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Blind children empowered
Kailin Daniels
THE Nkosinathi Foundation for blind and partially sighted people has launched the first early childhood development (ECD) project in the province to cater for blind and partially sighted children.
The Bona uBuntu Programme has been initiated with the help of Visio, an organisation based in the Netherlands, which supports visually impaired and blind people.
“After a very in depth search across the world, we ended up in Port Elizabeth at the Nkosinathi Foundation.
“They have the knowledge and they work in a similar way to that in the Netherlands.
“We reached out and want to help these kids who are blind and partially sighted. That’s when we came up with the idea of the Bona uBuntu Programme,” said Visio’s programme manager, Els de Keijzer.
The programme pilot is currently taking place in Port Elizabeth and will later expand to other cities in the province.
Western Cape Jobs
Bloemfontein Jobs
Durban Jobs
HOUSES FOR SALE IN Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch Central
HOUSES FOR SALE IN Cape Town, Wynberg Upper
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Blood Test Plus Ultrasound Boosts Liver Cancer Detection by 40 Percent
9-Feb-2018 3:50 PM EST
Credit: UT Southwestern Medical Center
Dr. Amit Singal says screening for liver cancer needs to be improved.
Cancer, Healthcare, Liver Disease, Local - Texas, Local - Dallas Metro
Ut Southwestern, Liver Cancer
Newswise — DALLAS – Feb. 9, 2018 – Combining ultrasound imaging with a blood test for high alpha fetoprotein (AFP) levels improves detection of early-stage liver cancer by as much as 40 percent, researchers at UT Southwestern’s Simmons Cancer Center found.
Earlier detection is important to improving survival of patients with liver cancer, a disease that is on the rise and the fastest increasing solid-tumor cancer in the U.S., according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI).
“If the cancer is found early, then we can perform curative therapies, allowing patients to live many years,” said hepatologist Dr. G. Amit Singal, Associate Professor of Internal Medicine and Clinical Sciences with UT Southwestern Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center. “Unfortunately, most liver cancer in the United States is discovered at later stages, when curative treatment is not possible and survival is much worse.”
While the incidence of most cancers is decreasing in the U.S., the incidence of liver cancer has increased by 2.7 percent a year over the last 10 years, according to the NCI, which estimated about 40,700 new cases of liver cancer will be diagnosed in the U.S. in 2018. Risk factors for liver cancer, also known as hepatocellular carcinoma or HCC, include hepatitis C infection, chronic heavy alcohol consumption, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease related to diabetes and obesity. Symptoms can include upper abdominal pain or swelling, loss of weight or appetite, white chalky stools, and general fatigue.
Liver cancer screening guidelines for patients with cirrhosis vary, with some guidelines calling for just imaging and other guidelines calling for both imaging and AFP measurement.
Q&A on liver cancer
All cirrhosis patients should be screened
“Liver cancer screening in patients with chronic liver disease has traditionally been performed using an abdominal ultrasound. While ultrasound is readily available and noninvasive, it misses many cancers when they are small,” said Dr. Amit Singal, who holds the David Bruton, Jr. Professorship in Clinical Cancer Research. “Our study found that adding the blood biomarker alpha fetoprotein increased detection of early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma from 45 percent with ultrasound alone to 63 percent using the two tests in combination.
AFP is a plasma protein that is produced in abundance by the liver cells in the fetus. In adults, AFP levels are normally low, but liver cancer can cause AFP levels to rise.
The research, a meta-analysis of 32 previous studies, appears in the journal Gastroenterology.
Collaborators on the study included Dr. Jorge Marrero, Professor of Internal Medicine, and Dr. Adam Yopp, Associate Professor of Surgery, also members of the Simmons Cancer Center, one of just 49 NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers in the nation and the only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center in North Texas.
Simmons Cancer Center is among just 30 U.S. cancer research centers to be designated by the NCI as a National Clinical Trials Network Lead Academic Participating Site.
“Our results highlight the importance of continued development and validation of blood-based biomarkers for liver cancer early detection. Most important, our results support a change in clinical practice and the routine use of ultrasound and biomarkers together for liver cancer screening,” said Dr. Singal, Dedman Family Scholar in Clinical Care at UT Southwestern, which is recognizing its 75th anniversary this year.
