked for ten years as the U.S. correspondent and editor for the British weekly magazine New Scientist.
Joyce's stories on forensic investigations into the massacres in Kosovo and Bosnia were part of NPR's war coverage that won a 1999 Overseas Press Club award. He was part of the Radio Expeditions reporting and editing team that won the 2001 Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University journalism award and the 2001 Sigma Delta Chi award from the Society of Professional Journalists. Joyce won the 2001 American Association for the Advancement of Science excellence in journalism award as well as the 2016 Communication Award from the National Academies of Sciences.
Plastic Has A Big Carbon Footprint — But That Isn't The Whole Story
By Christopher Joyce • 1 hour ago
Plastic waste gets a lot of attention when photos of dead whales with stomachs full of plastic bags hit the news. Pieces of plastic also litter cities, and tiny plastic particles are even floating in the air.
Largely overlooked is how making plastic in the first place affects the environment, especially global warming. Plastic actually has a big carbon footprint, but so do many of the alternatives to plastic. And that's what makes replacing plastic a problem without a clear solution.
Replacing Plastic: Can Bacteria Help Us Break The Habit?
By Christopher Joyce • Jun 17, 2019
If civilizations are remembered for what they leave behind, our time might be labeled the Plastic Age. Plastic can endure for centuries. It's everywhere, even in our clothes, from polyester leisure suits to fleece jackets.
A Silicon Valley startup is trying to get the plastic out of clothing and put something else in: biopolymers.
Microplastics Have Invaded The Deep Ocean — And The Food Chain
By Christopher Joyce • Jun 6, 2019
The largest habitat for life on Earth is the deep ocean. It's home to everything from jellyfish to giant bluefin tuna. But the deep ocean is being invaded by tiny pieces of plastic — plastic that people thought was mostly floating at the surface, and in amounts they never imagined.
The 'Great Dying' Nearly Erased Life On Earth. Scientists See Similarities To Today
There was a time when life on Earth almost blinked out. The "Great Dying," the biggest extinction the planet has ever seen, happened some 250 million years ago and was largely caused by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Now scientists are beginning to see alarming similarities between the Great Dying and what's currently happening to our atmosphere.
Scientists are highlighting that similarity in a new exhibit at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C.
Remote Island Chain Has Few People — But Hundreds Of Millions Of Pieces Of Plastic
By Christopher Joyce • May 16, 2019
When a marine biologist from Australia traveled to a remote string of islands in the Indian Ocean to see how much plastic waste had washed up on the beaches, here's just part of what she found: "373,000 toothbrushes and around 975,000 shoes, largely flip-flops," says Jennifer Lavers of the University of Tasmania in Australia.
And that's only what was on the surface.
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UP Guy Makes Global Firm Worth Billions From A Simple Idea, Now Aims For The Moon
Every challenge could stand up as a strength only if we accept it. Being deprived of some of the advances of life is not a loss, instead it becomes a motivation for someone’s success. To the ones who attained success and satisfaction had to go through the hardships and the scarcities. We can better put it as the law of this materialistic world saying that, every success is meant to come out of challenges. In this materialistic world, the inadequacy of bare necessities of life – food, clothing and shelter is undoubtedly an indication of poverty, but not having a knack to come out of such terrible situation is worse.
Today, we shed some light on the person, who at his early age experienced poverty but nothing could stop him today, from being on the top-list of industrialists and noble people by doing the unbelievable.
Naveen Jain was born and brought-up in Uttar Pradesh where his father served to be a civil engineer. Being an engineer soon turned out to be a problem, as Naveen’s father would not accept bribe. Naveen’s family was hit by tragedy when Naveen’s father refused to take bribe in Dhandhli construction projects. This was just one case, but Naveen’s father started being transferred thrice in a year, mostly in distant places. This was the case of an honest person who was made a refugee in his own country because he did not accept bribe.
Despite of all the challenges, Naveen was dedicated towards his studies. Eventually, he somehow managed to get an angineering degree from IIT Roorkee and successfully completed his MBA from XLRI in Human Resource Management. Naveen’s first job out of college in 1983 was at Burroughs (now known as Unisys) in New Jersey as a part of a business-exchnage program. He worked for a bunch of start-ups before joining Microsoft in 1989. He worked at Microsoft for around six years but later decided to quit Microsoft, to start InfoSpace with the aim of having his own initial public offering as quickly as possible.
He worked He worked on his idea for two years and finally announced to the world in 1998. Within a year, Infosys’ value turned to 36 Billion Dollars. Naveen’s idea initially seemed insane to a few analysts but he proved that his idea was worth billion dollar by constantly working on his project.
Naveen gives utmost priority to his self-confidence, which has a played the most important role in his success.
InfoSpace was Naveen’s first successful project, which made him a distinguished personality and a billionaire. After this, he decided to never turn back. In 2002, he got in a conflict with other board members, which led him to leave his own company. He established an American-based Public Records Business, Intelius in 2003, which provides theft protection related services to industrialists and large organisations.
In August 2010, Naveen co-founded a company named Moon Express along with space entrepreneurs from Silicon Valley. The US government has allowed them to send their robotic landers to the moon. This is the first time that The Federal Aviation Administration of the US has granted permission to land and mine the moon to any private company. The company is attempting to build machine-operated spacecraft that can mine materials like gold, cobalt, platinum, and Helium-3 (nuclear energy fuel) and will soon send a craft on the moon by the end of this year.
Naveen comes from a state in India where millions of people get away in search of work every year. However, he has attained success through his hard work and capabilities and is changing life of so many people today. He also helps industrialists, scientists, designers and engineers in 35 cities by providing them with their financial and other needs through a non-profit organization called ‘Kairos Society’. Ernst and Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year, Silicon India’s “Most Admired Serial Entrepreneur,” and the receiver of “Albert Einstein Technology Medal” for his pioneers in technology, he has been repeatedly honoured for his entrepreneurial successes.
People like Naveen, who are not even known by even a fraction of people in our country, are making India proud in the global sphere with their determination and talent. Naveen’s next endeavour is to travel to the moon, using lunar resources for innovation here on earth.
Whether it’s business or life, Naveen is guided by one firm belief – Our only limit is our imagination.
#Innovation #Inspiration
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Cannabis rules: what to expect in Newfoundland and Labrador
Colin Chisholm (colin.chisholm@hantsjournal.ca)
Published: Oct 12, 2018 at 1:26 p.m.
Updated: Jan 24 at 3:47 p.m.
ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - Here's what you need to know about consuming marijuana products in Newfoundland and Labrador:
19 is the minimum age
Much like alcohol, if you want to consume, you'll have to wait until you're of age to do so.
The legal age to use, buy, grow or possess cannabis in Newfoundland and Labrador is 19. Those who are under 19 and are caught with the substance could face fines or criminal charges.
In stores, customers will be asked to produce photo I.D. for all purchases in licensed cannabis retail locations.
A valid photo I.D. must be presented upon home delivery.
The fine for underage possession will be set at $100. Fines for selling to minors are much steeper and could include jail time.
Where you can and can't smoke it
In N.L., the use of cannabis for recreational purposes is restricted to private residences and it can’t be consumed in public places, in vehicles, or in workplaces.
Don’t consume in your cars. The Highway Traffic Act has been amended, and with it fines that range from $300 to $10,000 depending on the severity of the offence.
Novice drivers – those under 22 years old – and commercial drivers will be under a zero-tolerance policy.
Municipalities may also establish their own bylaws on where residents are allowed to consume it.
Limited amount allowed
Adults 19 and older will be able to legally buy up to 30 grams of cannabis, dried or equivalent, from a licensed retailer.
The limit someone can possess at one time is also 30 grams.
There will also be a limit on the number of plants you can have in your home – four, which is in keeping with the federal legislation.
Where you can buy it
Cannabis will be sold through private retailers that are licensed by the Newfoundland and Labrador Liquor Corporation (NLC). The NLC will control the possession, sale and delivery of cannabis and set prices for the products.
Initially, the NLC will also be the sole online retailer of cannabis. The government hopes this will ensure wide accessibility to residents, no matter where they live.
Online sales will go through www.ShopCannabisNL.com
In cases where no private business wishes to operate a cannabis retail outlet, the NLC may step in and set up shop on their own.
Already more than 25 locations have been approved for licenses, the most among Atlantic provinces.
Products that will be offered initially include flower, plants, seeds and oils. Other cannabis products, such as edibles, are currently under review by Health Canada.
Medical cannabis users can continue to access those products in their current form.
Cannabis rules: what to expect in New Brunswick
Cannabis rules: what to expect in P.E.I.
Cannabis rules: what to expect in Nova Scotia
Read the full report: CLEARING THE AIR: Taking Atlantic Canada's pot pulse
More Cannabis stories
Updated Jan 24, 2019 at 3:44 p.m.
CONNECT WITH CANNABIS: Licensed producers key to safe cannabis use
University of Denver prof says day-to-day life won't change much after cannabis legalization
From pop culture to pot culture: Atlantic Canadian cannabis conversation conversion
CONNECT WITH CANNABIS: Cannabis and cancer
We asked Atlantic Canadians their thoughts on legal cannabis
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Hezbollah Exposed: Sinking in the Syrian quagmire
Hezbollah remains a powerful foe, but its claim to spearhead the Arab fight against Israel has been dented and its involvement in the Syrian civil war has cost it heavily.
Rice is thrown as Hezbollah members carry the coffin of top Hezbollah commander Mustafa Badreddine. (photo credit: REUTERS)
SPEAKING AT a gathering in southern Lebanon last month, Hezbollah deputy leader Sheikh Naim Qassem reiterated the movement’s readiness for war with Israel. At the same time, the sheikh made clear that war this summer would not take place unless Israel initiates it. In his speech, Qassem, who is considered the chief ideologue of Hezbollah, recalled the “divine victory” of the movement, which brought about Israeli withdrawal from south Lebanon in May 2000. He asserted, in a reiteration of the movement’s muqawama or “resistance” doctrine, that the 2000 withdrawal had begun the period of Israel’s decline. This period, he suggested, will end with the Jewish state’s disappearance.
So far, so predictable. The latter point is classic Hezbollah rhetoric. The movement’s “resistance” doctrine inherited the old Pan-Arab and then Palestinian-nationalist viewpoint, according to which Israel’s physical strength was belied by an inner weakness that would ensure its eventual defeat.
But, this time, the rhetoric was being used to frame a rather pacifist message – the supposedly weakened and doomed enemy would not be attacked unless Hezbollah was provoked.
As Qassem went on to develop his theme, the reason for this contradiction became clear.
In a rather strained rhetorical jump, he exposed the current strategic dilemma Hezbollah faces. What was the reason for the “divine victory” of 2000, he asked. Answering his own question, he declared: “We did not defeat Israel because of the rifle, but because we have educated our children against the international takfiris [apostates]. God gives us victory because of their faith, and today we are honored with the land, thanks to this belief.”
Hezbollah has a variety of not very flattering terms for Israelis and Jews. Takfiris, however, is not one of them. Rather, it is a term favored by Shi’a Islamists for their Sunni jihadi enemies. It references the attempts of the latter to declare other non-Muslims apostates and implicitly links today’s Sunni jihadis with extremist sects in the early Islamic period, which normative Islam opposes.
With a rhetorical sleight of hand, Qassem was seeking to establish a sort of seamless link between the Zionist enemies who suffered the “Divine Victory” of 2000, and the takfiri (Sunni jihadi) enemies against whom the movement is mainly engaged today.
This link does not work in logical terms.
But Qassem’s reasons for wanting to make it are nevertheless entirely understandable.
How simple things must have seemed for Hezbollah only a decade ago. And how much more complicated now.
In the aftermath of the 33-day 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah, the movement and its Iranian backers appeared on the edge of a major strategic breakthrough. Established by Iran in the first years of the 1980s, Hezbollah was the prototype of the Shi’a political- military organizations through which Tehran has sought to advance its interests across the Middle East.
Hezbollah was the jewel in the crown of this array. It gave Iran entry to the Pan-Arab and Pan-Islamic cause of the war against Israel. In May 2000, the movement ended a long guerrilla insurgency with success as Israel ended its occupation of southern Lebanon.
In the summer of 2006, a confused and flailing Israeli campaign could again be plausibly depicted as an achievement for Hezbollah and hence the cause of Tehran.
THE TACTICAL goals, of course, were the departure of Israel from south Lebanon before 2000, and the preservation of the movement’s ability to continue to strike at Israel in 2006. Strategically, however, these events had a greater significance.
Following the 2006 war, the popularity of Hezbollah and its leader Hassan Nasrallah soared, according to all available measures.
The 2008 Annual Arab Public Opinion Poll, conducted at the very height of Hezbollah’s prestige in early 2008, found that 26 percent of respondents cited the Hezbollah leader as the most valued world leader outside of their own country. President Bashar Assad of Syria was second at 16 percent. The latter’s increased popularity was also almost certainly due to his close association with Hezbollah.
Hezbollah’s perceived achievements appeared to justify the long Iranian investment in the movement. If the Palestinian cause was the way to the hearts of the Arabs (even for a Shi’a, non-Arab power like Iran), and if Arab support was essential for Iran’s goal of regional leadership, the strategy of using Hezbollah as a generator of legitimacy appeared to be paying dividends.
Hezbollah’s growing strength was significant in other ways. The 2003 US invasion of Iraq had the inadvertent effect of turning the country over to the country’s Shi’a-Arab majority. The Iranians offered active support to the Shi’a insurgency against Western occupation from the beginning. Groups such as the Badr Organization and Ktaeb Hezbollah followed the, by now, well-known formula of combining political and military activity to serve the interests of the local Shi’a and Iran.
The rise of Shi’a dominance of Iraq raised the possibility of the emergence of a contiguous line of pro-Iranian states stretching through Iraq to Syria and thence Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea. The achievement of this situation would give Tehran domination of a great swathe of the heartland of the Arab Middle East, access to the Mediterranean, and a direct, contiguous route to the frontline with Israel.
In the feverish period following the 2006 war with Israel, such a prospect appeared within reach. The Lebanese Hezbollah was set to play a starring role in this production – as the exemplar to the Arabs that Iranian methods produced victories against the Jews, and hence as the factor that would trump anti- Shi’a and anti-Persian sentiments.
Then, almost imperceptibly at first, things began to go awry. They did so, predictably, along the sectarian fault line.
In May, 2008, Hezbollah turned its hard power against its local Sunni rivals. Since the Syrian withdrawal under pressure from Lebanon in 2005, a contest had been under way for the country’s future. Facing the armed camp of Hezbollah and its allies was a Sunni-led, pro-Western alliance called March 14. In May 2008, Hezbollah reacted with force to an attempt by the then March 14-led government to restrict the autonomy of the movement’s independent security infrastructure in Lebanon.
In a matter of days, Hezbollah and its Amal allies took over West Beirut, delivering a clear, hard power message to their pro-Western rivals that no attempt to brook their authority would be tolerated.
Hezbollah’s force could not be resisted.
But the movement’s claim to represent a Pan-Islamic and Pan-Arab spearhead against Israel and the West suffered a severe dent. In the 2010 version of the Arab Public Opinion Poll, Nasrallah’s popularity had shrunk from 26 to nine percent, a year before the outbreak of the Arab Spring.
It is, of course, the events in Syria, and the wider emergence of sectarian conflict and rivalry as the key dynamic of the current Middle East that has brought Hezbollah to the confusing impasse at which it now finds itself – of which Qassem’s latest speech is an exemplar.
HEZBOLLAH’S INTERVENTION in Syria was born out of dire necessity. Had Assad fallen, both the movement itself and the Iranled regional bloc of which it is a part would have faced disaster. Syria, after a rebel victory, would have been ruled by its Sunni majority and aligned with Sunni regional powers.
Such an outcome would have left Hezbollah isolated on the Mediterranean, cut off from any hinterland and from any possibility of resupply by the Iranians in the event of war. For Iran, Assad’s fall would have meant the end of any hope of a contiguous link to the Mediterranean or the chance to intervene forcefully against Israel via Hezbollah.
Therefore, Tehran, and its client, were determined to prevent this. Furthermore, the specific difficulty Assad faced was one Hezbollah was uniquely well-placed to help remedy.
Assad, in Russia and Iran, had capable and supportive allies who were prepared in the Russian case to support him diplomatically and sell him arms, and in the Iranian case to provide money and expert advice.
Neither state, however, was willing to address the issue of most pressing concern to Assad – namely, the absence of determined and capable infantry in sufficient numbers willing to engage on his behalf. On paper, Assad possessed an army, when fully mobilized, of 510,000 soldiers. In practice, he was unable to mobilize a large part of this force. Sectarian considerations (the army, like the population, was overwhelmingly Sunni Arab in composition), meant he could not trust a large part of it.
As this problem grew more acute in the course of 2012, so Iran elected to mobilize its regional proxies to assist Assad. Hezbollah, by far the ablest of Tehran’s clients and also the one with the greatest interest in seeing Assad survive, played a vital role in this mobilization.
According to a US Treasury designation dated August 2012, Hezbollah had by that time “directly trained Syrian government personnel inside Syria and has facilitated the training of Syrian forces by Iran’s terrorist arm, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps ‒ Qods Force (IRGC-QF). Hezbollah also has played a substantial role in efforts to expel Syrian opposition forces from areas within Syria.”
In the course of 2013, Hezbollah’s role in Syria increased dramatically. Fighters of the movement began to play a direct role in combat. Hezbollah also took responsibility for training a new, largely Alawi paramilitary force, the National Defense Forces, which would play a crucial role in filling the gap caused by the regime’s lack of reliable infantry in sufficient numbers.
In April 2013, Hezbollah took primary responsibility for a vital ground operation in central Syria – the taking of al-Qusayr, a mainly Sunni town in Homs province close to the Lebanese border. Around 1,700 fighters took part in the operation, which saw Hezbollah for the first time taking part in urban combat on a large scale. The rebels withdrew from al-Qusayr some two months later. Hezbollah’s victory was costly, however.
Around 200 fighters died in the course of the operation.
The movement also played a vital role in fighting in Aleppo province, in the Damascus area and in the Homs province at this time. The increasingly direct involvement came with a heavy price. Senior commanders and veteran fighters such as Ali Fayad and Mustafa Badreddine were killed. More than 1,000 Hezbollah men have died in Syria.
Hezbollah fighters played a vital role in the reconquest of the Qalamoun mountains area, and later in the regime offensive in Latakia and Idleb provinces in late 2015.
Aware of its damaged image, resulting from its being engaged in a war against fellow Muslims, Hezbollah sought to justify its involvement in various ways. For a while, the supposed need to protect the shrine of Saida Zeinab in Damascus from the destructive attentions of Sunni Salafis (who regard all such shrines as un-Islamic) was stressed. Subsequently, Hezbollah has tended to frame its engagement in terms of the need to protect Lebanon from the threat of the takfiris by engaging them in Syria.
As of now, Hezbollah remains fully committed to the regime’s effort in Syria.
Around 6,000 fighters of the movement are deployed in the country at any given time.
With the Geneva negotiations stalled, the Syrian war appears to be nowhere close to ending. This means that Syria looks set to be Hezbollah’s main focus for a considerable period to come. The pro-Iranian camp of which Hezbollah is a part remains centrally committed to the survival of the Assad regime.
The problem is that while they are sufficiently strong to prevent Assad’s destruction, they do not appear to be able to deliver the rebellion against him a final defeat.
So Hezbollah fighters will be needed to fight the takfiris in Syria for the foreseeable future. The martyrs’ funerals will continue.
The faces of ever younger men killed in Syria will continue to appear on the movement’s posters in the villages of south Lebanon.
For the movement, all this has a number of implications, most of them not positive.
Firstly, while Hezbollah remains dominant in Lebanon, the role it is playing in Syria has effectively put an end to its strategic function as a generator of legitimacy for its patron, Iran.
Hezbollah is now seen throughout the Arab world as a Shi’a sectarian force, engaged mainly in the killing of Sunnis. For as long as the Syrian war continues, it will be impossible for Hezbollah to shake this image. There are also indications of growing discontent even among Hezbollah’s own Lebanese Shi’a community at the seemingly endless bloodletting in Syria and the movement’s role in it.
Secondly, for as long as the movement remains committed in Syria, aggression against Israel is unlikely.
Hezbollah has rearmed and expanded since the war of 2006, and Israeli planners consider that it now possesses as many as 150,000 rockets and missiles. But with so many fighters committed to essential tasks in Syria, opening a second front against a vastly more powerful enemy than the Syrian rebels is likely to be a luxury neither Hezbollah nor its Iranian patron can afford.
Thirdly, Hezbollah’s ability to retaliate for actions against it also may be limited because of its desire to avoid entering major confrontation with Israel. A number of prominent movement members have been killed over the last couple of years, including Hassan Lakkis, Samir Kuntar, Jihad Mughniyeh and, most recently, Badreddine.
In all but the most recent of these killings (Badreddine’s), Hezbollah blamed Israel.
But the movement’s retaliations, when they have come, have been small-scale. Once again, the modest nature of Hezbollah’s counterstrikes probably derives from a desire not to risk open confrontation with Israel at a time when the movement is engaged in Syria.
Hezbollah’s predicament reflects the broader situation of the Iran-led regional bloc. In terms of hard power, the Iranians and their allies are doing passably well across the current strife-filled Middle East.
They have not yet won any of the conflicts in which they are engaged (in Yemen, Iraq and Syria), but the Iranian client in each of these contexts is not close to defeat.
BUT, IRAN today constitutes, and is seen to constitute, one side in a Shi’a-Sunni sectarian war.
As of now, the Iranians appear unable to develop strong alliances outside of the Shi’a communities of the Arab world. But the region cannot be dominated through the Shi’a alone.
If the Iranians once hoped to use Hezbollah and its fight against Israel as a way to generate legitimacy among non-Shi’a Arab populations, as of now Hezbollah itself is seen by Sunnis as an alien, sectarian and hostile force. When forced to choose between the imperative of preserving the Assad regime, and the ambition to be seen as a Pan-Islamic force, the Iranians, and hence their clients, unsurprisingly chose to favor immediate material interests over broader strategic goals.
The result of all this is that Hezbollah today faces the prospect of continued involvement in the mincing machine of the Syrian war, hemorrhaging personnel and legitimacy (though gaining, of course, experience and expertise).
For as long as this situation pertains, one may expect Hezbollah leaders to continue in their speeches to recall distant “victories” against Israel, and to seek to clothe their current struggle against Sunnis in the finery of the previous war.
The present phase will not necessarily last forever, of course, and Hezbollah remains by far the most formidable non-state military actor facing Israel. But Hezbollah’s Pan-Islamic “resistance” narrative may be numbered among the casualties of the Syrian civil war.
The grinding conflict to Israel’s north has conclusively laid bare the stark sectarian realities underlying political loyalties in the Middle East. Hezbollah, as a result of the Syrian war, is now exposed before all as what it always was: namely, a sectarian Shi’a Islamist proxy of Iran – neither more nor less.
jerusalem report
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Lillie Bellin Pope, Co-Founder the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation, Dies at 97
LILLIE BELLIN POPE, CO-FOUNDER OF THE EZRA JACK KEATS FOUNDATION, DIES AT 97
Pioneering Educator and Author; Advocate for Children, Teachers and Women
NEW YORK—It is with great sadness that the Board of Directors of the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation announced the death of Lillie Bellin Pope, the Foundation’s Co-Founder, Educational Director and Vice-President. Dr. Pope, 97, died peacefully at her home in Brooklyn, New York on October 26, 2015.
Lillie and her husband of 69 years, Dr. Martin Pope, dedicated the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation to children and children’s literature, subjects close to the heart of their longtime friend, the celebrated author-illustrator Ezra Jack Keats, after his death in 1983. The Popes were an indefatigable team, and under their leadership, the Foundation became a force in supporting public education and diversity in children’s literature. The major programs they established continue to be hallmarks of the Foundation’s work, including the Ezra Jack Keats Book Award, which promotes new authors and illustrators whose picture books, like Keats’s, reflect the diverse experiences of childhood. In 2007, the Popes were acclaimed as Angels at the Carle Honors for their contributions to children’s literature.
“Although we must say goodbye to the Foundation’s rock and visionary,” said Dr. Eileen Bayer, member of the Foundation’s Board of Directors, “we are proud to carry Lillie’s torch for her many contributions to children and education. Lillie dedicated herself relentlessly to finding ways to inspire children to love reading and to inspire educators to mentor them. As she saw it, reading was the key to freedom, to illuminating the path to a life filled with possibility.”
