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← A comedian could be Ukraine’s next president. How did that happen?
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A Fiasco for the Conservative Left: on the Presidential Elections in Slovakia
by Lea Vajsova
Originally published in Bulgarian in Baricada.org. Translated for LeftEast by Kamelia Tzeneva.
A fiasco for the conservative left
The candidate of the extra-parliamentary party “Progressive Slovakia” Zuzana Čaputová is the new president of the country. Despite her victory, the extreme right manages to set the tone for political debate.
The news that Slovakia will be headed by a woman for the first time travelled around all global media channels this weekend. The lawyer and environmental activist Zuzana Čaputová, from the extra-parliamentary party “Progressive Slovakia,” got 58,40% of the votes in the second round, compared to 41,58% for Maroš Šefčovič from the ruling party Smer-SD. Šefčovič, who is an European Commissioner for Energy, was already lagging considerably in the first round, but the potential flow of votes from those oriented towards the far right offered a chance for him to catch up with Čaputová. The ones in question, however, decided to stay at home – voting activity reached a record low of 41,79%. Practically speaking, Čaputová is supported by 24,39% of the people eligible to vote.
Despite its social democratic profile and membership in the Party of European Socialists, Smer-SD, until the very end, made an effort to activate and consolidate … the conservative vote. It was in the last two days before the elections that a sequence of events took place which raised the levels of political tension. One of the coalition partners of Smer-SD in the current government – the Slovak National Party (SNS), headed by Andrej Danko, put a proposition on the daily agenda in parliament on Thursday, 28 March.This was a proposition for the government not to consider r ratifying the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence. An eagerness for Slovakia to withdraw its signature from the agreement, also known as the Istanbul Convention, was also stated. According to the SNS, it contradicts the constitution, which states that marriage can only be entered into by a man and a woman.
101 of 133 attending MPs voted against the government starting the process of ratification. Slovakia still has not withdrawn its signature, however, and the document hasn’t been sent to the Constitutional Court. Thus the possibility remains for it to be reintroduced for a vote in the National Assembly with the formation of a new government. The circumstances that developed so quickly around the Istanbul Convention are an unambiguous attempt on part of Smer-SD to discredit Čaputová, fuelling fears of “gender ideology”, since she supports the legalisation of cohabitation and adoption by same-sex couples. The leader of the social democrats, Robert Fico, even cautioned that he would outlaw adoption by gay couples, which according to him, is “perverse,”with a constitutional law.
It is a different matter how Fico himself changes positions situationally when it comes to the Istanbul Convention. More than a year ago, in the role of Prime Minister, Fico defended the document with an argument also maintained by Šefčovič, namely, that “Arabs” are sexually harassing “our women” whom we need to keep safe. This islamophobic perspective on the issue of violence against women is present in other European countries. It is thus that, for example, in neighbouring Austria, where the ruling Austrian coalition of conservatives and the far right is in power, introduced heavier punishments for sexual assault, underlining precisely the participation of “foreigners” in their commitment.
But let’s go back to Slovakia where, on the very same day, along with the rejection of the Istanbul Convention, another important political decision was made. After 6 months of postponing, negotiations and discussions, Smer-SD managed to introduce a cap on the retirement age at 64. It will be explicitly included in the Constitution that a raise in the age is not allowed, as it would condemn people to “death of old age near the machines”, in Fico’s words. Simultaneously, a lowering of the retirement age is planned for women, according to the number of children she has raised. With one child this would be 63.5 years, with two – 63 years, and with three or more – 62.5.
This urged discussions about whether raising children and the ensuing lowering of the retirement age should be explicitly bound to the parent’s gender. The worry here is that this wording will be discriminatory against both women and men. It imposes responsibility for child-rearing solely on women and also, albeit indirectly, binds maternity to biological childbirth. On the other hand, men who are single parents will not be rewarded with a lowering of their retirement age. Thirdly, there is the question of what constitutes “raising”, as problematic arguments have been made according to which a child is “raised” only on the condition that he or she has successfully passed a matriculation exam.
The message that women will be given stimulus by the state to give birth with reference to the solving of the demographic crisis resonated in the pre-election environment. Emphasis the topic of birth rate could be interpreted as an indirect attack on Čaputová, who has a clear position against the banning of abortion. She sees in the ban a revocation the right of women to govern their own bodies. The topic of abortions has surfaced more than once in public and political debates in Slovakia. The outright fascist Marian Kotleba, who got 10% in the first round of the presidential elections and thus came in fourth, made two unsuccessful attempts to carry out changes in the law in the direction of restrictions and a ban.
ALSO BY THIS AUTHOR:
Lea Vajsova: There are now ruptures thro ..
On the day before the elections – 29 March, the cabinet issued another important message – their will for a tax reform. Along with the demographic crisis, tax reform was at the core of the pre-election debate. All sorts of ideas were put on the table which are yet to be the object of in-depth discussions, considering Slovakia’s economy, which is driven mainly by automotive manufacturing. Ideas about lowering the corporate tax from the current 21% to 15% were discussed; as was the possibility to lower taxes for workers through a decrease in income tax. The introduction of 10% VAT on all foods (at the moment Slovakia has differentiated VAT which means that the 10% applies only to some basic goods; for the rest the rate is 20%) was discussed, as well as a decrease in the rate of VAT for print media from 20% to 10%, an increase in Christmas allowances for pensioners from €100 to €200; and an increase in the minimum wage from €520 to €600, among others.
Despite these last couple of politically charged days of the pre-election period, Smer-SD obviously didn’t manage to accumulate support for their candidate Šefčovič. Despite the fact that it wasn’t mobilised on the day of the vote, the electoral potential of the far right remains an important factor and manages to guide the political agenda. This is why Čaputová’s victory should not be necessarily perceived as indicative of a future to come – it is more than visible that in the country there is a serious niche for anti-systemic and, at the same time, perhaps outright fascist political players.
In relation to this, the Supreme Court is faced with an extremely important decision – in April it will have to decide whether Kotleba’s organisation “People’s Party – Our Slovakia” is unconstitutional. And, of course, we are yet to find out whether Čaputová will succeed in establishing herself in the presidential post so that she can steer politics in the country.
Lea Vajsova is an Assistant Professor in Sociology at Sofia University. Her research interests are in critical social theory and social movements. She is a member of LevFem, a left-feminist collective.
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Author Speaker Journalist
Kenn is a New York Times bestselling author on technology and business, a journalist at The Economist (and host of its weekly tech podcast), and a regular keynote speaker. He’s also an associate fellow at University of Oxford’s Said Business School.
Big Data and the Future of Business
BBVA BOOK CHAPTER, 2015: More isn’t just more. More is new. More is better. More is different. As businesses can collect, store and process more data, this changes what they do, how value is created and how organizations are run.
China vs US for AI supremacy
THE ECONOMIST, 2018: CHINA’S “Sputnik moment” came on May 27th 2017. On that day an algorithm thrashed Ke Jie, the world’s best player of Go, an ancient and demanding Chinese board game. Mr Ke’s defeat by AlphaGo, an artificial…
The Economic Implications of AI
CHATHAM HOUSE, 2018: Artificial intelligence will shake up the economy in counter-intuitive ways. It may dramatically increase productivity and potentially even create jobs. But poor countries’ development model may be clobbered.
Kenn regularly serves as a keynote speaker, on-stage interviewer and an after-dinner speaker at public and private events. Clients range from inter-governmental meetings to Fortune 500 companies.
Big Data: A Revolution that Will Transform How We Live, Work, and Think, coauthored with Viktor Mayer-Schönberger, was a New York Times bestseller, translated into 21 languages and a finalist for the Financial Times and McKinsey Business Book of the Year Award.
Cukier and Mayer-Schönberger published a follow-on work in 2014, Learning With Big Data: The Future of Education.
EMAIL: KN@CUKIER.COM
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Art and Archaeology Interviews
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DIDIER SPINDLER AND HIS PIECES OF HAPPINESS
By Patricia Boccadoro
LES SAINTES, GUADELOUPE, 17 March 2006—An exhibition of the paintings of French artist Didier Spindler was held at B8 in the Meatpacking District of New York in January last year and he is currently working on a exhibition for Paris this coming October, but it is at his island home in the French West Indies that his works can be seen in all their force and splendour.
Spindler was born forty-three years ago in the town of St. Die in the Vosges mountains, in South-Eastern France. He began painting the snow-capped houses and valleys around him when he was a child, and held his first exhibition at the age of sixteen in the local village hall at Vittel. However, he began working in a shop specialising in antiques and art, and it wasn't until a few years later, in 1985, when he came to stay with an uncle who lived in Guadeloupe that he discovered not only his vocation, but what he calls, "a whole new way of life".
Didier Spindler in his atelier
Photo: Yves Boccadoro
"I'd always enjoyed painting with colours", he told me in his small studio adjoining the attractive auberge he runs on the pretty island of Terre-de-Haut in Les Saintes, "and when I arrived here it was a revelation. I just looked at everything around, the crimson hibiscus, the pink, red and purple bougainvillea and frangipanis. I couldn't take my eyes away from the colourful house-fronts, in green, yellow, blue and orange, and I was overwhelmed by the brilliance of the light, the fragrances and the joy of living here. "
He opened a restaurant with the help of a friend where, alongside local dishes, he began to display his paintings, bold, bright, generous, and bursting with laughter. "Pieces of happiness to put on your walls", he says. People noticed them, and local exhibitions followed.
"I think that people like the colours and gaiety that emanate from my works," he said. "Only this morning I had a phone call from a man who had bought one; he wanted to tell me that it brought a smile to his lips on a dank morning in Europe. I'm always happy when painting and apparently it's contagious. I see life in colours and never wear black or grey like the majority of Parisians. Even on a trip to Paris in winter, my shirt will be red! Colour is the force of life."
Didier Spindler
Didier Spindler, who admits to an inability to draw, is completely self-taught. He favours oils which he has learnt to handle by experience and uses a palette knife as opposed to a brush, finishing off his large canvasses with his fingers more often than not.
"I never know what I'm going to paint before starting ", he told me, "and even after the work is completed, I look at it before deciding what it is. Sometimes, when I see them hanging in exhibitions, I notice things I haven't seen before. My work simply takes me elsewhere, and what I create is spontaneous. It's a game. I suppose I've simply never grown up", he explained. I've kept a child's view of things with my love of bright colours and light, and I let the viewer's imagination take over."
"Look", he said suddenly, pointing to one of his great canvasses, "we can see a boat there, and it's reflected on the water, but I didn't see that when I painted it. Moreover, I rarely re-touch things. It's odd, really, because more often than not, I paint at night. I've the colours in my mind and I like the emotion of the darkness around me."
Strolling around, I stood and looked at another work, entitled simply, Window . Through it, Spindler brings forth flowers with no stems, captures birds with no branches, and asks the almond to flower in winter as he sprinkles snow on hot sand. Painting, he says, is like poetry or music, you just look and listen. It can't be explained.
Patricia Boccadoro is a senior editor at Culturekiosque.com
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'Masterclass' reveals a new side to the revolutionary photographer
Roy Flukinger, senior research curator at the Harry Ransom Center, gives a tour of the “Arnold Newman: Masterclass” exhibition as a part of their tour training. The exhibition will be open until May 12.
Photo Credit: Amy Zhang | Daily Texan Staff
Arnold Newman
Harry Ransom Center
Roy Flukinger
Published on February 13, 2013 at 10:29 pm Last update on February 14, 2013 at 12:13 am
By Olivia Arena
“Pictures of People” was the phrase used by Arnold Newman to describe his revolutionary style of portraiture. With subjects ranging from President John F. Kennedy to Georgia O’Keeffe, Newman was known throughout the twentieth century for conveying the true character and nature of his subjects by emphasizing the environments in which they worked or lived. Roy Flukinger, the senior research curator at the Harry Ransom Center, worked to compile the first posthumous exhibit of Newman’s work, “Arnold Newman: Masterclass”. He discusses Newman’s ideology and how environmental portraiture influenced photography in the twentieth century.
The Daily Texan: Newman was known for his style of portrait known as environmental portraiture. What made this style of portrait so revolutionary?
Roy Flukinger: At the time, the accepted portrait tradition was to work within a clean, neutral studio setting and to shoot one’s subject against a white or somewhat gray background. Newman’s style was revolutionary because he deliberately chose to depict and interpret his subjects within a off-site place customarily related to their work or profession. His settings were therefore much more complex and aesthetically intriguing — and found great popularity with both editors and the
general public.
DT: What elements of his work does the show include? What is the focus of the show?
Flukinger: Primarily, the exhibition shows around 200 of his masterworks from all aspects of his professional career. In addition to the portraits there are a number of his early images — chiefly abstractions and documentary works — as well as a selection of contact sheets showing the evolution of sittings for a few of his portrait sessions. Also of significance are a number of cases which contain manuscripts, photographs, periodicals and assorted memorabilia which came directly from the Arnold Newman archive which is housed here in the Center. It attempts to give a certain perspective to his entire life. The focus of the show is to reveal new aspects of his overall art throughout his life, a deeper sense of not only his honesty and his compassion.
DT: “Masterclass” is the title of the exhibit and plays on the importance Newman gave to education. How did education and instruction factor into Newman’s idea of life and photography?
Flukinger: He was always accessible to other photographers and assistants who he trained in the art and technique of photography. He taught at many workshops. He was constantly fascinated by students and their work.
DT: How does the show educate viewers?
Flukinger: Newman was a strong advocate for education, and I like to think that he would readily approve of the way the exhibition teaches visitors about photography in general and his own exceptional work in particular. Viewing his artworks, one can see how he worked with subjects and materials, how he made the deliberate and critical selections that reflected the artistry of his portraiture, and what went into the all the myriad visual elements that represented his industry and his elegant vision. Plus, we have attempted to hang the show in such a manner that the viewer can experience the individual works more closely and learn from their own comparisons and observations as well.
DT: Were there benefits to Newman’s techniques?
Flukinger: He took his time, and he was very deliberate. He didn’t want them [his subjects] to feel uncomfortable, so he worked with them until they felt comfortable. If he met someone to act difficult he would work with them until he got them into the face he wanted. That deliberateness helped me take a correct picture of the person.
DT: Were his subjects accepting of his work?
Flukinger: Well, let’s just say that the early painters were so content with his work that they would trade their artwork for his portrait. He was paid by them with a piece of their artwork.
DT: How was he perceived by the public?
Flukinger: He was very popular from the beginning. He emerged through picture press in the art world in 1946, and it was something that was immediately effective in terms of his impact with people and news and feature media. He was a man with a particularly unique vision. He was always noticed by the public at the time because of the style of portraiture was pretty popular. He was accepted in an age when not many photographers were. He was capable of showing not only the face of a person but also his character.
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Herring and Northam Say Stillborn Baby Not Human
By now, Virginians have come to understand that the abortion industry can look at a beating heart, watch a preborn child move his/her arms and legs in the womb, and still deny that it is a human. While their “blob of tissue” explanation has been scientifically shattered, they have been relentless in their denial of life, including an aggressive political campaign to ensure that women who have an ultrasound are prevented from viewing it. However, it’s still a little shocking to watch abortion sympathizers look at a human body outside the womb and still claim it is not a human being. Among those who are that extreme are several Virginia politicians, namely Governor Ralph Northam and Attorney General Mark Herring.
Last month, Judge Chafin of the Franklin County Circuit Court issued an opinion confirming that a 30-32 week old stillborn child whose body was secretly discarded by its mother, Katherine Dellis, is in fact a human body and that its mother had therefore violated the law against concealing a dead body.
As I read the judge’s decision, I was, at the time, impressed that despite AG Herring’s deep political ties to the abortion industry, that his office had upheld the law and legally defended this stillborn child as a human being for the purposes of prosecution.
However, within just 3 short weeks of the judge’s ruling, Governor Northam requested an official opinion on the matter from the Attorney General’s Office in order to create the opportunity for Herring to reverse his office’s legal work and align themselves with the abortion industry. Making an opposite argument as they had in the court case, this new AG Opinion draws the conclusion that a “fetus,” even one that has been delivered and is outside the womb at 30+ weeks, is not a dead body. On Friday, Governor Northam took the extraordinary step of officially pardoning Katherine Dellis.
As one who has experienced loss from an ectopic pregnancy and who routinely shares the tears of mothers who have lost children through miscarriage and stillbirth, this official opinion is not only legally and morally wrong, it is inhuman and uncompassionate. These women have lost real human beings and those who have delivered a stillborn child know exactly how human their child was.
His opinion and the subsequent pardoning fly in the face of the fact that the Virginia Code goes to great lengths to address fetal death and even includes abortion in that definition in certain Code sections.
As I told Lawyer’s Weekly and the Washington Post when asked to comment on the unusual situation, Virginians should be alarmed that Attorney General Herring and Governor Northam have once again shown loyalty to their political base, not the law. Attorney General Herring ran on a platform of de-politicizing the office, but during his tenure he has done just the opposite.
Virginians’ representatives have articulated in statutes what human life is and our Attorney General must get his understanding of life from the law, not the abortion industry. Letting those who kill unborn children in the womb define who is and is not a dead body outside the womb is beyond unacceptable.
The NEA Finally Admitted It!
Last month the National Education Association (NEA) adopted Business Item 56 that makes official its support for abortion – something we have suspected for years. Once again, the NEA, and by extension the Virginia Education Association (VEA), have shown us that they are less about education and more about advancing an ideologically liberal agenda. This has become abundantly clear in their VEA fund endorsements made earlier this year, a list where you won’t find a single pro-life candidate.
Business Item 56 states the following:
“Furthermore, the NEA will include an assertion of our defense of a person's right to control their own body, especially for women, youth, and sexually marginalized people. The NEA vigorously opposes all attacks on the right to choose and stands on the fundamental right to abortion under Roe v. Wade.”
On average, a public school teacher pays the NEA $192 in annual dues. In return teachers are able to take advantage of benefits like shopping discounts, life insurance plans, and student loan forgiveness programs. The NEA, despite their best efforts to convince us otherwise, uses the dues to pay for political activities that often conflict with a teacher’s personal convictions. Now with the adoption of Business Item 56, the NEA will use a percentage of teachers’ dues to fund its political activities to specifically promote abortion.
The NEA, the largest teachers’ union in the United States with 2.2 million members, says its mission is to “advocate for education professionals and to unite our members and the nation to fulfill the promise of public education to prepare every student to succeed in a diverse and interdependent world.” Clearly their adoption of an organizational policy supporting Roe v. Wade and the abortion industry is inconsistent with its stated mission and elevates a liberal ideology above the interests of its members. The position expressed by the NEA will be in direct conflict with the values and principles that many teachers hold regarding the sanctity of life.
But there are several alternatives to the NEA without the political agenda. That’s right, a public school teacher doesn’t have to join the NEA to receive helpful benefits and be part of a network of likeminded teachers dedicated to teaching our youth.
Instead public school teachers should consider joining one of the following groups:
1. American Association of Educators (AAE) - AAE is a non-profit professional association that serves thousands of teachers across the country. They describe themselves as a “national, non-union, professional educators' organization, advancing the profession by offering a modern approach to teacher representation” that seeks to promote professionalism, collaboration and excellence without a partisan agenda.” (Emphasis added.)
As a member of AAE, a teacher will receive many of the same benefits that the NEA “promises,” including liability insurance, shopping discounts, scholarships, grants, and legal services, but with a lower annual membership fee.
2. Christian Educators Association International (CEAI) – A teacher interested in being part of a Christian-based organization should consider CEAI, which offers many of the same benefits but with a missional component. In addition to membership benefits such as legal services, insurance and store discounts, CEAI provides a ministry to equip teachers to be “missional educational leaders.”
3. Virginia Professional Educators - VPE is a nonprofit professional group for Virginia teachers that also provides many of the same benefits the VEA offers, but at a lower cost and without the “partisan politics and controversial social agendas of teacher unions.” VPE is a growing professional group for teachers with several thousand members.
It’s time to dismantle the illusion that the only professional group for teachers is the NEA. Teachers should be made aware that there are other groups that offer professional development without the stress of being connected to political positions that may conflict with their personal beliefs.
Changing Hearts and Minds About Abortion
A majority of Americans are decidedly not “pro-choice.” This is according to a recent Gallup poll in which 49% of respondents reported that they consider themselves pro-life, compared to 46% who identify as “pro-choice.” This marks the first time since 2013 that a majority of survey respondents in a major poll identify as pro-life.
The notable shift in polling shows that hearts and minds can be and are being changed, which is arguably more important than any law we could pass. You see, we don’t have to wait until the legislature passes laws that limit abortions or until Roe v. Wade is overturned in order to end this scourge on our society, though we should still work diligently to make those happen. We can actually have an immediate impact in our communities by changing the hearts and minds of people on this issue.
That being said, public opinion on abortion has no doubt had a significant impact on abortion policies across the country, resulting in a flurry of laws aimed at either curbing abortion or expanding it.
The ideological Left and abortion advocates nationwide are going crazy over new laws in Alabama, Georgia, and Missouri that establish important restrictions on abortion in those states. So much so, that they are passing their own radical abortion-on-demand bills in states like Illinois and New York that will allow abortion for any reason up until the moment of birth.
The issue of abortion has become so heated of late that in response to Georgia’s “Heartbeat Bill”, Hollywood is actually boycotting the state. Hollywood elites and abortion proponents seem to be concerned about the strong possibility that a case will come before the U.S. Supreme Court that challenges its current Roe v. Wade precedence, especially as the makeup of the Court is trending more and more strict constructionist.
Last month we concluded our “No Pink Lights Over Richmond Tour” around the Commonwealth in which we discussed legislation concerning the sanctity of life. We were encouraged to receive positive feedback and great participation. During the Q&A Session following one of the presentations, a participant asked what our thoughts were on the recent heartbeat legislation being pushed in other states and whether we could expect something like that here in Virginia. Given what transpired in Virginia this year, it would not be surprising to see “Heartbeat” legislation introduced next year. But let’s more fully unpack the context of the heartbeat legislation.
In an attempt to start the process of challenging Roe v. Wade, Alabama passed a law that makes it a felony to perform an abortion except in cases when the mother’s life is in danger, effectively eliminating the practice of abortion in the state. Governor Kay Ivey signed the bill into law on May 15, 2019 and issued the following statement:
"No matter one's personal view on abortion, we can all recognize that, at least for the short term, this bill may similarly be unenforceable. As citizens of this great country, we must always respect the authority of the U.S. Supreme Court even when we disagree with their decisions. Many Americans, myself included, disagreed when Roe v. Wade was handed down in 1973. The sponsors of this bill believe that it is time, once again, for the U.S. Supreme Court to revisit this important matter, and they believe this act may bring about the best opportunity for this to occur."
The Alabama law sets in motion what will inevitably become a contentious and long legal battle that will take years to traverse the court system. Only time will tell if the case ever makes it to the U.S. Supreme Court. Regardless, this law was clearly a bold move to return the issue of abortion back to the states by forcing the Supreme Court to finally reconsider (and overturn) the landmark 1973 decision.
Meanwhile, at the federal level, Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) introduced the “Abortion is Not Health Care Act”, which could disincentivize some abortions by disallowing taxpayers from deducting abortion costs from their taxable income. Under Section 213 of the Internal Revenue Code, abortion expenses paid during the taxable year that were not covered by insurance, by the taxpayer, his/her spouse, or a dependent may be deducted from income if they exceed 7.5% of their adjusted gross income.
These legislative actions represent two important approaches to policy-making with slightly different intended purposes. The first approach, which is the primary purpose of the Alabama law, is to impose certain restrictions on abortion that would trigger a legal challenge that is intended to reach the Supreme Court. The second approach is a pragmatic form of policy-making meant to restrict, defund, and limit abortions. While the later approach doesn’t strike at the heart of the abortion issue like the Alabama law, it is extremely valuable for keeping an abortion industry that desperately wants conduct its activities uninhibited in check.
For example, the legislature in Virginia has incrementally imposed vital protections for mothers, such as informed consent, 24 hour waiting periods, requirements that second trimester abortions to be performed in hospitals, and ultrasound requirements, to name a few. These pragmatic laws force abortion providers to follow strict rules so as to at least ensure the safety and informed consent of vulnerable women considering such a consequential decision. For the abortion industry, however, they are seen as an impediment to more profit. These achievements didn’t happen overnight, and they could easily be eliminated if legislation like Delegate Kathy Tran’s bill (HB 2491) is ever passed.
We know these vital protections and safety standards work because they were vigorously challenged by the abortion industry in Falls Church Women’s Center v. Oliver. For a summary of this case and what happened during the bench trial, you can read our blog posts “Falls Church v. Oliver", "The Plaintiffs Rest", "Defense Makes Its Case", and “Case Closed”.
The reality is that until the Supreme Court is filled with the right-minded judicial philosophy necessary to overturn Roe v. Wade precedence, we must continue to share our hearts for the unborn and exercise compassion for mothers struggling with this decision.That’s where the greatest change is going to happen.
Case Closed. Decision Still to Come.
Yesterday, abortion industry and the private counsel hired to defend Virginia’s laws made their closing arguments in federal district court in Falls Church Medical Center v. Oliver, wrapping up a grueling two-week trial in which nearly all our state’s pro-life laws hang in the balance. My team and I, including our five new summer interns, were in the courtroom to witness every word.
After failing year after year to pass legislation to achieve their ultimate goal of unfettered access to taxpayer-funded abortions performed by anyone in facilities with no oversight up until the moment of birth, the abortion industry turned to the courts – targeting Virginia to be its precedent-setting case in that goal. For a quick refresher on the overall case and some of what happened before and during the trial, be sure to look back at our blog posts. (“Surprise Miracle”, “Falls Church v. Oliver”, “The Plaintiffs Rest” and “Defense Makes Its Case”)
In yesterday’s closing statement, the lawyer for Planned Parenthood, NARAL, and Whole Women’s Health gave frankly an overstated, over-confident, and oversimplified summary of the facts in this case and how the U.S. Supreme Court’s precedents supposedly require the judge to totally throw out all of the following Virginia laws (some on the books since 1975):
- “Window to the Womb" ultrasound law providing a woman the opportunity to view her ultrasound and hear the fetal heart tone if she wishes
- Abortion informed consent materials
- A 24-hour wait period after the ultrasound and prior to an abortion
- All abortion center health and safety regulations
- The requirement for 2nd trimester abortions to be done in hospitals, and
- The requirement for having actual physicians perform the abortion procedure
Despite how reasonable these safeguards are for ensuring the health, safety, and informed consent of vulnerable women facing this permanent – and often conflicted – decision, the abortion industry has proven its willingness to sacrifice anything, and anyone, for the sake of money and power. It's quite revealing that the same industry that purports to be about women's health is doing everything it can to strip away things like health and safety standards, informed consent, and requirements that medical doctors be the ones to perform an invasive surgery. We pray that Judge Hudson sees right through the hollow (yet slick) legal arguments of the Plaintiffs. If his questions from the bench were any signal, we sense that on most of the issues involved, he does.
The attorney defending our laws kept her closing much more direct, succinct, and generally had solid legal arguments. The Defense’s closing highlighted the evidence throughout the trial, even brought forward by some of the Plaintiffs’ witnesses, that safety standards have greatly improved the facilities doing the invasive surgery of abortion, that ultrasound is a critical element of the abortion procedure, and that physicians are uniquely qualified to perform all types of abortion and deal with all potential complications.
Significantly, the Defense pointed out that the Plaintiffs did not put forward even a single Virginia woman of child-bearing age who could demonstrate any burden whatsoever in her ability to obtain an abortion as a result of these laws. “If there were such a woman,” said the Defense attorney, “surely the Plaintiffs, who perform abortions all across the Commonwealth every single day, would be able to provide one.” But they couldn’t. That is more than a little problematic for the Plaintiffs when the legal standard they must demonstrate is an “undue burden” on an actual woman pursuing abortion.
While some important points were omitted from her closing and several points were conceded unnecessarily (this was the Attorney General’s hired counsel, mind you), the attorney definitely put forward a laudable and even compelling defense of the laws. And that was encouraging.
Now that the trial is over and all the documents and evidence are in, we are left only to pray for Judge Hudson’s wise discernment, his respect for our laws and the Constitution, and that he has a true appreciation for the gravity of his decision in terms of its impact on the lives and health of women, unborn children, federalism and the rule of law. Please join us in that prayer over the next several weeks.
Whatever the outcome of this case, The Family Foundation will remain ever-vigilant on behalf of Virginia families for the protection and promotion of every human life, and especially those most vulnerable among us. As soon as we learn of a decision in this case, we’ll let you know.
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Ferguson Truth
The DOJ Lawsuit and Proposed Consent Decree
The DOJ Report on Ferguson
The DOJ and East Haven, CT
We Have A Signed Consent Decree
The Ferguson Decree has been approved by Federal Judge Perry. It is something we can live with and much of it will make us a better city. More work is to be done.
There is much to do, on many fronts. Please continue to support the City in its progression of the Decree. We will continue to push for transparency from the Department of Justice, a slow process but something worth pursuing. Updates will be posted on Ferguson Truth Website and Facebook.
It’s been a long year and a half. Ferguson Truth came to be due to the frustrations residents and those who support us felt with the distortions of the Department of Justice and the biased portrayal of Ferguson in the press. We wanted ensure that there was someone was standing up for the Ferguson that is, the diverse, friendly community. We wanted to make sure there was another voice supporting the City in its negotiations with the DOJ, that a light was being shined on the actions and lack of transparency of the DOJ and the inaccuracy of their inaccuracies.
We want to thank those that support our cause. Residents and those who support Ferguson showed their love of Ferguson by posting their own experiences and thoughts to helping us to spread the message. We very much appreciate those able attend and participate Ferguson council meetings and many other organizations that help Ferguson move forward.
We especially want to thank those that came to the Fairness Hearing on Tuesday. It was important for the Judge to hear from the residents of Ferguson that love the City and are proud to stand up and speak on its behalf. It was important that the judge hear from many residents about the intimidation and verbal abuse that has deterred participation.
Thank you everyone, for all of the help, support and prayers. We are proud of our City, and we are proud of our many wonderful residents and non-resident supporters that stood up for fairness and the truth.
Help Ferguson Get the Truth Out
Beginning with Eric Holder announcing the Department of Justice’s “searing” report, the DOJ has selectively collected and presented information to paint Ferguson as racist and abusive. Ferguson Truth was formed to push for transparency and truth from the Department of Justice, to counteract this distorted narrative that the DOJ created.
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The Torch Theatre is a modern and vibrant centre for the arts situated in Milford Haven, priding itself on extending a warm Pembrokeshire welcome to all visitors.
In 2006 the theatre commenced a £5million redevelopment, which was completed in 2008 with two performances spaces including the Main Theatre and a new 102 seat Studio Theatre. The new Torch also houses a gallery, café and state of the art digital cinema technology with 3D capabilities.
The Torch Theatre now offers over 900 shows, films, art exhibitions and live broadcasts annually to audiences in excess of 70,000.
Sunset Cinema: A season of classic films screened outdoors. Click here & here for more info.
'Great Dames’ Season: Offering a special season of British cinema which surrounds International Women's Day. Click here for more info.
Film Hub Wales members enjoy many benefits.
You can find out more and sign-up here.
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Texas In July’s new self-titled album streaming in full at RevolverMag.com!
Texas In July has partnered with Revolver Magazine for the advance streaming debut of the band’s new full-length album, which officially comes out next Tuesday.
The self-titled album can be streamed in its entirety at RevolverMag.com and will be available in stores and online on October 9 via Equal Vision Records. Pre-orders are available through MerchNOW HERE and feature a wide variety of bundle options and exclusive items such as handwritten lyrics, signed CDs, lithograph posters, dog tags, t-shirts, hoodies, and more. All pre-order bundles also include an immediate download of the band’s single “Cry Wolf”.
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International Women’s Day: A Celebration of Women and Nature
Posted on 8th Mar 2019
“We are the guardians of the territories, of the rivers, of the continuity of life.”
- Ana Maria Hernandez,
Land defender and director of grantee partner Consortio Oaxaca.
Women and nature have always been associated with each other, both metaphorically as in “ Mother Earth ” or “virgin forest”, and sociologically as been the ones ‘closer to nature’ as in taking care of life, including bearing children, nurturing plants and animals, and caring for the elderly and sick people.
As we aim to once again celebrate International Women’s Day this 8th of March , we should do more to give fair recognition to those women who have dedicated their lives to preserve life and our environment for the good of all generations, present, and future.
The fight for women’s rights and equality is a noble one that should be part of everyone’s agenda, as the fight to protect our mother Earth should be.
When these two causes meet, notable women stand out as inspirational leaders who create change and promote life and its preservation.
Sustainability, recycling, innovation, green practices, protection of resources, policy change, etc. Let’s make International Women’s Day a perfect excuse to celebrate nature and those ladies who fight for it.
Juliet Davenport - Founder & CEO of Good Energy
Juliet is essential in the journey of helping Britain become 100% renewable. Her company, Good Energy, is a 100% renewable electricity supplier, investor, and generator. Good Energy supplies electricity to more than 50,000 customers, gas to 24,000 customers and supports over 73,000 homes, businesses and communities generating their own energy.
It’s an important step in the right direction and there’s still a lot to do. To put it in her own words, “it requires fundamental changes to the way energy is generated and used. But we believe it’s possible.”
Mindy Lubber - CEO of Ceres
As head of Ceres, a nonprofit organization that has been advocating for sustainability leadership for 25 years , Mindy has impactfully advocated for sustainability leadership and the interconnection between economic development with social and environmental sustainability.
Mindy has managed to convince investors, NGOs and Fortune 500 company CEOs to adopt far-reaching positions on corporate practices to protect human rights and to minimize carbon emissions, water use, and other environmental impacts.
KoAnn Vikoren Skrzyniarz - Founder & CEO of Sustainable Life Media/Sustainable Brands
KoAnn is a pioneer in the intersection of environmental and human issues in business. She’s built a global community of leaders who are changing the face and purpose of business.
She constantly writes, speaks, and encourages 21st-century brands to deliver new business value through innovation for environmental and social purposes. She is a key element in the shift in consumer demand and the opportunity for brands to respond by changing the way they think and delivering against their role in society.
Mary Robinson - President of the Mary Robinson Foundation/Climate Justice
Mary has championed several initiatives throughout her life to promote equality, justice, and human rights for several decades. She was the first female president of Ireland, a former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, and a member of The Elders, an exclusive group tasked with tackling global challenges.
As president of the Mary Robinson Foundation - Climate Justice - she aims to amplify the voices of poor and vulnerable communities to provide leadership on climate change and human rights issues.
The goal of the foundation is to forge lasting connections between sustainable developments and human rights disciplines to tackle climate justice issues.
Ecology Packaging
Linda and Aliece, two women who over ten years ago decided to embark on the adventure of producing eco-friendly packaging products that focus on reducing waste. They offer a line of products that are compostable, biodegradable, and; of course, recyclable.
Even better, Ecology Packaging products are extremely functional and they look great.
Aliece and Linda have a passion for revolutionizing the packaging industry by deeply caring about keeping high standards of sustainability, design, quality, and price; while maintaining a strong focus on paramount humane principles and green practices that strengthen the success of earth-minded companies.
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Dr. Benny Kraut Queens, New York
Director, Queens College Center for Jewish Studies
Benny Kraut is currently Professor of History and Director of the Center for Jewish Studies and Jewish Studies Program at Queens College, New York. He is also Professor Emeritus of Judaic Studies at the University of Cincinnati, where he won two of the institutions most celebrated teaching prizes, the Dolly Cohen Award for Teaching Excellence and the McMicken College of Arts and Sciences Deans Award for Distinguished Teaching. Dr. Kraut holds MA and PhD degrees from Brandeis University, and has published widely in the fields of modern and American Jewish history and Judaism and is a former book review editor of American Jewish History.
Religious Consequences of Modernity
Yavneh in America: An Orthodox Judaism That Might Have Been
What Does Reform Judaism Believe?
Surprising Resurgence of American Orthodox Judaism
Theological Explanations of the Holocaust: Two Conflicting Religious Paradigms
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Chhattisgarh Opinion Poll 2019
Rajasthan Opinion Poll 2019
Home » Political-Corner » Women Cabinet Ministers in India
Women Cabinet Ministers in India
Posted by Admin on July 1, 2014 | Comment
Women Cabinet Ministers in India 2.79/5 (55.79%) 19 votes
It was way back in 1930 when Mahatma Gandhi conveyed a profound message through his question: “Has she not greater intuition, is she not more self-sacrificing, has she not greater powers of endurance, has she not greater courage?” But as one of the proponents of gender equity, India hasn’t been able to save itself from the disgrace of under-representation of women in most decision-making bodies within and outside the government. The story had remained unaltered till the recent cabinet formation under NDA government.
First Woman Cabinet Minister in Independent India
Jawaharlal Nehru’s first cabinet had only one woman minister – Rajkumari Amrit Kaur who was given the charge of Health Ministry. She played an instrumental role in ideating and building the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi. Under her aegis, the Indian Red Cross contributed towards improving healthcare quality in the hinterlands of the country. She was the one credited with the initiative of launching Tuberculosis Association of India and the Central Leprosy Teaching and Research Institute, Chennai.
Women Representation in Indian Cabinet since Independence
Despite the fact that the first cabinet of republic of India inducted one woman minister, the successive years did not see any representation of women. Lal Bahadur Shastri’s lean cabinet of 10 ministries had no place for women. The 5th, 6th and 9th cabinet of India under Indira Gandhi’s rule did not see any woman union minister. However, the 6th and 9th cabinet included eminent women such as Dr Sarojini Mahishi, Nandini Satpathy, Sushila Rohatgi and Saroj Khaparde as ministers of state. In fact, Rajiv Gandhi’s cabinet could accommodate only one woman minister – Mohsina Kidwai.
Women Members of parliament
Cabinet Ministers of India
That was probably the beginning of the end of under-representation of women in Indian cabinet. Maneka Gandhi was made the Minister of State for Environment & Forests during VP Singh’s regime. But all these years, percentage of women participation in the cabinet hovered between 0-7 per cent.
The 13th Indian cabinet under PV Narasimha Rao had only Mamata Banerjee as Minister of State for HRD, Youth Affairs and Sports, and Women and Child Development. After a long hiatus, Indian cabinet accommodated a woman union minister, when Sushma Swaraj was appointed as the Minister of Information and Broadcasting in the first Vajpayee ministry. Names such as Vasundhara Raje and Uma Bharti were seen in the list of ministers of state in the 17th and 18th cabinet. For the first time since independence, the cabinet (2004 to May 2009) inducted more than one woman union minister as Meira Kumar, Ambika Soni and Panabaka Lakshmi came into the picture, taking the percentage of women’s representation to 10 per cent.
Women Ministers in the Modi Cabinet
This time, women have indeed fared better when it comes to their representation in the cabinet. The NDA government walked the talk on women empowerment and nothing could be more evident than the fact that six out of a team of 23 ministers of the new cabinet headed by Narendra Modi are women.
It is to be noted that women cabinet ministers were given some of the most challenging portfolios. To begin with, Sushma Swaraj was given the charge of the external affairs ministry, which had always been a male bastion. It naturally places her in the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), which is considered as the top decision-making body on national security.
Other crucial ministries on Women and Child Development, Human Resource Development and Minority Affairs are now being taken care of by Maneka Gandhi, Smriti Irani and Najma Heptulla, respectively. With over 25 per cent of women leaders made a part of the country’s most important decision-making body, it could be a sign of the reversal of past trends.
Tags:#Cabinet Ministers #Women Cabinet Ministers #Women Ministers in India
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Home > Events > Strengthening federalism in Ethiopia
Strengthening federalism in Ethiopia
Participants exchange ideas at the workshop in Ethiopia.
The Forum of Federations and Ethiopia’s Ministry of Federal Affairs recently organized a three-day workshop, titled Exploring Intergovernmental Relations.
The event took place in the city of Adama, Ethiopia, more than 100 kilometres southeast of the capital, Addis Ababa. The workshop is the first of its kind on this subject in Ethiopia.
The workshop included the participation of senior political figures and officials from eight of Ethiopia’s nine Regional State governments; the House of Federation and House of Peoplese’ Representatives; as well as various central government institutions (such as the Ministries of Finance, Education and Agriculture, the Civil Service Commission), Addis Ababa’s new Institute of Federalism, among others.
The overall approach of the workshop was to lead a process that would help the Ministry of Federal Affairs further develop Intergovernmental Relations (IGR) as part of the deepening of federalism in Ethiopia.
Photo: Ethiopia’s Minister of Federal Affairs, H.E. Siraj Figessa, addresses workshop participants.The event, held March 28-30, 2007, was opened by H.E. Siraj Figessa, the Minister of Federal Affairs. Mr. Figessa said in his welcoming address that he was ‘particularly happy to see that my Government has put the on the agenda strengthening of intergovernmental relations and thereby deepening of federalism in Ethiopia.
‘Given (the) lack of professionals in the field, however, external and domestic technical support is of paramount significance.’
The Forum’s Director for Africa, Shawn Houlihan, and Senior Associate, Norman Moyer, participated in the workshop as well as the Forum’s international resource persons, Dr B.K. Joshi, of India; and Dr. Jaap De Visser, of South Africa.
In addition to the international expertise from India and South Africa – there were also several presentations by Ethiopian experts, including one on the constitutional context, by Assefa Fiseha (PhD), and case studies of current practice (or lack thereof) of IGR in Ethiopia. Case studies included IGR practices for dealing with sectoral issues in agriculture and education, as well as fiscal federalism, managing conflict (based on a case from within the Southern region), and managing conflict and enhancing bilateral cooperation between two of Ethiopia’s states, Amhara and Benishengul-Gumaz. There was also a presentation on the political context of IGR in Ethiopia by the State Minister of Justice, H.E. Dr Hashim Tewfiq.
In the working sessions participants expressed their views on the strengths and weaknesses of Ethiopia’s IGR-related practices and institutions; on the relevance of South Africa’s and India’s experience to Ethiopia; on priorities for further developing IGR in Ethiopia; and on each participant’s plans for addressing IGR in their respective positions. The participants suggested a number of priorities for future programs by Ministry of Federal Affairs (MoFA) and the Forum, and included suggestions related to training, consultation, applied research and policy development. One subject area that emerged as a high priority for several participants was the field of managing conflict. In this regard the key questions are how enhanced intergovernmental relations can help address inevitable conflicts within a federal system, and how federations need to cooperate to manage conflict, including the small-scale inter-group conflicts that are endemic in many parts of Ethiopia.
It was clear to all the participants that the practice of IGR and its relationship to the practice and evolution of federalism in Ethiopia is just at a starting point, and account must also be taken of the informal practices that take place within the channels of the ruling party. The need for more training and dialogue on federalism were issues that were also raised by several participants. In the year ahead, the Forum plans to work with the MoFA and other stakeholders to follow up on some of the detailed recommendations and requests that came from the workshop.
One workshop participant observed that, ‘when I was first asked to participate, I didn’t know, what is this thing, intergovernmental relations’, and slowly I came to realize that though I didn’t know what it was, I was already practicing it.’
Adama, Ethiopia
© 2019 Forum of Federations. All rights reserved.
The De/Centralisation Dataset
CANEOM
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Head of Working Group
Uti Daniawati
Regulatory Affairs Manager Home Care and Personal Care - Unilever
Deputy Head of Working Group
Riva Dwitya
Scientific and Regulatory Affairs Manager - L'Oreal
Considering the importance and the strategic role of the Cosmetics industry in creating a variety of jobs for thousands of people in Indonesia, the beauty industry indeed plays a big role in boosting the country’s economy. With the support of other industries which have decades of experience and an increased consumer demand for beauty products, the Cosmetics sector has grown rapidly in recent years.
Since its establishment in February 2013 the Working Group has become one of EuroCham Indonesia’s active working groups. The Cosmetics Working Group has maintained good relations with key government stakeholders, such as BPOM, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Trade, the Ministry of Industry, the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs (CMEA), the Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA), the Indonesian Halal Products Assurance Agency (BPJPH), the Directorate General of Customs and Excise. Alongside other governmental stakeholders, the group has also closely collaborated with local associations in the industry, such as PERKOSMI and ICA.
In 2017 alone the Working Group discussed and followed up on advocacy activities on several technical issues such as:
The obligation to conduct regular microbial contamination and heavy metal tests.
Import Procedure for Certain Products.
Technical requirements within ASEAN Cosmetics Directive.
BPOM Regulation on Supervision of Importing Food and Medicine to Indonesia.
Regulation on hair dye ingredients.
Halal Product Assurance.
In 2017 the Cosmetic Working Group also had the opportunity to meet with the Working Committee IV (Kelompok Kerja/Pokja IV). Pokja IV is a committee that was formed under the supervision of the Coordinating Ministry of Economic Affairs to support the Economic Deregulation Packages. The institution is tasked with the handling and settling of dispute cases faced by the industry. Aside from that, the Working Group continued to have regular meetings with the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs (CMEA) to provide updated information on the Cosmetics sector and discuss relevant regulations. In 2017 the Working Group held two meetings with the CMEA.
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mmhkhan@ewubd.edu
Md. Mobarak Hossain Khan
Professor & Chairperson
Habilitation (Public Health), 2017 Bielefeld University, School of Public Health, Germany
Ph.D (Public Health), 2007
Sapporo Medical University, Department of Public Health, Japan
M.Sc. in Community Health and Health Management in Developing Countries, 2000
Heidelberg University, Dept. Trop. Hyg.& Pub. Health, Germany
M.Sc. in Statistics (Thesis group), 1990 Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
B.Sc. (Hons) in Statistics, 1989
Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Associate professor (05/06/2007 – 04/09/2011)
Department of Statistics, Jahangirnagar University, Bangladesh
Assistant Professor (13/6/1999 – 04/06/2007) and Lecturer(21/9/1995 – 12/6/1999)
Lecturer of Agricultural Statistics (30/04/1994 – 21/09/1995)
Bangladesh Agricultural University, Bangladesh
Senior Scientific Officer (30/05/1993 – 30/04/1994)
Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research, Bio-Statistics Department, Bangladesh
Germany/Saudi Arabia/Japan
Assoziierte Mitarbeiter(16/09/2017 ~)
School of Public Health, University of Bielefeld, Germany
https://www.uni-bielefeld.de/gesundhw/ag2/mitarbeiter/khan.html
Assistant Professor (28/12/2016 – 15/09/2017)
Department of Public Health, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Faisal University, KSA
Post-doctoral Assistant professor (01/03/2007 – 31/12/2015)
Department of Public Health Medicine, School of Public Health, University of Bielefeld, Germany
Postgraduate Researcher (01/10/2002 – 31/03/2003)
Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Department of Public Health, Japan
Research areas at Bielefeld University (2007 – 2015)
Global/Urban/Megacity/Slum/Coastal health
Applied statistics (Biostatistics/Epidemiology/Demography)
Statistical/Multivariable/Multilevel modelling of health (continuous/categorical) outcomes
Social/Physical/Mental/Environmental health
Health inequity and healthcare services
Climate hazard-related migration and health
Urbanisation and healthcare management
Health of the vulnerable and coastal populations
Interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research
Publications will be here.
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CBS College Sports Network Announces 2008 - 2009 D-II Basketball Broadcast Schedule
Monday, October 6, 2008 , Posted by Christopher Byrne at 8:40 PM, under CBS College Sports Network, Men's College Basketball 2008-2009 TV Broadcast Schedule, Women's College Basketball 2008-2009 TV Broadcast Schedule
Athens, GA (Aug 4, 2008) - CBS Sports College Network (formerly CSTV) and NCAA Division II, entering the third year of their partnership, have announced the following broadcast schedule for NCAA Division II Men's and Women's basketball for the 2008-2009 season (all times are Eastern):
January 3 – Chaminade University at Dixie State College of Utah, 3 p.m.
January 31 – California State University, Los Angeles at California State San Bernardino, 3 p.m.
February 14 – Colorado Christian University at Metropolitan State College of Denver, 3 p.m.
February 21 – Northwest Missouri State University at University of Central Missouri, Noon
February 28 – Wheeling Jesuit University at West Liberty State College, 3 p.m.
January 10 – Florida Southern College at Barry University, 1 p.m.
January 17 – East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania, 1 p.m.
January 24 – University of the Incarnate Word at Saint Mary’s University (Texas), 3 p.m.
February 7 – Northwest Nazarene University at Seattle Pacific University, 3 p.m.
The broadcasts will also be syndicated through regional sports networks and made available via broadband at www.ncaa.com.
“Our partnership with CBS College Sports has been a successful and productive Division II initiative,” said Division II Vice President Mike Racy. “We are able to provide national exposure for the student-athletes and their institutions while also providing viewers a unique glimpse into the division and the way we balance academic and athletics excellence.”
“NCAA Division II basketball has become a staple of our strategy to serve fans at every level,” said Tim Pernetti, Executive Vice President, Content, CBS College Sports Network. “Our partnership with the NCAA continues to thrive on many fronts, providing a well-deserved national showcase for NCAA Division II athletics and some memorable moments on the CBS College Sports Network.”
Related Link(s)
CBS College Sports Network
Related Posts : CBS College Sports Network, Men's College Basketball 2008-2009 TV Broadcast Schedule, Women's College Basketball 2008-2009 TV Broadcast Schedule
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GENERAL CARGO SHIPS 1949-1973
1940s1950s1960s1970s
Apart from the acquisition of Liberty-type ships and second-hand vessels built before World War II, the establishment of a strong Greek merchant fleet in postwar years was made possible thanks to a great number of newbuilding projects that began in the years immediately after the end of the War.
From 1949 up to 1967, that is when the first Freedom-type cargo ships were delivered followed by SD-14 vessels – which replaced the ageing Liberty fleet – 67 Greek shipping groups got delivery of 282 high-specification general cargo ships. Half a century later, most of these groups continue to have a strong presence in international maritime affairs.
These general cargo vessels, coupled with the Liberties, offered high-quality services in international seaborne trade and largely due to their operation, Greek shipping evolved into the world’s leading maritime power by the late 1970s.
Out of these 282 ships, 190 were built in European shipyards. More than half of the vessels built in Europe were delivered by British yards, as at the time the United Kingdom was still the word leader in shipbuilding, while the remaing 92 ships built outside Europe were ordered at Japanese shipyards, contributing decisively to the establishment of a thriving shipbuilding industry in Japan over the next decades.
With the exception of three ships built under the supervision of the French classification society Bureau Veritas, the construction of these vessels was supervised by the British and American classification societies Lloyd's Register of Shipping and American Bureau of Shipping respectively.
The cargo vessels presented in this section demonstrate the entrepreneurial initiatives of Greek shipowners that were aimed at the reconstruction of their merchant fleet, 75% of which had been lost during World War II. These investments – as well as all acquisitions of cargo ships by Greek shipowners –were undertaken without any assistance or subsidy from the Greek state and were financed solely by non-Greek lenders.
« Ships Built for Greeks - Tankers (1948-2000) Ships Built for Greeks - Bulk Carriers (since 1956) »
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Your Position： Home>News & Events>MBBS In China>Construction Demonstration And Product Testing Of Hebei Agricultural Laboratory
Construction Demonstration And Product Testing Of Hebei Agricultural Laboratory
On April 28th, a group of seven experts including Li Zhiping, Director of the Science and Technology Platform Construction and Basic Research Division of the Provincial Science and Technology Department, and Deputy Director Liang Chao, jointly developed the “Hebei Province Agricultural Products” jointly developed by our school and Zhangjiakou Jianye Food Safety Technology Co., Ltd. The construction and operation implementation plan of Key Laboratory of Testing Instruments and Reagents will be tested for feasibility. The principal Song Hongru, Vice President Peng Wei, the research department and key laboratory team members attended the demonstration meeting, and the relevant person in charge of the Zhangjiakou Municipal Science and Technology Bureau also participated in the demonstration meeting.
Deputy Director of the Key Laboratory Wei Dong's research project on the construction of the laboratory from the construction objectives and positioning, research direction and content, organizational structure and operation management, research conditions, team and capacity building, funding and safeguard measures and annual work plan and assessment Goals and other six aspects were reported, and the expert group conducted an on-site inspection of the laboratory's scientific research infrastructure and the construction of research and test conditions. Later, the experts discussed the construction and development of the laboratory. After questioning and replying, the expert group unanimously believed that the key laboratory was in line with the requirements for the construction and layout of key laboratories in Hebei Province, and it was helpful to promote the support of agricultural products and co-construction units in agricultural products. The scientific research capacity in the field of food quality safety and testing will help strengthen the construction of food safety disciplines in our province and the training of high-level personnel, which will help to further improve Hebei's scientific and technological innovation system and serve the socio-economic development of Hebei Province. The expert group unanimously agreed to adopt the demonstration and suggested that it be included in the construction sequence of provincial key laboratories, and further refine the research direction, refine the research content, clarify the school-enterprise cooperation mechanism, and clarify the division of functions.
Lastly, President Song Hongru thanked the Department of Science and Technology and all the experts for their great support and assistance for the construction and development of the university over the years. He also stated that he would further improve the construction of key laboratories in accordance with the opinions and suggestions put forward by the expert group. To achieve the key laboratory construction goals.
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CHAPTER 11 - "We Were Never Friends, Dude"
Grant Turk, a convicted rapist, gets out of prison and makes his way towards Twin Pines.
CHAPTER 10 - A Freak of Nature
Using his military experience, Ernie’s simulations started with him assuming the role of the attackers. He meticulously planned his attacks to take full advantage of what he perceived to be Fort Porter’s most obvious weaknesses. Then he would figure out ways that a small force inside Fort Porter would deal with the attack. When Izzy was 9 and Jake 12, Ernie and the whole family spent several hours every Sunday evening playing the simulations as a game.
CHAPTER 15 - Countdown
Things were pretty much the same for most of Jake’s first year at college. Izzy made the rounds, cared for her horses and continued to amaze both George and Ernie. George obsessively amassed supplies and provisions at auctions, closeout sales and through his contacts. And Ernie oversaw the operations at the ranch. George counted the days, reviewed his research and waited. They all waited. Meanwhile, outside the walls of the ranch, life went on.
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Tuesday, 03 December 2013 - 7:54
UN implicates Bashar al-Assad in Syria war crimes
The UN's human rights chief has said an inquiry has produced evidence that war crimes were authorised in Syria at the "highest level", including by President Bashar al-Assad.
It is the first time the UN's human rights office has so directly implicated Assad.
Commissioner Navi Pillay said her office held a list of others implicated by the inquiry.
The UN estimates more than 100,000 people have died in the conflict.
Pillay said The UN's commission of inquiry into Syria has produced "massive evidence of very serious crimes, war crimes, crimes against humanity.
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HIV Justice
The HIV Justice Network is a global information and advocacy hub for individuals and organisations working to end the inappropriate use of the criminal law to regulate and punish people living with HIV.
Oslo Declaration
Advancing HIV Justice 2
More HARM Than GOOD: How overly broad HIV criminalisation is hurting public health
Richard Elliott
In many countries around the world, people with HIV are being made criminally liable for HIV prevention.
Despite strong recommendations against this overly broad use of the criminal law by UNAIDS and the Global Commission on HIV and the Law, the latest report from the Global Network of People Living with HIV and the HIV Justice Network highlights that new laws continue to be proposed and enacted, and more prosecutions are taking place than ever before.
This 30 minute video from the HIV Justice Network, filmed at an international meeting on HIV prevention and criminal law in Toronto in April 2013, features interviews with social scientists, researchers and legal and public health experts who have studied the public health impact of HIV criminalisation.
To download this video please click on the Vimeo link on the bottom right of the video which takes you the video on the HIV Justice Network’s Vimeo channel. Here you will have the option to download Mobile, SD and HD files.
Studies cited in the film
Lazzarini Z et al. Evaluating the Impact of Criminal Laws on HIV Risk Behavior. Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics, Vol. 30, No. 2, Summer 2002.
Burris S et al. Do Criminal Laws Influence HIV Risk Behavior? An Empirical Trial. Arizona State Law Journal, 2007; Temple University Legal Studies Research Paper No. 2007-03.
Galletly C and Pinkerton S. Conflicting Messages – How Criminal HIV Disclosure Laws Undermine Public Health Efforts to Control the Spread of HIV. AIDS and Behavior, 10, 451-461, 2006.
Galletly C et al. Sexual behavior, stigma, perceived hostility, comfort with disclosure and New Jersey’s HIV exposure law. American Journal of Public Health, 102(11), 2135-2140, 2012.
Mykhalovskiy E. The problem of “significant risk”: Exploring the public health impact of criminalizing HIV non-disclosure. Soc Sci Med. Sep;73(5):668-75, 2011.
Adam B et al. How criminalization is affecting people living with HIV in Ontario. Ontario HIV Treatment Network, 2012.
Adam B et al. Impacts of Criminalization on the Everyday Lives of People Living with HIV in Canada. Sex Res Soc Policy, August 2013.
O’Byrne P and Gagnon M. HIV Criminalization and Nursing Practice. Aporia 4(2), 5-34, 2012.
Hoppe T. Controlling Sex in the Name of Public Health, Social Problems, Vol. 60, No. 1, February 2013.
Sero Project National Criminalization Survey 2012.
O’Byrne P et al. Nondisclosure prosecutions and population health outcomes: examining HIV testing, HIV diagnoses, and the attitudes of men who have sex with men following nondisclosure prosecution media releases in Ottawa, Canada. BMC Public Health. Feb 1; 13:94, 2013.
O’Byrne P et al. Nondisclosure Prosecutions and HIV Prevention: Results From an Ottawa-Based Gay Men’s Sex Survey. J Assoc Nurses AIDS Care. Jan-Feb; 24(1):81-7, 2013.
In addition, Patrick O’Byrne and colleagues at the University of Ottawa have reviewed all studies published to date on the public health impact impact of HIV criminalisation, which summarises all of the studies above, as well as others not mentioned in the documentary.
O’Byrne P et al. HIV criminal prosecutions and public health: an examination of the empirical research
FEATURE STORY: Why overly broad HIV criminalisation is doing more harm than good
The most commonly cited rationale of the criminal law is to deter morally unacceptable behaviour through fear of punishment. Scott Burris and Zita Lazzarini were the first to explore whether US laws that criminalised HIV non-disclosure had the impact that the lawmakers intended.
Zita Lazzarini: We found that whether you lived in a state with a law or without a law had absolutely no effect.
Scott Burris: Criminal law is generally a very blunt tool, anyway. And if you think about it, punishment and fear rarely brings out the best in people, when they’re making individual behaviour decisions. And certainly, when it comes to sex, criminal law has a very limited record of getting people to change their behaviour.
Carol Galletly has added much to the body of evidence on the impact of laws that criminalise HIV non-disclosure. Working with a number of colleagues, she published a number of studies, including this one in 2006 and this one in 2012 examining whether or not these laws are having the impact they were intended to have.
Carol Galletly: We thought of every single way these laws could possibly be effective. Do HIV-positive individuals reduce number of sex partners? Do they choose only positive sex partners more than people who don’t know about the law? Are they abstinent more? Do they practice safer sex more? Do they engage in oral sex or less risky activities? So we looked at all these things and the data just stacked up – there were no significant differences. The strongest predictor of disclosure was actually comfort with disclosure. So what I concluded was, if you really want people to disclose, then what you should probably do is increase their comfort, do interventions, do whatever. And don’t do laws that could jeopardize people disclosing.
Most laws and prosecutions focus on disclosure – in other words, whether or not the person with diagnosed HIV told their sexual partner before having sex. Whilst this may be the right thing to do, does this actually benefit HIV prevention? Eric Mykhalovskiy organised the workshop precisely because his own research found that criminalising non-disclosure was having the opposite effect of what was intended.
Eric Mykhalovskiy: We see how significant now disclosure, or questions around disclosure, are within HIV prevention counselling, to the point that there is too much of a focus. You know, Barry Adam and others have emphasised repeatedly that disclosure is not an effective HIV prevention mechanism. And yet what seems to have happened is that the criminalisation of HIV non-disclosure has placed disclosure at the centre of people’s concerns around HIV prevention. And that is, I think, a serious challenge for people who are enlisted with the responsibility of trying to ensure that HIV transmission is lessened.
Barry Adam is Senior Scientist and Director of Prevention Research at the Ontario HIV Treatment Network and lead author of How criminalization is affecting people living with HIV in Ontario.
Barry Adam: Disclosure has become a bit of a red herring I think, in terms of HIV prevention because HIV prevention can and has for a long time happened without disclosure, anyways. To require disclosure doesn’t necessarily help. Sometimes, it could even hinder the process by creating a false sense of security among those who think that, if disclosure doesn’t happen, that their partner is negative. The social science evidence shows that, when people often get into the disclosure area, it’s in order to give themselves permission to have unprotected sex! People actually do have to know what their HIV status is in order to disclose it. And, there is a good deal of science these days that suggests that, it’s people who don’t know, who are newly infected, who are actually doing a lot of the infection.
Studies by Eric Mykhalovskiy, Chris Sanders and Martin French (the latter two are currently undertaking research studies and have not yet published their findings) have uncovered an unanticipated negative impact of HIV criminalisation on the healthcare workers who test and treat people with HIV, complicating their practice as public health professionals. They found that the criminal law is creating a chill, closing down discussions about HIV on both sides. (An in-depth report on the impact of HIV criminalisation on nursing practice can be found here.)
Chris Sanders: Criminalisation has complicated post-test counseling. Nurses are finding that clients shut down, they become very unwilling to speak openly about their sexual behaviour and they don’t want to share contact information because they’re worried that it might come back if they’re later charged with non-disclosure. And so, it makes nurses’ work more difficult. And that can impact HIV prevention as public health relies on contact tracing to be able to do quite a bit of their prevention work.
Martin French: I’m looking at this in Canada and the United States, and in spite of the fact that there are different approaches to public health I’m seeing some similar effects in terms of the anxiety that a number of providers are feeling about the issue of criminalisation as they counsel patients with respect to disclosure.
Trevor Hoppe found another, more sinister impact on healthcare workers. During his PhD research he discovered that some heath officials in Michigan’s public health system appeared to be invested in prosecuting people with HIV for not disclosing their status, resulting in some potentially problematic outcomes for HIV prevention.
Trevor Hoppe: This is the first piece of evidence that some health departments may be playing a role in facilitating criminal prosecutions. I can understand why people living in some of these communities would think twice before talking to health officials about their lives openly and honestly, given what health officials reported to me.
One of the most worrying aspects of HIV criminalisation is the additional disincentive it plays in a person’s willingness to take an HIV test: a significant number of new infections come from people who are undiagnosed. But testing is not just about knowing one’s HIV status to modify behaviour, it’s also the gateway to accessing HIV treatment and care.
New guidelines from the World Health Organization now highlight that HIV treatment works not only to keep people alive and well for a lifetime, but also prevents new infections by reducing HIV to undetectable levels. Where there is no virus, there can be no transmission. Since treatment is also prevention, then not testing or accessing treatment, hurts not only the individual but also the communities in which they live, harming the broader public health.
Laurel Sprague is the Research Director of the Sero Project, and oversaw their 2012 national HIV criminalisation survey.
Laurel Sprague: We asked people whether they thought it was not reasonable, somewhat reasonable or very reasonable to avoid getting an HIV test, or to avoid accessing treatment if someone tested positive because of HIV criminalisation. Those numbers should be zero. We shouldn’t have legal reasons for people not to get tested. We shouldn’t have a legal reason for people not to access care. And half of our respondents said that it was reasonable to avoid HIV testing because of HIV criminalisation and 42% of our respondents said it was reasonable, somewhat, or very reasonable to avoid getting HIV care once you’ve tested positive.
Patrick O’ Byrne is lead author of the 2013 review article, HIV criminal prosecutions and public health: an examination of the empirical research. He has also studied the impact of HIV prosecutions on gay men and documented how fear of HIV criminalisation has impacted their sexual and testing practices.
Patrick O’Byrne: Nobody – guys who were negative, guys who were positive – could make a distinction between the public health department and the police. It was a single institution. And this is problematic, right? How can you provide health care services when people think that you are a police agency? How do you provide care when people won’t access it? The laws have effectively rendered your HIV prevention health professionals useless.
Richard Elliott is the Executive Director of the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network, and was an intervenor when the Supreme Court of Canada heard HIV criminalisation cases in 1998 and 2012.
Richard Elliott: How can it not have an impact on people and their decision as to whether or not to find out their HIV status, if you risk becoming a criminal. It may not at the end of the day dissuade a large number of people, but I think, it does dissuade a significant number of people and it probably, based on the evidence we have, dissuades some of those who are most likely to actually benefit from learning their HIV status, and all of the potential benefits to them, and others that may flow from that. So, why would we want to create an additional barrier, and why would we want to create a barrier to people actually seeking help from the helping professions? Because if we conscript those helping professions, to basically, become agents of law enforcement, that undermines their ability to help people, and that actually undermines the health of all of us.
Criminalisation is a divisive issue with strong opinions often informed by morality and a desire to achieve justice by punishing perceived wrongdoing. However, understanding the impact of HIV criminalisation on public health is critical to making informed policy decisions.
The 2013 UNAIDS guidance note, Ending overly-broad criminalisation of HIV non-disclosure, exposure and transmission: Critical scientific, medical and legal considerations aims to ensure that any application of criminal law in the context of HIV achieves justice and does not jeopardise public health objectives.
The entire guidance is available below, and can be downloaded here.
The HIV Justice Network produces videos in conjunction with georgetown media that we hope are useful for both education and advocacy. If you find this or our other videos useful, please let us know.
Hillary Clinton on HIV Criminalization
Alone But Together – Women and Criminalisation of HIV (Zimbabwe, 2014)
HIV is not a crime 2014 – The Grinnell Gathering
Ruins: Chronicle of an HIV witch-hunt (Greece, 2013)
Positive Women: Exposing Injustice (Canada, 2012)
HIV is Not a Crime (Sero, US, 2011)
How could she go on living as if weren’t there [Trailer] (Sweden, 2010)
Sex, criminal law & HIV non-disclosure: What is wrong with Canada’s approach to HIV non-disclosure? (Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network, 2014)
The Criminalization of HIV in Canada (BearPaw Media, Canada, 2014)
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Panel Calls for Improvement on Data Collection on Guns and Violence
By Staff Reporter Jun 05, 2013 09:25 PM EDT
The Institute of Medicine of the National Academics appealed to the government to improve data collection on guns and gun-related violence.
In line with the gun violence that happened in Newtown, Conn. last year, the panel urges the government to act immediately. The panel sent a report to President Obama titled Priorities for Research to Reduce the Threat of Firearm-Related Violence detailing the existing policies since 1990s which were vainly implemented due to the Republicans’ intrusion in the Congress. The report in this article is just a summary but the panel has a 120-page report that will be given to the research team once the government approves their proposal.
The report presented evidences on how firearm-related violence is already considered a public health issue and how the government can help in lowering the risk and protect the citizens from the incidents similar to the Connecticut shooting.
Public health researchers were glad that the panel made a report such as this as it may help them start their study. The researchers have been enduring the pain of data gathering as the government doesn’t have much data to cross reference and gun owners are not that participative when it comes to reporting. They don’t even have an exact number of the people who have guns.
The public health researchers attempted to gather data before using the National Violent Death Reporting System, maintained by the CDC which compiles reports from police and medical examiners, but the numbers were so small that it will not be sufficient for accurate conclusions.
In addition, the complete report has further details such as the reason for buying guns, the demographics of the gun owners, the age limit of gun ownership, and the possible threat of owning one.
“Basic information about gun possession, distribution, ownership, acquisition and storage is lacking. Without good data, it is virtually impossible to answer fundamental questions," about gun violence, or to evaluate programs intended to reduce that violence,” told chairman of the panel Alan I. Leshner to New York Times when asked about their intention for proactively gathering the data.
The panel clarified that they are not expecting the government to create a national gun registry since it is against the law but they hope to see improvement on the progress of research supported by the government.
This makes sense because if the panel is able to gather their own data, why would the government say it is difficult to do so?
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Awesome: 0%
Worth A Look: 75%
Just Average: 12.5%
Pretty Crappy: 12.5%
Sucks: 0%
Life After War
by Chris Parry
"Have you ever had the feeling you're a lazy bastard?"
SCREENED AT THE 2003 SEATTLE FILM FESTIVAL: I'll admit it. I didn't want to go. The Seattle fest was holding their 'secret festival' screening and I didn't want to miss out on a screening of the 1936 Hungarian classic "My Darling My Glockenspeil", but the doorgals do their job at this fest and I had no 'secret ticket' to speak of. "To hell with it then - it's doco time," I proclaimed as I strode across the street and took in a documentary that would occupy my eyes for the next 80 minutes, and my thoughts for far longer. Life After War is a piece of filmmaking that is guaranteed to make you wonder if you're doing enough as a concerned citizen of planet Earth. Me? I'm doing plenty, but I'm doing it on the inside.
Sarah Chayes studied the Middle East at Harvard University, served in the Peace Corps in Morocco, then established herself as one of the heavy hitters of US National Public Radio. She'd reported on events from all parts of the world, bringing hotspots from around the globe into the living rooms, cars and headphones of the people of the United States, but one day she had an epiphany.
The brother of Afghani President Kharmid Karzai asked her, "why not stop reporting on this and help us to rebuild instead?"
Why not indeed? Chayes had grown weary of the new McCarthyism in the American media, where any diversion from the government-authored press release is seen as heresy and newsroom bosses send out memos telling their staff what they can't report on, so she instead started a charity devoted to the rebuilding of Afghan homes blown up by American weaponry.
That in itself might make for an interesting, inspiring project. But when you throw in the reality of an American woman trying to order Afghani men around, you're about to witness an hour plus of cross-cultural pinball. Chayes, as much as she's well intentioned and educated, is a bull-headed go-getter, with little regard for diplomacy and no patience for foot-dragging. As she tries to help these people help themselves, she's hindered at every turn by bureaucracy (even though the government had barely been formed days earlier), corruption (that'd be the very same government), cultural differences ("the workers came, but they went home again") and belligerence ("If the rooms aren't seven metres long, I don't want the house").
The Afghan people are very different to the way we are. Come to think of it, Chayes herself is very different to the way we are. She's almost manic when she has a goal in her head, which is an admirable quality when you're a journalist, but perhaps not the most valuable commodity when you're a woman dressed in man's clothes in a nation that, until recently, covered their women from head to toe in a black cloth. Watching a male Afghan elder basically shamed into making a public backdown by this woman makes you wonder where all the Afghan women are, and what they think of all this. It makes you wonder if this 80-year-old has ever in his life been talked to by a woman like he's being talked to now. And it makes you wonder why Americans are doing the rebuilding that America is suposed to have been doing.
The documentary itself is a case of a good movie benefiting from a great topic. Some of the footage is very 'video' in appearance, which is admittedly to be expected when you're going into a region covered in sand and rocks and heat and war. The production is not sharp, the money's not up there on the screen and there is a definite lack of exploration of the 'new media rules', as well as where Chayes' charity group is headed now.
The film is compelling stuff and the ordeals Chayes goes through are both funny, informative and dramatic. At any time, Chayes could have been taken out for saying the wrong thing to the wrong person. The dramatic tension isn't manufactured - it's very real, and it doesn't end with the end of the film. Chayes could be looking down the barrel of a Russian-built sub-machine gun as you're reading this, because right now she's out there building a house for a homeless Afghani while you're stuffing your face with Tostitos, downloading porn and wondering when Futurama will next be on the telly.
If a lesson can be learned from Life After War, that lesson is that the world doesn't stop at an imaginary line that separates two countries. Just because a person is on the other side of that line doesn't mean we, as people, shouldn't care about what happens to them. If a documentary should be judged by the lasting impact it leaves on an audience, you can judge Life After War as among the better films of the genre. Now go out and do something for humanity, you lazy bastard.
link directly to this review at http://www.hollywoodbitchslap.com/review.php?movie=7827&reviewer=1
OFFICIAL SELECTION: 2003 Seattle Film Festival. For more in the 2003 Seattle Film Festival series, click here.
This film is listed in our political documentary series. For more in the Political Documentary series, click here.
4/08/04 Hilarium It was okay, but Sarah's a bit of a loudmouth.
6/22/03 Bluto McBlurt Production values hurt a good story.
09-Jun-2003 (NR)
Sarah Chayes
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woo independence
By gzt (Thu Jul 05, 2012 at 01:27:32 PM EST) gzt, weak, heat, global warming, games, independence, brave (all tags)
I'm not a huge fan of Independence Day. I hate fireworks - especially how my neighbors set them off at 2am for weeks surrounding the date. I'm not a big believer in the historical narrative of American "independence" and "freedom" - after all, slavery ended in England long before America.
However, on the whole, and as an American, I am appreciative of the "American project" and like having a day off as much as the next bloke. I ate cooked meats in the shape of a tube, played board games, and watched Yellow Submarine. We played Small World. Everybody enjoyed it. It was good fun. We will have to make sure to play it at home when we only have the three people.
Our apartment is quite well-insulated. We turned the AC off at maybe 11am shortly before we left for our 4th of July celebrations. When we returned at like 8:30, it was only 83 degrees inside despite a high of 100+ and an exterior temperature still in the low 90s. It took a while for it to cool off when we turned the AC on, though.
Reading a bit about "online learning". Not what it sounds like at first blush, it's sequential learning. It can be taken as an approach to statistics without probability. Coincidentally, Larry Wasserman's web-log just wrote about it. I take this as a sign. I like how it talks about "regret". "Maximum regret", "minimax regret", etc.
A friend of mine, an economic consultant of sorts, wrote an unpublished article about predicting the impact of the ACA on providers and insurers based on shocks to their stock prices and conluded the hospitals benefit and insurers don't. That sounds about right according to my hindsight bias: increased regulation (costly for insurers to implement) and firm governmental limits on loss ratios don't sound good for insurer profits. Those thinking of this as a payout for insurers need to join the reality-based community.
I suppose the evening of July 3rd counts as part of the 4th festivities, so I should mention that, too. We went and saw Brave and then ate at an "Irish" pub. The food was good, but pricey. In retrospect, perhaps we should have eaten at the cheaper-looking price with a taco special, but it was good and I won't complain. I had the "Irish breakfast". Brave was a fun film and very well done. It isn't great literature and feels like more Disney (good Disney) than Pixar, but it's pretty good for what it was. I do like how they didn't force Merida into a romance at the end.