Throughout her life, Dr. Pope ignored the glass ceiling, becoming a leader in four professional careers—teacher, educational psychologist, theater manager and co-founder of the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation.
Dr. Pope grew up in Brooklyn, and graduated from Hunter College at the age of 19. She began a 13-year career teaching high school, during which she held the offices of Vice President of the Vocational High School Teachers Association and Vice President of the Teachers Union. Her campaign for better working conditions for teachers led to reduced class size and teaching loads, and improved equipment.
At age 51, Dr. Pope earned a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology at New York University. She went on to establish the first Learning Clinic in a mental health setting at Coney Island Hospital. The program recognized that emotional issues and learning difficulties were interrelated and became a model for many programs across the country.
In serving a disadvantaged community, the clinic employed and trained women from the community as tutors, motivating a number to earn professional degrees in education. After Dr. Pope retired as Associate Chief of Child Psychiatry, she consulted for educational and mental health agencies and taught at Brooklyn College and New York University.
Dr. Pope published seven books as well as numerous papers. Her classic book, reprinted in 2008 as Teach Anyone To Read: The No-Nonsense Guide, provides practical information for literacy professionals at all levels. She rejected dogma and taught to each individual’s needs, a philosophy that has benefited countless teachers and students.
At age 64, instead of retiring, Dr. Pope became Managing Director of The New Theatre of Brooklyn (TNT), a non-profit, Obie Award-winning regional theater, one of the first professional theaters in the now flourishing performing arts community in Brooklyn. For nine years, she made a budget of one-quarter of a million dollars look like ten million for the American and New York premieres of plays by Bertolt Brecht, Emily Mann, Milan Kundera and many others.
“My mother finished every project she began, and she began many,” Deborah Pope, Executive Director of the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation, said. “She was an original thinker, smart, tireless, courageous, honest, stalwart, optimistic, realistic, humorous, and above all, loving. We will not see her like again.”
Dr. Pope is survived by Martin Pope, daughters Miriam and Deborah Pope and grandchildren Daniel, Raphael, Abigail and Rebecca.
Middle School Girls Get ...
State Urges Water Tests ...
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Central Vietnam
Inspiration Destinations Vietnam
Vietnam’s stunning imperial capital
Hue, the capital of Thua Thien–Hue Province in north central Vietnam, has a grand imperial past. It was the centre of the Nguyen Empire, a feudal dynasty that lasted from the 17th to the 19th centuries. After Emperor Nguyen Phuc Anh gained control over the whole of Vietnam in 1802, Hue was for a time capital of the entire country.
Today, palaces and temples, tombs and pagodas – many of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites – surround the city and bring back the ghosts and glories of graceful city’s imperial history. But Hue is also quickly modernising with contemporary hotels and sleek bars catering to ever-growing numbers of international travellers. The Thien Mu Pagoda, one of Vietnam’s icons, is a must-see, while a sunrise stroll along the Perfume River is the best way to enjoy the city’s more meditative side.
Singapore to Hue
Imperial history
Although much of the atmospheric Imperial Enclosure opens in new window is now in ruins, the citadel is well worth a visit to catch a glimpse of 17th-century Vietnam. Must-see sights include the principal entrance at Ngo Mon Gate and the To Mieu Temple Complex in the southwest corner.
Vietnam’s icon
Located on a hill overlooking the Perfume River, the Thien Mu Pagoda opens in new window (or Pagoda of the Celestial Lady) is an icon of Vietnam. Construction of the complex began in 1601 and continued for over 200 years. It stretches north from the river banks in seven tiers, each dedicated to a human form taken by the Buddha.
The beautiful Thanh Toan Bridge, dating from the 18th century, has Chinese and Japanese features, with a rare squared timber arch sprinkled with ancient ceramics. It’s about 7km from Hue, in a lovely rural setting that’s worth the trek.
Royal tomb
On the west bank of Perfume River about 12km from Hue is the majestic tomb of Minh Mang. The complex includes the Honour Courtyard and the Sung An Temple, dedicated to Minh Mang and his empress.
Get a taste of the floating life on the Perfume River by taking a boat tour. Most group tours take passengers to the Thien Mu Pagoda, Hon Chen Temple and selected mausoleums (entrance fees are extra). You can also charter a boat from the boat wharf beside the Trang Tien Bridge.
Phu Bai Airport opens in new window (HUI)
Taxi A metered taxi should take about 40 minutes and cost around VND 250,000.
Shuttle A shuttle bus travels into the city centre; you can buy a ticket for VND 50,000 (and find out where to catch it) in the airport arrivals hall.
Hue has a tropical monsoon climate that is often rainy year round – be sure to bring an umbrella or raincoat. The dry season lasts from March to August with highs ranging from 35°C to 40°C while the rainy season lasts from September to January.
Every two years, the huge Festival of Hue takes place sometime between April and June. The festival often includes a line-up of local and international artists and performers as well as much-anticipated events such as the Hue Poetry Festival.
Hue’s city centre can be easily explored on foot and it’s easy to find bicycles to rent for around VND 30,000 per day. You can hire motorbikes for around VND 100,000 per day – make sure you hire or buy a helmet, too. Taxis and motorcycles taxis are plentiful; taxis should use their meter, and be sure you negotiate the fare for your motorcycles taxi trip before getting on – any trip within Hue should cost no more than VND 20,000.
Let us keep an eye on the price for you with Price Watch As soon as it drops, you’ll be one of the first to know with an alert!
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Destinations Australia Western Australia
Vibrant Perth: the city that keeps surprising
Perth is the capital of Western Australia. Situated on the banks of the beautiful Swan River, this vibrant city is quite literally built on the great outdoors and offers plenty of activities to keep you busy. Cycle around the Swan River, shop on King Street, catch a show at the State Theatre in Northbridge, experience a river cruise from Barrack Square, catch a beautiful sunset on Cottesloe Beach and more. When the sun sets, jump on a ferry to South Perth and take in the glittering skyline.
Just a 30-minute drive or train ride from the city is the neighbouring port town of Fremantle. Explore the town’s rich culture and history at the Western Australian Maritime Museum, Fremantle Prison and the Roundhouse.
Cott in a moment
Explore 400ha Kings Park in the city or the inviting clear waters and spectacular sunsets at Cottesloe Beach. ‘Cott’ is perfect for swimming, snorkelling, surfing and taking in ocean sunsets. Get to Cott by car, bus or train. Make the 15-minute drive from the city or hop on a Transperth bus or on the Fremantle train line, where the beach is a lovely 600m walk from Cottesloe station.
Isle of right
Rottnest Island is famed for its tranquil waters and secluded bays and it’s super easy to reach: it's just 19km from the city centre. Catch a ferry from Perth, Fremantle or Hillarys and when you get there, hire a bike and take your time discovering the island. Chill out over lunch and take in the spectacular ocean views, then stick around in the afternoon to enjoy the beautiful crystal bays. Rottnest is the perfect place for swimming, snorkelling, fishing or just relaxing.
Live it up
If you crave the best food, wine, arts and culture and good nightlife, head to Northbridge. Just a five-minute walk from the Perth CBD, it’s known for its vast array of bars, clubs, incredible places to eat and cool places to shop. Visit the Art Gallery Of Western Australia and WA Museum Perth, and the WA Opera and WA Ballet. Indulge in al fresco dining: choose from Thai, Indian, Chinese, Greek, Egyptian, Italian, Vietnamese, Japanese food and more.
Roll into Rock
Head 47km farther down the coast and you’ll hit Rockingham. It’s home to an incredibly vast array of marine life, including wild dolphins. Go a little farther and Mandurah is next. After just an hour's drive (or you can take the train) you'll be beachside. Mandurah is on the shores of Mandjar Bay. Once a small fishing village, it's now a modern seaside hub complete with boardwalk cafes, restaurants, bars and shops. It's also the home of the Mandurah Performing Arts Centre, where you get your art fix and enjoy the views of the cityscape.
The valley road
Just 20 minutes east of Perth and a world away from the city's buzz is Swan Valley and Darling Range. It’s WA’s oldest wine region – learn about local heritage and unwind. Reach the area by road or take the scenic route aboard a Swan River cruise from Perth's Barrack Street Jetty. Winery-hop via horse-drawn wagon or chauffeured classic car. Enjoy fine food at one or more of the 70 restaurants and cafes here or pack a picnic lunch. Families are urged to head to Caversham Wildlife Park, home to one of Western Australia's largest collections of native Australian wildlife, including koalas, wombats and kangaroos.
CBD 12km (domestic terminal), 19km (international terminal)
Travel time 30 minutes
Taxi Approx AUD $38
Bus Perth Airport Connect available every hour. One-way AUD $15 (adult); return AUD $30 (adult). Journey takes 35 minutes.
Transperth Bus 37 From T3/T4 to Kings Park via the city. One-way AUD $4.40; journey takes 55 minutes.
Perth has a temperate Mediterranean-type climate; summers are hot and dry, winters are wet and mild. Summer temperatures average 30°C from November - April. Maximum temperatures in summer reach and can exceed 40°C, though very hot days tend to have very low humidity making conditions more bearable. Choose your preferred time of year depending on your hot/cold thresholds. If your heart is set on pleasant, comfortable weather, with flora blooming around you and typically clear skies, the months between spring and summer (which is the beginning of September to the end of February) are the most desirable.
The Perth airport shuttle bus is the cheapest way into town and will take you direct to your accommodation in Perth for around $20. Of course, you can hire cars and or hop in a taxi.
Get around Perth via the Transperth network. A Smartrider card can be pre-purchased, which means a discounted trip on Perth buses, trains and some Perth ferries. Some limited Perth tram services are also available. Also, the CAT buses in Perth stop off at major spots around town and are free.
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BIO NEWS TOUR Music MEDIA BOOKING Contact
BIONEWSTOURMusicMEDIABOOKINGContact
VIDEO: GET TO KNOW JIM BROWN
VIDEO: "THOSE JEANS" (MUSIC VIDEO)
Sign up for updates and receive a link for a free download of Jim's new single, "Honky-Tonk Women!"
Thank you for signing up! I'm thrilled to share all the new music with you guys that we have on the way...and "Honky-Tonk Women" is just the first of my exciting new project! Get your free download via the link below...and again, thanks!
Click HERE to get your download of "Honky-Tonk Women."
NASHVILLE, TN | NASHVILLE BUDDY WALK
We are excited to join and support the Nashville Buddy Walk with our performance on November 2, 2019 at The Hermitage in celebration and support of individuals with Down Syndrome by promoting acceptance and inclusion in our communities. Proceeds from the Buddy Walk fund Down Syndrome Association of Middle Tennessee’s programs and advocacy.
Visit www.NashvilleBuddyWalk.org for more information and to register your team!
EMAIL JIM BROWN MUSIC
Nashville Country Artist Jim Brown Set for Global Release of Brand-New Single, “That’s What I’m Talkin’ ‘Bout”
(Nashville, Tenn. – March 12, 2018) – Country music recording artist Jim Brown is proud to announce the upcoming worldwide release of his newest single, “That’s What I’m Talkin’ ‘Bout,” set for March 17; this release coincides with the striking of his recent distribution deal through Nashville’s Perry Music Group with Sony’s The Orchard.
Single "Honky-Tonk Women" Heads to Radio
New music is set for release from Jim Brown as "Honky-Tonk Women," the first single from his new upcoming album project, heads to radio.
Brown to Perform in "Daisy Dukes" on August 31
Okay...not IN Daisy Duke's; that would be weird. Still you won't want to miss it when Jim Brown heads home to share the release of the new single, "Honky-Tonk Women," and more new music at a special hometown performance on August 31 at Daisy Duke's Kuntry Kitchen and Saloon.
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The Cazes Family
A story of journeys, a story of the Médoc
Owners of the Château Lynch-Bages since 1939, over the generations, the Cazes family has spread its viticultural wings and developed a model brand of tourism that is steeped in a tradition of hospitality. From the Ariège mountains to the vineyards of the Mèdoc and elsewhere, the story is about journeys.
A common surname throughout the south of France, Cazes originates from the word “casa”, meaning "house”. It’s a name of travellers and emigrants. Like many others, the Cazes-family laborers from the Ariège region of southwest France left their mountains in 1875 and set up home in the Médoc. Starting as a baker in Pauillac, Jean-Charles Cazes, took charge of Lynch-Bages in 1939.
First steps into wine making
Jean-Charles Cazes crafted a wine that rapidly gained recognition. André Cazes, the youngest of his 4 sons, was studying Law. But he was dragged into the turmoil of the Second World War. Taken prisoner, he didn’t make his way back to Pauillac until after the Allied victory. Here, he went into Insurance. It was not until the 1960s that he took back the reins of the property. And like his father before him, his influence was decisive. He regenerated and expanded the vineyard, which attained almost 100 hectares at the end of the 1990s.
A new cosmopolitan generation
After his studies in engineering, André’s son Jean-Michel returned to Pauillac in 1973. He was accompanied by his Portuguese wife Thereza whose family came originally from Mozambique. Their marriage, officiated in Pauillac by André Cazes – at that time the mayor of the commune – was the building block of a family that became increasingly cosmopolitan. Their three Paris-born daughters, Kinou, Marina and Catherine, were soon joined by Jean-Charles, who made his entrance in Bordeaux shortly after their arrival. This family history is traced in the book Lynch-Bages & Co., a family, a wine and 52 recipes.
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M's fall short of series sweep
Paul Goldschmidt's 3-run homer and Zack Greinke's pitching help Phoenix salvage the finale, 5-2
M's fall short of series sweep Paul Goldschmidt's 3-run homer and Zack Greinke's pitching help Phoenix salvage the finale, 5-2 Check out this story on kitsapsun.com: https://www.kitsapsun.com/story/sports/2018/08/26/seattle-drops-final-game-its-road-series-5-2-phoenix/1106632002/
Bob Baum, Associated Press Published 5:18 p.m. PT Aug. 26, 2018 | Updated 5:22 p.m. PT Aug. 26, 2018
Arizona Diamondbacks' Paul Goldschmidt celebrates with David Peralta (6) after hitting a three-run home run against the Seattle Mariners in the third inning.(Photo: Rick Scuteri, AP)
PHOENIX (AP) — Paul Goldschmidt and Zack Greinke are two of the players Arizona counts on most, and they came through when sorely needed Sunday.
Goldschmidt hit his 30th homer, Greinke won for the first time in almost a month and the Diamondbacks avoided a three-game sweep at the hands of Seattle by beating the Mariners 5-2 at Chase Field.
With the victory and Colorado's 12-3 loss to St. Louis, the Diamondbacks were back alone in first place in the NL West, a game up on the Rockies and 2½ ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Houston beat the Los Angeles Angels 3-1, so Seattle fell 6½ behind the Astros in the AL West.
"This is an amazing game, and you can't take anything for granted," Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. "We fumbled a couple of balls out there and that leads to a couple of runs, but when we had to, we made pitches and made plays and won a very tough game.
"When I tell you today was hard, that was probably an understatement after what we walked through last night."
Goldschmidt's three-run shot off Mike Leake (8-8) punctuated a five-run third inning for the Diamondbacks, who bounced back from blowing a two-run lead in the ninth Saturday night and losing in 10 innings.
Arizona flirted with losing this one in the ninth, too. Ben Gamel and Chris Herrmann opened the inning with singles off Yoshihisa Hirano and left fielder David Peralta dropped Dee Gordon's line drive to allow a run to score.
Brad Boxberger, who blew the save Saturday night, came in and walked pinch-hitter Nelson Cruz to load the bases. But Mitch Haniger lined out sharply to third and Robinson Cano bounced into a double play to give Boxberger his 29th save in 35 tries.
"We did put some pressure on them, had our chances there late," Mariners manager Scott Servais said, "just not enough."
Greinke (13-8) gave up an unearned run and five hits in 6 2/3 innings, striking out six and walking two. He had gone 0-3 in his previous four starts.
Leake fell to 0-4 in his last 10 starts and hasn't won since June 23 despite several strong outings in that span. He was tagged for five runs and seven hits, striking out six in six innings Sunday.
"It's part of the game," he said of the long stretch without a win. "There's ups and downs. It's what you learn throughout your career. It's just part of it and you've just got to keep doing a good job."
The Mariners' Kyle Seager drives in Seattle's first run with a first-inning single. (Photo: Rick Scuteri, AP)
Jeff Mathis, Greinke and Jon Jay loaded the bases with one-out singles in the third. A.J. Pollock brought the tying run home with a sacrifice fly and David Peralta made it 2-1 with a slow-rolling RBI infield single.
Peralta's was the key hit of the inning, Servais said, "an extra out."
That brought up Goldschmidt, who was 1-for-10 in the series before sending Leake's pitch deep into the left field seats.
It is Goldschmidt's fourth career 30-homer season.
"Honestly, it's not something I'm thinking about," he said. "We're obviously here in a playoff race and just trying to find a way and go out and perform and help us win. Even if I don't do that (hit 30 homers) and the team wins, that's most important."
Seattle got an unearned run in the first when Haniger reached on shortstop Ketel Marte's throwing error. With two outs, Haniger advanced to second on Denard Span's single and scored when Kyle Seager singled.
Leake had been scratched from his last scheduled start Aug. 21 due to illness.
The Diamondbacks showed a video tribute to Arizona Sen. John McCain, who died Saturday of brain cancer. McCain was a fan of the team and a regular at games until his illness forced him to stay away. After the video, there was a moment of silence for McCain. A No. 18 jersey with the name "McCain" hung in the Diamondbacks' dugout.
After a day off, the Mariners open two-game series in San Diego Tuesday with right-hander Felix Hernandez (8-11, 5.64 ERA) on the mound against Jacob Nix (1-2, 6.17).
The Arizona Diamondbacks honored Sen. John McCain before Sunday's game. (Photo: Rick Scuteri, AP)
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Sad times
By Jessica June 15, 2016 Jessica
{image via ABC News}
I couldn’t just kick up this week and talk about our weekend and not say something about the mind-numbing amount of tragedy in the past week. It’s hard to even begin to process, not only the hate, mercilessness, and cruelty, but also the complete frailty and unpredictability of life. I feel like I’ve not only been rocked by the death of Chris Moore, someone I absolutely admired for his work in the CrossFit community, but of those poor souls lost in Orlando, and Christina Grimmie, who was shot at a meet and greet after a performance.
I don’t really share my feelings on social media all that much anymore. I definitely used to. The Internet used to be a much different place. You could scream out into the world and even if people disagreed with you, it was still somewhat constructive. Now, there is no talking, and it’s so negative and hate-filled I can’t even physically bear to look at it. I don’t want to add to that in any way, and I definitely don’t want it creeping into my own life. I never thought I’d be that person who “filters” their reality, but it’s really the only way I can emotionally find my bearings.
But I still have opinions. I still watch, listen, and add to my worldview. But I’m still sensitive. I’m still passionate. And I couldn’t let the weekend pass without just being openly sad somewhere.
Because it’s just fucking terrible. It’s sad and unfair that Chris Moore is gone and the world will not benefit from many more projects from a passionate, driven, and artistically beautiful human being. It’s beyond unfair that his wife and two kids don’t have their husband and father, and it’s unfair that his life was tragically so short at the moment it was about to go next level to his next big project.
If you didn’t know of Chris Moore, I implore you to jump onto Barbell Shrugged, Barbell Buddha, or Barbell Business and just listen. I’ve posted his stuff here before, it was always top shelf, and he definitely made a lot of people feel more at home in CrossFit with his own story, and his way of approaching training. More recently, he was telling so many amazing stories and doing a lot of editorial. His book recommendations will keep me busy for years, and he’s definitely impacted me in so many ways. You can donate to help his family and hopefully see some of his projects finished, I implore you to do so.
Guns. Ugh. I think it’s abhorrent that we’ve allowed the very obvious problem of our nation’s obsession with guns, romanticized violence, and defense of the 2nd amendment to go on this long with so many lives lost. The 2nd amendment was written at a time when guns could barely get a single shot off, let alone hit a target. It meant the right to protect, and in no way should encompass assault weapons with multi-round magazines. That’s common sense. Basic. Common. Sense.
Even further, there is so much money in the gun lobby, that scientists and researchers can’t even STUDY gun crime. We have no capability to prevent people from obtaining guns who are actively being watched by agencies or have been on lists. I find that incomprehensible and indefensible, no matter what your argument for X gun you apparently can’t live without. My feelings are that prayers and thoughts are meaningless if we continue to say with our inaction that these people’s lives meant less than owning a gun. But lets face it, I think there is a great number of people who care so little for humanity, it does come down to that.
But to a fault, I am not one of those people. I am horribly sensitive and affected by everything. And for the past week I’ve done nothing but put my own face, or that of my own family, on the lives of people who are hurting so very badly right now. What if it was my daughter who just lost her father, or my phone holding the last terrified texts from my child or husband as they were taken from me, from this world.
It just hurts almost too much to bear sometimes. And I needed to say that somewhere. Please donate to help the victims of the shooting at Pulse in Orlando.
Around here
#RallyforRhyan Weekend
Remember why you love it.
Do you plan your weekends?
Highs and Lows - Kohler Created says:
[…] thanks for bearing with my last post. I gotta be honest, I took most of last week “off” the Internet. I don’t do that […]
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Korean Wave fans reach 9.28 million worldwide
Hallyu, or the Korean Wave, continued to spread in many countries with the number of fans reaching 9.28 million in 2013.
The number of hallyu fan clubs and groups worldwide reached 987 last year, according to the Global Hallyu Data 2013 report released by the Korea Foundation.
Korea Foundation made a survey in 96 countries including the Philippines to get the data.
According to the report, countries in Asia and Oceania that includes the Philippines, Singapore, New Zealand, Japan, Thailand and China have the most number of hallyu fans with 6.8 million.
This was followed by countries in North America and South America including the United States, Canada, Peru, Chile and Argentina with 1.25 million fans.
Third is Europe with 1.17 million fans followed by Africa and the Middle East with about 60,000.
In terms of Korean fan clubs and groups, North America and South America have the most number with 464 followed by Asia and Oceania with 234, Europe with 213 and Africa and the Middle East with 76.
The number of hallyu-related fan clubs and groups increased from 783 in 2012 to 987 in 2013, according to the report.
The report cited the rise in popularity of Korean dramas, or Koreanovelas, and K-pop in the Philippines.
It said GMA Network and ABS-CBN have been airing Korean dramas since 2003 when GMA Network aired “Autumn In My Heart.”
From 2003 to 2013, a total of 191 Korean dramas were aired in the Philippines, the report said.
The popularity of Korean dramas have prompted the two broadcast stations to have their own adaptations.
It said K-pop began to become popular in the Philippines in 2009. SHINee performed in the country in 2009, which paved way for other Korean groups to visit the Philippines.
Last year, among the K-pop artists that visited the Philippines included 2PM, Super Junior, CNBLUE, EXO, Girls’ Generation and Infinite.
The report said among the most popular K-pop artists in the Philippines are Girls’ Generation, Super Junior, Big Bang and TVXQ, and the most popular Korean actors are Lee Min Ho, Kim Soo Hyun and JYJ’s Yoochun.
It said in the Philippines, there are more than 100 hallyu fan clubs and groups.
The report listed 11 major fan clubs in the Philippines. These are the Philippine K-pop Convention Committee (PKCI), Korean Drama Society in the Philippines, Cassiopeia Philippines, Big Bang Philippines, Super Junior United Philippines, Wonderful PH, SHINee World Philippines, Soshified Philippines, 2OneDay Philippines, BEAST Philippines and 2NE1 PH.
The report also cited the popularity of Korean language classes, Korean films and Korean food in the Philippines.
Link to my original article on Manila Bulletin online
http://www.mb.com.ph/korean-wave-fans-reach-9-28-million-worldwide/
Labels: Hallyu
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ScienceNatural DisastersShareSubscribe
NASA Map Shows How Much of America Is on Fire Right Now
The smoke continues to spread across the country.
By Oscar Gonzalez
Filed Under Environment & Weather
Wildfires in California are now a common occurrence during the summer months, also known as the state’s fire season. Millions of acres of land are ablaze causing smoke to spread across the country according to new info from multiple government agencies.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and NASA reported Monday 1.9 million acres are or have been on fire. The locations of the largest fires are on the West Coast of the U.S., specifically in California, Idaho, Nevada, and Oregon. As the blazes scorch one side of the country, the NOAA released an experimental map showing how smoke from the fires reached the East Coast and parts of Canada.
Map showing the upper and surface-level smoke across the U.S. from NOAA.
The map from the NOAA shows the upper level and near-surface level smoke captured on Sunday. Areas in red show where the fires are while the blue represents the smoke as it rides a jet stream reaching down into Texas north into Quebec, Canada, and as far east as Washington D.C.
It’s no surprise that smoke can be harmful to a person’s health, even if the fire is thousands of miles away. Those who have respiratory or cardiovascular issues should limit physical activity if the smoke in their area increases. Babies, children, and the elderly could also be at risk. The NOAA’s site has an option to see the most recent movement of the smoke from the fires, although it advises using the experimental feature at your own risk.
As the case with the wildfires last year, California and other West Coast states are in peak condition to burn during the summer as there is less rain, higher temperatures, and winds that help spread the flames. So far, firefighters contained some of the largest fires, but August is the peak time for fire season, which can continue all the way to November.
For those expecting help from the federal government, they might forget about President Donald Trump providing assistance as he tweeted in early August that California governor Jerry Brown is limiting water. This ended up not being the case.
Media via NOAA, Wikipedia Commons
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Hostelling Scotland is opening the doors of 24 free rooms this September
Sarah Gowanlock (25) visited Allanfearn Waste Water Treatment in Inverness last year. She said: 'What an opportunity! I got to see where the water goes after flushing and learned so much. So much care and thought went into the presentations and we received a really warm welcome."
Published: 07:30 Sunday 16 June 2019
Families and young people from across Scotland could enjoy a free weekend away – courtesy of Hostelling Scotland and the Scottish Civic Trust.
The Braw Buildings project is now open for applications, following a successful inaugural year.
Lois Marshall, Hostelling Scotland youth and families engagement officer, said: "Braw Buildings will give young people and families the opportunity to explore some of Scotland's most fascinating buildings, while at the same time exploring a new area of the country."
In 2018, 34 young people from all over Scotland took part, staying free overnight at youth hostels and visiting unique buildings taking part in Doors Open Days.
This year, the partners are also opening up Braw Buildings to families with at least one child aged up to 15.
Some 24 rooms in six hostels have been allocated by Hostelling Scotland, a self-funding charity which was first founded in 1931.
Lois Marshall, the youth and families engagement officer, explained: “This year we will offer at least 24 weekend trips for both families and young people, across six youth hostels.
Amelia Masters from Edinburgh stayed at Glasgow Youth Hostel last year and enjoyed visiting the Tramway, where this stunning picture was taken. (Pic: Amelia Masters)
“We will support more than 70 young people and family members in total.
“They will all receive a two-night stay in a private room with breakfast in one of our youth hostels during the weekends that Doors Open Days is taking place.
“But it’s not being done on a needs basis this year.
“To allocate the trips we will take into account where families and young people are from to try to ensure a fair spread across the country, as well as where they wish to stay and visit.”
Participants can opt for Inverness Youth Hostel on August 30 and 31; Aberdeen and Pitlochry on September 6 and 7; Stirling on September 13 and 14; Glasgow on September 20 and 21 and Edinburgh on September 27 (one night only allocated in the capital).
Hostelling Scotland is looking for applications from young people in Scotland who are aged 16 to 25 or families with at least one child aged up to 15 years.
The aim is to encourage people to explore landmarks that are a little further afield.
Burke and Hare tale at Wyness Hall
Lois added: “Braw Buildings will give people the opportunity to explore some of Scotland’s most fascinating buildings, while at the same time exploring a new area of the country.
“For young people, it’s a great chance to perhaps take their first holiday without their parents.
“The feedback we received from participants last year was fantastic.
“The young people enjoyed their hostel experience, as well as getting the chance to visit some very unique sites.
“It was a huge success but we wanted to open it up this year to families with children too as it’s a great way for us to showcase all that Hostelling Scotland has to offer.”
Sarah Gowanlock from Edinburgh was between jobs last year when she decided to apply for Braw Buildings.
As she is originally from Connecticut, Sarah was keen to visit Inverness ... and she wasn’t disappointed.
But the 25-year-old didn’t follow the usual tourist pack – visiting Inverness Cathedral to try her hand at bell-ringing before taking a tour of Allanfearn Waste Water Treatment Works!
She said: “We took a tour up into the belfry at the cathedral before getting a chance to ring the bells.
“It was quite difficult as you had to use a circular motion to get it to work so it was really interesting as well as being a lot of fun.
“I decided to go to the waste water works because it’s something you don’t usually have the opportunity to visit. I’m interested in the environment so I was keen to find out how it all worked.
“It was fascinating and the staff were all incredible; they were delighted to have visitors and let us see what goes on behind the scenes.
“The average UK resident pays £1 a day for water services but, like me, probably never thinks about what that money is used for.
“Doing the tour gave me the chance to find out. It really was an eye-opening experience.
“The plant captures gases that power a turbine, which in turn provides the plant with 80 per cent of the electricity it uses. And the final solids product, known as cake, is used as agricultural fertiliser.
“I thoroughly enjoyed both visits as they were each unique in their own way.”
Now working for a charity, Sarah has nothing but praise for the Braw Buildings scheme.
She added: “I’d never been to Inverness before and, as I was between jobs at the time, I wouldn’t have been able to visit otherwise.
“I was absolutely thrilled to be given the opportunity and the hostel was lovely too.
“I’m more than happy to recommend it – people should give it a go. It was a fantastic experience.”
Amelia Masters from Edinburgh stayed at Glasgow Youth Hostel last year and enjoyed visiting the Tramway.
She said: “Taking part in Doors Open Days gave you the feeling that you were being let into a secret. All these doors that we see everyday and suddenly we’re invited to walk inside them, instead of passed them!”
The deadline for Braw Buildings applications is midnight on Monday, July 15, so young people and families are being encouraged to get their bids in now.
To apply, visit www.hostellingscotland.org.uk/braw-buildings.
Hostelling Scotland has more than 30 youth hostels, offering great value, flexible accommodation in some stunning locations. Visit www.hostellingscotland.org.uk for more details.
Celebrating 30 years of open doors
The Scottish Civic Trust is this year celebrating 30 years of Doors Open Days.
It was first staged in Glasgow and Ayr in 1990 where it formed part of the European City of Culture celebrations.
The success of that event encouraged other areas to participate the following year and it has now grown to cover almost every area of Scotland.
Around 1000 buildings are expected to open this year, generating more than 200,000 visits to sites and hidden architectural gems of all kinds in locations across Scotland. The full list of properties will be unveiled next month.
The aim is to ensure that Scotland’s built heritage, new and old, is made accessible to people living and visiting the country on weekends in September.
Dr Susan O’Connor, director of the Scottish Civic Trust, said: “Doors Open Days gives over 100,000 people free access to more than 1000 venues and events across Scotland every September.
“This year, we are celebrating 30 years of Doors Open Days with an incredible programme of events – from swimming pools full of flowers to tours of Scotland’s finest buildings hosted by refugees.
“Braw Buildings is a chance for young people and families to explore unknown parts of Scotland and learn about our shared cultural heritage. We can’t wait to learn about what they discover.”
For more information, visit the websites www.doorsopendays.org.uk or www.scottishcivictrust.org.uk.
Appeal for information after girl struck by vehicle in Newmachar
These 14 common household items could kill your cat
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Mr. Olufemi Elias (Nigeria)
Registrar of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals since 1 January 2017.
Mr. Olufemi Elias is United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and Registrar of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals.
Mr. Elias has extensive experience as a lawyer in intergovernmental organisations. He was the Legal Adviser and a Director at the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in The Hague, where he had worked earlier as Senior Legal Officer. He has also served as the Executive Secretary of the World Bank Administrative Tribunal in Washington D. C. Prior to that, he worked at the United Nations Compensation Commission in Geneva, serving as a legal adviser in the secretariat of its Governing Council, and subsequently as Special Assistant to the Commission’s Executive Secretary.
Prior to joining the UNCC, he was a lecturer in international law at King’s College London, and has taught international law at other universities. He is a Visiting Professor in international law at Queen Mary University of London. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Jurisprudence from the University of Oxford, a Master of Law in international law from the University of Cambridge and a doctorate in international law from University College London. He has written and edited several books and articles on various aspects of international law.
Mr. Elias is a solicitor and advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. He is an Associate Member of the Institut de Droit International. He has served as the Secretary-General of the African Association of International Law and on the Executive Council of the American Society of International Law, from which he received the 2018 Honorary Membership Award for distinguished service to international law.
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The Bloody Benders – Serial Killers of Kansas
John Bender, Jr. was actually a man named John Gebhardt
These first few missing travelers did not raise an overall alarm in the area as it was not uncommon during those days for men to simply continue their journey westward. However, as more time passed, the disappearances became more frequent and by the spring of 1873, the region had become strife with rumors and travelers began to avoid the trail.
When neighboring communities started to make slanderous insinuations, the Osage Township called a meeting held at the Harmony Grove schoolhouse in March to see what, if anything, could be done. About 75 people attended the gathering, including both Bender men.
The discussion began regarding the ten people who were reported missing, including a well-known Independence physician named Dr. William H. York. With the full realization that there truly was a major problem in their township, the group decided to search every farmstead between Big Hill Creek and Drum Creek. When most of the attendees volunteered to have their premises searched, the Benders remained silent.
Some time later, Billy Tole, a neighbor of the Benders, noticed that the Bender Inn was abandoned and their farm animals unfed. Tole reported the news to Leroy F Dick, the Township Trustee, and a search party was soon formed, which included Dr. York’s brother, Colonel A.M. York, of Fort Scott. When the men arrived at the property, they found the cabin empty of food, clothing, and personal possessions. They were also met by a terrible smell inside the abandoned inn. A trap door, nailed shut, was discovered in the floor of the cabin.
Prying it open, the men found a six foot deep hole that was filled with clotted blood, causing the terrible odor. However, there were no bodies in the hole. Finally, the men physically moved the entire cabin to the side and began to search beneath, but no bodies were found there either. Continuing, they began to dig around the cabin, especially in an area the Benders had utilized as a vegetable garden and orchard. At the site of a freshly stirred depression in the earth, they found the first body, buried head downward with its feet scarcely covered. The corpse was that of Dr. William H. York, his skull bludgeoned and his throat cut from ear to ear.
The digging continued the next day and nine other bodies and numerous dismembered body parts were found, including a woman and a little girl. The burial site was christened “Hell’s Half-Acre” and another brother of Dr. York, a lawyer and State Senator residing in Independence, offered a $1,000 reward for information leading to the Bender family’s arrest. On May 17th, Governor Thomas Osborn added to that amount by offering a $2,000 reward for the apprehension of all four.
Word of the gruesome murders spread fast and thousands of people flocked to the site, including news reporters from as far away as New York and Chicago. The Bender cabin was ripped apart by gruesome souvenir hunters, right down to the bloody bricks that lined the cellar. Bit by bit, the story of the Benders was pieced together.
The Benders were obviously not what they appeared. In fact, they weren’t even a true “family” — the only ones related were Ma and Kate Bender.
Bender Hiding
When the visitors stopped in for a meal, they were seated at a table with their back to the large canvas that separated the “inn” from the living quarters. Then Kate would begin to charm the men with her social skills, flirting, or revealing her psychic “gifts.” As the men gave their full attention to the alluring Kate, Pa and John Bender, hiding behind the canvas, would strike the unsuspecting traveler in the skull with a hammer. Ma Bender and Kate would then rifle the body for money pushing him through the trap door into the hole below the cabin, where Kate would slit his throat. During the night, the body would then be buried in the garden behind the house.
Their downfall was the murder of a father and daughter named Loncher, and that of Dr. William York, who had come looking for the missing pair. In the winter of 1872, Mr. Loncher and his daughter had left Independence for Iowa, but were never heard from again. In the spring of 1873, Dr. York took it upon himself to go looking for the Lonchers, stopping at the homesteads along the trail to ask questions. Though he reached Fort Scott unscathed and started to return to Independence about March 8th, he never reached home.
Dr. York had two brothers, one living in Fort Scott, and the other in Independence. Both knew of his travel plans and when he failed to return home, an all out search began for the missing doctor. Colonel A.M. York, leading a contingency of some 50 men began to question every traveler along the trail and to stop at the area homesteads. One of those places was the Bender Inn. The Benders tried to “help” by admitting that Dr. York had stopped at their place but, convinced the search party that he had left and was probably waylaid by Indians. Even Kate, with her clairvoyant abilities, attempted to “search” for the missing doctor to throw any suspicion off herself.
After Colonel York’s visit and the meeting at the Harmony Grove schoolhouse, the Bender family fled. It was only a few days later that the homestead was found abandoned and the search party began to discover the grisly remains of the bodies.
The diggers were astounded to find what would become known as one of America’s first mass murder burial grounds as body after body was uncovered. Ten bodies were found in the Bender’s apple orchard, including Dr. York and the people he had been searching for – Mr. Loncher and his daughter, just seven or eight years old.
Bender Property Digging, sketch in Harper’s Weekly, June 7, 1873
More gruesomely, though the little girl’s body was found to have multiple injuries, none of them would have caused death and it was speculated that the poor lass may have been buried alive. Of the discovery of her remains, the Kansas City Times reported:
“The little girl was probably eight years of age, and had long, sunny hair, and some traces of beauty on a countenance that was not yet entirely disfigured by decay. One arm was broken. The breastbone had been driven in. The right knee had been wrenched from its socket and the leg doubled up under the body. Nothing like this sickening series of crimes had ever been recorded in the whole history of the country.”
Other bodies found in the garden were those of Henry McKenzie’s mutilated remains, three men by the names of Ben Brown, W.F. McCrotty, and John Geary, as well as an unidentified male and female. Johnny Boyle’s body was found in the well. Dismembered parts of several other victims were also discovered, but, could never be identified. Four other bodies with crushed skulls and slit throats were also found outside the property in Drum Creek and on the surrounding prairie.
1 thought on “The Bloody Benders – Serial Killers of Kansas”
Aletta Fox Hutchins says:
I have heard the Bender story many times when I was a child and I was raised 35 miles east of Springfield Mo. Kate Bender and her daughter Molly came to Smackout about 8 miles south of Seymour, Mo. The mounted police came to my Great-Grandparents and took Kate back to Kansas for questioning but let her go.Kate was blind in one eye but it couldn’t be detected by looking at her and so was the woman that came to our area.
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No-Interest Loans
You read that right, loans with zero interest! An interesting new financial development has been the introduction of crowdfunded, no-interest loans. Kiva, the microlending pioneer, has launched a pilot program that offers direct, no-interest loans in the U.S. called Kiva Zip (that’s zip for zipcode).
Zip differs from the Kiva’s more familiar online lending program, which lets anyone lend as little as $25 to entrepreneurs around the globe. When someone makes a loan to an overseas entrepreneur, there is an intermediary involved that vets the borrower and takes a fee from the borrower for its services.
In contrast, Kiva Zip operates in the U.S. (and Kenya), and lenders lend money directly to entrepreneurs, so there are no intermediaries or fees. And loans range in the thousands, versus hundreds, of dollars. Entrepreneurs create a profile on the Kiva Zip site, including how much they are looking to borrow and what it will help fund, and people can choose to fund them. Borrowers pay back principal, but there are no interest payments.
Because there is no interest earned, the loans are not considered securities, so federal and state securities laws do not apply.
How does Kiva protect against defaults? Through a concept called social underwriting, which substitutes personal relationships and character for credit history. To be eligible for Kiva Zip, borrowers must be recommended by a trustee—a prominent person or organization in a city that publicly vouches for borrowers. Alternatively, borrowers can build social capital requirement by bringing on 15 or more people from their own networks who are willing to lend to them as evidence of their “trust network.”
It’s no coincidence that Kiva has found that borrowers whose social networks participate in the loans have a higher repayment rate.
Other startups, such as Community Sourced Capital, a social purpose corporation based in Seattle, are following suit. CSC allows people to lend in increments of $50, called “squares,” to local companies, who can borrow between $5,000 and $50,000. As with KivaZip, there is no interest paid, although there is a $250 upfront fee and a $50 a month fee for the life of the loan.
See: https://zip.kiva.org/
https://www.communitysourcedcapital.com/
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The Bridge Makers
Home » News and Events » News Room » The Bridge Makers
From the moment Gareth's family move house, his world changes. His new friend, Kit, was already familiar, from her appearance in the models he'd made...
Cheshire author transports us to a magical world in her debut fantasy novel.
A Cheshire author has recently published her debut novel.
Sheila Tyrer Hughes, of Malpas, has written The Bridge Makers, a tale of friendship, magical realms, and the battle between good and evil.
She says: "The Bridge Makers is a fantasy set at the turn of the 21st century about a boy, some new friends, and a dwarf passing through a gateway into another realm, where they have to battle against evil and their own fears to return something to the Silver City."
"Throughout the journey, they grow in awareness and courage and prove their worth.
Though good prevails, it does not eliminate the presence of evil. They coexist and are measured one beside the other on a great cosmic scale.
It is the balance that is all important."
Born near Wrexham, Sheila has won several Literature prizes, including the runner-up in the High Sheriff's Cheshire Prize for Literature in 2005,
and the First Prize in the Writers of the Year competition in 2007.
She was an English teacher, a jack-of-all trades in a market garden, and had two jobs looking after children and horses in California, where her writing began.
Married, with two children and two grand-daughters, Sheila enjoys walking, cycling, gardening, reading, and studying microscopic pond life.
The Bridge Makers, published by Austin Macauley, is available to purchase from Amazon and all good bookshops.
For more information, please visit www.austinmacauley.com
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liibulletin previews
Burson v. Freeman (90-1056), 504 U.S. 191 (1992).
[ Stevens ] Concurrence
[ Kennedy ] Concurrence
[ Scalia ] Opinion
[ Blackmun ]
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No. 90-1056
CHARLES W. BURSON, ATTORNEY GENERAL AND REPORTER FOR TENNESSEE, PETITIONER v. MARY REBECCA FREEMAN
on writ of certiorari to the supreme court of tennessee, middle division
Justice Stevens, with whom Justice O'Connor and Justice Souter join, dissenting.
The speech and conduct prohibited in the campaign-free zone created by Tenn. Code Ann. § 2-7-111 (Supp. 1991) is classic political expression. As this Court has long recognized, "[d]iscussion of public issues and debate on the qualifications of candidates are integral to the operation of the system of government established by our Constitution. The First Amendment affords the broadest protection to such political expression in order `to assure [the] unfettered interchange of ideas for the bringing about of political and social changes desired by the people.' " Buckley v. Valeo, 424 U.S. 1, 14 (1976) (citation omitted). Therefore, I fully agree with the plurality that Tennessee must show that its " `regulation is necessary to serve a compelling state interest and that it is narrowly drawn to achieve that end.' " Ante, at 6 (citations omitted). I do not agree, however, that Tennessee has made anything approaching such a showing.
Tennessee's statutory "campaign-free zone" raises con stitutional concerns of the first magnitude. The statute directly regulates political expression and thus implicates a core concern of the First Amendment. Moreover, ittargets only a specific subject matter (campaign speech) and a defined class of speakers (campaign workers) and thus regulates expression based on its content. In doing so, the Tennessee statute somewhat perversely disfavors speech that normally is accorded greater protection than the kinds of speech that the statute does not regulate. For these reasons, Tennessee unquestionably bears the heavy burden of demonstrating that its silencing of political expression is necessary and narrowly tailored to serve a compelling state interest.
Statutes creating campaign-free zones outside polling places serve two quite different functions — they protect orderly access to the polls and they prevent last minute campaigning. There can be no question that the former constitutes a compelling state interest and that, in light of our decision in Mills v. Alabama, 384 U.S. 214 (1966), the latter does not. Accordingly, a State must demonstrate that the particular means it has fashioned to ensure orderly access to the polls do not unnecessarily hinder last minute campaigning.
Campaign-free zones are noteworthy for their broad, antiseptic sweep. The Tennessee zone encompasses at least 30,000 square feet around each polling place; in some States, such as Kentucky and Wisconsin, the radius of the restricted zone is 500 feet — silencing an area of over 750,000 square feet. Even under the most sanguine scenario of participatory democracy, it is difficult to imagine voter turnout so complete as to require the clearing of hundreds of thousands of square feet simply to ensure that the path to the polling place door remains opens and that the curtain that protects the secrecy of the ballot box remains closed.
The fact that campaign-free zones cover such a large area in some States unmistakably identifies censorship of election day campaigning as an animating force behind these restrictions. That some States have no problem maintaining order with zones of 50 feet or less stronglysuggests that the more expansive prohibitions are not necessary to maintain access and order. Indeed, on its face, Tennessee's statute appears informed by political concerns. Although the statute initially established a 100 foot zone, it was later amended to establish a 300 foot zone in 12 of the State's 95 counties. As the State Attorney General observed, "there is not a rational basis" for this special treatment, for there is no "discernable reason why an extension of the boundary . . . is necessary in" those 12 counties. Brief in Opposition 4a, Tenn. Att'y Gen. Op. No. 87-185.
Moreover, the Tennessee statute does not merely regulate conduct that might inhibit voting; it bars the simple "display of campaign posters, signs, or other campaign materials." § 2-7-111(b). Bumper stickers on parked cars and lapel buttons on pedestrians are taboo. The notion that such sweeping restrictions on speech are necessary to maintain the freedom to vote and the integrity of the ballot box borders on the absurd.
The evidence introduced at trial to demonstrate the necessity for Tennessee's campaign-free zone was exceptionally thin. Although the State's sole witness explained the need for special restrictions inside the polling place itself, she offered no justification for a ban on political expression outside the polling place. [n.1] On this record it is far from surprising that the Tennessee Supreme Court — which surely is more familiar with the State's electoral practices and traditions than we are — concluded that the 100 foot ban outside the polling place was not justified by regulatory concerns. This conclusion is bolstered by Tennessee law which indicates that normal police protection is completelyadequate to maintain order in the area more than 10 feet from the polling place. [n.2]
Perhaps in recognition of the poverty of the record, the plurality — without briefing, or legislative or judicial factfinding — looks to history to assess whether Tennessee's statute is in fact necessary to serve the State's interests. From its review of the history of electoral reform, the plurality finds that
"all 50 States. . .settled on the same solution: a secret ballot secured in part by a restricted zone around the voting compartments. We find that this wide spread and time tested consensus demonstrates that some restricted zone is necessary in order to serve the States' compelling interest in preventing voter intimidation and election fraud." Ante, at 14-15.
This analysis is deeply flawed; it confuses history with necessity, and mistakes the traditional for the indis pensable. The plurality's reasoning combines two logical errors: First, the plurality assumes that a practice's long life itself establishes its necessity; and second, the plurality assumes that a practice that was once necessary remains necessary until it is ended. [n.3]
With regard to the first, the fact that campaign-free zones were, as the plurality indicates, introduced as part of a broader package of electoral reforms does not demonstrate that such zones were necessary. The abuses that affected the electoral system could have been cured by the institution of the secret ballot and by the heightened regulation of the polling place alone, without silencing the political speech outside the polling place. [n.4] In my opinion, more than mere timing is required to infer necessity from tradition.
We have never regarded tradition as a proxy for necessity where necessity must be demonstrated. To the contrary, our election law jurisprudence is rich with examples of traditions that, though longstanding, were later held to be unnecessary. For example, "[m]ost of the early Colonies had [poll taxes]; many of the States have had them during much of their histories . . . ." Harper v. Virginia Bd. of Elections, 383 U.S. 663, 684 (1966) (Harlan, J., dissenting). Similarly, substantial barriers to candidacy, such as stringent petition requirements, see Williams v. Rhodes, 393 U.S. 23 (1968), property ownership requirements, see Turner v. Fouche, 396 U.S. 346 (1970), and onerous filing fees, see Lubin v. Panish, 415 U.S. 709 (1974), were all longstanding features of the electoral labyrinth.
In fact, two of our most noted decisions in this area involve, as does this case, Tennessee's electoral traditions. Dunn v. Blumstein, 405 U.S. 330 (1972), which invalidated Tennessee's 1 year residency requirement, is particularlyinstructive. Tennessee's residency requirement was indis putably "traditional," having been in place since 1870. App. in Dunn v. Blumstein, O.T. 1971, No. 13, p. 22. As in this case, the State defended its law on the basis of its interest in " `secur[ing] the freedom of elections and the purity of the ballot box.' " Id., at 23. Again like this case, Dunn involved a conflict between two rights — the right to travel and the right to vote. The Court applied strict scrutiny, ruling that residency requirements are "unconstitutional unless the State can demonstrate that such laws are `necessary to promote a compelling governmental interest.' " 405 U. S., at 342 (emphasis in original) (citation omitted). Although we recognized that "[p]reservation of the `purity of the ballot box' is a formidable sounding state interest," id., at 345, we rejected the State's argument that a 1 year requirement was necessary to promote that interest. In doing so, we did not even mention, let alone find determinative, the fact that Tennessee's requirement was more than 100 years old.