I wonder if the recent bouts of extreme weather are the sort of thing that will finally spur Americans into action about climate change. I had a joking troll comment on G+ about how global warming is the Democrat Party's fault. Their high taxes are interfering with free market solutions to the energy crisis and climate change. All seriousness aside, though, it is only when, rightly or wrongly, the American public feels that global warming is going to be destructive or, worse, inconvenient to their way of life in the immediate future will they do anything about it. The next month and the next three months are predicted to be warmer than normal across most of the US and the drought monitor looks terrible (the predictions look worse).
Scientific forecaster discussion of local stuff: http://www.wunderground.com/DisplayDisc.asp?DiscussionCode=LOT&StateCode=IL&SafeCityName=Chicago In short: ugh, the next couple days look bad.
I liked OSC's perceptive review about Snow White and am intrigued by the book he mentions after it: http://hatrack.com/osc/reviews/everything/2012-06-21.shtml
I was pointed to it by his review of Brave, which I think is a little too hard on it: http://hatrack.com/osc/reviews/everything/2012-06-28.shtml
I've been skipping the gym because of the heat. I'm feeling weak now.
< Summer update | overheard from the kid's bedroom >
- http://www.wunderground.com/DisplayDisc.asp?DiscussionCode=LOT&StateCode=IL&SafeCityName=Chicago
- http://hatrack.com/osc/reviews/everything/2012-06-21.shtml
woo independence | 19 comments (19 topical, 0 hidden)
Brave by ucblockhead (2.00 / 0) #1 Thu Jul 05, 2012 at 03:41:10 PM EST
I don't agree with that review at all. One of the things that I liked about that film was that this was one of the first kids movies I've seen in a bajillion years where both parents were alive and were constructive influences on their kids' lives. In this film, it was pretty damn clear that Merida got became the independent firebrand she was because of her father's indulgence/influence.
Sure, there's some mockery of male testosterone induced stupidity, but hey, that's worth mocking. Was it from a women's perspective? Sure, but I think if the movie was trying to make the "father's aren't needed" case, they would have offed him as so many other kids movies do with the inconvenient parent. The rest of the strawman feminist rant is typical of why I don't particularly like Card in the first place.
In terms of independence, one of the things that has always struck me is that unlike most other revolts, there was just no real culture clash/economic clash/etc. that really drove it. It was a revolt against parliamentary idiocy.
I definitely think... by gzt (2.00 / 0) #2 Thu Jul 05, 2012 at 04:53:00 PM EST
...that the film makes it quite clear that Merida is very close to and takes after her father, so I don't quite agree with his review, either.
American Action on Climate Change by jimgon (2.00 / 0) #3 Thu Jul 05, 2012 at 09:19:37 PM EST
Nope. Not going to happen. Never will happen. It isn't in the interests of the plutocracy.
what? nonsense! by gzt (2.00 / 0) #4 Thu Jul 05, 2012 at 09:26:21 PM EST
there's a lot of money to be made in cutting energy consumption and sinking money into new infrastructure. we all agree that climate change is bad and it ought to be opposed in some way, and therefore the free market must, in some way, solve this problem, because markets are efficient.
There's lot of money in moving people by georgeha (4.00 / 1) #5 Thu Jul 05, 2012 at 09:33:11 PM EST
rebuilding homes and levees, and constructing new waterfront cities.
that sounds terrible by gzt (2.00 / 0) #6 Thu Jul 05, 2012 at 10:25:06 PM EST
and therefore cannot be profitable.
the most profitable course of action is most obviously the one that coincides with prevention of catastrophic sea level rise. obviously. the free market demands it.
Capitalism wants a return on investment by jimgon (4.00 / 0) #7 Fri Jul 06, 2012 at 10:05:42 AM EST
and a captive market. Right now the return on continued oil production is pretty low. So you continue with that and reap the profits. Then when it becomes necessary to build additional housing you do so. If possible you execute the Lex Luthor Superman The Movie scheme and buy up adjacent real estate. In a down market like now you can trun an attractive profit. I have more faith in capitalism than in free markets.
Independence Day by Herring (2.00 / 0) #8 Fri Jul 06, 2012 at 10:13:40 AM EST
What puzzles me is how come Jeff Goldblum had the right cable to connect his laptop to the mothership. What are the chances of that?
You can't inspire people with facts
- Small Gods
Apple by jimgon (2.00 / 0) #9 Fri Jul 06, 2012 at 10:24:36 AM EST
Obviously Apple was developed using alien technology from Area 51.
Wouldn't that by Herring (2.00 / 0) #15 Fri Jul 06, 2012 at 11:43:25 AM EST
invalidate all their patents?
No by jimgon (2.00 / 0) #18 Fri Jul 06, 2012 at 04:27:13 PM EST
That's why you have lobbyists.
it's called... by gzt (4.00 / 0) #10 Fri Jul 06, 2012 at 11:01:48 AM EST
...a universal service bus, not a planetary service bus.
Serial by Herring (2.00 / 0) #11 Fri Jul 06, 2012 at 11:24:53 AM EST
And there's about a billion different plugs.
that means... by gzt (2.00 / 0) #13 Fri Jul 06, 2012 at 11:32:41 AM EST
...there are a billion different chances to get it right.
Back in the day by Herring (4.00 / 0) #14 Fri Jul 06, 2012 at 11:37:51 AM EST
when connecting serial cables between PCs and CNC machine tools was part of my job, I just used to carry a load of cable, various plugs and soldering kit. Once you've worked out all the iterations of male/female/9pin/25pin/CTS-RTS/XON-XOFF etc. it was far easier to make up a cable when you got there.
That can be explained by ucblockhead (2.00 / 0) #12 Fri Jul 06, 2012 at 11:31:05 AM EST
that's actually pretty good by gzt (2.00 / 0) #16 Fri Jul 06, 2012 at 02:55:47 PM EST
that's a nice web site.
Yeah, I like it by ucblockhead (2.00 / 0) #17 Fri Jul 06, 2012 at 03:00:58 PM EST
I had fun with their podcast meant to be played in-synch with Independence Day the movie.
high school kids... by gzt (2.00 / 0) #19 Fri Jul 06, 2012 at 04:34:24 PM EST
...would have a lot better time in life if they realized that this is the sort of stuff their english teachers want them to write (or would be perfectly okay with them writing). with perhaps a couple minor modifications in tone.
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Ms. Sophia Bekele
unknown (b.)
Sophia Bekele is a business and corporate executive and writer. She is the founder and CEO of CBS International, SbCommunications Network - SbCNet, in Ethiopia. In 2002 was awarded a bid for a government contract to build an integrated information network infrastructure for the Ethiopian Parliament. She was also an elected member of the ICANN Council of the GNSO (Generic Names Supporting Organization), which advises on global internet policy. She has served on United Nations-sponsored committees, such as the UNECA-sponsored African Information Society Initiative (AISI), where she represents the private sector in discussions about the economic development of Africa. Sophia is also involved with the creation of policies towards bridging the economic gap between Africa and other economies, through the use of Information and communication technologies (ICT).
Founder and CEO of CBS International, a private California-based firm engaged in technology transfer to emerging economies.
Business Entrepreneur
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Norman AR
Satellite Internet Service Providers near Norman, AR
Where is Hughesnet Internet? - Find Satellite Internet Service in Norman AR
Norman, AR is an excellent place to live. It’s got all of the charm and quiet of any small town, but it’s also close enough to the larger city of Henry to have some nearby fun and excitement. Unfortunately, though, Norman is neither as developed or as technologically advanced as it could be. In fact, it isn’t even its own “town” really; it’s still unincorporated and is often lumped in as an outlier of Henry. Despite those facts, many people really love living in Norman and couldn’t imagine living anywhere else; their only problem, however, is that they have a hard time finding Internet service. Most Internet providers just haven’t bothered with Norman, and the Internet service providers that have mostly offer slow, outdated, and unreliable Internet options. The one exception to that rule is HughesNet Internet, also known as HughesNet Satellite Internet. Hughesnet is a satellite Internet service provider that offers very high speed, very reliable satellite Internet to people regardless of where they live, and that extends to people in good old Norman!
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HughesNet Internet is truly the only one of the internet providers that absolutely anyone in Norman, AR can qualify for, regardless of which area of it they live in. When a person chooses to sign up for Hughesnet Satellite Internet, he or she will be able to connect to the Internet absolutely anytime, and other users in the Norman home can use the Internet service as well. See, unlike other Internet service providers and other types of Internet, satellite Internet is delivered via a satellite that sits in orbit. Because of this fact, when Hughesnet becomes your satellite Internet service provider Norman, AR, you don’t need to go through some long, complex, and difficult installation process. Instead, a small mini-dish will simply be installed somewhere on your property, and you’ll be given a modem to connect to your computer. After that, you’re good to go; it’s really that simple in Norman, AR! You can expect nothing but the very best when you choose to secure your Internet service through Hughesnet Internet. Hughesnet Satellite Internet offers the very best speeds of all Internet service providers, including download speeds of up to 12 megabits per second, allowing you to download in Norman, AReven the largest picture, movie, and music files in much less time than you could with DSL or other Internet providers. A wide variety of customized satellite Internet packages are available from Hughesnet in Norman, AR; in fact, it’s one of the few satellite Internet service provider companies that will actually customize a package specifically to meet your needs. By keeping your best interests in mind at all times, offering great customer service and support, and striving to keep you happy, Hughesnet is easily the best Internet service provider in Norman, AR, and you should have an experience that “meets” your expectations!
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Norman,AR
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House of Cultural Diversity: architectural gem of Camagüey
The House of Cultural Diversity, located in the city of Camagüey, shows its visitors the multicultural plurality and the architectural, patrimonial and cultural values of the legendary Puerto Príncipe.
Located in front of the former Arms Square, today Ignacio Agramonte Park, and surrounded by the houses of the most illustrious neighbors of the town, its beginnings go back to the XVII Century, standing out among its owners the cattle rancher Ramón Robirosa and his wife María Josefa Ojeda.
The embossed arabesques of the façade, the columns at the entrance and its four arches of half a point, attest to the eclecticism of the Camaguey construction, which became an authentic proof of the architectural rupture between the Island and the Spanish Metropolis.
At present, the building has four exhibition halls, where can be seen elements that survive in the everyday life of Camaguey: trades, music, dance and popular beliefs, resulting from different immigration.
It also has a conference room, a scientific and technical information room and an interior courtyard for the development of attractive cultural proposals for the public from Monday to Saturday.
It is located in a segment of the Historic Center of the city, declared a Cultural Heritage of Humanity by Unesco. The Metropolitan Cathedral, the Heritage Interpretation Center, the House of Trova “Patricio Ballagas” and the Gastronomic complex “Café Ciudad” are part of its surroundings.
The House of Cultural Diversity of Camagüey, awarded with several national prizes of restoration, is a permanent invitation for locals and foreigners, representing an architectural jewel of the City of Tinajones.
Photo Caption:
Photo 1: Current facade of the House of Cultural Diversity
Photo 2: Cisneros Street, where the House of Cultural Diversity stands.
Photo 3: Popular belief room
Photo 4: Room of music and dance.
Photo 5: The Metropolitan Cathedral and the Ignacio Agramonte Park are part of the House of Cultural Diversity.
Photo 6: The Heritage Interpretation Center is part of the House of Cultural Diversity.
Text and photos: Indira López Karell
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GWAR to invade Regina
“I don't think anyone one could be fully prepared for that show,” said Venue nightclub owner Guy Stuart to the Regina Free Press, in an article published in August 1989. The show marked the last time GWAR played the Queen City.
Now, 20 years later, Regina has decided to give the thrash metal band another chance. And although Venue (now the Distrikt) won’t host the show, the University of Regina's Riddell Center will.
GWAR are rarely out of their “Scumdog of the Universe” persona and claim to hail from outer space. They said their goal is to destroy the human race, but first, save it from Cardinal Syn, the antagonist in their life saga.
“Cardinal Syn has taken over everything [in space]. He’s outlawed all naughty fun, there’s no heavy metal, there’s no telephone hookers and there’s no crack,” said frontman Dave Brockie, aka Oderus Urungus, in a recent phone interview. “That’s the biggest reason why GWAR had to come back to planet earth, because there are no drugs in outer space anymore.”
It can be a complicated concept to wrap your head around as GWAR claim to have created the human race through procreation with apes.
The band puts on a live show so theatrical it is often compared to a Broadway performance. They have garnered a cultlike following and will have outlived many bands by turning 25 this year.
GWAR is celebrating their quarter-century anniversary with a North American tour and the release of Lust in Space. The album proved they could still keep it relevant by charting at 96 on the Billboard Top 200, the highest ranking in their career.
Regina show promoter Peter Jelinski sees differences in GWAR from when they played here in 1989.
“We produced the show in Saskatoon last year and I had reservations about it because I didn’t know what I was getting in to. It’s cartoon violence though,” he said.
“There was a time when it had very sexually overt tones to it. Now it’s changed in that they’ve realized that this is a business to them. This is their livelihood. They’ve realized in this day and age that people’s attitudes have changed.”
Jelinski also debunked rumours that the band had been banned from Regina for the past 20 years. The same laws govern both here and Saskatoon, where the band has played over six times in the past two decades, he said.
Local artist Ivan Anderson saw GWAR perform in Toronto four years ago. He doesn’t plan to see them again.
“One GWAR show is enough for me. And I really don't like the Riddell center as a venue. It feels awkward,” he said.
While he enjoyed the show, he feels the band is very spectacle driven. Iron Maiden could also fall into this category, he said.
“The difference is Maiden is bearable when you take all the excess and skulls and shit away. GWAR, on the other hand, doesn’t hold up well when they're not spraying you with blood,” he said.
Filmmaker Eric Hill have may not have heard GWAR’s music, but he’s familiar with the show and would like to find out for himself what it’s all about.
“I've never heard GWAR, but I gladly accept them as my leaders,” he said.
Contact INK Online
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Milky Ways
Release Date World: Monday 31st August 2009
You may know Joakim Bouaziz from his 2007 album Monsters & Silly Songs, a sui generis fusion of disco, post-punk and pop that became something of an instant cult classic. You may know him for his remixes of artists like Cut Copy, Simian Mobile Disco, Annie, Alter Ego, DJ Mehdi, Royksopp and Poni Hoax. You may know him from his years behind the scenes at Tigersushi, the iconic Parisian label at the crossroads between post-punk, dance music and the avant-garde. But whatever you think you know about Joakim, prepare to be very surprised by this, his third studio album.
Frankly, prepare to be blown away: the opening "Back to Wilderness" takes care of that with eight minutes of sturm-und-klang dirge that’s more Black Sabbath than Black Devil, more Sonic Youth than Sleeping Bag. And that’s just the intro. Over the course of a tidy 51 minutes, Joakim and his band mates fold together bits of psychedelia, old-school computer music, exotica, electro-pop, blues, new wave, New Pop, Krautrock and more into an expansive, remarkably coherent album that refuses to be reduced to a single genre, much less a single idea. This is no pastiche: these are proper songs, and the whole album follows the kind of overall arc that’s rare in a contemporary longplayer. "Spiders" is the first single off the album, with six delirious minutes of Italo arpeggios, fluid vocal harmonies, acid-house snares and an extended Afro-pop breakdown that perfectly sum up the record’s madcap, magpie spirit.
Where Monsters & Silly Songs reflected its tumultuous circumstances, making Milky Ways was a lot more leisurely. Having honed their act on the road, Joakim and his bandmates – formerly the Ectoplasmic Band, now dubbed "the Disco" – returned to the studio to jam and flesh out fleeting ideas into fully-fledged songs. Joakim spent the following year editing and arranging the songs and album into their final shape. A few tracks – "Travel In Vain", "King Kong Is Dead" – remain essentially unadulterated, capturing the live band in full flame. Others, with their complex, interlocking layers of guitars, synthesizers, beats and vocals, reflect Joakim’s role as architect – but the final form is as surprising to him as anyone. "Whenever I finish a record, I always think, Ok, this is what I don’t like, let’s do something different next time. This time I was thinking of doing something simpler and more direct than the previous album, but I don’t think it turned out that way. When I was doing the mastering, I thought, Whoa, this is quite intense. It’s like at one point the creation process escapes my control."
Much of the album takes its shape from the band’s experience as a live unit, having limbered up and liberated itself from excessive fealty to the recordings. "I never like to play the song exactly as it is on the record," says Joakim. "We try to have a way of adapting the songs that gives us more freedom to improvise, or allow us to improvise, depending on the situation. Most of the time the live versions are simpler and more rock – it’s quite noisy sometimes." That would explain the origins of "Back to Wilderness," whose flailing power chords sound like a tribute to Earth or Sunn 0))). What the squeals of feedback don’t warn you is just how tuneful the record is. Loping grooves give way to scraps of melody that recall Captain Beefheart or Durutti Column, and "Spiders," "Medusa" and "Little Girl" all feature billowing, ecstatic vocals that explode like dandelions -"Crystal choruses," Joakim calls them, citing his admiration for Grizzly Bear and Animal Collective.
"The basic inspiration for the album was the idea of youth and teen spirit in our consumer-based society," explains Joakim, "put in parallel with the idea of wilderness, or lost paradise. As if these two things – wilderness & youth – were mythical states." But the album – eager, starry-eyed, a little impish, stubborn and shy in equal measure – hangs delicately between nostalgia and its refusal. With his grounding in post-punk and disco, Joakim’s music has always made clear its debt to the past. Still, Joakim’s approach is almost curatorial, sifting through the archives to find inspiration in false starts and detours, outmoded methods and outdated technology.
"I think that most (young) artists today are like archaeologists, especially in graphics and contemporary art," says Joakim. "You can’t compete with history, with what’s been done. You need to use that, in a more or less disrespectful way, to make new things. You can’t just say, let’s do something new and forget everything before, it’s impossible and very pretentious. Especially when all that music is available everywhere all the time. I’m addicted to music and I listen to a lot of very different things, and whenever I hear something interesting in a song I think, Let’s try it, put it with something completely different and see what it does, like a mad scientist‚Ķ"
He does just that, repeatedly – for instance, with the garish sample stabs of "Love & Romance & a Special Person," which recall nothing so much as Trevor Horn’s emphatic Fairlight vamps. But the results are always more than the sum of their parts.
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Police, Public Order and Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2006
Acts of the Scottish Parliament
2006 asp 10
The Scottish Public Services...
Paragraph 10
Changes over time for: Section 10
01/04/2007- Amendment
There are currently no known outstanding effects for the Police, Public Order and Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2006, Section 10.
10(1)The Scottish Public Services Ombudsman Act 2002 is amended as follows.S
(2)In schedule 2 (listed authorities)—
(a)the entry numbered 14 is repealed; and
(b)after the entry numbered 32 there is inserted—
“32AThe Police Complaints Commissioner for Scotland.”.
(3)In schedule 4 (matters which the Ombudsman must not investigate)—
(a)for paragraph 1(b) there is substituted—
“(c)by the Police Complaints Commissioner for Scotland,”; and
(b)after paragraph 15 there is inserted—
“16Action taken—
(a)by a local authority in discharge of its functions as a police authority, or
(b)by any other person in discharge of the functions of a local authority as a police authority, by virtue of section 56(1) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 (c. 65).”.
Text created by the Scottish Executive department responsible for the subject matter of the Act to explain what the Act sets out to achieve and to make the Act accessible to readers who are not legally qualified. Explanatory Notes were introduced in 1999 and accompany all Acts of the Scottish Parliament except those which result from Budget Bills
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Kelly Health Care v. The Prudential Insurance Co. of America case brief
Kelly Health Care v. The Prudential Insurance Co. of America case brief summary
309 S.E.2d 305 (1983)
Plaintiff health care facility sought review of a decision of the Circuit Court of the City of Richmond (Virginia), which granted defendant insurer's motion for summary judgment in a suit to recover the amount of the insured's medical bills.
The health care facility first earned a default judgment against the insured, then pursued its claim against the insurer on the theory that the insurer was the insured's assignee. As proof of assignment, the health care facility relied upon two documents drafted by the insurer and signed by the insured that authorized the insurer to make payments on the insured's behalf.
The reviewing court upheld the grant of summary judgment.
An assignment is a transfer, but a transfer is not necessarily an assignment.
If the transfer is less than absolute, it is not an assignment; the obligee must have intended, at the time of the transfer, to dispossess himself of an identified interest, or some part thereof, and to vest indefeasible title in the transferee.
Here, the documents appointed the insurer as the agent and granted it authority in the nature of a power of attorney to make such payments.
As such, each was revocable, so neither was an assignment.
Therefore, the health care facility could not bring the instant suit.
The judgment was affirmed.
Recommended Supplements and Study Aids for Contract Law
Shop for Law School Course Materials .
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Chaebol owners resigning from board
By Yoon Ja-young
Samyang Foods Chairman Chun In-jang
According to Hyundai Motor Group, its chairman Chung Mong-koo is scheduled to resign from the board of the Hyundai Engineering and Construction at the general shareholders' meeting Thursday. The group explained that the chairman wants to concentrate on the automobile business. The group, however, has been facing pressure by the Fair Trade Commission (FTC) that it should improve its corporate governance.
Lee Hae-jin, founder of the country's top portal, Naver, also officially stepped down from its board in February. Speculation was that it had to do with the FTC designating Lee the effective owner of a large company. Once designated as such, a variety of antitrust regulations and duties could follow. Lee could not avoid the designation despite owning only a 4.3 percent stake.
Harim Group Chairman Kim Hong-kuk
Daelim Group Vice Chairman Lee Hae-wook, who is the third-generation scion of the family controlled group, also resigned from being the top executive at the shareholders' meeting last week. He had caused public anger last year for gross mistreatment of his chauffeurs. A number of Daelim executives and employees also made headlines recently for being bribed by suppliers.
At the shareholders' meeting of SPC Samlip scheduled for Thursday, vice presidents Hur Jin-soo and Hur Hee-soo, who are children of group chairman Hur Young-in, are expected to resign as their reappointments are not included on the agenda. The operator of the country's top bakery franchisor Paris Baguette had been in conflict with the government for refusing to directly hire the 5,300 bakers working at the franchised shops.
Daelim Group Vice Chairman Lee Hae-wook
Local poultry giant Harim Group, which was the first target of the investigation by the FTC for unfair practices under the new administration, also had chairman Kim Hong-kuk resign from the board. The company was suspected of using illicit measures in handing over control of the group to the chairman's son.
Samyang Foods Chairman Chun In-jang, who is being investigated by the prosecution for alleged embezzlement, recently resigned from being the CEO. Shinsegae Vice Chairman Chung Yong-jin also has been away from the board for years.
Market watchers say the series of resignations is because the current administration is not tolerating the wrongdoing of chaebol founders and members of owner families, who are trying to keep low key.
Naver founder Lee Hae-jin
The court, for instance, rejected the bail request by Lotte Foundation chief Shin Young-ja, who is a daughter of the Lotte Group founder Shin Kyuk-ho. She has been in jail for embezzlement. She enlisted her daughter as a board member and paid her billions of won in salary, but the court determined that such a practice constituted embezzlement.
"By resigning from the board, the members of the owner families can avoid legal responsibility. They are, however, still controlling the management. It doesn't seem desirable," an official at The Citizens' Coalition for Economic Justice noted.
yjy@ktimes.com More articles by this reporter
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Trump's remarks fuel debate over S. Korea's nuclear armament
Republican front-runner Donald Trump's remarks about allowing South Korea to nuclearize are adding fuel to a simmering debate over Seoul's potential nuclear option to counter Pyongyang's escalating threats, observers here said Monday.
In an interview with the New York Times on Friday, the U.S. real-estate magnet said he would be "open" to allowing the South and Japan to build nuclear arms against the North and China. He argued they would go nuclear anyway if the U.S. keeps its "current path of weakness."
Analysts said that it is noteworthy that the U.S. political heavyweight has raised the possibility of the South's nuclearization. But they dismissed Trump's remarks as part of his "surreal and populist" campaign rhetoric.
"His mentions of the South's nuclear armament and the potential withdrawal of U.S. forces from the Korean Peninsula are quite worrisome," said Chang Yong-seok, a senior researcher at the Institute for Peace and Unification Studies at Seoul National University.
"But that may be just empty talk as he caters to the public opinion in the U.S. that the South should stand on its own feet militarily (possibly with nuclear arms) rather than depending on what he claims to be a costly U.S. security umbrella."
Whether Trump's remarks were part of his aggressive bid for the White House, his stance gave a boost to those who argue that Seoul should consider building nuclear arms or asking Washington to redeploy tactical nuclear arms that were withdrawn from the peninsula shortly before an inter-Korean denuclearization accord took effect in 1992.
Calls for nuclear armament reemerged here after Pyongyang's nuclear test in January and long-range rocket launch in February.
A series of prominent politicians and scholars such as former Saenuri Party leader Chung Mong-joon and the party's current floor leader Rep. Won Yoo-chul have demanded that Seoul consider arming itself with nuclear bombs.
The demand for the South's nuclearization has risen amid growing misgivings about U.S. security commitment. Some observers noted that under the U.S.' "retrenchment" policy of reducing international engagement and expenditures, Washington might feel reluctant to immediately engage in a contingency on the peninsula.
A security expert here said that the South should nurture at least "latent" nuclear weapons capabilities to better deal with the evolving nuclear threats from the North and potential threats from neighboring states.
"We need to seriously review the nuclear option, meaning we should own the capabilities to develop nuclear arms in a minimum period of time in order to use them in case of a contingency here," he said, declining to be identified for the sensitivity of the issue.
"We should consider potential threats not only from the North but also from a nuclear-armed China and Japan, with which we have a long-standing territorial feud."
Those in support of the South's nuclear option say that a nuclear-power status would enable the South to bolster national pride and secure a more balanced relationship with its superpower ally, the U.S., and curtail heavy expenditures on its conventional military buildup.
Opponents, however, emphasized that the benefits of nuclear arms should be weighed against the "heavy costs," which they say will range from international isolation to the dismantlement of the South Korea-U.S. alliance.
In particular, they said that the South, if it were to opt to go nuclear, would jeopardize the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) that the U.S. has so avidly cherished even with a declaration of a "nuclear-free" world.
"So far, North Korea is the only country that tried to develop nuclear arms under the NPT regime though it later withdrew from the treaty," said Park Ihn-hwi, an international studies professor at Ehwa Womans University.
"India, Pakistan and Israel have pursued nuclear arms, but they were not NPT members. So should it pursue nuclear arms, the South, now regarded as an exemplary non-proliferation state, would deal a blow to the NPT order."
Park added that the South with an "export-driven economy" could be slapped with crippling international sanctions should it go nuclear. Exports contribute about 70 percent of the South's annual economic growth.
"The South's economy would not be able to withstand the stress from the sanctions even for half a year," he said.
The sanctions for the South's nuclearization would also include a ban on its import of fuel to power its 23 nuclear reactors that account for some 30 percent of its total electricity production, analysts said.
Kim Tae-hyun, international politics professor at Chung-Ang University, said that it would be "wiser" for the South to utilize the calls for nuclear arms to pressure the U.S. to bolster its nuclear deterrence against the North.
"To allay rising public security concerns here, Seoul can demand that Washington explore ways to enhance the credibility of its security commitment to the defense of its crucial Asian ally," he said. (Yonhap)
pss@ktimes.com More articles by this reporter
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Singapore Earns Good Marks in the WEF Index Rankings
Admin August 24, 2017 October 20, 2017 No Comments on Singapore Earns Good Marks in the WEF Index Rankings
The WEF Index is designed to measure economic growth which is inclusive. Singapore traditionally earns high ratings on this index and this is good news for the island city-state. These good rankings are nothing new. The truth is that Singapore has ranked number two in the WEF Index for six years now, until this year, when it’s dipped to eighth place on the index. Over the past six years, the only country which ranked higher was Switzerland.
While the downturn is noticeable, it’s safe to say that sitting in the top ten out of thirty nations is a good result. Countries which moved ahead of Singapore in the Index include Luxembourg and Norway. The way that the index is calculated has undergone some shifts and this is probably the reason why Singapore is not rating as highly as of late.
The indicators which are utilized in order to measure performance have been altered pretty significantly. These days, the experts who put together the index are looking for different things from nations which are ranked, including the way that their economic performance relates to making their countries more socially-inclusive. Apparently, certain nations are outpacing Singapore in terms of delivering in key areas.
However, despite its fall on the index, Singapore is a progressive country which is faring well economically and offering lots of perks to entrepreneurs. It’s a nation with real potential and also has the lowest murder rate in the world. It’s a safe place to live and to do business. Upgrades to the health care system are expected and a lot of assistance for start-up companies in fintech and other niches is becoming available. With this in mind, Singapore may rise in the rankings in future years.
In particular, Brexit is expected to bring more offshore investments to Singapore, as people decide to take their investments out of the UK. This signals an opportunity for new economic growth in the future.
Singapore wasn’t given a formal ranking of eighth place. This is merely an estimate. Missing data made it hard for the people who put together the index to get a clear reading on where Singapore fits into the big picture. This is another reason why the Republic may not have ranked as highly. Hopefully, all data which is needed in order to assess the country will be available before the next version of the WEF Index is available.
Singapore Has Plenty of Promise
These types of indexes are valuable. However, it’s clear that, despite the tumble in the rankings, there is still a lot to be excited about when it comes to Singapore. While the leaders of the nation and its business titans should definitely take notice of the rankings and consider ways to improve, the missing data may be a crucial factor which led to Singapore’s WEF Index plunge. In order to get a more detailed picture of where Singapore stands versus the other twenty-nine nations, we’ll all need to wait for the next version of the index.
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by Macmillan Dictionary
Written by Macmillan Dictionary
not caring about other people’s feelings or about the seriousness of a situation
a supporter of the king in the English Civil War of the 17th century
Origin and usage
A cavalier was originally a horseman, and especially a knight. This meaning came into English in the 16th century and is related to the Spanish ‘caballero’, the French ‘chevalier’ and the Italian ‘cavaliere’, all ultimately from the Latin word for horse, ‘caballus’. The adjective dates from the mid 17th century.
The noun cavalier had already been used in English for half a century when it started to be applied to the supporters of King Charles I in the Civil War. This meaning, which soon came to be spelled Cavalier to distinguish it from the general meaning, was initially used as a term of abuse. Distinguished from the Puritan supporters of Parliament by their long hair and elaborate clothing, the Cavaliers – who ended up on the losing side, along with the King, who was executed in 1649 – were memorably described in the humorous history book ‘1066 and All That’ as ‘Wrong but Wromantic’ (the Puritans or Roundheads were ‘Right but Repulsive‘). The adjective cavalier, which is used to describe people or actions that are careless of the sensitivities of others or the seriousness of a situation, reflects the buccaneering nonchalance atttributed to the historical Cavaliers.
“In short, he was a perfect cavaliero,/ And to his very valet seemed a hero.”
(Lord Byron)
“If trees could scream, would we be so cavalier about cutting them down?”
(Jack Handy)
careless, detached, unfeeling
View the full definition in the Macmillan Dictionary.
Spelling tip of the week – renowned
catchphrase
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A new Copse to mark 25th Anniversary
Barnes Copse was planted this spring on Magog Down. The name acknowledges the part played by Joan Barnes and her husband Ray, at the outset of The Magog Trust, the company formed to purchase 163.5 acres, on the Gog Magog Hills, now known as Magog Down.
The 25th anniversary of this purchase was celebrated on 28th September, with a gathering of Friends, Members and guests, in The Granary. Niki Williamson, from the RSPB, and Philip Oswald, gave talks reflecting the status the land has reached with talks on Birds in the Agricultural Environment and Chalk Grassland. For, although Magog Down is now an area widely used for recreation from walking, with or without dogs, to running and kite flying it is also an area of conservation to which have returned birds, mammals, insects, flowers in an environment of new woods, hedges and grassland.
The agricultural land was advertised for sale at Easter 1989 for £327,000; it was the inspiration of Colin Davison, Vicar of St Andrew’s and Christopher South, journalist and broadcaster, to seize the opportunit y and suggest its purchase to make the land available to the public of Cambridgeshire. With the support of that public, who purchased 3,000 ‘gogs’ - nominal parcels of land - along with grants from local councils, including one for £90,000 thanks in part to Harold Holt, SCDC councillor and head of Stapleford Community School, donations from businesses and, moreover, support and enthusiasm, the purchase went ahead following a last minute interest free loan from Edmund Vestey of £100,000. Downland Fairs, Teddy Bears’ Picnics, Plant Fairs and other fund raising events followed.
Such a scheme, for conservation and recreation, was innovative and there have been trials and tribulations along the way. Initial tree planting was to furnish an income from the sale of wood for poles, and then the bottom went out of the market. Eric Winterflood, a retired forester, masterminded the land management scheme when no-one was aware that, in the midst of the site, was an ancient Neolithic causewayed enclosure. The area was originally heathland where sheep grazed and pasque flowers grew before agriculture started in 1894. A report by the Wildlife Trust and advice from the Institute of Terrestrial Ecology resulted in seeding 72 acres with typical native grasses and flowers to re-create chalk grassland habitat.
Progress and Plaudits
Years on, following the first goals of creating 6 woods with over 26,000 trees and shrubs and the two grass Downs, plaudits have been earned for what has been achieved. In June 1998, a visit from the BBC Country File team; Prof Stephen Hawking and his entourage officially opened the disabled access; a further reward came with the Highly Commended Certificate in the Woodlands and Plantation Competition, Royal Agricultural Society of England.
As farmers, the company entered agri-environment schemes to create income through grants, for raising crops, planting and maintaining hedges, paddocks and woods. The costs of managing public access require the provision of a ranger service keeping paths cut, hedges trimmed, gates and fences maintained and costs are high.
We estimate that 60,000 or so visits are made each year to Magog Down to enjoy this corner of Stapleford countryside which has grown into a green and flourishing jewel of the village; it needs to be cherished for future generations.
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PRIVATE ART COLLECTION OF LUBA MATUSOVSKY
About Collection
Nadezda Musyankova
Mara Devereux
Berni Palumbo
Carol Dawson
Shana Nys Dambrot
Moses Feigin
List of Artwork
Bio Feigin
Guinness Certificate
Irina Vilkovir
Reviews and Auctions
Additional Artists
NATALIA BAZHENOVA
TAMAZ KAKABADZE
LUBA MATUSOVSKY
NIKOLAI SOBOLEV
Nadezda Musyankova, Ph.D
Senior researher
State Tretyakov Gallery
Moscow, Russia, February 2010
A private collection is always a personal statement of an owner, a reflection of his or her private tastes, aesthetic preferences and financial welfare. Not everyone can afford to sustain and own an art collection; it is necessary to have credible financing, possess just the right flair, focus, and risk-taking attitude, as the collected works of art find their value in due course of time.
Each collector has a unique opportunity to discover new painters and find unknown masterpieces and in some cases serve as the master of an artist’s destiny. Many now famous artists obtained the recognition they deserved thanks to the active participation of benefactors whose collections always remain disparate in their taste. For example, the profound collections of Sergei Shchukin and Ivan Morozov formed a foundation of the collection of impressionists at the Hermitage in St. Petersburg and the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts in Moscow, while the merchant Pavel Tretyakov had a goal of creating a museum of Russian art for the Russian people in what is now known as the State Tretyakov Gallery.
But not all collectors acquire works of art with the intent of leaving a legacy in the annals of art history. Most assemble works with a common focus that tell a story while simultaneously creating an investment. Two painters make up the bulk of the private collection of Luba Matusovsky: Moses Feigin (1904-2008) and Irina Vilkovir (1913-1985).
Matusovsky’s works by Feigin could well be the best of the artist’s career, but together the artists show us what it meant to live lives that mirrored their artistic visions under the pressure of significant social and cultural oppression. The purpose of this writing is to illuminate the intent of Matusovsky’s selections, and to shed further light on the decision-making behind the process of collecting.
From the point of view of the former Soviet government, both painters lacked significance. They never received large government awards and their lives were spent working during the difficult Soviet period, when “nationality” was of particular importance. However, they were able to enter the membership of the Moscow League of Artists having mastered a representational method of painting–realism. Thus they proved their professional competence, and the Soviet state eventually commissioned political portraits and genre paintings. Nevertheless, they diligently pursued their own art underground, without the expectation of showcasing their true creative forces publicly.
Both Moses Feigin and Irina Vilkovir, in doing official work, followed the firm canons of socialist realism, express themselves only in their color choices. In their private studios they were much bolder, and would infuse their secret passions into the expression of forms and brightness of unexpected color combinations. Both painters in their own way were revealing their personalities and communicating with the spectator using the graphic language of the 20th century and mixing different viewpoints of avant garde.
In spite of extraordinary difficulties, numerous obstacles and tragic circumstances which surrounded these painters, who worked in solitude during the Soviet period, their work obtained some recognition in professional circles both within Russia and abroad. Their paintings appeared in different exhibitions, were acquired by museums, and were included in private collections of contemporary art.
M.Feigin (right) pictured with A Osmerkin, Osmerkin’s wife and his friend L. Aronov
In 1964 at a public discussion following the scandalous Khrushchev visit to the exhibition “30 Years of the Moscow League of Artists,” Vladimir Serov, the president of the Academy of Arts, prepared a controversial and provocative proposal directed against the young artists who developed the “Severe Style.” Irina Vilkovir outspokenly pointed out the conflict of interest between the authority and members of the Moscow League of Artists, where the latter seemed to have lost its criticism of the government. In the period that followed, Irina Vilkovir risked losing everything for such a bold stand–not only her income, but her freedom.
How did the works of these painters become the basis for the small, private collection of Luba Matusovsky? Irina Vilkovir, a family friend of her parents, invited her to the studio of one of the oldest painters in Moscow, and the last living member of the “Jack of Diamonds” group–Moses Feigin. This meeting became the beginning of Matusovsky’s long-term friendship with the master, allowing her to discover the artist’s private inner world, which was had been secluded for so long.
Feigin’s life is expansive and extraordinary on many levels. It is unheard of for an artist to live for over hundred years, let alone maintain technical abilities along with the passion and desire to create. Throughout his long life, the master remained his stature as a prolific artist. His youth had been spent creating political portraits of Lenin, Stalin and other party and governmental statesmen. He followed the rules endorsed by officials and tried not to be stand out too much from the crowd of Soviet artists. It was only at the age of 60 when he acquired his own studio that he began working with new direction. With more than half of his life behind him, he began anew to devote himself entirely to his own artistic vision, and realize his dreams and fantasy.
Moses Feigin began to experiment with techniques and materials as if he had found a second breath in his work. He applied used pieces of cloth, string and metallic foil to his works. He boldly created powerful, abstract paintings which would have been regarded as abominations in the Soviet years. Nevertheless, the master did not change his outlook on life. He continued to separate himself from the heated discussions that erupted in the 1960’s and 1970’s. He stopped visiting public debates, and did not exhibit his work, or extend invitations to individuals with means and influence to visit his studio. Feigin removed himself completely from showrooms and galleries.
Because he was the oldest painter in the Moscow art underground (he viewed attempts by younger artists to promote themselves onto the world stage as he might a childish prank), and he had begun to prefer working in solitary, he was able to get through the terrible period of Stalinist repression. He understood all too well how lives could be destroyed by slanderers and fictitious reports, and thus stayed away from the limelight. In addition, he simply did not like to waste time on pointless dialogue about socialist art, and preferred to study independently. In this sense, Matusovsky’s collected works are unique, because as Feigin grew fond of her, he began to pass his paintings into hands that he trusted would not let them fall into ambiguity.
As a highly secluded figure, Moses Feigin still created passionate works involving world events.
Feigin, Catatstrophy, 1975
In his painting “Catastrophy” (1975, 57 x 83 cm, oil, pb.) Feigin prophetically foreshadows future cataclysms at the end of 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century, such as the Chernobyl nuclear power station disaster (1986), the fall of the World Trade Towers in New York (2001), the New Orleans flood (2005), and the earthquake in Haiti (2010).
Red uneven lines cut through the black rectangle of the canvas. They shine on the dark background like tracks of tracer bullets, or sparks shooting from fire. The center of the painting has a rough surface that looks as if the paint cracked under high heat. Two white rings of different sizes stand out in this area, where a circle serves as a symbol of immortality, infinity and eternity having neither beginning nor end. Splashes of red and yellow recall tongues of flame (and as Matusovsky observes, panic-stricken people with arms lifted heavenwards) in the lower part of the painting.
Moses Feigin’s few artworks during 1970-1971, in which he used gold- and silver-colored foil, became the focus of Matusovsky’s collection. Foil is a unique material with its inherent memory of form, and the ability to change when subjected by high temperatures. In fact, Feigin altered images on his painting by applying heat to different parts of the foil. At first, a viewer will see one image on one plane, and later that image in another area of the painting will be altered.
Feigin, Jupiter, 1971
For example, in the painting “Jupiter” (1971, 51 x 38 cm, oil, foil, pb.), bright sunlight is not only reflected on the surface of the foil, distinguishing an important detail of the composition, but also under the influence of the temperature, the form is transformed.This makes the image come alive with energy.
Feigin, Beauty, 1970
In the “Beauty” (1970, 65×64 sm, oil, can, foil), at first we notice only the scattered bright circles and ellipses in the chaotic state on the dark blue background, reminiscent of the color of the night sky in August. But gradually, they form a female figure – one arm is on her waist, while the other one is raised upwards, as if she fixes her hair.
Sparkling foil, when used in works depicting religious subjects, provides a sacramental sense to Feigin’s paintings as golden assists illumine the icons symbolic of divine light and Holy presence.
Feigin, Temptation of St.Anthony, 1971
“Temptation of St. Anthony” (1971, 76 x 83 cm, oil, foil, pb.) is a profound work on this subject. The artist himself considered it to be one of his best works, a real masterpiece, and was not eager to part with it.
The subject of the painting is the temptation of the old man by a naked woman. Saint Anthony began his career by practicing the ascetical life, and is recognized as the father not only of monasticism, but also of strict adherence to religious life in every measure. He was one of the first Christians who lived seduction might bring damnation from God.
St. Anthony was often painted as being tormented by demons by the great masters of the 15-16th centuin full solitude in Egypt. He left people, and fought the temptations of the world and flesh with the help of prayer.
As legend goes, his solitary life attracted special attention from Satan. In the beginning, ordinary demons tried to alter his spiritual life through violence. When that didn’t work, Satan himself appeared in the image of a beautiful woman, trying to seduce the old man with lust. The hermit understood who was before him, and was able to overcome the temptation. Saint Anthony had been considered an instructive example for centuries on resisting earthly temptations, staying alert continuously and maintaining the ability to interpret the divine within everyday events.
St. Anthony was mindful that ries: Jacopo Tintoretto, Paolo Veronese, Martin Schongauer, Albrecht Durer, Hieronymus Bosch, Matthias Grunewald, Lucas Cranach, and Pieter Bruegel. These painters were attracted to St. Anthony because he allowed them to demonstrate the richness of their fantasy and display horrible monsters inhabiting the underworld. The seduction of the pious old man by a beautiful woman is not a rare theme, and the altar triptych by Hieronymus Bosch (1505-1506) is a well-known example. Kept in Lisbon, it portrays on the right leaf of the altar, a saint and the she-devil staring eerily to the side. The naked woman, appearing behind a curtain which has been pulled back by a toad, turns out to be a demon disguised as a princess. A dry tree trunk, behind which she hides, is an alchemistic symbol of death. St. Anthony looks to the side, but the feast demons caught in his vision beckon him. In the background is the wonderful city of the she-devil, ready to invite the hermit, if he can only turn his head towards her.
St. Anthony’s image remained central to the exploration of temptation, and Surrealists Max Ernst and Salvador Dali and many other painters continued to incorporate him into their works in the 20th century. “…Demons are not visible bodies, but we are bodies for them,” wrote St. Anthony. In Paul Cezanne’s painting (1873-1877), the demon is represented by the image of a beautiful bather. The horned figure of Satan hangs over the saint who is resisting temptation. In 1946, Salvador Dali sets the subject of his painting in the desert with a fantastic cavalcade of long, thin-legged, elephant-like creatures lead by a white horse. The first creature transports a naked princess on its back and the entire scene looks like an approaching mirage to the saint who hides behind the cross he holds in front of his face.
In his painting of the same subject, Feigin gives the main focus to a female body in an open scarlet dress with her head thrown back and her breasts bare. There are two depictions of St. Anthony; his body is rendered with bent head and a big pink foot, and a pious soul shines blue above him reflecting the highly spiritual nature of the figure. The woman’s nude body is painted with gold foil to emphasize how the subject of seduction blinds the old man.
In Christian teaching, seduction is a sin. However, sin is also used by God to test man’s faith through suffering or examination, in which God reviews the man to know his heart.
The subject of seduction was very important not only for painters but also for many writers such as Gustav Flaubert who created a philosophical drama which narrates the trying experiences of Saint Anthony. The saint appears in the drama as the symbolic image of the creator as he is plunged into the creative process. Feigin probably knew Flaubert’s story and expressed the same thoughts in his own work. The painter likely considered giving up his artistic work and creating works for the collective public good. Ultimately Feigin chose a life of solitude without participating in his own community. He did not attempt to relate his aesthetic with his contemporaries. In this sense one can link Moses Feigin to the main protagonist of Flaubert’s novel.
Despite plenty of religious subjects in his work, Feigin was an atheist. In interviews late in life he stated that the older he grew (he was 104 when he died) the more certain he became of the idea that “there is nothing more beyond this life.” With the help of Christian subjects, Feigin tried to answer eternal questions about the origin of the universe with his work, such as “Where are we from? Who are we? Why did we come here? What is the sense of being?”Within his works there are several variations of “Calgary,”
Feigin, Conversation with God, 1989
“Conversation with God,” “Inquiring” and others.
Feigin, You’ll be hung, 1971
On the painting “In the Torture Chamber” from the series “Damnation of the War” and “You Will be Hung” (1975, 100 x 80 cm, oil, foil, pb.), there are three bodies in the background of masonry. Each is a distinct color. The figures of carmine-red judge and yellow counselor condemn the convict, the man sentenced to die, who is holding his head painted in rich blue. The painter metaphorically reminds us of the history of Christ. The nimbus around his head is made with foil. It is as shiny as the Byzantine mosaic in Cecilia. Not knowing the name of the work one might suppose that it was inspired by the Bible, but the painter refers to World War II. There is another interpretation of the painting: The yellow figure is an executioner with the hood, the red is the hung man with folded arms on his chest and a noose around his neck, and the blue one is the Christ covering his head with his hands in horror, unable to watch the manslaughter.
The painting ” Confession” (1970, 65×64,5 sm, pb.) is devoted to one of the most secret religious rites, the confession of sins. The two bright blue spots designate the bodies of people mingle on the white background. The white color is the divine, a symbol of light, purity and truth, and the color of purification from sins. Blue in the Christian tradition is the color of chastity and justice. The drawn black line coincides with the contour of the human figures. They form an ornate pattern, where black is the symbol of repentance and sin. The figures oppose each other: the left figure is straight like a pole, the right one is sitting in the blue armchair like an angel with the folded wings behind its back. There is a red orange framing between them.
Feigin , Confession, 1970
Feigin, Light Signal of Life,1971
The background is of different colors by perimeter. In the upper part it is yellow, the color of treachery, jealousy, and lie. In some countries of Europe the doors of traitors were smeared with the yellow color. Judas and Cain are usually painted with yellow beards. From below there is an orange color, which sometimes considered like a symbol of faithlessness and voluptuousness. However it can be valued like a hint of creative activity. In some legends, the Muses were represented like the daughters of the sky and the earth, dressed in the costumes of orange color. To the right, there is a red color, associated with blood, fire and anger. Also this color is the color of life, strength and courage. To the left, there is a green color – the color of spring, new growth, joy and hope. This color often symbolizes continuity and immortality. It also points to the natural and super-natural connections.There are many enigmas in this work. The abstract decision of multiple layers does not provide concrete answers to questions, and only the symbolism of the fresh colors allows decipher the message of the painter. In “Light Signal of Life” (1971, 70 x 49 cm, wood, foil), a vertical strip of foil divides the painting into two parts, and reminds viewers of a road sign. In the manner of a Russian fairy tale, if one travels to the right, he will lose his horse. If he goes to the left, his sword will be lost and so on. In real life, everyone has to make his or her choice continually. At the same time, this road sign reminds of the cross, a symbol of the logical completion of Christianity. To the right and to the left of the signal are the bodies of people that are hardly visible. One of them looks straight, as if he holds a bugle, and the other, with a bending head, submits to heaven. This work seems to allude to the painting “A Knight at the Crossroads” by Viktor Vasnetsov.
Philosophical subjects penetrate deep in other works of Moses Feigin. For example in “Silence” (1972, 51×52 sm,pb.), multi-colored ball occupies the central part of the composition. It recalls view of our planet from the space. In the lower part of the painting there are three long white washed dabs, which can be interpreted like comets with tails or even people’s souls, flying away.
Feigin was not the follower of anybody, specifically of Kazimir Malevich, whom he considered to be pure genius. His characterized his creative work as the pictorial and geometrical abstraction.
Feigin, Silence, 1972
In the second half of his working career, Feigin did not follow anyone, even Kazimir Malevich, whom he considered a pure genius. He characterized his creative work as pictorial and geometrical abstraction. In the second half of the 80’s, the painter worked on several series’ of paintings. He painted clowns and bohemian artists. Among them is an image of the beloved Charlie Chaplin. Feigin created unforgettable portrayals of this small man in the black bowler hat in both funny and sad situations just as Chaplin appeared in his movies.
Feigin, Trio, 1987
In the painting “Trio” (1987, 64 x 45 cm, oil, org.), on the background of the blazing crimson sunset, we see a tall harlequin and Charlie standing next to him. The actors look directly ahead, as if in a hurry to get to their next performance.
In another work also named “Trio” (1988, 49 x 45 cm, pb.), these characters move in the background of a red brick wall suggesting the beginning of the 20th century when huge industrial blocks were erected in cities. We do not know where they are going, though the fate of street jesters is usually the same. They themselves do not know where they will be the next morning and if they will have enough money for food. Such peculiarity distinguishes many creative people, including painters. Their work often depends on successful sales. A sad look that Charlie Chaplin is directing straight at the spectator confirms this thought. What is ahead for this strange trio in the future? Obscurity perhaps, but the important thing is for them to keep moving ahead.
Feigin, Clowns, 1986
In this series, Feigin painted a couple of “Scomorochs”(“Clowns”) (1986, 65 x 50, cm, pb), Russian buffoons and jesters that are arrayed in bright costumes holding the Russian folk instruments, balalaika and zhaleyka, in their hands. The faces of the musicians are sad and their song is not merry. A little white dog hides between their legs. Looking at this work, one remembers a painting from the Russian Museum of a self-portrait of two painters who were friends; classicists of the first half of the 20th century, Vasiliy Shukhaev and Alexander Yakovlev, are depicted as a harlequin and Pierrot.
Feigin, Concert, 1987
The musician theme continues with the work “Concert” (1987, 48 x 31 cm, org). This little work on pastel board carries monumental features reminiscent of the Michelangelo’s frescoes in the Sistine Chapel. The figure of the violinist is in the center of the architectural bay. The emerald kerchief on her heard and big pleats of the red dress create unusual and beautiful combinations of colors on the painting. It almost literally makes a “sound.” A complicated turn of the trunk and the arrangement of the figure recall the image of Michelangelo’s ancient prophet who foretold disaster.
The picturesque world of clowns and actors glorified by Feigin recall the famous line from Shakespeare’s play, “As You Like It,” all the world’s a stage, and all men and women merely players. A modern society is a masquerade where people prefer to hide themselves under different masks. Sincerity is not expected much less esteemed. The painter caught hold of this suggestion and realized it in his works. In the words of Italian contemporary art critic, Akile Bonito Oliva, “Moses Feigin had the strength to come away from all the anchors, leaving his thoughts about priority direction of movement, and propel without helm and sails, not correlating with the center and even as far as the periphery and roadside.”
Feigin’s artworks contain ample amounts of search and exploration. Shortly before his death in 2008 he was recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records as the oldest professional working artist in the world. Independent experts have also finally recognized his talent.
There are also works of Irina Vilkovir in Matusovsky’s collection. They all characterize the painter as an excellent colorist, and a master of innovative forms.
Vilkovir, Portrait “Lubasha” 1979
Vilkovir and Matusovsky began their friendship after the artist painted the portrait “Lubasha” (1979, 89 x 60 cm, can). The dark-haired girl in the white embroidered shirt looks at the spectator with her eyes half-closed. The secrets of the girl’s dreams are concealed. This work recalls “The Sunlit Girl” by Valentine Serov. Massive features and patterns on the garment are brought together with a Matisse-like contrast.
Her other portrait, titled “Luba” (1982, 66 x 45 cm, can.) transmits quite a different condition of the model. A bright red woman’s jacket and the outline of her hair, almost lost in the dark background, are in keeping with the works of mysterious Frenchman of George Rouault. In her painting,
Vilkovir, Banya (Russian sauna), 1978
“Banya (Russian Sauna)” (1978, 118 x 88 cm can.), naked bodies of a woman and a girl are brightly lit in a warm orange light coming from the stove. The use of few colors and the angularity of the forms echo the rigid style of Soviet painters Andrei Vacnetsov, Viktor Ivanov, and Igor Obrosov.
Vilkovir, Linen, 1971
The work “The Linen” (1971, 63 x 50 cm, org.) is painted with big expressive brush strokes. It looks as if it is made not with a brush but with fingers. The white sheets give the sensation of coolness of frosty morning and the crackle of cloth is covered with ice against the background of snow-covered trees.
Vilkovir, Autumn, 1978
In “Autumn” (1978, 98 x 88 cm, can), we see grazing horses through the big green leaves. The painting is very decorative with color combinations such as lilac, bright blue and marsh. It is perceived almost like an illustration for a book.
Vilkovir is undeservedly forgotten, but her artworks are remarkable for her rare gift of incarnating nature while simultaneously picturing the mood of a model and her own momentary impression. Such lightness of vision was characteristic of impressionists.
The painter’s love for wide and bold brush strokes, contrasting colors and the convention of forms reveal her devotion to expressionism. Boldness and inner freedom were not typical in Soviet art. She developed these talents in Vkhutemas and MAU, known for their informal traditions.
Both Moses Feigin and Irina Vilkovir are bold reformers through their creative work. It was important to them not to imitate or represent reality. They did not set themselves to the task of reflecting it. On the contrary, both artists tried to change it according to their inner comprehension.
A modern artist is attentive to the details and gains pleasure from an integral vision of all things lost. Eclecticism helps to neutralize differences, closing the gap between different styles and erasing the distance between past and present.
The process of nurturing an art collection is a delicate work, and is often done subconsciously. The works in the Matusovsky collection are a reflection of her personal world and character. It is something transcendental, beyond logic, where beauty is left undefined, but not undeniable.
No material from the Luba Matusovsky Private Collection site may be copied, reproduced, republished, uploaded, posted, transmitted, or distributed in any way. Modification of the materials or use of the materials for any purpose other than educational use is a violation of the Luba Matusovsky Private Collection copyright © 2013.
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A tribute to the Noble Syrian Peasant
For all the rhetoric of Unity, Freedom and Socialism, the Syrian Baath party has delivered none of these three. With the overthrow of Salah Jadid's radically leftist branch of the Baath, Hafez Assad introduced a corporatist, corrupt and highly repressive state apparatus that excluded all those who did not share his vision for the country. Syria became "a Fatherland" with a cult of the leader, an ideology that tolerated no dissent, and a corrupted intelligentsia that reinforced the new status quo. Members of the old system: educated; cultured; or religious, were driven into exile. The old bourgeois families were completely marginalised as the village peasants took over the country's institutions. Of course, for all the talk of liberating the countryside (or Palestine for that matter) and implementing a truly socialist experience, the new rulers of Syria were eager to take on the trappings of a new bourgeois class.
Today we see their children in sensitive positions throughout the country. Clever, but unimaginative and predictable, this 'educated' class has never known the poverty of their fathers, and have grown up with an undeserved sense of entitlement in Syria which leads them to treat it as their personal estate. In an expression of Hegelian dialectic history, they overthrew the landlords in order to themselves become landlords. Yet now they find that true power is not with them, but in the peasant class that they came from, and whom they have now alienated. When they hysterically denounce the protesters as 'salafists' who wish to destroy the country, what they are really terrified of is losing their privilege and returning back to the village. That is the root of their terror. So they pull together and utilise all the networks and contacts they have cultivated over the decades - in the hope of gaining some semblance of respectability rub off on them - to give their rule some measure of legitimacy. Like most people who lack vision, yet find themselves in positions of power, there is a qualitative difference they can never understand between a Syria firmly under their boots, and a Syria that is free from the rule of the peasant thug.
Ironically, and luckily, it is not the rotten Syrian bourgeois who are leading the revolt: after forty years of Assadist rule, Syria's "old guard" have come to a comfortable understanding with the Assad family. Instead the Syrian revolt began in Syria's rural areas, by the Syrian peasant himself, and not in the corrupt and cynical cities, where right and wrong can be viewed in so many shades of grey. In the countryside, where the corruptness of the regime's officials has a much more difficult effect to bear than in the cities, right and wrong are treated as matters of life and death. It is the noble and ignorant Syrian peasant who has risen now to overthrow the shackles of oppression and corruption and it is amongst his ranks that most of the three thousand martyrs in Syria's uprising can be found. Remarkably he sacrifices everything not in order to rule, but to live in dignity. After Deraa, all the uprisings we are seeing in Syria's cities today are just an echo of his first defiant cry.
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Follow the Fundsters - January 24, 2017
Reported by Ashley McHugh-Chiappone
Company: Grantham, Mayo, Van Otterloo & Co. LLC
Additions: Scott Hayward, Andy Martin
Hayward has been hired as CEO, effective February 13. He is replacing interim CEO, Peg McGetrick. Previously, he served as CEO of Quantitative Management Associates LLC. Martin has been hired as head of investments team. Previously, he served as a managing director and global head of hedge fund research at Cambridge Associates.
Bob Oros
Fidelity Clearing & Custody Solutions
EVP, Head of the RIA Segment
Company: Fidelity
Departure Bob Oros
Oros will leave his position as RIA chief at the end of January. Oros has held his current position since February 2015. A replacement for him has not yet been found.
Company: US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
Promotion and Departure: Jennifer Diamantis, Andrew �Buddy� Donohue
Diamantis has been appointed chief of market intelligence, succeeding Vincente Martinez. Prior to her current role, she served as a deputy chief at the SEC. Donohue will be leaving his role as chief of staff at the end of January. Prior to his work with the SEC, he served as managing director, associate general counsel and investment company general counsel at Goldman Sachs.
Company: CamberView Partners, LLC
Addition: Bob McCormick
McCormick will become a partner at the firm in February. Previously, he served as chief policy officer of Glass Lewis.
Company: Semper Capital Management
Addition: Christopher Mendez
Mendez has been appointed general counsel and chief compliance officer. Previously, he was a member of the business law department at Goodwin Procter, LLP.
Company: Klingenstein Fields Wealth Advisors
Promotion: Maria Chambers
Chambers has been appointed chief compliance officer. Previously, she served as deputy chief compliance officer at the wealth management firm.
Company: Advisor Group
Addition: Steve Chipman
Chipman has been appointed senior vice president of strategic acquisitions. Previously, he was a member of the industry board of directors of the Financial Service Institute (FSI).
Company: MainStay Investments
Addition and Promotion: Tim Brown, Jose Barros
Brown has been appointed lead of lead of the mutual fund firm's western sales division. Previously, he served as a managing director at Deutsche Asset Management. Additionally, Barros has been promoted to operations officer for national sales. Previously, he co-led the sales desk with Cesar Bastidas.
Company: T. Rowe Price
Addition: Cheryl Pipia
Pipia has joined the firm as head of client service in its U.S. intermediaries business unit. Previously, she served as co-head of global client engagement and business development at BNY Mellon.
Check back as we keep an eye on people moves in the future and see our previous Follow the Fundsters (previously known as People on the Move) column here. For the latest SEC filings and fund launches, explore our Filings For Fundsters (formerly Stork and Reaper) and New Fund Fuss columns. For job opportunities in the industry, explore our The Next Gig column. If you have a fund filing, a mutual fund launch, a product change or a new hire that you would like to announce, please contact the MFWire team at editors@investmentwires.com.
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NER Congratulates Victoria Chang
We are pleased to congratulate NER contributor Victoria Chang on being awarded a silver medal in the California Book Awards. The California Book Awards are among the oldest literary awards in the United States, and were one of the first to recognize the talent of John Steinbeck, who received three Gold Medals between 1935 and 1939.
Chang was recognized for her new collection, The Boss (McSweeney’s Poetry Series), and is the first Asian-American poet to win an award in the organization’s long history. She is the author of two other books of poetry: Salvinia Molesta (2008) and Circle (2005), which won the Crab Orchard Review Open Competition Award. She has been featured in several issues of NER, most recently in 33.1.
Congratulations to Victoria!
Order a copy of The Boss from McSweeney’s.
Learn more about the 83-year-old California Book Awards: http://www.commonwealthclub.org/events/special-events/california-book-awards
Filed Under: News & Notes
NER DIGITAL | La Sagrada Familia: Spires | Alexandra Teague
NER Digital | The Movie Inside the Movie | Erica Ehrenberg
Read moreNews & Notes
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Home > Summa Theologiae > Second Part of the Second Part > Question 185
Question 185. Things pertaining to the episcopal state
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Is it lawful to desire the office of a bishop?
Is it lawful to refuse the office of bishop definitively?
Should the better man be chosen for the episcopal office?
May a bishop pass over to the religious state?
May he lawfully abandon his subjects in a bodily manner?
Can he have anything of his own?
Does he sin mortally by not distributing ecclesiastical goods to the poor?
Are religious who are appointed to the episcopal office bound to religious observances?
Article 1. Whether it is lawful to desire the office of a bishop?
Objection 1. It would seem that it is lawful to desire the office of a bishop. For the Apostle says (1 Timothy 3:1): "He that desires [Vulgate: 'If a man desire'] the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work." Now it is lawful and praiseworthy to desire a good work. Therefore it is even praiseworthy to desire the office of a bishop.
Objection 2. Further, the episcopal state is more perfect than the religious, as we have said above (II-II:184:07). But it is praiseworthy to desire to enter the religious state. Therefore it is also praiseworthy to desire promotion to the episcopal state.
Objection 3. Further, it is written (Proverbs 11:2)6): "He that hideth up corn shall be cursed among the people; but a blessing upon the head of them that sell." Now a man who is apt, both in manner of life and by knowledge, for the episcopal office, would seem to hide up the spiritual corn, if he shun the episcopal state, whereas by accepting the episcopal office he enters the state of a dispenser of spiritual corn. Therefore it would seem praiseworthy to desire the office of a bishop, and blameworthy to refuse it.
Objection 4. Further, the deeds of the saints related in Holy Writ are set before us as an example, according to (Romans 15:4), "What things soever were written, were written for our learning." Now we read (Isaiah 6:8) that Isaias offered himself for the office of preacher, which belongs chiefly to bishops. Therefore it would seem praiseworthy to desire the office of a bishop.
On the contrary, Augustine says (De Civ. Dei xix, 19): "The higher place, without which the people cannot be ruled, though it be filled becomingly, is unbecomingly desired."
I answer that, Three things may be considered in the episcopal office. One is principal and final, namely the bishop's work, whereby the good of our neighbor is intended, according to John 21:17, "Feed My sheep." Another thing is the height of degree, for a bishop is placed above others, according to Matthew 24:45, "A faithful and a wise servant, whom his lord hath appointed over his family." The third is something resulting from these, namely reverence, honor, and a sufficiency of temporalities, according to (1 Timothy 5:1)7, "Let the priests that rule well be esteemed worthy of double honor." Accordingly, to desire the episcopal office on account of these incidental goods is manifestly unlawful, and pertains to covetousness or ambition. Wherefore our Lord said against the Pharisees (Matthew 23:6-7): "They love the first places at feasts, and the first chairs in the synagogues, and salutations in the market-place, and to be called by men, Rabbi." As regards the second, namely the height of degree, it is presumptuous to desire the episcopal office. Hence our Lord reproved His disciples for seeking precedence, by saying to them (Matthew 20:25): "You know that the princes of the gentiles lord it over them." Here Chrysostom says (Hom. lxv in Matth.) that in these words "He points out that it is heathenish to seek precedence; and thus by comparing them to the gentiles He converted their impetuous soul."
On the other hand, to desire to do good to one's neighbor is in itself praiseworthy, and virtuous. Nevertheless, since considered as an episcopal act it has the height of degree attached to it, it would seem that, unless there be manifest and urgent reason for it, it would be presumptuous for any man to desire to be set over others in order to do them good. Thus Gregory says (Pastor. i, 8) that "it was praiseworthy to seek the office of a bishop when it was certain to bring one into graver dangers." Wherefore it was not easy to find a person to accept this burden, especially seeing that it is through the zeal of charity that one divinely instigated to do so, according to Gregory, who says (Pastor. i, 7) that "Isaias being desirous of profiting his neighbor, commendably desired the office of preacher."
Nevertheless, anyone may, without presumption, desire to do such like works if he should happen to be in that office, or to be worthy of doing them; so that the object of his desire is the good work and not the precedence in dignity. Hence Chrysostom* says: "It is indeed good to desire a good work, but to desire the primacy of honor is vanity. For primacy seeks one that shuns it, and abhors one that desires it." [The quotation is from the Opus Imperfectum in Matth. (Hom. xxxv), falsely ascribed to St. John Chrysostom.]
Reply to Objection 1. As Gregory says (Pastor. i, 8), "when the Apostle said this he who was set over the people was the first to be dragged to the torments of martyrdom," so that there was nothing to be desired in the episcopal office, save the good work. Wherefore Augustine says (De Civ. Dei xix, 19) that when the Apostle said, "'Whoever desireth the office of bishop, desireth a good work,' he wished to explain what the episcopacy is: for it denotes work and not honor: since skopos signifies 'watching.' Wherefore if we like we may render episkopein by the Latin 'superintendere' [to watch over]: thus a man may know himself to be no bishop if he loves to precede rather than to profit others." For, as he observed shortly before, "in our actions we should seek, not honor nor power in this life, since all things beneath the sun are vanity, but the work itself which that honor or power enables us to do." Nevertheless, as Gregory says (Pastor. i, 8), "while praising the desire" (namely of the good work) "he forthwith turns this object of praise into one of fear, when he adds: It behooveth . . . a bishop to be blameless," as though to say: "I praise what you seek, but learn first what it is you seek."
Reply to Objection 2. There is no parity between the religious and the episcopal state, for two reasons. First, because perfection of life is a prerequisite of the episcopal state, as appears from our Lord asking Peter if he loved Him more than the others, before committing the pastoral office to him, whereas perfection is not a prerequisite of the religious state, since the latter is the way to perfection. Hence our Lord did not say (Matthew 19:21): "If thou art perfect, go, sell all [Vulgate: 'what'] thou hast," but "If thou wilt be perfect." The reason for this difference is because, according to Dionysius (Eccl. Hier. vi), perfection pertains actively to the bishop, as the "perfecter," but to the monk passively as one who is "perfected": and one needs to be perfect in order to bring others to perfection, but not in order to be brought to perfection. Now it is presumptuous to think oneself perfect, but it is not presumptuous to tend to perfection. Secondly, because he who enters the religious state subjects himself to others for the sake of a spiritual profit, and anyone may lawfully do this. Wherefore Augustine says (De Civ. Dei xix, 19): "No man is debarred from striving for the knowledge of truth, since this pertains to a praiseworthy ease." On the other hand, he who enters the episcopal state is raised up in order to watch over others, and no man should seek to be raised thus, according to Hebrews 5:4, "Neither doth any man take the honor to himself, but he that is called by God": and Chrysostom says: "To desire supremacy in the Church is neither just nor useful. For what wise man seeks of his own accord to submit to such servitude and peril, as to have to render an account of the whole Church? None save him who fears not God's judgment, and makes a secular abuse of his ecclesiastical authority, by turning it to secular uses."
Reply to Objection 3. The dispensing of spiritual corn is not to be carried on in an arbitrary fashion, but chiefly according to the appointment and disposition of God, and in the second place according to the appointment of the higher prelates, in whose person it is said (1 Corinthians 4:1): "Let a man so account of us as of the ministers of Christ, and the dispensers of the mysteries of God." Wherefore a man is not deemed to hide spiritual corn if he avoids governing or correcting others, and is not competent to do so, neither in virtue of his office nor of his superior's command; thus alone is he deemed to hide it, when he neglects to dispense it while under obligation to do so in virtue of his office, or obstinately refuses to accept the office when it is imposed on him. Hence Augustine says (De Civ. Dei xix, 19): "The love of truth seeks a holy leisure, the demands of charity undertake an honest labor. If no one imposes this burden upon us, we must devote ourselves to the research and contemplation of truth, but if it be imposed on us, we must bear it because charity demands it of us."
Reply to Objection 4. As Gregory says (Pastor. i, 7), "Isaias, who wishing to be sent, knew himself to be already cleansed by the live coal taken from the altar, shows us that no one should dare uncleansed to approach the sacred ministry. Since, then, it is very difficult for anyone to be able to know that he is cleansed, it is safer to decline the office of preacher."
Article 2. Whether it is lawful for a man to refuse absolutely an appointment to the episcopate?
Objection 1. It would seem that it is lawful to refuse absolutely an appointment to the episcopate. For as Gregory says (Pastor. i, 7), "Isaias wishing to be of profit to his neighbor by means of the active life, desired the office of preaching, whereas Jeremias who was fain to hold fast to the love of his Creator by contemplation exclaimed against being sent to preach." Now no man sins by being unwilling to forgo better things in order to adhere to things that are not so good. Since then the love of God surpasses the love of our neighbor, and the contemplative life is preferable to the active, as shown above (II-II:25:1; II-II:26:2;II-II:182:1) it would seem that a man sins not if he refuse absolutely the episcopal office.
Objection 2. Further, as Gregory says (Pastor. i, 7), "it is very difficult for anyone to be able to know that he is cleansed: nor should anyone uncleansed approach the sacred ministry." Therefore if a man perceives that he is not cleansed, however urgently the episcopal office be enjoined him, he ought not to accept it.
Objection 3. Further, Jerome (Prologue, super Marc.) says that "it is related of the Blessed Mark* that after receiving the faith he cut off his thumb that he might be excluded from the priesthood." [This prologue was falsely ascribed to St. Jerome, and the passage quoted refers, not to St. Mark the Evangelist, but to a hermit of that name. (Cf. Baronius, Anno Christi, 45, num. XLIV)] Likewise some take a vow never to accept a bishopric. Now to place an obstacle to a thing amounts to the same as refusing it altogether. Therefore it would seem that one may, without sin, refuse the episcopal office absolutely.
On the contrary, Augustine says (Ep. xlviii ad Eudox.): "If Mother Church requires your service, neither accept with greedy conceit, nor refuse with fawning indolence"; and afterwards he adds: "Nor prefer your ease to the needs of the Church: for if no good men were willing to assist her in her labor, you would seek in vain how we could be born of her."
I answer that, Two things have to be considered in the acceptance of the episcopal office: first, what a man may fittingly desire according to his own will; secondly, what it behooves a man to do according to the will of another. As regards his own will it becomes a man to look chiefly to his own spiritual welfare, whereas that he look to the spiritual welfare of others becomes a man according to the appointment of another having authority, as stated above (Article 1, Reply to Objection 3). Hence just as it is a mark of an inordinate will that a man of his own choice incline to be appointed to the government of others, so too it indicates an inordinate will if a man definitively refuse the aforesaid office of government in direct opposition to the appointment of his superior: and this for two reasons.
First, because this is contrary to the love of our neighbor, for whose good a man should offer himself according as place and time demand: hence Augustine says (De Civ. Dei xix, 19) that "the demands of charity undertake an honest labor." Secondly, because this is contrary to humility, whereby a man submits to his superior's commands: hence Gregory says (Pastor. i, 6): "In God's sight humility is genuine when it does not obstinately refuse to submit to what is usefully prescribed."
Reply to Objection 1. Although simply and absolutely speaking the contemplative life is more excellent than the active, and the love of God better than the love of our neighbor, yet, on the other hand, the good of the many should be preferred to the good of the individual. Wherefore Augustine says in the passage quoted above: "Nor prefer your own ease to the needs of the Church," and all the more since it belongs to the love of God that a man undertake the pastoral care of Christ's sheep. Hence Augustine, commenting on John 21:17, "Feed My sheep," says (Tract. cxxiii in Joan.): "Be it the task of love to feed the Lord's flock, even as it was the mark of fear to deny the Shepherd."
Moreover prelates are not transferred to the active life, so as to forsake the contemplative; wherefore Augustine says (De Civ. Dei xix, 19) that "if the burden of the pastoral office be imposed, we must not abandon the delights of truth," which are derived from contemplation.
Reply to Objection 2. No one is bound to obey his superior by doing what is unlawful, as appears from what was said above concerning obedience (II-II:104:5). Accordingly it may happen that he who is appointed to the office of prelate perceive something in himself on account of which it is unlawful for him to accept a prelacy. But this obstacle may sometimes be removed by the very person who is appointed to the pastoral cure—for instance, if he have a purpose to sin, he may abandon it—and for this reason he is not excused from being bound to obey definitely the superior who has appointed him. Sometimes, however, he is unable himself to remove the impediment that makes the pastoral office unlawful to him, yet the prelate who appoints him can do so—for instance, if he be irregular or excommunicate. On such a case he ought to make known his defect to the prelate who has appointed him; and if the latter be willing to remove the impediment, he is bound humbly to obey. Hence when Moses had said (Exodus 4:10): "I beseech thee, Lord, I am not eloquent from yesterday, and the day before," the Lord answered (Exodus 4:12): "I will be in thy mouth, and I will teach thee what thou shalt speak." At other times the impediment cannot be removed, neither by the person appointing nor by the one appointed—for instance, if an archbishop be unable to dispense from an irregularity; wherefore a subject, if irregular, would not be bound to obey him by accepting the episcopate or even sacred orders.
Reply to Objection 3. It is not in itself necessary for salvation to accept the episcopal office, but it becomes necessary by reason of the superior's command. Now one may lawfully place an obstacle to things thus necessary for salvation, before the command is given; else it would not be lawful to marry a second time, lest one should thus incur an impediment to the episcopate or holy orders. But this would not be lawful in things necessary for salvation. Hence the Blessed Mark did not act against a precept by cutting off his finger, although it is credible that he did this by the instigation of the Holy Ghost, without which it would be unlawful for anyone to lay hands on himself. If a man take a vow not to accept the bishop's office, and by this intend to bind himself not even to accept it in obedience to his superior prelate, his vow is unlawful; but if he intend to bind himself, so far as it lies with him, not to seek the episcopal office, nor to accept it except under urgent necessity, his vow is lawful, because he vows to do what it becomes a man to do.
Article 3. Whether he that is appointed to the episcopate ought to be better than others?
Objection 1. It would seem that one who is appointed to the episcopate ought to be better than others. For our Lord, when about to commit the pastoral office to Peter, asked him if he loved Him more than the others. Now a man is the better through loving God the more. Therefore it would seem that one ought not to be appointed to the episcopal office except he be better than others.
Objection 2. Further, Pope Symmachus says (can. Vilissimus I, qu. 1): "A man is of very little worth who though excelling in dignity, excels not in knowledge and holiness." Now he who excels in knowledge and holiness is better. Therefore a man ought not to be appointed to the episcopate unless he be better than others.
Objection 3. Further, in every genus the lesser are governed by the greater, as corporeal things are governed by things spiritual, and the lower bodies by the higher, as Augustine says (De Trin. iii, 3). Now a bishop is appointed to govern others. Therefore he should be better than others.
On the contrary, The Decretal [Can. Cum dilectus, de Electione] says that "it suffices to choose a good man, nor is it necessary to choose the better man."
I answer that, In designating a man for the episcopal office, something has to be considered on the part of the person designate, and something on the part of the designator. For on the part of the designator, whether by election or by appointment, it is required that he choose such a one as will dispense the divine mysteries faithfully. These should be dispensed for the good of the Church, according to (1 Corinthians 14:12), "Seek to abound unto the edifying of the Church"; and the divine mysteries are not committed to men for their own meed, which they should await in the life to come. Consequently he who has to choose or appoint one for a bishop is not bound to take one who is best simply, i.e. according to charity, but one who is best for governing the Church, one namely who is able to instruct, defend, and govern the Church peacefully. Hence Jerome, commenting on Titus 1:5, says against certain persons that "some seek to erect as pillars of the Church, not those whom they know to be more useful to the Church, but those whom they love more, or those by whose obsequiousness they have been cajoled or undone, or for whom some person in authority has spoken, and, not to say worse than this, have succeeded by means of gifts in being made clerics."
Now this pertains to the respect of persons, which in such matters is a grave sin. Wherefore a gloss of Augustine [Ep. clxvii ad Hieron.] on (James 2:1), "Brethren, have not . . . with respect of persons," says: "If this distinction of sitting and standing be referred to ecclesiastical honors, we must not deem it a slight sin to 'have the faith of the Lord of glory with respect of persons.' For who would suffer a rich man to be chosen for the Church's seat of honor, in despite of a poor man who is better instructed and holier?"
On the part of the person appointed, it is not required that he esteem himself better than others, for this would be proud and presumptuous; but it suffices that he perceive nothing in himself which would make it unlawful for him to take up the office of prelate. Hence although Peter was asked by our Lord if he loved Him more than the others, he did not, in his reply, set himself before the others, but answered simply that he loved Christ.
Reply to Objection 1. Our Lord knew that, by His own bestowal, Peter was in other respects fitted to govern the Church: wherefore He questioned him about his greater love, to show that when we find a man otherwise fitted for the government of the Church, we must look chiefly to his pre-eminence in the love of God.
Reply to Objection 2. This statement refers to the pursuits of the man who is placed in authority. For he should aim at showing himself to be more excellent than others in both knowledge and holiness. Wherefore Gregory says (Pastor. ii, 1) "the occupations of a prelate ought to excel those of the people, as much as the shepherd's life excels that of his flock." But he is not to be blamed and looked upon as worthless if he excelled not before being raised to the prelacy.
Reply to Objection 3. According to (1 Corinthians 12:4) seqq., "there are diversities of graces . . . and . . . of ministries . . . and . . . of operations." Hence nothing hinders one from being more fitted for the office of governing, who does not excel in the grace of holiness. It is otherwise in the government of the natural order, where that which is higher in the natural order is for that very reason more fitted to dispose of those that are lower.
Article 4. Whether a bishop may lawfully forsake the episcopal cure, in order to enter religion?
Objection 1. It seems that a bishop cannot lawfully forsake his episcopal cure in order to enter religion. For no one can lawfully pass from a more perfect to a less perfect state; since this is "to look back," which is condemned by the words of our Lord (Luke 9:62), "No man putting his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." Now the episcopal state is more perfect than the religious, as shown above (II-II:184:07). Therefore just as it is unlawful to return to the world from the religious state, so is it unlawful to pass from the episcopal to the religious state.
Objection 2. Further, the order of grace is more congruous than the order of nature. Now according to nature a thing is not moved in contrary directions; thus if a stone be naturally moved downwards, it cannot naturally return upwards from below. But according to the order of grace it is lawful to pass from the religious to the episcopal state. Therefore it is not lawful to pass contrariwise from the episcopal to the religious state.
Objection 3. Further, in the works of grace nothing should be inoperative. Now when once a man is consecrated bishop he retains in perpetuity the spiritual power of giving orders and doing like things that pertain to the episcopal office: and this power would seemingly remain inoperative in one who gives up the episcopal cure. Therefore it would seem that a bishop may not forsake the episcopal cure and enter religion.
On the contrary, No man is compelled to do what is in itself unlawful. Now those who seek to resign their episcopal cure are compelled to resign (Extra, de Renunt. cap. Quidam). Therefore apparently it is not unlawful to give up the episcopal cure.
I answer that, The perfection of the episcopal state consists in this that for love of God a man binds himself to work for the salvation of his neighbor, wherefore he is bound to retain the pastoral cure so long as he is able to procure the spiritual welfare of the subjects entrusted to his care: a matter which he must not neglect—neither for the sake of the quiet of divine contemplation, since the Apostle, on account of the needs of his subjects, suffered patiently to be delayed even from the contemplation of the life to come, according to Philippians 1:22-25, "What I shall choose I know not, but I am straitened between two, having a desire to be dissolved, and to be with Christ, a thing by far better. But to abide still in the flesh is needful for you. And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide"; nor for the sake of avoiding any hardships or of acquiring any gain whatsoever, because as it is written (John 10:11), "the good shepherd giveth his life for his sheep."
At times, however, it happens in several ways that a bishop is hindered from procuring the spiritual welfare of his subjects. Sometimes on account of his own defect, either of conscience (for instance if he be guilty of murder or simony), or of body (for example if he be old or infirm), or of irregularity arising, for instance, from bigamy. Sometimes he is hindered through some defect in his subjects, whom he is unable to profit. Hence Gregory says (Dial. ii, 3): "The wicked must be borne patiently, when there are some good who can be succored, but when there is no profit at all for the good, it is sometimes useless to labor for the wicked. Wherefore the perfect when they find that they labor in vain are often minded to go elsewhere in order to labor with fruit." Sometimes again this hindrance arises on the part of others, as when scandal results from a certain person being in authority: for the Apostle says (1 Corinthians 8:13): "If meat scandalize my brother, I will never eat flesh": provided, however, the scandal is not caused by the wickedness of persons desirous of subverting the faith or the righteousness of the Church; because the pastoral cure is not to be laid aside on account of scandal of this kind, according to Matthew 15:14, "Let them alone," those namely who were scandalized at the truth of Christ's teaching, "they are blind, and leaders of the blind."
Nevertheless just as a man takes upon himself the charge of authority at the appointment of a higher superior, so too it behooves him to be subject to the latter's authority in laying aside the accepted charge for the reasons given above. Hence Innocent III says (Extra, de Renunt., cap. Nisi cum pridem): "Though thou hast wings wherewith thou art anxious to fly away into solitude, they are so tied by the bonds of authority, that thou art not free to fly without our permission." For the Pope alone can dispense from the perpetual vow, by which a man binds himself to the care of his subjects, when he took upon himself the episcopal office.
Reply to Objection 1. The perfection of religious and that of bishops are regarded from different standpoints. For it belongs to the perfection of a religious to occupy oneself in working out one's own salvation, whereas it belongs to the perfection of a bishop to occupy oneself in working for the salvation of others. Hence so long as a man can be useful to the salvation of his neighbor, he would be going back, if he wished to pass to the religious state, to busy himself only with his own salvation, since he has bound himself to work not only for his own but also for others' salvation. Wherefore Innocent III says in the Decretal quoted above that "it is more easily allowable for a monk to ascend to the episcopacy, than for a bishop to descend to the monastic life. If, however, he be unable to procure the salvation of others it is meet he should seek his own."
Reply to Objection 2. On account of no obstacle should a man forego the work of his own salvation, which pertains to the religious state. But there may be an obstacle to the procuring of another's salvation; wherefore a monk may be raised to the episcopal state wherein he is able also to work out his own salvation. And a bishop, if he be hindered from procuring the salvation of others, may enter the religious life, and may return to his bishopric should the obstacle cease, for instance by the correction of his subjects, cessation of the scandal, healing of his infirmity, removal of his ignorance by sufficient instruction. Again, if he owed his promotion to simony of which he was in ignorance, and resigning his episcopate entered the religious life, he can be reappointed to another bishopric [Cap. Post translat., de Renunt.]. On the other hand, if a man be deposed from the episcopal office for some sin, and confined in a monastery that he may do penance, he cannot be reappointed to a bishopric. Hence it is stated (VII, qu. i, can. Hoc nequaquam): "The holy synod orders that any man who has been degraded from the episcopal dignity to the monastic life and a place of repentance, should by no means rise again to the episcopate."
Reply to Objection 3. Even in natural things power remains inactive on account of a supervening obstacle, for instance the act of sight ceases through an affliction of the eye. So neither is it unreasonable if, through the occurrence of some obstacle from without, the episcopal power remain without the exercise of its act.
Article 5. Whether it is lawful for a bishop on account of bodily persecution to abandon the flock committed to his care?
Objection 1. It would seem that it is unlawful for a bishop, on account of some temporal persecution, to withdraw his bodily presence from the flock committed to his care. For our Lord said (John 10:12) that he is a hireling and no true shepherd, who "seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep and flieth": and Gregory says (Hom. xiv in Ev.) that "the wolf comes upon the sheep when any man by his injustice and robbery oppresses the faithful and the humble." Therefore if, on account of the persecution of a tyrant, a bishop withdraws his bodily presence from the flock entrusted to his care, it would seem that he is a hireling and not a shepherd.
Objection 2. Further, it is written (Proverbs 6:1): "My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, thou hast engaged fast thy hand to a stranger," and afterwards (Proverbs 6:3): "Run about, make haste, stir up thy friend." Gregory expounds these words and says (Pastor. iii, 4): "To be surety for a friend, is to vouch for his good conduct by engaging oneself to a stranger. And whoever is put forward as an example to the lives of others, is warned not only to watch but even to rouse his friend." Now he cannot do this if he withdraw his bodily presence from his flock. Therefore it would seem that a bishop should not on account of persecution withdraw his bodily presence from his flock.
Objection 3. Further, it belongs to the perfection of the bishop's state that he devote himself to the care of his neighbor. Now it is unlawful for one who has professed the state of perfection to forsake altogether the things that pertain to perfection. Therefore it would seem unlawful for a bishop to withdraw his bodily presence from the execution of his office, except perhaps for the purpose of devoting himself to works of perfection in a monastery.
On the contrary, our Lord commanded the apostles, whose successors bishops are (Matthew 10:23): "When they shall persecute you in this city, flee into another."
I answer that, In any obligation the chief thing to be considered is the end of the obligation. Now bishops bind themselves to fulfil the pastoral office for the sake of the salvation of their subjects. Consequently when the salvation of his subjects demands the personal presence of the pastor, the pastor should not withdraw his personal presence from his flock, neither for the sake of some temporal advantage, nor even on account of some impending danger to his person, since the good shepherd is bound to lay down his life for his sheep.
On the other hand, if the salvation of his subjects can be sufficiently provided for by another person in the absence of the pastor, it is lawful for the pastor to withdraw his bodily presence from his flock, either for the sake of some advantage to the Church, or on account of some danger to his person. Hence Augustine says (Ep. ccxxviii ad Honorat.): "Christ's servants may flee from one city to another, when one of them is specially sought out by persecutors: in order that the Church be not abandoned by others who are not so sought for. When, however, the same danger threatens all, those who stand in need of others must not be abandoned by those whom they need." For "if it is dangerous for the helmsman to leave the ship when the sea is calm, how much more so when it is stormy," as Pope Nicholas I says (cf. VII, qu. i, can. Sciscitaris).
Reply to Objection 1. To flee as a hireling is to prefer temporal advantage or one's bodily welfare to the spiritual welfare of one's neighbor. Hence Gregory says (Hom. xiv in Ev.): "A man cannot endanger himself for the sake of his sheep, if he uses his authority over them not through love of them but for the sake of earthly gain: wherefore he fears to stand in the way of danger lest he lose what he loves." But he who, in order to avoid danger, leaves the flock without endangering the flock, does not flee as a hireling.
Reply to Objection 2. If he who is surety for another be unable to fulfil his engagement, it suffices that he fulfil it through another. Hence if a superior is hindered from attending personally to the care of his subjects, he fulfils his obligation if he do so through another.
Reply to Objection 3. When a man is appointed to a bishopric, he embraces the state of perfection as regards one kind of perfection; and if he be hindered from the practice thereof, he is not bound to another kind of perfection, so as to be obliged to enter the religious state. Yet he is under the obligation of retaining the intention of devoting himself to his neighbor's salvation, should an opportunity offer, and necessity require it of him.
Article 6. Whether it is lawful for a bishop to have property of his own?
Objection 1. It would seem that it is not lawful for a bishop to have property of his own. For our Lord said (Matthew 19:21): "If thou wilt be perfect, go sell all [Vulgate: 'what] thou hast, and give to the poor . . . and come, follow Me"; whence it would seem to follow that voluntary poverty is requisite for perfection. Now bishops are in the state of perfection. Therefore it would seem unlawful for them to possess anything as their own.
Objection 2. Further, bishops take the place of the apostles in the Church, according to a gloss on (Luke 10:1). Now our Lord commanded the apostles to possess nothing of their own, according to Matthew 10:9, "Do not possess gold, nor silver, nor money in your purses"; wherefore Peter said for himself and the other apostles (Matthew 19:27): "Behold we have left all things and have followed Thee." Therefore it would seem that bishops are bound to keep this command, and to possess nothing of their own.
Objection 3. Further, Jerome says (Ep. lii ad Nepotian.): "The Greek kleros denotes the Latin 'sors.' Hence clerics are so called either because they are of the Lord's estate, or because the Lord Himself is the estate, i.e. portion of clerics. Now he that possesses the Lord, can have nothing besides God; and if he have gold and silver, possessions, and chattels of all kinds, with such a portion the Lord does not vouchsafe to be his portion also." Therefore it would seem that not only bishops but even clerics should have nothing of their own.
On the contrary, It is stated (XII, qu. i, can. Episcopi de rebus): "Bishops, if they wish, may bequeath to their heirs their personal or acquired property, and whatever belongs to them personally."
I answer that, No one is bound to works of supererogation, unless he binds himself specially thereto by vow. Hence Augustine says (Ep. cxxvii ad Paulin. et Arment.): "Since you have taken the vow, you have already bound yourself, you can no longer do otherwise. Before you were bound by the vow, you were free to submit." Now it is evident that to live without possessing anything is a work of supererogation, for it is a matter not of precept but of counsel. Wherefore our Lord after saying to the young man: "If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments," said afterwards by way of addition: "If thou wilt be perfect go sell" all "that thou hast, and give to the poor" (Matthew 19:17-21). Bishops, however, do not bind themselves at their ordination to live without possessions of their own; nor indeed does the pastoral office, to which they bind themselves, make it necessary for them to live without anything of their own. Therefore bishops are not bound to live without possessions of their own.
Reply to Objection 1. As stated above (II-II:184:3 ad 1) the perfection of the Christian life does not essentially consist in voluntary poverty, but voluntary poverty conduces instrumentally to the perfection of life. Hence it does not follow that where there is greater poverty there is greater perfection; indeed the highest perfection is compatible with great wealth, since Abraham, to whom it was said (Genesis 17:1): "Walk before Me and be perfect," is stated to have been rich (Genesis 13:2).
Reply to Objection 2. This saying of our Lord can be understood in three ways. First, mystically, that we should possess neither gold nor silver means that the preacher should not rely chiefly on temporal wisdom and eloquence; thus Jerome expounds the passage.
Secondly, according to Augustine's explanation (De Consens. Ev. ii, 30), we are to understand that our Lord said this not in command but in permission. For he permitted them to go preaching without gold or silver or other means, since they were to receive the means of livelihood from those to whom they preached; wherefore He added: "For the workman is worthy of his meat." And yet if anyone were to use his own means in preaching the Gospel, this would be a work of supererogation, as Paul says in reference to himself (1 Corinthians 9:12-15).
Thirdly, according to the exposition of Chrysostom [Hom. ii in Rom. xvi, 3, we are to understand that our Lord laid these commands on His disciples in reference to the mission on which they were sent to preach to the Jews, so that they might be encouraged to trust in His power, seeing that He provided for their wants without their having means of their own. But it does not follow from this that they, or their successors, were obliged to preach the Gospel without having means of their own: since we read of Paul (2 Corinthians 11:8) that he "received wages" of other churches for preaching to the Corinthians, wherefore it is clear that he possessed something sent to him by others. And it seems foolish to say that so many holy bishops as Athanasius, Ambrose, and Augustine would have disobeyed these commandments if they believed themselves bound to observe them.
Reply to Objection 3. Every part is less than the whole. Accordingly a man has other portions together with God, if he becomes less intent on things pertaining to God by occupying himself with things of the world. Now neither bishops nor clerics ought thus to possess means of their own, that while busy with their own they neglect those that concern the worship of God.
Article 7. Whether bishops sin mortally if they distribute not to the poor the ecclesiastical goods which accrue to them?
Objection 1. It would seem that bishops sin mortally if they distribute not to the poor the ecclesiastical goods which they acquire. For Ambrose [Basil, Serm. lxiv, de Temp., among the supposititious works of St. Jerome] expounding Luke 12:16, "The land of a certain . . . man brought forth plenty of fruits," says: "Let no man claim as his own that which he has taken and obtained by violence from the common property in excess of his requirements"; and afterwards he adds: "It is not less criminal to take from him who has, than, when you are able and have plenty to refuse him who has not." Now it is a mortal sin to take another's property by violence. Therefore bishops sin mortally if they give not to the poor that which they have in excess.
Objection 2. Further, a gloss of Jerome on (Isaiah 3:14), "The spoil of the poor is in your house," says that "ecclesiastical goods belong to the poor." Now whoever keeps for himself or gives to others that which belongs to another, sins mortally and is bound to restitution. Therefore if bishops keep for themselves, or give to their relations or friends, their surplus of ecclesiastical goods, it would seem that they are bound to restitution.
Objection 3. Further, much more may one take what is necessary for oneself from the goods of the Church, than accumulate a surplus therefrom. Yet Jerome says in a letter to Pope Damasus [Cf. Can. Clericos, cause. i, qu. 2; Can. Quoniam; cause. xvi, qu. 1; Regul. Monach. iv, among the supposititious works of St. Jerome]: "It is right that those clerics who receive no goods from their parents and relations should be supported from the funds of the Church. But those who have sufficient income from their parents and their own possessions, if they take what belongs to the poor, they commit and incur the guilt of sacrilege." Wherefore the Apostle says (1 Timothy 5:1)6): "If any of the faithful have widows, let him minister to them, and let not the Church be charged, that there may be sufficient for them that are widows indeed." Much more therefore do bishops sin mortally if they give not to the poor the surplus of their ecclesiastical goods.
On the contrary, Many bishops do not give their surplus to the poor, but would seem commendably to lay it out so as to increase the revenue of the Church.
I answer that, The same is not to be said of their own goods which bishops may possess, and of ecclesiastical goods. For they have real dominion over their own goods; wherefore from the very nature of the case they are not bound to give these things to others, and may either keep them for themselves or bestow them on others at will. Nevertheless they may sin in this disposal by inordinate affection, which leads them either to accumulate more than they should, or not to assist others, in accordance with the demands of charity; yet they are not bound to restitution, because such things are entrusted to their ownership.
On the other hand, they hold ecclesiastical goods as dispensers or trustees. For Augustine says (Ep. clxxxv ad Bonif.): "If we possess privately what is enough for us, other things belong not to us but to the poor, and we have the dispensing of them; but we can claim ownership of them only by wicked theft." Now dispensing requires good faith, according to 1 Corinthians 4:2, "Here now it is required among the dispensers that a man be found faithful." Moreover ecclesiastical goods are to be applied not only to the good of the poor, but also to the divine worship and the needs of its ministers. Hence it is said (XII, qu. ii, can. de reditibus): "Of the Church's revenues or the offerings of the faithful only one part is to be assigned to the bishop, two parts are to be used by the priest, under pain of suspension, for the ecclesiastical fabric, and for the benefit of the poor; the remaining part is to be divided among the clergy according to their respective merits." Accordingly if the goods which are assigned to the use of the bishop are distinct from those which are appointed for the use of the poor, or the ministers, or for the ecclesiastical worship, and if the bishop keeps back for himself part of that which should be given to the poor, or to the ministers for their use, or expended on the divine worship, without doubt he is an unfaithful dispenser, sins mortally, and is bound to restitution.
But as regards those goods which are deputed to his private use, the same apparently applies as to his own property, namely that he sins through immoderate attachment thereto or use thereof, if he exceeds moderation in what he keeps for himself, and fails to assist others according to the demands of charity.
On the other hand, if no distinction is made in the aforesaid goods, their distribution is entrusted to his good faith; and if he fail or exceed in a slight degree, this may happen without prejudice to his good faith, because in such matters a man cannot possibly decide precisely what ought to be done. On the other hand, if the excess be very great he cannot be ignorant of the fact; consequently he would seem to be lacking in good faith, and is guilty of mortal sin. For it is written (Matthew 24:48-51) that "if that evil servant shall say in his heart: My lord is long a-coming," which shows contempt of God's judgment, "and shall begin to strike his fellow-servants," which is a sign of pride, "and shall eat and drink with drunkards," which proceeds from lust, "the lord of that servant shall come in a day that he hopeth not . . . and shall separate him," namely from the fellowship of good men, "and appoint his portion with hypocrites," namely in hell.
Reply to Objection 1. This saying of Ambrose refers to the administration not only of ecclesiastical things but also of any goods whatever from which a man is bound, as a duty of charity, to provide for those who are in need. But it is not possible to state definitely when this need is such as to impose an obligation under pain of mortal sin, as is the case in other points of detail that have to be considered in human acts: for the decision in such matters is left to human prudence.
Reply to Objection 2. As stated above the goods of the Church have to be employed not only for the use of the poor, but also for other purposes. Hence if a bishop or cleric wish to deprive himself of that which is assigned to his own use, and give it to his relations or others, he sins not so long as he observes moderation, so, to wit, that they cease to be in want without becoming the richer thereby. Hence Ambrose says (De Offic. i, 30): "It is a commendable liberality if you overlook not your kindred when you know them to be in want; yet not so as to wish to make them rich with what you can give to the poor."
Reply to Objection 3. The goods of churches should not all be given to the poor, except in a case of necessity: for then, as Ambrose says (De Offic. ii, 28), even the vessels consecrated to the divine worship are to be sold for the ransom of prisoners, and other needs of the poor. On such a case of necessity a cleric would sin if he chose to maintain himself on the goods of the Church, always supposing him to have a patrimony of his own on which to support himself.
Reply to Objection 4. The goods of the churches should be employed for the good of the poor. Consequently a man is to be commended if, there being no present necessity for helping the poor, he spends the surplus from the Church revenue, in buying property, or lays it by for some future use connected with the Church or the needs of the poor. But if there be a pressing need for helping the poor, to lay by for the future is a superfluous and inordinate saving, and is forbidden by our Lord Who said (Matthew 6:34): "Be . . . not solicitous for the morrow."
Article 8. Whether religious who are raised to the episcopate are bound to religious observances?
Objection 1. It would seem that religious who are raised to the episcopate are not bound to religious observances. For it is said (XVIII, qu. i, can. Statutum) that a "canonical election loosens a monk from the yoke imposed by the rule of the monastic profession, and the holy ordination makes of a monk a bishop." Now the regular observances pertain to the yoke of the rule. Therefore religious who are appointed bishops are not bound to religious observances.
Objection 2. Further, he who ascends from a lower to a higher degree is seemingly not bound to those things which pertain to the lower degree: thus it was stated above (II-II:88:12 ad 1) that a religious is not bound to keep the vows he made in the world. But a religious who is appointed to the episcopate ascends to something greater, as stated above (II-II:84:07). Therefore it would seem that a bishop is not bound to those things whereto he was bound in the state of religion.
Objection 3. Further, religious would seem to be bound above all to obedience, and to live without property of their own. But religious who are appointed bishops, are not bound to obey the superiors of their order, since they are above them; nor apparently are they bound to poverty, since according to the decree quoted above (Objection 1) "when the holy ordination has made of a monk a bishop he enjoys the right, as the lawful heir, of claiming his paternal inheritance." Moreover they are sometimes allowed to make a will. Much less therefore are they bound to other regular observances.
On the contrary, It is said in the Decretals (XVI, qu. i, can. De Monachis): "With regard to those who after long residence in a monastery attain to the order of clerics, we bid them not to lay aside their former purpose."
I answer that, As stated above (Article 1, Reply to Objection 2) the religious state pertains to perfection, as a way of tending to perfection, while the episcopal state pertains to perfection, as a professorship of perfection. Hence the religious state is compared to the episcopal state, as the school to the professorial chair, and as disposition to perfection. Now the disposition is not voided at the advent of perfection, except as regards what perchance is incompatible with perfection, whereas as to that wherein it is in accord with perfection, it is confirmed the more. Thus when the scholar has become a professor it no longer becomes him to be a listener, but it becomes him to read and meditate even more than before. Accordingly we must assert that if there be among religious observances any that instead of being an obstacle to the episcopal office, are a safeguard of perfection, such as continence, poverty, and so forth, a religious, even after he has been made a bishop, remains bound to observe these, and consequently to wear the habit of his order, which is a sign of this obligation.
On the other hand, a man is not bound to keep such religious observances as may be incompatible with the episcopal office, for instance solitude, silence, and certain severe abstinences or watchings and such as would render him bodily unable to exercise the episcopal office. For the rest he may dispense himself from them, according to the needs of his person or office, and the manner of life of those among whom he dwells, in the same way as religious superiors dispense themselves in such matters.
Reply to Objection 1. He who from being a monk becomes a bishop is loosened from the yoke of the monastic profession, not in everything, but in those that are incompatible with the episcopal office, as stated above.
Reply to Objection 2. The vows of those who are living in the world are compared to the vows of religion as the particular to the universal, as stated above (II-II:88:12 ad 1). But the vows of religion are compared to the episcopal dignity as disposition to perfection. Now the particular is superfluous when one has the universal, whereas the disposition is still necessary when perfection has been attained.
Reply to Objection 3. It is accidental that religious who are bishops are not bound to obey the superiors of their order, because, to wit, they have ceased to be their subjects; even as those same religious superiors. Nevertheless the obligation of the vow remains virtually, so that if any person be lawfully set above them, they would be bound to obey them, inasmuch as they are bound to obey both the statutes of their rule in the way mentioned above, and their superiors if they have any.
As to property they can nowise have it. For they claim their paternal inheritance not as their own, but as due to the Church. Hence it is added (XVIII, qu. i, can. Statutum) that after he has been ordained bishop at the altar to which he is consecrated and appointed according to the holy canons, he must restore whatever he may acquire.
Nor can he make any testament at all, because he is entrusted with the sole administration of things ecclesiastical, and this ends with his death, after which a testament comes into force according to the Apostle (Hebrews 9:17). If, however, by the Pope's permission he make a will, he is not to be understood to bequeath property of his own, but we are to understand that by apostolic authority the power of his administration has been prolonged so as to remain in force after his death.
The Summa Theologiæ of St. Thomas Aquinas
Second and Revised Edition, 1920
Literally translated by Fathers of the English Dominican Province
Online Edition Copyright © 2017 by Kevin Knight
Nihil Obstat. F. Innocentius Apap, O.P., S.T.M., Censor. Theol.
Imprimatur. Edus. Canonicus Surmont, Vicarius Generalis. Westmonasterii.
APPROBATIO ORDINIS
Nihil Obstat. F. Raphael Moss, O.P., S.T.L. and F. Leo Moore, O.P., S.T.L.
Imprimatur. F. Beda Jarrett, O.P., S.T.L., A.M., Prior Provincialis Angliæ
MARIÆ IMMACULATÆ - SEDI SAPIENTIÆ
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SA Elections: First-Time Voters Need More Effective Education
Thursday, 8 May, 2014 - 08:20
South Africa should invest in civic and voter education to enable young people to understand the significance of voting and what it means for our democracy
Thursday 8 May, 2014 - 8:20
This week, an estimated 25 million registered voters will take to the polls and cast their vote in the national and provincial 2014 elections. Young voters between the ages of 20 and 29 make up the second-largest segment of voters at a total of 5.8 million registered voters. The number of registered 18- to 19-year-olds however, remains worryingly low at only 683 201. This begs the question: do these young, first-time voters understand the importance of voting?
Currently, qualitative research is being undertaken by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) to better understand the voting behaviour of young South Africans.
Focus groups and one-on-one interviews were conducted with young people between the ages of 18 and 24 across South Africa. A preliminary finding of the research shows that many young, eligible first-time voters display inadequate knowledge to enable them to feel that they are able to effectively participate in the election.
The importance of voter and civic education during an election year cannot be overstated. Such initiatives assist voters in better understanding their rights and responsibilities, as well as giving them sufficient knowledge about the country’s election process and political system. Voters can then understand the value of democracy, the impact it has on the system of government, and how it can be used to address the economic, social and political challenges facing the nation.
In the run-up to the 2014 elections, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) made an effort to ensure that eligible voters, and specifically young, first-time voters, get registered. This included adverts on public and community media platforms, such as the IEC’s ‘I Vote South Africa’ (IXSA) campaign.
The IEC also distributed voter education materials on various social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Mxit. This made engaging with the IEC much easier for techno-savvy, first-time voters. The IEC also implemented a voluntary Schools Democracy Week programme in partnership with the Department of Basic Education in October last year: a first in South Africa.
Providing voter education is a legislated IEC function and plays a significant role to ensure that the elections are successful and democratic. While much has been done to ensure that young, first-time voters register to vote in the 2014 election, there is a need for more deliberate and targeted voter education, particularly among first-time voters.
Political maturity is a vital part of young people’s awareness of the importance of voting. Young South Africans, specifically those who have just turned 18 or 19, seem to be particularly uncertain over who to vote for – or whether to vote at all. A lack of knowledge and experience about politics, and the voting process in particular, also contributes to young people not participating in the elections.
As part of the research undertaken by the ISS, students were asked whether they see voting in the elections as an effective way to engage in politics in South Africa. The comments below were expressed by students between the ages of 18 and 24 in the Western Cape, Eastern Cape and the Free State.
A 22-year-old student from the Eastern Cape said: “I have not registered to vote, because if I did register and voted I would not be an informed voter. I’ve decided not to vote because I feel I do not know enough to make an informed decision.”
Similarly, another Eastern Cape student, this one 23 years old, said: “I feel like elections are a waste of time, even though people feel like they are expressing their democratic views and right to vote. I do not think many people understand the right to vote. I think most people are doing it just because they can vote. They don’t understand what it means to vote for party A or party B, they do not understand the implications of that.”
One 18-year-old student in the Western Cape explained: “I think it is important to have political organisations in South Africa, but I cannot say if my vote will make a difference. It makes a difference on [sic] the political party, but I cannot say if it makes a positive impact on me, the person who has voted.”
“I do not feel like I personally know enough of what each party is trying to bring to me. I know what party A is bringing and I know what party B is bringing, but I do not feel I am educated enough to make that kind of decision,” said a 21-year-old Free State student, while a 23-year-old from the same province said: “People are not educated. People don’t know why they’re voting, people don’t know why they should vote. So people just literally sit back and then they vote for whoever brings them more T-shirts, or … food parcels.”
Opinions such as these were expressed by a number of young people who participated in the research, suggesting that there is indeed a need for greater voter education.
If the above statements are anything to go by, the need for greater education in preparing young, first-time voters on the importance of democratic participation should be seen as a crucial factor in getting them to vote. Young South Africans need to be sufficiently knowledgeable and informed to cast their votes and participate meaningfully in the voting process.
Lauren Tracey is a researcher at the Institute for Security Studies’ Governance, Crime and Justice Division. This article first appeared in the ISS Today.
Sonke: MATI and Youth Leadership Coordinator
Chemonics International: Operations and Finance Director
Jhpiego: Invitation to Bid
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Location：首� > 英�Z�力 > CRI News
CRI�力:Foreign investors optimistic about Chinese market
Source: CRI 2019-07-04 我要投稿 ��� Favorite
Around 2-thousand policy makers, experts, and business leaders have attended this year's Summer Davos Forum in the city of Dalian.
Many of the attendees said that China's market will continue providing global investors with new opportunities.
It's the 13th time that the Summer Davos forum has been held in China.
A number of topics, including artificial intelligence and 5G technology, were discussed at the three-day event, which concluded on Wednesday.
Adrian Monck, the managing director of the World Economic Forum, says the event reflects the weight of China in global growth.
"China has become a major player in the world's economy. I think everyone looks now at China as being central to how the world moves forward. It's so important to every one's future. All of us I think have an interest of seeing China being successful. And you know, that's one of the things we will be talking about in this meeting, on how China's success can help the world, and how the world can help play a part in China's success."
Murat Sonmez is managing director of the Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution Global Network.
He said that he's worked with many Chinese experts and enterprises over the years, and has come to see that China's experience in poverty alleviation offers lessons for other countries.
"China is playing a critical role in multiple dimensions. First of all, if you look at the population, it's a significant part of the population. And what China has achieved in the last decades, lifting people out of poverty into the middle class is an amazing role model. Yet there are new challenges: how do you continue to have an inclusive economy, how do you deal with the problem of wealth, congestion, and the environment. And there are the new challenges that China hasn't faced yet. And while it certainly has a capacity to formulate solutions, these are challenges that require global collaboration."
This year's Summer Davos was the first time that Abhniav Kumar has come to China. He's the chief global marketing officer at Tata Consultancy Services.
He says the visit has deepened his understanding about China's market.
"We've been operating our business in China for many years, growing in size and scale. We have seen how the economy has been expanded and we are pleased to be part of that. The world sees China as a big opportunity, a big huge economic opportunity in the market. Look at the agenda for a few days, a lot of person. It's important time because economically, you know, this is the day which half of the calendar is the year is out. So it's interesting to talk about the state of the economy. "
As head of programming at the World Economic Forum, Sebastian Buckup, travels back and forth between China and Switzerland.
He said China's market will keep moving forward and will take a leading role in innovation.
"So this is a train that has left the station. China is the second largest economy in the world and will keeping growing. It's not only the second largest economy, it's also a leader in many areas of innovation. It's a leader in terms of renewable investment, and it's leading when talking about artificial intelligence. Many things are happening in China that the world should learning from."
Official data shows that China's actual use of foreign capital reached 300 billion yuan in the first five months of the year. This represents a 6.8 increase on the same time last year, and shows that overseas investors continue to see China as a great place to invest.
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Israel imprisons first asylum seekers: a view from Palestine
By Elizabeth Jenkins - February 27, 2018
Tags: [refugees] [Right of Return]
On Jan. 3, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced 38, 000 asylum seekers faced a choice between voluntary deportation with a one-way ticket and $3500, or imprisonment. The jailing of those who reject the offer has begun.
Seven Eritrean asylum seekers refused to be deported to Rwanda, and were consequently detained on Feb. 21. Rwanda is one of the two countries Netanyahu is thought to have made a deal with to send asylum seekers to, the other being Uganda.
Palestine Monitor asked ASSAF (Aid Organization for Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Israel) what happened when asylum seekers arrived in these third countries.
Adi Drori-Avraham explained; “they don’t get any documents or passports. They are either coerced or convinced by circumstances to keep moving. Within a few days, people find themselves moving towards (…) a fourth country with no documents, with no status and are extremely vulnerable.”
Many of the asylum seekers came through the Sinai from 2007, fleeing war and persecution. The flow stopped in 2012 after Israel built a barrier along the border.
The term 'infiltrator’ has been used to describe the asylum seekers, a term that originally designated Palestinians in a law from 1954 that aimed at impeding refugees from returning to their land.
Drori-Avraham noted; “it is very indicative that the Israeli government has chosen this law and this term 'infiltrator’ to use on a completely new population of African asylum seekers.”
Daoud Yusef, from Adameer – an organisation which supports Palestinian prisoners – also drew the parallels: “the Palestinian population attempting to return in vast numbers was imagined as an existential threat. (…) An infiltrator is someone who enters into a system that assumedly is running, and sort of subverts the process, subverts the character, subverts the nature.”
In an opinion piece for Al Jazeera, Harawi wrote that contrary to the view mainstream media has been propagating, “Israel has not "betrayed" its history and "become" an intolerant place. It has always been this way. And this line of thinking (…) ignores how the very foundation of the Israeli state reinforces racial hierarchies.”
Yusef agrees, stating that: “for us, from Palestinian civil society and looking at this phenomenon, we see it in keeping with the inherent racist nature of the Israeli state.”
Arbitrary detention, the measure asylum seekers are being threatened with, has been an ongoing strategy used against Palestinians.
Although Palestinians from the West Bank and Gaza appear in military courts and asylum seekers are subject to Israeli domestic law, Yusef notes that, “they occupy a similar legal space.”
“[Palestinians and asylum seekers do not fit] that paradigm of the state, so thus they occupy this role as subjects rather than citizens. They are sort of people that can be gotten rid of, or even must be gotten rid of to maintain the unity of the people that are citizens.”
The deadline for asylum seekers to choose between voluntary deportation or detainment is April 1.
Photo: African Asylum seekers imprisoned in Holot "open" prison exiting the facility, December 2013. Source: Wikimedia Commons
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MEPs call for exclusion of Israeli military companies from EU funding
Section: [Main News] [Features]
Tags: [Israeli army] [European Union]
Last week, 73 European MEPs wrote a letter to EU Commissioner for Foreign Affairs Federica Mogherini and Director-General for Research and Innovation Robert Smits outlining concerns regarding the European research program, Horizon 2020’s collaboration with Israeli company Elbit systems, whose military activities are said to be involved in violations of international law.
“Israel’s ability to launch such devastating attacks with impunity largely stems from the vast international military cooperation and trade that it maintains with complicit governments across the world,” the MEPs wrote.
“We cannot accept that the public money of our constituents, many of whom may hold similar views, will be used for such purposes. Elbit Systems furthermore participates with the construction of Israel’s Wall, which was ruled illegal by the International Court of Justice in 2004,” the letter added.
The letter notes that the United Nation’s Special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories in 2012 called for Elbit to be boycotted. It highlights too the increasing support the European electorate have for Israel to abide by international law.
“Public opinion is dramatically shifting towards an ever stronger call for accountability and against cooperation with companies involved in Israel’s violations of international law and for a military embargo,” the letter read.
“We believe it is our duty to ensure public money is spent on projects that promote the values and principles of the European Union and respect its general commitment to upholding and promoting international law, as set out in the Treaty of the European Union.”
Elbit Systems technologies have been developed during the course of Israel’s military campaigns; the company markets its technology as “field tested.”
Palestinian civil society and stop the Wall report
The EU MEPs’ cross-party initiative comes after an appeal from Palestinian civil society organisations and trade unions, which called on High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the Commission Federica Mogherini and President of the European Commission Jean Claude Juncker to exclude Israeli military companies from EU research programmes.
The appeal asked that Israeli military and national security companies be excluded from funding as part of what participating organisation said was a necessary step towards the promotion of human rights for Palestinians. The appeal charged that cooperating with Israeli security companies represents support of Israel's continued violations of international law.
A Stop the Wall report titled “Supporting Israeli apartheid: EU funding for Elbit Systems” suggests that the EU’s relationship with Elbit Systems may be an example of EU complicity with Israeli violations of human rights.
The report discusses the company’s participation in the Horizon 2020 process, in particular the Horizon Space program, and details how Elbit Systems and other Israeli military and security companies are applying and have been approved for participation in Horizon 2020.
In 2014 over 60,000 people including Nobel Laureates, artists and public intellectuals issued a letter that called for an immediate military embargo on Israel. The letter says that, “Israel’s ability to launch such devastating attacks with impunity largely stems from the vast international military cooperation and trade that it maintains with complicit governments across the world.”
Their call also noted that funding for programmes affiliated with the conflict would risk contradicting the standards and policies of the EU and its member states, including the EU’s general commitment to upholding and promoting international law, as set out in the Treaty of the European Union.
EU - Israel Agreement
Over one year ago the agreement for research collaboration between the EU and Israel was signed by Yaakov Perry, the Israeli Minister of Science, Technology and Space and Lars Faaborg-Naderson, the head of the EU delegation to Israel allowing Israel the same access to EU research and innovation program Horizon 2020 that is afforded to other EU member states.
Boasting a budget of over 80 billion euros, the programme is the largest EU research and innovation plan. Its signing was overseen by EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and the Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Barroso applauded the partnership, describing Israel as a leader in science, Haaretz reported.
“Israel is a strong player in research and innovation and for this reason an important partner for the EU to address societal challenges of common concern, such as ageing, food safety, environment protection or cleaner energy, and to strengthen the competitiveness of our industries,” Barroso said.
The deal had initially faced problems when the EU insisted that no funding be used inside territories seized during the six day war, including the West Bank and Gaza, a clause which Israel initially contested, but ultimately acceded to.
A joint statement was released in November 2013 following talks between the EU high representative Catherine Ashton and Israeli Minister of Justice Tzipi Livni, settled the matter with Israel agreeing to take part an align itself with EU policies that adhere to international law by respecting, "the EU's legal and financial requirements while at the same time respecting Israel's political sensitivities and preserving its principled positions."
The EU policy of non-participation with projects taking place inside the occupied territories is aligned with general international legal principles and norms set out by the Fourth Geneva Convention and several UN resolutions. The particulars of its policy is documented further in its publication, “Guidelines on the eligibility of Israeli entities and their activities in the territories occupied by Israel since June 1967 for grants, awards and financial instruments funded by the EU from 2014 onwards.”
The Israeli Directorate for the European Research Area reports that 162 projects involving Israeli participants were approved under Horizon 2020 amounting to a total value of over 420.3 million euros. Israel alongside Switzerland and Norway are among a small handful of non EU member states that have been involved in EU research programmes as associate countries.
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Wonder Woman is a 2017 American superhero film based on the DC Comics character of the same name, distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. It is intended to be the fourth installment in the DC Extended Universe. The film is directed by Patty Jenkins, written
Keywords: 神奇女侠, 盖尔·加朵, Wonder Woman, DC Comics, Patty Jenkins, Allan Heinberg, Zack Snyder, Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Steve Trevor, box office, Robin Wright, amazon, female lead role, world war one, Wonder Woman Wallpaper, Diana Prince, film, blockbuster, based on com
Titans (2018 TV series) - HD Wallpaper Titans is a 2018 American web television series that will air on DC Universe, based on the DC Comics team of the same name. Akiva Goldsman, Geoff Johns, and Greg Berlanti created the series, which sees Brenton Th
shazam_13
Shazam! is a 2019 American superhero film based on the DC Comics character of the same name. It is intended to be the seventh installment in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). Directed by David F. Sandberg from a screenplay by Henry Gayden, and a story by G
Keywords: teenage boy, shazam, superhero, film, based on comic book, DC Comics, DC Extended Universe, David F. Sandberg, Henry Gayden, Asher Angel, Zachary Levi, Mark Strong, Michelle Borth, Billy Batson, Shazam!, Jack Dylan Grazer, Grace Fulton, superhuman, movie,
Keywords: Wonder Woman, DC Comics, Patty Jenkins, Allan Heinberg, Zack Snyder, Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Steve Trevor, Connie Nielsen, Robin Wright, amazon, female lead role, world war one, Wonder Woman Wallpaper, Diana Prince, film, based on comic book, superheroine,
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Keywords: DC Comics, Superman, Man of Steel, Daily Planet, DC Comics Wallpaper, Comics, Superman, Cartoons, Animation, Justice League, superhero, The Justice League, ซูเปอร์แมน, Superman Saves Smallville, Lois Lane, Clark Kent, Jimmy Olsen, Olson, Perry White, Lex
Keywords: Wonder Woman, DC Comics, Patty Jenkins, Allan Heinberg, Zack Snyder, Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Connie Nielsen, Robin Wright, amazon, female lead role, world war one, Wonder Woman Wallpaper, Diana Prince, film, based on comic book, superheroine, greek myth,
Keywords: Wonder Woman, DC Comics, Warner Bros, Patty Jenkins, Allan Heinberg, Zack Snyder, Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Connie Nielsen, Robin Wright, Lucy Davis, Lisa Loven Kongsli, Danny Huston, Ewen Bremner, Elena Anaya, Wonder Woman Poster, Diana Prince, film
Justice League is a 2017 American superhero film based on the DC Comics superhero team of the same name, distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. It is intended to be the fifth installment in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). The film is directed by Zack Snyd
Keywords: Justice League, superhero, film, DC Comics, Zack Snyder, Chris Terrio, Ben Affleck, aquaman, Gal Gadot, Ezra Miller, Jason Momoa, Ray Fisher, Ciarán Hinds, Justice League Wallpaper, Batman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, cyborg, Joss Whedon, Warner Bros. Pictur
Keywords: Justice League, superhero, film, DC Comics, Warner Bros. Pictures, Zack Snyder, Chris Terrio, Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Gal Gadot, Ezra Miller, Jason Momoa, Ray Fisher, Ciarán Hinds, Justice League Wallpaper, Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, Aq
Keywords: Justice League, superhero, film, DC Comics, Warner Bros. Pictures, Joss Whedon, Chris Terrio, Ben Affleck, aquaman, Gal Gadot, Ezra Miller, Jason Momoa, Ray Fisher, Cyborg, Flash, Justice League Wallpaper, Batman, Bruce Wayne, Wonder Woman, Diana Prince,
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Keywords: Wonder Woman, DC Comics, Patty Jenkins, Allan Heinberg, Zack Snyder, Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Connie Nielsen, Robin Wright, amazon, female lead role, world war one, Wonder Woman Wallpaper, Diana Prince, film, based on comic book, superheroine, greek myth, b
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History of Parker Teen Court
The Parker Teen Court was formed in January 2005. The Municipal Court was searching for a unique way to deal with youth offenders in Parker. The program was met with tremendous response from the teens in the community who wanted to volunteer. The roster immediately became a large list of more than 60 teens. More than 400 teens have volunteered in Teen Court since 2005, with nearly 50 cases handled annually.
Parker Teen Court volunteers also participate in activities outside of the court, including fun movie nights, banquets, hiking trips and reaching out to the community through community service. Since 2005, Teen Court volunteers have provided more than 10,000 hours of community service. The feedback we receive from parents and defendants has been very positive. Since the beginning of the program, some individuals who went through Teen Court as defendants have returned to become active members.
General History of Teen Courts
According to literature collected by the National Association of Youth Courts, one of the earliest known youth court / teen court programs still in operation is the Naperville Youth Jury in Naperville, IL. Naperville's program started in June 1972. There are anecdotal reports of a youth court program that began operating in Horseheads, N.Y., in 1968.
Awareness of teen courts grew rapidly in the 1990s. In 1994, there were only 78 youth court programs in operation, according to the National Youth Court Database. By 2006, there were more than 1,127 youth court programs in operation throughout the United States. Currently, there are approximately 1,255 programs operating nationwide. Of those, 15 are located in Colorado.
About Teen Court
Defendants
Team Member Quarterly Meetings
Development Tour Map
Town of Parker
Parker Police
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NCAC Tournament
All-NCAC
All-Decade
Kim Russell Hired to Lead Oberlin Women’s Lacrosse Program
Courtesy of Oberlin Athletics
OBERLIN, Ohio – Oberlin College Associate Vice President for Athletics Advancement and Delta Lodge Director of Athletics & Physical Education Natalie Winkelfoos announced the appointment of Kim Russell as the school's head women's lacrosse coach.
"I am grateful to Natalie Winkelfoos and the search committee for choosing me to lead the Oberlin women's lacrosse program," Russell said. "Coach McCandlish did an amazing job building this program over the last five years and I am confident we will continue to create a positive, supportive, and successful environment for our players. We will empower each other to be the best we can be as a team and individuals - on and off the field."
Last year, Russell served as the Director of Girls Lacrosse at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, where she oversaw the program and served as head coach for its inaugural 2017-18 varsity season. In addition, Russell managed the program's camp business.
Prior to her time at IMG Academy, Russell was the first-ever women's lacrosse coach at Baldwin Wallace University where she led the Yellow Jackets to the Ohio Athletic Conference finals in three of her four years at the helm. Under her guidance, BW posted a 46-21 overall record and a .687 winning percentage. The 2017 Ohio Athletic Conference Coach of the Year, Russell instructed multiple All-OAC selections and IWLCA Great Lakes Region honorees. Additionally, her players excelled in the classroom as she mentored CoSIDA Google Cloud Academic All-Americans and IWLCA Academic Honor Roll selections.
"Kim is bringing a wealth of talent and experience to Oberlin," Winkelfoos said. "She will transition easily into the department and community. Not only is Kim an excellent addition to our coaching staff but will also be an asset in our wellness programming — she will be a coach for all students on campus."
Before her tenure at BW, Russell held coaching roles with various club programs in the Cleveland area. She took on her first head coaching position in 1996 when she became the first head coach in the history of Magnificat High School in Rocky River, Ohio.
Russell was an NCAA Division I lacrosse and field hockey student-athlete at the College of William & Mary where she earned all-region and all-conference before graduating with a degree in business management.
She inherits a Yeowomen program that finished the 2018 season 10-6, which included a 6-2 mark in the North Coast Athletic Conference and second seed in the league tournament.
Russell will start with the non-traditional season this fall in preparations for the Yeowomen's 2019 campaign.
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ISDS: The trap Australia and Japan avoided
So straightforward was Australia’s first trade deal with Japan that the Japanese thought it was a trick.
Twelve years after the war and with the Thai-Burma railway still fresh in Australians’ minds Australia offered Japan ‘'most favoured nation'' status for its exports in return for Japan giving its exports the same treatment.
Japan’s lead negotiator Ushiba Nobuhiko stayed in Canberra for six months going through the proposal line by line.
At one point Australia's exasperated lead negotiator Alan Westerman told him he was wasting their time. “I am telling you right now that Australia will remove all discrimination. Now let’s get on to what you will do and then let’s go and have a game of golf,” he said.
Ushiba Nobuhiko cabled Japan, they still thought the Australians were trying to trick them and Ushiba Nobuhiko was recalled. In his biography of trade minister Jack McEwen Peter Golding reports that eventually Ushiba Nobuhiko convinced his superiors that the Australians meant what they said and prime ministers Kishi Nobusuke and Robert Menzies signed the deal that went on to make both nations rich.
Japan’s present prime minister Shinzo Abe is Kishi Nobusuke’s grandson. The deal he will sign with Tony Abbott is in some ways similar to the simple one his grandfather signed 57 years ago.
It doesn't include an ISDS. The initials stand for Investor State Dispute Settlement procedures and they're everywhere. Conducted by specially-constituted often private tribunals, usually in secret, there have been 400 cases heard in the past 10 years. There have been 58 in the most recent year for which the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development has done the sums, although it says it can’t be sure because the mere existence of some hearings is kept secret.
One of them is against Australia. Philip Morris Asia acquired Philip Morris Australia in 2011 for the express purpose of using the ISDS provisions of an obscure Hong Kong Australia trade treaty, a process known as “nationality planning”. It says Australia’s plain packaging legislation deprives it of the value of its investment. Australia is attempting to have the case laughed out of court on the grounds that Philip Morris Asia only bought Philip Morris Australia after the plain packs legislation was already public (and for that reason) so it can’t say Australia’s action wasn’t expected.
But fighting the case is costing Australia millions and its mere existence is frightening poorer countries that might want to follow Australia's lead. Philip Morris has already lost its case under Australian law in the High Court. It is using rights not available to other Australian companies to get yet another bite of the cherry, this time in a tribunal that doesn't need to take account of precedents, doesn't need to publish transcripts and whose decisions are unappealable. The ''judges'' are also less independent than real ones. They take turns acting for (sometimes big-paying) litigants and sitting in judgement on them.
The United States loves investor state dispute settlement procedures. It has insisted on them in every one of the 14 free trade agreements it has signed and the 17 it wants to sign. Its companies use them to browbeat and potentially bankrupt governments that introduce environmental or health-related laws they don't like, a practice Australia's productivity Commission refers to as "regulatory chill".
Only one world leader has successfully stood up to the US over a demand for an ISDS. It was John Howard, who in 2004 told George W. Bush he wasn't having one in Australia's free trade agreement.
It has not hurt us at all. Indeed, when the Productivity Commission examined investor state dispute settlement procedures in 2010 it found no evidence that they boosted investment in nations likely to be sued. It recommended the government "seek to avoid" them in the future.
Labor banned them saying it would "not support provisions that would confer greater legal rights on foreign businesses than those available to domestic businesses".
The Coalition went to the election saying it would be prepared to consider them on a case by case basis. It has said yes to one with Korea, with what it said are safeguards for health and environmental legislation. But they were similar to safeguards that have failed to stop ISDS proceedings on environmental matters overseas.
It said yes in order to have something to trade away in return for more market access. The US wants one in the 12-nation Trans Pacific Partnership. Australia is under pressure to say yes to sell more sugar.
Other nations are saying no. Indonesia has just announced it will terminate all 67 of its treaties with an ISDS. France, Germany, Brazil and Argentina are thinking along similar lines.
And now Australia has said no to an ISDS in its free trade agreement with Japan. The agreement will be better and simpler because of it. Robert Menzies and Shinzo Abe's grandfather would be proud.
In The Age and Sydney Morning Herald
Labels: 10, Age columns, column, isds, trade
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Colleagues & Friends: Jessica Glaser
Emigrant Bank Fine Art Finance 6 East 43rd street New York, NY (map)
Independent Fundraising Consultant and Co-Founder of Nolita Projects, Jessica Glaser is joined by Cerrie Bamford, Director of Development & Events at the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture, and Hallie Hobson, Deputy Director of Instituional Advancement at The Studio Museum in Harlem for a conversation about their career paths, new trends in philanthropy, job change and more.
$5 Members | $15 Non-Members
About Jessica Glaser
Upon completion of her PhD comprehensive exams in Art History, Jessica began her fundraising career at the Prospect New Orleans biennial and the Museum of Modern Art, New York, where she developed and managed the Contemporary Arts Council's ambitious patron travel program and events calendar. Most recently, Jessica served as Deputy Development Director of the New Museum. During her four-year tenure, she spearheaded an unprecedented 20% leap in Individual Giving and Council revenue and oversaw the formation of the prestigious Artemis Council and Council for Artists Research and Residencies. Her stewardship resulted in the election of the New Museum's youngest ever Trustee and International Leadership Council Member.
Jessica's graduate research on mid 20th century German art has won support from the Courtauld Institute of Art, where she was awarded the Stavros S. Niarchos fellowship for graduate study; the Wolfsonian-FIU Museum in Miami; the Zeit Foundation; DAAD and the Goethe Institute. She proudly serves on the steering committee for POWarts, and is a member of the German Studies Association.
About Cerrie Bamford
Cerrie Woodner Bamford is an arts professional with over two decades of experience working with visual artists, presenting programs, and generating funding for festivals, commercial galleries, and nonprofit institutions, currently holding the position, Director of Development and Events for The Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture. From 2004–2018, Cerrie worked at The Museum of Modern Art in the Departments of Special Programming and Events, Development, and finally Affiliate Programs, managing The Friends of Education and working with the Museum’s Junior Associates and Contemporary Arts Council. Bamford additionally sat on both the Museum’s Diversity Committee and Research Committee for Public Programs. Prior to MoMA, Cerrie was the Marketing Manager for Harvey Lloyd Studios, and Art Director for Flow Studios. She holds a BA in Photography & Communications and a BS in Forensic Psychology all from St. Edward’s University, and an AAS in Culinary Arts from Le Cordon Bleu. Cerrie is the Board President of Hivewild.
About Hallie Hobson
Hallie Hobson has dedicated her career to sustaining the vitality and health of nonprofit cultural institutions by spearheading innovative strategic planning, fundraising and patron engagement strategies. Hobson currently serves as the Deputy Director, Institutional Advancement for The Studio Museum in Harlem and is supporting that organization’s Capital Campaign. Prior to that she was at The Metropolitan Museum of Art where she served as Deputy Chief Development Officer for Individual Giving and before as the Senior Development Officer at The Museum of Modern Art. She has also held roles at a number of other cultural intuitions including the New York Foundation for the Arts and The House Foundation for the Arts/Meredith Monk and has lectured about her profession at the Yale World Fellows Program and the Sotheby’s Institute of Art. In addition to her work in fundraising, she is an accomplished poet and playwright. Hallie Hobson holds an M.F.A. in Playwriting from UCLA and a B.A. in African-American and Theater Studies from Yale University. Hobson, a native of Atlanta, has lived in Harlem since 2000. She is a member of a variety of professional organizations including Women in Development and ArtTable.
Tagged Colleagues and Friends
Colleagues & Friends: Andrea Wood
POWarts Book Club: "Ninth Street Women" with Mary Gabriel
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The Board of Directors has overall management of PROTEK and makes decisions related under the laws to the competence of general meetings of shareholders (members) of subsidiaries and affiliates in a period when 100 percent of their shares, participatory shares are owned by PROTEK, in the event that such decisions are within the competence of the Board of Directors according to the Articles of association.
PROTEK’s Board of Directors is comprised of:
Yakunin Vadim Sergeyevich
Chairman of the Board of Directors, «PROTEK»
Mr. Yakunin was born in 1963. In 1986, he graduated from the Moscow Physical and Technical Institute (MIPT) with a qualification as engineer-physicist. Completed post-graduate studies in MIPT in 1989. He holds a degree as a Doctor of Technical Sciences. Until the founding of CV «PROTEK» Firm (in 1990), he worked at the research and manufacturing association for computer equipment. From 1990 to 2000, he held the post of «PROTEK» General Director. From 1998 to 2002, he was Chairman of the «PROTEK» Board of Directors. Since 2002, he has been Chairman of the Board of Directors of «PROTEK» as an open joint-stock company. He is the chairman of the Union of Professional Pharmaceutical Organizations (SPFO).
Muzyaev Vadim Gennadyevich
President of «PROTEK»
Mr. Muzayev was born in 1958. In 1981, he graduated from the Kuibyshev Moscow Civil Engineering Institute with a speciality in Industrial and Civilian Construction. From 1982 to 1993, he worked in construction organizations in Moscow. From 1993 to 2002, he held various leadership positions on the «PROTEK» team. In 2002, he was named President of «PROTEK».
Yakunina Yuliya Sergeyevna
Economic Director at «PROTEK»
Born in 1957. In 1979, she graduated from the Economic Department of the Yaroslavl State University. She has an MBA degree in financial management. She was the Financial Director at CV «PROTEK» from 1995 to 2003. She has been Economic Director since 2003. Member of the «PROTEK» Board of Directors since 2002. She is in charge of general coordination and supervision of the financial and economic issues at «PROTEK».
Gorbunov Vadim Nikolaevich
Deputy IT Director General of «Rigla»
Born in 1963. In 1986 he graduated from Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT) and was awarded the qualification of Engineer-Physicist. After graduation he has been working at Scientific Development and Production Center Elas (Zelenograd) from 1986 until 1990, and then was the head of the IT company Aragon. Since 1994 he has been holding different positions in the IT subdivisions of «Rigla» and CV «PROTEK», where he administered a project on the creation of a electronic ordering system for chemists was the first one in the Russian pharmaceutical market, as well as creating a merchandise flow accounting program. From 2000 until 2004 he was working at North American software companies. From 2006 until 2009 he was Vice-President for Information Technologies in «PROTEK». Since 2009 he has been the Deputy Director
Suhorutchenko Aleksandr Nikolaevich
Independent member of the Board of Directors of «PROTEK»
Born in 1957. Graduated from Moscow Institute of Engineers of Geodesy, Aerial Photography and Cartography. (MIIGAiK), Applied Astronautics Faculty. After graduation, he worked as a junior research assistant in MIIGAiK. From 1989 until 1996 he occupied leading positions in various small and medium-sized enterprises. From 1997 until 2010 he was Deputy Director General of ОАО Central Scientific-Research Institute Cyclone. Since 2010 to the present time he holds the position of principal counselor for the Head of the Main Department for the Diplomatic Service at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation. He was awarded a Doctorate in Engineering Science.
Sevast’yanov Leonid Mikhailovich
Leonid Mikhailovich Sevast’yanov was born in 1978. He graduated from Gregorian University (Rome) in 2002 and from Georgetown University (Washington) in 2004. Since 2004 Mr. Sevast’yanov has been co-founder and Director General of international company StatinvestRu providing advice on all issues of business (commercial, legal, tax, financial) mainly connected with energy, communication, transport and infrastructure. Since December 17, 2009 he has been a member of the Board of Directors of «PROTEK».
Guz Sergey Anatolievich
Sergey Anatolievich was born in 1955. Graduated from the Moscow Physical and Technical Institute (MIPT) in 1978 and got PhD in MIPT. In 2000 graduated from Open University LINK (Great Britain). He is a lecturer on the department of mathematical fundamentals in management of MIPT. From 1989 to 1998 held the position of pro-rector of MIPT in education. Since 1999 is the Head of department of mathematical fundamentals in management of MIPT. Sergey Anatolievich is the General Director and the member of Board of Directors «LIT-PHONON» from November, 2003.
PROTEK Parent Company
2, ul. Chermyanskaya, 127282 Moscow
e-mail: info@protek-group.ru
www.protek-group.ru
fax + 7 (495) 737-37-68
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Needs, Opportunities, and Challenges
Mobility options are changing rapidly today with the advent of ridesharing services such as Uber and Lyft, bikesharing options such as Lime, micro-mobility services such as shared electric scooters, and smart parking technology such as Smarking. Walnut Creek has an opportunity to leverage these technologies to manage historic mobility challenges, including traffic and parking. The objective of Rethinking Mobility: A Transportation Strategic Plan for the City of Walnut Creek, is to set a vision for how to reduce automobile trips, manage parking demand, and support a variety of mobility options by leveraging new technologies.
How Walnut Creek Moves Today
Most People are Driving: What Do Current Travel Patterns Tell Us About Opportunities for Reducing Automobile Trips?
Is Parking Part of the Problem, a Potential Solution, or Both?
Public Transit Options in Walnut Creek
Bicycling in Walnut Creek
Walking in Walnut Creek
How is Mobility Changing?
Walnut Creek’s Current Mobility Goals
What is Walnut Creek Already Doing to Manage Automobile Trips?
Currently, most people drive for work, shopping, and other types of trips. Driving alone is the primary means of transportation for people traveling to work, both for those who live in Walnut Creek and for those who work in Walnut Creek and live elsewhere. For other types of trips, Walnut Creek residents are more likely to carpool, walk, or bicycle. Understanding how people travel for different types of trips will help determine what strategies may be most effective in shifting drive-alone vehicle trips to public transportation, walking, or bicycling.
Walnut Creek is an employment hub in Central Contra Costa County, and more workers commute into the city than commute out. Most workers are driving from other parts of Contra Costa County into Walnut Creek. Walnut Creek is also a retail and entertainment center for the region, and many residents and visitors drive to downtown for shopping, dining, and entertainment.
The limited alternatives to driving from some locations, such as eastern Contra Costa County and the Tri-Valley area, is a potential challenge in shifting automobile trips to other more sustainable transportation modes. However, there is an opportunity to shift more local driving trips to bicycling or public transit (such as buses or shuttles), and to shift longer distance trips from outside Walnut Creek to carpooling, BART, and buses.
The City of Walnut Creek has already implemented a number of best practices for parking management, including demand-based pricing and the provision of real-time occupancy information. Parking management is one of the most powerful transportation demand management tools available. The City has the opportunity to build on its successful parking management policies and programs, such as the free Downtown Trolley connecting downtown with the Walnut Creek BART station, to help further its goals of reducing automobile trips and supporting alternatives to driving.
Walnut Creek is served by two BART stations (Walnut Creek and Pleasant Hill/Contra Costa Centre) as well as local and express bus routes. Three free bus routes provide key links between the BART stations and downtown, the Creekside neighborhood, and the Shadelands business park. The free bus routes in Walnut Creek are the most frequent citywide, and they have the greatest number of passengers per service hour of all County Connection bus routes.
The popularity of the City’s free bus routes demonstrates that public transit can result in shifts away from driving when it provides a free or lower-cost option that enables people to travel when and where they want to go. The primary challenge to providing additional bus service, either by increasing frequency on existing routes or by expanding service to additional areas, is available funding.
Despite a moderate climate and relatively flat terrain, relatively few people bicycle for work and non-work trips in Walnut Creek. A key missing element is a well-connected network of low-stress bicycle facilities that people of all ages and abilities feel safe and comfortable using. Regional multi-use paths and trails, including the Iron Horse and Canal trails, provide a backbone of low-stress bicycle facilities that the City of Walnut Creek can build upon.
The City of Walnut Creek has invested significant resources in improving its walking environment, particularly in downtown. There is a well-connected network of safe and comfortable walkways in many of Walnut Creek’s neighborhoods and commercial areas. However, pedestrian connections between these areas and to public transit stops and stations are often limited by the need to cross major roadways with multiple lanes of traffic and high volumes of fast-moving vehicles. Improving pedestrian safety and comfort at key locations may enable more people to make local trips on foot, as well as improve access for those using wheelchairs and other mobility devices.
The rise of on-demand ride services from transportation network companies (TNCs) such as Uber and Lyft, micro-transit companies such as Chariot, and dockless bikeshare and electric scooter services from companies such as Lime and Bird is altering the future of mobility. While the outcomes, benefits, and drawbacks of the rising role these companies are playing is still being evaluated, there has been a large increase in the demand for TNCs and other on-demand services in urbanized areas, including Walnut Creek. Autonomous vehicles are also on the horizon, and will have an even greater effect on the way we travel. It will be important for the City to take steps to ensure that these services are implemented in ways that work toward achieving its goal of reducing single-occupant automobile trips.
The Walnut Creek General Plan, Climate Action Plan, Bicycle Master Plan, and Pedestrian Master Plan include transportation-related goals, policies, and recommended actions that emphasize the importance of transportation demand management; namely, decreasing the number of trips made by single-occupant automobiles and increasing transit use, ridesharing, walking, and bicycling. These existing City policies provide the basis for the goals, objectives, and performance measures for Rethinking Mobility.
Contra Costa County and all of its municipalities are required to have a TDM ordinance or resolution which includes a commitment to promote alternatives to the single-occupant vehicle in order to reduce vehicle miles traveled. 511 Contra Costa provides TDM programs on behalf of the cities and Contra Costa County, and is overseen by the Contra Costa Transportation Authority and its respective regional transportation planning committees. Additionally, all Bay Area employers with 50 or more employees are required to provide their workers with one of four commuter benefit options. These options include a pre-tax benefit, an employer subsidy, employer-provided transit, or an alternative benefit that is effective in reducing single-occupant vehicle trips. While these programs provide a basic level of support for those who are interested in alternatives to driving, there are opportunities to provide additional incentives for using public transit, bicycling, walking, and ridesharing to further reduce automobile trips.
To view the Needs, Opportunities, and Challenges Executive Summary Report:
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Where on earth do you start with a review for No Mans Sky? The development history itself has been like a Shakespearean play full of twists and tragedy. The small team at Hello Games have been through everything from floods, delays, death threats, to Sky actually complaining about the use of the name Sky. So regardless of what I think of their game, I just want to say I truly admire the team for even making it to the finish line.
Now before I get into the review I need to highlight a few points you need to know right away, namely that at the time of writing the PC version of No Man's Sky is suffering from a whole range of technical problems. Ironically I reviewed it on a friends Steam Account not being used, due to his system refusing to run it at all. This title is certainly one of the most divisive games we've seen in a while: some can run it fine, for some it's a mess, some say they love it and others have denounced it as the most over-hyped game ever made. What is clear to me is that No Man's Sky is not ready for release on PC and for that reason alone, I would say hold off until we can see some of these issues fixed. That said patches are happening so the wait won't be too long I hope. If you really must get it now, dropping all settings to low and then back up to maximum seems to improve performance.
Procedurally flawed
The first time the world saw No Man's Sky it showcased an idea, that a universe could be created not with craft but math. A digital world that is fashioned from the procedural soup created by Hello Games. With eighteen quintillion planets you can't blame them for letting a procedural algorithm do the heavy lifting, but even with this in mind, the sheer scale of No Man's Sky is jaw dropping. Every atom, leaf, tree, bird and so on are procedurally created, but what does that actually mean?
In computing, procedural generation is a method of creating data algorithmically as opposed to manually. In computer graphics, it is also called random generation and is commonly used to create textures and 3D models. In video games, it is used to automatically create large amounts of content in a game.
Five of the first trailers for No Mans Sky which sparked the imagination (and hype) for so many gamers
Up until recently game worlds have always been created manually, where a developer creates tools, art assets and then uses these to hand craft a game world and the things within it. Sure there are tricks to speed this process up but an actual universe created by maths, that is something entirely different. So far this type of game while certainly impressive in scale lacks the flair and finesse of a handcrafted game: the most obvious example is the now infamous Spore. So does No Man's Sky buck this trend?
No Mans Sky puts you into a digital universe so big you could never hope to explore more than a few percent. That one fact is in itself, is a factor some gamers find enjoyable and no matter how the game actually plays they will be content just to move, look and observe. However, I suspect most players need more than that to justify the countless hours a game this big demands. There is no denying the technology that runs the game is impressive as hell, jumping into your ship and ascending into the stars is something I've dreamed of doing in Elite Dangerous since day one. Likewise dropping down from orbit into a lush planet full of life really is a first on this scale. However, due to this size and scope of the universe, Hello Games have made some big sacrifices along the way.
So far everything I have done seems casual, light and unintuitive: from the way the ship handles, how you mine resources and interact with life forms. Sure, I could travel across a trillion planets (assuming I nail immortality first) that all offer a slightly varied theme but essentially I will be doing the same thing across them all and it's here I think we really hit the nub of the game. It's like going to the pick and mix, yes you will get difference sweets every day of the week but it's still just a bag of sweets.
One of the games big hooks is that the worlds you visit will be different every time you land on a new one and this is true. However, while the morphology of creatures will vary, what is going on under the hood in terms of AI is woefully underbaked. In short, they will either attack you or not: that is it. There is no food chain, no ecosystem, no difference in the behaviour based on their appearance: just a rudimentary script that makes them walk around and look busy. When you think about it how could it have been anything different, there is no way creature AI could change based on an infinite set of physical appearances. This is one of the glaringly obvious problems when using procedurally created content for everything. This, in turn, makes travelling the universe searching for new creatures feel a little pointless unless you just enjoy seeing what strange beings the game can spit out.
Prior to the PC release I had watched hours of PS4 gamers streaming the game and most at some point mentioned the UI and interface. It's surprisingly bad and even with the increased speed of a mouse pointer has numerous controls that just don't make any sense, like how you need to press and hold interact for a click to register: why? Even the simple act of crafting or moving items to your ship seems convoluted. In fact having to constantly manage the insanely small inventory quickly became a huge negative for me, this area of the game needs a lot of work. I am pleased that playing with Keyboard and Mouse seems to have been implemented from the off but I would strongly urge you to use a controller for flying your ship. I also find it surprising that a game on PC of which a huge chunk is flying a ship has not HOTAS support: another sign this game was made for console.
As you start to wander around your first planet you will soon start mining various minerals, very quickly this will bring the wrath of the sentinels: local droids that seemingly don't like you pinching from the planet. These robots are bothersome anyway because mining should not initiate combat in my opinion, but they also very quickly showcase the games poor combat system. I'm not going to dress it up, shooting things in NMS is crap and I've seen mobile phone games do a better job. What seems to make it worse is that no matter what you fire at there is no visual feedback and once in Space, ship to ship combat also feels poorly made with really naff ship explosions. The sound in NMS is actually pretty good in places and I absolutely love the music, it's a pity some of the sound effects fall flat: such as the ship blasters in space.
It's often so difficult to see a situation for what it really is, especially when Sean Murray has been consistently vague and cryptic about many of the gameplay features in NMS. In his rambling interviews when pressed on points like multiplayer he starts to waffle: is this a guy who is just ridiculously excited about his game or someone terrified of nailing down the truth? I don't know. Even when confronted with two players meeting (but then not being able to see each other) in a game that he clearly stated it was possible to meet in, he responses on Twitter with an overly upbeat response of how his mind is blown by this happening at all. I think what really annoyed people is the complete lack of acknowledgement for what was happening: kinda like the band on the Titanic cheerfully playing until the water was lapping at their feet. Now that the game is out I think Hello Games really need to sit down and spell out what players can and cannot do in terms of this shared universe, otherwise this issue will haunt them forever.