In Baker v. Carr, 369 U.S. 186 (1962), we addressed the apportionment of Tennessee's legislature. The State's apportionment regime had remained unchanged since 1901 and was such that, by the time of trial, "40% of the voters elect[ed] 63 of the 99 members of the [state] House" of Representatives. Id., at 253 (Clark, J., concurring). Although, as Justice Frankfurter observed in dissent, " `very unequal' representation" had been a feature of the Nation's political landscape since colonial times, id., at 307-318, the Court was not bound by this long tradition. Our other cases resemble Dunn and Baker in this way: Never have we indicated that tradition was synonymous with necessity.
Even if we assume that campaign-free zones were once somehow "necessary," it would not follow that, 100 years later, those practices remain necessary. Much in our political culture, institutions, and practices has changed since the turn of the century: Our elections are far lesscorrupt, far more civil, and far more democratic today than 100 years ago. These salutary developments have substantially eliminated the need for what is, in my opinion, a sweeping suppression of core political speech.
Although the plurality today blithely dispenses with the need for factual findings to determine the necessity of "traditional" restrictions on speech, courts that have made such findings with regard to other campaign-free zones have, without exception, found such zones unnecessary. See, e. g., Florida Comm. for Liability Reform v. McMillan, 682 F. Supp. 1536, 1541-1542 (MD Fla. 1988); Clean Up '84 v. Heinrich, 582 F. Supp. 125 (MD Fla. 1984), aff'd, 759 F.2d 1511 (CA11 1985). Likewise, courts that have invalidated similar restrictions on so called "exit polling" by the news media have, after careful factfinding, also declined to find such prohibitions "necessary." See, e. g., Firestone v. News Press Publishing Co., 538 So. 2d 457, 459 (Fla. 1989) (invalidating Florida's 50 foot zone to the extent that it reaches outside the polling room and noting that "[a]t the evidentiary hearing, no witnesses testified of any disturbances having occurred within fifty feet of the polling room. . . . The state's unsubstantiated concern of potential disturbance is not sufficient to overcome the chilling effect on first amendment rights."); Daily Herald Co. v. Munro, 838 F. 2d 380, 385, n. 8 (CA9 1988) (observing with regard to Washington's 300 foot zone that " `[t]here isn't one iota of testimony about a single voter that was upset, or intimidated, or threatened' " (quoting trial transcript)); National Broadcasting Co. v. Cleland, 697 F. Supp. 1204, 1211-1212 (ND Ga. 1988); CBS Inc. v. Smith, 681 F. Supp. 794, 803 (SD Fla. 1988). All of these courts, having received evidence on this issue, were far better situated than we are to assess the contemporary necessity of campaign-free zones. All of these courts concluded that such suppression of expression is unnecessary, suggesting that such zones were something of a social atavism. To my mind, this recent history, developed in the context of an adversarial searchfor the truth, indicates that, whatever the original historical basis for campaign-free zones may have been, their continued "necessity" has not been established. Especially when we deal with the First Amendment, when the reason for a restriction disappears, the restriction should as well.
In addition to sweeping too broadly in its reach, Tennessee's campaign-free zone selectively prohibits speech based on content. Like the statute the Court found invalid in First National Bank of Boston v. Bellotti, 435 U.S. 765, 785 (1978), the Tennessee statute regulates "the subjects about which persons may speak and the speakers who may address a public issue." Within the zone, § 2-7-111 silences all campaign related expression, but allows expression on any other subject: religious, artistic, commercial speech, even political debate and solicitation concerning issues or candidates not on the day's ballot. Indeed, as I read it, § 2-7-111 does not prohibit exit polling, which surely presents at least as great a potential interference with orderly access to the polls as does the distribution of campaign leaflets, the display of campaign posters, or the wearing of campaign buttons. This discriminatory feature of the statute severely undercuts the credibility of its purported law and order justification.
Tennessee's content based discrimination is particularly problematic because such a regulation will inevitably favor certain groups of candidates. As the testimony in this case illustrates, several groups of candidates rely heavily onlast minute campaigning. See App. 22-23. Candidates with fewer resources, candidates for lower visibility offices, and "grassroots" candidates benefit disproportionately from last minute campaigning near the polling place. See Note, Defoliating the Grassroots: Election Day Restrictions on Political Speech, 77 Geo. L. J. 2137, 2158-2160 (1989) (collecting authorities).
Although the plurality recognizes that the Tennessee statute is content based, see ante, at 5-6, it does not inquire into whether that discrimination itself is related to any pur ported state interest. To the contrary, the plurality makes the surprising and unsupported claim that the selective regulation of protected speech is justified because, "[t]he First Amendment does not require States to regulate for problems that do not exist." Ante, at 16. Yet earlier this Term, the Court rejected an asserted state interest because that interest "ha[d] nothing to do with the State's" content based distinctions among expressive activities. Simon & Schuster, Inc. v. Members of New York Crime Victims Bd., 502 U. S. ___, ___ (1991) (slip op., at 13); see also Arkansas Writers' Project, Inc. v. Ragland, 481 U.S. 221, 231 (1987). Similarly in Carey v. Brown, 447 U.S. 455, 464-465 (1980), the Court acknowledged Illinois' interest in "residential privacy" but invalidated that State's ban on picketing because its distinction between labor and non labor picketing could not be "justified by reference to the State's interest in maintaining domestic tranquility."
In this case the same is true: Tennessee's differential treatment of campaign speech furthers no asserted state interest. Access to and order around the polls would bejust as threatened by the congregation of citizens concerned about a local environmental issue not on the ballot as by the congregation of citizens urging election of their favored candidate. Similarly, assuming that disorder immediately outside the polling place could lead to the commission of errors or the perpetration of fraud, such disorder could just as easily be caused by a religious dispute sparked by a colporteur as by a campaign related dispute sparked by a campaign worker. In short, Tennessee has failed to point to any legitimate interest that would justify its selective regulation of campaign related expression.
Although the plurality purports to apply "exacting scrutiny," its three marked departures from that familiar standard may have greater significance for the future than its precise holding about campaign-free zones. First, the plurality declines to take a hard look at whether a state law is in fact "necessary." Under the plurality's analysis, a State need not demonstrate that contemporary demands compel its regulation of protected expression; it need only show that that regulation can be traced to a longstanding tradition. [n.5]
Second, citing Munro v. Socialist Workers Party, 479 U.S. 189 (1986), the plurality lightens the State's burden of proof in showing that a restriction on speech is "narrowly tailored." In Munro, we upheld a Washington ballot access law and, in doing so, observed that we would not "requir[e] a State to make a particularized showing of the existence of voter confusion, ballot overcrowding, or the presence of frivolous candidacies prior to the imposition of reasonable restrictions on ballot access." Id., at 194-195. We stated that legislatures "should be permitted to respond to potential deficiencies in the electoral process with foresight rather than reactively, provided that the response is reasonable and does not significantly impinge on constitutionally protected rights." Id., at 195-196. I have substantial doubts about the plurality's extension of Munro's reasoning to this case, most fundamentally because Iquestion the plurality's assumption that campaign-free zones do "not significantly impinge on constitutionally protected rights." Not only is this the very question before us, but in light of the sweep of such zones and the vital First Amendment interests at stake, I do not know how that assumption can be sound.
Third, although the plurality recognizes the problematic character of Tennessee's content based suppressive regulation, ante, at 5-6, it nonetheless upholds the statute because "there is simply no evidence" that commercial or charitable solicitation outside the polling place poses the same potential dangers as campaigning outside the polling place. Ante, at 16. This analysis contradicts a core premise of strict scrutiny — namely, that the heavy burden of justification is on the State. The plurality has effectively shifted the burden of proving the necessity of content discrimination from the State to the plaintiff.
In sum, what the plurality early in its opinion calls "exacting scrutiny," ante, at 6, appears by the end of its analysis to be neither exacting nor scrutiny. To borrow a mixed metaphor, the plurality's scrutiny is "toothless." Mathews v. Lucas, 427 U.S. 495, 510 (1976).
Ours is a Nation rich with traditions. Those traditions sometimes support, and sometimes are superseded by, constitutional rules. By tradition, for example, presidential campaigns end on election eve; yet Congress certainly could not enforce that tradition by enacting a law proscribing campaigning on election day. At one time as well, bans on election day editorial endorsements were traditional in some States, [n.6] but Mills v. Alabama, 384 U.S. 214 (1966),established that such bans are incompatible with the First Amendment.
In Mills, we set aside the conviction of a newspaper editor who violated such a ban. In doing so, we declined to accept the State's analogy between the electoral process and the judicial process, and its claim that the State could, on election day, insulate voters from political sentiments and ideas much the same way as a jury is sequestered. [n.7] We squarely rejected the State's claim that its ban was justified by the need to protect the public " `from confusive last minute charges and countercharges and the distribution of propaganda in an effort to influence voters on an election day.' " Id., at 219 (quoting State v. Mills, 278 Ala. 188, 195-196, 176 So. 2d 884, 890 (1965)). To the contrary, we recognized that it is precisely on election day that advocacy and campaigning "can be most effective." Mills, 384 U. S., at 219. Mills stands for the simple proposition that, tradition notwithstanding, the State does not have a legitimate interest in insulating voters from election day campaigning. Thus, in light of Mills, the fact that campaign-free zones are "traditional" tends to undermine, rather than to support, the validity of the Tennessee statute. In short, we should scrutinize the Tennessee statute for what it is — a police power regulation that also silences a substantial amount of protected political expression.
In my opinion, the presence of campaign workers outside a polling place is, in most situations, a minor nuisance. But we have long recognized that " `the fact that society may find speech offensive is not a sufficient reason for suppressing it.' " Hustler Magazine, Inc. v. Falwell, 485 U.S. 46, 55 (1988) (citation omitted). Although we often pay homage to the electoral process, we must be careful not to confuse sanctity with silence. The hubbub of campaign workers outside a polling place may be a nuisance, but it is also the sound of a vibrant democracy.
In silencing that sound, Tennessee "trenches upon an area in which the importance of First Amendment protections is `at its zenith,' " Meyer v. Grant, 486 U.S. 414, 425 (1988) (citation omitted). For that reason, Tennessee must shoulder the burden of demonstrating that its restrictions on political speech are no broader than necessary to protect orderly access to the polls. It has not done so.
I therefore respectfully dissent.
1 See 802 S.W. 2d 210, 213 (Tenn. 1990) ("The specific testimony of the State's witness about confusion, error, overcrowding, etc. concerned the numbers of persons present in the polling place itself, not the numbers of persons outside the polls").
2 Within the polling place itself, and within 10 feet of its entrance, a prohibition against the presence of nonvoters is justified, in part by the absence of normal police protection. Section 2-7-103(c) provides:
"No policeman or other law enforcement officer may come nearer to the entrance to a polling place than ten feet (10') or enter the polling place except at the request of the officer of elections or the county election commission or to make an arrest or to vote."
There is, however, no reason to believe that the Tennessee legislature regarded the normal protection against disruptive conduct outside that 10-foot area as insufficient to guarantee orderly access.
3 I leave it to historians to review the substantive accuracy of the plurality's narrative, for I find more disturbing the plurality's use of history.
4 The plurality's suggestion that "[t]he only way to preserve the secrecy of the ballot is to limit access to the area around the voter," ante, at 16, is specious. First, there are obvious and simple means of preserving voter secrecy (e.g., opaque doors or curtains on the voting booth) that do not involve the suppression of political speech. Second, there is no disagreement that the restrictions on campaigning within the polling place are constitutional; the issue is not whether the State may limit access to the "area around the voter" but whether the State may limit speech in the area around the polling place.
5 The plurality emphasizes that this case "force[s] us to reconcile our commitment to free speech with our commitment to other constitutional rights." Ante, at 6 (citing Sheppard v. Maxwell, 384 U.S. 333, 361-363 (1966)). Although I agree with the plurality on this matter, this characterization of the controversy does not compel (or even indicate) deference to tradition. Indeed in Sheppard itself, the Court did not defer to tradition or established practices, but rather imposed on "appellate tribunals . . . the duty to make an independent evaluation of the circumstances" of every case. Id., at 362.
6 See, e.g., 1913 Mont. Laws § 34, pp. 590, 607; 1911 N.D. Laws, ch. 129, § 16, pp. 210, 214; 1909 Ore. Laws, ch.3, § 34, pp. 15, 29.
7 "The idea behind [the ban on endorsements] was to prevent the voters from being subjected to unfair pressure and `brainwashing' on the day when their minds should remain clear and untrammeled by such influences, just as this court is insulated against further partisan advocacy once these arguments are submitted." Brief for Appellee, O.T. 1965, No. 597, p. 9.
LII Announce Blog
LII Supreme Court Bulletin
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F1 W10 EQ Power+
Car F1 W10 EQ Power+
The result of more than a year’s work
Work on the new Formula One car for the 2019 season started 16 months before its release, when the team was still fighting for its fourth Championship title. The development work was spearheaded by a small group of engineers, working on the general concept of the car. Over the course of the 2018 season and in the midst of an exciting and challenging Championship fight, more and more engineers in both Brixworth and Brackley started working on the W10.
“Work on the W10 project began at the end of 2017,” said James Allison, Technical Director. “That’s when the first meetings happened about how the chassis was going to be laid out, how the Power Unit was going to change from the previous season and what our rough objectives were for the project. That was when we set out the plans for our deployment of resources, developing and racing the car in 2018 and the right number of the right people to design, conceive and then create the new car for 2019.”
On the chassis side, more than half of the engineers in the Design Office were working on the W10 by the 2018 F1 summer break. In October, when the F1 circus headed to the Americas and both the team and Lewis claimed their fifth World Championship titles, the factory was working flat out on the W10, designing and producing parts of the future contender. Overall, about 7000 drawings were released for manufacture.
Over the winter, many of the major components and sub systems like the transmission, the suspension, the cooling system and the Power Unit underwent rigorous testing, in which they were subjected to loads, temperatures and fatigue cycles similar to those they would experience in the F1 season. Before the car left the garage for the first time today, the team had tested something close to half a million kilometres cumulatively across all these different components.
“There are hours and hours that go into each piece, each assembly, each system, each full element and then the final Power Unit,” said Andy Cowell, Managing Director of Mercedes-AMG High Performance Powertrains. “It is a huge moment when the Power Unit bursts into life and those countless hours are rewarded with fuel being converted into useful work. Yes, it is a machine, but it is part of people’s lives and it’s personal.”
The initial “Fire-Up” is another one of those special moments as it is the first time when all the core systems – the hydraulic system, the electrical system, the fuel system, the cooling system, the gearbox, the chassis and of course the Power Unit – are assembled and the engine runs for the first time in unison with the other systems.
“You’ve had a factory which had fallen silent for a few weeks, from the end of the last season to this moment, where an engine leaps into life in the factory again,” said James. “Even if you’re not down in the build shop, you can hear it, so is has a certain emotional impact on us because a motor is running and it is the living proof that all those components are not only assembled but they function. At the same time, you know that you’re only about half way there through the about 90 planned test events.”
New aero regulations drive significant changes to the W10
Compared to its predecessor, the Mercedes-AMG F1 W10 EQ Power+ has changed substantially. The majority of those modifications were driven by the significant changes to the Technical Regulations for the 2019 Formula One season.
“Regulation changes are both opportunity and threat,” said James. “They are an opportunity because all the old assumptions about what you need to have to be quick are swept away and, if you are fleet of foot and smart in dealing with that, you can do better than all the other teams that are tackling the same change.
“They are a threat because if you are not as smart and you didn’t see how to make the most of these new regulations, then you’ll certainly suffer in the coming season. But they are always exhilarating because you have that sharp sense of anxiety that you might not be doing enough but equally the thrill and excitement of looking forward to finding out.”
In addition to dealing with the changes to the aerodynamic regulations, which were the main focus in the development of the W10, the team worked hard to improve the weaker areas of the previous car and further build on its strengths.
“The handling of the W09 was a big improvement over the rather idiosyncratic W08,” James added. “We managed to be competitive at tracks which had plagued us in recent years. However, notwithstanding this improvement, we were still not as good as some of our competitors at preserving the performance of the rear tyres.
“We have worked hard on the suspension and aerodynamic characteristics to deliver a car that will be much kinder to its tyres – enough, we hope, to allow us to be competitive at all phases of the race and at each track on the calendar.
“Even though the minimum weight limit was lifted by 10kg for 2019, weight reduction remains a real challenge on the current generation of F1 cars. Components that we felt were stripped to the bone in 2018 have been taken, one by one, and subjected to a further round of aggressive analysis to shave further weight from them.
“Some components surrender what feels like a giant step of half a kilo, others just a few grams, but collectively each of these victories add up to a handful of kilos that have been invested back in the car on aerodynamics, suspension and Power Unit to bring performance.”
Despite significant changes to many areas of the car, the W10 has retained some of the characteristics of its predecessors, as the general architecture and the wheelbase stay the same.
“A close inspection will reveal that the execution of this concept has been further refined,” said James. “Every item is pushed tighter, made more slender – each change permitting us to improve the aerodynamic performance beyond what would have been possible had we accepted the physical limitations of the 2018 design.”
Mercedes-AMG F1 W10 EQ Power+ Technical Specification
Monocoque: Moulded carbon fibre and honeycomb composite structure
Bodywork: Carbon fibre composite including engine cover, sidepods, floor, nose, front wing and rear wing
Cockpit: Removable driver's seat made of anatomically formed carbon composite, OMP six-point driver safety harness, HANS system
Safety Structures: Cockpit survival cell incorporating impact-resistant construction and penetration panels, front impact structure, prescribed side impact structures, integrated rear impact structure, front and rear roll structures, titanium driver protection structure (halo)
Front Suspension: Carbon fibre wishbone and pushrod-activated torsion springs and rockers
Rear Suspension: Carbon fibre wishbone and pullrod-activated torsion springs and rockers
Wheels: OZ forged magnesium
Tyres: Pirelli
Brake System: Carbone Industries Carbon / Carbon discs and pads with rear brake-by-wire
Brake Calipers: Brembo
Steering: Power-assisted rack and pinion
Steering Wheel: Carbon fibre construction
Electronics: FIA standard ECU and FIA homologated electronic and electrical system
Instrumentation: McLaren Electronic Systems (MES)
Fuel System: ATL Kevlar-reinforced rubber bladder
Lubricants & Fluids: PETRONAS Tutela
Gearbox: Eight speed forward, one reverse unit with carbon fibre maincase
Gear Selection: Sequential, semi-automatic, hydraulic activation
Clutch: Carbon plate
Overall Length: Over 5000mm
Overall Width: 2000mm
Overall Height: 950mm
Overall Weight: 743kg
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Season 13, Episode 184
The Price is Right: Season 13: Episode 184
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The Price Is Right: Clip 2
CBS | Air Date: June 6, 1985
Starring: Bob Barker
Genre(s): Game Show
Season 46 Season 45 Season 44 Season 43 Season 42 Season 41 Season 40 Season 39 Season 38 Season 37 Season 36 Season 35 Season 34 Season 33 Season 32 Season 31 Season 30 Season 29 Season 28 Season 27 Season 26 Season 25 Season 24 Season 23 Season 22 Season 21 Season 20 Season 19 Season 18 Season 17 Season 16 Season 15 Season 14 Season 13 Season 12 Season 11 Season 10 Season 9 Season 8 Season 7 Season 6 Season 5 Season 4 Season 3 Season 2 Season 1
195. Season 13, Episode 195
99. Season 13, Episode 99
9. Season 13, Episode 9
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PVRIS talk new album
PVRIS frontwoman Lynn Gunn was recently interviewed by Upset Magazine, you can read some excerpts below.
About their highly anticipated sophomore album, she said: "We’re really excited for the future and to see what happens. We definitely want to go above, beyond and a little bit better. We want to make it evolve and grow. We have a lot of ideas right now for the next record, but we can’t give away too much."
She added: "With the next record there’s going to be much more of a…I don’t want to give too much away, get people’s hopes up and then put some absolute bullshit out."
She continued: "I think we’ll elaborate on that darkness a lot more but there will be new elements brought in for sure. It’s hard to tell right now but we’re thinking about it. And then I think we’re supposed to record in September or October."
Posted by Metal Rock News on June 01, 2016
Etichette: News, PVRIS
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Is rice gluten-free? Grains explained
Last reviewed Thu 2 March 2017 Last reviewed Thu 2 Mar 2017
By Hannah Nichols
Reviewed by Natalie Butler, RD, LD
Is rice gluten-free?
Is it safe for people with celiac disease?
Alternative grains and carbs
Gluten is a family of proteins found in some, but not all, grains. For many people, a gluten-free diet can be a lifestyle choice. However, for people with celiac disease, it is a medical necessity.
Gluten has become a controversial subject. On the one hand, many researchers agree that gluten is safe for everyone except those with celiac disease. On the contrary, some experts suggest that gluten could be harmful to most people.
Gluten is found in barley, wheat, rye, and triticale, which is a cross between wheat and rye. Gluten helps foods, such as bread, pasta, and cereal, keep their shape by acting as a "glue."
There are several gluten-free grains available that can be enjoyed as part of a balanced diet. Is rice one of them? We find out.
All rice is naturally gluten-free. However, grains or rice-based products may not be gluten-free.
Rice is a grain. Are all grains gluten-free? No. Is rice gluten-free? Yes.
All rice is naturally gluten-free. This includes all varieties: white rice, brown rice, and wild rice. Even glutinous rice is gluten-free, despite the name. "Glutinous" refers to the sticky nature of the rice and not the glue-like gluten protein in wheat, barley, and rye.
Many gluten-free products substitute wheat with rice. However, while all rice in its natural form is gluten-free, that does not mean that all rice and rice-based products are gluten-free.
If in doubt, people should check the label on the packaging or contact the manufacturer for more information.
Cross-contact
Rice can sometimes come into contact with barley, wheat, or rye in the growing, harvesting, or manufacturing processes -- this is called cross-contact, previously known as cross-contamination.
Cross-contact of rice and gluten can also occur at home in places where shared utensils and cooking areas are used for preparing both gluten-free foods and foods containing gluten. These places include:
Wheat flour can also stay airborne for many hours and contaminate surfaces, utensils, and uncovered foods.
Thorough cleaning usually prevents cross-contact.
People should beware of gluten-free goods from bakeries that sell foods containing gluten, and bulk bins at grocery stores.
If a person has celiac disease and they are unable to confirm the ingredients in a food item, it is best to avoid eating the food.
For people with gluten-related disorders, cutting out foods that contain gluten from their diet is the only known way to prevent damage to the lining of the intestines and other associated symptoms.
Is a gluten-free diet good for your health?
Should you be following a gluten-free diet? Click here to find out more.
Rice-based products
Just because a rice-based product is advertised as "rice" does not mean that it is gluten-free. Rice-based products are often made with spices, sauces, and other ingredients that may contain gluten.
Flavored rice frequently contains a wheat-based thickener called hydrolyzed wheat protein. Flavored rice may also contain flavor enhancers such as soy sauce, which is not typically gluten-free but can be substituted with tamari. Rice pilaf is made with orzo, which is also not gluten-free.
People with gluten-related disorders should only eat rice-based products that are labeled with "gluten-free." They should avoid products that are labeled with "contains wheat," or list any ingredients that contain gluten.
People should also avoid products that are grain-based or made on shared equipment with wheat or gluten. Just because a product is "wheat-free," does not mean that it is automatically gluten-free.
Eating a range of healthful foods is recommended, especially when removing gluten from the diet.
Starchy foods are a major source of carbohydrates and play an important part in a healthful diet. As with any food group, it is essential that people include a variety of carbohydrates in their diet to ensure that they consume a wide range of nutrients.
A person on a gluten-free diet, who bulks up with rice and rice-based products, particularly white rice, can deprive their body of important nutrients.
Many products that are made with wheat flour are fortified with vitamins and minerals. Often, by cutting out wheat or not eating a variety of grains, people can be left short of:
When removing gluten from their diet, people should be sure to eat a range of healthful foods, including plenty of whole grains, legumes, fruits, and vegetables.
Arsenic found in rice
There are two types of arsenic. The first type, organic arsenic, is relatively nontoxic. However, the second type, called inorganic arsenic, is more toxic.