After looking at numerous worlds that contain life I have to say I feel like the trailers have been misleading, the life forms on view in the gameplay trailers at the top are nowhere near the same level of concentration in the game I've been playing: this is especially true of the underwater areas. I think that much of the hype has been because these trailers show you a hint of something but leave your imagination to then do the rest. When in one trailer you see the ships flying with you from orbit it does look so cool, but we now know that in reality, all the ships we see flying around are just props: never going anywhere and just there to give the illusion of activity.
Some people have made references to Elite Dangerous, saying that NMS offers a similar experience but for me, this simply isn't the case: not even close. Elite Dangerous is a simulation that is bathed in complex game mechanics and everything they implement into the game is built to the same standards: that is why it is taking so long to develop planetary landings on worlds with atmospheres. Every comparable instance between these two games in like comparing a child banging on drums to listening to Beethoven's ninth in the Sydney Opera house. Flying the ship is a good example of this, taking off is a button press, flying into space is easy as pointing up and flying to distant planets is a case of firing up the engines and waiting. Even when flying over the planet surface I am pushed away by an invisible layer above the ground which makes flying far less fun and feel like the rest of the game: casual in the extream. To some this will be the exact level of ship interaction they are looking for and so they will be content, but considering this game is about exploration having such restrictions feels insanely frustrating.
The saying goes 'it's all relative' and it's one I use a lot. On the one hand, Hello games are an indi developer with a team of eleven, so even with all the problems and shortcomings I have listed, this game is an impressive piece of work. However, on the other hand, No Man's Sky has been marketed as a AAA game but more to the point it's been sold at a AAA price. I think this game is still in a beta state and Hello Games would have done well to use early access to test the game on PC, an idea I'm sure Sony would have laughed at.
When a games hype reaches the levels it did with No Man's Sky there are some people that will simply never see anything other than what they want to see. So far it has received mediocre reviews along with some fairly crushing critiques. Some gamers have responded to this with flat out denial, even going to the lengths of DDOSing one reviewer's website because they didn't like what he said: really people?
The simple truth is that No Man's Sky does not live up to the hype or the promises made by its development team: it was never going to. Yes, it is true that much of this hype has not come directly from Sean and his team but by being so obtuse about what the title has to offer many gamers have been left to run away with their imaginations. Hello Games are currently working on new content, such as the ability to build structures. I hope these new gameplay features give NMS that thing which is currently painfully lacking, the ability to put your mark on the universe and have some fun in the process.
Despite my obvious problems with No Man's Sky I have had some fun with the game, if I separate out the technical problems then what is left is an experience that can be intriguing and in places interesting. Indeed, it is the scale of the game that caught the attention of the gaming world a few years back, a world this big is especially enticing to console owners who rarely get their hands on such lofty (and seamless) play areas: now they have one of the biggest ever made.
However, size is not everything and what is the point of eighteen quintillion planets when after a few dozen we've seen all the game has to offer. I am sure Hello Games will fix the technical problems that currently plague the PC version and I truly hope they keep adding new features and content. Right now I cannot recommend you buy No Man's Sky on PC, even when it has been optimised for the current price of £39.99 it offers very little other than hours/days/weeks of mind-numbing resource gathering and meaningless interactions in vast (if impressive looking) universe. Every time I tried to do something fun (like fly my ship into the ocean or jump out of a space station) the game would push me back: it's like they didn't want to give players too much freedom in case the bonds holding this gargantuan gamespace would start to buckle.
I hope in the years to come this game and its development acts as a cautionary tale to both gamers and developers regarding hype. I've said it before and I will say it again guys: don't preorder games. Let reviewers like myself buy the game and give you an informed choice, especially when even the big sites are kept in the dark until launch day.
Thank you for reading my review of No Man's Sky on PC, if you like my site you can follow me @riggedforepic If you are new to PC gaming and looking for a site that gives you a cracking deal and the know-how to build your own system: you could do a lot worse than Build a Gaming PC. You can check them out here.
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Contestant Bites Head Off Lizard On Discovery Channel Reality Show
By John B. Virata
Shock value is in play now more than ever on the seemingly endless number of reality shows that are on cable television these days. Indeed, animal-based reality television has gone in a different direction since the demise of "The Crocodile Hunter." While Steve Irwin always had great respect for the animals he showcased, and released the animals on his show after showing them to the viewer, other shows take different approaches, and some shows that feature animals show complete disregard for them.
Take the Discovery Channel show "Naked and Afraid." The premise is to let loose two Americans into a remote part of the world, (in the current episode the island nation of Madagascar) naked and presumably, afraid. They have to "hunt" in order to survive for 21 days, naked and with just one tool or implement to help them survive. In the next episode, which airs March 21, the contestant, "Jeff" is in what he calls an epic battle with a lizard, hitting rocks onto another rock in an attempt to scare the lizard out of its hide.
He then sees the poor lizard's tail and then grabs it, holding it up in triumph, and then in what Entertainment Weekly called his excitement, bites off the head of the lizard, which appeared to have taken tremendous work as he spent more time trying to chew the head off than bite it. He then spits out what he bit off in a show of triumph, displays to the camera what appears to be the dead lizard in his hand and yells, "Take that Madagascar!" Was the lizard that Jeff dispatched for the shock value a threatened species as listed by the IUCN?
Frank Glaw, Jörn Köhler, Ted M. Townsend, Miguel Vences
Brookesia micra.
That is not good for the poor lizard and the other animals of Madagascar that had the dubious distinction of being treated as disposable props. Is this type exposure good for Madagascar, which is a biodiversity hotspot? More than 80 percent of the island nation's plant species are endemic to the island and there are more than 260 reptile species on the island. It is home to 2/3 of the world's chameleon species, including Brookesia micra, a chameleon so small (1.1 inch fully grown) that a juvenile can fit on the end of a match stick. Shock value versus originality. What other animals were harmed in the filming of this reality show? In this case, what wins?
40 Percent Of Madagascar Reptiles Listed As Threatened By IUCN
New Species Of Madagascar Dwarf Chameleon Detailed
Madagascar Giant Day Gecko
Madagascar Big-Eyed Snake And Chameleon Encounter Turns Deadly
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Salt Spring Chamber Music Festival
About SSCMF
Student Tuition
Friends of SSCMF
SSCMF FACULTY
David Visentin, viola/violin
Salt Spring Chamber Music Festival Artistic Director David Visentin is widely known as a performer, pedagogue, conductor and arts administrator whose leadership and creative experience in the performing arts has significantly advanced classical music from coast to coast in Canada.
From 2011-2016, David directed as President and CEO, the Sistema Toronto program that uses music as the catalyst for children's social and academic development. For six years, as dean and associate dean of The Glenn Gould School and Young Artists Performance Academy of The Royal Conservatory of Music, he led the school through its historic transition to becoming one of the world's leading professional training programs. As musical director of The RCM Academy Symphony Orchestra, he brought the ensemble to an exciting level of distinguished prominence through its high energy performances of classical and contemporary repertoire. His orchestral experience includes leadership roles with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra and the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra, work with the Victoria Symphony Orchestra, Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra, Canadian Opera Company Orchestra, Symphony Nova Scotia and the Kansai Philharmonic Orchestra (Osaka, Japan).
An acclaimed chamber musician on both violin and viola, David Visentin founded the Boreas String Quartet, Mondetta Ensemble, Atlantic String Quartet, Festival Artspring, and has performed with the Aggasiz Festival, Elora Festival and Victoria Summer Music Festival. David has taught at the University of Manitoba, Memorial University, Mount Allison University Summer Program, Canadian Mennonite University, Courtenay Youth Music Camp and Symphony Orchestra Academy of the Pacific. He has a Bachelor of Music in Performance from the University of Toronto, studies in the Bachelor of Commerce program from Simon Fraser University and an Arts Administration Certificate from the Banff School. From 2006-2013, he served actively on the Board of the Glenn Gould Foundation. David has been invited to perform in a series of chamber music concerts in Iceland with faculty of the Reykjavik Conservatory of Music. David was also invited by Dr. Jose Antonio Abreu to take part in an extended Artist-in-Residence program in Venezuela in the Fall 2010, as part of the world-famous El Sistema music program. Activities will include conducting, performing teaching and mentoring students throughout the country. David has returned to full-time performance work and is much in demand as a chamber musician and freelance performer internationally, and with Toronto’s finest ensembles and orchestras. This Spring he will be adjudicating in Hong Kong as a juror for the Hong Kong Schools' Music Festival. He plays a 1783 Gabrielli violin and 1996 Playfair viola. When he has time, he rides a 2002 Battaglin Italian racing bike. He has been known to perform on electric violin, from time to time, with Dr. Draw.
David is currently the Director of Postsecondary Studies at the Victoria Conservatory of Music and Chair of the Camsoun Department of Music.
Kai Gleusteen, violin
Canadian born violinist, Kai Gleusteen started at the age of five years old in his native city, Calgary. Early on, he met with success in national music competitions in addition to receiving top academic awards. Already at a young age, he had the opportunity to study with the most renowned violinists and teachers of his time, including Nathan Milstein, Ivan Galamian, Josef Gingold, Dorothy Delay, and Zakhar Bron. By the age of seventeen, Kai was awarded the top prize in the Commonwealth Concerto Competition in Australia, he had received the prestigious Skene Award in Scotland and had formed his first chamber orchestra: The Group of Twelve. A strong believer in the musician as a multi-dimensional human being, Kai chose to combine his musical studies with academic pursuits. At the University of Michigan, he studied anthropology, geophysics, and philosophy. He received a Master’s Degree from Rice University under the tutelage of the person who would become his greatest inspiration on both a personal and musical level, the violinist Camilla Wicks. In 1991, Kai moved to Europe to live in the heart of Western Culture. Paris and Prague were his bases for nine years, allowing him to develop and perform both as a soloist and leader of numerous orchestras. In the year 2000, he won the concertmaster position of the Orchestra ‘del Gran Teatre del Liceu’ and subsequently moved to Barcelona. In 2003, he created the Gran Teatre del Liceu Chamber Orchestra and was appointed professor at the Escuela Superior de Musica de Catalunya. He continues to perform extensively as a soloist and a recitalist throughout Europe and North America and has released numerous critically acclaimed recordings. Kai plays on a violin made by J.B. Guadagnini.
Hiroko Kagawa, violin
Hiroko Kagawa is a dynamic performer, teacher and adjudicator. She performs regularly with the Canadian Opera Company, the National Ballet of Canada Orchestra, the Esprit Orchestra and various other groups in Toronto. Prior to moving to Toronto in 2003, she held the positions of associate concertmaster of the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra, principal second violin of the MusikBarock Ensemble and first violinist of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra; for which she was appointed for several seasons, as assistant concertmaster. She was also a founding member of the Boreas String Quartet, the Ensemble-in-Residence at the University of Winnipeg. Ms. Kagawa is a dedicated chamber musician and appears regularly at various festivals in Victoria, Salt Spring Island and Denman Island and has been heard on CBC on many occasions. Ms. Kagawa is a graduate of the University of Toronto from the studio of renowned Canadian violinist, Andrew Dawes. Upon receiving her Bachelor’s degree, Ms. Kagawa returned to her native Japan to perform with the Osaka Philharmonic and the Kansai Philharmonic, During her time there, she was also a member of the prestigious Osaka Mayoral Award recipient, Hayashi String Quartet. During her training, Ms. Kagawa performed in masterclasses for such notable artists as Sir Yehudi Menuhin, Koichiro Harada, Stephen Clapp and Burton Kaplan. A deeply committed teacher and national adjudicator for over 20 years, she currently teaches through the Royal Conservatory of Music Conservatory School. In 2007, she received her Master’s Degree in Performance from the University of Toronto.
Paula Kiffner, cello
Long-time Salt Spring resident, performing artist and founding faculty of the Salt Spring Festival, cellist Paula Kiffner earned music performance degrees from Ohio State University and Peabody Conservatory. While at Peabody she was principal cellist of the Annapolis Symphony and a member of the Washington Theatre Chamber Players, both under the artistic direction of Leon Fleisher. Her teachers were Harvey Shapiro, Laurence Lesser and Stephen Kates. A former member of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Ms. Kiffner has also performed as guest principal cellist of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, and appears frequently as a recitalist and concerto soloist throughout the Pacific Northwest. Her performances are heard on CBC Radio (Canada) and KING FM (Seattle). Ms. Kiffner works with youth orchestras in Canada and the US, and has served as guest artist and teacher at the University of British Columbia and the University of Victoria. She is a faculty member of the Victoria Conservatory of Music, and the Nanaimo Conservatory.
Catherine Ordronneau, piano
Having performed her first recital at the age of twelve, it isn’t until the age of twenty, after two years of law school that Catherine Ordronneau decided to devote herself entirely to music. Taught by Colette Fernier, Monique Deschaussées, Sergio Perticaroli, and encouraged by François-René Duchâble, she receives the highest distinction at the Conservatory in Rouen and later the prestigious Concert Award at the Ecole Normale Alfred Cortot in Paris. Catherine is also awarded the Yvonne Lefébure Foundation Prize leading to television and radio broadcasts and concert engagements. Catherine chooses to avoid the international competition circuit in favour of taking the time to study repertoire in its historical context. Being a great lover of nature, a fan of Marcel Proust and having spent many years in Normandy, she explores in depth the composers who were inspired by this region, such as Roussel, Debussy, and Saint-Saëns. She deepens her understanding of Beethoven, Schumann and Brahms with numerous trips to Germany, her knowledge of the language and by reading Goethe and Heine. Her interpretation of Chopin is nourished by the time spent in Poland and a close examination of his letters. She delivers “mesmerising performances in which her ability to summon a myriad of colour is allied to a total artistic integrity” (The Times). Catherine’s approach to music is very much appreciated not only by solo piano audiences throughout Europe and North America but also by various renowned chamber musicians. She is invited to perform in music festivals throughout these countries and devotes a large part of her time to the duo with Kai Gleusteen and the Trio Liceu.
Peter Visentin, violin
Peter Visentin is Professor of Music at The University of Lethbridge. Since his appointment in 1987, he has taught in the areas of performance, history and theory. He has given recitals across Canada and internationally. Equally at home on modern and baroque violins, he has performed with period instrument ensembles throughout Canada and in Europe. Peter is also a skilled archetier, having learned the trade of bowmaking while he was learning to perform on period instruments; these skills provide added dimensions to his understanding of, and approach to performance. In addition to his work as a performer, Peter Visentin is known as one of the world’s leading researchers in the area of biomechanics and performance-related injuries. He has published in international journals in the areas of Medicine, Music Education and Psychology and he has presented lectures, demonstrations and papers at numerous international conferences and Universities. He is on the Board of the Performing Arts Medical Association and is part of PAMA’s working group charged with developing a curriculum for use in the education of doctors and physiotherapists about remediation of musicians’ injuries. Additionally, Peter is working with the Health and Wellness initiative of the College Band Directors National Association and he is Co-Editor-in-Chief of Arts BioMechanics (Nova Science, New York), a journal dedicated to the transdisciplinary study of biological and mechanincal interfaces affecting arts performance and the creative processes.
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Key Capitol Hill Hearings
ALJAZAM (Al Jazeera)
CNNW (CNN)
MSNBCW (MSNBC)
Al Jazeera America
Fox News West
CNN (San Francisco)
CNN Newsroom : CNNW : October 5, 2013 4:00pm-5:01pm PDT
by CNNW
mission. the second person, the person in africa here, in libya has been taken out. there are two operations going on. we are talking this man who topped the most wanted list for years. in fact, he is the al qaeda operative responsible for the 1998 bombing of the u.s. embassies. again, may have been captured. barbara starr is our pentagon correspondent. update us on the story, please. >> the senior u.s. official is telling cnn he was captured and that it was indeed u.s. special operations personnel, a second mission in the last 24 hours who conducted a capture operation to get al libi. my colleague confirming the details as well saying it is now likely that al libi will be brought to the united states for prosecution in his alleged role in the 1998 bombings of the u.s. embassies in africa. they have brought other suspects to the united states in similar matters to the federal court system in new york, which oversees these types of prosecutio prosecutions. the introduction of u.s. special operations forces on the ground in libya is very significant because, of course, there is a fu
mission. the second person, the person in africa here, in libya has been taken out. there are two operations going on. we are talking this man who topped the most wanted list for years. in fact, he is the al qaeda operative responsible for the 1998 bombing of the u.s. embassies. again, may have been captured. barbara starr is our pentagon correspondent. update us on the story, please. >> the senior u.s. official is telling cnn he was captured and that it was indeed u.s. special...
RT : October 23, 2013 8:00pm-8:31pm EDT
by RT
transitional council in libya declared the country liberated after a long time dictator colonel moammar gadhafi was found and killed by a militia however since that declaration the country has been plagued with unrest and is currently dealing with an uncertain future political commentator sam sacks brings us a look back over the past two years. i think. two years ago today with moammar gadhafi dead in tripoli and most of libya firmly in rebel hands. the national transitional council declared libya. liberated that liberation came with a price plus two years of been a chaotic ride for the nation filled with violent clashes assassinations parliamentarian dysfunction and most recently the brief kidnapping of the prime minister of the united states which along with nato is instrumental in enforcing a no fly zone and bombing campaign that led to the ouster of gadhafi. has paid a heavy price as well and september of last year a terrorist attack the u.s. consulate in benghazi killing ambassador chris stevens and three other americans so two years into its democratic experiment there are serious
transitional council in libya declared the country liberated after a long time dictator colonel moammar gadhafi was found and killed by a militia however since that declaration the country has been plagued with unrest and is currently dealing with an uncertain future political commentator sam sacks brings us a look back over the past two years. i think. two years ago today with moammar gadhafi dead in tripoli and most of libya firmly in rebel hands. the national transitional council declared...
RT : October 24, 2013 5:30am-6:01am EDT
different with libya when we meet again gaddafi we found evidence that they got us before the war should concede billions with live ammunition on the streets we don't find the similar evidence in the case of iraq i would like to discuss the libyan case a bit later on but let's come back to the syrian issue which is the most pressing geopolitical issue in the world these days i don't just recently you published an opinion piece advocating the notion of temporal justice for syria sensually saying about let's tell both the army and the rebels that starting from january first two thousand. every crime committed in syria will be investigated but i think from the point of view of both legality and international justice it's a very controversial proposition because essentially what you're saying is that you know we will go off to you for the crimes you commit later on but in the meantime feel free to have killing spree know the idea is the following legally today there is not enough for justice in syria because the goal the first goal is to keep top crimes i was just saying that the proposed ok
different with libya when we meet again gaddafi we found evidence that they got us before the war should concede billions with live ammunition on the streets we don't find the similar evidence in the case of iraq i would like to discuss the libyan case a bit later on but let's come back to the syrian issue which is the most pressing geopolitical issue in the world these days i don't just recently you published an opinion piece advocating the notion of temporal justice for syria sensually...
KCSM (PBS)
RT News : KCSM : October 23, 2013 5:00pm-5:31pm PDT
by KCSM
national transitional council in libya to cleared the country liberated after chrome omar qaddafi was found and killed by militia. since that declaration, the country is plagued with unrest and dealing with a very uncertain future. >> two years ago today, with qaddafi dead and tripoli in rebel hands, the national transitional council declared libya liberated. that liberation came at a price. the last two years have been a chaotic right for the nation, with violent clashes, parliament. disruption, and a brief kidnapping of the prime mr.. -- of the prime mr.. the united states was instrumental in enforcing a no- fly zone that led to the ouster of qaddafi. terrorists attacked the consulate in benghazi, killing ambassador chris stevens and three other americans. two years into its democratic experiment, there are serious questions about libya's future. amnesty international released a report this week about the plight of tens of thousands of libyans who have been displaced and victimized by roaming militias. seeking retribution for qaddafi- era crimes. the government, which is dealing wit
national transitional council in libya to cleared the country liberated after chrome omar qaddafi was found and killed by militia. since that declaration, the country is plagued with unrest and dealing with a very uncertain future. >> two years ago today, with qaddafi dead and tripoli in rebel hands, the national transitional council declared libya liberated. that liberation came at a price. the last two years have been a chaotic right for the nation, with violent clashes, parliament....
Taiwan Outlook : KCSM : October 10, 2013 7:00pm-8:01pm PDT
>> welcome to "debate." who really kidnapped libya's prime minister? a major al qaeda suspect off the streets of tripoli. an increasingly volatile post- qadhafi libya. the consequences for the country and for the region we will be asking. we are also seeing how this story is being reported in the media watch segment. >> john boehner offers a short- term debt ceiling deal. we will go live to washington in a moment. libya's prime minister calls for wisdom and not as collation. they also thank the military for their role in his release. a canadian short story writer awarded the nobel prize in literature for writing about the humans. . only the 13th woman to win the prize. developments in the u.s. where republican leaders will offer barack obama a short-term debt limit increase if the president agrees to negotiate on budget issues. let's now cross to our correspondent in washington. how significant is this offer? >> a breakthrough of sorts considering how big a stalemate this has been for weeks. it doesn't necessarily open a big conversation between republicans and democrats, nowhere
>> welcome to "debate." who really kidnapped libya's prime minister? a major al qaeda suspect off the streets of tripoli. an increasingly volatile post- qadhafi libya. the consequences for the country and for the region we will be asking. we are also seeing how this story is being reported in the media watch segment. >> john boehner offers a short- term debt ceiling deal. we will go live to washington in a moment. libya's prime minister calls for wisdom and not as...
CrossTalk : RT : October 28, 2013 3:29pm-4:01pm EDT
peter lavelle two years after the force ouster of khadafi by nato forces libya stands at the abyss the lack of a strong central government weak rule of law and the endless violence in a country awash with weapons has resulted in libya facing a failed state status add to this the presence of islamic militants can things get any worse in libya. cross-talk events in libya i'm joined by my guest in washington rich galen he is a republican strategist and we also have michael shank he is the director of foreign policy at the friends committee on national legislation and a professor at george mason university and gentlemen crosstalk rules in effect that means you can jump in anytime you want to i very much encourage you to michael if i go to you and in washington two years on the libyan people living better better than before the intervention that overthrew colonel gadhafi certainly not and we're seeing the same playbook u.s. playbook in syria that we saw in libya you know our prior to station in libya was military wasn't state building wasn't capacity building wasn't economic development we
peter lavelle two years after the force ouster of khadafi by nato forces libya stands at the abyss the lack of a strong central government weak rule of law and the endless violence in a country awash with weapons has resulted in libya facing a failed state status add to this the presence of islamic militants can things get any worse in libya. cross-talk events in libya i'm joined by my guest in washington rich galen he is a republican strategist and we also have michael shank he is the...
libya and somalia and just like pakistan the strikes in yemen are only fueling civilian hatred toward the u.s. in fact a former state department official now bill koori recently explained in an article that the drone accuracy rate is embarrassing saying that quote given yemen's tribal structure the u.s. generates roughly forty to sixty new enemies for every al qaeda operative killed by drones excuse me forty to sixty new enemies it's like battling the high drug cutting off its head only to have forty more appear in its place to say that drone strikes are counterproductive to u.s. interests is a severe understatement and it makes sense last year four hundred and ninety one civilians were killed by drone strikes in yemen alone. who. said it. was just so they're. ok let's face it drones are reality they are the frontline of the war on terror. but how did it come to this on the one nine hundred eighty s. israeli born kareem designed the albatross an unmanned aircraft able to fly for fifty six hours straight and as soon as the u.s. military learned about this early stage drone they put dar
libya and somalia and just like pakistan the strikes in yemen are only fueling civilian hatred toward the u.s. in fact a former state department official now bill koori recently explained in an article that the drone accuracy rate is embarrassing saying that quote given yemen's tribal structure the u.s. generates roughly forty to sixty new enemies for every al qaeda operative killed by drones excuse me forty to sixty new enemies it's like battling the high drug cutting off its head only to...
Taiwan Outlook : KCSM : October 7, 2013 7:00pm-8:01pm PDT
job is it to prevent libya from becoming a safe haven for radicals. the land that orders the mediterranean and a gateway to africa. we will be having the media watch segment. >> corruption charges against france. they denied soliciting secret campaign five planting -- financing. security forces targeted in several parts of the country after clashes left more than 50 people dead, mostly in cairo. they deserve credit. they get underway. the words of nicolas sarkozy after corruption charges were dropped. expected to make a comeback and run again, getting funding for the 2007 campaign. >> nicolas sarkozy will not stand trial. accused of taking advantage. prosecutors argued he expected -- accepted campaign donations when she was too frail to know what she was doing. she has suffered from dementia since 2006. after months of deliberation, judges have dropped all charges against sarkozy. six have former -- he was alleged to accept from the confident. it gives hope of a political comeback a shot in the arm. he says he may be obliged to return to save france from the socialist created
job is it to prevent libya from becoming a safe haven for radicals. the land that orders the mediterranean and a gateway to africa. we will be having the media watch segment. >> corruption charges against france. they denied soliciting secret campaign five planting -- financing. security forces targeted in several parts of the country after clashes left more than 50 people dead, mostly in cairo. they deserve credit. they get underway. the words of nicolas sarkozy after corruption charges...
WHUT (Howard University Television)
BBC Newsnight : WHUT : October 12, 2013 7:00pm-7:30pm EDT
by WHUT
along the road from the terminal, the remains of a at eastern libya from the rebels two years ago. forces were smashed, first by french, then british missiles as the dictator attempted a counteroffensive. spent 212britain million pounds on the air campaign in libya. it seemed to many a triumph of liberal entrench and is him after the failure in iraq. especially to david cameron and nicolas sarkozy, welcome heroes in benghazi, cradling the revolution in an outpouring of gratitude to the west perhaps unprecedented in the arab world. >> your city was an inspiration to the world as you threw off a dictator and choose freedom! now benghazi is so dangerous, no western official will set foot here. two years on from david cameron's appearance, it is clear that nato missiles did not only depose a dictator, they helped destroy a state. before, libyans were terrified of the police. now they are terrified by the lack of them. warned that he would be replaced by tribalism, extremism, and anarchy, and in large measure he has been proved right. is one ofe station several in benghazi that has bee
along the road from the terminal, the remains of a at eastern libya from the rebels two years ago. forces were smashed, first by french, then british missiles as the dictator attempted a counteroffensive. spent 212britain million pounds on the air campaign in libya. it seemed to many a triumph of liberal entrench and is him after the failure in iraq. especially to david cameron and nicolas sarkozy, welcome heroes in benghazi, cradling the revolution in an outpouring of gratitude to the west...
News : ALJAZAM : October 10, 2013 5:00am-5:31am EDT
by ALJAZAM
>>> libya's prime minister is abducted by armed men but the militia that took him is calling it an arrest. >>> hello and welcome to al jazeera live go doha. >> the u.s. is suspending hundreds of millions of dollars of aid to eequipment. eequipmen. >> we meet a community in canada struggling to move on from the mercury poisoning 40 years ago. >>> and the other hundred a new project celebrates extraordinary people who lead ordinary lives. ♪ >>> so a is libya's prime minisr a kidnap victim or a suspect in a case. they say they were acting on behalf of the justice ministry. the justice department denies this but al jazeera has been told he is being held in the anti-crime department. we have more. >> a grainy image of libyan prime minister reportedly taken during his abduction from a hotel in tripoli last night. >> the prime minister was taken last night by a group of armed men and he was taken to a location that is yet unknown. >> a group calling themselves the libya operation chamber. they tell al jazeera that they carried out arrest on behave of the justice committee. they say they
>>> libya's prime minister is abducted by armed men but the militia that took him is calling it an arrest. >>> hello and welcome to al jazeera live go doha. >> the u.s. is suspending hundreds of millions of dollars of aid to eequipment. eequipmen. >> we meet a community in canada struggling to move on from the mercury poisoning 40 years ago. >>> and the other hundred a new project celebrates extraordinary people who lead ordinary lives. ♪ >>> so...
Headline News : RT : October 2, 2013 2:00pm-2:30pm EDT
learning that militants have attempted to break into the russian embassy in the capital of libya reports say gunfire and grenade explosions were heard around the building and according to russia's foreign ministry been no casualties when last year the russian diplomatic mission was also attacked by government following moscow's veto of a un resolution on syria we'll bring you more on this story as soon as we get the details washington struggle to govern itself has already cost the american economy hundreds of millions of dollars on the first day of the government shutdown and things are likely to get even more expensive with neither republican nor democrat lawmakers willing to back down from their stance on barack obama's signature health care bill sachs as the latest from washington d.c. . lawmakers here are pretty open about saying they have no clue how they're going to resolve this government shutdown the sticking point remains obamacare as you said with house republicans saying they'll only fund the government and reopen it if president obama's signature health is defunded or
learning that militants have attempted to break into the russian embassy in the capital of libya reports say gunfire and grenade explosions were heard around the building and according to russia's foreign ministry been no casualties when last year the russian diplomatic mission was also attacked by government following moscow's veto of a un resolution on syria we'll bring you more on this story as soon as we get the details washington struggle to govern itself has already cost the american...
CrossTalk : RT : October 28, 2013 2:29am-3:01am EDT
flag or plenty of tomahawk missiles as was the case in libya and what obama wanted to do with syria same playbook again listen nobody on the continent liked hot off the certainly up until two thousand and eleven and certainly with assad no friends there maybe a few holdouts so i might counter rich's point because. people on the ground didn't enjoy life under gadhafi let's be clear about that but in terms of what we're prioritizing whether it goes all the way back a couple hundred years to rich's point you know thomas jefferson ordered naval troops into tripoli so there's a there's a long history of invasion and intervention that was naval base the republican war in you know the northern part of africa so a couple hundred i'm going to limit my going to say when china would but i don't there isn't but there is an education there michael michael there's an addition that did not want american national interest at stake either gender is something i like and i don't know but when when when jefferson did that there was an american national issue at stake here ok i still don't understand wh
flag or plenty of tomahawk missiles as was the case in libya and what obama wanted to do with syria same playbook again listen nobody on the continent liked hot off the certainly up until two thousand and eleven and certainly with assad no friends there maybe a few holdouts so i might counter rich's point because. people on the ground didn't enjoy life under gadhafi let's be clear about that but in terms of what we're prioritizing whether it goes all the way back a couple hundred years to...
breaking news here in a. government attempt to breach russia's embassy in libya the foreign ministry says no one was hurt and the situation is now under control. the u.s. government shutdown begins with hundreds of millions of dollars trickling away each day of the stalemate in washington as lawmakers showed no sign of finding a quick resolution. and russian investigators charge fourteen greenpeace protesters with piracy after they attempt to board an oil platform as part of an anti drilling campaign in the article top stories. live from our studio center here in moscow where it's just turned eleven pm this is . so first to our breaking news. to militants have attempted to break into the russian embassy in the libyan capital moscow says the situation is now under control and. joins me live in the studio with the details so what do we know has happened what is the latest well at this point we know and that's been confirmed by the foreign ministry that. identified people has attempted to breach the premises of the embassy of russia in tripoli they did launch an attack firing g
breaking news here in a. government attempt to breach russia's embassy in libya the foreign ministry says no one was hurt and the situation is now under control. the u.s. government shutdown begins with hundreds of millions of dollars trickling away each day of the stalemate in washington as lawmakers showed no sign of finding a quick resolution. and russian investigators charge fourteen greenpeace protesters with piracy after they attempt to board an oil platform as part of an anti drilling...
Breaking the Set : RT : October 25, 2013 1:29pm-2:01pm EDT
immensely over the past few years in places like yemen algeria libya and somalia and just like pakistan the strikes in yemen are only fueling civilian hatred toward the u.s. in fact a former state department official now bill koori recently explained in an article that the drone accuracy rate is embarrassing saying that quote given yemen's tribal structure the u.s. generates roughly forty to sixty new enemies for every al qaeda operative killed by drones excuse me forty to sixty new enemies it's like battling the hydra cutting off its head only to have forty more appear in its place to say that drone strikes are counterproductive to u.s. interests is a severe understatement and it makes sense last year four hundred and ninety one civilians were killed by drone strikes in yemen alone. who. said it. was just so they're. ok let's face it drones are reality they are the frontline of the war on terror. but how did it come to this on the one nine hundred eighty s. israeli born kareem designed the albatross an unmanned aircraft able to fly for fifty six hours straight and as soon as t
immensely over the past few years in places like yemen algeria libya and somalia and just like pakistan the strikes in yemen are only fueling civilian hatred toward the u.s. in fact a former state department official now bill koori recently explained in an article that the drone accuracy rate is embarrassing saying that quote given yemen's tribal structure the u.s. generates roughly forty to sixty new enemies for every al qaeda operative killed by drones excuse me forty to sixty new enemies...
in libya. to cross-talk events in libya i'm joined by my guest in washington rich galen he is a republican strategist and we also have michael shank he is the director of foreign policy at the friends committee on national legislation and a professor at george mason university and gentlemen cross-talk rules in effect that means you can jump in anytime you want to i very much encourage you to michael if i go to you and in washington two years on are the libyan people living better than before the intervention that overthrew. and we're seeing the same playbook u.s. playbook in syria that we saw in libya you know our prior to zation in libya was military wasn't state building wasn't capacity building wasn't economic development we threw a lot of money at them a lot of arms which is now trickled down into the share in mali thirty seven billion unfrozen at the state department another one hundred fifty billion globally dumped into the fractious rebel groups so unsurprisingly they're very divided still and we're seeing that play out without saeed who is the rebel leader who kidnapped
in libya. to cross-talk events in libya i'm joined by my guest in washington rich galen he is a republican strategist and we also have michael shank he is the director of foreign policy at the friends committee on national legislation and a professor at george mason university and gentlemen cross-talk rules in effect that means you can jump in anytime you want to i very much encourage you to michael if i go to you and in washington two years on are the libyan people living better than before...
America's News Headquarters : FOXNEWSW : October 6, 2013 7:00am-7:31am PDT
by FOXNEWSW
alive in trip olli, libya, after years of being on the run for his role in the 1998 bombings of the american embassies in kenya and tans tanzania. i'm jamie. >> i'm eric, and welcome to america's news headquarters for this sunday. u.s. forces also carried out another daring raid, that one in somalia. this time, they targeted a militant group behind last munjt's deadly mall attack in kenya. sma somali police saying at least seven people were killed in a shootout where we're told multipet high-level targets were hiding out. secretary of state john kerry commented on both raids early this morning. >> we hope that this makes clear that the united states of america will never stop in its efforts to hold those accountable who conduct acts of terror and those members of al qaeda and other terrorist organizations literally can run but they can't hide. >> you can run but you can't hide. it's been 15 years for al libi. now he's in custody. jennifer griffin with more life in washington. hello, jennifer. >> good morning. libyan government officials apparently were not told about u.s. plans to c
alive in trip olli, libya, after years of being on the run for his role in the 1998 bombings of the american embassies in kenya and tans tanzania. i'm jamie. >> i'm eric, and welcome to america's news headquarters for this sunday. u.s. forces also carried out another daring raid, that one in somalia. this time, they targeted a militant group behind last munjt's deadly mall attack in kenya. sma somali police saying at least seven people were killed in a shootout where we're told multipet...
FOX Report : FOXNEWSW : October 5, 2013 4:00pm-5:01pm PDT
there was a second raid in libya in the capitol of tripoli and the target is a man on the u.s. most wanted list. a bbi- a l libbi. he is in custody of u.s. forces. he was wanted for the attacks on the 1998 on the u.s. embassy in kenya. and he is wanted for sometime. and in fact he has a interesting history. back in 1999 he applied for a sylum in britain. he was interviewed following the embassy bombings and he went on the lamb again and eventually made his way after a roundabout route to libya. he was the target of a strike by u.s. special operation forces and a senior u.s. official confirms to fox that he is currently in u.s. custody. harris? >> i want to press in a little bit first of all. going back to the navy seal with regards to the mall attack in kenya if we can, jennifer. trying to learn how that would have come about? which government would we have talked with? the somalia government, i saw we were in connection with them and so we could make a hit like this in their country. >> remember the head of somalia is here meeting with the president just receiptly in the last two w
there was a second raid in libya in the capitol of tripoli and the target is a man on the u.s. most wanted list. a bbi- a l libbi. he is in custody of u.s. forces. he was wanted for the attacks on the 1998 on the u.s. embassy in kenya. and he is wanted for sometime. and in fact he has a interesting history. back in 1999 he applied for a sylum in britain. he was interviewed following the embassy bombings and he went on the lamb again and eventually made his way after a roundabout route to...
To Be Announced : CNNW : October 5, 2013 5:00pm-6:01pm PDT
libya and a lot of people will be asking the question now, what kind of dwo government do they have. how sovereign is libya if foreign troops are able to come into the country. >> thank you. stand by, everyone. >>> this is cnn breaking news. hello, everyone. it is the top of the hour. breaking news here on cnn this hour. two major u.s. military attacks in africa, cnn has confirmed a us navy s.e.a.l.s team went on a mission and tried to nab a leader that went on the kenya mall attack. the s.e.a.l.s has to withdraw before they could confirm he was killed because they were under fire. also, a u.s. official says he does not believe any s.e.a.l.s were killed in that mission. we do not know exactly what happened to the al shabaab leader as well. al shabaab works as the proxy in kenya. u.s. special forces captured an al qaeda operative wanted for the 1998 bombings of u.s. embassies in kenya and tanz ani. abu anas al libi has topped the u.s. most wanted list for years. officials have wanted al libi to face trial in an american court. he joined al qaeda soon after its founding. straight firs
libya and a lot of people will be asking the question now, what kind of dwo government do they have. how sovereign is libya if foreign troops are able to come into the country. >> thank you. stand by, everyone. >>> this is cnn breaking news. hello, everyone. it is the top of the hour. breaking news here on cnn this hour. two major u.s. military attacks in africa, cnn has confirmed a us navy s.e.a.l.s team went on a mission and tried to nab a leader that went on the kenya mall...
that is. we're hearing incredible details of what went down during the u.s. forces raid in libya straight from the way of. she spoke exclusive on cnn about what unfolded. what she says is raising a lot of eyebrows. >> translator: what i saw were libyans. mabd they had americans with them but i didn't see them because there was more than one car. they say there are ten people but i believe there are more than ten. i couldn't count them because there areal of them. i can't opportunity firm if they were americans or not. what i saw were libyans. >> libya has deemed his capture a kidnapping. and i'll talk about what else she learned from al libi's wife during the conversation. there are a lot of questions about what happened in libya. i wanted to bring in war bra starr. how is the pentagon responding to these claim that libyans possibly worked in conjunction with u.s. forces to get al libi? >> good evening. the penn is not officially coming on any of it other than to acknowledge an operation took place and u.s. forces led that operation. these were, delta force navy s.e.a.l.s. these
that is. we're hearing incredible details of what went down during the u.s. forces raid in libya straight from the way of. she spoke exclusive on cnn about what unfolded. what she says is raising a lot of eyebrows. >> translator: what i saw were libyans. mabd they had americans with them but i didn't see them because there was more than one car. they say there are ten people but i believe there are more than ten. i couldn't count them because there areal of them. i can't opportunity firm...
CBS Morning News : KPIX : October 10, 2013 4:00am-4:31am PDT
libya's prime minist >>> raid retaliation. libya's prime minister is kidnapped at gunpoint, apparent payback for last weekend's u.s.-led operation that nabbed a top al qaeda suspect. >>> signs of compromise. as the government shutdown enters its tenth day, house republicans may be open to a deal to raise the nation's debt limit and avoid a default. >>> and they've held onto hope for years. now new york city police believe they've cracked a case that's been cold for more than two decades. >> she became part of our family. nobody else claimed her and we referred to her as our baby. captioning funded by cbs >>> this is the "cbs morning news" for this thursday, october 10th, 2013. >>> good morning. good to be with you. i'm anne-marie green. the prime minister of libya was kidnapped this morning by a group of libyan rebels. the libyan government says prime minister ali zaidan was kidnapped from the tripoli hotel where he lives. the kidnapping appears to be tied to a u.s. raid in libya over the weekend. mark phillips is following the story from london. good morning, mark. >> good
libya's prime minist >>> raid retaliation. libya's prime minister is kidnapped at gunpoint, apparent payback for last weekend's u.s.-led operation that nabbed a top al qaeda suspect. >>> signs of compromise. as the government shutdown enters its tenth day, house republicans may be open to a deal to raise the nation's debt limit and avoid a default. >>> and they've held onto hope for years. now new york city police believe they've cracked a case that's been cold for...
Around the World : CNN : October 7, 2013 12:00pm-1:00pm EDT
big unknown. and accused terrorists in libya with a $5 million reward on his head is captured outside his home. >>> also, navy s.e.a.l.s come under heavy fire trying to nab another accused terrorist in somalia. >>> and also a week after the shutdown, hear what fellow workers and republican john boehner is saying now. >> welcome to "around the world." i'm suzanne malveaux. >> and iams michael holmes. snatching a most wanted terrorist abroad in daylight. >> right now, anas al libi is being held on a navy ship. there are a team of terrorist experts who want to question him. they want to find out what does he know about al qaeda. of course, that could be a lot. we'll get details about how this top secret operation played out from nic robertson. >> reporter: it's a big deal, 15 years on the run, a $5 million bounty on his head. anas al libi captured in less than a minute. the senior operative picked up in a predawn raid by authorities in his native libya. believed to be a mastermind of the al qaeda attacks on the u.s. embassies in kenya and tanzania in 1998, he is accused of conspi
big unknown. and accused terrorists in libya with a $5 million reward on his head is captured outside his home. >>> also, navy s.e.a.l.s come under heavy fire trying to nab another accused terrorist in somalia. >>> and also a week after the shutdown, hear what fellow workers and republican john boehner is saying now. >> welcome to "around the world." i'm suzanne malveaux. >> and iams michael holmes. snatching a most wanted terrorist abroad in daylight....
Around the World : CNNW : October 10, 2013 9:00am-10:01am PDT
bring it live. captured, then released. how armed men broke into a hotel, abducted libya's prime. >> as libya's government questions the u.s. treatment of the suspected terrorist al libi. if you're seeing spots before your eyes, it's time for aveeno® positively radiant face moisturizer. [ female announcer ] aveeno® with soy helps reduce the look of brown spots in 4 weeks. for healthy radiant skin. aveeno®. naturally beautiful results. aveeno®. female announcer: female announcer: through columbus day, at sleep train's inventory clearance sale, get three years interest-free financing on tempur-pedic. save 10, 20, even 35% on a huge selection of simmons and sealy clearance mattresses. even get free delivery! don't miss three years interest-free financing on tempur-pedic through monday, columbus day. guaranteed! ♪ sleep train ♪ your ticket to a better night's sleep ♪ >>> welcome back, everyone. a couple big things we're waiting for. the first one is the white house briefing, it's meant to get under way any time now. and it's going to be very interesting to hear what the whi
bring it live. captured, then released. how armed men broke into a hotel, abducted libya's prime. >> as libya's government questions the u.s. treatment of the suspected terrorist al libi. if you're seeing spots before your eyes, it's time for aveeno® positively radiant face moisturizer. [ female announcer ] aveeno® with soy helps reduce the look of brown spots in 4 weeks. for healthy radiant skin. aveeno®. naturally beautiful results. aveeno®. female announcer: female announcer:...
CNN Newsroom : CNN : October 6, 2013 6:00pm-7:00pm EDT
credited with snatching the top leader in libya. his wife watched it all unfold. she spoke exclusively to cnn a short time ago about what she saw. >> what i saw were libyans. maybe they had americans with them but i didn't see them because there was more than one car. they say they were ten people but i believe there were more than ten. i couldn't count them because there were many of them. i couldn't confirm if they were americans or not. what i saw were libyans. >> libya, at least publicly, deemed his capture a kidnapping. joining us now by phone from tripoli, what did she have to say? what was that conversation like? >> don, she was insisting that her husband is innocent saying all of the accusations against him are fabrications, that it is not true, that she says was not involved in the bombings in kenya or tanzania in the 1990s. she claims that her husband, yes, was a member of al qaeda. she says that he left the group in 1996. but and she has not had any contact with any members of al qaeda. she says he has not been involved in the group. he returned back it libya, she said, in 2
credited with snatching the top leader in libya. his wife watched it all unfold. she spoke exclusively to cnn a short time ago about what she saw. >> what i saw were libyans. maybe they had americans with them but i didn't see them because there was more than one car. they say they were ten people but i believe there were more than ten. i couldn't count them because there were many of them. i couldn't confirm if they were americans or not. what i saw were libyans. >> libya, at...
vessel that had left from libya heading to one of the closest points of entry by acm at least 30,000 have tried to make the journey this year, three times more than in 2012. italian authorities are demanding for help to deal with the influx. >> we will ask him for matters that will prevent these journeys of hope and we will ask for new policies on asylum. >> out of 28 member states, only four are in favor of regulating the asylum-seekers. currently they are suggesting a financial boost for the agency that monitors the european borders that has seen a budget cut 40% over the past three years. >> american forces captured a suspected al qaeda leader in tripoli apparently without the knowledge of the libyan authorities. john kerry has said he was an illeal land an appropriate target. earlier, the prime minister said libyan suspects should be tried at home and congress has demanded the u.s. return him to libya. a second team of disarmament experts are to head to syria. that is what the global chemical weapons watchdog has said. they are pleased with the regime's compliance so far with the plan
vessel that had left from libya heading to one of the closest points of entry by acm at least 30,000 have tried to make the journey this year, three times more than in 2012. italian authorities are demanding for help to deal with the influx. >> we will ask him for matters that will prevent these journeys of hope and we will ask for new policies on asylum. >> out of 28 member states, only four are in favor of regulating the asylum-seekers. currently they are suggesting a financial...
Justice With Judge Jeanine : FOXNEWSW : October 6, 2013 6:00pm-7:01pm PDT
. special forces one in somalia others in libya led to a capture of a high level al qaeda operative. here with the latest is jennifer griffin. >> the predawn raid on saturday by seal team 6 came a year ago today after the "black hawk down" incident after helicopters were shot down while u.s. sources searched for a war lord. they came ashore saturday where top leaders of the al qaeda affiliate al shabab were gathered. almost simultaneously delta force leaders surrounded the vehicle of this man who is now being held on a ship. al-liby said he pulled up to his house after morning prayers after he was captured. the top al qaeda operative was indicted in the southern district of new york wanted for more than a decade for his role in the 1998 east africa bombing. >> we hope this makes clear that the united states of america will never stop in its effort to hold those accountable for the acts of terror. and those numbers of al qaeda and other terrorist organizations. >> i would be wanted for 15 years. i also raised the question why you would get al-liby would get operatives from benza. >>
. special forces one in somalia others in libya led to a capture of a high level al qaeda operative. here with the latest is jennifer griffin. >> the predawn raid on saturday by seal team 6 came a year ago today after the "black hawk down" incident after helicopters were shot down while u.s. sources searched for a war lord. they came ashore saturday where top leaders of the al qaeda affiliate al shabab were gathered. almost simultaneously delta force leaders surrounded the...
Headline News : RT : October 10, 2013 3:00am-3:30am EDT
in mentally ations the libyan role in this is a u.s. raid in libya which took abu. libby who was supposed to be an al qaeda suspects this raid happened on saturday u.s. special forces basically took the man he's implemented in one thousand nine hundred ninety three one thousand nine hundred eight bombing of u.s. embassies in kenya and tanzania which killed two hundred twenty four people there were reports that. was in bold he himself however on tuesday condemned the u.s. raids saying that libyans should be tried in their own countries but it's sort of really blasting america saying that it wouldn't actually harm us libyan relations the other report which complex or that he was in fact kidnapped by armed groups he was taken earlier on today from the corinthia hotel in tripoli by armed by armed men i would assume on the scene said it looked more like an arrest as there was no violence and the government has said i don't know where he is he was taken to an undisclosed location now after the u.s. special forces raid on saturday there was a huge backtrack a backlash from islamist mili
in mentally ations the libyan role in this is a u.s. raid in libya which took abu. libby who was supposed to be an al qaeda suspects this raid happened on saturday u.s. special forces basically took the man he's implemented in one thousand nine hundred ninety three one thousand nine hundred eight bombing of u.s. embassies in kenya and tanzania which killed two hundred twenty four people there were reports that. was in bold he himself however on tuesday condemned the u.s. raids saying that...
Around the World : CNN : October 10, 2013 12:00pm-1:00pm EDT
bring it live. captured, then released. how armed men broke into a hotel, abducted libya's prime. >> as libya's government questions the u.s. treatment of the suspected terrorist al libi. if you're seeing spots before your eyes, it's time for aveeno® positively radiant face moisturizer. [ female announcer ] aveeno® with soy helps reduce the look of brown spots in 4 weeks. for healthy radiant skin. aveeno®. naturally beautiful results. aveeno®. >>> welcome back, everyone. a couple big things we're waiting for. the first one is the white house briefing, it's meant to get under way any time now. and it's going to be very interesting to hear what the white house has got to say about developments over at that place on right of your screen. >> of course, big news coming out of the capitol, capitol hill there, when the house republicans, leadership, announced a possible deal here, six-week extension raising the debt level in exchange for negotiations, talks regarding the budget deficit, tax reform, entitlement programs, all of these things they want to put on the table there in exch
bring it live. captured, then released. how armed men broke into a hotel, abducted libya's prime. >> as libya's government questions the u.s. treatment of the suspected terrorist al libi. if you're seeing spots before your eyes, it's time for aveeno® positively radiant face moisturizer. [ female announcer ] aveeno® with soy helps reduce the look of brown spots in 4 weeks. for healthy radiant skin. aveeno®. naturally beautiful results. aveeno®. >>> welcome back, everyone. a...
New Day Sunday : CNN : October 6, 2013 6:00am-9:00am EDT
went after high value targets. we will start in libya, and one of the streets -- on the streets of tripoli, and that's where the specialist forces captured a suspected al qaeda leader. you may not know his name but he is one of the fbi's most wanted terrorists. you see his picture there. there is a $5 million award leading to his capture. >> he is suspected in the 1998 twin bombings in the embassy of kenya and insaw nia. >> the united states of america will never stop in its effort to hold those accountable, and those members of al qaeda and other terrorists organizations -- >> cnn international correspondent, nic robertson, joins us. you have new developments coming in the last few minutes about al libby and his capture. >> his wife said his capture look less than a minute. she reports that ten masked men approached her husband and he apparently tried to get into his vehicle to get a handgun and was unable to do that and was completely taken by surprise. we understand no fires were shot at him during his capture, but it appeared broad daylight, early morning, his wife witness to i
went after high value targets. we will start in libya, and one of the streets -- on the streets of tripoli, and that's where the specialist forces captured a suspected al qaeda leader. you may not know his name but he is one of the fbi's most wanted terrorists. you see his picture there. there is a $5 million award leading to his capture. >> he is suspected in the 1998 twin bombings in the embassy of kenya and insaw nia. >> the united states of america will never stop in its effort...
political compromise takes shape. libyan drama gunman storm the hotel room of libya's prime minister arrest him and seize the moment. russian reunion, edward snowden's father arrived in moscow for a meeting but his sons whereabouts are unknown, and legal status remains in doubt. climate change, how global warming helping contribute to an exploitation in the jelly fish population, and a shut down of a nuclear plant. welcome to al jazeera america. we have breaking news out of libya. after being held against his will for several hours the country's prime minister was set free a short time ago. he was snatched at gun point in his resident. we will have complete reaction to this still developing story in just a few minutes but first we want to begin in washington, it is day 10 of the government shut down, and there may be a glimmer of hope on the horizon. in just a few hours president obama will host a group of house republican leaders. there are reports the g.o.p. is preparing a proposal to raise the debt ceiling while keeping the government shut down. it is expected to be a topic of con
political compromise takes shape. libyan drama gunman storm the hotel room of libya's prime minister arrest him and seize the moment. russian reunion, edward snowden's father arrived in moscow for a meeting but his sons whereabouts are unknown, and legal status remains in doubt. climate change, how global warming helping contribute to an exploitation in the jelly fish population, and a shut down of a nuclear plant. welcome to al jazeera america. we have breaking news out of libya. after being...
somalia and libya taking in al qaeda leader alive more on the expanding war on terror in africa and whether we're seeing a shift in counterterrorism tactics and we're now in the second week of a federal government shutdown many of the departments and agencies citizen citizens depend on are closed including the ones responsible for transparency look at this issue coming up and a renowned encryption service has gone dark after a government investigation sought the s.s.l. keys to the kingdom we'll speak with the owner of a waffle bit about his decision to close shop later in the show. it's monday october seventh four pm in washington d.c. and i neg and lopez and you are watching r t well over the weekend u.s. special forces conducted two highly secretive raids on terrorism targets in africa the first happened at a beachside compound in somalia where navy seals with the elite seal team six were apparently trying to capture one of the men behind the recent attack on the kenyan mall which terrorist group al-shabaab took credit for the second happened just hours later in tripoli libya seal
somalia and libya taking in al qaeda leader alive more on the expanding war on terror in africa and whether we're seeing a shift in counterterrorism tactics and we're now in the second week of a federal government shutdown many of the departments and agencies citizen citizens depend on are closed including the ones responsible for transparency look at this issue coming up and a renowned encryption service has gone dark after a government investigation sought the s.s.l. keys to the kingdom...
for fred. it's me now. we'll start with stunning developments in the u.s. force raid in libya. the command does credited with snatching an al qaeda leader in libya. the man captured a short time ago his wife spoke about what she saw happen outside her home. >> translator: what i saw were libyans, maybe they had american was them. they say there were ten people but i believe there were more than ten. i can't confirm if they were americans or not. what i saw were libyans. >> libi deemed his capture a kidnapping. >> what did she tell you? i'm joined right now from tripoli. >> she was defending her husband saying he was an innocent man saying all of the allegations against him and his involvement of the bombings in kenya and tan d tanzania. she did admit she was a member of al qaeda and she was a close associate of osama bin laden but said in 1996 he left al qaeda at the time. she says he returned to his country, libya, in 2011 to take part in the revolution to oust moammar gadhafi. she said she has not been involved in any terror activities and she said her husband was here to be a pa
for fred. it's me now. we'll start with stunning developments in the u.s. force raid in libya. the command does credited with snatching an al qaeda leader in libya. the man captured a short time ago his wife spoke about what she saw happen outside her home. >> translator: what i saw were libyans, maybe they had american was them. they say there were ten people but i believe there were more than ten. i can't confirm if they were americans or not. what i saw were libyans. >> libi...
it well pains of democracy libya similar attitude the u.s. helped to kill qaddafi now the country is involved in chaos and terror again you hear pains of democracy but as these extremist groups in different countries become more and more organized as a network it's difficult to ignore them. monster that's spreading through the region the west thinks drones are the perfect tool to deal with terrorists they say drones are the solution but on the receiving end those drone strikes are seen as acts of terror when they kill innocent people and they help terrorists recruit more terrorists most recently toured ports came out by amnesty international and human rights watch they looked into u.s. strikes in pakistan and yemen human rights watch found that in the strikes that they have investigated seven percent of those who died were civilians washington says they've decimated al qaeda solution but it seems al-qaeda has metastasized and continue spreading with drone strikes and brewing civil wars in washington i'm going to check out. just candy who's a former diplomat in the u.s. foreign servic
it well pains of democracy libya similar attitude the u.s. helped to kill qaddafi now the country is involved in chaos and terror again you hear pains of democracy but as these extremist groups in different countries become more and more organized as a network it's difficult to ignore them. monster that's spreading through the region the west thinks drones are the perfect tool to deal with terrorists they say drones are the solution but on the receiving end those drone strikes are seen as acts...
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Celestial Terrestrial Commuters
Bottom/ Through A Frosty Plate Glass (V2, 2001) is an EP released by indie rock group Grandaddy. Common themes in the band's music are wildlife, obsolete technology, robots, incompetency and heartbreak. Examples of songtitles by Grandaddy include "He's Simple, He's Dumb, He's the Pilot" and "So You'll Aim Toward the Sky", both from The Sophtware Slump (2000). Seen by some as a concept album about problems concerning modern technology in society, it was sometimes cited as the American OK Computer. The band released their fourth and final full-length album, Just Like the Fambly Cat, in 2006. Top/ Album Raise! (Columbia, 1981) by Earth, Wind & Fire was dedicated to "The Creator" "Our Guiding Light". The front cover created by Roger Carpenter features an Egyptian pharaoh figure made of
stone on the right side and metal on the left.
Empire State Human
Metallic K.O.
Shadow Magnet
Titanium Exposé
Novocaine For The Soul
Simple Headphone Mind
Prickly Thorn, But Sweetly Worn
Sentinel Total Overhaul
Heaven, Hell or Houston
How Does That Grab You Darlin'?
Avant-Glam
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Conditions of use for the website
1. Field of applicability
1.1. The website ("Website") is made available for use by STUYTS ACCOUNTING SERVICES bvba, with registered company premises at Koningin Astridlaan 2A, 8200 Bruges, under company number 0405.272.631.
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The Problem with Pretty Lipstick
January 8, 2017 January 3, 2017 Les Weil
by Anna Lewis
Sex isn’t love. Most women learn this most important lesson about men when they’re about 17. I’ve missed a bunch of developmental milestones because of my autism, but this is the hardest to catch up on.
It’s hot enough for crop tops, hot enough for our thighs to stick to the leather of my VW Bug, and hot enough for the handle of the makeup store to burn my hands as I open it for Amanda.
I lead her over to a moderately priced aisle and we discuss shades. We both try on purple and decide it suits me better than her.
“Have you eaten yet?” she asks.
“If by ‘eaten’, you mean sobbed convulsively in my car and stuffed brownies in my mouth with both hands while listening to Adele on loop, then yes.”
“Stop seeing him,” she says.
My purple-lipped reflection pouts at us from five different mirrors.
“You aren’t anything to him.”
“He lies to her now.”
“And you think that makes you something?”
But it’s cold at four in the morning. I have on a hot pink jacket. I park and text Ryan. I wait and look out my window. I used to live in this apartment complex, and I’m dating a man who worked across the street from it. The only change to the apartments is a coat of paint that makes the buildings look uglier and older.
He texts me to come straight into his room, but to take off my shoes and not wake up his roommate. I can hear every step my flip-flops make echo throughout all 800 apartments. My feet are cold.
When I get there, he’s only in underwear in his bed. This kind of thing would have made me uncomfortable mere weeks ago, but I’m resigned to anything now.
“Sorry I couldn’t clean,” says Ryan. “I worked 56 hours this week.”
I sit next to him on the bed. Sometimes it smells like the candles she lights, sometimes like sex, sometimes he tastes like her. But she’s gone now on a trip and all it smells like is old Burger King.
One time, it smelled like rain. The moon was misshapen and its light was too bright on his face. He was wearing a red shirt. He wasn’t supposed to say he cared about me, wasn’t supposed to ask me to stay. Geese had just come around, and feathers were swirling through the air and mixing with the puddles. I woke up facing him. He pulled me in and kissed me and held me. I used to be pretty.
Burger King isn’t my favorite smell. But I breathe through my mouth a little while and look at the calendar on the wall. It has a note from her saying she loves him like crazy and she’ll be home soon. It’s going to be the reason I check into a mental hospital. I mouth kiss him and he closes his eyes.
“I’m not going to be able to control myself today.”
“I have autism. I don’t really know what I’m doing,” I say.
“God, it makes me anxious when you say that.”
He flips me over and pulls up my dress.
“This never happened,” he says. “I’ll deny it. She’ll never believe you.”
He goes as hard as he can and it hurts me, then puts something on that makes it worse. An upside-down tear drips down my nose onto her pillow.
“You’re mine now,” he says. “I’m going to do this to you every day, just like her. Say you’re mine.”
“I’m yours,” I say.
His phone rings, but he ignores it and continues. He marks me all over and finishes.
“You better not make a sound,” he says.
I curl up next to him while he calls and talks to his mom about her, and their anniversary and the fucking lamps she can make because she doesn’t have autism and she’s so creative.
I put underwear on and cover myself with a blanket. I’ve already figured out I’m not supposed to cry or talk about how I feel because he sighs or straight up tells me to shut up. Then he tells me why how I’m acting is why he wants her more and he won’t see me again if I can’t behave. His eyes are so brown. Does she really not cry this much?
“Where were you? You were supposed to be here an hour ago,” says Amanda. She and another friend from work have drinks at the table already, and I swing my purse onto a chair and immediately take a shot of the nearest tequila and stuff in two lime slices. When my other friend goes to the bathroom, we have a hissed conversation about our boss.
“I’m sorry, he said he’d meet me for dinner but he didn’t come until the middle of the night.” My eyes are usually very carefully lined but they’re shadowed now and blurry. Amanda gets a powder compact and brush out for me. I dab it under my eyes, using my phone camera as a mirror.
“Dude, I’m telling you. I’ll call the store supervisor and get him fired before he does this to someone else.” She sips her mineral water and watches as I almost poke my eye out because I’m shaking my head so hard.
“No! Don’t. You don’t know how much trouble I’ll be in.” He wouldn’t do this to someone else! He cares about me.
The large TV behind her has a college football game on and a circle of orange students are cheering and passing around a pitcher of beer so loudly that I barely catch her next words.
“What are you going to let him do to you before you stop?”
I bury my newly-made face in my hands. I can’t tell my gentle friend what I would let him do before I stop.
“The worst part is,” I say in a low voice under the clamor, choking back tears, “when I make a mistake or act wrong or worried…he’ll tell me that’s why he loves her and spends time with her and not me…because she doesn’t act like me. She doesn’t have autism. I want to be as good as her. I can do anything she can for him.”
“That’s not ok.”
“I don’t think he cares.”
“That’s obvious. Hey, just so you know, me and the girls were going to throw you a surprise party but I wanted to give you a heads up because she might come.”
“Oh God. So that would be like ‘Surprise!’ when I walk in, and then I’d see her and kill myself. That’s the new surprise.”
I have another drink and Amanda sighs.
“Yeah, that’s why I’m telling you now.”
“Maybe it’ll be a good thing. She’s starting on day shifts now, so I’m going to have to see her. It would be excellent if it didn’t trigger a mental breakdown every time. And if she’s there, Ryan will probably stop grabbing me if I talk to Anthony too much.”
He says that’s what should make me know that he’s genuine and that I’m not nothing.
“I’m surprised she hasn’t killed you. If my boyfriend so much as texted a girl the way he does you I’d have killed her.”
“I know. If I was her, I would have literally brutally murdered me by now. God, of course she’s even sweeter than me! But she doesn’t know everything. She says she just feels sorry for me and doesn’t want me to get hurt for being too attached to him.”
“Bullshit. She’s scared too.”
“She’s got nothing to be scared of.”
There’s a scene from Fantasia where Chernabog, a giant devil god the size of a mountain with flaming pits for eyes, lifts his giant shadowy hands and stretches them down to wake legions of the dead. When I’m reaching for meat in the deli case, and I can see her icing cakes in the bakery, I can practically hear the theme music from this scene start in my head.
When she gets off she and him get stuff from the deli and go on a picnic together. He tells me ‘hey’ and and I want to kill myself with the dull knife we use to cut bread. Amanda has actually suggested this, along with rubbing in hot sauce, as an appropriate death for him.
He’s supposed to pick me up for dinner. I take an unscheduled break to put on my pink jacket, go through the rain to my car, and put my head on the steering wheel and cry. Then I hurry to get off my shift on time.
“You’re in a hurry tonight,” says Anthony with a smile as I basically throw a customer’s meat at them and resume sweeping furiously. Normally I would linger with him and chat as long as possible. I’m the only one who stays a few hours late to wrap cheese. He likes Disneyland.
“I’m meeting someone at 7:30,” I say. “But I’m going to have to go in my deli clothes.”
“Isn’t the first thing you do when you get home shower?” he asks.
“Oh, the first thing I do when I walk in the door is strip off all my clothes. I actually had to stop myself from automatically doing that at a friend’s house.”
“All I have time for when I get off is a shower and bed.”
For a second I’m frozen, hallucinating, imagining this shower and bed scenario, and he looks concerned.
“I’ll clean your boards if you want,” he says, and I smile and thank him. Another co-worker walks by and says he’ll help me sort the bread and I snap, “What are you even doing in my station???”
At 7:30 precisely I throw Anthony the broom and run to clock out. He wishes me luck.
Ryan isn’t here. He hasn’t texted. His girlfriend texts me and says they’ll be late. I wrap myself up in jacket and go back to the deli. Anthony looks surprised as I sneak in, hairnet-less, and lean against the cooler where customers can’t see. He’s tossing wings in hot sauce. I’m about to cry again.
“You’re not in the proper uniform,” he says, smiling at me.
“My hair is too adorable to fit properly,” I say.
“Adorable and full of yourself,” he says. “I admire the confidence.”
“Is that what you think?” I say in barely a whisper. He pauses tossing the wings but doesn’t say anything and I continue in a louder tone.
“What’s your favorite animal?”
He tells me it’s dogs, and we talk about his dog. I like cats better. His favorite thing to do in Portland is the zoo, just like me.
I get a text from Ryan and slowly make my way to the front, waving goodbye to Anthony again.
He’s over an hour late and we get in his car. I ask him why he had to come to this store for his lunch supplies. He used to text me and ask if I was ok. He says he forgot.
“Do you want to go to dinner?” he asks.
I feel so physically ill. I want this to be over. But I can’t. I pick ice cream because there’s a better chance of me being able to choke it down.
We go to ice cream and he doesn’t laugh at my jokes. Never has.
“Do you want to stop seeing me?” I ask.
“Yes and no,” he says. “I like seeing you. You’re fun. But I’m worried you won’t be able to handle when it’s over.”
I don’t say anything. If he thinks I’m fun, he doesn’t know me at all. If he thinks I can handle being apart from him, he knows me even less.
We get in his car and drive to a park. I say that since we didn’t go to dinner I get another half-hour with him. He holds me close but won’t let me near his tummy, which is the actual squishy and comfy part.
“Can’t you find anywhere else to be comfortable?” he asks. “You’re tiny.”
I bury my face in his chest and he holds me close until my time is up.
He can’t find his key in the dark. He uses my phone as a flashlight, goes back to the bathroom, looks around the car. He finally shines the light on it under the seat but can’t reach it.
“You’re smaller,” he says.
I reach for the key and hand it to him. Out of nowhere, his hands are in my hair and he’s kissing me like he never has. He finally pulls away.
“Promise you won’t ever stop caring about me,” I say in a whisper.
“I won’t,” he says. Forehead kiss. Pinky promise. “We’ll Netflix and cuddle soon, alright?”
He drives me home and my phone buzzes. It’s her wanting to know where he is.
“Oh no,” I say, smiling. “I think she’s worried about you.”
Her: “Is Ryan with you?”
Let her wonder what we’re doing.
Her: “OK I just wanted to make sure he’s safe.”
Me: “He should be on his way home soon”
I reluctantly get out of his car and notice I’ve dropped a lipstick. I tell him and he laughs and asks if I did it on purpose. I blush and mutter ‘no’. “Maybe a little. Oh no, I left a lipstick and my underwear and cute selfies of us under her seat. I sure hope she doesn’t find them and get furious and leave you.” He shakes his head and I hug him briefly and watch him leave.
I’m just falling asleep and pretending he’s holding me still and holding the bear he got me close when I get a text from her.
“Thanks. He’s home with me now.”
On one hand I need an anxiety pill or to throw myself into oncoming traffic. On the other…Amanda was right. She’s a little scared too. She’s afraid of losing him.
If I’ve never had him, why am I so afraid of the same thing?
Anna Lewis
Anna Lewis lives with her cats and enjoys rainy days and instant coffee. She aspires to be like her literary hero, Lucy Maude Montgomery, and her life’s ambition is to move to Canada.
4 thoughts on “The Problem with Pretty Lipstick”
charlesgramlich says:
A compelling story. I’m very interested in this character. Very sad though.
I agree. This had me hooked from the start and I didn’t want it to end. Very interesting protagonist! I’ve never read anything quite like this before, so kudos for the originality.
Well done character piece about a down and out woman painfully engaged in psychological self-mutilation. Compelling in a way, but might be hard to take in larger doses. AGB
C. Gardner Armesto says:
So true to life. I am drawn into the female character’s heart and become her. Some really good writing here.
A Night in August
He Loves She
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Who Benefits From War with N. Korea?
Learn History or Be History
Who Benefits From War with North Korea?
The Unknown History of the Korean War
By Timothy Holtgrefe
Over the past decade, tensions on the Korean peninsula have escalated to a crisis point. The DPRK has aggressively pursued nuclear weapons and ballistic missile technology to threaten the United States and its allies South Korea and Japan.
Image Credit: www.pinterest.com
Multiple US administrations have tried and failed to get North Korea to terminate its pursuit of nuclear weapons. Under terms of the agreement reached in October 1994, North Korea agreed to freeze its capacity to make nuclear arms and allow international inspections. Arguably, this agreement gave the DPRK special status in that it did not force Pyongyang to dismantle its current facilities and the United States committed itself to ease trade restrictions and make available advanced nuclear technologies, as well as allowed it to put off for five years meeting full compliance with the provisions of the Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
In spite of President Clinton’s unusual and generous offer, Pyongyang did not challenge an assertion made by George W. Bush that it had a secret uranium enrichment program in his Axis of Evil speech in 2002. In December, the North Koreans ordered international inspectors out of the country and the next month withdrew from the NPT. In April 2003, North Korea acknowledged it had developed nuclear weapons. In June 2004, a meeting produced an offer by the United States to grant diplomatic recognition and support multilateral aid for North Korea if it first committed to an internationally verifiable process of dismantling its nuclear weapons. However, in July, North Korea officially rejected the offer as a sham. Days later it called upon the United Nations to dissolve the UN Command that continues to operate in South Korea. Since then, tensions have only worsened on the peninsula.
The Problem with Most Theories on North Korea
Most foreign policy experts agree that the current leader Kim Jung Un is pursuing self-preservation tactics and that China, in particular, holds the most influence over the DPRK. If this is the case, why is Kim Jong Un seemingly going out of his way to be provocative, such as shooting missiles directly over Japan? Why do the two veto welding powers of the UN Security Council, China and Russia, drag their feet when increasing sanctions and pressure on DPRK? What could possibly be China and Russia’s role in all of this? History may explain. It is possible that the answer may be more sinister than simply fear of having a unified Korea on their doorstep. What if a crisis on the Korean peninsula is exactly what they want?
How Mao and Stalin Started the Korean War (1950-53)
Thanks to interviews with many of Mao Zedong’s inner circle who have never talked before, Jung Chang’s book, Mao: The Unknown Story is full of startling revelations on the real history of the Korean War.
In October 1950, Mao Zedong had just consolidated power over all of China and his ambitions soon focused his resources and attention to a patch of turf that Soviet leader Joseph Stalin had decided to assign him. This was Korea. At the end of World War II, Korea, which had been occupied by Japan for nearly 30 years, was divided across the middle, along the 38th parallel, with Soviet Russia occupying the northern half and the US the South. After formal independence in 1948, the North came under a Communist dictator, Kim Il Sung, grandfather to current leader Kim Jung Un. In March 1949, as Mao’s armies were rolling towards victory over Chiang Kai-Shek, Kim went to Moscow to try to persuade Stalin to help him seize the South. Stalin said “No,” as this might involve confronting America. Kim next turned to Mao, and one month later sent his deputy defense minister to Beijing. In contrast to Stalin, Mao gave Kim a firm commitment, saying he would be glad to help Pyongyang invade the South, but Mao asked if Kim could wait until Mao had taken the whole of China. Mao in fact encouraged Pyongyang to attack the South and take on the USA. He even volunteered Chinese manpower as early as May 1949. During his visit to Russia, however, Mao changed. He became determined to fight America openly since only such a war would enable him to gouge out of Stalin what he needed to build his own world-class war machine. What Mao had in mind was a deal: Chinese troops would fight the Americans for Stalin in exchange for Soviet hardware and technology.
According to Chang & Halliday, Mao’s goal was to position China—more accurately himself—as a dominant global figure. There was one problem. The USSR under Stalin was the undisputed head of global communism and Mao was in his debt for supporting him with money and weapons to defeat Nationalist rival, Chiang Kai-Shek, in the Chinese Civil War. Mao was less subservient to Stalin than the Boss preferred, who had already grown to distrust Mao’s military build up and particular brand of Communism. A militarily powerful China would be very much a double-edged sword: a tremendous asset to the Communist camp, but also a potential threat to Stalin.
Publication of literature favorable to Mao's "Thought," such as Dawn Out of China, reached bookshelves around the globe, but ironically not in Russia. “All Asia will learn from China more than they will learn from the USSR.” Furthermore it claimed Mao’s works “highly likely influenced the later forms of government in parts of post war Europe.” These phrases alone were cause for the ban. Stalin remained totally committed to backing Mao, but he took steps to contain him and remind him who was master. Soviet media never mentioned Mao’s “Thought.” However, for now Mao needed Stalin’s help to become a major military power. Mao had begun to dream about dividing the world with Stalin. Early in Mao Zedong’s reign over the People’s Republic of China, he had one specific goal in mind: he needed to persuade Stalin to aid his nation in developing an atom bomb.
Meanwhile, Kim Il Sun was telling Stalin that Mao was eager to give him military support, and that if Stalin would still not endorse an invasion, he (Kim) would go to Mao direct and place himself under Mao.
A war in Korea fought by Chinese and Koreans would give the Soviet Union immeasurable advantages: it could field-test both its own new equipment, such as its MiG jets against America’s technology, as well as attaining some of this technology, along with vital intelligence on America. Furthermore, he could test how far America would go in a war with the Communist camp. But for Stalin, the greatest appeal of a war in Korea was that the Chinese, with their immense numbers, which Mao was eager to use, might be able to defeat, and in any case tie down, so many American troops that the balance of power might tilt in Stalin’s favor and allow him to turn his schemes into reality. These schemes included occupying various European countries, among them Germany, Italy and Spain.
On July 1, 1950, within a week of the North invading the South, and long before Chinese troops had gone in, Mao Zedong had told the Russian ambassador: “Now we must energetically build up our aviation and fleet so as to deal a knock out blow…to the armed forces of the USA.”