According to the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), rice tends to accumulate more arsenic than other food crops. In fact, rice is thought to be the largest food source of inorganic arsenic.
The level of arsenic in the diet is usually relatively low, and does not often cause symptoms of poisoning. However, ingesting inorganic arsenic over a long period may make a person more likely to develop chronic diseases, which include:
blockage or narrowing of blood vessels
various types of cancer
As arsenic is toxic to nerve cells, it may affect brain function. In children and teenagers, exposure to arsenic may impair concentration, learning and memory, and reduce intelligence and social skills.
Arsenic may cause health problems in people who eat significant amounts of rice and rice-based products daily.
Going gluten-free does not mean that a person's diet has to be dominated by rice. People should include a range of different foods in their diet to ensure they take in a variety of nutrients. This also prevents people getting too much of one food -- in this case, too much arsenic.
Rice is mostly composed of carbohydrates, with a small amount of protein and almost no fat.
Brown or whole grain rice is a good source of fiber and contains many vitamins and minerals in the bran and germ. It may also be a good source of the antioxidants phytic acid, ferulic acid, and lignans.
Eating brown rice and other whole grains may have a beneficial effect on heart health. Brown rice is considered a low-glycemic food and may help control blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetes.
Brown rice may help regulate bowel function and may also be helpful in preventing cancers, such as colon cancer, leukemia, and breast cancer.
White rice is a product of brown rice. It is made by removing the bran and the germ of the brown rice through the process of milling. This is done to increase its shelf life and tastiness.
However, milling strips the rice of valuable nutrients, such as dietary fiber, essential fatty acids, B vitamins, iron, and other nutrients.
White rice may cause a spike in blood sugar levels, which can be unhealthy for people with diabetes.
Apart from providing basic nutrients and energy, white rice has no real benefit to health.
Wild rice is not actually rice. Despite being called rice, wild rice describes the grain that is harvested from four species of grass.
Wild rice is higher in protein, vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber than white rice, and is low in fat. Wild rice is a good source of B vitamins.
Incorporating wild rice into the diet may provide the following health benefits:
help protect heart health
aid digestive processes
boost the immune system with vitamin C
lower the chances of certain conditions, such as cardiovascular disorders, diabetes, and some cancers
Rice is not the only gluten-free source of grain. There are many gluten-free grains, starches, and other foods that can be eaten as part of a healthy balanced diet.
Quinoa (pronounced keen-wah) is a popular alternative to rice that is also gluten-free.
buckwheat groats
Some of the lesser-known grain varieties may need to be purchased from a health food store.
Gluten-containing grains to avoid
The following grains and their derivatives contain gluten and should be avoided by people with gluten-related disorders:
brewer's yeast
einkorn wheat
KAMUT khorasan wheat
wheatberries
Wheat starch contains gluten. However, some wheat starch is processed to remove gluten.
According to the FDA, a food containing wheat starch may only be labeled as "gluten-free" if the product is processed to have below 20 parts per million of gluten.
All forms of natural rice are gluten-free and some forms of rice-based products are also gluten-free. People should always make sure to check the labels on any products to ensure the food is gluten-free and has not come into contact with foods that contain gluten.
Eating a variety of grains and high-fiber carbohydrates as part of a gluten-free diet, rather than relying just on rice, can help prevent health concerns associated with arsenic and ensure a diet filled with a balance of nutrients.
Everything you need to know about gluten Gluten is a protein in wheat and many cereal products. It causes problems for people with celiac disease, and some people avoid it because they may have a gluten intolerance. This article also gives tips for avoiding gluten in your diet. Learn also about the relationship between gluten sensitivity and weight loss. Read now
All about celiac disease A person with celiac disease can become very sick if they consume gluten. The only treatment is a gluten-free diet, with no cereal products. Read now
What is gluten, and why is it bad for some people? Gluten is a family of proteins found in several types of grain. Most medical sources state that it is safe, except for people with celiac disease, but some experts believe that it can cause widespread damage. Now, more than 30 percent of Americans are actively trying to avoid gluten. Learn how it may harm health here. Read now
Gluten-free diet may have 'unintended consequences' for health Researchers suggest individuals who follow a gluten-free diet may be at greater risk of exposure to arsenic and mercury, which may pose harm for health. Read now
What does 'gluten free' really mean? For a food to have a 'gluten-free' label, it will need to have a gluten content of less than 20 parts per million, according to the FDA. Read now
Food Intolerance Obesity / Weight Loss / Fitness
Article last reviewed by Thu 2 March 2017.
Visit our Nutrition / Diet category page for the latest news on this subject, or sign up to our newsletter to receive the latest updates on Nutrition / Diet.
Arsenic in rice and rice products. (2016, June 29). Retrieved from https://www.fda.gov/food/foodborneillnesscontaminants/metals/ucm319870.htm
Guidance for industry: Gluten-free labeling of foods; small entity compliance guide. (2016, July 1). Retrieved from https://www.fda.gov/RegulatoryInformation/Guidances/ucm402549.htm
Rosanoff, A., Weaver, C. M., & Rude, R. K. (2012, February 15). Suboptimal magnesium status in the United States: Are the health consequences underestimated [Abstract]? Nutrition Reviews, 70(3), 153-64. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22364157
Saturni, L., Ferretti, G., & Bacchetti, T. (2010, January). The gluten-free diet: Safety and nutritional quality. Nutrients, 2(1), 16–34. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3257612/
Sources of gluten. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://celiac.org/live-gluten-free/glutenfreediet/sources-of-gluten/
What can I eat? (n.d.). Retrieved from https://celiac.org/live-gluten-free/glutenfreediet/food-options/
Nichols, Hannah. "Is rice gluten-free? Grains explained." Medical News Today. MediLexicon, Intl., 2 Mar. 2017. Web.
Nichols, H. (2017, March 2). "Is rice gluten-free? Grains explained." Medical News Today. Retrieved from
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Illinois Grand Jury Subpeona
Posted on April 14, 2017 by Michael J. Petro
Grand juries review evidence in criminal investigations and decide if probable cause exists to hand down indictments and proceed to trial. If you receive a grand jury subpoena, it means that a prosecutor wants you to appear as a witness before a grand jury.
If you have received a subpoena you need to contact an attorney for help immediately. Failing to appear after receiving a grand jury subpoena can lead to serious penalties, including arrest and fines.
How Do Grand Juries Work?
The workings of most governmental bodies, including the courts, are open for observation by the press and the public. Grand juries, however, typically conduct their proceedings in secret.
No one except individuals authorized by the court — often including only witnesses, the court stenographer and the prosecutor — are allowed to be in the jury room during grand jury proceedings.
Illinois law requires that anything that occurs in a grand jury room is privileged — meaning it is not disclosed except as authorized by law or as the prosecutor must disclose in the performance of official duties.
Members of a grand jury are prohibited from discussing the proceedings with anyone outside the court, including friends and family members. They also are required to avoid broadcast, print and online media that may include information about matters before the grand jury.
The law requires that grand jury members base their decisions solely on evidence presented to them in the grand jury room, including testimony from witnesses.
Powers and Duties of Grand Juries
Illinois grand juries have responsibility for inquiries into alleged corruption or crime. Most cases heard by grand juries are initiated by prosecutors, including the attorney general or state’s attorneys.
Grand juries also have broad powers to look into criminal matters within their districts and can conduct their own investigations without intervention from a prosecutor. As part of that right to investigate, grand juries — along with prosecutors — can witnesses.
In most cases, the prosecutor makes witnesses available to testify before a grand jury. However, the grand jury also can issue subpoenas and can question witnesses, and it can examine documents relevant to cases before the court.
Witnesses who are summoned by subpoena, either by a grand jury or a prosecutor, are allowed to have their lawyer in the grand jury room to inform them of their rights.
Can Witnesses Be Forced to Testify?
In some cases, prosecutors or grand juries call witnesses who are already charged with crimes. Prosecutors also may call a witness against whom they are seeking a Bill of Indictment from the grand jury.
If you are called as a witness to testify in a case that could result in a grand jury indictment against you, you have the right not to answer any questions that could incriminate you.
It’s also important to understand that anything you say in a grand jury proceeding can be used against you in court. You can choose to have an attorney with you at grand jury proceedings, and your attorney can fully explain your rights before you agree to testify.
In Illinois, a grand jury can determine that you’re not justified in refusing to testify. A judge then would decide if your answers to questions the grand jury wants to ask could incriminate you. If the court decides that you are obligated to answer the grand jury’s questions and you then refuse, you could be held in contempt of court.
Prosecutors also can request that the court grant immunity to a witness for any criminal wrongdoing in exchange for the state or federal grand jury testimony of the witness.
Responding to a Grand Jury Subpoena
Two types of grand jury subpoenas exist. A subpoena ad testificandum serves as an order for an individual to testify in person to the grand jury. A subpoena duces tecum seeks evidence like photographs or documents.
If you receive either type of subpoena, it’s extremely important to work with a criminal defense attorney who is experienced in Illinois grand jury matters.
Michael Petro will assist you in determining the appropriate response to the subpoena. If compliance is in your best interests, he will accompany you to appear before the grand jury on the requested date.
Depending on the specifics of the case, compliance may not always be in your best interests. Your attorney also can assist you with a refusal to comply and its possible consequences, including being held in contempt of court.
Attorney Michael J. Petro has represented many clients under investigation by a variety of state and federal agencies. Contact him today if you have received a grand jury subpoena.
Photo Credit: vnoel Flickr cc
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Giants' Andre Brown wins appeal for violation of NFL performance-enhancing substance policy
By Mike Garafolo/The Star-Ledger
Andrew Mills/The Star-LedgerAndre Brown has won an appeal against the NFL for a violation of the league's performance-enhancing substance policy.
Giants running back Andre Brown has won his appeal against the NFL for violating the league's performance-enhancing substance policy, NFL spokesman Greg Aiello confirmed today.
The four-game suspension the league handed down to Brown on March 30 has been lifted, Aiello said, though other details of the appeal and false violation will remain confidential. Brown had been suspended for the first four games of the 2012 season without pay as a result of the positive test.
Brown, a 2009 fourth-round draft choice of the Giants who spent last season on the team's practice squad, had tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs but the league never released details of the test.
Brown claimed the positive test was for Adderall, a commonly prescribed medication for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, for which Brown had a prescription.
The lifting of Brown's suspension changes the dynamic of the running back competition in Giants camp this summer. Behind incumbent starter Ahmad Bradshaw, Brown, D.J. Ware, Da'Rel Scott and first-round draft choice David Wilson will be competing for snaps.
At the Giants' organized team activities earlier this week, running backs coach Jerald Ingram praised Brown's development through last season and into this offseason.
"Athletically, he might be as good as anybody out there," Ingram said of Brown, who during the 2010 season alone played for four teams. "But his ability to learn in a lot of people’s offenses, because he’s had the world tour, that has been his weakness. Now, he came back last year and showed that he actually could learn some of the things that we had done, and as he progresses and gets that opportunity, he has the size to pick up 250-pound linebackers. He’s got physical toughness, he has got great hands, he has that ability but can he put it all together is what we’re interested in seeing finally, has he matured to that level of being an every down back? We took him, the Giants took him, thinking that he had that ability to be a solid every down type of back, like we had in a Derrick Ward."
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When Is the 2016 Democratic National Convention? Dates and Full Schedule for Upcoming DNC
By Anna Swartz
With the Republican National Convention in full swing in Cleveland, the other side of the aisle is gearing up for the Democratic National Convention, which will be held in Philadelphia at the Wells Fargo Center from Monday, July 25, to Thursday, July 28.
The DNC will serve as as the party's chance to officially nominate former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as the Democrats' candidate for president and will also be an opportunity to rally the party for a general election fight, to unite the Democrats after a drawn-out primary battle.
Source: Andrew Harnik/AP
An announcement from the DNC on Friday revealed some of the big-name speakers who will appear at the convention. Monday night will feature first lady Michelle Obama, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and Astrid Silva, an undocumented immigrant and DREAMer. On Tuesday night former President Bill Clinton will take the stage, as will the "Mothers of the Movement," an organization of black women whose children were killed by gun violence that includes the mothers of Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown.
Wednesday night's lineup includes President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden, and on Thursday night, Hillary Clinton will take the stage herself, along with daughter Chelsea Clinton.
The DNC website will offer a livestream of convention coverage, and there is an official DNC app available for Android and iOS that will feature maps, schedules and news.
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CSG talks Promote the Vote, impending release of demographic report
Tuesday, March 6, 2018 - 10:41pm
Gina Cervetti, associate professor in the School of Education, presents in the Central Student Government chambers in the Michigan Union Thursday. Buy this photo
Ibrahim Ijaz/Daily
Danielle Pasekoff
The University of Michigan’s Central Student Government met Tuesday evening to address topics including revisions to the Campus Affordability Guide, additional installations of water refill stations on campus, as well as the upcoming election for CSG representatives for the 2018-2019 academic year. The assembly also discussed the continued inclusion of free menstrual products in various locations across campus.
The meeting opened with various guest speakers, including Erik Wessel, director of the Office of Student Conflict Resolution, and Gina Cervetti, an associate professor in the School of Education. Wessel and Cervetti spoke to the assembly about the process of amending the Statement of Student Rights and Responsibilities, which will occur next school year. Every three years, the Statement is open to revisions and amendments by the University community, including all students. Cervetti stressed to the assembly the importance of raising awareness of this student right, which may be unknown to many.
“I know that this has been a challenging time on campus for many members of our community and that some of these challenges have related to issues of campus climate,” Cervetti said. “This is an opportunity to have an active role in shaping that.”
Additionally, Law School student Tom Allen presented to the assembly on a ballot proposal for the November 2018 election. Entitled “Promote the Vote,” the initiative will amend the Michigan Constitution in order to make it easier for Michigan residents to vote. The proposed initiative will guard the right to vote a secret ballot, as well as affording all registered voters an absentee ballot for any reason, among other changes.
“Voter participation for people our age (is) low,” Allen said. “This will make it easier for all of us to vote.”
According to Allen, the support from leading university student governments in the state will increase the likelihood of the proposal being approved. Due to CSG’s past endorsement of student voting initiatives such as the Big Ten Voting Challenge and Turn Up Turnout, Promote the Vote aims to garner backing from the University and to show students are seeking greater access to voting.
Following the guest speakers, CSG President Anushka Sarkar, an LSA senior, announced the upcoming release of the CSG demographic report, which will provide various data about the majority of the current assembly. In addition, Sarkar discussed the possibility of presenting a resolution to invest in revamping the University Health Services as well as other health resources on campus, due to an alleged lack of funding over the past few years. Efforts are continually being made to fight food insecurity on campus, according to Sarkar.
In addition to referencing the beginning of the revision process of the Campus Affordability Guide, which was criticized as out of touch and insensitive to the issues faced by low-income students, CSG Vice President Nadine Jawad, a Public Policy senior, proposed a resolution to urge University administration to include Middle Eastern/North African students into demographic research. Especially with the increased immigration of ME/NA individuals to areas such as Dearborn, Jawad said, there is a heightened need for representation of these groups beyond a racial or ethnic category marked “Other.”
“Not having this demographic report information … means that students are disadvantaged in (the allocation of) resources,” Jawad said.
CSG concluded their meeting by passing resolutions to promote and fund new Battle of the Orgs program and to support and fund an event empowering women and promoting the role of women in government.
CSG discusses student voting incentives, new campus affordability guide and more
CSG supports Promote the Vote, hydration stations, ME/NA demographic inclusion
Sarkar and Jawad reflect on a year at the helm of CSG
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Thousands Mourn UK Soldier Slain in London
Associated Press | By Cassandra Vinograd
LONDON - British Prime Minister David Cameron joined thousands of mourners Friday at the funeral of a British soldier killed in broad daylight by alleged Islamic extremists.
Lee Rigby, 25, was hacked to death May 22 on a London street near his army barracks. The killing shocked Britain and much of the world.
On Friday, Rigby's family and mourners were greeted with applause by members of the public lining the streets outside Bury Parish Church in northwest England, where soldiers from Rigby's Royal Regiment of Fusiliers had maintained an honor guard overnight.
The soldier's widow, Rebecca, walked into the church with the couple's 2-year-old son Jack, who wore a T-shirt bearing the words "My Daddy My Hero." Rigby's parents and sisters were in tears.
London Mayor Boris Johnson was among the public officials in attendance.
The service was private, in keeping with the family's wishes, but broadcast on loudspeakers to well-wishers packing the street outside the church.
Rigby's commanding officer, Lt. Col. Jim Taylor, described the soldier as "extremely popular" and "truly charismatic," telling mourners the man known to friends as "Riggers" loved to perform.
"To be with Lee was to be where it was most fun - the center of good times and much mischief," Taylor said in a eulogy. "People fell quickly under his spell. Whether it was in work or off duty, at a ceremonial engagement or on operations, Lee just knew how to lighten the mood. He could brighten a room within moments and, by all accounts, clear a dance floor in seconds, if a Whitney Houston track was playing."
Rebecca Rigby had earlier expressed gratitude for the "overwhelming" outpouring of support following the attack.
"There are so many kind and generous people out there," she said in a pool interview ahead of the funeral. "It's just horrible that it takes something such as this to make you see how many good people there are."
Rigby's death caused a spike in racial tensions in Britain due to the apparent involvement of religious extremists. Police reported an increase in attacks against Muslim mosques and community centers in the subsequent weeks.
The two men charged in relation to Rigby's killing - Michael Adebolajo, 28, and Michael Adebowale, 22 - are due to stand trial starting Nov. 18.
Sending the Right Signals on the Way to an Afghan Peace Deal
After four decades of war, the hope for a lasting peace is on the minds of Afghans across the Central Asian country.
These Navy EOD Techs Fought Off 20 ISIS Fighters in a Cave During Secret Night Raid
Two California-based sailors have been recognized for extraordinary heroism during a nighttime raid on a remote ISIS hideout.
Navy SEAL Sentenced for Posing with Dead Iraq War Casualty
A judge credited Edward Gallagher with enough time already spent in custody to ensure he won't be locked up.
Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher Found Not Guilty of Murder
The jury in the military trial of Navy SEAL Chief Eddie Gallagher has found him not guilty of premeditated murder.
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Pentagon Study Links Prescription Stimulants to Military PTSD
Los Angeles Times | By Alan Zarembo
Stimulant medications used to treat attention deficit problems and keep service members alert during long stretches of combat might increase vulnerability to post-traumatic stress disorder, a new study suggests.
Defense Department researchers analyzing data from nearly 26,000 service members found that those with prescriptions for the stimulants were five times more likely to have PTSD.
Drugs such as Adderall and Ritalin raise concentrations of the brain chemical norepinephrine, which has been shown to result in more vivid and persistent memories of emotionally charged situations.
Traumatic memories are a hallmark of PTSD.
"When you take a stimulant, you enhance learning," said Dr. Richard Friedman, a psychiatrist at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York, who was not part of the study. "PTSD is form of learning. Traumatic experiences hijack circuits in the brain."
In a 2012 column for the New York Times, Friedman wrote that the drugs were compounding the psychological damage of the wars. Studies show that 12% of service members in infantry units during the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq developed PTSD.
For the new study, published this month in the Journal of Traumatic Stress, researchers started with 25,971 active-duty troops who screened negative for PTSD and followed them from 2001 to 2008.
The subjects are part of the Pentagon's Millennium Cohort Study, which will track the mental health of service members for the next several decades.
Of the 131 service members who were prescribed stimulants over the course of the study, a total of 20 -- or 15% -- also had PTSD. Controlling for a variety of socioeconomic, demographic and health factors, the researchers found that was five times the rate for everybody else. Overall, there were 1,215 cases of PTSD.
Those who had been prescribed multiple stimulants and the biggest supplies of the drugs were the most likely to have PTSD.
The results did not prove that the drugs caused the disorder. In the majority of cases, the data did not tell researchers whether the prescriptions preceded the onset of PTSD.
Other factors might help explain the results, experts not involved in the study said. For example, the researchers did not control for traumatic brain injuries, which are sometimes treated with stimulants to improve cognitive function.
Dr. Charles Hoge, a psychiatrist at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research who was not involved in the study, says that more research is needed on the issue but that he does not believe the drugs played much of a role in overall rates of PTSD.
"The vast majority of people with PTSD did not receive stimulants," he said.
Rachel Yehuda, a PTSD researcher at New York's Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai who was not part of the new study, said the results raise questions about whether service members with a history of attention disorders should be assigned to the battlefield.
While they are "likely to thrive in the organizing context of structured military training, we need to recognize that they are more vulnerable under the chaotic conditions of combat," she said.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder - PTSD Personal Care and Health Department of Defense - DoD
© Copyright 2019 Los Angeles Times. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Acting SecDef Spencer's First Order: Send 2,100 More Troops to Border
One thousand Texas National Guardsmen will joint 1,100 active-duty troops on the border in the next several weeks.
Bill Would Require DoD to Share Water Contamination Data with Local Communities
House version of the NDAA requires the Pentagon to share data on possible contamination from PFAS.
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After Charleston, Here’s What Obama Can Do to Curb Gun Violence
Congress won’t act. But there’s more the administration can do.
Pema Levy
ReporterBio | Follow
Danny Johnston/AP
One of the first things Republicans did after the mass shooting at a black church in Charleston, S.C., last month was vote to renew a policy preventing the Centers for Disease Control from conducting research on gun violence. The current Republican-controlled Congress, in other words, is not about to curb access to guns.
But that doesn’t mean nothing can be done. At the national level, gun control advocates say, there are important steps the Obama administration can take to keep guns out of the wrong hands.
After the massacre at an elementary school in Newtown, Conn., in December 2012, President Obama signed 23 executive actions to reduce gun deaths. Federal government agencies have made meaningful rule changes to address gun violence, and some states have passed tougher background-check laws or blocked bills that would have loosened restrictions on guns. Still, more than 11,000 people are murdered with guns each year, and more than 20,000 people commit suicide with them. Mother Jones estimates the total cost of gun violence at $229 billion per year.
In the days after Charleston, Obama didn’t hesitate to raise the issue of guns. “At some point, we as a country will have to reckon with the fact that this type of mass violence does not happen in other advanced countries,” he said the following day. “And it is in our power to do something about it.”
“We do applaud him for coming to this issue and taking it up, especially now again in the wake of the Charleston tragedy,” says Ari Freilich, a staff attorney at the Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, a California-based group that helps states and the federal government craft gun laws that promote public safety. “And we think behind the scenes his administration and his cabinet agencies have taken—or are in the slow, deliberative rule-making process of taking—substantive action.”
But the Obama administration could do more, say advocates. Here are five reforms that could make a difference.
Help prosecutors go after black-market gun sellers
It’s a federal crime to “engage in the business” of selling firearms without a license. But the definition of engaging in the business is too vague for authorities to shut down most unlicensed dealers, who are technically making private sales that don’t require background checks. As a result, they flood the black market with tens of thousands of guns that could easily land in criminal hands. In 18 states, private sellers must run background checks on handgun sales, but in the other 32 states there are no restrictions on what can be sold privately without a background check.
The Obama administration could address this loophole by clarifying what it means to “engage in the business” and giving prosecutors the ability to crack down on unlicensed dealers who give criminals access to guns.
“If there was better guidance and there was a presumption that a person who sold a certain number of guns per month” was actually engaging in the business, says Elizabeth Avore, legal director at Everytown for Gun Safety, which advocates for tougher gun laws, then prosecutors could bring more cases against “these high-volume sellers who are feeding the criminal market.”
Require the FBI to inform local law enforcement when someone fails a background check
The White House could instruct the FBI to inform state and local law enforcement when someone fails a background check. Alerting local law enforcement when this happens could give local authorities a heads-up about people who aren’t allowed to buy guns but are trying to do it anyway. It’s illegal to “lie and try to buy” a gun, so providing false information on background check forms is a crime, even if people are rarely prosecuted for it.
Avore uses the example of a man who tries to buy a gun shortly after his ex-wife takes out a restraining order against him. “He’s actually committed a crime trying to buy that gun,” says Avore. “That’s something that state and local law enforcement can use both to prosecute him and also just to be aware that there’s this prohibited person/domestic abuser who’s trying to get his hands on a gun.”
The same goes for mental health officials. If people fail background checks due to their mental health records, that could be a sign that they want to commit suicide or are dangerous to other people. The FBI could alert health officials who can check in on these individuals.
Penalize states that fail to report to NICS in a timely manner
As advocates for gun control often say, the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) is only as good as the data it contains. States are required to notify the FBI when residents fall into a category that would bar them from buying guns, but when they fail to do so in a timely fashion, dangerous people can buy guns. Some states are “irresponsibly slow” in reporting these people to the federal database, says Freilich. “The federal government has more tools that we do not believe they are fully embracing yet to encourage compliance,” he says. “They’ve used carrots but not a lot of sticks.” One potential stick would be for DOJ to withhold grant funding to states that report dangerous people at an inexcusably slow rate.
Differentiate between private gun sales and licensed dealer sales
When a seller calls in to NICS to run a background check, the FBI does not ask whether the sale is private or through a licensed dealer. The result is an inability to determine whether private sellers are following the rules in the 18 states whose laws require background checks for some private sales, and how successful those laws are at stopping sales to people who are not allowed to buy guns. Better data would help advocates push for private-sale background checks in more states. “That’s one simple thing they could do that would make a really big difference in helping make the case for background checks in this country,” says Avore.
Prohibit dealers who lose their licenses from selling off stock through private sales
In 2006, DOJ issued a legal opinion allowing gun dealers who have their licenses stripped for violating gun sale regulations to sell off their remaining stock privately without conducting background checks. Advocates want DOJ to revise that rule so that leftover inventory has to be sold to another licensed dealer, who would then resell it with background checks. “Essentially we’re allowing the most irresponsible dealers, who have lost their ability to sell precisely because they’ve been irresponsible and acted illegally, to sell firearms without background checks,” explains Freilich of the Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence.
In one 2006 case out of Baltimore, for example, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms shut down a gun dealer with more than 900 infractions of federal regulations but allowed the dealer to sell off his remaining stock—more than 700 guns—without background checks.
“These are small, sometimes unsexy rule changes that matter,” says Freilich. “Because that one Baltimore dealer disposed of hundreds of dangerous firearms in his community without background checks. If one of those gets in the wrong hands, lives are lost.”
Obama to US Mayors on Guns: “We Need a Change in Attitude. We Have to Fix This.”
Jaeah Lee and Edwin Rios
Rick Perry: Don’t Blame Guns for Charleston Attack. But Maybe Blame Drugs.
AJ Vicens
The True Cost of Gun Violence in America
By Mark Follman, Julia Lurie, Jaeah Lee, and James West
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Dr Neo Tee Khin
Specialist Dental Group
3 Mount Elizabeth #08-03/04/10
Dentistry - Prosthodontics
BDS (Singapore)
Cert Prosthodontics (USA)
MS (Prosthodontics)
FRCD (Canada)
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Am Board Prosthodont.
FAM (Singapore)
Interests: Dental Implants, Teeth-in-an-Hour Implant Procedure, Dental Crowns & Bridges, Veneers, Teeth Whitening, Wisdom Teeth Extraction, TMJ Disorders, Root Canal Treatment, Dental Assessment
Dr. Neo Tee Khin is a Prosthodontist with Specialist Dental Group. He is also an Adjunct Senior Lecturer at the National University of Singapore and a Consultant at the National University Hospital.
Dr. Neo completed his dental training at the National University of Singapore and obtained his specialty training in Prosthodontics from Northwestern University, Chicago. He is a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons, the Academy of Medicine, Singapore, and the American College of Prosthodontists.
He has over 10 years experience teaching in dental schools and sits on the Committee for Prosthodontics of the Division of Graduate Dental Studies of the National University of Singapore. Dr. Neo has given presentations and courses on implant dentistry and restorative dentistry at professional conferences in the Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea and Mongolia.
An active member of the dental community in Singapore, Dr Neo serves on the Dental Specialist Assessment Committee (Prosthodontics) and is an abstract reviewer with the International Journal of Prosthodontics. He is an active member of the Prosthodontics Society (Singapore) and was the former Past President of the Society. Dr Neo is also a member of the Singapore Dental Association, the American College of Prosthodontics, the Academy of Osseointegration and the Aesthetic Dentistry Society Singapore.
Apart from his professional activities, Dr. Neo is very involved in community work. He is a Rotarian and was formerly a Director of the Rotary Club of Singapore. He has also been on the Organizing Committee of the Entrepreneur of the Year, a Rotary-ASME Award for the past 7 years.
Dr. Neo has a special interest in dental implants, Teeth-in-an-Hour implant procedure, crowns and cosmetic
The First Singaporean Diplomate of the American Board of Prosthodontics
Nobel Biocare World Tour: Senior Clinician Research Award (2008).
A member of the clinical team that performed the first Live Surgery for the NobelGuide Teeth-in-an-Hour Procedure in Indonesia (2010)
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Always Brando
Review by Matt Anderson
Always Brando is rarely watchable.
TIFF 2011
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Urbanized
Always Brando is an odd concoction. It starts out as a documentary about director Ridha Behi’s plans to make a movie with Marlon Brando before morphing into a full-blown fictional drama that is a modified version of that proposed film, ultimately made after Brando’s death.
Things begin with Behi recalling when he first saw Brando on the big screen, some 40 years ago. He was captivated and became a lifelong fan. Behi wrote Brando and eventually struck up a relationship with the legendary actor and political activist. But, without going into much detail on the development of this relationship, it sounds as if getting Brando’s attention was fairly easy.
At the time, Brando was flagging in career and health. And, for whatever reason, Brando was intrigued by Behi’s proposed project. Behi posits that perhaps Brando saw one of Behi’s earlier movies. Fine. If this one is any barometer, though, scoffing would be a more suitable reaction.
Perhaps the project fit in with Brando’s political views. Known for his support of Native Americans, Palestine, and other causes, the prospect of raising a ruckus by making a movie with a Tunisian – an Arab – in a post-9/11 world probably gave Brando some sense of satisfaction. That’s the movie’s preferred angle, anyway.
The proposed movie would star Anis Raache, who looks a lot like young Brando. And Brando would be his co-star. Raache, who in reality is an actor, was to play a character who had never acted. For what it’s worth, Raache is good at playing a guy who can’t act. The role seems to be a perfect fit.
The Conceit
Behi, who is described as a “master filmmaker” and an “international filmmaker,” should not be confused with other internationally-renowned names along the lines of Bertolucci, Polanski, Bekmambetov, or Spielberg. Behi’s biography is an interesting read, one that boasts of numerous film festival entries, including Venice and Cannes, as well as working with Julie Christie and Ben Gazzara. But there’s something about the biography that rings hollow. Much like the material presented in Always Brando, the bio gives off a vibe that perhaps Behi is something less in reality, that very little is what it seems.
What becomes irksome about this movie is its conflicted attitude toward America. Behi talks about filmmakers taking advantage of Tunisia’s people, dignity, sand, and sun. No doubt Brando would be the ideal American crusader to right historical wrongs.
According to Behi, the people of Tunisia were humiliated by Raiders of the Lost Ark, specifically the scene in which Indiana Jones shoots the swordsman in Cairo (the movie was filmed in Tunisia, not Egypt). The offensive clip is included in the documentary portion to either entertain or offend again.
The scene was an affront to Muslims, according to Behi. From the American perspective, it was simply a funny bit, a roof-raising moment in which the hero escapes a big bad guy. Don’t forget, that was also way back in 1981. Most Americans wouldn’t have had a clue the swordsman was Muslim. He was big, intimidating, and brandished a huge sword. In the American view, it’s the ultimate, impromptu take on the ol’ adage about bringing a knife to a gun fight.
That careless tone, Behi asserts, changed after 9/11. Movies like Black Hawk Down, Green Zone, and Syriana started painting Muslims in a more serious light. Okay. That argument works, to a certain degree; however, there are numerous ways in which Raiders has nothing in common with those other - much more serious - titles. And it also calls into question the value of Behi’s proposed project if cinematic legitimacy was already being bestowed on the region.
There is some unintended humor in Behi recreating his conversations with Brando. In mock documentary style (which is not to say mockumentary style), Behi is shown sitting at the foot of Brando’s bed, as seen from Brando’s point of view, complete with an oxygen tube dangling in front of the camera.
After some flirtations with true documentary aspirations, the movie abruptly shifts to Tunisia and without warning the bulk of the movie is pure dramatization.
But it’s a dramatization of what exactly? The movie they wanted to make? Well, it turns out to be a “reconceived” version of the movie Brando was to make. It’s a fantasy time warp hybrid, a behind-the-scenes drama of making a movie (which is entirely fictional since – hello – the real Brando movie was never made) merged with the (fictional) storyline the proposed movie was to have told. As for that fictional movie, in this version, it’s about a young man who a Hollywood producer promises to introduce to Marlon Brando and turn him into a big star, just like Brando.
Of course, young Raache has to sleep with the male producer if he really expects that dream to come true. Stories of confronting moral corruption can be extremely inspirational. But not here. What is so mind-blowing about this movie is the chutzpah it has to condemn the American movie business while blatantly pandering to it.
If shooting a big, bad, threatening swordsman is offensive, then what will Behi’s fellow Tunisians think about this movie’s themes of homosexuality and prostitution, with some gratuitous bare breasts thrown in for good measure? If the point is that Hollywood is a corrupting influence, then so be it. But it’s extremely hard to buy that what is presented as the story that was going to be filmed with Brando really is, at least essentially, the story Brando agreed to make.
In other words, it’s a thematic mess of fiction and reality. No matter how valid – or invalid – Behi’s criticisms of Hollywood may be, it’s lost in absolutely third-rate filmmaking and even worse storytelling.
This movie is morally and spiritually bankrupt. Behi is cashing in on Brando’s name to make a good old-fashioned American dollar. What makes this exercise all the more specious is a documentary scene in which Behi is shown handling audio tapes - really old school audio tapes - purported to contain his conversations with Brando in 2004. Really? Then why not focus on them more and give the movie some legitimate value?
Ed Wood of Arabia
It’s Behi’s word against Brando’s cold dead body. There are no third-party validations to Behi’s claims, no producers or other participants in the original production other than Raache, who does look like a young Brando, although he probably did more so seven years ago, when the movie was originally going to be filmed.
Regardless of whether his claims are legitimate or not, all of that gibberish takes a back seat to this movie’s real source of humiliation: The acting in this movie is atrocious. Laughable. Unworthy of the big screen. Poor subtitles riddled with typos further diminish the movie’s already limited credibility.
The sad, unfortunate end game of all this is the perception that Behi is delusional, a man who sees himself as David Lean when in reality he has more kinship with Ed Wood, the notoriously awful director behind bad masterpieces like Plan 9 from Outer Space.
There’s a sense that the movie really does have a worthwhile story to tell, that there’s some information to impart about Brando and his mysterious ways. But calling this movie “Always Brando” is in itself deceptive.
Cinema can create dreams and catastrophe, the director intones during the documentary. Unfortunately for Behi, his filmmaking dream is an audience’s catastrophe.
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The Starting Point for Commentary and Coverage of California Politics
Yes, Cutting Pensions Can't Save State, But It Could Save Higher Ed
By Joe Mathews
Published Apr 11, 2011 at 9:32 AM
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Los Angeles Times columnist George Skelton correctly argues this morning that the state budget can't be saved by cutting pensions. After all, pension payments from the general fund are expected to be $3.7 billion, and the state is facing a two-year budget shortfall estimated at $25 billion.
However, if California had less generous pension payments, it could save money. And every little bit matters. Imagine if just $1 billion could be saved via pensions. That would be enough to restore the cuts that Gov. Brown and the legislature made to the University of California and the California State University.
Of course, cutting pensions isn't as easy as that. Pension obligations for current retirees are untouchable. And it's a difficult matter to cut pension payouts for current employees. But just as pensions shouldn't be an excuse for not making tough decisions on the budget (which is Skelton's argument) the fact that we can't solve the whole budget crisis shouldn't be a reason not to make our pensions more sustainable -- and less costly -- for current employees.
The money we don't spend on retirees could be put to good use on, to borrow a phrase, winning the future.
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Home > Young women ask difficult questions to challenge church at recent Joan Chittister institute
Young women ask difficult questions to challenge church at recent Joan Chittister institute
Erie, Pennsylvania — Eight female-identifying Catholics in their 20s and 30s, all of them students or recent graduates of programs in theology or divinity, gathered June 17-30 at Mount St. Benedict Monastery in Erie, Pennsylvania, for the inaugural Joan Chittister Institute for Contemporary Spirituality: A Feminist Benedictine Option.
The institute was a two-week intensive course on the work of author and lecturer Benedictine Sr. Joan Chittister, especially her writings on monasticism and women in the Catholic Church. This program was offered by Benetvision, a ministry of Sister Joan and the Benedictine Sisters of Erie that offers spirituality resources as part of an ongoing effort to support young female Catholic theologians, who are often shut out of the church and struggle to find ways to use their gifts and education.
For the past three summers, Benetvision has hosted summer interns, including the two of us, in an effort to bring together the rich legacy of Sister Joan and the Erie Benedictine community and the questions and ideas of young female Catholic theologians. We are now on staff with Benetvision, and we helped plan the institute, hoping that this would be a way to connect more young feminist seekers and scholars with each other and with the wisdom of Sister Joan and her community.
We were thrilled by the results: Eight young feminist theologians — master's students, campus ministers, a faith formation director, high school teachers, and a Benedictine Sister of Erie in initial formation — came from across the country and Australia to take part in the institute along with Benedictine Sr. Val Luckey, a 30-year-old sister in formation with the Erie Benedictines. They shared their wisdom and their dreams with us, with the other members of the institute staff, with Sister Joan, and with the prioress and subprioress of the Erie Benedictine community, Srs. Anne Wambach and Susan Doubet, who attended and participated in sessions every day.
The participants came with stories to tell and hopes to share, and they also came prepared to learn. The institute was designed to allow participants to academically and experientially explore Benedictine life through the lens of Sister Joan and her community.
Read the full story at Global Sisters Report
Source URL (modified on 07/18/2018 - 9:46am): https://www.ncronline.org/preview/young-women-ask-difficult-questions-challenge-church-recent-joan-chittister-institute
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Browns Announce “2017 Draft Tailgate” to Be Held at Muni Lot
Matt Loede
The Browns this morning announced they will be hosting a “2017 Draft Tailgate” in the Cleveland Municipal Lot during the first round of this year’s NFL Draft on Thursday, April 27.
“This year’s draft is an especially exciting time for our team, our fans and our city, and we greatly appreciate the City of Cleveland for its cooperation and its significant contributions to helping make this Muni Lot tailgate successful,” said senior vice president of marketing and media Dave Freeman. “It will be special for our team and fans to enjoy the event in a place that is unique to Cleveland and the Browns and where we are all eager to return for the 2017 season.”
Tickets will be accessible to all fans beginning Thursday, April 6 at 10 a.m. as quantities remain available. Browns season ticket members will receive access to a special 48-hour pre-registration window from 10 a.m. on Tuesday, April 4 prior to open registration. Fans must register for the event and print a ticket or use a mobile ticket through the Cleveland Browns App in order to enter the 2017 Draft Tailgate.
Approximately 650 free parking spots will be available on a first come, first served basis in the Muni Lot, which will officially open at 4 p.m. Additional parking is also available in multiple paid city lots within walking distance of the event.
From 5:30-11 p.m., thousands of Browns fans will tailgate in the Muni Lot and watch the first round of this year’s NFL Draft. In addition to broadcasting the NFL Network’s draft telecast on large LED screens, the 2017 Draft Tailgate will feature appearances from Browns players and alumni; multiple Cleveland food trucks; various food and beverage portables at reduced prices; and more.
Attendees will be able to join the live Browns Countdown Draft Special that will air on News 5 from 7-8 p.m. when News 5’s Andy Baskin and Nathan Zegura discuss the last-minute excitement and news prior to the draft, joined by correspondents from Berea and Philadelphia. Fans are also encouraged to tune in to the Browns Countdown Post-Draft Special that will air on News 5 Sunday, April 30 from 11 a.m.-noon.
Additional opportunities at the 2017 Draft Tailgate include the Cleveland Browns Locker Room Sale, where unique items from the team’s facility and stadium will be sold to benefit the Northeast Ohio Community, and a pop-up Pro Shop featuring special draft items. The FirstEnergy Stadium Pro Shop will also be open from 11 a.m.-11 p.m. on April 27.
Standard City Muni Lot tailgate policies and regulations will be in place within the lot before, during and after the event.
The Browns have the No. 1 and No. 12 picks in the first round, which opens at 8 p.m. on Thursday, April 27 in Philadelphia. The Browns now have five picks within the first 65 selections and 11 choices in total.
Rounds 2-3 of the 2017 NFL draft begin at 7 p.m. on Friday, April 28, while Rounds 4-7 start at noon on Saturday, April 29.
Related TopicsBrownsMuni LotNFL Draft
Matt Loede has been a part of the Cleveland Sports Media for over 21 years, with experience covering Major League Baseball, National Basketball Association, the National Football League and even high school and college events. He has been a part of the Cleveland Indians coverage since the opening of Jacobs/Progressive Field in 1994, and spent two and a half years covering the team for 92.3 The Fan, and covers them daily for Associated Press Radio. You can follow Matt on Twitter HERE.
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51 killed in bombing at a wedding in Turkey
Turkish president blames ISIS
Posted: 6:06 PM, Aug 20, 2016
Eyyup Burun
<p>People react after an explosion in Gaziantep, southeastern Turkey, early Sunday, Aug. 21, 2016. Gaziantep Province Gov. Ali Yerlikaya said the deadly blast, during a wedding near the border with Syria, was a terror attack. (Eyyup Burun/DHA via AP)</p>
ISTANBUL (AP) — A child suicide bomber killed at least 51 people and wounded nearly 70 others at a Kurdish wedding party near Turkey's border with Syria, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Sunday, decrying the attack as an attempt by Islamic State extremists to destabilize the nation by exploiting ethnic and religious tensions.
The bombing late Saturday in Gaziantep was the deadliest attack in Turkey this year.
It comes amid ongoing struggles between the government and Kurdish militants linked to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party, known as the PKK, and as the country is still reeling from the aftermath of last month's failed coup attempt, which the government has blamed on U.S.-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen and his followers.
Erdogan said immediately after the Gaziantep attack, which he blamed on IS, that any strategy "meant to incite the citizens against each other along ethnic and religious lines will not work."
Later, addressing the nation before Istanbul's city hall, Erdogan said the attacker in Gaziantep was aged between 12 and 14. He said 69 people were wounded, with 17 of them in critical condition.
He again blamed the attack on the Islamic State, but there was no immediate claim of responsibility.
The pro-Kurdish political party HDP condemned the attack on the wedding, which it said was attended by many of its party members.
It said in a statement that it was "quite significant" that the attack, which it also blamed on IS, came only hours after the Kurdistan Communities Union, a militant liberation organization that includes the PKK, announced plans to try to negotiate to end a three-decade conflict between Kurdish militants and the Turkish government.
"This attack targets those determined and persistent in peace, resolution, and those struggling for democracy, equality, freedom and justice," the HDP said. "The attack was planned to disable the spread of peace and success of possible negotiations."
A bus driver who shuttled some of the guests from Siirt to Gaziantep said that he couldn't believe the party was targeted.
"This was a wedding party. Just a regular wedding party," Hamdullah Ceyhan told the state-run Anadolu Agency. "This attack was deplorable. How did they do such a thing?"
The bride and groom weren't in life-threatening condition and were undergoing treatment, but the groom's sister and uncle were among the dead, Anadolu reported.
Multiple opposition parties denounced the attack, as did many foreign governments including the U.S., Germany, Russia, Egypt, Sweden, Greece, France, Bahrain, Qatar and Jordan.
"We stand by our ally Turkey and pledge to continue to work closely together to defeat the common threat of terrorism," said U.S. Ambassador to Turkey John Bass.
In the Vatican, Pope Francis led hundreds of people in silent prayer for the victims of the attack, concluding by asking "for the gift of peace for everyone."
Security expert Metin Gurcan, a former Turkish military officer and columnist for the online newspaper Al-Monitor, said that IS who view the attack as "hitting two birds with one stone" — as retaliation for Syrian Kurdish advances on their forces in Syria, and for Turkey's attacks on IS targets.
Gurcan said in an email to The Associated Press that IS has been trying to agitate or exploit ethnic and religious tensions in Turkey, and "we know very well to what extent wedding attacks can sow disorder in nation's social fabric from the Afghanistan experience."
The suicide bombing follows a June attack on Istanbul's main airport where IS suspects killed 44 people. A dual suicide bombing blamed on IS at a peace rally in Turkey's capital, Ankara, in October killed 103 people.
Meantime, there have also been ongoing attacks claimed by the PKK or linked to the militant group, as well as the coup attempt blamed on Gulen's movement. Gulen has denied any involvement.
Earlier this week, a string of bombings blamed on the PKK that targeted police and soldiers killed at least a dozen people. A fragile, 2½ year peace process between the PKK and the government collapsed last year, leading to a resumption of the three-decade-long conflict.
In the immediate aftermath of the Gaziantep bombing, Erdogan said there was "absolutely no difference" between IS, Kurdish rebels and Gulen's movement, calling them terrorist groups.
Gurcan said, however, that it was a "grave mistake" to lump the three together.
"Putting these three organizations with different political objectives, tactics and techniques into the same basket ... causes the failure of tailoring specific counter strategies," he said.
Following the attack, police sealed off the site of the explosion and forensic teams moved in. Outside the perimeter, hundreds of residents gathered chanting "Allah is great" as well as slogans denouncing attacks.
Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Simsek and the country's health minister traveled to the scene, visiting the wounded and inspecting the site.
"This is a massacre of unprecedented cruelty and barbarism," Simsek told reporters. "We ... are united against all terror organizations. They will not yield."
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After FDA Approval, Hopes For The 1st Postpartum Depression Treatment The FDA approved the first-ever treatment for postpartum depression. NPR's Michel Martin speaks with writer Teresa Wong about her own experiences with postpartum depression.
After FDA Approval, Hopes For The 1st Postpartum Depression Treatment
After FDA Approval, Hopes For The 1st Postpartum Depression Treatment 6:26
March 23, 20195:32 PM ET
Heard on All Things Considered
The FDA approved the first-ever treatment for postpartum depression. NPR's Michel Martin speaks with writer Teresa Wong about her own experiences with postpartum depression.
MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:
There was a significant development in the medical world this week. For the first time, the FDA has approved a drug for postpartum depression. The treatment is extremely expensive and at the moment requires days of inpatient care to administer. But it also works faster than traditional antidepressants, and that's just one reason many are applauding this as a significant breakthrough for the one in seven women who experience depression during pregnancy or after childbirth.
We wanted to talk about this with someone who knows firsthand what that's like, so we've called Teresa Wong. She experienced postpartum depression after the birth of her daughter Scarlet, and she wrote a book in graphic form about her experiences. And it's pretty, well, graphic. It's called "Dear Scarlet." It will be out later this spring. And Teresa Wong is with us now from the studios of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation in Calgary.
Teresa Wong, thanks so much for talking with us.
TERESA WONG: Thanks for having me.
MARTIN: Did you fear that you would be - that you would experience this when you were pregnant? I mean, you wrote in the book - it's - you're very funny about it. Like...
WONG: (Laughter).
MARTIN: You wrote about how, well, you know, you didn't really think that much about having kids. You said, well, what if my kids hate me? What if I don't like them? You know, what if they grow up to be terrible people and, like, mess them up?
WONG: Yeah. I...
MARTIN: I mean, you talk about, like, that - all that stuff going on in your head. But...
WONG: I think I was anxious about having children. But you know what? I did not expect to have depression, and I don't know why. Maybe it's because so much of the time that you spend during your pregnancy in the doctor's office - it's almost all about the baby and very little about you. And so it never crossed my mind, actually, until after, when it actually happened.
MARTIN: When did you realize that something was really wrong?
WONG: I think I knew right away, and - but I blamed it on the circumstances of my daughter's birth. I had some complications around her delivery, and so I wasn't really awake or conscious after she was born for a number of hours. And I thought, well, it's because of that I don't feel connected to her. I haven't really bonded to her yet. But when I got home, those feelings were still there, and they just grew day by day. And the more that I spent time with her, especially alone, the more I realized that something was really off.
MARTIN: Can you describe what it's like just going through the day when you're experiencing postpartum depression?
WONG: It's a very long day. You don't have the energy to deal with anything. And so mostly, I kind of laid on the floor a lot (laughter). It's also very quiet because a lot of your feelings are numbed, and so you just kind of go through the day like a bit of a robot.