Russia’s Commonly Misunderstood Boycott
Korean War history books frequently point to the success of the UN’s resolution to send troops to intervene in the Korean War as the result of Russia (which holds veto power) boycotting the Security Council ostensibly over Taiwan continuing to occupy China’s seat. Stalin’s ambassador to the UN, Yakov Malik, had been boycotting proceedings since January. However, everyone expected Malik, who remained in New York, to return to the chamber and veto the resolution, but he stayed away. The fact is Malik had requested permission to return to the Security Council, but Stalin personally rang him up and told him to stay out. Soviet failure to exercise its veto has perplexed observers since, as it seemed to throw away a golden opportunity to block the UN’s military involvement in Korea. But if Stalin decided not to use his veto, the likely explanation is that he did not want to keep Western forces out. He wanted them in, where Mao’s utter weight of numbers could grind them up. Kim wanted Chinese troops kept out until they were absolutely necessary. Stalin, too, wanted them in only when America committed large numbers of troops for the Chinese to “consume.”
Truman reacted fast to the invasion. Within two days, on the 27th, he announced that he was sending troops into Korea, as well as reversing the policy of “non-intervention” towards Taiwan. It was because of this new US pledge that neither Mao nor his successors were ever able to take Taiwan. The US had complete air supremacy, and artillery superiority of about 40:1. But Mao wagered that America would not expand the war to China. Chinese cities and industrial bases could be protected from US bombing by the Russian air force. Mao knew that America just would not be able to compete in sacrificing men. He was ready to risk all because having Chinese troops fighting the USA was the only chance he had to claw out of Stalin what he needed to make China a world-class military power. Mao prepared the ground for going into Korea by pretending to give America “fair warning.” For this purpose he staged a charade, waking the Indian ambassador in the early hours of October 3rd to tell him “ we will intervene” if American troops crossed the 38th parallel. Mao wanted his “warning” to be ignored: thus he could go into Korea claiming he was acting out of self-defense.
Mao Prolongs the War
Mao needed the war. It was out of global ambitions and that China not only got involved in the Korean War, but also sustained it to put pressure on Stalin. According the Chang & Halliday, Kim wanted to stop north of the 38th parallel, the original boundary between North and South Korea, but Mao refused. Mao told his advisors to expect the war to be a long one: “Don’t try to win a quick victory.” In time, Mao’s plan partially worked. On February 19, 1951, Moscow endorsed a preliminary agreement to start building factories in China to repair and service planes. By the end of the war, China, a very poor country, had the third largest air force in the world, 3,000 planes, including advanced MiGs. Mao upped the ante by asking for the blueprints for all the weapons the Soviets were using in Korea. Although Stalin wanted China to do his fighting for him, and was happy to sell Mao the weapons for the sixty divisions, he had no intension of endowing Mao with a full-blown arms industry. The Russians reluctantly agreed to transfer the technology for producing seven kinds of small arms including machine-guns, but declined to divulge more.
Kim saw that he might end up ruling over a wasteland and possibly a shrunken one at that. He wanted an end to the war. On June 3, 1951 he went to China in secret to discuss opening negotiations with the US. As Mao was nowhere near his goal, the last thing he was interested in was stopping the war. Instead he ordered Chinese troops to draw UN forces deeper into North Korea “ the farther north the better,” he said, provided it was not too near the Chinese border. Mao had hijacked the war, and was using Korea regardless of Kim’s interests.
The UN forces held over 20,000 Chinese, predominantly former Nationalist troops, most of whom did not wish to return to Communist China. Recalling what happened to prisoners returned to Stalin at the end of World War II, many to their deaths, America rejected involuntary repatriation, for both humanitarian and political reasons. But Mao’s line was: “Not a single one is to get away!” This protracted the war for a year and a half. Mao could care less about the POWs. He needed a dispute to drag out the war so that he could extract more from Stalin.
On February 2, 1953 the new US president, Eisenhower, suggested in his State of the Union address that he might use the atomic bomb on China. This threat was actually music to Mao’s ears, as he now had an excuse to ask Stalin for what he wanted most: nuclear weapons. Stalin did not want to give Mao the bomb, but when Stalin died, it was Mao’s moment of liberation. However, Stalin’s successors were eager to lessen tension with the West, and made it clear a large number of arms enterprises, which Stalin had been delaying, would be rewarded to Mao if he cooperated in ending the Korean War. Unlike Stalin, who saw Mao as his personal rival, the new Soviet leaders took the attitude that a militarily powerful China was good for the Communist camp. An armistice was finally signed on July 27, 1953.
How Russia and China Support North Korea Today
Today, North Korea’s regime under Kim Il Sung’s grandson, Kim Jung Un, has developed nuclear weapons and advanced missile technology surprisingly fast within the last few years. This has only been possible with the help of foreign suppliers, meaning countries from the former Soviet Union.
According to a New York Times report published in September, 2017, North Korea’s surprising progress in missile technology may be linked to Yuzhmash, the former Soviet rocket engine manufacturer based in Eastern Ukraine. It is difficult to prove whether the RD-250 engines used in the rockets were manufactured by Yuzhmash, but production managers say these engines were meant for Russia, where they were "produced in low quantities." In his IISS study, Michael Elleman wrote that "hundreds, if not more" RD-250 engines have remained in Russia, as well as in Ukraine, adding it is also possible that Moscow is Pyongyang's supplier. However, the Times reporter only provided “clues” and speculation without any hard evidence.
When South Korea and Japan probed Russia to halt oil deliveries to North Korea before the vote at the Security Council, President Vladimir Putin downplayed their concerns and claimed that Russia was only exporting about "40,000 tons of oil and petroleum products per quarter." Furthermore, Putin said that large Russian companies were not affiliated in trade with the DPRK. Conversely, even at those small amounts the country has almost doubled its fossil fuel exports to North Korea in the first half of 2017 according to Russian media reports based upon records from Russia's tax authority.
According to a former North Korean official who defected to the South, the reality of the actual amount of oil being exported to the DPRK from Russia is likely significantly higher than official records report. He claimed that Russia was actually delivering some 200,000 to 300,000 tons of petroleum to Pyongyang each year. Artyom Lukin of the Far Eastern Federal University in Vladivostok, Russia, agrees with that estimate. "At current prices that amount of oil would add up to about $300 million (252 million euros) a year," said the foreign policy expert while speaking with Deutche Welle. If those figure were correct then it would be more than three times greater than official figures suggest. The reason: “trading takes place in gray zones away from official markets, and the resource is often routed through China.”
North Korea gets the majority of Russia's oil deliveries through middlemen and therefore do not appear on official customs documents, says Lukin. "For instance, a gasoline delivery will be declared to be destined for China or Singapore, but then it shows up in North Korea. The reason for that is that sanctions against trading with North Korea make bank transfers "practically impossible." As a result, Russian suppliers use well-connected "Chinese middlemen." The Washington Post also reported on Russia's indirect sales of oil to Pyongyang. Moreover, the newspaper based its findings on increased tanker traffic between Vladivostok and North Korea in the spring of 2017. If confirmed, such actions would be a violation of UN sanctions against Pyongyang.
Moscow has been firmly reinforcing its relationship with North Korea over the last three years as part of its so-called "eastward pivot," which has in turn been exacerbated by Russia's tensions with the West over its annexation of Crimea. In 2014 Russia offered debt relief to Pyongyang, taking a loss of around $10 billion on loans remaining from the days of the former USSR. That same year the two nations agreed upon the ruble as the currency for all future transactions. In 2015 the Russian Chamber of Commerce initiated an economic council for relations with DPRK. Russia's then minister for Far East development declared that Putin intended to intensify its trade volume with North Korea tenfold – to roughly $1 billion – by 2020. But so far nothing has come of that. Trade plummeted from about $113 million in 2013 to roughly $77 million last year, conversely in 2017 – thanks mainly to oil exports – customs officials have registered an increase.
It is a little known fact that Russia and China have historically conspired to use North Korea as a pawn to offset US balance in the past. The 1950-53 Korean War was meant to increase Western Europe’s vulnerability to Stalin’s red army, while Mao Zedong used the Korean War to place pressure on the Russians finally aid China with the latest military technology. However, this plan was cut short due to Stalin’s sudden death in March 1953. Today, Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 has been interpreted as hostile aggression by many in the West who fear the former KGB agent, Vladimir Putin, is plotting a return to the old Cold War playbook in aggrandizing Russia’s global position. Although reports of Russian support of Kim Jong Un’s ballistic missile program lack evidence, it is clear that Russia has increased relations and trade with the rogue DPRK regime in recent years, while working closely with China in their approach to the increased tensions on the peninsula. In a world where the United States has a precarious national debt of over 20 trillion dollars, yet nonetheless manages to hinder Russian expansion in the west and Chinese expansion in the South China Sea; it is not far-fetched to believe having the United States involved in another costly war on the Korean peninsula would serve to benefit these two global rivals.
Broad, W. J., & Sanger, D. E. (2017, August 14). North Korea’s Missile Success Is Linked to Ukrainian Plant, Investigators Say. The New York Times. Retrieved October 1, 2017, from https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/14/world/asia/north-korea-missiles-ukraine-factory.html
Calamur, K. (2017, September 6). How Did North Korea’s Missile and Nuclear Tech Get So Good So Fast? The Atlantic. Retrieved Autumn, 2017, from https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2017/09/north-korea-tech/538959/
Chang, J. and Halliday, J. (2005). Mao: The Unknown Story. Anchor Books: New York.
Goncharenk, R. (2017, September 14). How North Korea Survives on an Oil Drip from Russia. Deutche Welle. Retrieved from http://www.dw.com/en/how-north-korea-survives-on-an-oil-drip-from-russia/a-40498208
Hastedt, G. P. (2017). American Foreign Policy: Past, Present, and Future 11th Edition. Rowman & Littlefield: James Madison University
Warrick, J. (2017, September 11). How Russia Quietly Undercuts Sanction Intended to Stop North Korea’s Nuclear Program. Washington Post. Retrieved October 10, 2017, from https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/how-russia-quietly-undercuts-sanctions-intended-to-stop-north-koreas-nuclear-program/2017/09/11/f963867e-93e4-11e7-8754-d478688d23b4_story.html?utm_term=.aa1fd1afa59e
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Globetrotting Exhibit, Gallery Talk, Alex Ferrone Photography Gallery, Cutchogue, NY
Alex Ferrone Photography Gallery Travels The World With Three Award-winning Photographers.
Cutchogue, NY
"Globetrotting" - an exciting new exhibit at the Alex Ferrone Photography Gallery on the North Fork takes us around the world with a selection of photographs from the journeys of three East Coast photographers, Susan Dooley, Ray Germann, and Dave Burns. Meet the artists at the opening reception Saturday, October 3 from 6-8pm and enjoy local wine from Pellegrini Vineyards and hors d'oeuvres. "Globetrotting" runs through November 15.
View "Globetrotting" from October 3 through November 15, 2015, and join Susan Dooley, Ray Germann, and Dave Burns for a Free Gallery Talk on Sunday, October 18 from 1:00-3:00 PM to hear the discussion about their adventures and works. Light lunch included, reservations required. "Globetrotting" Exhibit and Gallery Talk are sponsored by Abatelli Realty of Cutchogue.
Alex Ferrone Photography Gallery is at 25425 Main Road, Cutchogue. Hours are 11am - 6pm Thursday through Saturday; 11-5 Sunday; and also by appointment. Call 631-734-8545 for more info or visit AlexFerroneGallery.com
from "Chihuly Triptych"
by Susan Dooley
Artist Bios:
A Long Island-based photojournalist, documentary photographer, curator, and educator, Susan Dooley's artistic education includes a BS in Journalism and Mass Communications from the University of Illinois and an MFA in Photography from Long Island University, C.W. Post. As a freelance photographer and a staff photographer for newspapers for the past 30 years, Ms. Dooley also taught photography in Arizona, California and New York, having recently retired as a Full Professor and Chair of the Art Department at Nassau Community College on Long Island. As an artist, Ms. Dooley's photographs and photographic essays covering subjects that include AIDS, breast cancer, African-American Women, and Asia, parallel her daily life and her travels and have been exhibited widely in galleries, museums, libraries and universities in the U.S., Canada, Russia, and Asia. She is a founding member of Fotofoto Gallery in Huntington, NY and has served in curatorial roles in both China and the U.S.
Award-winning photographer Ray Germann photographs mainly in black & white, and his twenty-five years experience working in the traditional black & white wet darkroom helps him produce digital prints today with a similar look and quality to the photographic papers of old. Long Island based, Germann's 35+ years of photographing New York City street scenes, people, architecture, and neighborhoods is officially catalogued in the New York Historical Society's permanent collection. Ray's work has been exhibited extensively in galleries and is part of several other permanent museum collections including The Heckscher Museum of Art and The Museum of the City of New York. Additional photographic projects of Ray's include documenting landscapes and small towns of New York's Fingerlake and Adirondack regions, Long Island, New England, and the American West. Awards received include achievements from New York Daily News, New York State, and Adirondack Life Magazine.
Based in Boston with family ties to the East End of Long Island, award-winning photographer, Dave Burns specializes in wildlife, travel, and landscape photography having photographically chronicled his journeyed experiences from more than 25 countries over the past 20 years. Classically trained in the black & white darkroom, Burns presently works digitally from capture to print and also experiments with different technologies and approaches including infrared photography. Dave furthers his love for global adventure and shares his familiarities through his photo safari tours company, providing clients with unique travel and photographic experiences in exotic locations such as the African Savanna. A member of the North American Nature Photography Association, Dave has exhibited in many galleries and his works are part of numerous private collections.
MADE @ Sluice__2015 Art Fair, Featuring Beth Dary & Others, London
Ann Street Gallery Art + Science Exhibition Opening with Scott McIntire, Newburgh NY
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Compliance (2012)
I have to admit, Magnolia Pictures has never stuck much in my mind for any reason. But when watching V/H/S, I saw the preview for this movie, and I was entranced. When watching Compliance, I saw the preview for another exciting-looking movie, Deadfall, and now it looks like I am a Magnolia fan. Scream King is convinced that the main character in this film (Becky - Dreama Walker) is related to Rose McGowan, but the internet says no. She does look a lot like her, doesn't she?
Compliance is absolutely (and very closely) based on a true story. In the late 90s and early 2000s, a man posing as a police officer called over 70 fast food locations, weaving a story about a young cashier who stole money from a customer's purse. The caller claims to have the regional manager on the other line, and says that police will arrive soon. However, in the meantime, the "police officer" suggests that the store manager could help by strip-searching the alleged thief, both to help out law enforcement, and save the woman a trip to jail later. This specific movie is based on the incident that led to the caller being caught, which took place in Mount Washington, Kentucky. This particular case went further than any of the previous calls, and included a sexual assault.
In the movie version, a young cashier named Becky (Dreama Walker) is removed from her cash register by her manager, Sandra (Ann Dowd) after receiving a call that she had stolen money. The man, "Officer Daniels," (Pat Healy) pushes Sandra to recover the money stolen, first strip-searching Becky and keeping her clothes as "evidence," and also searching her bag and belongings. After the strip-search, the caller coerces Sandra into bringing in several men to "watch over" Becky, so that Sandra can help out at the very busy counter. When the men are alone with Becky, the caller attempts to coerce them into sexually degrading Becky, even pushing as far as a sexual assault.
At some points, I would find this story unbelievable, unless I didn't know it was true, and occurred on several occasions. This case has been compared to the Milgram experiment as it showcased how far people would go in a situation where they're being commanded to do things by people they view to be an authority. The acting here was great, and the intensity and general creepiness really shined through. This isn't a cut and dried horror movie, but I couldn't help but review it here. A really great look at a true-life case.
Labels: ann dowd, based on a true story, dreama walker, have you checked the children?, pat healy
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LOST: It Wasn't Purgatory, episode 8, Confidence Man
Confidence Man
"Hold on!"
Events: Sawyer and Boone have a confrontation over Shannon's missing asthma inhalers. Jack gets involved but Kate intervenes, explaining that she might have better luck as Sawyer says they have "a connection." He doesn't give her the inhalers but when Kate asks about the mysterious letter he's been reading, and insists she believes that he still has human emotions, somewhere, Sawyer invites Kate to read the letter aloud. Written by an angry young boy, it implicates him in a murder/suicide after a con gone wrong,
As Sayid attempts to find out who hit him during the transceiver incident, Locke suggests Sawyer and gives Sayid his hunting knife. After Jack saves Shannon without medication he demands that Sawyer give up the inhalers, which Sawyer refuses to do. Sayid, who has experience with torture, can't get Sawyer to admit where the inhalers are so Kate agrees to kiss him instead but it turns out he knows nothing about them anyway. Convinced that Sawyer is lying, Sayid charges him with Locke's knife and inflicts a serious stab wound on his arm. After Jack treats the wound, Kate confronts Sawyer's self-destructive behavior, asking why he brings such anger and hatred upon himself. Sawyer admits he was the boy who wrote the letter and explains that he ironically became just like the confidence man who ruined his own family (which is illustrated in multiple flashbacks although he neglects to tell Kate that the sight of a young blonde boy seeking his mother's attention was enough to make him walk off a con job).
Unprompted, Sayid decides to leave the beach camp, disgusted with himself for having committed violence against Sawyer after he vowed never to do so again. He says goodbye to Kate and sets off up the unexplored area of the beach, alone.
"I know who you are and I know what you done."
Greater Meaning: Kate is specifically interesting for Sawyer in two ways: she's a criminal, like him, and she pays attention to him. It's clear that he desires her, having made suggestive comments several times before this, but after his letter is explained, we learn that it was Sawyer's mother who was conned and killed; he is a boy who grew up without a mother. Despite the fact that Sawyer went on to con women, it was the questioning little boy that drove him from the phony investment deal, which along with his obsession over the letter he wrote to the original "Mr. Sawyer" proves Kate was right in thinking he still had humanity. The exterior is of utmost importance for Sawyer, making people think of him a certain way, but Kate is really the only one who gets to learn the truth about him.
Further Questions:
1. Did Sawyer's boss come after him for the money he left on Jess and David's floor, as he promised he would?
2. Will Jin find out that Sun speaks English?
3. Will Shannon's asthma come up again?
4. Is Jack jealous that Sawyer and Kate made out?
5. Where will Sayid go?
Labels: Boone Carlyle, Jack Shephard, James Ford, Jin, john locke, Kate Austen, LOST, Sayid Jarrah, Sun, television
LOST: It Wasn't Purgatory, episode 7, The Moth
"Give me my bloody drugs!"
Events: Charlie is in active detox from his heroin addiction; John attempts to distract him with exercise but it turns out he really just needed bait for a wild boar trap. When he asks Locke for the drugs he found inside the Virgin Mary statue back, Locke says he'll return them only after Charlie asks him three times, that giving him a choice in the matter is important. Later as people relocate to the caves, Charlie offers to help and things go poorly. Jack blows him off, ("We don't need you right now.") Charlie brightens when Hurley seems to notice his guitar, but Hurley has no real interest in it, he just needs Charlie to move it. Protesting the way he's being disregarded to Jack in anger, Charlie proclaims, "I'm a bloody rock god!" The force of his voice causes the cave he and Jack are in to collapse; Charlie gets out, Jack is trapped. After getting a group of people together to help Jack, Charlie asks Locke for his drugs a second time. John responds by showing Charlie a moth cocoon and explains in detail how the moth's struggle is difficult but necessary. Charlie ends up saving Jack by climbing into the cave himself and pushing back out. After his third request, John gives Charlie the drugs but Charlie throws the heroin into the fire.
In other events, Sayid, Kate, and Sawyer attempt to triangulate the source of the French woman's distress signal but just as Sayid switches on the transceiver someone clubs him with a stick from behind, knocking him down and thwarting the mission.
"I could help it,"
In flashbacks, Charlie's rock star lifestyle presents several moral challenges, prompting him to quit Drive Shaft after a priest's warning during confession. He admits to brother Liam, the lead singer, that the music is getting lost in the chaos of the band's success and implores that they both walk away if it gets to be too much. Eventually, Liam sings over Charlie's vocals at a concert, openly takes drugs, and misses sound checks. Charlie decides again to leave Drive Shaft but Liam responds with cruelty, driving Charlie to use drugs himself. Just before the crash of Oceanic 815, Charlie visits Liam in Sydney in an attempt to reunite the band but Liam, clean now, refuses. Charlie expresses his anger, blames Liam for his own drug addiction, and walks off.
Greater Meaning: The themes of this episode focus around religion and respect. Charlie has been religious in the past yet he actively experiencing drug addiction. The fact that he was singled out by a boar and before, a polar bear, suggests the monkey-on-the-back metaphor of drug addiction or a physical embodiment of being literally chased by one's demons. John compares Charlie to the boar in discussing the factor of choice that humans employ, not just a blind, animalistic devotion to physical drives (which in many ways, Charlie has lived in his experiences as a rock star). Religion seems to have been an influence in Charlie's life prior to the plane crash and his music career, but on the island, animal instincts, not just in him, become more important than an organized system of social rules and norms. Events on the island seem to have primal, immediate implications that supplant religion.
Early in the episode, Charlie is disrespected multiple times yet still insists that he can be useful. His former "Rock God" status, which earned him respect in the past, doesn't matter on the island; music is nice but actual survival skills are more valuable now. Charlie ends up proving his use in the best possible way----he earns the respect of the two most important people on the island (Jack and Locke) through what can be rightly viewed as sacrificial behavior: putting his own life at risk to save Jack and forgoing his own physical needs for the drugs to rise to Locke's expectations of him.
The issue of respect applies to many other character dynamics in this episode, too. While Jack and Hurley's disrespect of Charlie brings about serious consequences, Kate's disrespect of Sawyer does the same. In her dismissive treatment of Sawyer, Kate brings forth equally cruel and defensive reactions from him. Jin appears to consider Sun's comfort in relaxing his attitude on her wardrobe, moving toward respect, and Walt sees his own father, someone still somewhat unfamiliar to him, assert his skills and take charge, moving toward respect, and Locke, in the end, respects Charlie's decision to ask for the drugs a third time, although he had no foreknowledge that Charlie would destroy them.
1. Sayid insists their survival was extremely unlikely, so why did it happen? How?
2. Who hit Sayid, and why?
3. Jack admits to Charlie when speaking of confession that he's "no saint, either." What sins has Jack committed?
4. Will Charlie stay sober?
Labels: charlie pace, drive shaft, hugo reyes, Jack Shephard, James Ford, Jin, john locke, Kate Austen, LOST, Sayid Jarrah, Sun, television
His Being Has Many Facets: A Confederacy of Dunces
The backstory of this novel is very interesting. Published in 1980, its author, John Kennedy Toole, was posthumously awarded the Pulitzer Prize for fiction for it the following year. The genre is described as "Picaresque" (from the Spanish word "picaro," meaning rogue), which often focuses on the struggles of an eccentric character who attempts to make his way in a hostile world. The cinematic genre of French New Wave would later take this concept and run with it, showcasing plotting or dishonest male characters who must continue to find ways to beat an upper-class or legal system that aspires to keep them down. John Kennedy Toole is said to have based parts of this novel on his own experiences in academia and food-vending as well as those of a professor colleague; he died by suicide in 1969. His mother took the unpublished manuscript to an author acquaintance and with his help, the novel was published.
The rogue in this story, not Spanish but quite American, is Ignatius Reilly. He resides in New Orleans with his mother, is educated, and spends his time writing extensive monologues in Big Chief tablets, itemizing his health calamities (which mostly focus around his pyloric valve), and lamenting the direction his life has taken at hands of the goddess FORTUNA and her spinning wheel. I could go on about the plot, where places and language are highly influential, the characters, which are equal parts realistic and caricatured, or some of the situations of racist, sexist, and homophobic language (of which there are several), but it really is a great example of a work that's way more than the sum of its parts. To be clear; the story isn't mean or hateful but does convey opinions and ways of talking that were probably honest for the time during which it was written, and these are jarring and offensive, period. More than all of this, though, the overall reading experience here is outlandish, but in the best possible way. In other words, this is a ridiculously bizarre story about a ridiculously bizarre collection of people written by an extremely intelligent person. John Kennedy Toole had obviously seen some things in his life in order to put this all down on paper. The words are assembled and delivered in such ways that you almost find yourself wondering how someone could think this way to even come up with them. Just thinking now about an actual person saying some of these lines in life makes me want to both laugh out loud and cringe. Hard.
Art by Sloppygee
(DeviantArt)
For example, some witty narration:
1. "When Fortuna spins you downward, you go out to a movie and get more out of life. Ignatius was about to say this to himself; then he remembered that he went to the movies almost every single night, no matter which way Fortuna was spinning."
Easy enough. Or this, as a former professor discovers some previously disregarded correspondence:
2. "As he turned over one essay, his eye fell upon a rough, yellowed sheet of Big Chief tablet paper on which was printed with a red crayon:
Your total ignorance of that which you profess to teach merits the death penalty. I doubt whether you would know that St. Cassian of Imola was stabbed to death by his students with their styli. His death, a martyr's honorable one, made him a patron saint of teachers.
Pray to him, you deluded fool, you 'anyone for tennis?' golf-playing, cocktail-quaffing pseudo-pedant, for you do indeed need a heavenly patron. Although your days are numbered, you will not die as a martyr--for you further no holy cause--but as the total ass which you really are.
A sword was drawn on the last line of the page."
Yes, things begin to heat up, becoming toward the end quite serious:
3. "'Are you referring to a psychiatric ward by any chance?' Ignatius demanded in a rage. 'Do you think I am insane? Do you suppose that some stupid psychiatrist could even attempt to fathom the workings of my psyche?'
'You could get some rest, honey. You could write some stuff in your little copybooks.'
'They would try to make me into a moron who likes television and new cars and frozen food. Don't you understand? Psychiatry is worse than communism. I refuse to be brainwashed. I won't be a robot!'"
"You may send a map of my new route to the
mental ward at Charity Hospital. The solicitous
nuns and psychiatrists there can help me
decipher it between shock treatments."
The thing about this novel is you will know from the very first page (or actually the stuff above will also serve as indicators) whether or not you're going to enjoy it. I didn't particularly like any of the characters, though they were certainly well-written and always over the top, but I very much enjoyed reading this book. More than once I found myself wondering what in the world would happen next, or how this particular dilemma would resolve, happy to dive into whatever that day's chapter was.
The events were funny and entertaining, but really this all came together with the dialogues (which were not for one second realistic, but whatever). A lot of screaming, a lot of belching (these were actually the most common dialogue tags throughout the story), and a lot of sarcasm. You must enjoy sarcasm if you're having a go at this book. At its core, this is really the tale of a very abrasive yet misunderstood guy who gets himself into bad luck situations but the whole thing still manages to unfold like a weird, smart-talking dumpster fire, each chapter crazier than the last. I do encourage Americans to read this, with caution and I don't know, maybe equal parts patience and humor. Try to have fun with it. It's interesting, it's clever, but I can't deny that my suspicion is that the common reaction will be similar to the one-word response a good friend of mine once used to describe one of my ex-boyfriends, which was "GRODY."
Give it a try; I'd love to hear your takes on this one!
Labels: authors, books, The Great American Read
When dishonesty is the best policy: 1984
I've fielded over the years various interested-yet-confused questions about why I read so much, how I remember so much of what I read and watch, and how on earth (with all I have going on) I manage to find the time for all of this! I don't know how I ended up such a dedicated lover of stories, but I have a feeling it came from having parents (one is a book person, the other a TV/film person) who loved stories themselves. Learning music at an early age probably helped with the memory bit, but honestly, remembering my favorite passages of writing or lines of dialogue makes me pretty happy, too. I might never be a stage performer or a great public speaker but if you need the exact wording of Violet Newstead's sexist bigot speech from 9 to 5, are wondering in which Harry Potter book Snape flapped off, "looking ludicrously bat-like," or are curious about the differences between the Song of Ice and Fire novels and their television show counterpart, Game of Thrones, I GOT YOU.
What does any of this have to do with George Orwell or the Great American Read book list? I love words, I love stories, and I love that there are people out there, right now, talking about words and stories. Controversial stories, I think, are the very best ones; they force us outside our comfort level and expose us to "truths" we may not have considered. I hope these acts--reading challenging material, seeking different narratives, learning of others' truths--never vanish from our world because these things are necessary! Not just for the sake of literacy or even happiness but to know and to understand each other as people. Without stories life would be just gray emptiness, boring apathy. It would be like Oceania in 1984.
INGSOC=English Socialism in Newspeak
1. Nineteen-Eighty Four by George Orwell
The word Orwellian means "of or relating to the works of George Orwell (especially his picture of a future totalitarian state)." If you've read anything else of his, maybe Animal Farm or even the nonfiction work Down and Out in Paris and London, you know that status, power, the plight of the labor force, and the search for truth all have had a strong influence on his writing.
What most people remember about this novel is Big Brother, maybe the Thought Police, or perhaps even Room 101 where bad citizens were taken after they were caught defecting or committing thought crimes--in other words, the main events, as it were. These items make up the action-heavy parts of the book, all the spying, the disappearing, and the torturing; it's well-written and engaging content, no doubt about it. What makes this novel a slightly challenging read but yet deserves equal attention to the memorable scenes are the pages and pages of descriptive language of the places, the objects, and the reflections of the main character, Winston Smith over what his life and country has become. The wars and the dystopia are very interesting, but this story, at its core, is really about the loss of humanity seen through Smith's eyes, and you have to be observant to catch all this and put it all together.
Photo by Errata Security
The setting is Oceania, a global superstate made up of the Americas, the British Isles, disputed parts of Southern Africa, and Australia/Oceania proper. Oceania is always at war with one of the other two superstates, but exactly which one changes several times throughout the course of the book. The government that controls the citizens is known as "The Party," and the philosophy it enforces, "IncSoc," (English Socialism). Language has changed to something called "Newspeak," literature has been largely destroyed, and food consists mostly of rationed portions of supplemented, mass-produced, facsimile product and Victory Gin. Citizens' roles and opportunities are defined by how advanced they are within The Party, which rules over all.
Proles are unskilled, unaffiliated with The Party, and poor but have managed to hold onto what are widely considered to be unsavory human acts such as folk singing and breeding
Low Party members comprise the workforce, enjoy a minimally comfortable standard of life but are constantly monitored by Thought Police, telescreens, and even their own children for signs of disloyalty
Inner Party members dictate policy and enjoy the highest standards of living while encouraging lower members (and their children) to report each other for any perceived slight toward The Party
Big Brother is the celebrated icon, leader, and champion of The Party, referenced often and seen in propaganda but never in person
Emmanuel Goldstein is a mythical leader of Oceania's opposition to Big Brother, the subject of many hateful demonstrations (i.e., Hate Week, Two Minutes Hate) whose human existence has never been officially confirmed
Winston Smith is a low party member, employed by The Party's Ministry of Truth.
played by John Hurt
On the surface Smith is a loyal party member, dutifully spreading lies for his department, eliminating contrary evidence against The Party, and participating in patriotic events, but something is at conflict inside Winston Smith from the very first chapter. Nearly everything The Party puts out is a lie, represented as the truth, the whole truth, always having been the truth (even when evidence exists to the direct contrary). As we read what his days are like, what rules are enforced, and how he responds to all this, we begin to recoil a little--most of us aren't accustomed to cheering on explosions that kill fleeing prisoners, seeing violent acts committed by children toward their parents, or being witness to direct government falsification of facts or destruction of questionable evidence on the regular. Such are the first topics Smith begins to write about in an illicit diary he secretly obtains in an old shop, but as time goes on we see that despite everything The Party has taught him, he finds himself seeking out forbidden objects, images, and memories. He wakes from a dream murmuring "Shakespeare" for no apparent reason; he longs for his own mother and sister long since vanished or killed; he talks with a shopkeeper about lyrics to a song about the churches of England. All of these things that were once valued, literature, the family unit, singing, and religion, have been replaced by The Party's sterilized version of them (with the exception of religion, which is now unnecessary), and Winston Smith isn't having it.
Everything one needs to know about this novel is presented in the very first chapter, but the format is more or less the same throughout. Descriptive language and exposition, reflection, small bits of action, and usually a significant reveal are all interwoven in each chapter together with occasional pieces of IngSoc philosophy presented as listed rules or writings taken directly from Party (or oppositional) sources. Paranoia and repressed emotion are constant.
From the first page:
"The hallway smelt of boiled cabbage and old rag mats. At one end of it a coloured poster, too large for an indoor display, had been tacked to the wall. It depicted simply an enormous face, more than a meter wide: the face of a man of about forty-five, with a heavy black mustache and ruggedly handsome features. Winston made for the stairs. It was no use trying the lift. Even at the best of times it was seldom working, and at present the electric current was cut off during daylight hours. It was part of the economy drive in preparation for Hate Week. The flat was seven flights up, and Winston, who was thirty-nine and had a varicose ulcer above his right ankle, went slowly, resting several times on the way. On each landing, opposite the lift-shaft, the poster with the enormous face gazed from the wall. It was one of those pictures which are so contrived that the eyes follow you about when you move. BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU, the caption beneath it ran."
"It's inner party coffee. There's
a whole kilo here."
Things change for the positive for a bit with the coming of Julia, a younger party member who becomes Smith's love interest, but only briefly. There are glimpses of happiness and color through objects such as a coral paperweight or real sugar and coffee, but these are only moments; the greasy, foul-smelling world that has become reality persists aggressively and in the end, Smith is made to question (in the infamous Room 101) even these most sacred memories and whether or not he really experienced them.
Although it's a great story, one gets a very wrinkle-nosed feeling reading it. Nearly all of the smells described are of cabbage, surfaces are always greasy, and there's bodily harm being done pretty frequently throughout (specifically beatings, humiliation, starvation, torture, and early on rape is mentioned but never committed). The vibe is dismal and gray. 268 pages isn't too bad, it's probably only a few more than this review ended up being, but this is still a book that you have to want to read. Films such as Metropolis (Fritz Lang, 1927), The Matrix Trilogy (The Wachowskis, 1999, 2003), and V for Vendetta (James McTeigue, 2006) introduced different "enemies" into the narrative but still have their roots in the same kind of story. John Hurt played Winston Smith in the British production of the film, 1984 (in 1984).
If you're intrigued but still on the fence, read Animal Farm, first. The story is very similar and half the length. If you enjoy that, you'll probably enjoy this. I think Americans should read this, and in summarizing why I'll again reiterate how important I think the little things are, the things that make us us. Our words, our books, our food, our songs. We're all human, but we are also our own unique selves (Americans just ❤❤❤❤ being individuals!) This story explores what it feels like to be symbolically made into a human robot and to be denied one's own thoughts and feelings. The idea of burning literature is upsetting to me, but even more so is the idea of printing a volume of lies to prop up in its place (think this doesn't happen today? It IS happening). Children are turned against parents, human biology and impulses are disregarded, and opinions become punishable-by-death offenses.
Be an informed American. The minute someone in power starts telling us who we are and taking our books away, we're done.
Labels: authors, books, George Orwell, John Hurt, The Great American Read, The Matrix, the wachowskis, V for Vendetta, Winston Smith
Bully for You: William Zabka wins in Cobra Kai
Cobra Kai, 2018
"I'M GONNA BE YOUR SENSEI."
Starring: William Zabka, Ralph Macchio, Courtney Henggeler
Back in the best decade of all time, the 80s, Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) was a bullying, karate-wielding enemy to Ralph Macchio's Daniel LaRusso in a film called The Karate Kid. You might have seen it. You might have thought it was cheesy and formulaic and I don't know, clunky (I say this lovingly about the original only, the sequels were both downright horrid). The film focused more on the story and less on the actual martial aspect of martial arts, but it was a popular film and a memorable work. Lucky for us, both Zabka and Macchio have returned to their respective roles in Cobra Kai and the overall experience is pretty sweet. YouTube Red is streaming the first two episodes for free; if you like what you see, a YouTube Red trial Membership is also free for one month. These episodes are short enough to binge in one night, easy, and if you're reading this review with any interest, you'll definitely want to.
So it's very much the same kind of story, updated for 2018, but with some positive differences. For one thing, Cobra Kai has a somewhat oppositional focus: this is Johnny Lawrence's show, first and foremost (and yes, this will cause many to skip it on principal because really, what sympathy can a former bully really evoke) but hear me out and give it a chance. Bullies can change their stripes; some bullies can feel remorse! But even then, some bullies still make poor choices and lead others to make them, too.
DO YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT?
Turns out, Johnny Lawrence is one such bully. Despite our assumptions during the events of Karate Kid, he didn't have such a great life even before he was Cobra Kai's golden boy, cruising the arcade or having fancy dinner dates with Ali, and all the other stuff that made him appear to be such a privileged, effective little jerk. This backstory along with Johnny's downward spiral after the illegal leg-sweep and subsequent choke hold from his Sensei at the film's final karate tournament make for a very different Johnny Lawrence experience. This isn't to say that everyone is sympathetic to him. In fact, outside the audience and perhaps one important supporting character, no one really is, least of all Daniel LaRusso. Though wealthy, handsome, and still besting Johnny at everything, the one-time Karate Kid isn't exactly as we remember him, either (truthfully he comes off as a bit of a douche, at least at first).
This highlights another difference in the show compared with the film: nothing is absolute, not the morals of the characters, not the guarantee of a happy ending, and not even the promise of unconditional, good feelings toward our favorite people. We have David Chase's Tony Soprano to thank for complicated bad guys who come with depth instead of pure evil, and this concept in both Johnny's character, the characters with whom he interacts, and the progression of the series' events shows us that although the 80s were great, a lot of the screenwriting was really basic. We see now that it got a lot of things wrong because these stories aren't so neat anymore. Narratives are complicated because people are complicated; people who go to the movies (or watch television) don't necessarily want open and shut cases of good versus evil because they come off feeling fake or simplistic. We have baggage, we overreact, we hold grudges, and nothing ties up nicely anymore, not really. If it seems cheesy to think of an entire show revolving around a bully's if not redemption, then re-education, or if you don't want to
overthink things in this way, you really don't have to--there is still entertainment to be had among all this ideology. I like to think of it as a way for everyone who loved The Karate Kid to get a huge, acknowledging shout-out in the form of being gifted more time and experiences with characters we weren't ready to let go of yet.
Not sold yet? Okay, there's more:
Flashbacks (full video sequences)
Music (Poison, Foreigner, The Alan Parsons Project, Ratt, Bruno Mars, Dean Martin, and more!)
Environments (Daniel's first apartment, the mini-golf place, Mr. Miyagi's house)
The New Blood because of course there has to be a new aspect to an old rivalry (aka family drama!)
There's quite a bit of profanity not suitable for elementary school kids as well as some harsh sexual innuendo and bullying that occur in a high school setting. Middle and high school kids will probably be interested (mine were) but they definitely aren't the target audience for this show, the people who grew up with Daniel and Johnny are. Kids who didn't watch the films are going to come away from it with a much different take on who they're aligned with, whose struggles they connect with, and who they want to win even though none of this is very straight-forward (my two older kids went immediately with Johnny from the beginning but wanted very different things from him as time went on). Take a look:
Who will love this show: Fans of Zabka (trust me, there are significant numbers who appreciate his work as an actor in The Karate Kid, Back to School, National Lampoon's European Vacation, and Just One of the Guys as well as his work as a Oscar-nominated director of the short live-action film, Most), fans of The Karate Kid franchise, nostalgic GenX-ers, underdogs, people used to being underestimated
Who won't be into it: Martial Arts purists, the overly religious, fans of Macchio (if he has any; I heard from a credible source that he's a dick IRL).
Hard goodbyes are a thing of the past: second season is slated for 2019!
Labels: Cobra Kai, films, Oppositional Television, television, The Sopranos, Tony Soprano, william zabka
LOST: It Wasn't Purgatory, episode 8, Confidence M...
His Being Has Many Facets: A Confederacy of Dunces...
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New TK-12 Grade Educational Complex on the Horizon at Tesoro Viejo
Exciting news for Tesoro Viejo as the Chawanakee Unified Board of Education took action at its board meeting May 14, 2019 to hire SIM-PBK Architects to design the new educational complex planned for the community.
“This is a very exciting time for Chawanakee Unified, as we continue to grow and expand our educational footprint,” said Barbara Bigelow, board president for the Chawanakee Unified School District. “SIM-PBK Architects brings extensive experience in educational facilities design not only in the valley, but throughout California.”
The educational complex will serve students in transitional kindergarten through 12th grade with a TK through 8th grade elementary school and Rio Mesa High School, a traditional high school that will also feature a charter high school similar to the model at Minarets High School. The educational complex is located adjacent to Tesoro Viejo, the newest master-planned community in Madera County.
“I commend the Board for their leadership in keeping ahead of the planned growth,” said Darren Sylvia, superintendent of Chawanakee Unified School District. “We are taking a comprehensive and diverse approach to this new educational facility to preserve our small learning communities and project-based learning that has been very successful in our schools.”
SIM-PBK Architects has extensive experience in K-12 school design throughout California and beyond. They are on the cutting edge of school safety, technology, and best practices to maximize the learning environment.
“One of the most satisfying parts of designing a school is knowing that what we do has an impact on the learning and growth of students,” said John Smith, partner with SIM-PBK Architects. “We are pleased to partner with Chawanakee Unified to deliver an educational facility that we can all be proud of.”
Chawanakee Unified opened Hillside Elementary School in August 2018 well ahead of the first residents moving in. The state-of-art school is located in Hillside Village, Tesoro Viejo’s inaugural residential village. Serving students in transitional kindergarten through 8th grade, Hillside Elementary School offers a strong science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) curriculum. Students learn by doing with project-based learning and the “outdoor classroom” concept allows for hands-on learning with the natural resources of the community’s landscape.
The Rio Mesa Educational Complex is anticipated to open in Fall 2025. The initial design phase of the project is anticipated to be completed by the fall of the 2019-20, and community input will be sought. The board will consider possible funding options for the building of the schools. In addition, the district is exploring community partnerships for a joint-use aquatics complex adjacent to the schools.
“We serve the community within the Rio Mesa Area Growth Plan and know the students are coming,” Bigelow said. “We are thrilled to work with talented professionals like SIM-PBK Architects and with our community to deliver the kind of school facilities our students deserve.”
Sheep Grazing at Tesoro Viejo Yield Big Benefits for the...
Imagine looking out the windows of your home and seeing sheep grazing That’s exactly what’s...
Good Planning Results in Life Unprecedented at Tesoro Viejo
Nestled at the foot of Little Table Mountain, the Tesoro Viejo community in southeastern Madera...
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Posts Tagged ‘Disney’
IT’S THE MOST WONDERFUL MARKETING TIME OF THE YEAR
November 1st, 2002 | by Tom
I gotta say that must be one of the longer titles to one of my comics in recent memory.
I hope all of you had a wonderful Halloween. Hopefully none of you are in a recovery room somewhere after eating razor leaden candy apples. Or worse, suffering the indignity of getting a bag of pennies from the crazy Cat Lady from down the street.
My goodness. Can it be November already. Terrifying. Normally I begin to look forward to this time of year because my birthday is December 21 (jot that down). But anymore, I just look past my birthday and that holiday for the big J.C. and focus on the end of the year. New Year’s has become more important to me now. I guess I just like fresh starts.
As Jared mentioned Wednesday, he’s finished up the Theater Hopper documentary. I had a chance to look at it and it is very, very good. Jared did an excellent job of setting up the story, what Theater Hopper is about and where it’s going. He did all of this in a very tidy 6 minutes.
With that in mind, it may be time to note that we probably aren’t going to be selling VHS copies of Jared’s work as previously promoted in this space. Since the length is so short, we can’t justify the expense of producing these at any scale.
That’s not to say we’re not sitting on some quality stuff here. But why get in a tizzy over 6 minutes?
We’re exploring the option of putting Jared’s short film up on the site in installments. Of course, bandwidth consumption is still a concern. Maybe we’ll have one big blow out at the end of the month where we’ll put the film up in it’s entirety and we’ll take our chances getting cut off. If anyone wants a permanent copy, they can save it to their hard drive.
If anyone has ideas, suggestions or preferences, please e-mail them to me. We’d love to get some feedback on this. In what format would you like to see Jared’s good work?
I’d like to give a shout-out to a few new link-buddies. It would behoove you to check out The Aylumantics, The Magic Armadillo, and the good folks of Next Generation Comics. They are all worthy of your love.
Spread that love like a fine cheese…
└ Tags: Christmas, coal, Disney, Eddie Murphy, I Spy, naughty list, The Santa Clause 2
RETURNING A FAVOR
August 4th, 2003 | by Tom
Sometimes I get e-mails asking me for favors because people seem to think I have some sort of influence over people. But I figure it can’t hurt to try, so here we go.
It may come to a shock to some of you, but Disneyland has torn down the Country Bear Jamboree Playhouse in favor of a new attraction. One of my loyal readers asked me to pass out a link to an online petition to save the Country Bears. So here it is: http://www.petitiononline.com/savebear/petition.html
It seems odd that Disney would remove the attraction after just releasing a live-action movie based on it the year before, but there you go.
The other request I received was from Chris Cantrell asking everyone to check out Asylumantics. Chris is taking pre-orders for his very first book – “JOYGASM!” and it looks like it’s going to be really cool. You guys should be checking out Chris’ site anyway because it has great art and the writing is whip-smart.
But yeah, that’s everything. Karma points for the day secured! 🙂
└ Tags: Asylumantics, Country Bear Jamboree, Disney, petition
Mar 27, 2011 BAMBI DIAMOND EDITION BLU-RAY REVIEW
Jan 28, 2011 TANGLED ON 3D BLU-RAY, BLUR-RAY AND DVD MARCH 29
DESECRATOR
January 16th, 2004 | by Tom
(9 votes, average: 7.22 out of 10)
[This blog post was lost when the site was moved to WordPress in January 2009 – Tom]
└ Tags: animators, coffee table, Disney, frozen, intern, lay-offs, memo, Michael Eisner, tradition, Walt Disney
September 28th, 2007 | by Tom
I’m not as adverse to Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson making kids movies as I depict myself in this comic. But I have to admit scratching my head in puzzlement when I first saw the trailer for The Game Plan. THIS was the guy that was supposed to replace Schwarzenegger? It might be a moot point. Truthfully, I don’t think we’ll ever see another era in action movies quite like what we had in the early 80’s. To that end, The Rock is smart for doing a kids movie – if it’s well crafted. As my good friend Joe pointed out, “one needs only say The Pacifier to know that even a successful family vehicle can stall an action heroes career.”
I think The Rock will emerge unscathed. I think that he moves quickly enough from role to role that audiences aren’t associating him with any one chracter – and that’s good. Plus, the guy has enough natural charisma, he won’t have trouble finding work.
People hold up Schwarzenegger as the pinnacle of action movie heroism but they kind of overlook the fact that action movies were all he was good for until he became bankable on name-recognition alone. Let’s face it – there’s not a lot of work for a near-mute, extremely musclebound guy in leading man roles. In many respects, Schwarzenegger had to pay his dues first.
Not much else going on at the moment. Although I want to remind you about the DVD giveaway I have happening right now. Two copies of Stargate Atlantis: Season Three. All you have to do is bookmark you three favorite Theater Hopper strips using the social bookmarking network of your choice and then e-mail me either a screen cap or a link to your profile page for the proof along with your name and mailing address to be entered. I can tell you right now that so far only FOUR people have entered the contest. So if you want some free stuff, your odds are pretty good. It’s a small way to help promote Theater Hopper and get something for yourself to boot.
I realize that Stargate Atlantis is probably a niche interest for some of you. But the next opportunity I get, I’m going to try this with a more popular selection and see if it sticks. Stay tuned.
I kind of got some bad news this week in regard to a site redesign I had been planning. I was trying to work with a local web design firm to help me impliment some air-tight comic archiving, blogging and content systems as well as helping me more fully integrate the site with social bookmarking networks. We had a few conversations over the phone, I met with them in person and outlined my thoughts, even the president of the company got involved to oversee things.
Then I get a note from them this week saying that they really aren’t equipped to partner with me in this way. Typically they design a site from concept to completion and don’t do much in terms of consulting. I was kind of pissed. I spent a month waiting for them to steer the ship in a certain direction and they totally bailed.
I’m very interested in taking Theater Hopper to the next level and I think a lot of that will rest of me elevating the design and interactive elements of the site to a competitive level. I need outside help to do this because I’ve been stewing in my own juices for too long.
Does anyone have suggestions? I want to work with a company. Not a freelancer. I need someone who will be accountable and on the clock if something breaks.
I’ve been fortunate enough to have some great people help me keep things running around here for a long time. I’m not discounting their efforts. But I want to build on their foundation and I don’t know where to go.
Part of me wonders if I should just switch everything over to WordPress and use the ComicSpace mod. I know a few people who have tried it and liked it. But the more I think about it, the more I’m convinced I need a customized buisness solution to meet my needs.
If you have any suggestions, please e-mail them to me at theaterhopper@hotmail.com.
Have a great weekend, everybody!
└ Tags: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Disney, Dwayne Johnson, ice cream, Oprah Winfery, The Game Plan, The Rock, twins
NATURE IS CRUEL
You’d think for as much as our 2 year-old son makes us watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, I’d have a better idea of how to draw Mickey Mouse. I guess I was in a rush. To see Mickey as the leader of a post-apocalyptic dystopia, vote for Theater Hopper at Top Web Comics.
Under the branch of their new Disneynature studio, the planetary documentary Earth comes out today. I’m actually very excited to see it despite the fact that it was originally released internationally 2 years ago as an accompanying cinematic experience to the popular television series Planet Earth The series, which was shot by the BBC, aired on The Discovery Channel during that time as well.
I don’t know. Maybe I’m just a sucker for for animals. Maybe I fell in love the minute they played “Hoppípolla” from Sigur Ros in the trailer. Either way, it looks great. A fantastic cinematic experience.
Disney is catching a little guff from critics, believe it or not. Jesse Ellison from Newsweek suggests that the film is too harsh to be rated G because it implies (but doesn’t show) the death of a few animals at the hands at of the elements.
On the other hand, Jeffery Wells from Hollywood Elsewhere suggests that the film doesn’t go far enough and obscuring the harsh reality of nature coddles children too much.
I guess I fall somewhere in the middle. Certainly I don’t derive much entertainment value from watching wild animals die on screen. I wouldn’t seek it out. As the parent of a young child, I can see how such scenes could be upsetting.
But at the same time, I agree with Wells that you can’t shield children from everything. The challenge of being a parent isn’t measured by your ability to protect them from everything that might upset their limited world view. Rather, I feel it’s my responsibility to arm my kids with information in context so they can make sense of their own feelings and opinions to interact properly with the world at large.
But I shouldn’t presume to tell anyone how to raise their kids. Fundamentally, you have to be aware of what you think your kid can and can’t tolerate and be prepared to help them make sense of things if it’s too intense for them.
At least, that’s what my common sense tells me.
Is anyone else excited to see Earth this weekend or do you think it’s redundant 2 years after Planet Earth aired on The Discovery Channel? Are you concerned about the realities of nature being toned down or “Disney-fied” to meet the standards of being a family friendly film?
Leave your comments below!
└ Tags: Disney, Earth, empire, Mickey Mouse, nature, submit
DISNEY BUYS MARVEL
August 31st, 2009 | by Tom
Unless you’ve been completely cut off from the internet today (in which case, I’m glad Theater Hopper was your first stop after being plugged back in to The Grid), then you might have missed the news that Disney has acquired Marvel Entertainment for $4 billion.
There aren’t a lot of details at the moment, but the news pretty much set the internet on fire this afternoon. Since I’m a bit of a movie nut AND a bit of a comic book nut, I feel a responsibility to comment.
A lot of people are responding to the news Chicken Little-style. They swear up and down that the sky is falling and that the House of Mouse is going to ruin their favorite super heroes by flattening their appeal, making them more mainstream and toothless.
As much as I have enjoyed portraying Disney as the Evil Empire in the past (and it is likely I will continue to do so in the future), I’m optimistic about this deal with Marvel.
People forget that roughly 15 years ago, Marvel declared bankruptcy. Getting in bed with Disney means the likelihood of that happening again are slim to none. Anything that protects Marvel’s solvency at this point is a-okay in my book.
Some people claim that Disney can be careless with the properties they acquire – citing Mirimax and The Muppets as examples. I don’t know if I see a lot of evidence supporting that. If anything, Marvel being associated with Disney gives them far more opportunities to cross-pollinate their characters into other media outlets than they would have been able to do otherwise.
Never mind the distribution advantage they now have with their movies. What other studio besides Disney can put a movie on 3,000 screens opening weekend every single time? Not many.
I guess I’m trying to be more pragmatic in my response to the acquisition rather than gloom and doom. If Spider-Man could survive The Clone Saga, he’ll survive this.
What are your thoughts about the Disney / Marvel merger? Are you a fan of the comics, movies or both. How do you think this will affect Marvel’s output in the coming years? What was your first reaction to the news?
└ Tags: $4 billion, acquisition, Comics, Disney, Marvel, Mickey Mouse, Spider-Man
Jan 27, 2011 THE COMPLETE STORY BEHIND THE HOUSE OF MOUSE
Jul 12, 2004 SITE BUSINESS
DVD REVIEW – MONSTERS, INC.
November 24th, 2009 | by Tom
In 2001, the proposition of Monsters, Inc. must have been a scary one for Disney / Pixar.
Coming fresh off the success of Toy Story 2, A Bug’s Life and the original Toy Story (all directed by Pixar King John Lasseter)Pixar put an unproven director in the driver’s seat for Monsters, Inc. – Pete Docter.
Of course, time would prove that Docter’s madcap vision of a world inhabited by monsters who collect the screams of human children to power their communities proved to be a smash hit. But it’s interesting to learn about the behind-the-scenes hand wringing that occurred at Pixar before the release of the film.
One of the bonus features of the movie is a film makers round table with Docter, co-director Lee Unkrich, producer Darla Anderson, and script supervisor Bob Peterson (who also lent his voice to the surly clerical worker Roz in the movie). In their round table, they discuss not only their uncertainty over the somewhat complex idea of a world powered by screams, but also the real-life intrusions that threatened the success of the film.
For example, I had completely forgotten how Monsters, Inc. had come out one short month after the terrible events of 9/11. An even that lead Pixar to wonder if they should push the film back. Ultimately, according to the feedback they received, the film became a refuge for families looking to steer themselves away from the unending and horrible coverage of that day. The insight that the round table provides certainly adds a layer of enjoyment to hard-core fans of the film.
Eight years after its theatrical release Monsters, Inc. holds up incredibly well and the Blu-ray transfer gives the film a candy-coated shot in the arm. Colors are richer, details are more pronounced. Even the hair on Sully’s arms looks more refined. A more perfect version of the film I can’t imagine unless you were sitting in Pixar’s offices, watching it over the shoulder of one of the animators.
In terms of extras, the Blu-ray doesn’t bring much that’s new to the table. A short documentary about a Monsters, Inc. ride at Disneyland Toyko made me want to hop a flight to Japan immediately and an interactive game featuring over 100 doors intimidates more than it inspires gameplay.
Additional features include those already packaged on the Collector’s Edition that was released in 2002. The animated shorts “Mike’s New Car” and “For the Birds”, storyboards, a database of monsters featured in the film, and multiple gag reels.
However, the Blu-ray package gives you a bevy of formats including a digital copy of the film as well as a DVD copy of the film, which are nice bonuses.
As a Pixar fan, I have no problem replacing all of my DVD copies with Blu-ray editions of the film. I believe they are the most authentic reproductions of the movies possible and a visual treat. However, it would have been nice to see a few more extras with the film and I probably wouldn’t have minded waiting another 2 years for a 10th anniversary edition if it meant getting additional content.
└ Tags: Billy Crystal, Blu ray, Disney, DVD, Frank Oz, James Coburn, Jennifer Tilly, John Goodman, Monsters Inc., Pixar, review, Steve Buscemi
THE COMPLETE STORY BEHIND THE HOUSE OF MOUSE
Posted In: Bonus Materials
Empire Magazine recently published a very thorough and interesting article called “Your Guide To Disney’s 50 Animated Features.” If you’re a Disney-phile or an animation buff like I am, it’s well worth your time to read. The list includes a few behind-the-scenes production details that help flesh out your understanding of the films.
In particular, I was fascinated to revisit the films from the early 2000’s. Specifically films like Atlantis: The Lost Empire, Treasure Planet, Brother Bear and Home on the Range. I’ve given those films their fair share of guff, but it’s important recognize that they weren’t the flops that some people made them out to be and – perhaps – aren’t as terrible as you remember.
Compiled as a whole, Disney’s cinematic accomplishments are astounding. It’s easy to heap praise on the standouts like Peter Pan or The Lion King. But I am much more interested in how the so-called “lesser” films have been woven into the tapestry of the venrible studio’s history.
Check out the article and chime in with your thoughts about The House of Mouse in the comments below!
└ Tags: animated, cartoons, Disney, Empire Magazine, film, list, movies
Dec 14, 2010 2010 SUPERCUT
Aug 4, 2003 RETURNING A FAVOR
TANGLED ON 3D BLU-RAY, BLUR-RAY AND DVD MARCH 29
Since I’m in a Disney mood lately, I thought I would pass along a press release I received about Disney’s 50th animated feature Tangled, announcing plans to release the film on 3D Blu-ray, Blu-ray and DVD on March 29.
Grossing over 400 million dollars in global theatrical sales to date, TANGLED, The Walt Disney Studios blockbuster animated feature that takes a modern twist on the famous hair-raising fable Rapunzel, debuts as the ultimate 4-Disc Disney Blu-ray Combo Pack (3D Blu-ray + Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy in a single package) on March 29, 2011. As the 50th full-length animated feature in The Walt Disney Studios’ celebrated library and the first animated feature film to ever debut day-and-date on Disney Blu-ray 3D, TANGLED’s uniquely packaged home entertainment release ensures that viewers of all ages can enjoy this film on a variety of superior, hi-def media platforms while diving further into the history and quirky details behind the making of this film via amusing and informative bonus features.
Untangled: The Making of a Fairy Tale – Exactly how long is Rapunzel’s hair? How many lanterns were used? Where did Pascal’s name come from? Which Disney animated feature first utilized CG animation? These and more will be answered when Mandy Moore and Zach Levi take viewers on a kooky behind-the-scenes tour to learn how the filmmakers styled this film’s ―Golden Tresses.‖
Deleted Scenes – Co-directors Byron Howard and Nathan Greno introduce three scenes and illuminate why they were ultimately cut.
The Jaunty Moose
Chemistry Develops
Vigor The Visionary
Extended Songs – The complete versions of two great songs are shared in a unique feature that explains the co-directors decision to scale them down.
When Will My Life Begin
Mother Knows Best
Two Original Storybook Openings – Two alternate versions of the film’s opening sequence described by co-directors Nathan Greno and Byron Howard.
50th Animated Feature Countdown – A video montage celebrating Tangled as the 50th film to join The Walt Disney Studios’ prestigious lineup of classic animated features.
9 Tangled Teasers – A collection of the most unique and quirky commercials made for the theatrical release of ―Tangled.‖ Some are spoofs based off of infomercials and/or breaking news, some are teasers and others are simply just funny filmstrips.
DVD & Movie Download
Two Original Storybook Openings – Versions 1 & 2
50th Animated Feature Countdown
AAAAAND, for your enjoyment, a YouTube clip announcing the release.
Tangled was a movie that I thoroughly enjoyed and, despite its success, didn’t get the recognition it deserved in theaters. Everyone I talked to who saw it loved it. But I think Disney mucked up the marketing a little by making it appear to be a boy-centric action-adventure flick.
Tangled is actually much smarter than that. Lots of humor, a female lead worth looking up to and a painterly style unseen from the House of Mouse since The Lion King or Sleeping Beauty.
If you missed Tangled in theaters, do yourself a favor and pick it up on Blu-ray. It’s a very worthy addition to your collection. If you’re thinking about pre-ordering it, here are a few links on Amazon:
Tangled – 3D Blu-Ray, Blu-ray, DVD
└ Tags: 3D, announcement, Blu ray, Disney, DVD, Tangled
Apr 13, 2005 ATTENTION: IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT!
BAMBI DIAMOND EDITION BLU-RAY REVIEW
March 27th, 2011 | by Tom
It’s probably been decades since I’ve seen the Disney animated classic Bambi. So, when the opportunity arose to review the film’s Diamond Blu-ray release, I must confess that I merely curious by the prospect and not exactly anticipating it.
By that I mean I wasn’t waiting by the mailbox for the review copy to arrive. I don’t mean to be cruel. I’m thankful for the chance. It’s just that, well… Bambi was never one of those movies that connected with me as a child.
I don’t know if it’s the pro-nature theme, the gender ambiguous names of the characters like Bambi and Flower or if it has something to do with one of animation’s starkest bummer scenes. And if you know the story of Bambi, you know what I’m talking about.
What I discovered rediscovered instead was a very thoughtful, organic and beautifully composed film that rightly deserves its revered status among the Disney classics.
Watching Bambi as an adult, I was struck by its painterly style. Specifically, I’m talking about the lush watercolor backgrounds that allude to nature without ever overpowering the scenes.
They characters, too, remind the audience of the raw power and delicate grace of nature in a way that is practically uncanny. The ability for the animators to infuse human characteristics and personality traits into the mix demonstrates the raw talent in the pool during production of what was only their fifth film.
So why is there such a profound disconnect in my mind? I actually blame Disney for that. To a point.
Having marketed the film to the home video audience on and off for the last 30 years, Disney has reduced the scope of the movie to the cute, stumbling fawn that we are introduced to in the first half of the movie. Slipping on the ice, learning how to say the word “bird,” yelling “FLOWER!” at a skunk so forcefully he rolls back into a bed of daisies. I’m sure you can easily envision these scenes just from reading my brief descriptions.
However, the marketing completely ignores the second half of the movie where Bambi, now mature, takes a mate and confronts the scourge of Man. Incidentally, it never occurred to me how heavily The Lion King borrows from Bambi in this regard.
Now, granted, if I were going to pick a theme to push to unindoctrinated audiences, I’d probably go with the happy, fuzzy, lighter first act. All I’m saying is that the second act is so thematically jarring to me – largely due to my own hazy memory – that Bambi almost feels like two completely different movies.
In fact, the environmentalist theme in the second act is so profound, those who criticized Wall-E for having an agenda would probably explode from outrage watching this film. Disney’s message pulls no punches. “Nature is beautiful and should be preserved. Man ruins everything he touches.”
Wisely, is never shown in the film. But the brilliant musical score tells you exactly when he’s near. But when the swirling, pacing strings of “Man’s Theme” rise from the background, there’s no confusion that danger is present. In fact, it’s so simple, even a 4 year-old could recognize it. Watching the film with my son, nervously he would ask “What does that bad sound mean?”
I can think of no clearer example of how Disney pushed the medium of animation and film to communicate emotion without clubbing you over the head with it. That deft and steady hand is felt throughout the film.
The Diamond Edition Blu-ray is stacked with features that are exceptionally thorough – especially when you consider the film is over 65 years old. Probably the most interesting extra feature included on the disc is “Inside Walt’s Story Meetings-Enhanced Edition.” Reading from notes taken during story meetings, voice-over artists bring life to the words of Walt Disney, his writers and animators as they pitch ideas on how scenes will play out before one frame of animation was ever completed. The care and attention to detail these artists paid to the story is evident in these re-enactments.
In fact, the feature plays almost like an audio commentary. But instead of the actors and directors sitting around the room talking about what they thought worked and what they would have tried differently, Walt and his team talk about what will be and stay alarming true to their vision. Animation junkies and/or historians will be facinated by this opportunity to be a fly on the wall.
The Blu-ray also includes two “deleted scenes,” cobbled together from discarded storyboard drawings as well as a deleted song – “Twitterpaited” – which is basically about springtime and falling in love. Additional features made previously available in the DVD release of the film are also included.
Going back to the point I made previously about Bambi being two films and the softer pallet that has been sold to us by Disney over the years… I guess what brought this into focus for me was a specific bonus included with extras – the original trailer for the film from 1942. View it for yourself.
Now compare it to this advertisement for the Diamond Edition Blu-ray.
I don’t mean to make a mountain out of a molehill, but I find it interesting that audiences in 1942 were tantalized with promises of romance, action and heroism with nary a reference to Bambi as a child. Meanwhile, today’s audience is set up for an entirely different experience.
Bambi IS both films and it is a credit to Disney’s storytelling that the film works for both children and adults alike.
But if you were anything like me and was convinced that Bambi was a Technicolor cliche, you owe it to yourself to watch the film and reintroduce yourself to the splendor and refined artistry of Disney’s Halcyon days. You won’t regret it.
└ Tags: Bambi, Blu ray, Disney, review
Sep 17, 2003 UNDERTHERE
Jan 26, 2009 HOLDING ON TIGHTER
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City of the Unexpected
Wales Milliennium Centre & National Theatre of Wales , Cardiff Centre All Points September 17-18 2016 , October-18-16
A month has passed since a very large number of people gathered in the centre of Cardiff. A claim was made on its behalf that it set a record for the largest attendance at an arts event of Wales. It is unverifiable, and perhaps not important, but it reads as though the boosters have not looked into history.
The pageant of 1909 had over 5,000 participants over two weeks and the viewers included 90,000 children who came to watch the dress rehearsals. At least another 90,000 were in attendance from all points.
A noticeable aspect of what was, by any measure, a very large event is the thinness of the digital footprint left in its wake. A search at this interval of time indicates how much of an official event it was. The sites are British Council, Visit Cardiff, the BBC, Museum Wales, Visit Wales, Cardiff University.
Although there is a little micro-blogging it has been remarkable in leaving hardly any critical imprint. (The absence on this site of any reviews by myself between August and October was due to taking up a thirty-year invitation to visit college friends far away.) No broadsheets came and even the perky Wales Arts Review kept silent.
The one review, at 730 words, came from an improbable source, a political think-tank, the Institute of Welsh Affairs. We should be grateful for its existence. It is descriptive and informal in composition, the word “I” featuring 16 times. Nonetheless, it evokes the flavour very well. The first sentence reads: “the events this Saturday were a mix of fantabulous, acrobatic, incredible and ridiculous.”
As for the content: “I was overtaken by Fantastic Mr Fox on a unicycle, followed by some angry looking farmers. I then spotted a giant peach...ginormous and surrounded by protesters. Following the crowds...outside the castle, watching as, first James, then Mr Grasshopper, Mrs Spider and Mrs Ladybird, were rescued by firemen from inside the peach...Mr and Mrs Fox, whose antics entertained the crowds...An aeroplane flew past with a welcome banner flying behind. Things were a little slow at this point, and there were some Welsh songs. I caught sight of people in fluorescent jackets, telling the crowd to move along. They were from the Ministry of the Predictable.
“The following hours involved getting a little sunburnt as well as being covered in snow (as Scott of the Antarctic passed by), catching site of a few Witches in wigs and gloves, a surreal acrobatics display of balancing books, a look at George’s Marvellous Medicine Machine, and the most incredible feat – Fantastic Mr Fox walking across a tightrope, suspended above Duke Street.
“The grand finale was set for 8pm...the wedding of Mrs Spider and the Fireman, at City Hall. This last part of the day’s events was certainly the most spectacular. We were encouraged to dance, and the bridal party processed from the National Museum, with ballet dancers and wedding guests.
"That’s when things really got interesting. Suddenly two singers appeared on the roof of City Hall, the wedding took place, and James floated by, suspended from his peach above the crowd. Fantastic Mr Fox began DJ-ing, encouraging everyone to dance, and a magnificent chocolate factory projection was shown on the façade of City Hall.”
The event, with no entry charge, attracted an unexpectedly large number of visitors. The build-up included free television advertising. But the reviewer homes in right at her start on the major demerit. “How do you know where to go and what time to be there?...I arrived in town to find a crowd of expectant families waiting outside Cardiff Castle, unsure what would be happening, or where, or when.”
The show came with no printed programme. The lack of a professional communications strategy was an overwhelming message on social media, or at least one strand. Many people had a great time but on a Sunday morning in Sydney my social media was awash with expressions of disappointment, irritation and frustration.
The complainants were in the main parents who were frustrated at having no programme. The National Theatre must take responsibility for the bodged communications. It must, however, be remembered that it is in line with company tradition. The care of audiences does not take high priority. The infatuation with technology is incurable. The app that was inaccessible is also a tool of social exclusion. Smartphone penetration is about 75% of the population. So the National Theatre deliberately leaves a quarter of the population unaddressed. This should not be the case.
There was an aftermath. The weekend failed to make any short-listing for the year's theatre awards. “The Good Earth”, “Wonderman”, “Meet Fred” and “Taming of the Shrew” were considered by the critics to be stronger ensemble events in the true sense.
Review at
http://www.iwa.wales/click/2016/09/city-of-the-unexpected/
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Top Spot Club Carlton Nottingham
Click above to see what great entertainment is coming up!
Free Parties
Member Privileges
Fantastic entertainment each and every Thursday, Saturday and Sunday night
Friday 23rd August
Posted on July 18, 2019 by Scott Adams
Soul & Motown Shownight
Detroit is a brand new show that burst into UK venue’s in 2014 They present a professional authentic stage show bringing you all the best from the Soul & Motown era… with hits from such artistes as: The Four Tops – The Temptations – The Drifters – The Tymes – Boys to Men – Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes plus many more……. Detroit consits of Lee Mason, Terry Buttler and Nigel Midgley, they have appeared together before in the multi award winning trio NYC, they were together 10 years and appeared in some of the most prestigous venue’s in the UK. Former clients include Warner – Bourne Liesure – Haven – Pontins – Centre Parks – Park Resorts & P & O and also seasonal work in Spain. Detroit have already appeared at the prestigious Blackpool Command Show in 2014 and are currently performing all round the country in social clubs and corporate venues With a fantastic stage set and state of the art P.A and lighting, programmed by show magic. Set List includes… The Love I Lost Dont Walk Away Im Doing Fine Just My Imagination Miss Grace Me and Mrs Jones Higher and Higher My Girl If You Dont Know Me By Now Driftaway When She Was My Girl Try A Little Tenderness Working My Way back to you Love Really Hurts Without You Kissing in the Back Row More Than a Number Red Light Love Train Hold Back The Night Baby Now That Ive Found You This Old Heart of Mine The Snake Tears of a Clown Everlasting Love I Cant Help Myself
Tickets Just £2.50 members / £5.00 Guests
Thursday 1st August
Bon Jovi Tribute by Karl Johnson
Karl Johnson has been a professional singer for 15 years. He is a graduate of the Royal Northern College of Music. Karl has performed in many venues up and down the country including the opening of the Rugby League World Cup supporting Bon Jovi and Nickelback in 2006 to over 130,000 people. Karl is well regarded as an energetic and charismatic front man, he brings together many of the most well known rock anthems of the last thirty years. Every song is a classic in it’s own right and guaranteed to have audiences on their feet.
Sensational Male / female pop duo
A fantastic vocal instrumental 2 piece presenting a dance floor filling mix of the very popclassics from the 60’s to present day. With a wealth of experience in the entertainment industry (in the Uk & internationally) Sheena & Keith always deliver a top class show filled with great music & fun.
Sunday 4th August
Personality Vocal Entertainer Female Solo Sarah James Sarah was part of a successful double act back in the late 90’s. Turning professional as a solo artiste in 2000 she was encouraged and managed to the top of her league. Now, after a break for family commitments, Sarah is back with a polished show featuring a wide variety of songs from Artistes such as Brenda Lee and Gladys Knight to Celine Dion and Adele. Appealing to audiences of all ages, Sarah is always well received.
Thursday 8th August
The Eagles Songbook is a performance celebrating the history and classic songs of this iconic American band. Performed by international duo “ Little Eagle” , the format of the show involves the greatest hits coupled with a narrative explaining the bands fascinating history and covers songs from the early years , “Take It Easy” , “Best Of My Love”, and moves through the years to include the classics “Hotel California”, “Life In The Fast Lane” and then “How Long” from their current period. Little Eagle are thought to be the only duo in the UK performing a tribute to The Eagles and involves vocals and guitar work faithful and authentic to the sound of the original songs. A must see if you are interested in the musical history of one of the worlds greatest bands.
Stunning Female Vocalist
Debbie J excellent vocal ability ensures a wide range of songs from a variety of genres, and is just as comfortable with jazz standards, rock and roll or current chart sounds so her audience can expect a varied selection ranging from the 1950’s through to current hits. Her usual repertoire, includes songs from popular icons such as Patsy Cline, Bette Midler, Cilla Black and Dusty Springfield, Candi Staton, Diana Ross and Dolly Parton. From the 80’s Blondie, Belinda Carlisle, Kim Wlilde and Cyndi Lauper. Mixing up the pop 2000’s with Atomic Kitten, Anastacia , Knarles Barkley, Shania Twain and more currently artists such as Rhianna, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry,Emeli Sande, Adele,James Blunt, Ed Sheeran and George Ezra.
Neil Warner is an Entertainer who is currently celebrating 24 years in the business, having performed all across the country and Europe. Neil engages with his audience within seconds of walking onto the stage. His warm and genuine personality is an instant hit and his “Geordie” banter has the crowd eating out of the palm of his hand. Whilst Neil is a natural comedy performer, his real talents shine the second he begins to sing. With a strong rounded voice of real quality he effortlessly slips into swing classics, with the charisma of a true Saturday night performer. There seems to be no end to the diversity of Neil’s talents as he launches into Classic Take That and Michael Buble, pleasing the younger members of the audience!
In Kahootz are a brand new super power duo launched in December 2018 featuring Kaz Monks on lead vocals & Gav Hardy on keyboards. Don’t think small & portable, think BIIIIG Show, mega rig, amazing light show & featuring 2 of the best in the bizness…what’s not to like…? Song List Anything For Love It’s My Life Marry You What’s Up Redneck Woman Proud Mary River Deep Faithfully Hold The Line So What Total Eclipse Seperate Ways I Found Someone Ironic What About Us Mickey Heaven Is A Place There Goes My First Love Shake Yer Tailfeather Think We’re Alone Man I Feel Like A Woman Sex On Fire Don’t Stop Believing Final Countdown Living On A Prayer and many more….