MARTIN: Like, the numbness is what really stands out for me in the way you describe this. One of the scenes that you write about in the book - and there were a number of them like this - is that you were still in the hospital. You were so exhausted that you had to get the lab tech to help put the baby back in the bassinet. But you...
WONG: Right.
MARTIN: ...Called for help, and it was hours before somebody came to help you. And then your husband got there. You were sobbing uncontrollably. And the nurses - so I see mom is a little emotional today.
MARTIN: You know? It just would seem that the very people who should have known that you really did need help and that there was something significant going on with you didn't. And that's a little scary. I mean, did you find that, like, the medical personnel - did they seem to grasp that postpartum depression is really a thing, that this wasn't just baby blues?
WONG: I feel like that when I finally got help that the medical community was very serious about it. I think the problem was maybe the delineation between baby blues and postpartum depression isn't all that clear because people do expect a little bit of crying and kind of just hormones wreaking havoc on your system. And so perhaps they don't take it as seriously if you bring that up early on after having a baby. And maybe we do need to look at how to take mothers who kind of know themselves and know that there's something more serious going on - to take them more seriously.
MARTIN: So what was your reaction when you heard that there was this new treatment? I recognize you're not a doctor. You are a writer. But I just - I did wonder if this news meant something to you even though you've passed through that - the worst of it for you.
WONG: Right. Well, I had kind of two reactions. And the first was just feeling encouraged that the medical community is seeing that postpartum depression is a big enough deal that they need to focus on treatment. But my other reaction was kind of to the cost and the time involved. The cost, I read, was something around $34,000 and a 60-hour kind of IV infusion. And I just don't know very many mothers who would be able to take that kind of time at that kind of expense.
MARTIN: You know, we are starting to hear more about postpartum depression. I mean, a number of celebrities have come forward in recent years and have described their experiences with it. I wonder if you still feel that there's a stigma around it, around postpartum depression. Or do you feel like - is anything getting better?
WONG: I do feel like it's getting better. I mean, I've seen it in storylines on television shows now and having people like Chrissy Teigen and Adele kind of come out and admit that they've been struggling with their moods after having babies. I feel like we're coming to a point where awareness has grown. I think it could go even further, really. I think we're on the cusp of something.
MARTIN: That's Theresa Wong, who spoke to us from the studios of the CBC in Calgary. Her graphic novel about her experiences with postpartum depression called "Dear Scarlet" is available for preorder now.
Teresa Wong, thank you so much for talking to us.
WONG: Thank you.
(SOUNDBITE OF SEAN HAYES SONG, "SMOKING SIGNALS")
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Private Dispute Resolution in International Business; Negotiation, Mediation, Arbitration - Book Review
by Klaus Peter Berger
This is a book review of Private Dispute Resolution in International Business: Negotiation, Mediation, Arbitration [Wolters Kluwer Law & Business 2015] by Klaus Peter Berger. Review by Michael Leathes.
Private Dispute Resolution in International Business (PDR) exemplifies Confucius' famous proclamation: I read and I forget; I see and I remember; I do and I understand.
This imaginative, practical, captivating multi-media skills training experience plots the life cycle of a quickly-developing case scenario from its origin as a deal, through dispute resolution phases. It involves a Dutch customer and a South Korean supplier and its consequences impact on several other parties. It is realistic, credible and absorbing.
The case scenario illustrates how a dispute can progress through the conflict escalation model described by Professor Friedrich Glasl. The dispute is approached largely from a lawyer's perspective - both in-house and external - but is also focused on the skills of business negotiators, mediators and arbitrators. The scenario starts with a typical contract negotiation. Soon, the situation crystallizes into a dispute that gets mediated to the point of settlement, only to be revoked because of the failure of one party's top management to ratify it (itself an important learning experience about negotiators needing authority to settle). Finally it passes through the stages of a typical commercial arbitration process that predictably ends as a win-lose outcome and destroys the parties' relationship.
This is the 3rd revision of PDR, but there is much more to it than two volumes.
Volume I is the Case Study. Following a concise and helpful User's Guide, it salami slices the case into 29 digestible factual segments in under 150 pages. At the end of each of the 29 scenario slices, a series of key questions are presented, each of which sits at the heart of the illustrated issues.
Volume II, the Handbook, cross-refers to Volume I and analyses the issues in each scenario segment. Wonderfully written and presented, it discusses them, digs deep, and helps trainees and role players to arrive at appropriate answers and solutions. As a result of the comprehensive and detailed Table of Contents and a great Index, the Handbook doubles as an excellent free-standing reference work.
A wafer USB card is tucked into the cover of Volume I. Like a credit card in thickness, it is designed to slot into a conventional USB drive (a relief, since many computers have done away with the DVD drive). You use the USB in tandem with the Case Study and the Handbook. For example, as you follow the train of progression, the video clip subtitles refer you to specific paragraphs of the Handbook, enabling you to pause and read the relevant Handbook section to gain a better understanding and consider emerging options.
Once plugged in, the USB card displays a horizontal top menu that includes:
a useful "who's who" (great if you need to remember the party representatives' names),
a graphic case development section,
a “documents & events” section which contains pdfs of the whole file of the case, including the settlement agreement concluded by the parties during the mediation, as well as procedural orders and awards rendered by the arbitral tribunal during the arbitration,
a file with hyperlinked materials (laws, conventions and court decisions, rules and best practices),
an event progression tool,
dozens of video clips of each stage and major issue (the clips, if linked together, would extend to more than 6 hours), and
a detailed and hugely helpful skills and advocacy section with numerous, mostly interactive, teaching and training tools.
The www.private-dispute-resolution.com website is the fourth and final piece of this pie. It offers several video clip teasers, includes updates for problems discussed in the Handbook, and features a 20 minute introductory interview with Professor Berger who explains the origin and content of the concept for this "blended learning" work (as he quite accurately describes it).
PDR is a valuable toolkit for educators and skills trainers. But what's also interesting is that, with care, you can run the entire experience alone (as I did) or together with colleagues. You can effectively simulate the parties and dispute resolvers, facing the dilemmas they are experiencing and instantly feeling the consequences. The experience is realistic, whether you are a business negotiator, student, internal counsel, external adviser, or a dispute resolver such as a mediator or arbitrator. There is much in this eclectic, kaleidoscopic work for everyone. The arbitration segments provide a genuinely hands-on feel for how a major arbitration proceeds, from the formal process aspects, through the arguments and advocacy and atmosphere, and onto the Award and beyond.
This is a training and educational experience in legal negotiation, mediation and arbitration like no other. It can be used to improve lawyers' skills and help non-lawyers, such as business people, to prepare for a negotiation, mediation and/or arbitration. The entire experience is inspiring, practical, memorable and user-friendly. It helps to hone advocacy and presentational skills - spoken, written and behavioural - things that are hard to learn from books. It's adventure learning par excellence.
To top it off, Professor Berger uses the project as a centrepiece of the Cologne Academies where you can experience it for yourself. See: www.cologne-academies.com.
Private Dispute Resolution in International Business is unique. I can't find the words to extol its value strongly enough. My only regret is that it was not available decades ago.
Klaus Peter Berger works at the University of Cologne, Center for Transnational Law (CENTRAL). Professor Dr. Klaus Peter Berger is the founder and Executive Director of the Centre for Transnational Law (CENTRAL) at the University of Cologne, and Director of the Cologne Academies. He is a member of the Board of the German Institution of Arbitration (DIS) and the Arbitration Institute of the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce (SCC) as well as the co-editor of "Arbitration International". His article with J. Ole Jensen, The Arbitrator's Mandate To Facilitate Settlement, was published in the Fordham International Law Journal in January 2017.
Additional articles by Klaus Peter Berger
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Extra Credit: Taliban tunes are Afghan hits
KABUL, Afghanistan — Dawlat Khan says his 5-year-old son has suddenly become an ardent music fan.
"He asks me to play the Taliban songs for him and then sings along with them," said the resident of Nangarhar province, who keeps the tunes, along with video clips produced by the insurgents, stored on his cell phone.
It seems the Taliban, long known to be the enemies of both music and technology, have discovered the value of both, delivering musical messages designed to stir up emotional support among young people for their battle against the government.
In fact, Taliban tunes appear to have gone viral, capturing the popular imagination in ways that more overt appeals for support — from both the insurgents and the government — have failed to do.
The government, on the other hand, struggles to counter allegations that it presides over warlordism, corruption and lawlessness, while the NATO-led troops have often aroused danger because of civilian casualties, intrusive house searches, and perceived slights on the Muslim faith.
"I’ve got about 50 Taliban songs on my phone. They’re much better than the meaningless music, dramas and movies that are on TV," Dawlat Khan said. "You aren’t committing a sin by listening to the Taliban songs, but you do so every second if you watch TV." Music might seem an unlikely vehicle for the Taliban to use. But songs extolling Islamic virtues or Afghan patriotism in the past were not only allowed, but encouraged and have long been broadcast on the Voice of Sharia, the Taliban’s radio service.
Now, they are enjoying a revival, especially in parts of Afghanistan where Taliban influence is strong, thanks to new phones that support video as well as audio formats.
Everyone offers a different reason for watching the film clips or listening to the songs, from simple enjoyment to a degree of sympathy with the Taliban cause. The clips even circulate among local government officials and members of the Afghan security forces whose job is to fight the insurgents.
A member of the Afghan National Army who comes from Nangarhar’s Khogyani district said the main reason he had material like this on his phone was that it might save him if he ever fell into the insurgents’ hands.
"The truth is that I keep these songs in my mobile phone to protect my life," he said. "Besides, there’s nothing bad about these songs, anyway. They are all songs about the country, and Islamic poems. We too are children of this country and we are Muslims. So we listen to them."
Asked about videos showing young people preparing to carry out suicide bombings, the soldier said, "Yes, it’s true there are songs and clips encouraging young people to fight and to prepare for suicide attacks. I don’t endorse them, and I’d even like to see them banned."
Sitting in a bookstore in Jalalabad, three young men were watching a Taliban-produced video of a child singing to a mother as he’s about to go off and fight for Afghan freedom.
When asked what attracted them to the video, they initially said they were attracted to the singer’s voice.
But when asked about the video’s message, which extols the virtue of fighting against the government, one of them angrily answered, "Why don’t you ask about the impact of music, foreign movies and (TV) dramas? They are full of immorality, they are driving society to destruction, they make young people forget their country, honor and religion, and they are destroying our culture, language and history."
Taliban songs are "a thousand times" better than Afghan TV channels, he said, adding, "The children of this country are fighting for their country. They are our brothers and we listen to their songs unashamedly."
Ahmad Zia Abdulzai, a spokesman for the governor of the province, said that while people were free to listen to whatever they wanted, the authorities would try to prevent the dissemination of propaganda intended to draw civilians to the insurgent’s side.
But he admitted this was a difficult task.
"These songs and clips are produced and disseminated secretly. There isn’t an obvious center that is doing it in Nangarhar. Our security agencies are trying to block this kind of thing," he said.
• Hejratullah Ekhtiyar is a reporter in Afghanistan who writes for The Institute for War & Peace Reporting, a nonprofit organization that trains journalists in areas of conflict.
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/6. Triads & Chords
Created: Thursday, 21 October 2010 12:29 Written by Victoria Williams
Grade 4 Music Theory Lesson 6: Triads and Chords
At grade 3, we learnt about tonic triads - how we can build a simple three-note chord based on the tonic of the key. For example, the tonic triad in the key of C major is the chord C-E-G.
In grade 4, we will look at some other triads and chords which are built on other degrees of the scale - not just the tonic.
Before we do that however, let's quickly figure out what's the difference between a chord and a triad...
Triad or Chord?
A triad is a kind of chord. All triads are chords, but not all chords are triads.
A triad is a chord with only three notes, and is built on thirds. To make a triad, we take a note, add the note a third higher, and then add another note a third higher again.
A chord contains at least two notes; it can have 3, 4, 5 or even more! In grade 4 theory you'll only normally see chords with 3 or 4 notes. Chords with 4 notes are made by taking a simple triad and adding another note.
We can either double up one of the existing notes by writing it in a higher or lower octave:
or we can add a new note into the chord - for example another third above the highest third of the triad:
This is a chord of E major, plus D.
You won't be tested on the second type of chord at grade 4, but you might see some of them written in the scores in the exam paper.
Order of Notes
Notice that when we doubled up a note in the A minor chord, we also jumbled up the order of the other notes:
Triads are normally written with the notes as closely together as possible. We use triads when we are talking about music theory to help us to analyse harmony.
Chords are written in whichever order they sound best. We use chords in real music, not just in theory exams!
When we write down a chord, the lowest note has a special significance. The other notes can be written in any order at all - very close together, or with big gaps. (Usually in practice, there are bigger gaps between the low notes of the chord but not between the higher notes).
So, the triad of A minor, is written with A as the lowest note*, then C above, then E above that:
But the chord of A minor doubles one of the notes of the triad to make a 4-note chord. The bass note (lowest note) is A, but all the other notes can be written wherever they sound best:
(*Note - at grade 4, you only need to know about root position chords (also known as 5-3 chords). This means that the bass note is always the lowest note of the triad. In later grades you will learn that we can also change the bass note - but don't change it just yet!!)
Tonic, Dominant and Subdominant Triads
We always need to know what key we are in, before we start to work out chords and triads. In this part of the lesson, we're going to look at the chords and triads in Eb major, and C minor. Let's start by reminding ourselves of the notes in the scale of Eb major (don't forget to check the key signature!)
To build the tonic triad, we start on Eb, (because it's the tonic), add a third above, and another third above:
To build the dominant triad, we start on Bb, because it's the dominant note in Eb major. (Check the lesson on technical names of notes for more on this.) We build the triad in the same way:
To build the subdominant triad, we start on Ab, which is the subdominant note in Eb major, and do the same thing:
Triads can also be described using Roman numerals - we simply use the numeral which stands for the degree of the chord. So tonic=I, subdominant=IV and dominant=V.
Let's take a look at chords I, IV and V in C minor next. Here's the scale of C minor (we use the harmonic minor - don't forget to sharpen the leading note!):
The tonic is C, the subdominant is F and the dominant is G. Here are the three triads:
How to Work out Chords and Triads
If you are given a chord or triad and are asked to name it, start by checking what key the music is in (you will be told the key).
Next, jot down the notes you would find in chords I, IV and V (write out the scales to help you, if necessary).
Now look at the chords in the question. Match up the notes in the chord to what you've written down. Don't worry about repeated notes.
That's it! Let's do an example together.
Name each of the numbered chords as tonic (I), subdominant (IV) or dominant (V). The key is F minor.
First we jot down the notes of the triads in F minor:
I=F-Ab-C
IV=Bb-Db-F
V=C-E natural-G
Now look at chord (1). The notes are C, C, G and E (natural) - so it's a dominant triad.
Chord (2) has notes F, C, Ab, F, so it's a tonic triad.
Chord (3) has notes Bb, Db, F, Db, so it's a subdominant triad.
Don't forget to look at:
a) the key signature,
b) all accidentals,
c) the notes in both staves if they are joined together and
d) longer notes (usually minims (half notes) or semibreves (whole notes)) which are played earlier in the bar and are still sounding as part of the chord.
Last Updated: Thursday, 15 January 2015 12:38
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Green Schools: Attributes for Health and Learning (2007)
Chapter: 8 Overall Building Condition and Student Achievement
« Previous: 7 Building Characteristics and the Spread of Infectious Diseases
Suggested Citation:"8 Overall Building Condition and Student Achievement." National Research Council. 2007. Green Schools: Attributes for Health and Learning. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11756.
Overall Building Condition and Student Achievement
Professional organizations and governmental agencies have for many years been calling attention to the deteriorating condition of the nation’s schools. The importance of effective operations and maintenance practices to the satisfactory performance of a school building’s envelope, mechanical systems, and surfaces has been emphasized in previous chapters.
The committee identified 20 studies that investigated the relationships between overall building condition and student achievement and overall building functionality and student achievement. The identified studies primarily come from the field of educational research and investigate possible relationships between individuals and groups and their physical environment.
In the course of its review, the committee identified significant limitations in the methodologies used in these studies (the limitations are discussed in a section near the end of this chapter). Nonetheless, the committee believes there is value in describing these studies and their findings because they could contribute to elaborating models for future research on green schools and their health and productivity performance outcomes. Considerations for future research are the focus of Chapter 10.
BUILDING CONDITION AND STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT
The committee identified eight studies that investigated the relationship between the overall condition of school buildings and at least two
student variables. The one consistent variable was student achievement as measured by some form of standardized or normed test.
Berner (1993) investigated the relationship between parental involvement, school building condition, and student achievement in the public schools of Washington, D.C. She hypothesized that the condition of public school buildings is affected by parental involvement and that the condition of the school building in turn affects student achievement. Using a regression model that included variables for race and household income, she analyzed relationships among the size and condition of school buildings, the extent of parental involvement, and the amount of funds parents raised for the local school and compared the results with student achievement as measured using average test scores on the Comprehensive Test of Basic Skills (CTBS).
Berner found that school size, parental involvement, and building condition did have an effect on student achievement scores. The analysis indicated that student test scores increased an average of 5 percent as the condition category of school buildings improved from poor to fair condition and from fair to excellent condition. Thus, students in buildings that rated as poor had test scores that were, on average, 5 percent lower than students in school buildings categorized as fair and 10 percent lower than students in buildings categorized as excellent.
Cash (1993) investigated the relationship between certain school building conditions, student achievement, and student behavior in rural high schools in Virginia. Cash essentially used the same methodology as Berner, although in this study the condition of the building was the independent variable, and student achievement and behavior served as dependent variables. The condition of school buildings was evaluated by local school system personnel using a questionnaire which was derived from previous studies that showed a positive relationship between a particular building condition and student achievement and behavior. The factors that were looked at included air-conditioning, classroom illumination, temperature control, classroom color, graffiti, science equipment and utilities, paint schedules, roof adequacy, classroom windows, floor type, building age, supporting facilities, condition of school grounds, and furniture condition. The presence or absence of these factors or, in some cases, their quality or adequacy determined the condition category of the building: substandard, standard, and above standard.
Student achievement was measured by student test scores on the Test of Academic Proficiency (TAP), which was administered to all eleventh-graders in Virginia. The ratio of students receiving free and reduced lunches was used to control for socioeconomic status, and the Virginia Composite Index was used as a measure of local fiscal capacity, to control for the wealth of the school jurisdiction.
Cash found significant differences between the achievement scores of students in substandard buildings and those in above-standard buildings when the overall condition of the building was used as a measure. She also found that students were more affected by the cosmetic than the structural condition of a building. The difference between test scores of students in substandard and above-standard buildings ranged from 2 to 5 percentile points, depending on the subtest (i.e., mathematics, reading).
Earthman et al. (1996) used a similar methodology to conduct a study in North Dakota that included all 199 high school buildings, but used the CSTB to measure achievement. North Dakota was selected because its students traditionally score among the highest in the nation on the Scholastic Aptitude Test and the state has a relatively homogeneous, mostly rural population. Although the differences in the composite score were exactly the same as for the Cash study, there were some notable differences. The CTBS had additional subtests that the TAP did not have, such as reading, vocabulary, mathematics concepts, and spelling. In all but one subtest (social studies) of the CTBS, students in above-standard buildings outscored students in substandard buildings. The difference ranged from 1 to 9 percentile points.
Hines (1996) used the same methodology and data-gathering instrument as Cash to study large urban high schools in Virginia, and his results were basically the same: test scores for students in above-standard schools were 9 points higher for writing and science, 15 points higher for reading, and 17 points higher for mathematics compared with the same scores for students in substandard buildings.
Lanham (1999) studied the relationship between classroom conditions and student achievement in the elementary schools of Virginia that housed both third- and fifth-grade students, using the same general approach as Cash (1993). From a total of 989 elementary schools, a random sample of 299 schools was drawn. Responses were received from 197 schools, representing 66 percent participation. Lanham concluded that although certain school building and cosmetic components and features explained some of the variance in student achievement scores, the socioeconomic status of the student as represented by participation in the free and reduced-price lunch program explained most of the variance.
Schneider (2002) investigated the relationship between the condition of school buildings and student achievement scores in Washington, D.C., and Chicago, Illinois. The researcher used the reading and math scores on the Stanford Achievement Test in Washington, D.C., and the Iowa Test of Basic Skills in Chicago. After controlling for factors such as poverty, ethnicity, and school size, Schneider reported that the students in schools with good conditions were performing from 3 to 4 percentage points better on reading and math than students in buildings with poor conditions.
Lewis (2000) conducted a study based on 139 elementary, middle, and high school buildings in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. All buildings were evaluated for both condition and adequacy. The Wisconsin Student Assessment System (WSAS) was used to measure student achievement. Fourth, eighth, and tenth graders were assessed in reading, mathematics, language arts and writing, science, and social studies. Scores on these examinations were reported as a percentage of students in each school building who were achieving at or above the level “proficient.” Lewis (2000, p. 11) concluded that the “significant relationships for facility measurements typically explain about 10 to 15 percent of the differences in scores across schools when the influences of the other variables were statistically controlled.” When comparing student demographic indicators such as mobility rates, eligibility for free/reduced-price lunches, attendance, and suspensions, only 9 estimates out of 48 were found to be significant. Thus those indicators that were significant explained between 8 and 28 percent of the difference between test scores when other variables were controlled.
Picus et al. (2005) designed a study to examine whether higher quality buildings are related to student performance. The methodology used falls loosely into the tradition of large-scale econometric studies, which are discussed in Chapter 10. This study included approximately 300 public schools, accredited institutions, and accredited private schools in Wyoming. Building quality data were gathered in response to a court ruling related to the adequacy of the state’s school funding system. Building condition scores were determined by collectively assessing up to 22 building subsystems (e.g., foundations, floors) using individual rating tools consisting of 1 to 20 questions, the answers to which were agreed on by a school representative and a subcontractor to a consultant. The consultant weighted the subsystem assessments relative to the cost of bringing the affected components into as-new condition and then averaged all the subsystem scores together to produce an overall condition score for each building.
The suitability tool purported to measure the degree to which each school was suitable for its current use, for example, whether the school was designed specifically for the grades it currently served. Ratings for suitability were self-reported by district superintendents or their designees; the report authors noted that the “suitability tool possessed a higher degree of subjectivity than the building condition instrument” (Picus et al., p. 81).
Student achievement was measured using a set of tests administered to all fourth, eighth, and eleventh graders in Wyoming (WyCAS). Three years of WyCAS results (1999-2001) were used and approximately 60,000 students were involved. The WyCAS tests comprise both multiple-choice and open-ended questions in reading, writing, and mathematics.
Two different measures of each school’s achievement in each content area were used: the 3-year average of the percentage of students whose performance was “proficient” or “advanced” and the 3-year average of the scale scores. In both cases, averages for reading, writing, and mathematics were combined to arrive at an overall proxy for student achievement at a school. Correlations with building scores were computed separately for each grade level for each content area and year.
Multiple regression analyses were used to examine the relationships between building and WyCAS scores while factoring out the influence of socioeconomic status in elementary school students (as measured by the percentage of free and reduced-price lunches); there was no control for socioeconomic status in middle and high school students. After running a series of analyses, the authors found no relationship between building condition and student achievement. The “finding implies that as building condition improves, there is no likelihood that WyCAS scores will either improve or decline” (Picus et al., 2005, p. 84).
SCHOOL BUILDING FUNCTIONALITY AND STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT
Twelve studies (including Picus et al., 2005) were identified that investigated the relationship between school building functionality and student achievement. In eleven of the studies, the age of the school building was used as a surrogate for functionality. Although the age of a building might not in and of itself directly influence student achievement, an older building might not have qualities or facilities—such as thermal control, proper lighting, acoustical control, support facilities, proper laboratories, and pleasing appearance—that could affect student achievement. In the Picus study, a suitability index was calculated based on factors other than age of a building.
Using the variable of school building age, McGuffey (1982) reviewed seven studies (Thomas, 1962; Burkhead et al., 1967; Michelson, 1970; Guthrie et al., 1971; McGuffey and Brown, 1978; Plumley, 1978; and Chan, 1979). In all cases, as building age increased, student achievement decreased.
McGuffey and Brown (1978) studied 188 school districts in Georgia to explore the relationship between building age and student achievement. They used the scores on the Iowa Test of Basic Skills for fourth- and eighth-grade students and the TAP for eleventh-grade students. The statistical analyses indicated that building age could account for 0.5 percent to 2.6 percent of the variance in test scores among fourth-grade students, 0 percent to 2.6 percent of the variance among eighth-grade students, and 1.4 percent to 3.3 percent of the variance among eleventh graders.