Nottingham based musical duo featuring Wildest Dream’s Terry Crofts and the Airtones’ Ryan Tyler. Covering a variety of hits from the 60’s to present day.
SMOOTHNESS PERSONIFIED… An Absolutely Fantastic Vocal Experience. Paul Stewart has a wealth of experience, having been in the business for over 15 years. His rich soulful voice, friendly charm, and a subtle touch of humour all contribute towards a show of the highest quality. Paul can work self contained or with live backing, and has vast experience of working the corporate markets, night clubs, golf clubs and holiday parks, having worked as lead singer with top Motown tribute band ‘Power And Soul’. Paul’s true musical loves are swing and soul, but as you will see Paul has the voice, the confidence and ability to tackle all musical genres. His silky smooth vocal is at its very best when delivering songs by Barry White, Frank Sinatra, Billy Ocean, Michael Buble, Tom Jones, Coldplay and The Drifters.
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For International Students, the Recent Re-Entry Visa Reform Is an Unnecessary Stress
The elimination of the online appointment system could make it more difficult for universities to attract international students, writes Jake Gilchrist.
Jake GilchristEditor-at-Large
The recent change to Ireland’s re-entry visa process, namely the discontinuation of the online appointment system, unnecessarily re-complicates a system that until now, was moving in the right direction. It reflects a fundamental misjudgement on the part of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS), and could have a knock-on effect for Ireland’s recruitment capabilities.
Effective on September 3rd, international students not holding EU passports will now only be able to obtain required re-entry visas by way of postal application. Previously, individuals were able to book in-person appointments online, a process that, at least on the surface level, was working sufficiently. Whilst some frustrations were present, namely that the daily release of appointments were almost immediately snapped up as soon as they went online, overall no real dissatisfaction existed with the system. Since the change, however, students have already voiced opposition to the decision, and rightly so, as it has seemingly taken a step back from a structure that was introduced as recently as 2016.
To start with, the new system, which now requires applicants to forfeit their passport for the five to six weeks prior to their travel, is inexplicably inefficient. Perhaps one of the biggest faults is that it completely misses the mark of what it is required for. The change in 2016 was designed to alleviate demand and pressure from excessive queues at the Burgh Quay immigration office. However, by reverting back to a system that fails to control the number of applications that require processing per day, pressure on the immigration office will no doubt increase during peak travel times, as internationals are free to submit applications as they desire. It is no surprise then that individuals have been warned that the processing time is expected to increase beyond the allocated six weeks.
It isn’t hard to imagine a student that is mulling over offers from various countries electing not to come to Ireland if they are then unable to enjoy the freedoms (and with that, the ability to leave) that come with being a student
Additionally, it fails to account for situations where emergency travel is necessary. While urgent appointments are still available online for a very select category of emergencies, those that have already forfeited their passport are unable to have it returned until the process is finished, a decision that seems beyond bizarre and in direct contrast to Ireland and the EU’s attitude towards mobility. Even the fact that students and international residents will be required to forfeit what is arguably their most vital identification document for that duration of time is bewildering.
Even if the immigration service was discontent with the way in which the previous system was running, the excuse of there being a lack of alternatives doesn’t apply in this case. It’s not as though better options don’t exist. China, for example, one of the most notoriously strict countries for visa restrictions, offers multi-year re-entry visas for travellers in a process that takes just over two weeks. Looking across the Irish sea to the UK, registered students are able to apply for a Biometric Residence Permit that allows for travel and proof of the individual’s immigration status. Those that are yet to register can still even obtain temporary visas that are also multiple entry. Why one of those two systems couldn’t be similarly established for internationals is unknown to me.
In the wake of Brexit and the uncertainty clouding the UK, there is an opportunity for Ireland to boost its attraction to international students given its continued existence in the EU
Overall, the new system, if not addressed soon, could hinder Ireland’s universities ability to recruit international students. Whilst this change is seemingly only a minor logistical inconvenience, and doesn’t affect the number of international students Irish universities are allowed to enrol, it could dissuade students from selecting Ireland altogether. It isn’t hard to imagine a student that is mulling over offers from various countries electing not to come to Ireland if they are then unable to enjoy the freedoms (and with that, the ability to leave) that come with being a student.
In the wake of Brexit and the uncertainty clouding the UK, there is an opportunity for Ireland to boost its attraction to international students given its continued existence in the EU. It therefore seems unwise to change a process to something that will only aggravate international students, and potentially hamper any advantage they had over Britain’s universities in terms of future appeal. For this reason, despite only taking effect on September 3rd, the new reform to the re-entry visa process needs correcting immediately as it worsens a process that, until now, required no meddling with.
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Pickens County’s Seventeenth Annual Ole Time Fiddler’s Convention with the Second Annual South Carolina State Fiddling Championship
Musicians mark your calendars
Pickens County’s Seventeenth Annual Ole Time Fiddlin' Convention
and Second Annual South Carolina State Fiddling Championship
To be held September 21 at Hagood Mill Historic Site & Folklife Center
The Pickens County Cultural Commission announces that the Second Annual South Carolina State Fiddling Championship will be held on Saturday, September 21, 2013 at Pickens County’s Seventeenth Annual Ole Time Fiddlin' Convention at Hagood Mill.
For hundreds of years the South has enjoyed a rich traditional musical heritage and the upcountry counties of South Carolina have been no less than a hot bed of these traditions. The Scots Irish and other immigrants that established homesteads brought with them their fiddles and a heritage of music. These are the folks that populated the southern-most tip of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
One of the last of the official old time fiddling competitions in the upstate was held in 1924 at Tillman Hall on the campus of Clemson College (University) as mountain men and women gathered to compete with their treasured fiddles and other instruments. For the last sixteen years, Pickens County has celebrated this music with their annual Ole Time Fiddlin’ Convention, a throwback to a very upcountry tradition of the last hundred years. Yes, three miles north of Pickens, SC, one crosses the tributaries of the Twelve Mile River and at the Hagood Mill Historic Site & Folklife Center enters the homeland of the South Carolina Dark Corner mountain people, their rollicking fiddle music, and a rich history of traditional culture and arts.
Come join the friends of the Hagood Mill Historic Site & Folklife Center and the Pickens County Museum on Saturday, September 21, as "MUSIC in the MOUNTAINS 2013" kicks off its fall season with Pickens County’s Seventeenth Annual Ole Time Fiddlin' Convention on the outdoor stage at Hagood Mill. Musicians and guests are invited to arrive as early as Friday afternoon and set up overnight camping spots at out primitive camping area. The Saturday Competition will begin at 10:30 am. Awards and cash prizes will be given to the top three performers in each of the following categories: String Band, Banjo, Guitar, “Wildcat” Open (anything musical), Junior Fiddle, Junior Open (both Jr. divisions = 16 and under) and Fiddle. The Winner of the Fiddle Competition will be designated the 2013 South Carolina State Fiddling Champion. Competition entry is free. For Stringband and Fiddle we do request pre-registration, but contestants in all other categories should register for competitions by one hour before contest time. Early registration and a complete set of competition rules are available by calling the Pickens County Museum at (864) 898-5963 or by email at [email protected].
Entry for this full day of music, tradition and a mighty good time is only $5.00 parking fee per car. Join us as the festive season kicks off! The Pickens County Cultural Commission, as always, invites you to a special day of milling, music and memories. Plan on coming out for the whole show! Bring a lawn chair and enjoy a day of rip-roaring, foot-stomping music by some of the region's best old time musicians! One and all are also invited to bring their instruments and add to the entertainment with the open jams on site throughout the day.
The water-powered 1845 gristmill, one of the finest examples of nineteenth century technology in the Upstate, operates just as it has for the last century-and-a-half and will be running throughout the day. In the old mill, fresh stone-ground corn meal, grits and wheat flour will be available, as well as Hagood Mill cookbooks and a variety of other mill related items.
The Hagood Mill hosts a variety of folklife and traditional arts demonstrations each month, including blacksmithing, bowl-digging, flintknapping, chair-caning, moonshining, broom-making, quilting, spinning, knitting, weaving, woodcarving, open-hearth cooking, metal-smithing, pioneer toys and games and more!
So, head on out, enjoy some good old southern cooking prepared by our food vendors from GateHouse Restaurant, and show our support for the Mill and the Pickens County Museum by joining them at this very special Third Saturday event. The Hagood Mill operates, rain or shine, the third Saturday of every month and is located just 3 miles north of Pickens or 5 ½ miles south of Cherokee Foothills Scenic Hwy 11 off SC Hwy 178 at 138 Hagood Mill Road. Hagood Mill is open Wednesday through Saturday from 10:00 until 4:00, to tour the buildings and grounds and to visit the Mill Site Gift Shop.
The Seventeenth Annual Ole Time Fiddlin’ Convention and SC State Fiddling Championship is sponsored, to date, by a private benefactor. SPONSORSHIPS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE. This is a great way to promote YOUR business. The Pickens County Museum of Art & History is funded in part by Pickens County, members and friends of the museum and a grant from the South Carolina Arts Commission, which receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts. We would also like to thank GateHouse Restaurant for their generous gift of feeding our mill site volunteers.
For additional information or to be placed on a distribution list for competition rules, please contact the Pickens County Museum at (864) 898-5963 or the Hagood Mill at (864) 898-2936 or by email at [email protected] .
Pickens County’s Ole Time Fiddlin’ Convention
& South Carolina State Fiddling Championship
Saturday, Sept 21, 2012 at Hagood Mill Historic Site & Folklife Center
Rules for Competition
(1) Registration for String Band Competition and Fiddling Championship is in advance by email to [email protected] or by phone to the Pickens County Museum (864-898-5963) with a deadline of noon Friday, September 14. Please give name of band and contact info for one member.
(2) All other category registration must be completed 1 hour before competition begins at the mill site on festival day.
(3) The individual instrument categories are as follows:
(A) Fiddle, (B) Old Time Banjo, (C) Guitar (D) “Wildcat” Open Category.
(E) We also will have Junior Fiddle and (F) Junior Open (under age 16) categories (Juniors that wish to compete in an adult category cannot also compete in that same category in the Jr. competition.)
(4) The judges’ decision is final.
(5) The judges will not enter or play in any competition category.
(6) No electric instruments will be permitted.
(7) Each contestant will play one tune except fiddlers, who will be asked to play two tunes, one slow and one fast. Instrument competition will be all instrumentals. All string bands will be asked to play a mini-set consisting of five tunes to include at least one vocal number and one slow tune with several breakdown dance tunes (note: depending on the number of entries, we may choose at our discretion to shorten this mini-set for each band).
(8) Each individual contestant (not bands) is encouraged to observe a time limit of three (3) minutes per tune.
(9) Each contestant may have one accompanist, but this is not required.
(10) Contestants may enter as many categories as they wish. However, contestants may enter the “open” category only once.
(11) No category will be judged unless there is a minimum of three entries competing in that category.
(12) Contestants must be present and play when scheduled. Allowances will be made for broken strings and other things beyond the control of the contestant. Once a category is closed, late arrivals or no-shows will be eliminated.
(13) Emphasis will be on old time or traditional music. Tunes and playing styles should be traditional old time, not modern, progressive bluegrass, or other styles. However, Bluegrass fiddlers may enter the fiddle competition. “Show off” tunes, such as Orange Blossom Special, Whoa Mule, etc. should be avoided. Original material consistent with the tradition is acceptable.
(14) An “old time string band” must consist of a fiddle, banjo, and at least one other stringed instrument (guitar, mandolin, dulcimer, etc.) with a maximum of six instruments. Musicians can only enter in one band.
(15) In the event of a tie, there will be a play-off. A contestant may not repeat the same tune in the play-off that he or she played earlier in the competition category.
(16) Contestants will be judged on tuning, rhythm & timing (even & consistent- any jerking, rushing, dragging, or unevenness in tempo will result in loss of points), and execution (tonal quality and clarity of performance and general command of the instrument). Creativity and expression will also be judged as well as authenticity of style. Variations and improvisations will be allowed under creativity, but these should not be excessive, so as to destroy or change the basic melody line of the tune. Expression will be judged by the “feeling” expressed in the contestant’s performance. Flat, mechanical and unfeeling performances, as well as excessive “showmanship”, will result in loss of points.
For additional information please contact the Pickens County Museum at (864) 898-5963. For Ole Time Fiddlin’ Competition rules and guidelines please request by email at [email protected]
187 Hagood Mill Rd
$5.00 parking fee/car for a fun filled day.
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The Big Gang Theory
Posted Tuesday, April 3, 2018 1:02 pm
What’s rarer than an April snowstorm spitting cotton ball-sized flakes onto our heads the day after a sunny, near-60-degree Easter Sunday?
Bipartisanship in our government, of course.
While Rhode Island Republicans and Democrats probably have more in common than, say, Blue and Red politicians in Texas or Kentucky, there still exists a notable presence of partisan politics within the State House, where Democrats outnumber Republicans 64 to 11 in the House and 33 to 5 in the Senate.
Time will tell if this partisanship has a particularly strong hold on politics in Rhode Island, as there are numerous gun control bills going through the legislature at this moment – and proposing restrictions on the Second Amendment, to state the obvious, is undoubtedly among the most polarizing of issues between those who identify as Republican and those who identify as otherwise.
That is why the story running this week on the so-dubbed “Gang of Five,” a group of both Democrat and Republican legislators in the Rhode Island General Assembly who are working hand-in-hand on good, common sense policies, is so encouraging and refreshing in a time where politics – more than perhaps ever – takes on the form of a competitive sporting match rather than an implementation of the will of the citizenry.
As even sixth-grade students can ascertain during their social studies courses, partisanship is an inherently dangerous concept. Voting based on which label is attached to a politician (does he play for my team?) is a fundamentally flawed way to view politics and make decisions. Some Republican ideals have merit, and some Democratic policies do too. Philosophically, politicians should succeed or fail on their ability to disassociate from the party’s line and evaluate ideas on that merit, not whether or not it came from someone on their team.
The Gang of Five is proving this is possible, and even in its infancy, this group legislators may have a profound effect on local governance. The gang consists of Republicans Rep. Kenneth J. Mendonça of Middletown and Rep. Robert Lancia of Cranston, as well as Democrats Rep. Evan Shanley and Camille Vella-Wilkinson (both of Warwick) and Rep. Moria Walsh of Providence.
The bipartisan group started as a result of Rep. Shanley looking into drafting a bill to create an inspector general for Rhode Island to weed out wasteful spending and try to de-bloat the more than $9 billion state budget. As good ideas tend to go, someone else had already thought of this and had introduced a bill. In this case, that someone else was Rep. Lancia. Despite their party affiliations, the two representatives sought to work together on a bill, which has since gathered 30 signatures from other legislators.
Any attempt to weed the state government back into a realm of normality should be applauded by all politicians in Rhode Island, regardless of your political party.
Rhode Island has less land to manage than any other state, and we have the second highest population density of any state (behind only New Jersey). Studies have shown we have the 4th-highest tax burden in the nation, yet we rank 27th in return on investment for those taxes. States with similar populations (Maine and New Hampshire) have budgets of $7.1 billion and $5.7 billion respectively. There is waste happening somewhere – and the current practices employed, an auditor general, is clearly not enough to find and eliminate it.
Other work important to the gang includes a bill to forcefully stop shaming practices of schools that – if a student cannot afford their lunch – force students to perform work duty or throw away lunch in front of their peers. This indecent act of shaming, regardless of how infrequently or frequently it occurs, should be a no-brainer to enforce. Kids do not have control over the financial conditions in which they find themselves in, and they should not be subject to ridicule for being in such a position.
To put it simply, working together should be the goal of any body of elected officials. Politicians were not intended to be given legislative power in order to play team sports based on political parties, or further the will of partisan lobbying groups. They were elected for the people, by the people. The Gang of Five should, in theory, be the Gang of 113.
EDITORIAL: Let them eat facts - A cautionary lesson in outrage culture
Cianci
RED SOX CHRISTMAS
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Ariana Scotti Arthur J. Nagle Bill Gracey Chris A. Durbin Daniel S. O'Connell David J. Berk Dr. Ralph Snyderman Dr. Susan Weaver Ian C. Singleton James L. Elrod, Jr. James P. Kelley Jeffrey P. Ansell John B. Stephens Kenneth J. O'Keefe Kevin A. Mundt Neil R. Merchant Nikhil J. Bhat Norman W. Alpert Perry S. Leavitt R. Wilson Orr Richard A. Barasch Robert L. Rosner Roger C. Holstein Stephen J. Gold Vita Cassese Wayne Callahan Winston H. Song
Stephen J. Gold
Stephen J. Gold serves as the Executive Vice President, CTO and Chief Digital Operations Officer of Hudson’s Bay Company. Steve is a seasoned senior technology executive, business leader and digital pioneer, with a strong track record in the successful design, implementation, operation and support of large-scale technology initiatives and associated businesses. At Hudson’s Bay Company, Steve oversees digital product strategy and development, systems architecture, product engineering and operations. Steve previously served as Executive Vice President, Chief Information Officer and member of the Executive Committee of CVS Health. In this role, Steve operated as the company’s senior technology executive, responsible for all information systems and technology operations including the digital business, as well as client service operations within the company. Steve also previously held the roles at Avaya, Inc. as Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer.
Steve holds Corporate Director roles at Verint and World Fuel Services and sits on the technology advisory boards of SkyRepublic, Kazuhm and Analytics Ventures. Steve is also a member of the College of Professional Studies Advisory Board of St. John’s University. As a thought leader in the technology community, Steve is active at industry conferences, frequently participating as a keynote speaker, and is often quoted as a subject matter expert in publications.
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Y’town’s state report card shows schools in jeopardy
Vindicator Editorial: September 24, 2017 at 12:00a.m.
A dozen F’s on Youngs- town School District’s state report card should be considered the warning bell for the urban system.
By this time next year the grades from the statewide proficiency tests had better show marked improvement, or there could be a restructuring of the failing schools.
One solution would be for the state to turn the worst performing schools in Youngstown into charter schools. This isn’t idle chatter.
Ohio Gov. John R. Kasich has taken a particular interest in the city district because it has been in the academic cellar for so long.
It was Republican Kasich’s appeal to local business and community leaders to come up with a plan to reform the district that led to enactment of House Bill 70. The law, commonly referred to as the Youngstown Plan, contains two significant provisions. One is the appointment of a special academic distress commission to govern the district. Two is the creation of a chief executive officer position with full authority over the day-to-day operation of the district.
The CEO supplants the superintendent and the elected school board.
The Youngstown School District Academic Distress Commission hired Krish Mohip to serve as the first chief executive officer of a public school system in Ohio.
Mohip, a veteran educator from Chicago, began his assignment in late June 2016 and spent the first nine months developing an academic recovery plan.
Parts of the plan took effect last school year, but the majority of the changes that touch on all aspects of the system have been put in place this year.
In other words, Mohip will be singularly responsible for the 2017-18 state report card.
Opponents of the Youngstown Plan are quick to blame Mohip and the distress commission for this year’s state report card with the 12 F’s, two B’s, one C and one D.
Public scrutiny
While we have consistently argued that it would be ridiculous to expect a sea change in the academic performance of the students after just one year and three months in Mohip’s tenure, the CEO has opened himself up to public scrutiny by taking credit for the B grade on the Kindergarten to Third Grade literacy component.
He also talked about the five-year graduation rate. The 79.8 percent on the 2016-17 card was an improvement over the 74.2 percent in 2015-16.
“That’s significant and we’re proud of that progress, but we also recognize that we have a lot more work to do,” Mohip said in a news release issued on the day the Ohio Department of Education made public the test results for all school districts in Ohio.
He would have been well advised not to claim any credit for any improvements because now his detractors insist he owns the entire report card.
An objective review of the past seven years will show that the failure of the city school district is deeply rooted, and drastic action is required to bring about the recovery.
There is no going back to the days when the elected school board held sway and often undermined the ability of the superintendent to make the changes necessary.
Mohip has spent the last year building his leadership team and shoring up the central office. The latter part of last school year focused on academics. Hence his taking credit for the grade improvements in the report card.
“This school year has a laser focus on instruction, and we expect next year’s report to reflect that,” the chief executive officer said.
The community has the same expectation.
Despite the vocal critics, Mohip has enjoyed strong support from the distress commission, parents and guardians and grass-roots organizations.
The return to neighborhood schools has been well received, while the implementation of new discipline policies is designed to keep errant students off the streets.
There also have been major changes in the ranks of principals and extensive training in new teaching methods.
We have been unwavering in our support of the distress commission and the CEO because of our long-held belief that the status quo was unsustainable.
That said, our backing will evaporate should we find that Mohip isn’t living up to the commitments he has made to the children of Youngstown.
September 18, 2016 midnight
State report card is proof of Y’town schools’ failing
Y’town schools CEO Mohip has a year to deliver results
October 7, 2018 midnight
Youngstown schools CEO should not keep his bonus
Restore our power, Youngstown school board urges state association
Y'town schools get going with great expectations
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WeWere At The World Youth Forum
You are here: Home / News & Updates / We Were At The World Youth Forum
16/11/2018 by Priscilla Asamani
Between November 3-6, 2018, we were represented at the World Youth Forum at Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt by Ms. Obaa Akua Konadu, our Policy and Advocacy Manager.
The World Youth Forum is a platform built by young people for young people across the world. The forum was organised under the auspices of the Egyptian President, H.E Abdel Fattah El-Sisi towards the amplification of the message of peace, prosperity, harmony and progress to the world. The Forum pillars are Peace, Development, Creativity, which are topics of interest to the international youth and the forum provides a platform to express views, present ideas and share experiences through the sessions.
Some of the sessions focused on topics such as ‘The Role of World Leaders in Building and Sustaining Peace’, ‘Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want’, ‘The Role of Entrepreneurs and Startups in Global Economic Growth’ and ‘How Do We Build Future Leaders’. On peacebuilding, it was discussed that it is important to communicate, engage and build empathy; as this will foster mutual respect. Furthermore, conflict-preventive measures is critical and less costly. As more young people are trained and educated on the usefulness of preserving peace, it is important to also trust the youth in the process of building peace in our communities and countries.
On volunteerism, panellists shared some insights valuable to the youth and organisations that seek to engage the services of volunteers. Volunteerism provides an opportunity to young people to develop their skills, encounter new people, gain out-of-school experience that allows the individuals to apply themselves in different circumstances, and consequently influencing the career paths of many. For organisations that seek to engage the services of volunteers, it is important to provide a job description that can help share the engagement of individuals in a more structured manner.
Some of the recommendations made over the period include launch “One Africa” initiative to create a platform for integration within Africa; organise Young African Entrepreneurs Forum as part of the World Youth Forum events; launch the Euro-Mediterranean Youth Forum to be held annually and hosted by each Euro-Mediterranean State; and integrate internet security programmes into school curriculums to protect children from cyber bullying.
The forum attracted the participation of about 5000 people from over 150 countries.
Filed Under: News & Updates
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The Working Waterfront Archives
DMR begins suspension process of Orland fisherman
By Staff Writer — June 2, 2014
AUGUSTA — The Department of Marine Resources has begun the process of suspending the license of Theodore Gray, 34, of Orland for violating state law.
In a press release issued June 2, DMR noted it would seek a three-year suspension or Gray, who was charged on May 9 with possessing 123 undersized lobsters and 269 V-notched lobsters, and with molesting lobster gear. The charges are Class D crimes carrying the possible penalty of a year in jail for each violation and possible fines exceeding $100,000.
DMR Commissioner Patrick Keliher had strong words about the charges against Gray.
“Compounding the trap molesting charge are two of the most appalling violations of Maine’s lobster laws in decades,” he said. “The charges for possession of hundreds of short lobsters and V-notched lobsters make this case a top priority for me, and I am committed to taking quick and decisive action against anyone who so deliberately disregards Maine’s critically important marine resources conservation laws.”
The trap molesting charge stemmed from an investigation by Maine Marine Patrol Officers who said they found Gray, who fishes out of Stonington, with more than 20 lobster traps that belonged to another harvester.
“Molesting traps, which includes possessing someone else’s traps, has long been considered one of the most serious violations within the lobster fishery,” Keliher.
Under state law, the commissioner is authorized to administratively suspend the license of anyone licensed by DMR for violating marine resources laws. The suspension may follow a review of evidence from the investigation of criminal or civil violations, even before a conviction.
“In a situation like this, with an individual who has been charged with such egregious violations, there is a very real potential for problems within a community should he remain in the fishery,” Keliher said.
Authorities go after Newfoundland lobster poachers
Three new officers at Maine Marine Patrol
Record lobster landings in 2014: 123 million pounds, $456…
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Written by CKT. Posted in Uncategorised
The Point Race:
Regardless of the format of each stop, every match you win in the Elite Division division counts towards the Point Race.
Regardless of the match length, for each match played (byes and sit-outs do not count) and won in the main round 10 points and in Ultimate Fight 5 points. Additionally, 10 points are awarded for each participation at any of the stops. In case of a play-off, each match played and won will add 5 points to a player.
Players who qualify directly for the Grand Finale by being in the top 2 of a stop will not be considered in the Point Race and can´t qualify a second time.
The top 8 performers in the Point Race will be granted an entry to the Grand Finale. Should a player be already qualified, the next best gets the qualification spot. Should any of the qualified players not be present at the Grand Finale, his spot will be given to the next available player of the Point Race, according to his ranking (from highest to lowest).
Seats are not transferable and can´t be sold. No direct buy-ins to the Grand Finale.
Each stop of the Tour will deduct 10% from the prize-pool (and the Added Money) of the Elite Group to contribute and pay for the entries of qualifying winners from the Point Race.
16 real players will take part at the Grand Finale. In the unlikely event of a qualified player wins a stop or be among the qualifying places, the next best qualifies.
Should the last qualifying spot of the Point Race show an equal number between 2 or more players, the one with the most participation at stops of the Tour will qualify.
GMS Point Race as of 19th July 2016 [PDF File] 305 kB
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EBGT Standings
Regardless of the format of each stop, every match you win in the Championship division counts towards the Point Race.
NEW: Regardless of the match length, for each match played (byes do not count) and won in the main round 11 points. Additionally, 10 points are awarded for each participation at any of the stops. In case of a play-off, each match played and won will add 7 points to a player.
Players who qualify directly for the Grand Finale by winning a stop of the EBGT or taking the option) will not be considered for the Point Race.
The top 11 performers in the Point Race will be granted an entry at the Grand Finale. Should any of the qualified players not be present at the Grand Finale, his spot will be given to the next available player of the Point Race, according to his ranking (from highest to lowest).
Each stop of the Tour will deduct 1,000 €uro from the prize-pool or the Added Money of the Champions Division to contribute and pay for the entries of qualifying winners from the Point Race.
17 to 23 real players will take part at the Grand Finale. In the unlikely event of a qualified player wins a stop, the finalist of that stop will be deducted the entry fee and qualifies. Should the finalist be already qualified as well, the semi-finalists will play off to qualify (the entry fee will be deducted from the prize pool of that winner).
Point Race final standings per 28. January 2014 (after German Masters 2014)
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Tournament Rules WBA/EBGT
Edition 2.0 – January 2016 - updated
1. PROPRIETIES
3. PREPARATION
4. THE GAME
5. DISPUTES
1.1 Interpretation
These tournament rules cannot and are not meant to cover every possible situation that might arise during the course of a match. They are not a substitute for the tournament director's judgement and right to find a fair solution, suitable for the specific circumstances.
BACKGAMMON RULES: The rules of backgammon approved by the WBA/EBGT board must be used in all tournaments approved by the board. Tournament directors and/or players must not use rules other than the current rules of backgammon.
TOURNAMENT RULES: The current tournament rules apply to all tournaments approved by the EBGT and tournament directors and players must not use rules other than these.
In general: Tournament directors and players are expected to behave in the spirit of the game exhibiting good sportsmanship and considerate behaviour at all times.
Handling of equipment: Players must handle the equipment in a suitable manner. Inappropriate handling may result in disqualification.
PENALTIES: A player in violation of § 1.2, subsections 1-3 may be disqualified and excluded from the tournament. In special cases the player may be temporarily barred from future tournaments. A tournament director in violation of § 1.2, subsections 1-3 may be banned from acting as a tournament director.
1.3 Staff
TOURNAMENT DIRECTORS: The tournament must be supervised by one or more skilled and impartial tournament directors.
RULING COMMITTEE: A tournament committee can be formed as needed according to § 5.2. The committee should comprise either three or five knowledgeable and impartial backgammon players. A tournament director connected to the tournament can not be a member of the ruling committee.
OBSERVERS: The tournament director can, on his or her own initiative, or at the request of a player, appoint someone to monitor the match. The monitor has the authority to protect the player from illegalities. The tournament director has the right to charge a fee from the players, when an observer is appointed.
1.4 Registration
APPROVAL: All players who sign up for a tournament must be approved by the tournament director. A player may be excluded without explanation.
ASSIGNMENT TO HIGHER FLIGHTS: In tournaments held with more than one flight, a player may be barred from a lower flight and be placed in a higher flight.
REPORT: When a tournament director refuses entry to a player in accordance with § 1.4, subsection 1, or places a player in a higher flight in accordance with §1.4, subsection 2, this fact must be reported to WBA/EBGT/board by the tournament director immediately after the completion of the tournament. The report must explain the reasons for the ruling.
The official language of international tournaments is English. While a match is in progress players and/or spectators are not permitted to speak in anything but the official language, English.
1.6 Spectators
IN GENERAL: Spectators must observe the match in silence. Spectators may not direct attention to mistakes in the game nor comment on the game. In cases of cheating, spectators may alert the tournament director.
SIGNALLING AND OTHER FORMS OF OUTSIDE HELP: When a match is in progress, spectators are not allowed to signal or help the players in any way.
PENALTIES: Violation of § 1.6, subsections 1-2 may result in expulsion of the spectators involved. In special cases the spectators may be temporarily barred from participating in and/or watching future tournaments.
REQUESTS: A player may make a request to the tournament director, that one or more spectators be barred from watching the match.
REPORTS: When a tournament director has disqualified and/or excluded a spectator in accordance with § 1.6, subsection 3, the fact must be reported to the WBA/EBGT board by the tournament director immediately after the completion of the tournament. The report must explain the reasons for the ruling.
1.7 Aids, signalling and other forms of outside help
IN GENERAL: When a match is in progress, a player is not permitted to use electronic, mechanical, written or other aids other than those necessary to keep score. A player may use position cards, headphones, a cell phone, camera or the like, if the opponent accepts it in each instance. The tournament director can revoke this permission at any time. In matches played without the use of a game clock, position cards must be used after the end of the player's turn. In matches played with game clock players are allowed to record matches and positions and/or take pictures of positions in their own time. The position must be written down in the player's own time. When the writing of the position has commenced, the move may not be changed.
SIGNALLING AND OTHER FORMS OF OUTSIDE HELP: When a match is in progress, players are not allowed to receive signals or help in any other way from the spectators.
PENALTIES: Violation of § 1.7, subsections 1-2 may result in disqualification and expulsion of the player. In special cases the player may be temporarily barred from participation in future tournaments.
REQUESTS: A player may make a request to the tournament director that the remaining part of the match be overseen by a monitor.
REPORTS: When a tournament director has disqualified and/or expelled a player in accordance with § 1.7, subsection 3, the fact must be reported to the WBA/EBGT board by the tournament director immediately after the completion of the tournament. The report must explain the reasons for the ruling.
2.1 Place
All matches must be played in the tournament area designated by the tournament director. A player may demand that a match is played in a non-smoking area if such exists.
2.2 Starting times and breaks
STARTING TIMES: All matches must begin at the scheduled times.
BREAKS: A player is entitled to a number of 5 minutes breaks in matches of minimum 7 points. In matches up to 11 points: one break. In matches of 13-17 points and more: two breaks. In matches of 17 points and more: three breaks. Breaks are held between games. Breaks can be held back to back. This may be done either by one player combining several of his or her permitted breaks or by both players combining their breaks. Any situation when a player leaves the board is considered to be a break unless doing so is a necessary part of the game. When playing best of three matches to 3-7 points breaks are only allowed between the matches. Using the game clock, breaks are added to the total bank time of the players, who may or may not use their break(s) and decide on the length of those. The clock is NOT stopped during breaks and the time is running. When the player on break returns and his opponent is not at the board, he must press the clock while waiting for his opponent. If both players are on break and have stopped the clock, they both will be deducted 5 minutes of their total bank time. Point penalties may be given in case of repetition.
EXEMPTIONS: In special cases the tournament director may make an exemption from § 2.2, subsections 1-2, if particular concerns to one or both players warrant this. In matches of special importance the tournament director can make exemptions from § 2.2, subsections 1-2.
PENALTIES: Violation of the rules for starting times and breaks will result in penalty points. If a player is not present and has not started the match 5 minutes after the starting time, one penalty point is awarded. Subsequently a further penalty point is awarded for each subsequent 5 minutes delay. When a player has been awarded penalty points corresponding to more than half of the length of the match, the late player loses the match. Players leaving the tournament area for more than 10 minutes must make sure they have permission from the tournament director before doing so to avoid sanctions. If a player is awarded penalty points and the match is played with a game clock after the start, the game is considered to be in progress and the time is calculated in accordance with § 3.5, subsection 6. If a game clock is used and both players are not present at the start of the match, both their time will be deducted according to their delays. If one player is present and the opponent is missing at the scheduled start of a match, the tournament director has to be notified and will order the start of the clock after a 5 minutes time allowance.
2.3 Slow play
PENALTIES: If the tournament director considers that a match is being played at an unreasonably slow pace, the following sanctions may be used:
1. The remainder of the match is played using a game clock. See § 3.5.6.
2. A warning. If the slow pace persists, penalty points may be awarded.
REQUESTS: A player may make a request to the tournament director, that the remainder of the match is played using a game clock or that an observer is appointed to monitor the match.
2.4 Random and valid dice
PENALTIES: If the tournament director considers a player to be in violation of § 4.1, subsection 1 or § 4.1, subsection 4, no. 1, he or she may rule that the remainder of the match has to be played using a baffle box.
REQUESTS: A player may make a request to the tournament director that the remainder of the match is played using a baffle box or that an observer is appointed to monitor the match.
3.1 The board
If it is available, a player can demand that the board, when opened, is a minimum of 44 cm by 55 cm and a maximum of 66 cm by 88 cm. If such a board is only available after the match is started, a player can demand that the board is replaced at that time. The board can be replaced only between games. All dice and doubling cubes not in use must be removed from the board before the start of the match. The use of official tournament equipment, if provided and available, has priority over personal equipment.
3.2 Cups
If they are available, a player can demand that cups with an interior lip are used in preference to those without an interior lip. If cups with an interior lip are available only after the match is started, a player can demand that the cups in use are replaced at that time.
3.3 The dice
IN GENERAL: If they are available a player can demand that precision dice are used in preference to other dice. If precision dice are only available after the match is started, the player can demand that the dice are replaced at that time.
IN MATCHES PLAYED WITHOUT THE USE OF A GAME CLOCK: The players must select four dice. These must be used for the entire match, except for situations as described in § 3.3, subsection 1 and § 3.7, subsection 1. Each player must use two dice.
IN MATCHES PLAYED WITH THE USE OF A GAME CLOCK: The players must select four dice. These must be used for the entire match, except for situations as described in § 3.3, subsection 1 and § 3.7, subsection 1. Only two dice are in use in each game. Four dice must be present at the board though, so that a change of dice is possible.
3.4 Baffle box
SITUATIONS: Backgammon matches involving the use of a baffle box may occur as an option, preference, obligation or penalty.
Option: In any tournament the players can choose to play the match using a baffle box if both parties agree to use it.
Preference: A player may demand that the match is played using baffle box, if it is announced in the tournament invitation that the tournament, or parts thereof, is to be held with a preference for baffle boxes.
Obligation: Players are obligated to play the match using baffle box, if it is announced in the tournament invitation that the tournament, or parts thereof, is held with an obligation to use baffle boxes.
In any tournament the players are obligated to play the match using a baffle box, if the tournament director requests it.
EXEMPTIONS: In special cases the tournament director may make exemptions from § 3.4, subsection 1 no. 2-3, if special concerns to one or both players warrant such exemptions.
CONSTRUCTION AND APPROVAL: The baffle box must be properly constructed. If a player demands that the baffle box be approved by the tournament director, it must be approved before the match can be started.
PLACING: If a baffle box is in use, it must be placed opposite to the home boards of the players.
3.5 Game clocks
SITUATIONS. Backgammon matches with the use of a game clock may occur as an option, preference, obligation or penalty.
Option: In any tournament the players may choose to play the match using a game clock if both parties agree to it.
Preference: A player can demand that the match is played using a game clock, if it is announced in the tournament invitation, that the tournament, or parts thereof, is held with a preference for game clocks.
Obligation: Players must play the match using game clocks, if it is announced in the tournament invitation, that the tournament, or parts thereof, is held with an obligation for game clocks.
Penalty: In any tournament the players are obligated to play the remainder of a match in progress using a game clock, if the tournament director makes such a ruling in accordance with § 2.3.
The tournament director can demand that a match is played using a game clock at any time.
EXEMPTIONS: In special cases the tournament director may make exemptions from § 3.5, subsection 1 no. 2-3, if special concerns to one or both players warrant this.
CONSTRUCTION AND APPROVAL: The game clock must be properly constructed. If a player demands for the game clock to be approved by the tournament director, it must be approved before the match can be started.
PLACING: If a game clock is in use, it must by default be placed on the same side as the home boards of the players. If both players agree to put it on the other side this is acceptable.
SETTING THE GAME CLOCK: All matches played using game clocks must use Bronstein time. Each player is allotted 2 minutes per point of the match (match time). In addition to this each player is allowed 12 seconds delay before the match time commences (delay time). The 12 seconds of delay time cannot be accumulated.
TIME CONTROL: In a match played using game clocks in situations such as those referred to in § 3.5, subsection 1, no. 1-4 each player is allotted a certain number of minutes according to the length of the match. The number of minutes allotted is calculated as RA+RB, where RA is the number of points lacking for player A to win the match and RB is the number of points lacking for player B to win the match.
3.6 Preferences
Preferences such as seating, direction of play, choice of board, checkers, dice, baffle box or game clock are determined by the throw of the dice before the start of the match if this proves to be necessary.
3.7 Change of equipment
IN GENERAL: The tournament director can change the equipment being used at any time. The players are only allowed to change the equipment in use in a match in progress, if the equipment is defective, or if they are in agreement or under the provisions of § 3.1, § 3.2 or §3.3, subsection 1.
PARTICULARLY FOR GAME CLOCKS: A game clock with obvious errors must be replaced immediately. The tournament director must set the time on the substitute game clock according to his or her best estimate.
3.8 Notation and filming
The tournament director can, on his or her own initiative, or at the request of a player, allow the match to be recorded. Match recording can be done manually and/or put directly in a computer, or per camera recording. If the recording is requested by a player, the equipment or the person to record the match must be provided and approved by the tournament director and/or the ruling committee. Match recording per camera is optional, unless expressly demanded by the Tournament Director (live-stream purposes). If both players can´t agree on the use of a camera, they roll for the decision.
4.1 Dice and throws
RANDOM DICE: The dice are a means to obtain random numbers ranging from 1 to 6. Any other use of the dice is a violation of the rules and the spirit of backgammon.
HANDLING OF THE DICE: Touching the dice while they are on the board is prohibited. However, a player may move his or her own dice to make room for moving the checkers after notifying the opponent of this.
CHANGE OF DICE: A player can demand that all four dice are mixed before any game of the match. In that case the player demanding the mixing must shake all four dice in a cup and roll them. Then the players take turns selecting dice, starting with the player that did not demand the mixing.
VALID ROLLS.
In matches played without a baffle box. A valid roll consists of the dice being shaken in a cup, and then rolled out of the cup not touching the player's hand and the cup not touching the board, so that the dice may tumble and roll freely. After the roll, both dice must be lying flat on the board to the roller's right of the bar, otherwise the roll must be redone. If the opponent has given his or her permission, the dice may be rolled to the roller's left of the bar. A player who has obtained permission to throw to the left of the bar may only throw to the right of the bar after notifying the opponent of this. Permission to throw to the left of the bar expires when such notice is made or when the game is played to the end.
In matches played using baffle box. A valid roll consists of the dice being shaken in a cup, and then rolled out of the cup and into the baffle box not touching the player's hand. After the roll, both dice must be lying flat on the board to the right of the bar, otherwise the roll must be redone.
PREMATURE ACTION.
In general: If a player rolls the dice before the opponent has finished his or her turn, the roll may only be rerolled if the opponent demands so.
In matches using a game clock: If player B picks up the dice before player A has ended his or her turn, player B is given a warning. If the premature action is repeated the player is assigned a time penalty of 30 seconds. Player A makes his or her claim of the time penalty by finishing his or her turn, then stopping the game clock and presenting the fact to player B. When player B has accepted the fact, the penalty is executed by player A starting the game clock in player B's time. After the countdown of the delay time and the assigned 30 seconds of game time, player B presses the game clock, and then Player A presses the game clock. Now player B is ready to commence his or her turn. If Player A has less than 30 seconds on the clock the clock is set to 1 second. If the premature action is repeated after the clock is set to 1 second the match is lost.
END OF TURN.
In matches played without the use of a game clock: The player ends his or her turn by lifting either or both of his or her dice.
In matches played using a game clock: The player ends his or her turn by pressing the button on his or her side of the game clock. If the opponent will not be able to make a valid move or turn the cube, the player must still end his or her turn by pressing the button. The dice may not be picked up, because the opponent will have to use them. If the dice have been picked up anyway and the player has activated the opponent's time on the game clock, the game clock may be stopped and the opponent may roll the dice and move or consider doubling without the clock being started.
4.2 Checkers and moves
MOVES: The players must move clearly and use only one hand to move the checkers. Checkers on the bar must be re-entered into play before any other checker may be moved.
HANDLING OF CHECKERS: A player may not touch his or her own checkers or the opponent's checkers during the opponent's turn. Checkers that have been hit must remain on the bar until they can be re-entered into the game in a legal manner. Checkers borne off must be kept away from the board until the end of the game.
ILLEGAL MOVES:
If an illegal move is noticed before the opponent has rolled his dice it must be corrected. Only the two players and tournament officials are allowed to point out an illegal move.
Undoing of illegal moves in matches played without the use of game clock: Demands for undoing are made by presenting the opponent with the fact. Once the opponent has accepted the fact the dice must be replaced on the board showing the correct value and the move must be remade.
Undoing of illegal moves in matches played with a game clock: Demands for undoing are made by stopping the game clock and presenting the opponent with the fact. Once the opponent has accepted the fact, the opponent's time must be restarted on the game clock. When the delay time has run out, the opponent may make a legal move.
Repeated illegal moves may result in a warning. If the player continues to make illegal moves, penalty points may be awarded.
ERRORS IN THE STARTING POSITION: If an error in the starting position is noticed after the player starting the game has commenced his second turn, the starting position is valid in spite of the error. Therefore a player starting with less than 15 checkers can still lose a gammon or backgammon. An error noticed before the player starting the game has commenced his second turn must be corrected in accordance with the correct starting position, if possible.
Players may not, in an uncontrolled manner, move their checkers back and forth across the board in order to test new positions. Players are recommended to place the checkers at least 2 centimetres above the checker/checkers that are already in the intended point or on the edge of the board if the intended point is empty.
HANDLING OF THE GAME CLOCK: Players must press, stop and start the game clock with the same hand used for moving the checkers.
STOPPING THE GAME CLOCK: Stopping the game clock is only allowed in the following eight situations:
When a game has been played to the end.
When a die falls to the floor.
When the tournament director is called.
When a player has picked up the dice before the opponent has ended his turn in accordance with § 4.1, subsection 5, no. 2.
When a player has picked up the dice and started his opponent's time in accordance with § 4.1, subsection 6, no. 2.
When a player demands that an illegal move or presumed illegal move is remade in accordance with § 4.2, subsection 3, no. 3.
When player A thinks that the game is settled. If player B concurs, the players note down the result of the game and the next game can be started. If player B disagrees, the tournament director is called to settle the disagreement. If player B is right he or she is awarded 2 minutes of extra time, the game clock is restarted and the game is played to conclusion.
TIME HAS RUN OUT: The time is considered to have run out when one of the players or the tournament director realises that it has run out. If the time of one of the players has run out, the game clock is stopped and the tournament director is called. The player whose time has run out has lost the match. If the time has run out for both players and it is not possible to determine which of the players first ran out of time, the remainder of the match must be played to its end without the use of the game clock. An exception to this is the "gin" situation. If the player whose time has run out is certain to win the match, no matter what is rolled in the remainder of the game, including an already rolled legal throw, the player is still declared the winner of the match.
4.4 Doubling cube
PLACING OF THE DOUBLING CUBE: It is the responsibility of both players that at the start of each game the doubling cube is placed in the centre between the two players with the '1' or '64' facing up. If the doubling cube has not been placed in the centre, it must be placed in the centre as soon as the players notice the error. An exception to this is the Crawford game, when the doubling cube must be removed from the board entirely.
DOUBLING: The players may use the doubling cube on their turn. It must be used before any throw of the dice though, and therefore cannot be used after an invalid roll. A player doubles by turning the doubling cube and placing it on the board, so that the cube is showing the doubling level directly above the previous level and saying the words "I double" or the like. In matches played using a game clock, the player must also press the button on his or her side of the game clock, so that the opponent is considering the double on his or her own time. The doubling cube must be considered with care, since both verbal and physical acts can be interpreted as doubling, even if a player has not touched the cube. A player must clearly express prior to acting that he is going to remove the cube without the intention of doubling, otherwise the act is considered as doubling.
ACCEPTING/PASSING A DOUBLE: Players accept a double by moving the doubling cube to their side of the board and saying "I take" or the like and hit the clock if used. The doubling cube must then be placed within the limits of the board, visible to both players, on the side of the player being doubled. The double is passed by saying "I pass" or the like. In matches played using a game clock, the player who is passing must also stop the game clock. After a pass the scoreboard is updated and the next game is started. The doubling cube must be considered with care, since both verbal and physical acts can be interpreted as an acceptance or pass of the double.
CRAWFORD RULE: The Crawford rule applies to all matches. In the first game in which one of the players is exactly one point away from winning the match, neither of the players can use the doubling cube. If a player doubles in the Crawford game, the double is annulled in the following situations. 1) If the game is in progress. When a double is annulled in a game in progress, the game is continued without the use of the doubling cube. 2) If the game has ended, but the next game has not yet started. When a double is annulled between games the scorecards of the players are corrected so that the point totals equal the number of points that would have been correct without the use of the doubling cube. 3) If the game in which the double was made was the last game of the match. When a double is annulled after the end of the match the scorecards of the players are corrected so that the point totals equals the number of points that would have been correct without the use of the doubling cube and the match is resumed. The tournament director is obligated to intervene if he is informed that a Crawford game has been doubled so that the double can be annulled.
PREMATURE ACTION: If a player doubles before the end of the opponent's turn, the double stands in effect if it is otherwise valid. The opponent is then entitled to finish his turn knowing that the opponent will be doubling.
DOUBLES TO WRONG LEVELS: If a player doubles or accepts/passes a double at a wrong level, the double or acceptance/pass is still valid, but the level of the doubling cube must be corrected, so that it is consistent with what would have been a correct double.
DEAD CUBES: A player cannot double beyond the number of points still needed to win a match.
4.5 Completion
All games and matches must be played to the end, unless brought to an end by the pass of a double or a player running out of time, if the match is played using a game clock. A player with no contact can accept the loss of a single point, a gammon or backgammon, though. Except for this situation the players are not allowed to agree on the outcome of points, of a game or a match. All matches must be played to the appointed number of points. The first player to reach the official length of the match will be declared the winner of it, regardless of what has been deliberately or accidentally agreed among both players. Violation of this rule may result in disqualification of one or both players. In special cases the players involved may be temporarily barred from future tournaments.
4.6 Reporting of the results
The winner must report the results of the match to the tournament director immediately after the end of the match and bring back the borrowed equipment, such as dice set and clock. The tournament director verifies the result and announces it on the tournament board. If a faulty result has been announced it can be corrected as long as the correction is made within a reasonable time, and neither of the players has started a subsequent match in the tournament.
4.7 Scorekeeping
Both players must keep an ongoing record of the score of the match and announce to each other the score of the match before each game. Before the start of the Crawford game, the players must announce the fact that it is the Crawford game to each other. If the players agree to do so, it is permitted to use a scoreboard that shows the length of the match, the score, the status of Crawford and such. Scoreboards must be used if the tournament director demands it. The players may keep the score on individual scorecards when a scoreboard is in use. It is the duty of both players to double-check both score-sheets / score-board before start and after completion of each game. In case of non-resolvable dispute about the score, the score-sheet of the trailing player in the match will be valid. During a break, it is both players´resonsibility to mark down the score and the remaining time of both players.
5.1 Complaints
If a dispute arises between two players, they must leave dice, checkers, doubling cube, scorecards and other things untouched, while calling for the tournament director to settle the dispute. If a game clock is in use, it must be stopped. If one of the players is also the tournament director, the dispute must be settled by another tournament director attached to the tournament. If no other tournament director is attached to the tournament, the dispute must be settled according to § 5.2.
5.2 Appeals
The players can appeal the decision of the tournament director, but this must be done immediately, while reversal of the decision is still possible. The appeal must be immediately processed by a tournament committee. The tournament committee can reverse the decision of the tournament director by a simple majority. This rule exhausts the player's right to appeals.
5.3 Non-compliance with the tournament rules
Non- compliance with the current tournament rules will put the party who failed to follow the rules at a disadvantage in the case of a dispute.
5.4 Testimonies
The tournament director as well as the tournament committee is obligated to collect relevant testimonies and statements. A player is always entitled to argue the facts and debate points concerning the rules. Spectators, except to report cheating, may testify only at the tournament director's request.
5.5 The player's reporting rights
A player can report the decision of the tournament committee to the WBA/EBGT board, according to established guidelines, in order for a principle ruling to be made and a precedent on the matter to be established. The WBA/EBGT board can impose sanctions by authority of the current tournament rules or other rules.
5.6 The reporting duties of the tournament director and the tournament committee
Any decision in a dispute must be reported to the WBA/EBGT board immediately after the completion of the tournament. The report must contain a description of the course of events and the reasons for the ruling.
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Location: Rapid City, SoDak
Many of us of us fondly recall the rhyming ditties we learned as children, such as "Jack Be Nimble" and "The Farmer in the Dell." But how many of us realize that several of our most fondly-recalled nursery rhymes (e.g., "A Tisket, A Tasket" and "Little Jack Horner") were not mere nonsense songs, but actually originated as coded references to such dark events as plagues and religious persecution? Such was the case with another childhood favorite, "Sing a Song of Sixpence."
For those unfamiliar with this ditty, let's start by offering its lyrics:
A pocket full of rye
Four and twenty blackbirds
Baked in a pie
When the pie was opened
The birds began to sing
Was that not a tasty dish
To set before a king?
The King was in his counting house
Counting out his money
The Queen was in the parlor
Eating bread and honey
The Maid was in the garden
Hanging out the clothes
When down came a blackbird
And snapped off her nose!
The surprising truth is that this innocent little rhyme, which dates from the early 1700s, actually represents a coded message used to recruit crew members for pirate vessels!
Pirates (or corsairs, privateers whose activities were sanctioned by letters of marque from a sovereign) did not spend all their time at sea: they cruised the waters in areas such as the Mediterranean, the Spanish Main, or the Atlantic coast of North America, looking for prizes, and they returned to port when the need for supplies or repairs demanded it. Upon reaching port, the ship's captain paid off the crew (primarily by dividing the spoils of whatever they had captured), and the crew members then dispersed ashore (usually to spend all their pay on alcohol and prostitutes as quickly as possible). Some crewmen tended to stay in the vicinity, but others left for other regions, caught on with other ships, died, were killed, or simply disappeared. Thus, much like the captains of naval vessels and merchant traders, the captains of pirate ships needed to recruit new crew members whenever they embarked on yet another venture. Since piracy (as opposed to privateering) was against the law, pirates devised codes that could be used to advertise for crew members without openly revealing their illegal affiliations.
The nursery rhyme "Six a Song of Sixpence" was a coded message that evolved over several years' times and was used by confederates of the notorious pirate Blackbeard to recruit crew members for his prize-hunting expeditions. Like many other messages passed down to us over hundreds of years by oral tradition, there is no one "official" version, nor is there a "correct" interpretation for any particular variant. In general, however, the most common form of this rhyme bore these veiled meanings:
Sing a song of sixpence / A pocket full of rye
Blackbeard's standard payment of sixpence a day was considered good money in the 1700s, especially since most pirate vessels did not pay a salary: the crew only received a share of the spoils if they were successful in capturing prizes (and many a pirate ship had to return to port empty-handed after spending several fruitless months at sea). As well, his crew was promised a pocket (a leather bag somewhat like an early canteen which held about a liter) full of rye (whiskey) per day. Not bad, considering that alcohol was the average sailor's raison d'etre.
Four and twenty blackbirds / Baked in a pie
As Henry Betts points out in his book on the origins and history of nursery rhymes, "It was a favourite trick in the sixteenth century to conceal all sorts of surprises in a pie." Buccaneers, too, were fond of surprises, and one of Blackbeard's favorite ruses to lure a ship within boarding range was to make his own vessel (or crew) appear to be in distress, typically by pretending to have been dismasted in a storm or to have sprung a leak below the waterline. Passing ships -- both honest sailors wanting to help and other pirates looking for an easy catch -- would sail in close to offer assistance, whereupon a crew of two dozen heavily-armed crewmen dressed in black would board the other vessel (via a boat in darkness or fog, or by simply jumping into the other ship when it came alongside if no other means of surprise attack was possible) to quickly kill or disable as many crew members as possible. Thus the four and twenty "blackbirds" (i.e., Blackbeard's crewmen) "baked in a pie" (i.e., concealed in anticipation of springing a trap).
When the pie was opened / The birds began to sing
This follows from the previous line. Once the victim's ship was lured in for the kill, the "blackbirds" came out of hiding and attacked with a fearsome din.
Was that not a tasty dish / To set before a king?
This line is commonly misinterpreted. The King is not a reference to any real king, but rather to Blackbeard himself, the king of pirates. And the tasty dish is the plundered ship that was so easily captured.
The King was in his counting house / Counting out his money
Again, the King is Blackbeard (no real king would take on such a mean task as counting money). This line of the message signals that Blackbeard had the cash on hand to pay a crew on salary rather than strictly on divided spoils.
The Queen was in the parlor / Eating bread and honey
Blackbeard's main vessel was a French merchant ship named "Le Concorde de Nantes" that was jointly captured by Blackbeard and Captain Hornigold in the Grenadines in November of 1717. Upon his retirement from pirating, Hornigold presented the ship to Blackbeard, who renamed it "The Queen Anne's Revenge". Thus the "Queen" referred to here is Blackbeard's ship, and "eating bread and honey" meant that it was in port taking on supplies in preparation for a cruise.
The Maid was in the garden / Hanging out the clothes
The use of the word "maid" indicated that the location/route of one or more prize ships was known, and they were going to be specific targets of the upcoming cruise (this greatly enhancing the probability of the crew's collecting prize money). The waters around the Carolinas down to the Caribbean were referred to as the garden, as this was an area where pirates would often cruise for easy pickings. "Hanging out the clothes" meant the targeted ship was already at sea or just about to leave port (thus its sails -- or "clothes" -- have been hung).
When down came a blackbird / And snapped off her nose!
There is some scholarly debate in literary and maritime circles as to whether the last part was originally "and snapped off her nose" or "and snapped off a rose." Either way, the passage is taken to be a Blackbeard's bragging about his plans to swoop in and have his way with the targeted ship.
I got this story from SNOPES
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Wldchld
in the middle of it
Strange how there are so many that lasted through the years. If I remember correctly "Ring Around the Rosie " is about the plague, and all the kids that were left orphaned?
Keep your words soft & sweet, just in case you have to eat them.
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MoJoRiSin
bird eggs
he should have robbed
a birds nest
(especially since his name was Robert !!)
and kept the eggs
in a freezer at night
did they have freezers available to guys living in fraternity houses back then?
From stone tablets to html code, it's not lost on me.
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For devhering porpoises only:
[Ramadan. Ramadan. __ Islam, a holy month of fasting, the ninth month of the Muslim year, commemorating the revelation of the Qur'an to Muhammad.
Sent from my telephoneB][/b]
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Frackin A!!! New EPA Study Says Fracking Does NOT Hurt Drinking Water
A key reason for the rise in U.S. oil production and the decline in oil prices worldwide is the development of the the fracking industry, the controversial process where water and chemicals are push into the ground and oil and/or gas is forced out. According to a new report by the EPA fracking does not hurt drinking water (which some of the environmental nuts claim it does)/
The report which was originally requested by Congress, (the executive summary of the report is below) said the agency "did not find evidence" that any process has "led to widespread, systemic impacts on drinking water resources in the United States."
The agency did say the controversial drilling technique could affect drinking water if safeguards aren't maintained. It found specific instances where poorly constructed drilling wells and improper wastewater management affected drinking water resources.
But the EPA also reported the number of cases was small compared with the large number of wells that use hydraulic fracturing, better known as fracking.
For industry and congressional voices who have long argued the health hazards associated with fracking are overblown, the report appeared to be a boon.
"Today's study confirms what we already know. Hydraulic fracturing, when done to industry standards, does not impact drinking water," Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, chairwoman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, said in a statement. "States have been effectively regulating hydraulic fracturing for more than 40 years and this study is evidence of that."
In New York state, the EPA report already was fueling calls to rescind the state's fracking ban, a move that would help the New York State economy.
"I fully expect Governor Cuomo to reverse his previous decision to ban fracking which was based upon controversial scientific studies and made to appease far left environmentalists," Rep. Chris Collins, R-N.Y., said in a statement. "Hardworking New Yorkers deserve the job opportunities and economic growth fracking has clearly produced in other states, including neighboring Pennsylvania."
The Business Council of New York State also put out a statement Thursday urging the ban's reversal. Other states, meanwhile, have gone in the opposite direction from New York. Texas recently approved a bill barring local ordinances against fracking.
But Governor Cuomo is a Democrat and his ban had nothing to do with the safety of fracking and everything to do with Cuomo making his base happy.
Now lets see what President Obama's EPA which is bent on destroying the American Economy through over-regulation of energy products does with the report.
Hf Es Erd Jun2015 by Jeffrey Dunetz
Posted by Unknown at Thursday, June 04, 2015
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http://tinyurl.com/y3l45hp6
Turkey’s Erdoğan facing dilemmas to hold onto power - Kathimerini
Turkey’s future is tied to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, whose sole objective is to remain in power forever, while the country is heading towards an inevitable economic and diplomatic crisis, wrote Alexis Papachelas, executive editor of the Greek newspaper Kathimerini on Monday.
The first crisis facing Erdoğan will be an economic one, the article said, pointing to $ 300 billion of debt the Turkish private sector has accrued, most of which is in foreign currencies and must be paid off by the end of this summer.
Turkey has the option of either knocking on the door of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a loan or following the path of Venezuela, the Kathimerini article said.
Turkey, a country dependent on imports for basic necessities such as onions and flour, needs the kind of money that support from Russia and Qatar cannot provide, Papachelas said.
Turning to the IMF, which Erdoğan has repeatedly dismissed as an option, would make Turkey’s strongman "look like a leader who turns to the West to ask for money when he has been styling himself as the leader of a mid-range superpower that can snub the European Union and the United States," he said.
The other dilemma facing Erdoğan is his purchase of Russian S-400 air defence missiles that is compromising the delivery of U.S.-made F-35 fighter jets. Choosing the former could damage Turkey’s ties with the United States and NATO.
The U.S. Congress is taking the issue very seriously and the United States on April 1 halted delivery of equipment related to the aircraft to Turkey.
An increasing number of U.S. officials are starting to believe that Turkey’s current relationship with NATO, which it joined in 1952, is unsustainable, the article said.
http://www.ekathimerini.com/239321/opinion/ekathimerini/comment/erdogans-dilemmas
Could NATO expel Turkey?
Turkey remains key member of alliance - NATO chief
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GOOGLE EXEC BUSTED: “We all got screwed over in 2016” Google Is Making Sure “We’re Ready For 2020” [VIDEO]
Several years ago, we published a story that included a video of a 27-year-old woman, Farkhunda Malikzada, who was beaten to death by an angry mob of Muslims in Kabul, after she was falsely accused of burning a Quran. Our source for the story was the New York Times. We had over one million views on the article that appeared on our 100percentfedup.com website. Our management company received a notification from Google, informing them that if we wanted to continue advertising with them, that we would have to remove the article from our website. Google has a monopoly on advertising. We didn’t want to lose our most important source of revenue, so we removed it. The article that we were forced to delete, can still be found on the New York Times website. We have no idea whether or not the New York Times received the same warning, but since they still appear to be featuring ads on their website, we’re guessing they didn’t get the same treatment from Google as our conservative news website.
Today, James O’Keefe of Project Veritas dropped another bombshell video, revealing the truth about Google and how they operate behind the scenes to affect the news billions of people around the world read every day.
In his behind the scenes video, James O’Keefe interviews a Google whistleblower who appears to have access to top executives and confidential documents. The whistleblower, whose identity and true voice have been hidden, tells O’Keefe, “The reason why I decided to come to Project Veritas is because, um— people need to know what’s actually going on behind the scenes at Google. What employees are actually seeing behind the scenes at Google is different. They’re not an objective source of information. They are a highly biased political machine that is bent on never letting somebody like Donald Trump come to power again.”
Top Google executive Jen Gennai is caught by an undercover reporter for Project Veritas how Google employs a fairness doctrine within their search engine, she tells brags to the undercover reporter working for Project Veritas about how Google’s CEO Sundar Pichai, has been called in front of Congress several times, but that Google is not changing.
Gennai revealed her frustration in the outcome of the 2016 election, and explained how Google is working to ensure it doesn’t happen again in 2020: “We all got screwed over in 2016, again it wasn’t just us, it was, the people got screwed over, the news media got screwed over, like, everybody got screwed over so we’re rapidly been like, happened there and how do we prevent it from happening again.”
“We’re also training our algorithms, like, if 2016 happened again, would we have, would the outcome be different?” Gennai told the undercover reporter.
Gennai also pushes back on Elizabeth Warren’s call to break up Google, saying, “I love her but she’s very misguided. Like that will not make it better? It will make it worse because all these smaller companies who don’t have the same resources that we do will be charged with preventing the next Trump situation, it’s like a small company cannot do that.
BREAKING: WHO Declares Deadly Ebola Outbreak In Congo A “Global Health Emergency”…As Immigrants From Congo Pour Across Our Border
BREAKING: HOUSE Votes To Kill Efforts To Impeach Trump
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Does the MCU’s Spider-Man Have an Uncle Ben? Jon Watts Says Yes
The following post contains SPOILERS for Spider-Man: Far From Home; not so much what it has, but what it doesn’t have.
Tom Holland’s Peter Parker has appeared in five different Marvel Cinematic Universe movies to date. And the most important person in Peter Parker’s life in pretty much every other iteration of Spider-Man until now hasn’t appeared in any of them.
That’s Uncle Ben, the man who raised an orphaned Peter from birth with his Aunt May, and who taught Peter the lesson that inspires him to be a hero: With great power comes great responsibility. More than half a century after his death in the pages of Amazing Fantasy #15, comic-book Peter Parker is still haunted and driven by Ben’s death. Ben has been fundamental to each of the previous Spider-Man franchises; he was played by Cliff Robertson in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy, and by Martin Sheen in Marc Webb’s Amazing Spider-Man films. In the MCU, he’s played by ... no one.
The choice to completely forgo one of the most fundamental elements of Spider-Man’s mythos is an interesting one. I think most viewers assume Tom Holland’s Peter did have an Uncle Ben that he just doesn’t talk about. But when I asked Spider-Man: Homecoming director Jon Watts if Tom Holland ever even had an Uncle Ben back in the summer of 2017, he gave me a surprising answer: “It’s not something we really talked about that much.” He even described himself as “curious” as to whether Uncle Ben existed in the MCU.
Now Spidey is back in Far From Home and so is Watts. Once again, Uncle Ben does not appear. Apart from a single shot that makes an oblique reference to him, there’s no mention of him either. So when I got to interview Watts again, I decided would ask him the exact same question again: Did Tom Holland’s Peter Parker have an Uncle Ben? This time, Watts gave me a much more concrete, much more detailed answer.
“Yes. Definitely. Did you notice his initials on Peter’s suitcase?”
I had, because I am an incredibly large dork. But I wanted to know why Watts was so reticent about Uncle Ben the first time around and so assured this time, so I asked if anything had changed between Homecoming and Far From Home.
“We knew we weren’t going to tell an origin story, so we just avoided talking about that in too much detail,” Watts explained. “I didn’t want to reveal too much. It was a lot more sensitive of an issue to not be doing an origin story when we were talking about Homecoming ... back then, people were saying ‘Why are you making another Spider-Man movie?’ The focus was on showing people things that they had never seen before, not retelling that origin.”
So Uncle Ben definitely existed in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. But Watts was quick to add a little unsolicited ambiguity into the equation. When I noted that he is now willing to say “Yes, Uncle Ben did exist in the MCU,” he replied “Yeah. I mean, we don’t know,” and then he took a long pause before adding “We never specifically say anything about him. So whether or not he’s around or not.”
My response to that comment was probably best described as stunned silence. I didn’t ask a follow-up so much as I let out a confused “Huhhhhhh” as I pondered the possibility that Watts seemed to be implying: That Uncle Ben might not be dead in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. At that point, Watts added “Yeah. Everything’s on the table, is how I like to say it.”
Will Watts himself be back to see how this story plays out? When I asked him if he wanted to make a third Spider-Man film, his answer was almost identical to when I asked him if he wanted to make a second Spidey film after Homecoming. “Yeah,” he replied without hesitation. “I think that would be a lot of fun.” Whether or not Uncle Ben would make an appearance in the film remains to be seen.
Gallery — The Coolest Hidden Marvel References in Avengers: Endgame:
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Source: Does the MCU’s Spider-Man Have an Uncle Ben? Jon Watts Says Yes
Filed Under: Jon Watts, Marvel, Marvel Cinematic Universe, Spider-man, Spider-Man: Far From Home
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Bronx Gothic
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Director: Andrew Rossi
Actors: Okwui Okpokwasili, Peter Born, Ralph Lemon, Umechi Born
Keywords:Bronx Gothic
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Mechanisms of Resistance
Total Variation in the penA Gene of Neisseria meningitidis: Correlation between Susceptibility to β-Lactam Antibiotics and penA Gene Heterogeneity
Sara Thulin, Per Olcén, Hans Fredlund, Magnus Unemo
Sara Thulin
National Reference Laboratory for Pathogenic Neisseria, Department of Clinical Microbiology, Örebro University Hospital, Örebro, Sweden
For correspondence: sara.thulin@orebroll.se
Per Olcén
Hans Fredlund
Magnus Unemo
DOI: 10.1128/AAC.00353-06
In recent decades, the prevalence of Neisseria meningitidis isolates with reduced susceptibility to penicillins has increased. The intermediate resistance to penicillin (Peni) for most strains is due mainly to mosaic structures in the penA gene, encoding penicillin-binding protein 2. In this study, susceptibility to β-lactam antibiotics was determined for 60 Swedish clinical N. meningitidis isolates and 19 reference strains. The penA gene was sequenced and compared to 237 penA sequences from GenBank in order to explore the total identified variation of penA. The divergent mosaic alleles differed by 3% to 24% compared to those of the designated wild-type penA gene. By studying the final 1,143 to 1,149 bp of penA in a sequence alignment, 130 sequence variants were identified. In a 402-bp alignment of the most variable regions, 84 variants were recognized. Good correlation between elevated MICs and the presence of penA mosaic structures was found especially for penicillin G and ampicillin. The Peni isolates comprised an MIC of >0.094 μg/ml for penicillin G and an MIC of >0.064 μg/ml for ampicillin. Ampicillin was the best antibiotic for precise categorization as Pens or Peni. In comparison with the wild-type penA sequence, two specific Peni sites were altered in all except two mosaic penA sequences, which were published in GenBank and no MICs of the corresponding isolates were described. In conclusion, monitoring the relationship between penA sequences and MICs to penicillins is crucial for developing fast and objective methods for susceptibility determination. By studying the penA gene, genotypical determination of susceptibility in culture-negative cases can also be accomplished.
Neisseria meningitidis (meningococci) is a widespread human pathogen causing meningitis and septicemia (16). During the last decades, there have been several reports from different countries of N. meningitidis with reduced susceptibility to penicillin G (6, 14). This is of general concern since penicillin is the first-line antibiotic for treatment of meningococcal disease (17). The intermediate resistant isolates, Peni, have previously been defined by MICs of >0.064 μg/ml to ≤1.0 μg/ml by using Etest (8) and MICs of >0.064 μg/ml to 0.5 μg/ml by using the agar dilution method (7, 9). This intermediate resistance has been reported to be due mainly to alterations in the structure of penicillin-binding protein 2 (PBP2), encoded by the penA gene (3, 20). The penA genes of susceptible isolates, the so-called wild-type penA gene (1,745 bp total in MC58 [23]), seem to be highly conserved in their DNA sequence. However, the genes of Peni isolates are fairly variable and highly divergent from the wild-type penA gene (3, 9, 21). These variations have been suggested to be due to genetic exchange through transformation between N. meningitidis and nonpathogenic commensal neisserial species, for example, Neisseria flavescens (19). Due to this transformation, the penA gene of Peni isolates has a mosaic structure, consisting of regions that are essentially identical to those in susceptible isolates and regions that are 14% to 23% divergent in sequence (20). The polymorphisms are located mainly in the last two-thirds of the gene that encodes about 400 amino acids at the C-terminal part of the protein (5).
Sweden is a country with low incidence of meningococcal disease at present, i.e., an incidence of 0.5 to 0.9 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in 1997 to 2005 (The Swedish Institute for Infectious Disease Control, http://gis.smittskyddsinstitutet.se/mapapp/build/11-109000/table/Meningococci_eng_year_all.html, accessed 23 March 2006). There has been an increase in the number of invasive N. meningitidis isolates with reduced susceptibility to penicillin G during the last decade. Consequently, in 2005, 23% of the Swedish invasive isolates comprised the Peni phenotype (MIC > 0.064 μg/ml) compared to 5% in 1996 (12).
The reports of increasing numbers of circulating N. meningitidis strains with the Peni phenotype emphasize the need for fast and objective methods for the determination of susceptibility to penicillins. Hence, the aims of the present study were to explore the total reported and presently identified variation in the penA gene and to describe the detailed association between N. meningitidis penA sequences and the MICs of mainly different penicillins. This would also provide a way to determine penicillin susceptibility of culture-negative cases of meningococcal meningitis/septicemia as well as to approach the development of an objective control system for both phenotypic and genetic penicillin susceptibility testing.
Consequently, in the present study, the total variation of the penA gene in N. meningitidis was examined. In addition, the MICs of penicillin G, penicillin V, ampicillin, cefuroxime, and cefotaxime were determined to explore the correlation with altered penA genes. Penicillin G was chosen, as being considered a first-line antibiotic, along with penicillin V as well as ampicillin to evaluate whether the Peni phenotype would be easier to distinguish when their MICs were compared to penA sequences. Another reason to include penicillin V, which normally is not used for treatment of meningococcal disease, was that all commensal or carrier strains of N. meningitidis are exposed to a high pressure of antibiotics in the society, including penicillin V. Cefotaxime was included as a representative of effective cephalosporins and cefuroxime as a less satisfactory cephalosporin.
Bacterial isolates and clinical samples.Sixty clinical isolates, invasive (n = 55) and carrier isolates (n = 5), of N. meningitidis collected in Sweden between 1996 and 2004 and 17 N. meningitidis strains, previously used in an antibiotic susceptibility study performed by the European Monitoring Group on Meningococci (EMGM) (26), were examined. The clinical isolates were selected to represent all of the different MICs of penicillin G found in Sweden (Fig. 1a). Additional isolates comprising MICs in close association to the phenotypical breakpoint for Peni were also included. Of the 60 clinical isolates, 27 were phenotypically determined to be susceptible to penicillin G (MIC ≤ 0.064 μg/ml) and 33 comprised a reduced susceptibility (Fig. 1a). For comparison, two N. meningitidis reference strains, i.e., MC58 (23) and OR173/87 (10), and one Neisseria gonorrhoeae reference strain (CCUG 15821) were included in the study.
MICs of penicillin G (a), ampicillin (b), and penicillin V (c) for 60 selected clinical N. meningitidis isolates collected in Sweden between 1996 and 2004. Gray bars indicate wild-type penA genes, and black bars indicate mosaic structures in the penA gene. The broken line in panels a and b indicates the suggested breakpoint for Peni isolates (MIC > 0.094 μg/ml for penicillin G and MIC > 0.064 μg/ml for ampicillin).
Five cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples derived from patients suffering from meningococcal meningitis were also examined in order to analyze whether the protocol was suitable for direct sequencing from CSF.
Phenotypical antibiotic susceptibility testing.The MICs of penicillin G, penicillin V, ampicillin, cefuroxime, and cefotaxime were determined using the Etest method (AB Biodisk, Solna, Sweden) on Mueller-Hinton agar (Becton, Dickinson and Company, Franklin Lakes, NJ) supplemented with 5% sheep blood at 37°C in 5% CO2 for 16 to 18 h. The breakpoints used for penicillin G were described by Hughes et al. (susceptible [S], MIC ≤ 0.064 μg/ml; resistant [R], MIC > 1 μg/ml) (8). For ampicillin, the breakpoint was described by Jorgensen et al., i.e., an MIC of <0.25 μg/ml (S) (9). For the remaining antibiotics, the breakpoints were as follows: penicillin V, MIC ≤ 1 μg/ml (S) and MIC > 1 μg/ml (R); cefuroxime, MIC ≤ 0.25 μg/ml (S) and MIC > 1 μg/ml (R); and cefotaxime, MIC ≤ 0.064 μg/ml (S) and MIC > 1 μg/ml (R) (in accordance with the Swedish Reference Group for Antibiotics, http://www.srga.org, accessed 23 March 2006).
Isolation of genomic DNA.Isolation of bacterial DNA from N. meningitidis isolates was performed using a MagNA Pure LC system with DNA isolation kit III (Roche Diagnostics GmbH, Mannheim, Germany) according to the manufacturer's instructions. For isolation of DNA from the five CSF samples, the samples (100 to 500 μl) were initially centrifuged (8000 × g for 10 min) and then processed in the same way as the bacterial isolates. The DNA preparations were stored at 4°C prior to PCR.
penA PCR.The PCR was performed as previously described by Arreaza and Vázquez (5), with minor modifications. The 50-μl PCR mixture contained 1.25 U AmpliTaq Gold DNA polymerase (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA) and 1 μl of the genomic DNA template. One of the primers, Mod-Gcdown3, was slightly modified compared to the primer used by Arreaza and Vázquez (Table 1) (5). The PCR conditions were as previously described except that an initial enzyme activation step at 94°C for 10 min was included and, for the CSF samples, there were 40 cycles of amplification instead of 30. MC58 was used as a positive control and distilled water as a negative control. The PCR products were analyzed by electrophoresis through a 2% agarose gel and by ethidium bromide staining. DNA molecular weight marker VI (Roche Diagnostics, Mannheim, Germany) was included on each gel.
Primers used in PCR and sequencing of the penA gene
DNA sequencing.The PCR products were purified using the High Pure PCR product purification kit (Roche Diagnostics, Mannheim, Germany) and then cycle sequenced. The primers used for the cycle sequencing PCR are shown in Table 1. Each sequencing reaction (10 μl) contained 4 μl of a BigDye Terminator v3.1 cycle sequencing kit (Applied Biosystems, Warrington, United Kingdom), 1.6 pmol primer, and 1 μl purified PCR product. The cycle sequencing PCR consisted of 25 cycles of 96°C for 10 s, 50°C for 5 s, and 60°C for 4 min. Subsequently, the products were purified using ethanol-sodium acetate precipitation and resuspended in 10 μl formamide (Applied Biosystems, Warrington, United Kingdom) according to the manufacturer's instructions. The nucleotide sequences were determined using an ABI PRISM 3100 genetic analyzer (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA). The sequence of each strand of each compiled sequence was determined.
Sequence analysis.Multiple-sequence alignments (1,149 unambiguously aligned nucleotides) of the final part of the penA gene and the corresponding deduced amino acid sequences were performed using the software BioEdit (version 5.0.9) and by manual adjustment. For comparison, penA gene sequences from 26 different Peni meningococcal isolates with MICs of penicillin G ranging from 0.094 μg/ml to 1.28 μg/ml and 211 penA gene sequences from meningococcal isolates without depicted MICs, deposited in GenBank, were also included. In fact, all penA sequences with a minimum length of the final 1,143 bp deposited in GenBank (1 March 2006) were included in the alignment. A shorter multiple-sequence alignment of 402 bp in the end of the penA gene sequences, which has been suggested to be sufficient for the identification of mosaic-structured penA genes (EMGM Working Group on Antibiotics and M.-K. Taha, personal communication), was also performed.
For the identification of different sequence variants, phylogenetic trees were constructed with TREECON (version 1.3b) software as previously described (24).
Total variability in penA gene.In total, 321 meningococcal penA gene sequences were examined. The phylogenetic tree of the different sequence variants (based on the 1,149-bp alignment) identified one highly homogeneous group, with only a few nucleotide polymorphisms (Fig. 2a). Within this homogeneous group, 138 sequences were found. Between these 138 sequences, there were a maximum of 1% nucleotide difference and no recognizable mosaic structures, and all of the Pens isolates were found in this group. Based on these observations, the penA gene sequences included in this group were designated wild-type penA gene sequences. Among the remaining penA gene sequences (n = 183), 22% of the nucleotides differed between the two most divergent sequences (A30 and A97) (Fig. 2a). All of these sequences (n = 183) comprised obvious mosaic structures; however, the extent of mosaic structures varied substantially between the sequences, spanning from over about 100 bp to the whole sequence examined.
(A) Phylogenetic tree based on a 1,149-bp alignment of penA gene sequences of N. meningitidis (n = 321). (B) Phylogenetic tree based on a 402-bp alignment of penA gene sequences of N. meningitidis (n = 321). In both trees, one homogeneous group, comprising wild-type penA genes, was identified. The remaining sequences in both trees were highly divergent and displayed obvious mosaic patterns. One single sequence (*, accession no. AY127670) was identified as a mosaic allele when the larger segment was examined but as the wild type when only 402 bp was examined.
When the 1,149-bp multiple-sequence alignment of the mosaic-structured penA genes (n = 183) was studied, 87 different nucleotide sequence variants, which coded for 74 PBP2 amino acid sequence variants, were identified (Fig. 2a). In the alignment, a total of 409 polymorphic nucleotide sites were identified. When the deduced amino acid sequences (383 unambiguously aligned amino acids) were studied, a total of 103 polymorphic amino acid sites were identified. In the 402-bp multiple-sequence alignment of the mosaic sequences (n = 182; one sequence was excluded due to lack of mosaic structure in this shorter segment), 66 different nucleotide sequence variants, which coded for 36 PBP2 amino acid sequence variants, were identified (Fig. 2b). One hundred forty-two polymorphic nucleotide sites and 36 polymorphic amino acid sites were identified (134 unambiguously aligned amino acids in total). For the wild-type penA sequences (n = 138), 43 different nucleotide sequence variants and 17 PBP2 amino acid sequence variants were found when the 1,149-bp alignment was studied and 18 nucleotide and 7 PBP2 variants were found when the 402-bp alignment was studied. Thirty-eight polymorphic nucleotide sites and 16 polymorphic amino acid sites were identified in the 1,149-bp alignment, and 15 polymorphic nucleotide sites and 6 polymorphic amino acid sites were identified in the 402-bp alignment.
The sequences of the divergent mosaic alleles differed by 3% to 24% compared to the wild-type sequence, represented by MC58, when 1,149 bp of the penA gene was studied. When we studied 402 bp, the difference was 7% to 23% compared to the wild-type sequence.
penA gene versus MIC.Of the clinical isolates with the Peni phenotype (n = 33), all isolates with an MIC of >0.125 μg/ml (n = 17) and 75% of the isolates with an MIC of 0.125 μg/ml of penicillin G had mosaic structures in the penA gene (Fig. 1a). For ampicillin, all clinical isolates with an MIC of >0.064 μg/ml (n = 23) had mosaic-structured penA genes (Fig. 1b). For penicillin V, a somewhat lower correlation between MICs and mosaic-structured penA genes was found (Fig. 1c). For cefuroxime, no absolute correlation was found either; all isolates with an MIC of >0.094 μg/ml (n = 21) showed mosaic structures in the penA gene, but mosaic structures were also found in one of three isolates with an MIC of 0.094 μg/ml and one of eight isolates with an MIC of 0.064 μg/ml. All of the isolates were fully susceptible to cefotaxime, and hence, no correlation with penA gene sequences was possible to determine.
In addition, all 11 “EMGM strains” with reduced susceptibility to penicillin G also had mosaic structures in the penA gene. For ampicillin and penicillin V, all isolates with an MIC of >0.047 μg/ml (n = 11) and an MIC of >0.38 μg/ml (n = 11), respectively, had mosaic structures in the penA gene. For cefuroxime, all isolates with an MIC of >0.125 μg/ml (n = 11) showed mosaic structures, and as for the clinical isolates, no correlation was possible to determine between the low MICs of cefotaxime and penA gene sequences.
Covariation between elevated MICs of penicillin G, penicillin V, ampicillin, and, to some extent, cefuroxime could be observed. The low MICs of cefotaxime of the isolates were unaffected by the elevated MICs for the other antibiotics.
Based on the reported correlation between MIC and penA gene sequence in the present study, Peni isolates could be defined as the ones comprising an MIC of >0.094 μg/ml for penicillin G and an MIC of >0.064 μg/ml for ampicillin by using the Etest method.
All of the 26 penA sequences, collected from GenBank, from Peni strains proved to have mosaic-structured penA genes. Consequently, a total of 70 isolates with both the Peni phenotype and mosaic structures in the penA gene were examined. Among these isolates, 34 different penA nucleotide sequence variants and 31 different PBP2 amino acid sequence variants were identified when the 1,149-bp alignment was examined. In the 402-bp alignment, 27 penA nucleotide sequence variants and 15 PBP2 variants were identified. No obvious correlation between individual MICs and any specific penA sequence variants or cluster of variants was found. Consequently, no penA mosaic allele was predominant to give a particular MIC.
Peni-specific sites.According to previous studies (2, 21, 22), in comparison with that of the wild-type penA gene, between five and nine specific nucleotides are altered in the penA mosaic allele of all Peni isolates. All of these polymorphic nucleotides result in alterations in the corresponding encoded amino acids, which are located in the C-terminal part of PBP2. In the present study, none of these five to nine specific Peni sites was altered in any of the identified divergent penA mosaic alleles. Two of the specific Peni sites were altered in all except two (accession no. AF515100 and AY127670) of the penA mosaic-structured sequences. These sequences lacked mosaic patterns in the end of the penA gene, i.e., in the last 250 bp and 550 bp of the gene, respectively, and hence, none of the specific Peni sites was altered (Fig. 3).
Multiple-sequence alignment of seven different partial PBP2 amino acid sequences, which include amino acids 202 to 581 of the native protein in MC58 (23), comprising different numbers of the amino acid alterations (in boxes) found in Peni isolates (2, 21, 22). The two consistently lined boxes indicate the alterations found in all of the phenotypically confirmed Peni isolates. The wild-type sequences (WT) are represented by MC58. WT2 is a wild-type sequence containing one of the alterations (accession no. AY292992). Mosaic sequence 1 (M1) comprises all of the alterations, M2 lacks alterations 515, 541, 549, and 566, and M3 lacks alterations 464, 469, and 472. M4 (accession no. AY127670) comprises wild-type structure in the final 550 bp of the penA gene, and M5 (accession no. AF515100) contains wild-type structure in the final 250 bp. For confirmation of the sequences, one representative of each sequence variant was PCR amplified and sequenced twice. No confirmation was possible to perform for M4 and M5, which were downloaded from GenBank.
Cerebrospinal fluid samples.Of the five CSF samples, four were culture negative and hence could not be phenotypically analyzed regarding antibiotic susceptibility. The single culture-positive isolate was susceptible to penicillin G. The penA gene of N. meningitidis in the five CSF samples was successfully amplified and sequenced. One of the culture-negative samples had an altered penA gene with mosaic structure.
The penA genes of Peni isolates are fairly variable, in most cases, all over the last two-thirds of the gene. The large amount of more or less evenly spread alterations indicates that the mosaic-structured penA genes are most likely due to many different genetic events and/or genetic exchange with many different donors.
In the present study, two different sequence alignments were made, one of the final 1,149 bp of the penA gene and one of 402 bp in the end of the gene. One single sequence was not properly categorized as a penA mosaic allele in the 402-bp alignment because it lacked mosaic patterns in the final 550 bp of the gene. However, when the longer alignment was examined, this sequence (accession no. AY127670) was correctly categorized as a mosaic penA allele (Fig. 2a and b). This clearly illustrates the risks associated with studying only a shorter segment of a gene.
The results of phenotypic antibiotic susceptibility testing of N. meningitidis are hard to value in, for example, interlaboratory comparisons. This is due mainly to significant differences in the media and critical MICs used in different laboratories (26). In the present study, we found a good correlation between elevated MICs and the presence of mosaic-structured penA genes, especially for penicillin G and ampicillin but to a somewhat smaller extent for penicillin V and cefuroxime. Based on our findings, using Etest and penA gene sequencing, Peni isolates could be defined as the ones comprising an MIC of >0.094 μg/ml for penicillin G and an MIC of >0.064 μg/ml for ampicillin. However, these are not clinical breakpoints but epidemiologic definitions. In addition, it is important to note that the number of tested clinical isolates is rather limited (n = 60) and that the difference between MICs for penicillin G and ampicillin is very small in the present study. In an earlier study (4), Arreaza and coworkers proposed an MIC of >0.064 μg/ml to be a suitable breakpoint for penicillin G. Their breakpoint is slightly lower than ours, but again, the results of the phenotypic antibiotic susceptibility testing are hard to compare between laboratories.
Both in the present study and in earlier studies (4, 9), the correlation between elevated MICs and the presence of mosaic-structured penA genes was even higher for ampicillin than for penicillin G (Fig. 1). Determining the MIC of ampicillin might therefore be a sharper way to categorize N. meningitidis isolates into the Pens or Peni group.
PCR-based methods are increasingly being used for diagnosing meningococcal infection and for characterizing bacteria (10, 11, 13, 25). The protocol for penA sequencing, used in the present study, also proved to be effective for culture-negative CSF samples. Hence, in addition to the already existing genetic methods, the present penA sequencing can be used to accomplish further characterization of culture-negative samples from patients suffering from meningococcal disease. Another advantage with the penA sequencing protocol is that it can also be utilized for N. gonorrhoeae. In the N. gonorrhoeae population, only a small part is still fully susceptible to penicillins and altered penA genes have been described previously (1, 18).
Previous studies have proposed that in comparison with those of the wild-type penA gene, between five and nine specific nucleotide positions, and the corresponding amino acids, are altered in all Peni isolates (2, 21, 22). In our penA sequence collection, none of those specific Peni sites was altered in any of the identified divergent penA mosaic alleles. Two of the alterations (Phe504→Leu504 and Ala510→Val510) were found in all mosaic-structured penA genes, except for one sequence having no mosaic patterns in the final 550 bp of the gene and one having no mosaic patterns in the final 250 bp (Fig. 3). However, we have no evidence that these two isolates really belong to the Peni group, since we have only the penA sequences and no MICs. In addition, one of the clinical Peni isolates had no mosaic patterns in the final 220 bp of the gene and hence lacked three of the alterations found in all other mosaic-structured sequences (Ile515→Val515, His541→Asn541, and Ile566→Val566), except for the two discrepant sequences mentioned above. Besides the lack of absolute correlation between alterations in Peni-specific sites and mosaic structure, it is worth mentioning that one of the sites was also altered in a wild-type sequence (accession no. AY292992) (Fig. 3).
When individual MICs and penA sequence variants were compared within the group of Peni isolates, no obvious correlation was found for any of the antibiotics. This lack of correlation could be due to the fact that we studied larger segments of the gene instead of trying to identify “hot spots” particularly important for penicillin susceptibility, e.g., active sites that directly affect the affinity to penicillin. In addition, a limited effect on the MIC in individual isolates due to other factors, such as mtr, penB, penC, and ponA (15, 18), which influence the penicillin susceptibility in N. gonorrhoeae, cannot be excluded. The somewhat lower correlation between the elevated MIC of penicillin V and the mosaic penA gene sequence could also be due to these or similar factors. Since penicillin V is a less potent antibiotic, compared to penicillin G and ampicillin, for N. meningitidis, other pharmacokinetic mechanisms may also be involved. In addition to the genetic factors mentioned above, the drawbacks of phenotypic determination of susceptibility must be taken into account. The results of both the agar dilution method and Etest are highly dependent on the media used (26). A previous study has shown that the sources and batches of the ingredients, e.g., blood, in the medium can also affect the MICs (22). It is therefore very important to standardize the media used, especially to enable interlaboratory comparisons.
In conclusion, an up-to-date description of penA gene variability and the relation between penA gene sequence and the MIC of penicillins made it possible to identify mosaic structures clearly associated with reduced susceptibility. The level of correlation slightly varied between different antibiotics, and in the present study, ampicillin proved to be the best antibiotic for precise categorization of N. meningitidis isolates as Pens or Peni. By studying the penA gene, genotypical determination of susceptibility in culture-negative cases and hence further characterization of these samples can be accomplished.
This study was supported by grants from the Örebro County Council Research Committee and the Foundation for Medical Research at Örebro University Hospital, Örebro, Sweden.
We also want to thank Helena Eriksson for assistance with MIC determination.
Received 23 March 2006.
Returned for modification 22 May 2006.
Accepted 20 July 2006.
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Olcén, P., H. Fredlund, P. Mölling, and M. Unemo. 2006. Annual report concerning serogroup, serotype, genosubtype and antibiotic sensitivity for Swedish Neisseria meningitidis isolates and results with direct PCR for diagnosis of acute bacterial meningitis, 2005. National Reference Laboratory for Pathogenic Neisseria, Örebro, Sweden.
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Oppenheim, B. A. 1997. Antibiotic resistance in Neisseria meningitidis. Clin. Infect. Dis. 24(Suppl. 1):S98-S101.
Orús, P., and M. Viñas. 2001. Mechanisms other than penicillin-binding protein-2 alterations may contribute to moderate penicillin resistance in Neisseria meningitidis. Int. J. Antimicrob. Agents 18:113-119.
Peltola, H. 1983. Meningococcal disease: still with us. Rev. Infect. Dis. 5:71-91.
Quagliarello, V. J., and W. M. Scheld. 1997. Treatment of bacterial meningitis. N. Engl. J. Med. 336:708-716.
Ropp, P. A., M. Hu, M. Olesky, and R. A. Nicholas. 2002. Mutations in ponA, the gene encoding penicillin-binding protein 1, and a novel locus, penC, are required for high-level chromosomally mediated penicillin resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 46:769-777.
Spratt, B. G., Q.-Y. Zhang, D. M. Jones, A. Hutchison, J. A. Brannigan, and C. G. Dowson. 1989. Recruitment of a penicillin-binding protein gene from Neisseria flavescens during the emergence of penicillin resistance in Neisseria meningitidis. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86:8988-8992.
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Stefanelli, P., A. Carattoli, A. Neri, C. Fazio, and P. Mastrantonio. 2003. Prediction of decreased susceptibility to penicillin of Neisseria meningitidis strains by real-time PCR. J. Clin. Microbiol. 41:4666-4670.
Taha, M.-K., M. L. Zarantonelli, A. Neri, R. Enriquez, J. A. Vázquez, and P. Stefanelli. 2006. Interlaboratory comparison of PCR-based methods for detection of penicillin G susceptibility in Neisseria meningitidis. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 50:887-892.
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Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy Sep 2006, 50 (10) 3317-3324; DOI: 10.1128/AAC.00353-06
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Tag Archives: mecca clock
11 Sept, 11 September, 11 september 2001, 11/9, 2001, 2016, 6 electrons, 6 neutrons, 6 protons, 666, 9/11, abraj al bait, Abraj_Al_Bait, akhet, Aleister Crowley, aleph, aleph-111, ancient egypt, antichrist, apollyon, Architect, atom, attack, babalon, babylon, bail out, bailout, banker, banking, Baphomet, Beast, binladen, black swan, Boaz, Brad Pitt, breaking the jubilee, building 7, carbon, Carrie-Anne Moss, christ, clock, clock tower, conspiracy, coptic new year, Crowley, crown, David Fincher, deutsche bank, double aleph, dual aleph, Edward Norton, Eyes Wide Shut, falling crown, false flag, Fight Club, financial crisis, flood, freemason, freemasonry, Giza, gnostic, Great Pyramid, hajj, hajj sacrifice, Hegelian dialectic, human sacrifice, illuminati, illuminati card game, inside job, inundation, IS, Isaac, Ishmael, ISIL, ISIS, Islamic State, Jachin, jericho, jesus, Jesus Christ, Johnny Depp, Judah, kaaba, Kabbalah, Keanu Reeves, khnum, Khufu, Laurence Fishburne, lehman brothers, lucifer, luciferian, Makkah, Marla Singer, Masjid al-Haram, Mason, masonry, Matrix Reloaded, Matrix Revolutions, Mecca, mecca clock, Merovingian, mosque, Muhammad, Neo, New World Order, new york, New York City, Ninth Gate, nowruz, NYC, occult, odile, Oracle, pharaoh, pharez, potters field, Predictive Programming, prostitute, Pyramid, rahab, Rockefeller, roman polanski, Rosemary’s Baby, rothschild, sacrifice, samantha geimer, Satan, Satanic, scarlet cord, scarlet thread, Scarlet Woman, september 11, sharon tate, Solomon, synchrocynicon, synchromysticism, Tabernacle, tamar, TBTF, Temple, terrorism, terrorist, The Matrix, The Walk, Thelema, thelemic, Thelemite, to big to fail, too big to fail, towers, Trinity, twin towers, Tyler Durden, V for Vendetta, Valley of the Dolls, vesica piscis, virgin, Wachowski, Whore of Babylon, Wicca, widow, witch, witchcraft, World Trade Center, wtc, WTC 1, WTC 2, WTC 7, zarah, Zion
The 1999 movies Fight Club and The Matrix both incorporated symbolic and/or informational ‘predictive programming’, which in a general sense simply means they included deliberate public displays of content which predictively communicated major future events; albeit retaining a cloak of plausible deniability through deliberate obfuscation, and/or non-specificity. Fight Club is a movie which contains an abundance of predictive esoteric information, which was custom designed to be complimentary with the September 11th 2001 Twin Towers false-flag terror attack, which occurred exactly two years after its first screening on September 10th 1999 at the Venice Film Festival. The Matrix contained a much more subtle informational insert; however, this single instance was contextually important enough to similarly link the actual event of September 11th 2001, to the overall themes of initiatory enlightenment and human control systems expressed in the trilogy.
This series of posts are designed to be an in-depth esoteric and psychological examination of these connections – especially in the case of Fight Club and The Matrix franchise – but in doing so I will also make mention of Valley of the Dolls, Eye of the Devil, Rosemary’s Baby, V for Vendetta, Eyes Wide Shut, Ninth Gate, Black Swan, The Walk, the prescient and ever relevant insights in George Orwell’s novel Nineteen Eighty-Four, and unexpectedly the Back To The Future movies. The esoteric systems of Hermetic Kabbalah, Freemasonry, Neotantra, and Thelema, will be exposed as being central to the programming in these movies, as well as the September 11th 2001 World Trade Center false-flag attack, and a possible sister event involving the Mecca Clock Tower and Kaaba.
[SPOILER ALERT: If you have not seen Fight Club yet, this post will spoil the plot]
The above twelve minute video by Apophenia Productions needs to be viewed in order for this post to be fully understood. This video came to my attention about a year ago, and reinforces my two year suspicion that the Sept 11th 2001 Twin Tower attacks are only one half of a New World Order ritual, and that the Mecca Clock Tower is a long planned sister event. The movie Back To The Future (1985) directed by Robert Zemeckis, and its sequel Back To The Future Part II (1989), contain unmistakable evidence of foreknowledge for a double-event ritual, over fifteen years before the first event occurred. As the above video reveals, the maker of this well produced expose has not realized that he has discovered evidence of a double-event, and instead believes that this blatant predictive programming is a synchromystical reference to the single Twin Towers attack, which in turn was a ‘synchromystical portal’ to awaken people in some kind of evolutionary initiation. In this post I will give another interpretation of the purpose of these esoteric symbolic inserts, because I favor a more conspiratorial interpretation of the motives behind predictive programming, though the concept of a world wide initiation ceremony is quite apropos (intentionally for malevolent luciferian and gnostic purposes, not benevolent ones).
“But Marty has foreknowledge of two events”
The above video is very well produced, and should be commended for the quality of its content and communications clarity. However, an earlier video by the same producer is shown below, because it illustrates something very important about the BTTF movies which is not explained so clearly in the newer version above. I have time-stamped the video viewer below to begin at the 9:20 mark. Make sure you watch the below video for two minutes until the 11:20 mark to see my point about the significance of two events, and how the newer video above did not so clearly develop this important aspect. The narrator in the older video aptly states: “But Marty has foreknowledge of two events“; referring to the Twin Pines Mall attack, and the Clock Tower being struck by lightning. The first BTTF movie does indeed revolve around Marty’s knowledge of exactly two central plot events: A Clock Tower lightning strike in 1955, and an Islamic terror attack on Doctor Emmett Brown in 1985 at the Twin Pines Mall.
ABOVE: EERILY PREDICTIVE GAMING CARDS
RELEASED IN THE 1994 STEVE JACKSON
GAMES, “ILLUMINATI: NEW WORLD ORDER”
As I have been exposing on this blog for nearly two years, the Sept 11th 2001 attack by ‘Binladen box-cutters’ (yeah, right), on the 7-towers of the Rockefeller initiated World Trade Center, was a geopolitical catalyst designed to unleash a worldwide Hegelian dialectic (Ordo Ab Chao), which is only completed once the reciprocal attack occurs involving the Saudi Binladen Group built 7-tower Abraj al-Bait complex (Mecca Clock Tower). This obvious worldwide ritual initiation into a New World Order initially using the Twin Temple Pillars, requires TWO EVENTS; one in the western world, and the other in the eastern world. I came to this conclusion early in 2014 whilst in deep thought over the ritual aspects of the Twin Towers, because from a geo-political point of view the Twin Towers and ‘Islam vs the West’ narrative, was extremely lacking in coherence. If the western oligarchy are to solidify their power with the Gulf Cooperation Council puppets they sponsor politically and militarily (Saudi, Qatar, Kuwait, U.A.E., Oman), in the key Middle East crude oil and natural gas fiefdoms, then a kind of MENA Caliphate needs to be catalyzed on the same scale as the European Union. This would obviously be an event that would require a pan-Islamic catastrophe. So I started looking for such a catalyst, obviously starting in Mecca with the Kaaba; the literal sacred center of Islam. It didn’t take me too long to notice the BIG Clock Tower, and also the fact that it was built by the Saudi Binladen Group. As the Illuminati Card Game cards (shown to the right) which were produced within a decade of the BTTF movies suggest, a COMBINED DISASTER is maybe on the cards (pardon the pun).
Shown above is the clock tower prop flyer used in the BTTF movie [LARGER FLYER IMAGE HERE]. Notice the picture which features the top of two pillars on a town hall facade, and also the clock dial sitting atop them in the tympanum: symbolically Twin Pillars + a Clock in a Pyramid. I extrapolated on the significance of this pillars and pyramid arrangement, and why the concept of TIME and SPACE are related to Twin Pillars and the star Sirius – on pages 8-14 of my original 77-page PDF document BREAKING THE JUBILEE 77, 2014 (released Oct 2014). Further down in this current post I expand on this esoteric concept greatly, so I hope the reader will take the time to consume the importance of this symbolism. The ‘filler text’ used in the actual movie prop flyer is not related to the Clock Tower in the movie, but is instead a frequently utilized generic text used in Hollywood movie props – including Fight Club. This text was detectably used as early as Rocky II (1979) in mock newspaper pages. The text importantly includes the following excerpt:
“Thus at this conference all our governments found themselves in unanimous agreement regarding this undertaking. Arrangements for dealing with questions and disputes between the republics were further improved. Of no less importance was the common recognition shown of the fact that any menace from without to the peace of our continents concerns all of us and therefore properly is a subject for consultation and cooperation”
This text is not relevant to the movie, but is relevant to the New World Order motives I have been outlining on this blog. After much research, I have found that these words are taken from an international address by Cordell Hull, the longest ever serving U.S. Secretary of State (11 year term). They are contained within a widely circulated press release 77 years ago, dated December 13th 1938, regarding the 8th Pan-American Conference; which was held at Lima, in Peru. As one of the worlds leading WWII era internationalists, Cordell Hull would go on to become the main architect of the United Nations, which as my readers will be aware, is a globalist order posing as a ‘peace’ organization, conceived during, and birthed after, the chaos that was WWII; which to its architects was the necessary chaos to conceive an embryonic World Government, which is what the United Nations strives to become after high levels of engineered global chaos allow one to be formed. The Imperialistic technocrats who secretly steer the United Nations, will not stop contriving major chaos until they get what they desire; the whole world! Cordell Hull is known as the ‘father of the United Nations’; a moniker that U.S. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt showered on him, and for this reason, Hull is one of the historical darlings of self proclaimed ‘progressives’ worldwide, who beg for an un-elected global technocracy to rule over them.
As a ‘progressive’ Democratic Party apparatchik from Dixie frat land, Hull is remembered as one of the movers who placed President-for-life F.D.R. into the White House, and the point-man for the U.S. Income Tax (Internal Revenue Service), which is the enforcement arm of the usurious Wall Street dominated Federal Reserve System. The ‘Fed’ is a ‘legal’ fiat money cartel, technically referred to as a private/public hybrid; a super-quango with a monetary monopoly. This cartel, however, is actually totally private when we consider that T.B.T.F Fed Member Banks donate the largest amounts to the election campaigns of American politicians, or provide them with personal loans to fund their own campaigns; as in the recent, very cozy case of Senator Ted Cruz, and Goldman Sachs, which coincidentally is where wife Heidi also works as an executive. Cordell Hull, it needs to be known, was a complete racist (read his memoirs), and a globalist who attacked import tariffs and embraced ‘free trade’; which is code-speak for support of off-shore multi-national monopoly capital cartels, who are shacked up with the T.B.T.F. members of the Fed and BoE money cartel, all ruling over a commercial empire enforced at the expense of entrepreneurial domestic businesses – which get regulated and taxed out of existence.
It should come as no surprise, therefore, that while in the halls of power, Cordell Hull was a very active Anglo-American Commercial Imperialist – posing as a “progressive” – who stated repeatedly that only ethnic European’s had the right to rule over other cultures (in an act of benevolence), and last, but not least, that the U.N. should be an agency to “prosecute war”, not to enforce peace; though the public relations people at the U.N., after its foundation, seemingly had a more pragmatic approach to branding. Presciently: “WAR IS PEACE”; as George Orwell aptly popularized. Winston Churchill had a similar view regarding a “world army” to “enforce peace”; so, dear reader, take a look at NATO, study Operation Gladio, and ask the question: “Who are the REAL global terrorists? … and who are their ‘useful idiot’ patsies?”. The Twin Towers and the Mecca Clock Tower attacks are the required worldwide ritual to consolidate the United Nations into a functional World Government – call it a christening – thus the appearance of the words of the author of the U.N. Charter on this flyer are important; especially the phrase “any menace from without to the peace”; which is the Hegelian modus operandi of the Imperial technocrats who run the United Nations from behind the vail of secrecy. This is the true reason for the Twin Towers & Mecca Clock Tower sister events: The deliberately nurtured enemy is ‘global terrorism’; the only victim is human freedom from an Imperial technocratic tyranny.
This series will analyze and develop the meaning of the Back To The Future predictive programming explained in the above videos, by broadening the scope to include deep analysis of two other predictive programming projects; The Matrix Trilogy and Fight Club. I will also attempt to place these movies into their similar framework which revolves around elite psychology, and to develop a theory of this psychology using an aspect I label the Emmanuel Golstein Complex; derived from George Orwell’s novel Nineteen Eighty-Four. This novel will also be analyzed from the standpoint of elite psychology. I will also further develop some esoteric aspects of the symbolic architecture of the Twin Towers and Mecca Clock Tower, and explain how they will, and have been used, to create an initiatory liminal A∴A∴ ritual to manifest Aleister Crowley’s satanic Aeon of Horus.
“In a time of universal deceit,
telling the truth is a revolutionary act.”
― Anonymous; sometimes attributed to George Orwell without citation.
By aamichael666 Posted in 666 - Carbon, 666 - Number, Geopolitics, Movie Analysis, Movie: Fight Club, Predictive Programming Tagged 11 Sept, 11 September, 11 september 2001, 11/9, 2001, 2016, 6 electrons, 6 neutrons, 6 protons, 666, 9/11, abraj al bait, Abraj_Al_Bait, akhet, Aleister Crowley, aleph, aleph-111, ancient egypt, antichrist, apollyon, Architect, atom, attack, babalon, babylon, Back To The Future, bail out, bailout, banker, banking, Baphomet, Beast, binladen, black swan, Boaz, Brad Pitt, breaking the jubilee, BTTF, building 7, carbon, Carrie-Anne Moss, christ, clock, clock tower, conspiracy, coptic new year, Crowley, crown, Darren Aronofsky, David Fincher, deutsche bank, deutsche boerse, double aleph, dual aleph, Edward Norton, Eyes Wide Shut, failure to deliver, falling crown, false flag, Fight Club, financial crisis, flood, freemason, freemasonry, Giza, gnostic, gold, Great Pyramid, hajj, hajj sacrifice, Hegelian dialectic, human sacrifice, illuminati, illuminati card game, inside job, inundation, IS, Isaac, Ishmael, ISIL, ISIS, Islamic State, Jachin, jericho, jesus, Jesus Christ, Johnny Depp, Judah, kaaba, Kabbalah, Keanu Reeves, khnum, Khufu, Laurence Fishburne, lehman brothers, lucifer, luciferian, Makkah, Marla Singer, Marty Mcfly, Masjid al-Haram, Mason, masonry, Matrix Reloaded, Matrix Revolutions, Mecca, mecca clock, Merovingian, Michael J Fox, mosque, Muhammad, Neo, New World Order, new york, New York City, Ninth Gate, nowruz, NYC, occult, odile, Oracle, pharaoh, pharez, physical gold, Polanski, potters field, Predictive Programming, prostitute, Pyramid, rahab, Robert Zemeckis, Rockefeller, roman polanski, Rosemary's Baby, rothschild, sacrifice, samantha geimer, Satan, Satanic, scarlet cord, scarlet thread, Scarlet Woman, september 11, sharon tate, Solomon, synchrocynicon, synchromysticism, Tabernacle, tamar, TBTF, Temple, terrorism, terrorist, The Matrix, The Walk, Thelema, thelemic, Thelemite, to big to fail, too big to fail, towers, Trinity, twin towers, Tyler, Tyler Durden, V for Vendetta, Valley of the Dolls, vesica piscis, virgin, Wachowski, Whore of Babylon, Wicca, widow, witch, witchcraft, World Trade Center, wtc, WTC 1, WTC 2, WTC 7, zarah, Zion
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Meena Alexander, a Consummate Woman of Letters
I read and re-read Atmospheric Embroidery so that I could ask her something that would be of interest. But I did not get to ask those questions. Her answers are in the poems.
Atmospheric Embroidery
By Patricia Spears Jones
May 8, 2019 | Meena Alexander, Patricia Spears Jones, tribute
The following is part of a series of essays and reflections published on The Margins in remembrance of the life and work of poet and scholar Meena Alexander, who passed away on November 21, 2018.
I was to have been in dialogue with Meena the week she last entered the hospital—Kimiko Hahn and I at CUNY Grad Center. All summer, I read and re-read Atmospheric Embroidery so that I could ask her something that would be of interest to her—most distinctly her connection to “the blues.” But I did not get to ask those questions. Her answers are in the poems, and that is how it will be.
Meena Alexander was a consummate woman of letters, moving her pen from poem to essay, from theory to lyric with what seemed like ease, which came from her dedicated discipline. What always surprised me was her down to earthiness, because her oratory seemed to come from some other personage.
My last encounter with her was at Carnegie Hall, where one of her children was in a chorus premiering a work of the composer Zaid Jabri and the librettist Yvette Christianse. The piece was powerful and the chorus performed beautifully. Meena looked stunning as always—she was a beautiful woman. But she told me why she had been absent from many things. I did not know how malevolent the cancer was. But despite (because) she was so intensely present, so there for her family, for an old friend, for the composer and librettist, damn it for this world.
I just taught “Dwelling” from Atmospheric Embroidery and I think of the way she wove fabric and fire—that which holds, that which destroys in that poem about where we can and cannot stay. The world is so much making and unmaking—she understood that so clearly. She just knew.
Patricia Spears Jones is a poet, playwright, educator and cultural activist and is the winner of the 2017 Jackson Poetry Prize from Poets & Writers. She is author of A Lucent Fire: New and Selected Poems and 10 other poetry collections and in numerous anthologies. Her poems have recently been published in The New Yorker; Ms. Muse and forthcoming in CUTTHROAT: A Journal of the Arts. She is organizer of the American Poets Congress and is a Senior Fellow of the Black Earth Institute.
Tags: Meena Alexander, Patricia Spears Jones, tribute
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Pair of supermoons, including a rare 'super blue blood moon,' will kick off 2018
The new year will ring in with a pair of amazing celestial sights, with supermoons that will be visible on the first and last of January.
According to NASA, "A supermoon is a Moon that is full when it is also at or near its closest point in its orbit around Earth."
The first supermoon of 2018 will be visible on Jan. 1.
The second supermoon of the year, visible on Jan. 31, will be an exceptional sight known as a "super blue blood moon."
The supermoon at the end of the month will be the second full moon of the month, which is called a blue moon. The Jan. 31 supermoon will also feature a total lunar eclipse which will be visible western North America to eastern Asia.
Totally eclipsed moons are sometimes referred to as a "blood moon," which is why the end of the month supermoon earned the special designation of "super blue blood moon."
weathersupermoonmooneclipsespacescience
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Same-sex union
August 3, 2009 by ab
Obama Said ‘I Don’t.’ He May Just Mean It.
Last month, former president Bill Clinton joined the increasing number of Democratic politicians who publicly back same-sex marriage. Granted, Clinton’s endorsement — offered in response to a questioner at a Washington conference for liberal college activists — was heavily qualified: Clinton said he is “basically in support” of providing legal recognition to gay couples. This latter-day epiphany from the man who signed the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, which prohibits the federal government from recognizing same-sex unions, earned warm praise from gay activists. “I personally support people doing what they want to do,” Clinton said, and people seemed to believe his apparent change of heart.
Others, however, claimed to know that he has been for gay marriage all along. Kerry Eleveld, Washington correspondent for the Advocate, wrote that “no one ever really believed [Clinton] opposed marriage equality. Call it craven politics, but everyone knows Clinton signed DOMA into law before the ’96 election to avoid a potential GOP family-values offensive at the ballot box.” Eleveld and others contend that support for same-sex marriage among liberal elected officials is a given. It’s just that pesky political exigencies prevent them from publicly expressing their “real” beliefs.
There’s no doubt that part of Clinton’s motivation for signing DOMA was to prevent the Republican Party from using it as a wedge issue. But whether or not that law went against his actual convictions, it is part of Clinton’s legacy to the gay community, along with “don’t ask, don’t tell.” Repealing both is the most important task of the gay rights movement today.
When it comes to same-sex marriage, the movement can’t count on support from the current president either. When White House press secretary Robert Gibbs was asked about Clinton’s comments, he told reporters that his boss “does not support” same-sex marriage. “He supports civil unions,” Gibbs assured. And despite President Obama’s statement that he opposes the ban on gays serving openly in the military, Democratic Rep. Alcee Hastings (Fla.) last week said that the White House pressured him to withdraw an amendment that would have prohibited funds from being spent on investigating “don’t ask, don’t tell” violations.
Even if Obama does in fact believe in marriage equality, he hasn’t done — and is unlikely to do — much to forward the cause. And apart from some toothless sniping from a handful of gay activists and donors, he seems to be getting away with it. In this way, the presumed (yet secret) good intentions of Democrats can wind up doing more harm than good: They tell the gay community that Democrats are at least better than the GOP, thus providing an excuse that can be employed endlessly while they stall.
This trust in covert backing from liberal elected officials is an article of faith among most supporters of same-sex marriage. In a recent interview with Newsweek, gay playwright Tony Kushner spoke of Obama’s secret belief in the righteousness of same-sex marriage as if it were painfully obvious. “Pbbbht! Of course he’s in favor of gay marriage!” Kushner exclaimed. His views were echoed by Steve Hildebrand, a gay political consultant who served as Obama’s deputy national campaign director. “I do believe that in his heart he will fight his tail off until we’ve achieved full equality in the gay community,” he told journalist Rex Wockner. I’ve lost track of the number of liberal friends and acquaintances, gay and straight alike, who assure me that Obama “really” supports same-sex marriage and, furthermore, that this point is obvious.
How can they be so sure? People want to like political leaders, and when someone as charismatic as Clinton or Obama comes along, it’s easy to ignore the facts that get in the way of an idealized image. That liberal politicians are indifferent — if not outright opposed — to same-sex marriage stands at utter odds with liberals’ notion of an enlightened community of like-minded progressives. “Does anybody actually believe that Barack Obama and Michelle Obama think that we shouldn’t have — that this man who is a constitutional-law scholar — is it a complicated issue?” Kushner sputtered, as if anyone who disagreed were an imbecile.
Because people such as Kushner view political liberalism as a positive personality trait and not just a worldview, they assume that someone who opposed the Iraq war and sees himself as a “citizen of the world” would also believe in the right of gays to marry. People cannot conceive that such a cosmopolitan and eloquent man as Obama would disagree with them on an issue that they consider a no-brainer.
This is convenient for liberals because it allows them to deflect blame from politicians they like onto those they don’t, namely conservatives, the sincerity of whose opposition to same-sex marriage they never challenge. If only Republicans desisted in their homophobia, this narrative goes, justifiably timid liberals would come out of their closets of prevarication, so to speak, and support gay marriage unambiguously.
Framing gay rights as a strictly partisan issue also allows liberals to obscure the awkward fact that while they are more likely than conservatives to support same-sex marriage, a key Democratic constituency, African Americans, overwhelmingly opposes it.
Obama’s history on the issue does have a complicating twist. On a 1996 Illinois Senate race questionnaire, Obama (or more likely a staffer) wrote, “I favor legalizing same-sex marriages, and would fight efforts to prohibit such marriages.” Liberals take from this revelation the assumption that Obama’s apparent flip was insincere.
But there is nothing in his record since he became a national political figure that should give them any reason to think he will revert to his supposedly pro-gay-marriage position. And if Obama actually does believe in same-sex marriage, that makes his public opposition to it worse than it would be if he were genuinely opposed. How is it in any way reassuring to liberals to suppose that a politician agrees with them while selling them down the river? Even if Obama’s apparent flip isn’t genuine, he nonetheless acts as if it were, rendering his supposedly silent support worthless in tangible political terms. Whatever he “really” thinks, Obama’s stance on gay marriage is virtually indistinguishable from that of John McCain.
For some time, liberal politicians have taken a largely wink-and-nod approach to gay issues. They’ve done so with the excuse that the culture must catch up before any progress can be made (an excuse that conveniently doesn’t apply to other liberal interest groups, such as unions and trial lawyers, that do very well when Democrats are in power). Obama paid tribute to this timeworn tactic recently when he told gay activists at the White House: “I want you to know that I expect and hope to be judged not by words, but by the promises my administration keeps. By the time this administration is over, I think you guys will have pretty good feelings about the Obama administration.”
Talking about “feelings” is a cuddly liberal pastime, and Obama’s promise conjures up the phrase that Clinton famously entered into our political lexicon when he told an angry AIDS activist, “I feel your pain.” Maybe now, when it comes to same-sex marriage, he finally does. But it would be nice to have a sitting president whose feelings translate into action.
James Kirchick is an assistant editor of the New Republic and a contributing writer to the Advocate.
Full article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/31/AR2009073102286.html
Posted in Editorials and opinion | Tagged Same-sex marriage, Same-sex union
Uproar in D.C. as Same-Sex Marriage Gains
The D.C. Council overwhelmingly approved a bill yesterday to recognize same-sex marriages performed elsewhere, in a vote that followed a sharp exchange between an openly gay member and a civil rights champion and set off shouts of reproach from local ministers.
The council passed the measure by a vote of 12 to 1. During the debate, council member David A. Catania (I-At Large) accused Marion Barry (D-Ward 8), who cast the dissenting vote, of having taken a “bigoted” position.
After the vote, enraged African American ministers stormed the hallway outside the council chambers and vowed that they will work to oust the members who supported the bill, which was sponsored by Phil Mendelson (D-At Large). They caused such an uproar that security officers and D.C. police were called in to clear the hallway.
Yesterday’s action could be a precursor to a debate later this year over whether to legalize same-sex marriage in the city. “There is no turning back,” said Catania, who plans to introduce a broader gay marriage bill in a few months.
Barry, who said he supports gay rights and civil unions, warned after the vote that the District could erupt if the council does not proceed slowly on same-sex marriage.
“All hell is going to break lose,” Barry said. “We may have a civil war. The black community is just adamant against this.”
Mayor Adrian M. Fenty (D) has said he will sign the bill recognizing same-sex marriages performed elsewhere. The council’s action puts the matter before Congress, which under the Home Rule Charter has 30 days to review District legislation. The bill could present the House and Senate with their biggest test on the same-sex marriage issue since Congress approved the Defense of Marriage Act in 1996.
At least one GOP member said yesterday that he will try to block the bill from becoming law.
“Some things are worth fighting for, and this is one of them,” said Rep. Jason Chaffetz (Utah), the ranking Republican on a House Oversight and Government Reform subcommittee that oversees the District. “It’s not something I can let go softly into the night. . . . I recognize the Democrats are in the majority, but I represent the majority of Americans on this issue.”
Several council members and gay rights advocates are hopeful that the Democratic majorities in the House and Senate will be able to stop congressional intervention.
“I do not believe that a serious attempt to overturn the council bill will be made or will be successful,” said Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), who praised the council’s decision.
But the emotional debate that took place yesterday at the Wilson Building suggests that the issue could be divisive in a city with a long history of racial tension in politics.
Barry, a prominent figure during the civil rights movement, said that he “agonized” over whether to oppose the bill but that he decided to stand with the “ministers who stand on the moral compass of God.”
“I am representing my constituents,” said Barry, who later told reporters that “98 percent of my constituents are black, and we don’t have but a handful of openly gay residents.”
Civic activist Philip Pannell, who is openly gay and lives in Ward 8, called Barry’s remarks offensive. “He of all people, coming out of the civil rights movement, should understand the need to fight for the rights of all minorities to be protected,” Pannell said.
Catania and Jim Graham (D-Ward 1) are the two openly gay members of the council, and Catania made it clear that he took offense at Barry’s stance.
“This issue is whether or not our colleagues, on a personal level, view me and Jim Graham as your equals,” Catania said, “if we are permitted the same rights and responsibilities and obligations as our colleagues. So this is personal. This is acknowledging our families as much as we acknowledge yours.”
Barry, visibly upset, fired back that he has been a supporter of gay rights since the 1970s.
“I understand this is personal to you and Mr. Graham. I understand because I have been discriminated against,” Barry said. “. . . I resent Mr. Catania saying either you are a bigot or against bigotry, as though this particular legislation represents all of that.”
Catania replied: “Your position is bigoted. I don’t think you are.”
The tenor of the debate was equally heated outside the council chamber.
“We need a new council. They are destroying our youth,” a same-sex marriage opponent, Paul Trantham of Southeast Washington, shouted in the hallway during the ruckus. “Every minister who fears God should be here. This is disrespectful to the nation’s capital. There is nothing equal about same-sex marriage.”
This week, more than 100 black ministers signed a letter to Fenty opposing the measure.
Council member Yvette M. Alexander (D-Ward 7) accused some of the black ministers of questioning her religious commitment and threatening to unseat council members who supported the bill. “The ministers have really upset me to a point they have questioned my Christianity, they have questioned my morality,” Alexander said.
The Archdiocese of Washington issued a statement criticizing yesterday’s vote as showing “a lack of understanding of the true meaning of marriage.”
Outside the Wilson Building, Steven Gorman of Crestwood in Northwest Washington stood quietly holding a “marriage equality” sign. “I’ve been out for 25 years, and I’ve been battling for 25 years,” said Gorman, who married his partner last summer in California. “This is not over, but we are winning.”
Full article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/05/AR2009050501618.html?hpid=topnews
Posted in Law, Politics, Religion | Tagged Same-sex marriage, Same-sex union
The flip-side of same-sex marriage
Those who object on religious grounds need legal protection too.
As a growing number of states stand poised to pass same-sex marriage laws, they should consider this: It’s possible to legalize gay marriage without infringing on religious liberty. But it takes careful crafting of robust religious protections. And no state has gotten that right yet.
The country is deeply divided on same-sex marriage. But once it is recognized legally, all kinds of people — clerks in the local registrar’s office, photographers, owners of reception halls, florists — might not have the legal right to refuse to provide services for same-sex weddings, even if doing so would violate deeply held beliefs. Religious organizations could be affected too. For example, a Catholic university that offers married-student housing might have to rent to married same-sex couples or risk violating state law.
These are not imagined or speculative concerns. Flash-points over same-sex unions are already occurring across the United States. In Iowa, the state’s attorney general told county recorders that they must issue licenses to same-sex couples or face criminal misdemeanor charges and even dismissal. New Mexico’s Human Rights Commission fined a husband-wife photography team more than $6,000 because they declined to photograph a same-sex commitment ceremony. In New Jersey, authorities yanked the property tax exemption of a church group that denied requests by two lesbian couples to use the group’s boardwalk pavilion for their commitment ceremonies.
So what should states do to respond to these clashes between same-sex relationships and religious liberty?
What they should not do is what New Hampshire’s Senate did last week: pay lip-service to religious freedom while enacting meaningless protections. New Hampshire’s bill provides that “members of the clergy … shall not be obligated … to officiate at any particular civil marriage or religious rite of marriage in violation of their right to free exercise of religion.” But this is a hollow guarantee: The 1st Amendment already provides such protection.
Last month, Connecticut and Vermont became the first states to pass conscience protection for religious dissenters in their same-sex marriage laws. Both states provide that religious groups “shall not be required to provide services, accommodations, advantages, facilities, goods or privileges to an individual if the request … is related to the solemnization of a marriage or celebration of a marriage.” Both also bar civil suits by people denied such wedding-related services.
Connecticut went even further. In that state, a “religious organization” providing adoption services may continue to place children only with heterosexual married couples as long as it gets no government money. Thus, in Connecticut, unlike in Massachusetts, Catholic Charities will not have to close its doors or face litigation threats.
As important as these exemptions for organizations are, states still weighing same-sex marriage should do better. Wedding advisors, photographers, bakers, caterers and other service providers who prefer to step aside from same-sex ceremonies for religious reasons also need explicit protection.
Some have argued that gay-marriage laws do not need such guarantees because they don’t require religious objectors to do any particular thing. But new laws are interpreted in light of existing statutes, and Vermont and Connecticut — as well as all six states still considering same-sex marriage — have laws on the books prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
Because of those laws, many people could have to choose between conscience and livelihood. In Massachusetts, individuals violating the non-discrimination statute can be fined up to $50,000. In Connecticut, business owners can be sentenced to 30 days in jail.
Conscience protections are a thoroughly American idea. Since Colonial times, legislatures have exempted religious minorities from laws inconsistent with their faith. Such exemptions allow Americans with radically different views on moral questions to live in peace and equality in the same society.
Connecticut and Vermont have gone part of the way toward recognizing that the rights of same-sex couples should not come at the expense of the religious people who believe that marriage means a husband and a wife.
Now, New York, Illinois, New Hampshire, Maine, Rhode Island and the District of Columbia should take the time to get same-sex marriage right.
Robin Wilson is a professor of law at Washington and Lee University School of Law.
Full article: http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-wilson3-2009may03,0,248550.story
Posted in Editorials and opinion, Law, Religion | Tagged Same-sex union
Dems Sense Opportunity on Gay Marriage
Gay marriage legalization in several states and the public’s growing acceptance of same-sex unions have Democrats sensing political opportunity and some Republicans re-evaluating their party’s hard-line opposition to an issue that long has rallied its base.
In recent weeks, Vermont and Iowa have legalized same-sex marriage, while New York, Maine and New Hampshire have taken steps in that direction. Polls show younger Americans are far are more tolerant on the issue than are older generations. For now at least, the public is much more focused on the troubled economy and two wars than on social issues.
In addition, over the past decade, public acceptance of gay marriage has changed dramatically.
A Quinnipiac University poll released last week found that a majority of people questioned, by a 55-38 percent margin, oppose gay marriage. But it also found that people, by a 57-38 percent margin, support civil unions that would provide marriage-like rights for same-sex couples, indicating a shift toward more acceptance.
With congressional elections next year, Republicans, Democrats and nonpartisan analysts say the changes benefit Democrats, whose bedrock liberals favor gay unions, and disadvantage Republicans, whose conservative base insists that marriage be solely between a man and a woman.
”This is not a sea change. This is a tide that is slowly rising in favor of gay marriage,” creating a favorable political situation for Democrats and ever-more difficulty for Republicans, said David McCuan, a political scientist at Sonoma State University in California.
Democrats have a broader base filled with more accepting younger voters, as well as flexibility on the issue. Hard-core liberals support gay marriage, while others, including President Barack Obama, take a more moderate position of civil unions and defer to states on gay marriage.
Conversely, the GOP base is older, smaller and more conservative. Republicans have no place to shift on the issue but to the left, because the party has been identified largely with its rock-solid opposition to gay marriage and civil unions. Also, the GOP has no titular head setting the tone on this or other issues.
In recent months, proponents have used state legislatures and court challenges to legalize gay marriage, mindful that the majority of the public still isn’t supportive and successful ballot measures would be less likely.
Because of high court rulings, gay marriage now is legal in Iowa, Massachusetts and Connecticut. A Vermont law allowing gay marriage will take effect in September. New Hampshire and New Jersey, where same-sex couples can enter into civil unions, are considering gay marriage legislation. So are Maine and New York.
Political insiders no doubt will pay close attention to developments in Iowa and New Hampshire, early presidential voting states, to see how the issue plays out in the run-up to the 2012 presidential election.
Despite the changes, gay-marriage opponents are buoyed by a voter initiative in California that blocked the state from allowing gay marriage, and by the 29 states where voters have approved state constitutional amendments banning gay marriage.
For years, the GOP and its conservative base has used its opposition to gay marriage to drive Republican turnout in elections and marginalize party moderates. Measures defining marriage between a man and a woman that were on ballots in a slew of states in 2004 were widely credited with boosting the number of conservative voters, giving Republican George W. Bush an edge over Democrat John Kerry.
But there’s been conflicting evidence since then over just how much that contributed to Bush’s victory.
What’s certain is that opposition to gay marriage for decades has been a potent tool for the GOP in rallying social conservatives. They are critical to the party’s grass-roots organizing and small-dollar fundraising.
But as more states accept gay and lesbian unions, there is a debate inside the party over how it should position itself on the issue. The dispute is just one part of a broader struggle within the out-of-power GOP over its identity and whether it should focus on rallying conservatives or attracting supporters from across the political spectrum.
Some prominent Republicans are backing away from cut-and-dried opposition, and some party operatives say it’s only a matter of time before others follow suit because the country is changing.
Republican Gov. Jon Huntsman of Utah, a Mormon who is a potential presidential candidate, backed a 2004 constitutional amendment defining marriage as between a man and a woman. But he says he favors civil unions and extending some legal rights to gay couples.
Last month, John McCain’s chief campaign strategist, Steve Schmidt, told the Log Cabin Republicans: ”Even though a majority of Republicans remain opposed to it, we must respect dissent on the subject within the party and encourage debate over it, and should not reject out of hand and on specious grounds … that the party might be in the wrong on the question.”
The shifting landscape is emboldening the gay-rights’ movement, a pillar of the Democratic Party’s left flank.
”We are at a tipping point moment,” said Joe Solmonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign, a leading advocate of gay rights. ”The lingering minority that continues to think that the way to win is to hold GLBT (gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender) people up as a wedge could not be more out of touch.”
Full article: http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/05/02/us/politics/AP-US-Gay-Marriage-Politics.html
Posted in Politics | Tagged Same-sex union
April 30, 2009 by ab
Maine Senate Backs Same-Sex Marriage
Maine could be the next New England state to embrace same-sex marriage after the State Senate voted Thursday to legalize the practice.
The Democratic-controlled Senate voted 21 to 14 for a bill that would allow gay couples to marry starting later this year. The measure appears to have even broader support in the House of Representatives, which will take it up on Tuesday.
Gov. John Baldacci, a Democrat, used to oppose same-sex marriage. But since the bill was introduced in January, he has said he is keeping an open mind.
“He said at the beginning of this process that he was going to listen to debate on the question,” said David Farmer, Mr. Baldacci’s spokesman, “and make his final decision once the bill reaches his desk.”
The vote was the latest victory for gay rights groups in New England, which are campaigning to get same-sex marriage approved in all six of the region’s states by 2012. Massachusetts and Connecticut already allow same-sex marriage, and the Vermont Legislature approved it last month.
The New Hampshire legislature is likely to send a same-sex marriage bill to Gov. John Lynch in the coming weeks, though Mr. Lynch, a Democrat and an opponent, might veto it. A bill has been introduced in the Rhode Island legislature but is unlikely to be acted on this year.
If the Maine Legislature approves same-sex marriage, opponents will try to collect enough signatures to suspend the law until a public referendum can be held — probably in June 2010 — asking voters if they want to overturn it. But Mary Bonauto, the lawyer who argued the case that led to the legalization of same-sex marriage in Massachusetts, said gay rights groups would wage an exhaustive campaign against a so-called people’s veto.
“I think we have better than a fighting chance on that,” Ms. Bonauto said.
Full article: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/01/us/01maine.html?hpw
Posted in Law | Tagged Maine, Same-sex union
N.H. Senate Passes Gay Marriage Bill
The New Hampshire Senate voted narrowly on Wednesday to legalize same-sex marriage, paving the way for the state to potentiallybecome the fifth in the nation — and the third this month — to allow gay couples to wed.
The Democratic-controlled Senate voted 13 to 11 in favor of the bill, but only after a last-minute amendment strengthened language granting legal protections for religious groups and organizations that do not want to perform or otherwise help carry out same-sex marriages.
The House, which approved the marriage bill by a seven-vote margin last month, will now vote on the Senate’s amended version. Supporters and opponents both predicted that version would pass the House, which is more liberal and was more enthusiastic about same-sex marriage from the start. The bill probably cannot gain enough support in either house for an override, so its fate almost certainly rests with Gov. John Lynch.
It is unclear whether Gov. Lynch, a Democrat, will veto the law or whether the new language will persuade him to endorse it. Mr. Lynch has consistently opposed same-sex marroiage but has never said whether he would veto the bill or let it be enacted without his signature.
He did not reveal his intentions after the vote but reiterated his belief that the state’s two-year-old civil-union law provides sufficient rights and protections to gay couples.
“To achieve further real progress,” he said in a statement, “the federal government would need to take action to recognize New Hampshire civil unions.”
The Defense of Marriage Act, passed by Congress in 1996, prohibits the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriage. It denies federal benefits, like Social Security survivors’ payments, to spouses in such marriages.
Brian Brown, executive director of the National Organization for Marriage, which was established to fight same-sex marriage around the country, said the group would intensively lobby Mr. Lynch to veto it. “This vote is in no way representative of what folks in New Hampshire want,” Mr. Brown said, adding that the Senate leadership had used “arm-twisting” to change the votes of a few crucial Democrats. “If the governor is going to stand by his words and his stated position, he will veto this bill.”
To some extent, the support for same-sex marriage reflects a sea change in New Hampshire politics since 2006, when Democrats gained control of the legislature for the first time in over a century. But while staunchly conservative on fiscal matters, New Hampshire has been less so about social issues, partly because its citizens’ famous libertarian streak resists government intrusion in personal matters.
But last-minute politicking also played a role. Last week the Senate Judiciary Committee voted 3 to 2 against the marriage measure, and the committee’s chairwoman, Senator Deborah Reynolds, a Democrat, said afterward that New Hampshire was simply not ready for same-sex marriage.
Ms. Reynolds, the only Democrat who opposed the bill in committee, stressed that civil unions were still new in New Hampshire and that Vermont, whose legislature approved same-sex marriage on April 7, had done so only after living with civil unions for nine years.
But on Wednesday, Ms. Reynolds, who represents a fairly conservative region, said the new language made the bill acceptable. She described it as a compromise that was “respectful to both sides of the debate and meets our shared goals of equality under the state laws for all of the people of New Hampshire.”
Gov. Jim Douglas of Vermont, a Republican, vetoed that state’s same-sex marriage bill this month but the Democratic-controlled legislature overrode the veto, making Vermont the first state to adopt same-sex marriage legislatively instead of through the courts. Days earlier, the Iowa Supreme Court found a state law banning same-sex marriage to be a violation of the state Constitution.
The New Hampshire Legislature approved civil unions in 2007, and more than 650 have been registered in the state since they became legal in January 2008.
Same-sex marriage was among several contentious bills that the Senate took up Wednesday, all passed by the House in recent weeks. One, a measure to allow people with certain illnesses to possess marijuana for medical purposes, passed in a 14 to 10 vote. But the Senate voted unanimously against a bill that would guarantee transgender people protection from housing and employment discrimination. It also put off action on a bill to repeal the death penalty.
Democrats hold a 14 to 10 majority in the New Hampshire Senate, but it is generally more centrist and cautious than the House, where Democrats hold a 223 to 175 majority.
Opponents of same-sex marriage appeared somewhat better organized here than in Vermont, where the opposition was relatively small and fragmented. Cornerstone Research Institute waged an intense phone campaign with help from the National Organization for Marriage, but the New Hampshire Freedom to Marry Coalition and other gay-rights groups also lobbied fiercely.
Mo Baxley, the coalition’s executive director, described the Senate bill as a fair compromise.
“It is in keeping with New Hampshire’s live-free-or-die tradition to stand up for individual liberties and against discrimination of any kind,” she said.
“I have to say,” Ms. Baxley added, “America is at a turning point.”
Full article: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/30/us/30marriage.html?hp
Posted in Law | Tagged New Hampshire, Same-sex union
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African Journal of
Abbreviation: Afr. J. Hist. Cult.
DOI: 10.5897/AJHC
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Open Access is a publication model that enables the dissemination of research articles to the global community without any form of restriction. All articles published under open access can be accessed by anyone with internet connection.
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Video: Sociologist Jennifer Jones on changing race relations, immigration, and state politics
Author: Todd Boruff
“The ways in which racial politics have emerged and the kinds of coalitions that emerge or don't between racial groups seems to have a major impact into what kinds of policies states pursue.”
— Jennifer Jones
Jennifer Jones is an assistant professor of sociology and a faculty fellow at the Institute for Latino Studies at the University of Notre Dame. Her research uses qualitative methods to explore increasing migration, the growing multiracial population, and shifting social relations between and within racial groups.
I consider myself primarily a race scholar, trying to understand how race structures our social world, how race relations are changing, and what race means in particular for politics and inequality.
I'm interested in the role of immigration and changing race and race relations in terms of broad demographics but also how that's reshaping how people think about one another. I think about the new multi-racial population, so what does it mean that we count multi-racials as a group? That there are now more and more people who are identifying as being part of multiple racial groups and what that says about our understanding of race. And then I think about race relations in particular, so what happens within groups to make racial boundaries real? How do groups relate to one another and how does that reflect back on the construction of those racial groups?
To the extent that we care about what politics look like, we need to pay more attention to what happens at the state level, because often that's where all the action is. Living in California and living in Indiana and living in Illinois and living in North Carolina as an immigrant, especially an undocumented immigrant, can be a widely variable experience and way beyond your normal differences between states. When we have states that seemed very similar in terms of demographic change, in terms of the wealth of the state, and we have different kinds of immigration policies, what explains that? And what I'm finding is that it actually has a lot to do with race. So the ways in which racial politics have emerged and the kinds of coalitions that emerge or don't between racial groups seems to have a major impact into what kinds of policies states pursue. I'm hoping the work that I'm doing now will lend some insight into sort of other kinds of broad patterns.
Notre Dame has turned out to be a great place for me. In sociology, we have a nice balanced department in terms of research methods. We have strengths and religion and culture and in education, and race and immigration intersect with those areas quite a bit. I'm a faculty fellow in the Institute for Latino Studies, and Latinos are the largest growing demographic in the United States, and that matters for all kinds of areas of life and inquiry. And so Notre Dame is a little bit ahead of the game in that they've invested heavily in creating and supporting an institute and center that is thinking about the role of Latinos in the United States and supporting people who are doing work to try to understand those processes. And so I'm interested in the implications of these processes for voting patterns, for social justice policies, for who gets represented in Congress and those kinds of outcomes as well.
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Find the Best Accommodation Deals
Things to Do in Phuket and Top Destinations In Thailand
What to do in Thailand, and Top 10 To Do In Phuket
Things to Do in Phuket
Many travellers are searching for Top 10 To Do In Phuket, Phuket Thailand is quite a large province, a very popular part of the country for vacationers. It's definitely a way for you to immerse yourself in the culture of the country and get to know the customs and traditions of the locals. You can imagine all the markets you can visit for shopping and all the beach adventures you can enjoy. You can find Top 10 To Do In Phuket travel information.
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Top 10 To Do In Phuket, First, have you been acquainted with where Phuket can be found in Thailand? It's southern Thailand, in the west coast. Will you anticipate visiting any other parts of Thailand while you're there? You'll want to know where those locations will be in proximity to Phuket and the way you plan on getting around. Now, let's take a look at those activities you wish to do while you're there.
First, you are likely to be privy to no less than 140 gift shops and specialty shops, including RK Fashions and Tailors and InStyle Fashion. Imagine having clothes tailored and fit to make, and think of all of the unique souvenirs you can get while you're there. That is a reasonably few shops available, but you will desire to remember again that Phuket can be a rather large and popular province. Still, you can't go far without running into something fun to accomplish.
After you're done shopping, it's time to go to some attractions. We'll talk specific beaches here with a minute, however think about the specific beach adventures you could have. For instance, while vacationing in Phuket, you are able to carry on different scuba and snorkeling adventures. A very common place is Simba Sea Trips, and then there is Super Divers, Aussie Divers Phuket plus more. You may also continue different boat tours, available from Two Sea Tour, Phuket Sail Tours plus more. Simba Sea Trips offers both boat tours as well as the scuba diving and snorkeling adventures.
Wat Chalong is in Phuket Town, along with the area looks beautiful. This building can be a temple according to the reviews, and folks describe gorgeous Thai architecture. One of several other attractions is nearby, too, a large Buddha. A few of the reviews talk about firecrackers, which sounds cool when you're flanked by beautiful scenery.
Speaking of beautiful scenery, you need to stop by Karon View Point, which is evidently related to the Big Buddha. Reviewers describe the views as breathtaking, and therefore should help it becomes clear that you're going to have ample photo ops while vacationing in Phuket Thailand. The viewpoint provides you with an excellent layout of the land, a vantage point when you will, and you will even begin to see the coastline.
Are you currently planning to see some great animals? You need to see the animals of Thailand, right? It's likely to be better than simply going to a zoo in the US. So, one cool destination to go in Phuket if you're looking to see some animals may be the Gibbon Rehabilitation Project. You'll see far more than animals there, too. The beautiful scenery continues by using a waterfall and everything the national park is offering its visitors.
These animals are rehabilitating in their natural habitat, and I'm sure it's really cool to see a project like that. You can take a look into the wildlife which are in Thailand. It's time to check out those famous beaches you hear about that Thailand provides. Phuket Thailand has the best beaches beyond doubt. For instance, there is Kata Noi Beach with its pristine and clear water.
That's the sort of beach you would like to visit while you're on a break, right? Well, there are plenty of others at the same time so do not forget that as you're planning your days on the beach. Evidently, this is one of the beaches in Phuket the location where the waves can get to be big based on the reviews. People also mention jet skis, and whatever beach you visit, you actually want to look into the activities available.
Nai Harn Beach is another recommended beach stop when you're in Phuket. It's actually regarded as the most effective beach in Phuket and also the top attraction or 'thing to do' too. You can expect a similar kind of beach often, and then there are vendors there. Lifeguards are saved to duty based on the reviews, and swimming and the body surfing is pretty popular there.
Straight back to the animals! Specifically dogs are the main topic of another attraction in Phuket. It's the Soi Dog Foundation, which is a rescue center which also features cats. Isn't it cool how a pair of the top attractions take care of rescuing animals? It's really neat they have caused it to be an area that folks would like to visit, and also the reviews focus on the experience being heartwarming.
The Important Buddha was mentioned earlier, nevertheless the attraction hasn't been formally introduced. It's the Phuket Big Buddha, which is quite large indeed. The monument is made from white marble. I for just one don't like visiting other attractions that cope with religion, but there are others who want to begin to see the attraction, which can be rather new furthermore.
Irrespective of what for you to do while vacationing in Phuket, there exists plenty to find out. You will discover a nightlife there, and you will imagine there will be some really awesome restaurants serving up local cuisine and a lot more. Additionally, there are spas there. Are you able to imagine getting the experience of per day spa in Thailand? It may be quite distinctive from the sorts of health spa services made available from one in the home.
Another beach that is popular to visit is Freedom Beach. Other attractions include Surf House, which looks like fun for the kids, Naka Market, Monkey Hill and Tiger Kingdom. This list continues, and you also are invited to invest some quality time vacationing in Phuket, Thailand. Top 10 To Do In Phuket
| What Injections Do I Need For Phuket | To Do Phuket Thailand | Things To Do At Karon Phuket | Things To Do/See In Phuket | Shopping At Phuket |
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The Fellowship Of The Ring
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Author by : J.R.R. Tolkien
Publisher by : Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
The first volume in J.R.R. Tolkien's epic adventure THE LORD OF THE RINGS One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them In ancient times the Rings of Power were crafted by the Elven-smiths, and Sauron, the Dark Lord, forged the One Ring, filling it with his own power so that he could rule all others. But the One Ring was taken from him, and though he sought it throughout Middle-earth, it remained lost to him. After many ages it fell into the hands of Bilbo Baggins, as told in The Hobbit. In a sleepy village in the Shire, young Frodo
Author by : John Ronald Reuel Tolkien
Publisher by : HarperCollins Publishers
Continuing the story begun in The Hobbit, this is the first part of Tolkien s epic masterpiece, The Lord of the Rings, featuring an exclusive cover image from the film, the definitive text, and a detailed map of Middle-earth. Sauron, the Dark Lord, has gathered to him all the Rings of Power the means by which he intends to rule Middle-earth. All he lacks in his plans for dominion is the One Ring the ring that rules them all which has fallen into the hands of the hobbit, Bilbo Baggins. In a sleepy village in the Shire, young Frodo Baggins finds himself faced with an immense task, as his elderly
Category: Baggins, Frodo (Fictitious character)
The Fellowship Of The Ring The Lord Of The Rings Book 1
Author by : J. R. R. Tolkien
Publisher by : HarperCollins UK
Continuing the story begun in The Hobbit, this is the first part of Tolkien’s epic masterpiece, The Lord of the Rings, featuring the definitive text and a detailed map of Middle-earth.
The Lord Of The Rings The Fellowship Of The Ring The Two Towers The Return Of The King
All three parts of the epic masterpiece The Lord of the Rings – The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers & The Return of the King – available as one download, featuring the definitive edition of the text, hyperlinked footnotes and page references, and 3 maps including a detailed map of Middle-earth.
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Gulf and Caribbean Research
Home > GCR > Vol. 4 > Iss. 3 (1974)
A Review of Salinity Problems of Organisms in United States Coastal Areas Subject to the Effects of Engineering Works
Gordon Gunter, Gulf Coast Research Laboratory
Buena S. Ballard, Gulf Coast Research Laboratory
A. Venkataramiah, Gulf Coast Research Laboratory
The nongaseous substances that normally move in and out of cells are metabolites, water and salts. The common salts in water determine its salinity, and the definition of sea water salinity and its composition are discussed. The relationships of salinity to all phyla of animals living in the coastal waters are reviewed, with emphasis on the estuaries of the Gulf and Atlantic coasts of the United States, which are particularly influenced by coastal engineering works and changes of salinity caused thereby.
The fauna of estuaries is made up of a few brackish water species which complete their life cycles there, marine species which spend only a part of their life cycles there and which have definite low-salinity limits, a few anadromous species passing through, and a few fresh water species with high salinity limits. Organisms of marine origin are dominant. Floods and drought periods, resulting in severe osmotic changes, may kill organisms or result in drastic changes of the biota, which may take extended time to reestablish itself, if the conditions return to normal.
Many invertebrate animals have few mechanisms for controlling the movement of waters and salts across their external membranes and thus are osmotic conformers. Species that cannot withstand wide salinity change are said to be stenohaline, but many species can tolerate rather wide changes; they have broad tolerance at a cellular level. Osmoregulators exhibit considerable control of their internal salinity by excretory mechanisms and permeability control of the body surface to water and salts. In general, the worms and molluscs are more often osmoconformers than the crustaceans, the latter having greater control over their internal osmotic environment than other invertebrate groups. Effects upon different stages of life history are different, but in general the limiting effects of salinity and other environmental factors bear upon the reproductive stages or the young. The limits of salinities are nearly always on the lower side with regard to estuarine organisms. Aside from osmotic adjustments, animals react to salinity changes by closing their shells, closing their burrows, burying in the bottom where interstitial water has higher salinity, or motile forms simply move out. In spite of these adjustments, none may be successful during large floods.
The salinity relationships of all phyla are reviewed, even though some of them are unimportant parts of the marine populations. Dinoflagellate Protozoa which cause red tides have precise salinity requirements and their outbreaks would be subject to control if reservoirs of fresh water were available. Sponges are generally high salinity organisms and not often damaged by low salinity. All the worms, including several phyla and the rather advanced Annelida, and the Mollusca are weakly motile at best and are thus subject to extermination by heavy floods in estuaries. However, most of these animals have short life cycles and their populations are quickly reestablished when the salinity regime returns to normal.
The dominant invertebrates in estuaries are crustaceans. The larger species are generally motile and not subject to catastrophic damage. Nevertheless, the lower limits of toleration of most species are quite limited and even a change of half part per thousand salinity will cause changes in the range in many species. If the salinity gradient falls, species drop out of the complex because their lower limits are reached, with the numbers of species becoming less in lower salinities.
There is an estuarine life history among the higher crustaceans such as shrimp and crabs which is also applicable to the fishes, and which is closely related to salinity. The adults spawn in high salinities of the open ocean and the young come back into the estuaries to raise. The young apparently prefer the lower salinities that the species will tolerate; and they move back out to sea as they grow, thus bringing about a correlation with risinpsalinity and increase in size, which may be quite precise as in the case of the commercial shrimp of the Gulf coast.
Although catastrophic changes in salinity are quite important to populations, the day-today generally normal salinity regimes also play a great part in determining the population picture of an estuary. Ninety-eight per cent of all the commercial fishery production in the Gulf of Mexico is from species connected with the estuary sometime in their life history.