Garrett (1981) hypothesized that when the socioeconomic status variable was statistically controlled for, the age of a facility would have a significant correlation with the achievement of students and that the achievement of students taught in unmodernized school facilities would be significantly lower than those taught in partially or fully modernized schools. When the variable for socioeconomic status was statistically controlled for, the age of the facility made a significant difference in student achievement in composition, reading, and mathematics scores on the TAP (.01). The achievement of students taught in unmodernized facilities was not significantly lower than that of those taught in partially modernized schools. However, the achievement of students taught in partially modernized schools was significantly lower than that of those taught in modern facilities.
Chan (1982) compared student attitudes toward a new school and an older school. The researcher had four hypotheses: (1) no significant difference between student attitudes toward a new building and attitudes toward an old building; (2) no difference between the attitudes of male and female students toward old and new buildings; (3) no significant difference in the attitudes of students of different races toward old and new buildings; and (4) no significant difference in attitudes between students who pay for school lunches and those who receive free and reduced-price lunches.
Chan’s study used a quasi-experimental, nonequivalent control group design. The control group consisted of the 119 students in the second, third, and fourth grades in a school built around 1936. The experimental group consisted of 96 students in those same grades in a 1923-constructed building who were transferred to a new school.
After statistically adjusting the post-test scores of the control group with the corresponding pre-test scores of the experimental group, students in the experimental group scored 19 points (on a 55-point scale) higher on average than students in the control group. The difference in attitude scores was indicated by an F-value of 19.71, which was significant at the .0001 level. Race and socioeconomic status had no effect on student attitudes toward their school buildings. However, female students in the control group scored significantly higher than males on both pre- and posttests. All were significant at the .05 level.
Bowers and Burkett (1989) investigated the differences in student achievement, health, attendance, and behavior between two groups of students in two elementary school buildings in rural Tennessee. One school had recently been opened and was a modern building in all respects. The other building had been constructed in 1939 and had experienced few improvements to the physical structure. Two hundred eighty randomly selected fourth- and sixth-grade students in the two facilities were the
subjects of the study. Principals, teachers, and socioeconomic levels of the communities were similar. The variable of age of the facility was the only major difference when comparing the achievement and behavior of the students.
Students in the modern building scored significantly higher in reading, listening, language, and arithmetic than students in the older facility (greater than .01). Discipline was needed less frequently in the new facility, even though the new school had a larger enrollment. The level of significance for analysis purposes was .01. Students in the new school building significantly outperformed students in the older building in reading, listening, language, and arithmetic. Faculty in the new building reported fewer disciplinary incidents and health issues than faculty in the old building. Attendance also was higher among students in the new building.
Phillips (1997), replicating an earlier study by Plumley (1978), found a relationship between the age of the school facility and student reading achievement scores as measured by the Iowa Test of Basic Skills and between student mathematics achievement scores and building age. The average mathematics scores for those students in new buildings increased 7.63 percentile ranks after moving into the new facility. He did not find any significant differences in attendance patterns of students enrolled in the old and new buildings.
As noted above, Picus et al. (2005) analyzed data based on a suitability tool that was purported to measure the degree to which each school building was suitable for its current use. The authors noted that this tool was more subjective than the building condition index used in the study. They found little evidence of a relationship between the suitability scores and WyCAS test scores.
LIMITATIONS OF THE CURRENT STUDIES
These studies, which found some correlation between some measure of overall building condition and student achievement, differed in several ways. Some used age as a surrogate for building condition, while others used a subjective rating of building condition. Most focused on average student achievement at the school level but a few looked at differences between individual student achievement in a modern facility considered to be in good condition and a school that was old and out of date. The studies also included urban and rural schools in several different states and in the District of Columbia. With 19 out of 20 studies showing increases in test scores for students in buildings in better condition, one might reasonably assume a relationship exists between building conditions and student achievement. In fact, the limitations of the methodologies and data used
in these studies may reflect a consistent underlying bias rather than a consistent, albeit undefined, cause-and-effect relationship.
Two specific limitations lead to this conclusion. The first is the issue of omitted variable bias. None of the 20 studies included a complete set of variables that are considered to be related to student achievement. For example, parental education, family structure, family income, and teacher quality have been shown to be related to student achievement, but they were not measured. Omitting them increases the likelihood of a large positive bias for the variables that were included in the correlational or regression analysis. Thus, the coefficients on the measures of overall building condition are likely to have been inflated and their statistical significance is likely to have been established based on omitted variable bias.
The second significant limitation is that the relationships between overall building condition and student achievement were likely confounded because students of different socioeconomic status were not randomly assigned to schools. Minority students and students from low-income households are more likely to attend schools that are older and in substandard condition. In other words, students may not end up in old and poorly maintained schools by chance. This could give rise to reverse causality and almost certainly to ambiguity about the direction of the relationship between student achievement and overall building condition.
Additional methodological shortcomings were also present. For example, the Picus et al. (2005) study uses correlations and regression analysis or school-level averages. The current state-of-the-art research estimates multilevel models to assess not only the differences in average achievement but also the differences at the individual student level. Thus, building condition could affect the relationship between prior achievement and current achievement for individual students, meaning the students perform differently in different quality environments controlling for prior levels of achievement. This factor was not tested directly, although the study did test change in average test scores. As will be discussed in Chapter 10, the power to detect effects is severely limited in a school-level study in a small state, and the efficiency of the estimates is reduced as well.
Similarly, combining scores for different achievement domains, as was done in several studies, is a dubious practice for educational research. It is common to find that educational reforms affect math achievement more than reading achievement: By averaging math, reading, and writing together, important variation could have been missed.
Although this particular set of studies has methodological limitations, the literature on indoor environmental conditions, including lighting, noise, air quality, dampness, surface contamination, and ventilation,
provides evidence that specific, as opposed to overall, building conditions adversely affect the indoor environments of schools and may hinder learning and impact the health of teachers and students. For example, the studies of Wargocki et al. (2005) were designed as crossover longitudinal studies intervening on specific elements (ventilation, temperature) while holding other conditions constant. These studies demonstrated modest improvements in student performance on routinely used weekly tests of verbal and math skills. Perhaps the research that attempts to relate overall building condition to student achievement is asking the wrong question. To understand how building conditions affect student and teacher performance, it would be better to measure one or more building performance characteristics, develop a theory linking the performance characteristics and student and/or teacher outcomes, and test the linkage using adequate measures of the outcomes of interest and fully specified regression models. Issues related to improving research are discussed in detail in Chapter 10.
CURRENT GREEN SCHOOL GUIDELINES
Current green school guidelines encourage attention to school maintenance through measures such as a computerized district maintenance plan that inventories all equipment—including HVAC, lighting, roofing, and control systems—and establishes annual tasks, with the labor and material required for their maintenance. In combination with an indoor environmental quality management plan, a computerized maintenance management plan is intended to ensure that the performance of a green school is maintained over its service life.
Finding 8: The methodologies used in studies correlating overall building condition with student achievement are not adequate to determine if there is a relationship between overall building condition and student test scores. This research tradition seems to address a more general and diffuse question and does not produce high-quality evidence relative to either school design or specific aspects of maintenance. Improved research for understanding how specific building conditions affect student and teacher performance would measure one or more building performance characteristics, develop a theory linking those characteristics and student and/or teacher outcomes, and test the linkage using adequate measures of the outcomes of interest and fully specified regression models.
Next: 9 Processes and Practices for Planning and Maintaining Green Schools »
Green Schools: Attributes for Health and Learning Get This Book
Evidence has accumulated that shows that the quality of indoor environments can affect the health and productivity of adults and children. One consequence is that a movement has emerged to promote the design of schools that have fewer adverse environmental effects. To examine the potential of such design for improving education, several private organizations asked the NRC to review and assess the health and productivity benefits of green schools. This report provides an analysis of the complexity of making such a determination; and an assessment of the potential human health and performance benefits of improvements in the building envelope, indoor air quality, lighting, and acoustical quality. The report also presents an assessment of the overall building condition and student achievement, and offers an analysis of and recommendations for planning and maintaining green schools including research considerations.
Front Matter i–xii
1 Introduction 15–28
2 Complexity of the Task and the Committee's Approach 29–39
3 Building Envelope, Moisture Management, and Health 40–53
4 Indoor Air Quality, Health, and Performance 54–79
5 Lighting and Human Performance 80–91
6 Accoustical Quality, Student Learning, and Teacher Health 92–104
7 Building Characteristics and the Spread of Infectious Diseases 105–119
8 Overall Building Condition and Student Achievement 120–128
9 Processes and Practices for Planning and Maintaining Green Schools 129–142
10 Linking Green Schools to Health and Productivity: Research Considerations 143–154
Bibliography 155–174
Appendix: Biographies of Committee Members 175–180
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On Culture War and the Moral Limits of Anger
By Fred Bauer
About Fred Bauer
Follow Fred Bauer on Twitter
A fire burns amid protesters in Berkeley, Calif., February 1, 2017. (Screengrab via ABC News/YouTube)
The assumption that anger confers moral force suffuses the contemporary culture war. Elements of both the “alt-right” and the “woke” Left profess a belief in the moral legitimization of wrath. Partisans spend a considerable amount of effort adjudicating who is allowed to feel a given amount of grievance for what, but more energy could be spent exploring the moral limits of rage in the first place.
In a recent New York Times column, the novelist Jennifer Weiner makes a case for anger. Weiner’s essay — subtitled “I want to burn the frat house of America to the ground” — situates this need for outrage in the greater context of the relationship between men and women.
Weiner reflects on stories our culture tells about men, women, and anger:
Do men know how to be sorry? Do they have any notion of how to fix what they’ve broken, or what it would take to repair the damage they’ve wrought? And could women seek revenge? Do we even know how?
When my husband was a teenager, his favorite classic novel was “The Count of Monte Cristo,” where a wrongly imprisoned hero spends hundreds of pages hunting down his tormentors and making them pay. When I was the same age, I loved “Little Women,” where, in a pivotal scene, the adventurous, tomboyish sister, the one with literary ambitions, cuts off her hair and sells it to help provide for her family. Jo gets praised for this act of self-sacrifice. She gets scolded — by her future husband, no less — for writing popular fiction for money. By the end of the book, she’s married, her literary ambitions temporarily shelved in exchange for the life of a wife and a surrogate mother to a household of boys.
There are famous novels, canonical plays, entire genres of movies centered around men seeking revenge (the “Iliad,” “Hamlet,” every western ever). There aren’t many stories about men righting their wrongs; even fewer about women making men sorry.
However, while it’s true that there are numerous works about men seeking revenge, there are also plenty of works about “women making men sorry.” In Eurpides’s tragedy Medea, the titular character murders her children in order to get revenge on her husband, Jason, for marrying another woman (Medea kills her, too). Jilted by her fiancé on the day of their wedding, Miss Havisham in Charles Dickens’s Great Expectations sets out to “make men sorry”: She raises a young orphan named Estella to inflict heartache on men, just as a man inflicted heartache on Miss Havisham.
We can also find stories about men seeking to right past wrongs. Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice overcomes his snobbishness and seeks to make recompense for the injuries done to others by his pride. Both Pierre and Prince Andrei in War and Peace try to make up for some of their past personal failings.
More to the point, though, it’s worth noting that many of these works about vengeance are also about revenge’s limits. Edmond Dantes, the hero of The Count of Monte Cristo, might set out on elaborate schemes of revenge, but the end of the novel shows him encounter the real moral and practical limits of revenge. It can’t bring back his lost years, and the suffering he inflicts in pursuing revenge might have its own moral burden. Dantes ends the novel pleading for forgiveness. Miss Havisham’s ruined mansion becomes a museum to her anger; she paces cobwebbed rooms in a tattered wedding dress, and every day is the day of her betrayal.
On both a personal and a political level, indulgence in anger can be both corrosive and paralyzing. Wrath can blind us to the dignity of other human beings, and a politics of vengeance based on collective guilt can all too often become an incentive for new injustices. At the end of Great Expectations, the adult Estella makes a leap of moral insight beyond the facile psychology of revenge. She turns to her childhood friend Pip, who long had been infatuated with her: “suffering has been stronger than all other teaching, and has taught me to understand what your heart used to be.” The greater virtue is in understanding and reconciliation.
Fred Bauer is a writer from New England. His work has been featured in numerous publications, including The Weekly Standard and The Daily Caller. He also blogs at A Certain ... @fredbauerblog
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Business Day|Unions Rally to Oppose a Tax on Health Insurance
Unions Rally to Oppose a Tax on Health Insurance
By STEVEN GREENHOUSE JAN. 8, 2010
When millions of blue-collar workers were leaning toward John McCain during the 2008 campaign, labor unions moved many of them into Barack Obama’s column by repeatedly hammering one theme: Mr. McCain wanted to tax their health benefits.
But now labor leaders are fuming that President Obama has endorsed a tax on high-priced, employer-sponsored health insurance policies as a way to help cover the cost of health care reform. And as Senate and House leaders seek to negotiate a final health care bill, unions are pushing mightily to have that tax dropped from the legislation. Or at the very least, they want the price threshold raised so that the tax would affect fewer workers.
Labor leaders say the tax would hit not only wealthy executives with expensive health benefits, but also many rank-and-file union members who have often settled for lower wage increases in exchange for more generous health benefits.
The tax would affect individual insurance policies with annual premiums above $8,500 and family policies above $23,000, which by one union survey would affect one in four union members.
The House bill does not contain such an excise tax, and many House Democrats oppose adding it to the combined House-Senate legislation. But the tax is a critical revenue component in the Senate’s bill. If the bill does too little to cover its costs, it might be defeated. Many economists support the tax, saying it will help hold down costs.
With labor groups warning that the tax will infuriate a key part of the Democratic base — union members — President Obama has agreed to meet with several top labor leaders on Monday to address their concerns and try to defuse their anger. The group includes the presidents of the A.F.L.-C.I.O., Teamsters and the steelworkers’ and service employees’ unions.
But whether the tax is negotiable remains unclear. Not only has Mr. Obama specifically endorsed the idea, but the White House and Senate leaders see the tax as pivotal in paying for the health care overhaul and addressing runaway health care costs.
Members of the Transportation Workers Union listening to Barack Obama in Kansas City, Mo., in August 2008 during the presidential campaign. Credit Ozier Muhammad/The New York Times
Many Democrats and union officials fear that if both sides dig in on the issue, it could create a rift between the White House and labor — with some union leaders hinting they might lobby aggressively against the entire health care bill if it contains such a tax.
Union leaders have repeatedly warned the White House about the strong rank-and-file dismay, which could hurt the Democrats in Congressional elections this fall, especially in battleground states like Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
Ron Gay, an AT&T repairman in Youngstown, Ohio, who spent much of the summer of 2008 urging co-workers to vote for Mr. Obama, said, “If this passes in its current form, a lot of working people are going to feel let down and betrayed by our legislators and president.”
The Congressional Budget Office estimates that 19 percent of workers — or about 30 million employees — would be affected by the tax in 2016. Economists say most of them would be nonunion, although it is organized labor that has the lobbying clout to take a stand.
In recent days, labor’s strategy has become clear. Unions are urging their members to flood their representatives with e-mail messages and phone calls in the hope that the House will stand fast and reject the tax. The A.F.L.-C.I.O., a federation of nine million union members, has declared next Wednesday “National Call-In Day” asking workers to call their lawmakers to urge them not to tax health benefits. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters is urging members to tell their representatives that “such a tax is simply a massive middle-class tax hike that this nation’s working families should not be forced to endure.”
Many Democrats fear that enacting the tax will hurt their re-election chances.
“This would really have a negative impact on the Democratic base,” said Representative Joe Courtney, Democrat of Connecticut, who has enlisted 190 House Democrats to sign a letter opposing the tax. “As far as the message goes, it’s a real toughie to defend.”
While union leaders would prefer killing the tax, some say privately that they could live with it if the threshold is lifted to $27,000, say, or $30,000. They argue that many insurance policies above $23,000 are typical of the coverage in high-cost areas like New York or Boston, or policies that cover small businesses or employers with older workers.
An A.F.L.-C.I.O. ad warned union members that it believed voting for Senator John McCain in 2008 would be a mistake. Credit David Maxwell for The New York Times
According to a union survey, one in four members would be hit by a $23,000 threshold, but only one in 14 if the threshold were raised to $27,000.
White House officials, however, voice concern that raising the threshold that much would lose $50 billion of the $149 billion in revenue that the tax is expected to generate over 10 years.
Those officials and Senate leaders argue, moreover, that unions are wrong to fight the tax, saying that it will hold down health costs and that money employers save on health premiums will ultimately go to higher wages.
Some experts say the tax’s main effect would be to deter insurers from continually raising premiums. “This is a tax on insurance companies, not on workers,” said Erin Shields, an aide to Max Baucus, Democrat of Montana, who is chairman of the Senate Finance Committee and a chief sponsor of the excise tax.
“Health care costs are rising much faster than inflation,” Ms. Shields said. “Imposing this tax will help hold down costs because it will give employers an incentive to find a plan that falls beneath the threshold and will give insurers an incentive to offer the best possible plan below the threshold.”
Ms. Shields defended Mr. Obama, saying the excise tax he backs is far different from Senator McCain’s proposal. Mr. McCain called for eliminating tax breaks for employer-sponsored health benefits, replaced with a tax credit to help consumers obtain health insurance, Ms. Shields said.
She added that the measure Mr. Obama supports would tax only that part of a family policy above the $23,000 threshold — which would be taxed at a 40 percent rate.
Michael P. James, a steelworker, on Friday at his union's offices in Canton, Ohio. He is against a proposed health care tax. Credit David Maxwell for The New York Times
But union officials say the tax will cause employers to push higher co-payments and deductibles onto their employees. They argue that a fairer way to generate revenue would be to embrace the House bill, which imposes an income tax surcharge on couples earning more than $1 million.
Neither the House nor the Senate would seem to have much wiggle room on the issue.
Senator Ben Nelson, Democrat of Nebraska, has said he would oppose any bill containing the House’s surtax. His vote was crucial in enabling Senate Democrats to reach the 60 votes needed to pass the health bill over a potential Republican filibuster.
The House bill, meanwhile, passed by only a five-vote margin, and at least three Democrats who voted for it — Mr. Courtney, Phil Hare of Illinois and Carol Shea-Porter of New Hampshire — have said they would oppose a final bill if it contained an excise tax like the Senate version.
Jonathan Gruber, a Massachusetts Institute of Technology economist, predicted the excise tax would raise workers’ wages from 2010 to 2019. “There are many academic studies showing that when health costs rise, wages fall,” he said. “In the mid- and late 1990s, when we got health costs under control, wages rose nicely.” But he added that other factors could have also lifted wages during that period.
Leo W. Gerard, president of the United Steelworkers, scoffed at arguments that by restraining health costs, the tax would lead to higher wages.
“The people who are promoting this tax say companies will make up for this with higher wages,” Mr. Gerard said. “These people who say that have never been at the bargaining table. It doesn’t work that way.”
Robert Gleason, chairman of the Pennsylvania Republican Party, said Mr. Obama had made an about-face that would badly hurt the president and other Democrats. “You remember when the first President Bush said, ‘Read my lips, no new taxes,’ and he raised taxes and he went down to defeat,” he added. “This is the same thing.”
Michael P. James, a 57-year-old steelworker with the Timken Company in Canton, Ohio, campaigned for Mr. Obama and is seething about the tax.
“I don’t think we should be penalized by this bill,” Mr. James said. “The president would be going back on his word. If he goes ahead and passes a bill with the excise tax, I won’t be able to support him again.”
David M. Herszenhorn contributed reporting.
A version of this article appears in print on January 9, 2010, on Page B1 of the New York edition with the headline: Unions Rally to Oppose a Proposed Tax on Health Insurance. Order Reprints| Today's Paper|Subscribe
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On Believing Women vs. Believing Your Friend Dave Who Is Just, Like, Such a Good Guy
By Courtney Enlow | Think Pieces | November 22, 2017 |
Yesterday, we talked about Lena Dunham. And, believe me, I am very much done talking about her and would love to never talk about her again, but in six months she’ll probably talk out of her ass again, so we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it. That said, I want to talk about one aspect of the latest Lena mess that goes far beyond her.
In a society where disbelieving victims is the norm, only very recently—as in the last few months—have we seen a real push to change this narrative, to eliminate the default idea of the lying woman and the poor man accused of a heinous crime he simply could not have done, or if he did do, she must have been asking for it, or if he did do it and she was passed out in the street, he’s still a nice boy who deserves a future even though he ripped hers out from between her legs and destroyed it forever. The shift is slow and small, but it’s happening. Monsters are being seen as monsters. These evil humans, who have gotten off on ruining lives for decades, are finally facing some kind of consequence.
But I’m going to let you in on a secret: it’s not just the cut-and-dried monsters out there doing this. People can be terrible and nice. At the same time.
And that’s where Dunham and Jenni Konner come in. Because their friend was accused of rape. They like their friend. Their friend is good to them. Their friend has never, would never hurt them. He’s a good man. He couldn’t have done this. So she must be lying.
Lena Dunham is a wretched pińata of moronicisms. But she’s by no means alone in this line of thinking.
For some, the problem is rooted in toxic masculinity and entitlement to women’s bodies, and how seeped into our culture they are to the point where we accept up to a certain level of this as completely normal. Just “boys being boys.” When we hear about the massive list of things Harvey Weinstein did, most sensible humans possessing basic empathy know that it’s terrible. Because his crimes are clear cut. But as people’s notions of consent and what constitutes acceptable interactions with other people are challenged, this is where a sense of denial and confusion seems to be kicking in for a lot of men. Unwanted touching, sexually charged “jokes” and comments, even instances of coerced or nonconsensual sexual encounters, there are those who genuinely believe they did nothing wrong because they have always thought of this stuff as OK, because this is what they grew up around, saw on TV and in movies, and never thought to themselves “this isn’t OK.” They are only now having to face that they may have done terrible things to people, and when confronted with the idea you might not be a good person, people go on the defensive. They diminish, they minimize, either knowingly or genuinely believing what they did wasn’t that bad. And their friends, because they love them, believe them. Because no one wants to believe someone they trust could do this kind of thing.
And then there’s just your standard sociopaths. People who pretend to be good and kind but aren’t. They’re manipulative, and they’re good at it. And their friends, because they love them and because they’ve been conditioned by this person, believe them. Because no one wants to believe someone they trust could do this kind of thing.
People are capable of kindness and warmth and capable of committing unspeakable acts. Your mileage may vary on how much you’re willing to forgive and ignore. But when all else fails, listen to the victims and try believing.
Header via feministmemes.tumblr.com.
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By Abbie Kraft, Parent Herald April 11, 05:25 am
TAG Rahm Emanuel, Mayor Rahm Emanuel, education, higher education
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel went through boiling waters after he gathered negative feedback for his plan to update the high school graduation requirements. Parents and other school officials were disappointed with the changes as they mentioned that Emanuel seems to disregard their needs and the problems they face due to institutional discrimination.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced his plans in raising the bar in terms of high school graduation requirements. He mentioned that part of the new graduation plan includes a college acceptance letter; a military acceptance/enlistment letter; acceptance at a job program (e.g. coding boot camp); acceptance into a trades pre-apprenticeship/apprenticeship; acceptance into a "gap-year" program; or current job/job offer letter, as per NPR.
The new high school graduation requirement plan is tagged as "Learn, Plan, Succeed- A Degree For Life." His plans are said to be rolled out by 2020.
Emanuel's plan, however, earned negative feedback, especially among black and Latino communities. Reports claimed that students who belonged to black and Latino families are often deprived of their privileges to enter college. Moreover, these students were often caught struggling as they attend under-resourced and overcrowded high school campuses.
Reports explained that the main goal of the new graduation requirement is to challenge the children's mindset. According to the Chicago Tribune, parents were also being encouraged to push their students to effectively perform in school and exert value into their education.
"Just like you do with your children, college, post-high school, that is what's expected," Emanuel said at a Wednesday morning news conference. "If you change expectations, it's not hard for kids to adapt."
Gaining a college acceptance letter is said to be one of the most difficult things to attain for the high school students belonging to the black and Latino communities as discrimination may be unavoided. His proposal surprises education experts who questioned his motives. It is still uncertain if his plans will be rolled out but the negative feedback for the new requirements can potentially make the implementation challenging.
The Importance Of Education Among Immigrants In The United States
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Understanding Dyslexia And How Far It Has Gone In The Field Of Education
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