The fishes of bays and sounds are made up of a relatively few species which spend their lives there, of semi-anadromous and anadromous fishes going from and coming to fresh water, of a few strays from fresh water, a few strays from the open ocean and a host of semicatadromous species that undergo the marine-estuarine type of life history. Largc specimens are found in higher salinity water for most species. Being strongly motile, few species are damaged by floods. The weakly motile amphioxus is the only chordate known to be destroyed in vast numbers by fresh water. The fishes are strong osmoregulators and in the changing salinity of the bays they regulate as fresh water fishes or marine fishes, depending upon whether or not the ambient salinity is higher or lower than that of the blood.
The salinity relations of salt water plants are less well known than those of the animals; however, a summary is given on what information we have concerning the flowering plants of the marshes and the totally submerged marine grasses along the Gulf coast.
Each separate bay, sound or estuary is an individual case with regard to salinity, but they can be appraised by biologists acquainted with the local fauna and flora so as to minimize and possibly even enhance their biotic potential in connection with salinity changes caused by engineering works.
DOI Link
https://doi.org/10.18785/grr.0403.05
Gunter, G., B. S. Ballard and A. Venkataramiah. 1974. A Review of Salinity Problems of Organisms in United States Coastal Areas Subject to the Effects of Engineering Works. Gulf Research Reports 4 (3): 380-475.
Retrieved from https://aquila.usm.edu/gcr/vol4/iss3/5
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Randy Vite Hired as UChicago Women's Lacrosse Assistant Coach
CHICAGO – Head Coach Kate Robinson has announced the hiring of Randy Vite as the full-time assistant coach for the University of Chicago's inaugural women's lacrosse program.
"I am excited to add Randy to our staff here at UChicago," Robinson said of Vite. "Her enthusiasm, energy, and love of teaching will only aid us as we embark on the first season of Maroons lacrosse."
Vite joins the Maroons after two seasons as a graduate assistant coach at nearby Aurora University. There, she helped the Spartans compile a 15-7 mark in the Midwest Women's Lacrosse Conference over the course of two seasons.
Vite's main responsibilities included assistance with recruiting, monitoring academic progress, video breakdown and analysis, team travel, community service projects and prospective student-athlete camps and clinics.
"I am thrilled to have the opportunity to coach at such a prestigious institution and to work with Kate Robinson," Vite said. "The chance to help build a new program and start new traditions of academic and athletic excellence is extremely exciting. It is such an honor to join the Maroons!"
Prior to Aurora, Vite spent one season at Colorado State University-Pueblo as an assistant coach for the NCAA Division II ThunderWolves. During her two years in Colorado, she also served as an assistant coach at Pueblo West High School for a season while she worked for Teach for America, working as a Special Education teacher at nearby Risely Middle School International Academy of Innovation.
More recently, Vite also served as a varsity assistant for St. Charles High School (Ill.) for two seasons and coached high school girls club lacrosse for Players 360. She also had a stint as as the River City Youth Club Director.
As a player, Vite was a four-year letter winner and one-year team captain on the women's lacrosse team at Kutztown University in Pennsylvania. During her four years at Kutztown, Vite garnered numerous accolades, including a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference All-Conference Second Team nod as well as a Scholar Athlete award.
Vite concluded her career with the Golden Bears as the program's all-time leader in ground balls (200) and games played (68). Vite ranks second in Kutztown's career record book in both caused turnovers (77) and games started (62) and sixth in career draw controls (55).
Vite graduated from Kutztown with a bachelor's degree in education. She majored in both special education and elementary education with a concentration in math and science.
UChicago will start its first varsity season in Spring 2019.
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Ryan's single in ninth propels Lyons to 3-2 win over Keene State
Wheaton (Mass.) (4-1) 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 3 11 0
Keene St. (6-4) 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 8 1
2B: Sean Ryan; Dan Haugh; Dan Gusovsky 2
AUBURNDALE, Fla. – Junior Sean Ryan (Norton, Mass./Norton) delivered a tie-breaking RBI single in the top of the ninth to propel the No. 17 Wheaton College baseball team to their fourth-straight win, a 3-2 triumph over Keene State College in non-conference action Wednesday afternoon at the Central Florida Invitational.
Junior Dan Gusovsky (Andover, Mass./Andover) delivering the game-tying double in the eighth for the Lyons, who are off to a 4-1 start for the second-straight season heading into this weekend's New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) series against MIT, which begins Friday afternoon in Cambridge.
Trailing 2-1 in the eighth, Haugh led off with a double and was sacrificed over to third by senior pinch hitter Dan Demeo (Glastonbury, Conn./Glastonbury). Gusovsky followed with a double to left that brought in Haugh and evened the score at two.
After the Owls went down 1-2-3 in their half of the eighth, senior Hal Landers (Salem, N.H./Salem) drew a one-out walk for the Lyons in the top of the ninth. He advanced to second on a groundout by junior Eric Jensen (Gorham, N.H./Gorham) before Ryan singled through the right side to bring him in.
Sophomore Ryan Grant (Easton, Mass./Oliver Ames) came on to pitch the bottom of the frame for Wheaton. He allowed two runners to reach base before fanning freshmen Chuck Vogt (Windsor Locks, Conn./Windsor Locks) and Ian Seawards (Dover, N.H./Dover) to earn his second save of the season.
Junior Jordan Wylie (Plymouth, Mass./Plymouth North) picked up the win in relief of senior starter Nolan Corr (Somersworth, N.H./Saint Thomas Aquinas), who allowed five hits and one run with three strikeouts over three innings in his first appearance of the season. After junior Corey Laliberte (Fall River, Mass./Durfee) worked a pair of scoreless innings in relief of Corr, Wylie came on in the sixth and allowed one hit and one run with one strikeout.
Keene State junior Greg Bates (Salem, N.H./Salem) opened the scoring in the bottom of the first with a single and came around to score on a single by senior Erik Bergstrom (Enfield, Conn./Encino Fermi), giving KSC a 1-0 lead.
Senior Dan Haugh (Andover, Mass./St. John's Prep) pulled Wheaton even with a leadoff home run in the second, his first of the season and 17th of his career, which gives him sole possession of fifth-place on Wheaton's all-time list.
The Owls pushed across a single run in their half of the sixth to regain the lead at 2-1. Bergstrom led off the inning with a double, advanced to third on a groundout and scored on an RBI groundout by senior Larry Longo (Londonderry, N.H./Derryfield).
Senior Jeff Pelkey (Fitzwilliam, N.H./Monadnock) started for Keene State and allowed eight hits and one run over 6.1 innings. He walked one and struck out five. Junior Tim Quagliaroli (Windsor Locks, Conn./Windsor Locks) suffered the loss, allowing two hits and two runs in two innings of work.
Ryan, Haugh, Gusovsky, and freshman Apolinar De la Cruz (Providence, R.I./Classical) each recorded two hits for Wheaton.
The Lyons and Engineers begin their three-game set Friday at 3:30 p.m. The Owls face Endicott tomorrow at 9 a.m. in Winter Haven.
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Toco Hills
Programs for Israelis
Torah Media America
To contact one of the ASK Rabbis click here.
Rabbi Yaakov Fleshel
Rabbi Yaakov Fleshel hails originally from Cape Town, South Africa. The only time you don't detect an accent is when he is doing his Israeli and Brazilian soccer commentary or duck-brushing-his-teeth impersonation. Rabbi Fleshel is partnering up with the Meor Leadership Program to educate and inspire college students at Emory University. In his free time, he runs after his active sons, plays soccer and eats biltong in his home.
Rabbi Mayer Freedman
Shani and Rabbi Mayer Freedman, came from Phoenix, Arizona to lead the ASK Morningside Center at Anshi. As the Associate Rabbi there, Rabbi Freedman taught day school students, directed the Vaad Hakashruth, ran outreach programs, in addition to his rabbinical duties. Rabbi Freedman is a certified narrative therapist and marriage educator. He and his wife, Shani, are both originally from Baltimore, where he studied in Ner Israel Rabbinical College. Shani, a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN), teaches nutrition at a community college. For several years, they lived in Jerusalem where Rabbi Freedman studied in the Jerusalem Kollel and received rabbinical ordination.
Rabbi Daniel Freitag
Rabbi Daniel Freitag is Director of programming at the Dunwoody Dome where he teaches his popular classes and Shabbat Beginners’ Service. He brings his energetic teaching to home groups and business lunch and learns throughout the city. His interests include cholent making, small motors, and barrel sour pickles. Rabbi Freitag loves the South, and although a native of the New York area, he has taken to calling everyone 'y'all'. His wife Rivka, part-time actuary/full-time mom, finds time to teach classes, tutor and provide guidance for women. Their kids range in age from, ``Is he Mr. Right?`` to ``See my pretty picture I made on the wall?`` He received a BS in Psych. from SUNY and a Masters in Talmudic Law from the Ner Israel Rabbinical College.
Rabbi Binyomin Friedman
One of the original founding families of ASK, the Friedmans arrived in Atlanta in 1987. In 1994 some ASK students asked Rabbi and Morah Dena Friedman to assume leadership of the newly formed Congregation Ariel in Dunwoody, a position they hold until today. In addition to her role as Rebbetzin of Ariel, Morah Dena is the beloved kindergarten teacher at Torah Day School. Rabbi Friedman teaches torah morning and evening in the ASK Dome adjacent to Ariel. Recently, his fame has spread as the Rabbi in the Jeff and the Rabbi show on YouTube. Rabbi Friedman a native of Minneapolis, refuses to wear a winter coat in Atlanta. Rabbi Friedman received a bachelors and Masters of Talmudic Law from Ner Israel Rabbinical College.
Rabbi Netanel Friedman
Rabbi Netanel Friedman joined the Kollel in Dunwoody in 2014 with his wife Reva and their 6 children after 3 years in Massachusetts and is enjoying the warmer climate. With his exuberant energy, Rabbi Friedman can be found all over town teaching and running programs. His Young Couple events have created a wonderful network for families to connect. He'll meet virtually anyone for coffee or pizza to discuss life and the pursuit of Jewish meaning. He hosts the annual JWRP Men's trip to Israel which is becoming increasingly popular. Rabbi Netanel loves to sing and be in the great outdoors. He received a Bachelors and Masters of Talmudic law from Ner Israel Rabbinical College in Baltimore.
Rabbi Shlomo Gelbtuch
Rabbi Gelbtuch, known to students as ``Rabbi G``, was rabbinically ordained in Jerusalem where he received his bachelors in Talmudic Law and Adult Education. He runs Kollel programs on numerous campuses, including University of Georgia in Athens and Georgia Tech, Georgia State, Kennesaw, Oglethorpe and more. Born and raised in NYC, he loves the fast paced life of the big city but has developed an appreciation for the ``relaxed`` Atlanta atmosphere. You can usually find Rabbi Gelbtuch on campus studying one-on-one, in small groups and formal classes, or directing and teaching the well known Maimonides Jewish Fellowships and Jewish Heritage trips to Israel and New York. He brings to campus his unique love for life and human beings.
Rabbi Menashe Goldberger
Rabbi Goldberger is the coordinator of the Lavista Community Beis Midrash in Toco Hills. He was ordained at Ner Israel Rabbinical College and has a Bachelors of Talmudic Law from there as well. His responsibilities at the Kollel include teaching, programming, fund-raising, shlepping, cup-stocking, and all other aspects of maintaining the Kollel's largest facility. Rabbi Goldberger is known for his singing and classical piano talent and is the son of a 7th generation cantor. Born in Akron Ohio, and raised in Silver Spring, MD, Rabbi Goldberger joined the Kollel in 1989, while also pursuing a 9-year teaching career ... In their spare time, Rabbi and Mrs. Goldberger enjoy keeping in touch with their children and grandchildren!
Rabbi Yitzchok Grossman
Rabbi Yitzchak Grossman, born and raised in New York City, spent the last twelve years in Baltimore. He received a Masters in Talmudic Law, from Ner Israel Rabbinical College, as well as a Masters in Mental Health Counseling from Johns Hopkins University. He is passionate about using these skills and talents in Torah and Jewish education. When not learning, he looks forward to spending time with his family, as well as dabbling in his varied interests. These include playing random musical instruments, juggling, fishing, and all things outdoors. Sarah is a versatile High School teacher, an accomplished pianist and mother to lots of giggly girls!.
Rabbi Moshe Hiller
Rabbi Hiller's good cheer and educational technique allows him to teach students on all levels mastery of the hebrew language and learning skills. Rabbi Hiller, who enjoys Hebrew grammar and usage, is a second grade rebbe at Torah Day School, as well as being the director of Pirchei Day Camp. Rabbi Hiller received his Rabbinic Ordination from the Mirrer Yeshiva in New York and an MA in cognitive educational psychology from the Teachers College at Columbia University. Rabbi Hiller, his wife Leah and their children came to Atlanta from Israel in 1993.
Rabbi Michoel Lipschutz
Rabbi Lipschutz leads a number of study groups as well as working on administrative and fund-raising activities for the Kollel. Rabbi Lipschutz, a native of Nashville, joined the Kollel in 1990 and lives in Toco Hills with his wife Rivka and their children. Rabbi Lipschutz was ordained at the renowned Chaim Berlin Yeshiva and holds a bachelors degree in Accounting. Mrs. Rivka Lipschutz holds an MA in education from Georgia State and presently teaches at Temima High School. Rabbi Lipschutz enjoys hiking in North Georgia, Montana, and Wyoming as well as the beaches of South Carolina.
Rabbi Doniel Pransky - Rosh Kollel
Rabbi Pransky, originally from Philadelphia, studied for many years in Yeshivas Ner Yisroel in Baltimore, MD, receiving his smicha there, and spent four years in the Columbus Community Kollel in Columbus, OH, before coming to Atlanta. Meticulous and thorough, Rabbi Pransky specializes at presenting complex and in-depth concepts in a clear, articulate format, on a wide-spectrum of subjects. He is equally comfortable teaching students with little background and those with yeshiva experience, often at the same time.
Rabbi David Silverman - Dean
Rabbi David Silverman, aka Rabbi Dave, one of the original founders of the Kollel, now shares the leadership responsibilities with Rabbi Doniel Pransky. As the Dean, Rabbi Silverman oversees the fundraising and the outreach activities. He runs the high school program at Pace, Woodward, Paideia, and North Springs, teaches a few adult classes, including Study Buddies – the longest continuously running Kollel class, and learns one-on-one with supporters and growth oriented Jews. Rabbi Dave, originally from LA, is known for his proficiency at juggling, mime, and burning his hands as one of the Kollel Kashering team. He received his rabbinic ordination from Ner Israel Rabbinical College as well as a MS in Education from Johns Hopkins Univ.
Rabbi Yosef Shapiro
Rabbi Yosef Shapiro, from Baltimore, is the Director of the Brookhaven division of the Kollel. He has his MBA as well as Rabbinic ordination from Jerusalem, and has several years of experience, both in the business world and the field of education. His hobbies are snowboarding, the stock market, and traveling. His wife, Rookie (also an MBA from New York) will be assisting with the woman's programming. The only thing she loves more than hosting is spending time with her family. This highly energetic couple, along with their son Gavi, have moved into the Brookhaven community where they hope to make an incredible impact.
Rabbi Yosef Vakrat
Rabbi Vakrat was born and raised in Jerusalem. He studied in Yeshiva Beit Matityahu and in two Kollels: one headed by Rabbi Nebenzal - the Chief Rabbi of the Old City and the other, Aish HaTorah. He was involved in outreach activities at that time as well. He graduated from the Diaspora rabbinic training program Ner LeElef and took education courses at the Michlala College in Jerusalem receiving a dual degree from Rav Simcha Cohen. He is mohel and a scribe. He presents a deep understanding of many aspects of Jewish life in the Hebrew language.
Rabbi Yaakov Zehnwirth
Born and bred in Baltimore, Yaakov spent seven years learning in Ner Yisroel before going to Yeshiva in Israel. His summers were always exciting, as he enjoys swimming, biking, white water canoeing and just a good ole BBQ. For the last four and a half years, Yaakov, now joined by his wife Tova and his children Ahuva, Tehila and Aryeh, has been studying in Lakewood, New Jersey, where he has received a Bachelors in Talmudic Law and began studying for Semicha. On Friday afternoon, Yaakov can be found in the kitchen making his famous potato kugel. Tova's (nee Goldberger) claim to fame is that she was born and bred in Atlanta. She will be a Program Developer for BENA, ASK women's programming.
Mrs. Batsheva Gelbtuch - JWC Co-Director
Mrs. Batsheva Gelbtuch was born in New York and raised in Jerusalem. Batsheva attended Maalot and Nevey Tehilla Seminaries, received a B.A. in Psychology from Thomas Edison State College and Masters in Social Work from Wurzweilers School of Social Work. She is a Georgia State licensed Social Worker. Batsheva is passionate about both Jewish women's education and psychology of human beings. She is the Co-director of the Jewish Women's Connection of Atlanta (a project of ASK) where she is committed to providing programming for Jewish women across Atlanta. Batsheva brings her love of people and deep understanding of human nature, to everything she does.
Mrs. Randee Goldberger
Mrs. Randee Goldberger, with years of experience as Kollel Rebbetzin, mother and now Bubbe, shares space with her husband at the Kollel administrative offices, where she wears hats of graphic design and website management, correspondence, financial record-keeping, and BENA mentoring and teaching. Mrs. Goldberger attended Michlalah College for Women in Jerusalem and has a BS in Computer Science from the University of Maryland.
Mrs. Leah Pollock - Bookkeeper
Leah Pollock has been working as the Kollel’s bookkeeper since 1997. She enjoys numbers but really loves being part of the Atlanta Jewish community and being involved with outreach on the side. Her husband and children test her math skills every day to make sure she doesn’t get rusty.
Mrs. Julie Silverman - JWC Co-Director
Julie Silverman was born in Tokyo and raised in Manhattan. She received a Teacher's Degree from Michlalah Seminary in Israel and a BA from Touro College in Manhattan. In 1987 the Silverman family moved to Atlanta to start the Atlanta Scholars Kollel. Presently, Julie is the Development Director at Temima, The Richard and Jean Katz High School for Girls and the co-director of JWC Atlanta, two organizations which recognize the power, promise and responsibility of the Jewish woman in creating a Jewish future. She feels honored to learn and grow with all the incredible women in her orbit.
Ms. Marcia Sternberg - Office Manager
``Marcia from Kollel`` - Keeper of the Kollel. The foundation upon which the Kollel runs........ Although Marcia was born in Paramus, New Jersey she has called Atlanta her home for more than 5 decades. Active in Hadassah, Civitans and various other volunteer jobs, Marcia attempts to keep the Kollel running smoothly. She comes from a background working with Jewish National Fund, Southeastern Region of Hadassah and Emory Pediatric/Genetics. Marcia enjoys spending her spare time watching NASCAR and hanging out with her 3 pit bull dogs and her husband.
Mrs. Tova Zehnwirth - BENA Director
Born and raised in Atlanta, Tova, married to Yaakov Zehnwirth, a current member of the Atlanta Scholars Kollel, would never have guessed she would be back here so soon. As Bena coordinator, Tova has already begun to expand and update the existing learning opportunities available, by promoting existing women’s classes and events and creating new ones. With her passion to connect with people, Tova hopes to facilitate continued personal growth among the women of our community. Whether you have a creative idea or just a question, Tova is the contact person and has the energy and drive to make things happen. She urges you to contact her either by calling, texting, emailing, or finding her at Kiddush or around town.
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RSD 10-9-18: We need refs! Not just me!
An episode of Ranting Soccer Dad
By Beau Dure
rantingsoccerdad.com
Frank but fair conversations and occasional silliness about youth soccer.
RSD 2-7-19: Dan Loney drops by and doesn't talk about pro/rel
We were going to talk about promotion and relegation. Really. We just didn't get around to it. Dan and I have been talking soccer online for a couple of decades, and we've been accused of being shills for Major League Soccer and U.S. Soccer. And we've been accused of being the same person. We submit this podcast as proof that we're not, though someone will probably figure I just recorded both voices and spliced it together in Audacity, like the inverse of Jim Henson and Frank Oz teaming up to be the Swedish Chef. And THAT, we talk about. We also trip down Memory Lane to remember a coven of soccer bloggers and journalists, along with MLS Cup 2009. And we talk about soccer hipsters. But you have to listen to the end to hear the Dave Chappelle joke. And the nice tidy ending.
RSD short: A meditation on losing and coaching
You can’t fix luck. But can you rethink things? Can you find holes in what you’re being taught? Why do people who follow the rules always lose? If you hurl a bag of balls, cones and pinnies off a cliff, does it make a sound?
One thing we all know but becomes more vivid when you become a referee: We need more referees. A funny story or two from a long weekend on the field illustrates the point.
RSD short: Funny youth stories, USSF arrogance and NASL spin
How's the new "Play/Practice/Play" model working? Probably not as well for me with the number of kids I'm coaching. That's the first topic here. Then it's funny reffing stories. I get to USSF coaching education arrogance around the 18-minute mark, and then I defend Jason Davis and Nipun Chopra against the NASL's spinning efforts. Finally, a reminder to get moving if you want to run for USSF VP.
RSD short Aug 10 2018: On Twitter and Cordeiro
Personal news: I'm boycotting Twitter over the Alex Jones situation and related misdeeds, and The Guardian has just posted my story on Carlos Cordeiro's first six months. Youth soccer news: What can Cordeiro's task force do to stop the insanity?
RSD Short: New US Youth chairman, WoSo and aspirations
New format for the pod! Today’s topics are the new U.S. Youth Soccer chairman (with some discussion of USSF president Carlos Cordeiro), WoSo and feminism (with some discussion of Hannah Gadsby), and some RSD content updates.
RSD38: A productive promotion/relegation chat
Soccer writer Kyle Williams joins the podcast this week to talk about promotion and relegation, proving that we can talk about such things without bloodshed.
RSD37 (pt 2): Shoeless Soccer's Nathan Richardson
This is part two of a lengthy but worthwhile interview with Nathan Richardson, co-author of a book called Shoeless Soccer. The title isn't necessarily advocating that we all toss our boots in the trash, but the book does suggest that we've organized things a bit too much and should let kids learn more by doing, which is actually how much of the rest of the world does it. (You know, the countries that QUALIFIED for the men's World Cup.) If you missed Part 1, please check it out: https://rantingsoccerdad.com/2018/07/18/rsd37-shoeless-soccer-author-nathan-richardson-on-taking-youth-soccer-off-the-long-grass/
RSD37 (pt 1): Drills? Travel? PLAY! Guest: Nathan Richardson
Nathan Richardson, co-author of Shoeless Soccer, joins the podcast this week to talk about the radical yet somewhat globally accepted ideas in his book. Basically, instead of turning soccer into an expensive coach-driven activity, why not let kids learn by playing? And maybe on hard surfaces so they'll learn to control the ball instead of booting it? This conversation should give us all some ideas for how to reform youth soccer, even if you don't agree with all of them, and it should put the term "rec mindset" to bed once and for all. We all start as rec players, and in many cases, that's where we (well, not me) learn the things that make us better players down the road. We ran rather long, so this will be a two-parter. Practice plans mentioned in the podcast are at http://www.mayouthsoccer.org/coaches/u14/ Thanks as always to Patreon supporters, and keep an eye out for RSD merchandise available soon.
RSD36: Player pathways, college and elite leagues, with Lesle Gallimore
Lesle Gallimore has been head women's soccer coach at the University of Washington since 1994, and she's the current president of United Soccer Coaches. In this conversation, we talk about how college coaches adapt their recruiting to the new "elite league turf war" environment. And we talk about how players adapt and whether they *can* adapt. For example: Could Gallimore's most famous player, Hope Solo, work her way through the system today and be discovered? Coincidentally, Solo made a lot of news this week, and I discuss that before the interview (which was recorded before all that news happened). The Gallimore interview starts around the 10-minute mark.
RSD35: Dennis Crowley on putting together a soccer pyramid
Dennis Crowley didn't just start a soccer team. He created a laboratory for "open-source soccer." He shares business and financial info on his NPSL club, the Kingston Stockade, on Medium. And though Kingston might not be the likeliest market to have a club that would climb an open pyramid to Division I, he has become one of the most thoughtful (or reasonable, if you like) advocates of promotion/relegation. In this conversation, we talk about the challenges of putting together a pyramid in the lower divisions. Yes, there's more than "U.S. Soccer stinks," though he argues the federation could be doing more to facilitate change and stability. And at the end, he shares his experience of seeing the Stockade make their Open Cup debut.
RSD34: The USL/youth hybrid Richmond Kickers, with Daryl Grove
The guest is Daryl Grove of the popular Total Soccer Show podcast. The topic is his hometown club, the Richmond Kickers, which has a couple of decades of history as a youth soccer club with a professional team on top of and integrated into its internal pyramid. Yes, really. It's not just a pro team that started up some half-assed youth programs. It's not an MLS team that has Development Academy teams and little else. See its tryout page to see how many levels of travel soccer it offers, and then look at its "Little Kicks" page to see former pro player Luke Vercollone's programs for preschoolers. The Kickers also join forces with the rival Richmond Strikers for the Richmond United Development Academy pro
RSD33: Soccer played in Germany, with Ian Plenderleith
Today's guest is an English/American/German soccer writer/referee/parent/coach/player. He's Ian Plenderleith, and we had a good conversation about the differences in the USA and Germany -- at least, as many of them as we could fit in a one-hour chat. Read more of Ian's work at ... - The Quiet Fan, a blog related to his upcoming book - Referee Tales, dispatches from the fields in Germany - Rock n Roll Soccer, his book on the NASL (the old one) - Twitter
RSD32: Christian Lavers on ECNL/DA, U.S. Club/U.S. Youth competition
Maybe they're not turf wars. Maybe it's just healthy competition. Christian Lavers is fully immersed in the complicated landscape of U.S. youth soccer. He's a technical director with FC Wisconsin and an executive with the ECNL and U.S. Club Soccer. And miraculously, he still sounds optimistic. Even "nice." If you're looking for mud-slinging, you're not going to find it here. Instead, you're going to hear a candid but polite take on why we have multiple national championships and other stuff that those of us who cover youth soccer complain about. He's aware of the travel requirements these days -- "not every game should require a hotel stay or flight," he says. But he sees different organizations filling different legitimate needs. Leading
RSD31: Grassroots and futsal, with Leslie Hamer and Jason Longshore
It’s a futsal/grassroots doubleheader! After a brief intro (no full rant this week), you’ll hear from Leslie Hamer, who works with futsal at every level from the grassroots to the pros. She has been getting futsal into New York City public schools and now into colleges. Next up: Jason Longshore, whom you may know as a commentator on Atlanta United games but has spent much of the last 12 years working with Soccer in the Streets, an organization that brings soccer (or futsal -- whichever makes sense for the available facilities) to underserved communities and schools. You may know them from their effort to put a small soccer field at a MARTA (local transit) station.
RSD30: Announcement time
This week: The Ranting Soccer Dad Guide to Youth Soccer is officially underway. Check out the first couple of entries and support it on Patreon. In the podcast, I spend about five minutes explaining all that. Then I go on a rant about the generation gap in understanding soccer and why we don't have a glorious promotion/relegation pyramid just yet. (Plus a few ideas on how to get there. Or how not to.)
RSD29: A random but interesting coach/parent, Mike Davitt
Do you know Mike Davitt? Until a few weeks ago, I didn’t, either. He’s a longtime soccer coach who, like many longtime soccer coaches do, also became a soccer parent. He’s originally from Kearny, N.J., hallowed ground for U.S. soccer. After listening to a few of my rants, he emailed me and said he didn’t think youth soccer was doomed. It might even be a good thing. I’ve been hoping to find people like that for the podcast, and so we chatted. Our conversation (starting around the 15:00 mark) ends up with an interesting idea on educating coaches, which is an issue that popped up in the big election. We talk about the positives of having an alphabet soup of leagues and organizations, how to help parents make educated decisions (23:00, including a suggestion that we should stop using the word “academy” unless you’re in the DA), how to watch out for players
RSD28: SAY Soccer’s Doug Wood
After today’s explanation of the upcoming Guide to Youth Soccer (3:00) and a rant about promotion/relegation (4:15), my guest (12:30) is Doug Wood, executive director of SAY (Soccer Association for Youth). He starts by explaining what SAY does -- mostly recreational soccer through several different entry points, including schools. SAY isn’t the most top-down organization out there. Its leagues and clubs sometimes have diverse approaches. Sounds a little different than the U.S. Soccer mandates, doesn’t it? Along with U.S. Youth Soccer, U.S. Club Soccer, AYSO and USSSA, SAY is part of the Youth Council Technical Working Group, which sprung up in response to those mandates. We talk about whether that’s making a difference (26:00).
RSD27: Julie Foudy finds reasons to be optimistic about youth soccer
Today’s guest has an impossible task: Make me feel better about youth soccer, and soccer in general, and youth sports in general … maybe just life in general. But she’s faced tougher tasks. She’s Julie Foudy, Hall of Fame soccer player and ESPN journalist. After I make an announcement and then rant about curling commentary, the interview starts around the 13:20 mark with a discussion of what’s good about youth soccer, whether soccer can have the same supportive atmosphere of extreme sports (20:30), the lack of women in coaching (26:20), her experiences as a soccer parent (31:20) and then U.S. Soccer politics, including the role of the Athletes’ Council (40:10). She also talks a bit about the U.S. women’s team heading into the SheBelieves Cup (51:10).
RSD26: Charles Boehm on the U.S. Soccer election and youth soccer
This week’s guest, Charles Boehm, is a player, coach, referee and writer -- check out his intro at the 2:45 mark and learned where he played alongside future non-U.S. national teamers. Like me, he was in Philadelphia for the United Soccer Coaches convention and attended many of the U.S. Soccer presidential candidates’ sessions. We talk about what makes a soccer person and what makes an elitist (5:30), whether Eric Wynalda is the front-runner (8:00), the “anyone but (so-and-so)” approach to voting (9:45), what the candidates showed us in Philly (13:05), Kathy Carter and Soccer United Marketing (24:10), what’s changing in U.S. Soccer (30:00-ish), then youth soccer and the surprising focus on ODP (38:15). I didn’t get around to finishing my thought on why I was once the best U12 center back in Athens, Ga. The answer is the same reason why I was once a competent over-30 coed indoor goalkeeper: Reckless disregard for my own safety. It surely had nothing to my sk
RSD25: Phillypalooza election preview, the disappointing USSF coaching education overhaul, and being nice
Point 1: Why this weekend will be huge for the U.S. Soccer presidential election. (2:02) Included in that: Why I’m skeptical of current election projections (including a NewsRadio reference), what the Number 1 issue in this election should be (8:10), a few surprising things on Paralympic soccer (8:30), a question of what we’re really saying about futsal -- the next beach volleyball? (9:30), SUM and pro/rel (11:30), and finally back to the Number 1 issue and how it overlaps with other major issues (18:00). Point 2: The new U.S. Soccer coaching curriculum, grassroots level (22:15) Included in that: Welcome to Disney (25:55), introducing tactics at 4v4? (26:20), the painful irony of the chosen video clip (27:15), U6 parent coaches developing their own coaching philosophy? (28:00), the nice tone (32:25). Point 3: Socc
RSD24: An election-related New Year’s resolution
No interview lined up, so what's the rant this week? How the United Soccer Coaches convention in Philadelphia might help us reset the hostility-to-substance ratio in the presidential race. Who I would NOT endorse for U.S. Soccer president, based on what I know now. (The answer is NOT Eric Wynalda, which I know might blow the minds of some folks on Twitter.) Why Riccardo Silva’s tweet about promotion and corruption was irresponsible and inaccurate. (He’s welcome to chat with me or simply tweet again to explain, clarify, etc.) https://twitter.com/_Riccardo_Silva/status/948324499631558658 A bit of U.S. Soccer voting history.
RSD23: The convoluted U.S. Soccer presidential race and the educational Soccer Parenting Summit
Beau flies solo for the likely 2017 RSD finale and talks about the magnificent seven or the elite eight to reach this stage of the USSF presidential race. At the 15-minute mark, he tries to sum up 20-some hours of the Soccer Parenting Summit. Happy holidays, and get more details on this pod later this week at RantingSoccerDad.com
RSD22: U.S. Soccer presidential candidate Paul Lapointe
If you want to skip Beau's rant on the good and bad of US Club Soccer, Sunil Gulati and Twitter, skip to the 15-minute mark. That's where you'll find the interview with Paul Lapointe, one of the first candidates to declare his intent to run for the U.S. Soccer presidency. We talk about promotion/relegation, the role of the president, equal pay for the U.S. women's team, women's soccer promotion/relegation/Open Cup, the fragmented world of futsal, the fragmented world of indoor "balls and walls" soccer, youth soccer and coaching. All in less than 45 minutes.
RSD21: U.S. Soccer presidential candidate Eric Wynalda
Eric Wynalda has played in multiple World Cups, Germany, MLS, etc. He's been a successful coach and commentator. Yes, we talk about promotion/relegation. In fact, we did it first just so you single-issue types can listen and then bail out. If you want to hear about EVERY issue facing the next USSF president -- well, we got to maybe half of them. There are lot of issues. In rough order, we talk about: 1. What's different or similar between the concerns of the Twitterati and the concerns of the typical state or national association. 2. Whether people are nervous to speak up about the USSF power structure. 3. Women's soccer: The new collective bargaining agreement and the NWSL. 4. Youth soccer: Has the federation done too little? Too much?
RSD20: Mediating the NASL/USSF suit with Neil Morris
Neil Morris covers his local teams -- North Carolina FC and the North Carolina Courage -- for WRAL. His work includes a terrific podcast, the Inverted Triangle. In his day job, he's an attorney and mediator. So why not combine his areas of expertise and try to mediate the NASL/USSF lawsuit? We gave it a whirl, with Neil playing the role of mediator and your host flipping between the roles of NASL and USSF advocates. The conversation starts around the 8:45 mark. We quickly explain what's going on in the real world with the lawsuit, and then Neil explains the mediation process. I present a hypothetical NASL offer, prompted by Neil's helpful questions and prodding, around the 25-minute mark. (Highlights: Cosmos owner on the USSF Board, drop divisional sanct
RSD19: U.S. Soccer presidential candidate Kyle Martino
A vote for Kyle Martino is actually a vote for a network of people that he believes can solve the problems in U.S. Soccer. He’s going to bring them together in early December to flesh out a “progress plan” that he outlines on his site. He’s already hard at work building this consensus, and this interview has a few glitches because he was on the run as we chatted. He had to run at one point to do a live interview, and the phone connection dropped as he hopped from train to train. The former MLS player and current (though on leave) NBC analyst grasps the complexities of the U.S. Soccer presidency for which he’s running. Like a couple of other candidates, he’s out talking with youth and adult constituencies to find out what they need. He has mixed feelings about the incumbent, Sunil Gulati, whom Martino firmly believes has run his course as president but still has a lot to offer U.S. Soccer. He’s shocked to hear
RSD18: U.S. Soccer presidential candidate Mike Winograd
He doesn't have the name recognition of Eric Wynalda, he hasn't been in the U.S. Soccer inner circle like Carlos Cordeiro, and he hasn't been campaigning as long as Steve Gans. But Mike Winograd is an interesting candidate for the USSF presidency. He's a former player, he helped launch a pro club, and he's a lawyer who works on very big deals. In our conversation (starting around the 10-minute mark after I ranted a bit about the NASL lawsuit and gave an overview of the presidential election), we talk about Winograd's background and his plans, which he outlined in a prior interview at GotSoccer. His basic mode of operation: He wants to get everyone on the same page -- or, as he puts it, rowing in the same direction. Key quote: "U.S. Soccer should not be in the business of trying to ram things down people’s throats." Particular p
RSD17: Adding tiers to the U.S. soccer cake, with NPSL’s Jef Thiffault
Jef Thiffault is the managing director for the NPSL, an elite amateur league that's been sometimes pulled into promotion/relegation discussions. But he used to work for MLS and SUM. Mind blown yet? It's actually an encouraging discussion that gives the impression that we have some smart people in U.S. soccer, toiling far away from the courtrooms and big-league boardrooms. And we might see a sea change in elite amateur competition that just might spill upward to the pros. Interview begins around the 10:30 mark after I give a long introduction and rant a bit about the NASL and so forth.
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Model as Muse: The Kate Moss Portfolio
GLuchford_shot-54-original-kate-moss_boxing
Glen Luchford, Kate Moss, 1994
Ephemeral, unique, stunning, imperfect, a blank canvas. These are all words that have been used to describe Kate Moss, the original “waif” who helped effect a watershed change in fashion in the early 90’s and continues to inspire a slew of diverse, evocative visions from some of the most highly-acclaimed photographers in the world. Moss’s is arguably one of the most controversial, intriguing, mesmerizing and instantly recognizable faces of our era. Simultaneously plain and gorgeous, Moss is exalted by photographers for the striking presence and personality she brings to the photographic medium, as well as her unmatched ability to morph into anything—femme fatale, elegant society woman, innocent child, tomboy, seductress, goddess.
Bruce Weber, Kate Moss, 1997
Model as Muse: The Kate Moss Portfolio opened this past Thursday, May 13th at Danziger Projects’ new location in Chelsea. The intimate, two-room gallery displays the work of 11 of the world’s leading fashion photographers, including Annie Leibovitz, Glen Luchford, Terry Richardson, Mario Sorrenti, Mario Testino, Juergen Teller, Bruce Weber, Inez Van Lamsweerde, Vinoodh Matadin and Herb Ritts, each of whom captured the unusual, captivating British icon at different points throughout her illustrious career. The portfolio includes never-before-seen shots of Moss at the beginning of her career in 1988, Chuck Close’s faceless nude daguerrotype diptych, one of notorious team Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott’s famed glamour shots from the 2008 issue of Interview magazine showcasing its new layout, several photographs of Moss at the age of eighteen on her first trip to New York, and countless other breathtaking works.
“I think that Kate Moss is not so much a model or a supermodel, but an artist-model. There is a quality that she has that inspires photographers to do their best and create something that is both the epitome of their style and also takes them as far into [the place] where art meets fashion and where fashion meets art,” said James Danziger, owner of the gallery and curator of the exhibit.
Model as Muse:The Kate Moss Portfolio is now on display at Danziger Projects, 527 West 23rd St, New York. www.danzigerprojects.com
Text by Annabel Graham for Pas Un Autre
(Annabel Graham is a photographer and writer based in NYC, she has worked for Interview Magazine as well as the Paris Review, and she is a regular contributor to Pas Un Autre, visit her blog Can I Borrow Your Fire)
Glen Lemuel, Kate Moss, 1988
In Art, Photography Tags 1980s kate moss, annabel graham, Annie Leibovitz, bruce weber, bruce weber kate moss, danziger, danziger kate moss, danziger projects, early kate moss, elegant society woman, Fashion, femme fatale, Glen Luchford, goddess, herb ritts, Inez Van Lamsweerde, innocent child, james danziger, juergen teller, kate moss, kate moss 90s, kate moss by terry richardson, kate moss in the 80s, kate moss muse, Mario Sorrenti, Mario Testino, model as muse, moss, new york galleries, seductress, terry richardson, tomboy, Vinoodh Matadin, waif, 2011
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Wandering around in the world of art & trying to find your "type"...
April 11, 2019 • Barb Toland • Art Bites
Today we're going to talk about the 3 major types of art ... figurative, abstract & non-objective. It's one of those art concepts that should be straightforward, but isn't really as cut & dry as it seems.
And as you'll see, once we get into defining them, there's some overlap here & there. They fall more on a continuum or a spectrum, rather than following any hard & fast rules.
So the first type of visual art that I mentioned is "figurative".
This one is the simplest to understand, because it's basically any art that depicts actual subjects & objects as they exist in reality. Most people more easily identify with this type of art, since it comes from recognizable things in the world around us.
[Sometimes the terms "figurative" & "representational" are used
interchangeably, depending on who you're talking to. To simplify things,
we'll stick with using "figurative" in this discussion.]
We'll mainly look to the art of Henri Matisse for examples, because his work is some of the most diverse. During his lifetime, as he gained confidence & clarity in his own creative voice, his art would change rather dramatically.
So let's start with one of Matisse's earliest paintings, which is in keeping with the first type of art we'll be discussing, "figurative". It's pretty clear his intent is to work realistically from something in the physical world:
Woman Reading - 1894, Henri Matisse
As you can see we know EXACTLY what the subject of his painting is, namely a woman reading a book by lamplight in a parlor. The scene is also depicted in a realistic way, as if you're looking at it in the real world. Thus, this is a great example of figurative (or representational) art.
Pretty simple, right?
But here's an example where the line between figurative & abstract begins to blur...
The Dinner Table - 1896, Henri Matisse
You might say to yourself that this LOOKS like something realistic, and thus in the figurative style. And yes, I'll give you that.
BUT if you take a good hard look, you'll see that Matisse is beginning to care less & less about the subject, and so much more about the light & about the shape of things instead of their details. He also tilts the picture plane to the point where everything looks like it's going to come sliding off the table.
And if you blur your vision just a little, you'll see larger blocks of color & less detail, thus Matisse is starts to push a little further into the realm of the second type of visual art, "abstract".
So let's define abstract art a little more, before we dive into the next painting.
Abstract art still begins with objects from reality, just like figurative does. But unlike figurative art, abstract art goes on to distort these objects by varying line, color &/or shape.
In other words, they are intentionally presented by the artist in such a way that even though they're still somewhat recognizable, the subject is transformed from what it would look like in the real world.
[Abstraction is relatively new to the art world, having it's roots in the work of the Impressionist painters such as Monet & Degas in the late 19th century. During this time artists started to take a more intellectual approach to their work. Compared to figurative art, which dates back to cave paintings, abstract art is still very much a baby! Although one COULD argue that the depictions on those cave walls were more abstract than figurative. But we'll save that discussion for another day!]
So let's take a look at the next Matisse painting where clearly he is stepping off into the world of abstract art:
The Dessert: Harmony in Red - 1908, Henri Matisse
In this one there is only a slight trace of the use of depth & perspective, everything is intentionally flattened onto one plane - even to the point that there is little variation in color & pattern between the table & the wall behind it, confusing the eye even further. We can't even tell whether that's a window or a framed painting on the back wall, and all of the colors are highly saturated.
This painting is highly abstracted from what it would look like in the real world.
And let's take a look at this Matisse:
Young Girl Reading - 1906, Henri Matisse
Do you see that, although it's based on something in reality, other than this everything has been distorted? The colors are bright & super saturated, there are very few lines, more like just shapes of varying color.
Once again there is little attempt at depth perception, and most of the objects lie on the same picture plane.
Here's the last Matisse painting we'll talk about. This one, unlike the others, falls way towards the opposite end of the abstract art spectrum. Even though the title of the piece is called "The Snail" (you can detect the hint of a snail in its overall shape), there is very little left in this piece that actually resembles a real life snail.
The Snail - 1953, Henri Matisse
It almost falls into the third & last type of art we talk about next - non-objective.
Nonetheless, it remains on the very outer edge of what's considered abstract because it's derived from an object in reality - in this case, a snail.
With abstract art, the artist starts with a concrete subject from reality, even though it may not be fully recognizable in the finished work. And, as I said, in this case "The Snail" comes pretty darn close to the third type of visual art, "non-objective".
Basically, non-objective art has no recognizable connection to anything that exists in the physical world. Unlike abstract, non-objective art is not derived from anything else. It exists entirely on its own, with no intent on the part of the artist to mimic anything real.
In the case of Matisse's snail above, if he had not titled it "The Snail", we may not have known what it was, and could easily have labelled it as non-objective.
Alas, since Matisse (as far as I know) never quite got to non-objective art (he got so darn close!), we'll take a look at the work of a couple other artists for non-objective examples.
Here is the work of Mark Rothko:
Yellow, Cherry, Orange - 1947, Mark Rothko
As you can see from this Rothko painting, his art takes nothing from reality. The sole intent of the artist is to produce a piece of visual work created purely for aesthetics & contemplation.
Many people find it difficult to understand the difference between abstract & non-objective art.
But it's really quite simple...
If the artist intends to begin with something from the physical world, and then somehow distorts it thru line, color, shape etc., then it's abstract art.
On the other hand if the artist creates with no intention or reference to anything existing in reality, then the work is considered non-objective.
Eazy peazy, right?!!
While an abstract work may appear similar to a non-objective one, the starting point and the intent of the artist is different. For this reason, non-objective art gets its own category.
And here's another example of non-objective art by artist, Jackson Pollock:
Number 48 - 1949, Jackson Pollock
And last but not least ... here's one of my few forays into the realm of non-objective art, and quite frankly it began as an exercise in color play that accidentally ended up being one of my all-time favorite paintings...
Happy Accident - 2008, Barb Toland
I started out with no reference whatsoever to anything that exists in the real world. My only intent was to play with color, but after recognizing how delightful it was, I decided to keep it in my collection & call it a painting!
Artist Bob Ross was right when he said that happy accidents are the best ;-)
Ok, so that about wraps it up for discussing the 3 major types of art.
Now it's your turn.
What are your thoughts on the 3 major types of art? Do you have a favorite?
Let me know in the comments. I'd love to hear more about your thoughts on this!
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OneRepublic: Daydreamers No More
Posted on October 12, 2009 July 9, 2016 by Jonathan Bautts
The last two years have been a whirlwind for OneRepublic. The single “Apologize” became one of the biggest hits in recent memory, selling over four million digital downloads, and the band became an instant sensation. Well, sort of.
“When ‘Apologize’ came out, everybody thought, ‘Oh, you’re a one-hit wonder, overnight success kind of band,’ but we struggled in L.A.,” drummer Eddie Fisher recalls. “We did the L.A. scene. We did San Francisco, San Diego, even a little Nevada, so it wasn’t by any means an overnight success. We definitely paid our dues.”
Gearing up to release its second album, Waking Up, the group is determined to avoid the sophomore slump or people’s preconceived notions of what is expected.
“We clearly said from the get-go to our label and our management, ‘You guys are not going to get another ‘Apologize.’ Just know that,’” Fisher says. “If you chase something that massive, you have a high percentage of it completely failing.”
Besides the fact the song was written seven years ago, Fisher and his band mates are different people now. They don’t experience pubescent heartache over girls anymore and several are happily married, even thinking about having kids.
“It’s like with Dreaming Out Loud we went through puberty, you know, musical puberty, and this album has made us into men. That’s exactly how I feel about it,” Fisher explains. “Writing this album was a completely different turn for us. We are very excited about it because it’s more rhythmic with big vocals, big choruses, big sing-alongs, a lot of strings and we even threw in a children’s choir.”
“We definitely have a lot of songs in our future,” he continues. “If they become hits, great. It they become part of people’s lives, so be it. We are just grateful to be able to play our music.”
Originally appeared in Campus Circle
Posted in FeaturesTagged Eddie Fisher, OneRepublic
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Patrick Stump
Posted on August 10, 2011 July 8, 2016 by Jonathan Bautts
Patrick Stump opens up about his new solo career, the challenges of finding his own voice, being comfortable as a musician, and the past and future of Fall Out Boy.
So first off, how was Lollapalooza?
Lollapalooza was rad. It was cool to go home. It was kind of intense, just because it was Lollapalooza and then it was a hometown show. There’s a lot of press and things like that, and there’s a lot of people to worry about, but then there’s also your cousin stuff or whatever. It was pretty busy, but it was awesome. It was a really good show.
It must have been nice to finally be able to play that.
Yeah, it was, for sure. The whole time it’s been in Chicago as a fixture I’ve been on tour and I’ve never been able to go myself. This was my first time being there, let alone playing, so I was pretty excited.
It seemed like with this whole solo thing you could have gone in a million different directions. When you first started writing, how difficult was it finding what path you wanted to pursue?
That was the big challenge. That was the hardest thing. When I started, and I think a lot of people that are more acquainted with a lot of my stuff know that I have a pretty broad taste in music, it was really hard to focus on one thing. The thing that I had to come up with is I had to basically craft some sort of style where I get all of that stuff done at once.
Ultimately, I left out some things. I had a lot of material that was a lot more folky and bluesy oriented and stuff. I feel like I can always do that. I can’t always run around onstage, so I thought about frontloading it with that, with the more energetic, synthy stuff, all that stuff that I’ve always wanted to do. I figured I’m not getting any younger, now’s the time to do it. That helped decide it a little bit.
Also, time wise I ended up being lyrically a lot more succinct. I’m not very wordy on this record. The other thing that I ended up being was really positive, and I think that’s partially because of the times we are in. I feel like people are so negative, and anyone that cares is just ironic and sarcastic about it. It’s almost like this defeatism. I wanted to be a little poppy. Why not?
Did you ever toy around with doing another band or did you always just want to do something on your own?
I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t do another band. I say that because there’s always a surprise exception to the rule, but I can’t imagine wanting to do another band. I can imagine wanting to collaborate with other people and maybe doing a record of something, but I can’t imagine actually taking another band band seriously.
I never really had that itch to put together a new band, I guess. Like I said, there’s totally different situations. I thought it would have been cool to play drums for somebody. If I didn’t get my record released, I was thinking that might be cool to try and audition for somebody and try and play drums.
I remember when you were in Fall Out Boy you would get asked from time to time about eventually doing a solo record and you usually always shot it down. What ended up changing your mind on that?
Partially that the band kind of stopped. It’s really easy to say you’re not going to do a solo record when you have an outlet. When you have no opportunity to play music and you’re a musician, that’s a bummer. I didn’t get into it. I didn’t even intend to get into it. I make music and that’s what I always do, so if I can’t be doing it, that’s the worst thing for me. I think that was part of it, that the band naturally just took a break. I needed to do something. I needed to be on my feet working.
Then the other thing is for a long time solo records seemed like they might be really arrogant, and self-directive and stuff. Now, I look back on Fall Out Boy and I realize that if I had a solo project, I probably could have excised and gotten out a lot of material that I had. I can say this, I think Fall Out Boy fans would have liked the last few Fall Out Boy records better [laughs].
There’s that, too. I think I pushed the band in a lot of directions they might not have really, they were too cool to tell me, but that they might not have really preferred. I still intend for the band to come back. I hope the band comes back, that’s kind of out of my hands at this point, but if it does I think it will be stronger because of it now, instead of before where I didn’t understand and thought it would hurt it.
So during Fall Out Boy were you able to mess around with different stuff on the side in your free time?
Yeah, I’ve always been writing my stuff and it’s manifested itself in weird ways. I think the ¡Viva la Cobra! album, while lyrically it’s not like anything I was writing, is almost like my first solo record. Gabe really let me get involved in the co-writing and stuff, and a lot of my ideas that Fall Out Boy didn’t want to or couldn’t use ended up there. A lot of my production career started out as, hey, this is stuff we can’t use in Fall Out Boy. That really was crying out to be solo material, I guess.
This record you pretty much played everything and produced it on your own. What was it like to go through that, and what was it like to have no one to fall back on as well?
It was fun. I like playing instruments, so that was rad and something I’ve always wanted to do. The tradeoff is it’s not ever a surprise because you know exactly what you’re doing. You know exactly what you want it to sound like and you know exactly your ability, so you can already hear it in your head, and that’s it. That’s exactly what it’s going to be, and it does get a little bit lonely once in a while [laughs].
As you were working on it, did you get input from various people at different times?
Not really. I had my engineer, Manny, and the guy that owned the studio we were at, this guy Bill, who’s also a very good producer in his own right. I hired them sort of as co-producers. That’s what we called it on paper because we couldn’t think of a better name for it, but really what they were there to do was to tell me when I was full of shit.
When I would be working a part to death, when I would be rewriting something that didn’t need to be rewritten, they were always there to be my second and third opinions to remind me like, “No, this is good. You’re already there. This song is already there.” They helped me exercise restraint a lot.
I understand you tried to play as much of the stuff live as you could rather than just rely on programming. What was that like?
That was fun. I prefer playing instruments. The tradeoff is with every layer of synthesizers that I sequence or something, if I wanted to have the same part in 20 sounds, I can do that in a couple mouse clicks. When I play it, I’ve got to go in and manually play it exactly the same 20 times. That’s a tradeoff. You can sort of do that with some synthesizers too, but I don’t know how to program synthesizers.
That’s one thing about me – I somehow let my DIY ethic extend to not wanting to learn how to do anything or not wanting to be shown how to do anything. There’s a lot of shit that I don’t know that I totally should know [laughs].
In Fall Out Boy, you seemed to be able to avoid a lot of the spotlight that a lead singer usually has, and I think I only saw you talk onstage one time. Now all the attention is on you because this is your thing. What is it like to have that experience now?
It’s weird sometimes. There are definitely weird examples of it. I’m not used to being the center of attention. I think you can diffuse it really easily by making the music the center of attention. I’ll take pictures and I’ll sign autographs and I’ll talk to people, but when I do I make sure to let everybody know it’s cool to talk to me about music and other music, not just mine.
That was one of the things. I was talking to this with management before we started this. I don’t want a web show, like webisodes or whatever. I don’t really want a million followers on Twitter. I don’t really want all of these superficially, success-leaning things unless all of it is related to music. That’s the first and most important thing to me. That’s why I’m here. I’m not hoping to parlay this into a reality show. I really just want to make music. This is the be all, end all for me. That has to be the foot that leads.
I’ve been in the position where people ask me about my weight. People ask me about Pete. Are we still friends? People ask me about, again, all these superficial things. Whatever. At the end of the day, I still talk more about music, so I am comfortable. I’m really comfortable being Patrick Stump, the musician. I’m not really comfortable being Patrick Stump, on your poster or on your wall. You get it sometimes, whatever, and I’m never going to get used to that. I don’t know how to really respond to that. I can’t imagine me being a poster child for anything.
With this whole musical venture do you feel like more so that you have something to prove or nothing to lose?
The latter, and it’s really interesting you use that wording because I’ve heard it a few times this week. I think it’s fascinating. Just putting it in perspective, I know to Fall Out Boy fans Fall Out Boy is the biggest thing, and obviously in my life it’s the biggest thing I’ve ever done. It’s one of the most vital things to me, but in pop culture we’re a flash in the pan. We’re like Sugar Ray or something, you know what I mean, as far as the rest of the world is concerned.
We also got to be pariahs. It became very, very cool to not like Fall Out Boy. I think a lot of people assumed we were sheltered from that and didn’t hear it, but, man, I heard all of it. No matter where you are, no matter how much money you have, it never feels good to hear how much you suck. And we were also losing a lot of money at the same time, too [laughs].
Career-wise, it really was nothing to lose. There’s nothing worse that anyone could say about me as a performer. I’ve heard everything. There’s nothing worse anyone could assume about my motivations. I think it made the record a little bit more pop to me because I love pop music. I’m not scared of saying it anymore because I’ve already been called a sell out. I’ve already been called the worst things in the world. I don’t have guilty pleasures because I’m comfortable with who I am and I’m comfortable with where I am. I think that all informed the record in a lot of ways.
I love that phrase. It really is nothing to lose, and conversely everything to gain. If 10 people come to my show, yeah, I don’t sell out the show, but I don’t care. I don’t have any expectations. My label doesn’t have any crazy expectations about what I’m supposed to do. I just get to play an awesome show for 10 kids, and that’s the reward. That’s the best thing ever.
I want to talk about lyrics here for a minute, and this was the first time you were able to do that on your own. What was that like for you to go through and was there anything about it that you didn’t necessarily expect?
Well, first off, to answer the first part of the question, it was really strange because I’ve been writing lyrics for forever, ever since I was a little kid, but this is the first time people are really hearing my lyrics and knowing that they’re my lyrics. I did write some in Fall Out Boy early on, but it really gets talked up more than it was. I wasn’t really sitting down and thinking about them. A lot of times I was just faking them because I wasn’t very confident. I was very scared about what other people would say, about what the band would say.
So there was the temptation, this being my first record, to try and aim for the jugular and try and impress people. Be like, “Hey, I can write crazy shit. I can write whatever.” Pull out all the stops and pull out all my post-beat poetry, Tom Waits stuff. I started working that way, but quickly realized how self-indulgent it was and how it wasn’t really working for the songs. Again, I’m not playing that game anymore. I’m not worried about any cred. I’m worried about what I think, I’m not worried about what other people think. I want to go to sleep at night and know I made the right decision, not that everybody likes me.
That changed the lyrics for me a lot, for a lot of reasons. First off, I had been saying for a long time that the only reason to do a solo record is to do something you can’t do in Fall Out Boy. All those things I just talked about, the Tom Waits influence, the beat poetry influence, the love of alliteration and long words, those are all hallmarks of Pete’s writing. That’s all shit I’ve been doing for years, and a lot of my stuff started to sound like him. There’s really no reason to write that record because that’s just a Fall Out Boy record, and probably a lesser one anyway because there’s not that interplay between Pete and I.
So I had to come up with a new voice that was totally separate. That was the big challenge, and I think that’s one of the reasons why I ended up being so economical with words. I do use these really small words because I feel like that’s the counter balance to the traditional Fall Out Boy, long song title, all the things that we’re known for. I thought it would be cool to try something really simple and small, and try and put a lot of meaning into very little space. Then what was the second part? Was there something I learned about writing?
Was there anything you didn’t expect?
I didn’t expect people to resonate with them so much. I’ve seen tattoos already and stuff, and that’s crazy to me. That’s a new feeling. I didn’t expect there to be anything new that I hadn’t encountered. I had assumed that as a musician I’ve heard and felt every kind of complement and insult that you could possibly have. When someone says, “Great show,” I knew how that would always feel. There is something different to someone saying they like your writing than there is to someone saying they like your music. I didn’t really expect that.
At the beginning, you mentioned writing from a positive perspective. Are there any other themes you felt you gravitated towards as you were writing?
Well, first off, I think I reacted that way because of really negative things. I was in a really bad place. Well, not a bad place. I actually handled things really well, but I had the catharsis of writing a record to fall back on. I had a lot of personal things happen. I had a few people die that year, and one in particular. He and I disagreed very strongly on certain things politically, and it was really interesting dissecting the loss of somebody, compounding the love you have for them and also the confusion over your disagreements and stuff. I think the record ended up being pretty political, which is natural to me because that was one of the things that attracted me to punk rock in the first place.
In the first pass of the record, because I scrapped a whole version of the album before the version that is now going to be out, the original version was pretty heavily political. I thought that was where I was going to go, basically Refused or something like that. What I ended up with was dissecting the whole idea of the political is personal.
I guess one of the big things of the record is balance. A common theme is the idea that any extreme is bad in any direction. I come from really extreme left wing politics. I’ve had some friends that come from really extreme right wing, and I really didn’t realize how much is reactionary and how much a lot of times that’s not good. It’s not just politics, it’s everything.
This isn’t in the lyrics, I’m just giving this as an example, but I lost a lot of weight. You can’t starve yourself. That’s the other extreme. You have to eat, you just have to eat less. As a musician, be musical. Try things, but don’t be self-indulgent. You have to be an entertainer as well. You have to entertain your audience, or at least consider your audience. So I guess the whole record is a bit about extremes.
I talk a little bit about some things that bother me in pop culture right now, like how cool we are. There’s a lot of cheating songs right now, so I wrote a cheating song about how shitty it is. There’s a lot of drinking songs right now, so I wrote a drinking song about how shitty it is. Again, kind of reacting from negativity, but I find all of it is towards some sort of positive end. I am an optimistic person. I think we’re doing to do better.
I think this record also gives you a chance to show off more vocally and play around with some different stuff you haven’t done to the full extent in the past. What were your goals with that and how do you feel that you’ve grown as a vocalist since the early days in Fall Out Boy?
The biggest change for me when I really look at everything, and there’s some technique things I’ve gotten better at or whatever, but the biggest change for all of it is confidence. I just stopped being scared of my voice and stopped being scared of myself. When I was in punk bands, when I was in hardcore bands and stuff, I would try and sing backups. I remember I was in this Hot Water Music kind of band, Small Brown Bike kind of band, and everyone had these really gravelly voices. I would try and sing backups and they were like, “Your voice is so pretty.” It was an insult. It wasn’t cool to sing pretty and sing kind of soul, so I was really scared of it and I hid from it for a long time.
Especially on Evening Out with Your Girlfriend and stuff like that, I was a way better singer than that then. I didn’t know that. I thought I was terrible singer singing pretty. I really struggled for a long time trying to find my voice when it was there the whole time. I was scared of what people would think. I guess that’s another big thing with this whole record cycle, is just embracing yourself and not really worrying. That’s the realest, most punk rock thing you can do, is just be yourself. When I look back, I think that’s the biggest thing.
There are some moments on the early Fall Out Boy records where I wince because I know I could have sung it better and I didn’t. The silly thing is the band was really supportive, I just was scared to even do it in front of them. I really give a lot of credit to Pete, especially. He was very encouraging of me really letting it out. He’s the one who suggested I should sing. Actually, Joe did too, now that I think about it, so credit where credits due.
I think the biggest growth and change, again, is I’m not scared of my voice anymore. I’m not in love with it, either. You hear yourself and it’s kind of like seeing yearbook photos where you’re like, “Oh, what was I thinking that day?” I am much more comfortable with myself than I used to be.
It’s been very interesting seeing the three different projects that have spawned off of Fall Out Boy, with your stuff, Damned Things and Black Cards. Did you always feel like that kind of diversity was possible within the band?
Yeah, I always thought that was one of the things that made us strong. I think it’s one of the things that people liked when we were at an even stasis, and it’s one of the things people disliked when any one side was winning. When Folie à Deux was more R&B, I think it pissed a lot of people off.
If/when Fall Out Boy comes back, I think it’ll be a much stronger Fall Out Boy band. Whatever type of music we made, and we’ve been a band long enough to be called a few names. We’ve been a pop-punk band. We’ve been a post hardcore band. We’ve been an emo band. Whatever kind of band we are, I think we’ll be better now than we used to be because we won’t be trying to force our things into it.
I think, too, one of the things I love about doing it right now is when I look at Damned Things, when I look at Black Cards, I feel like those are totally viable, legitimate bands. It’s not some shitty side project full of songs your main band didn’t want. It is its own thing. I think that means it needed to happen.
Much of the time when an artist does a solo career after they were in a band as big as something like Fall Out Boy was, they’re not always able to escape that shadow. Is that something that worries you, or is that something more that you embrace or ignore? How do you approach that?
I think one of the problems is a lot of people do try and escape the shadow. I’m not trying to pretend that I wasn’t in Fall Out Boy. I’m not trying to pretend that I’m not still the guy from Fall Out Boy. At the same time, I’m not going to pretend to be 17 forever. I had to grow up and be my own person and do my own thing. The more you think about it, the more contrived it becomes.
That’s something I never want. I never want to be some fake. I never want to be lying to people. I never want to be lying to myself. You can lie to other people, but people can spot a fake. If you’re lying to yourself and trying to convince yourself you’re something you’re not, then give up.
That was one of the challenges, explaining to people what the record was. I’m sure my label would be a lot happier with me if I had made the record fit more easily in one genre. It makes a way more marketable record if I did a rock record, or I did an acoustic-folk kind of thing, or I did an R&B record, or if I did an Adele, throwback soul thing. I didn’t do any of that. I did my thing, which definitely pays homage to other people.
I hear Prince. I hear Bowie. I hear Michael Jackson. I hear a lot of things in there, but I’m not trying to put them in there. That’s really the way to establish that you care about your solo project and that it matters is to not try and distance yourself from your thing. To that end, I didn’t really worry if something sounded too Fall Out Boy, because I’m the guy from Fall Out Boy. I’m not trying to not be that.
Originally appeared on Absolute Punk
Posted in InterviewsTagged Fall Out Boy, Patrick Stump
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Win with baseball betting and trading tips
This post is written for anyone who wants to know more about the how to win with baseball betting.
Although baseball is commonly thought of as being an American sport, mainly thanks to the success and popularity of Major League Baseball, research has shown its origins lie elsewhere. In fact, the first known mention of a sport very much like baseball is in a 1744 British publication and the set-up of the field looks like that of the game as it is played today.
Not only did the first version of baseball take place in the United Kingdom, it also featured royalty as the Prince of Wales was player in a match which took place in Surrey in 1749. Even when the game was taken to North America by English immigrants, it was Canada where it first landed, before being taken across to the USA by both British and Irish Canadians. It wasn’t until 1791 that baseball was referenced as being played in the USA and it took until the mid-1800’s for the first modern rules of the game to develop.
As the game become more popular and the National League formed in 1876, players became professional and being a baseball player was a way to make a very good living for yourself. As more money entered the game, gambling started to become wide-spread and enjoyed by many people. As with all sports, baseball betting and trading started to develop quickly and with rise of the internet, it became accessible to millions of people and so, new and interesting markets were established.
Baseball betting and trading has not been without its problems over the years and gambling scandals can be traced back to the 1870’s, when four players were banned from professional baseball for life, having throwing a match for money. Baseball and gambling have a very interesting history and it remains a fun sport on which to bet, with many matches and events to bet on throughout the year.
Popular Events on Which to Bet
There are several baseball events around the world, which are popular when it comes to betting. They include the following:
Major League Baseball (MLB)
The MLB is the biggest and richest baseball league in the world and features 30 teams from the USA and Canada. Split into two leagues and regional divisions, there are 2,430 baseball games played in the regular season, offering plenty of betting opportunities. From April to November you will find plenty of games on which to bet and baseball betting tips are usually easy to come by online. Many baseball betting strategies, which we will come to later, are tailor made for Major League Baseball.
This is the finale of the MLB season and features the remaining two teams after the play-offs have been completed. The two teams play in a best of seven series of matches, with the winner going to lift the Commissioner’s Trophy. Again, you will find many baseball betting tips available for this series of games.
Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB)
For many years, this was the only professional sports league in Japan and baseball remains the most popular sport in the country, despite the introduction of the professional football league in 1993. The money involved in the NPB is second only to MLB and many players from the USA and Canada have travelled to play professional baseball in Japan. Baseball betting tips may not be as common for the NPB as they are for MLB but baseball betting strategies can be implemented easily.
The Main Baseball Betting Markets
As with many sports which have leagues and competitions stretching over a long period, you have the option of making long term bets and short term bets, each of which are covered in the main baseball betting markets listed below.
Divisional Titles – Which teams will win the MLB Divisional titles?
Pennant Titles – A straight knockout format during the play-off season of MLB, which is very exciting for betting.
World Series – The seven match MLB series to decide the winning team for that season. The same market applies to other leagues, such as NPB and MLB (the professional Mexican league).
Moneyline – Selecting the winner of an individual match.
Run Lines – By how many runs do you think the potential victors will win?
Over/Under Run Totals – How many runs do you think will be scored in the game? You can bet over or under a specified total.
Tips to Help Betting on Baseball
There are several things you can do, to improve your chances of making a winning baseball bet. Even if some of them may sound trivial, they are all key to giving you the best opportunity of making money betting on baseball and you should always follow them before placing a bet.
A Level Playing Field
If you are used to betting on European sports, such as football and rugby, you will be used to seeing teams who are much stronger coming out on top on a regular basis. This is not the case with baseball and due to the draft pick system, teams compete on a much more level playing field than they do in other sports. Once glance at the MLB World Series winners shows that between 2001 and 2016, there has been a different winner each year, so keep this in mind when betting.
Always study the statistics of the teams on which you are betting. Look at the form guides and you can pick out which teams are batting well, which pitchers are in form, how many runs they are conceding and who is struggling to win on the road. Websites such as ESPN are very good for baseball statistics.
Finding Value
This is true of any sport on which you are betting and during the baseball regular season, finding value bets can be easier than any other sport. Due to the long season, even a team who appear to be struggling near the bottom of their division can travel to a team near the top and defeat them. Look at the head-to-head records of the teams and check both home and away form because you may find a seemingly struggling team at the bottom, enjoys playing a team close to the top and the odds will be good. Online baseball betting tips may highlight some of these for you but not all of them, so always check it out for yourself to make sure.
Baseball Betting Strategies
There are many general trading systems which can be applied to baseball but there are others which are specific to the sport and can be used to help you make a nice profit. As with any baseball trading strategy you may find on the internet, there is still risk involved and you are never guaranteed to make money, so always keep this in mind when deciding on how much you are going to bet.
Baseball Underdog Strategy
This is one of the best baseball betting strategies available because you can pick under 50% of underdog winners and still make a nice profit.
To put this baseball betting strategy into practice, you must check for a full schedule of games in the American and National League and eliminate any where the moneyline odds for the underdog are greater than 6/4. Check the form guide and eliminate any games in which the favourites have won three or more games in a row and the underdogs have lost three or more games in a row.
Having done that, eliminate any games where the favourites pitcher is ranked inside the top-20 for the American League or National League. You will be left with between three and nine games on which to bet and you should bet £20 or a close to that amount as you can afford, on the underdog in each game. Don’t forget to check all the odds to find the best available before placing your bets, as you could be missing out on potentially bigger winnings.
Add any profit you make to your betting bankroll and increase your following days bets accordingly, placing 1.25% of your bankroll on each game. You will need to start with a decent size bankroll to employ this baseball betting strategy but in the long term it has proven to be profitable. However, as mentioned above, never bet what you cannot afford, as there are no guarantees when it comes to betting on sport and this applies to baseball.
Baseball is different to many other sports outside of the USA, due to the fact teams compete on a more level playing field. However, as the season develops you will always find underdogs in matches and you can take advantage of these, using the appropriate statistical information and baseball betting strategies.
As there are so many games played during a professional baseball season, such as the MLB and NPB, you will never be short of betting opportunities and baseball can be one of the most enjoyable sports on which to bet. Study the statistics, the rosters and always look for value bets, as this will give you best chance of making a successful baseball bet.
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© Matt Davis
Redhead Greater Scaup
Aythya collaris
Version: 2.0 — Published October 1, 2012
Charlotte L. Roy, Christine M. Herwig, William L. Hohman, and Robert T. Eberhardt
Gerrit Vyn
Alaska, United States
Figure 1. Distribution of the Ring-necked Duck.
Adult male Ring-necked Duck, Victoria, BC, 5 March.
Adult male Ring-necked Ducks are distinctive. Note the peaked rear crown giving the head an angular appearance, and the white ring on the bill--characters shared by all ages/sexes. The following is a link to this photographer's website: http://www.flickr.com/photos/glennbartley/.
The Ring-necked Duck is a small to medium-sized diving duck with distinctive white bill markings and a short crest that gives its head an angular profile. The species is native to North America, but sightings outside of the continent are increasingly common. Migratory throughout its range, this duck nests at generally low densities in subarctic deltas, taiga, boreal forest, aspen parkland, and to a lesser extent, prairie regions. Its breeding range expanded east of the Great Lakes beginning in the 1930s and westward into Alaska and Yukon Territory during the 1980s.
Ring-necked Ducks winter inland along the Gulf of Mexico and southern Atlantic Coasts of the United States. Historically they were probably dispersed in small flocks (10–40 birds) across available wintering habitat, but recently they have become more concentrated (>500 birds) at some wintering sites because of habitat changes. During summer and winter, Ring-necked Ducks prefer shallow, freshwater wetlands with stable water levels and abundant emergent and submerged or floating plants. Migrants are found on shallow lakes with dense stands of emergent or submergent vegetation and on temporally flooded areas with abundant moist-soil vegetation.
Ring-necked Ducks are believed to be seasonally monogamous, but genetic studies to confirm this are lacking. Individuals pair during spring migration in Mar and Apr and persist as pairs until early incubation. They nest in flooded or floating emergent vegetation within 200 m of open-water feeding areas. Only the female provides parental care, incubating eggs and generally remaining with the young until they fledge.
This species dives for its food (in shallow water) and has a more generalized diet than do other North American diving ducks of the genus Aythya. Except possibly during breeding, diets of male and female are similar, consisting mostly of plant foods (seeds and below-ground plant parts). Generalized feeding habits probably facilitate colonization of new areas and occupancy of habitats such as bogs that have low productivity compared to wetlands used by other North American waterfowl.
Ring-necked Ducks are potentially vulnerable to intensive hunting (overharvest) and prone to ingesting spent lead shot. Population estimates are imprecise because the species is difficult to census and much of its current breeding range is not included in areas traditionally surveyed for waterfowl. Nonetheless, the continental population is considered stable or increasing. Curiously, the breeding distribution expanded and the population increased during the 1980s and early 1990s, when populations of most other North American ducks, especially prairie-nesting species, were in decline. During the 2000s, continental Ring-necked Duck populations have been stable, but higher than their long term average since 1955.
The species has been studied extensively on breeding areas in Maine ( Mendall, H. L. (1958). Ring-necked Duck in the Northeast. Orono: Univ. of Maine Stud. no. 73.
Mendall 1958), Minnesota ( Hohman, W. L. (1984a). Aspects of the breeding biology of Ring-necked Ducks (Aythya collaris). Phd Thesis, Univ. of Minnesota, St. Paul.
Hohman 1984a, CLR, CMH), and Michigan ( Sarvis, J. E. (1972). The breeding biology and ecology of Ring-necked Ducks in northern Michigan. Master's Thesis, Utah State Univ., Logan.
Sarvis 1972), and at wintering sites in Florida ( Jeske, C. W. (1985). Time and energy budgets of wintering Ring-necked Ducks Aythya collaris (L.) in north-central Florida. Master's Thesis, Univ. of Florida, Gainesville, FL.
Jeske 1985) and South Carolina ( Alexander, W. C. (1980c). The behavioral ecology and sociobiology of nonbreeding diving ducks (Aythyini). Phd Thesis, Clemson Univ., Clemson, SC.
Alexander 1980c). Generally well understood are diet, molts, body mass and composition changes in the annual cycle, nesting parameters, and nonbreeding behavior. Information is lacking, however, for fall and spring migrants and from core breeding areas in the Canadian boreal forest and wintering sites along the central Gulf Coast. In general, life history and demographic aspects are less well known for this species than for other North American Aythya (except the Greater Scaup [Aythya marila]), the Wood Duck (Aix sponsa), prairie-nesting waterfowl, and Arctic-nesting geese), but Ring-necked Ducks are better studied than seaducks and mergansers.
Plumages
Roy, C. L., C. M. Herwig, W. L. Hohman, and R. T. Eberhardt (2012). Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris), version 2.0. In The Birds of North America (A. F. Poole, Editor). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bna.329
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