This work was supported by the National Cancer Institute and the Cancer Prevention Research Institute of Texas.
About UT Southwestern Medical Center
UT Southwestern, one of the premier academic medical centers in the nation, integrates pioneering biomedical research with exceptional clinical care and education. The institution’s faculty has received six Nobel Prizes, and includes 22 members of the National Academy of Sciences, 17 members of the National Academy of Medicine, and 14 Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigators. The faculty of more than 2,700 is responsible for groundbreaking medical advances and is committed to translating science-driven research quickly to new clinical treatments. UT Southwestern physicians provide care in about 80 specialties to more than 100,000 hospitalized patients, 600,000 emergency room cases, and oversee approximately 2.2 million outpatient visits a year.
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September 20, 1999 Issue
By Daphne Merkin
The New Yorker, September 20, 1999 P. 52
Talk story about French film director Catherine Breillat and “Romance,” her new erotic art film, or, depending on your point of view, classy porn flick... The director, who has six novels under her belt as well as six films, is an attractive woman with shoulder-length auburn hair who dresses with the sort of understated French chic that is the envy of women everywhere... “Romance” is the story of a young schoolteacher, Marie (Caroline Ducey), and her anti-sentimental education at the hands of three men: her male-model boyfriend, who refuses to touch her; an older man named Robert, who educates her in the art of submission; and Paolo, a one-night stand (played by Rocco Siffredi, an international porn star) whom Marie rejects, even though he is the only man who is able to make love to her without preconditions.... Hailed as “the most sexually audacious movie since ‘Last Tango’” (in which, coincidentally, Breillat briefly appeared), “Romance” has played to enthusiastic audiences in Europe....Trimark Pictures, which is releasing the film, has decided to distribute “Romance” without a rating....
This article appears in the print edition of the September 20, 1999, issue.
Movie Directors
Why are so many black families losing their land?
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The Best Possible Day
Article by Atul Gawande, published in The New York Times
A COUPLE of years ago, I got a call from the husband of Peg Bachelder, my daughter Hunter’s piano teacher. “Peg’s in the hospital,” Martin said.
She’d been treated in 2010 for a rare pelvic cancer requiring chemotherapy, radiation and radical surgery.
She returned to teaching and refilled her student roster in no time. She was in her early 60s, tall, with a lovely, gentle way that made her immensely popular. Two years later, however, she developed a leukemia-like malignancy caused by her treatment. She went back on chemotherapy but somehow kept teaching. Then for two straight weeks, Peg postponed Hunter’s lessons. That was when I got Martin’s call from the hospital.
He put his cell on speaker for Peg. She sounded weak and spoke in long pauses. She said the leukemia treatment was not working. It had impaired her immune system, however, making her sick with fevers and an infection. Imaging also showed that her original cancer had come back in her hip and liver. The recurrent disease caused immobilizing hip pain and made her incontinent. That was when she checked into the hospital. She didn’t know what to do.
What had the doctors said they could do? I asked.
Coverage for End-of-Life Talks Gaining Ground
Article by Pamela Belluck, published in The New York Times
DUNDEE, N.Y. — Five years after it exploded into a political conflagration over “death panels,” the issue of paying doctors to talk to patients about end-of-life care is making a comeback, and such sessions may be covered for the 50 million Americans on Medicare as early as next year.
Bypassing the political process, private insurers have begun reimbursing doctors for these “advance care planning” conversations as interest in them rises along with the number of aging Americans. People are living longer with illnesses, and many want more input into how they will spend their final days, including whether they want to die at home or in the hospital, and whether they want full-fledged life-sustaining treatment, just pain relief or something in between. Some states, including Colorado and Oregon, recently began covering the sessions for Medicaid patients.
But far more significant, Medicare may begin covering end-of-life discussions next year if it approves a recent request from the American Medical Association, the country’s largest association of physicians and medical students. One of the A.M.A.’s roles is to create billing codes for medical services, codes used by doctors, hospitals and insurers. It recently created codes for end-of-life conversations and submitted them to Medicare.
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Video game predicts Penguins repeat as Stanley Cup champs with win over Hawks
The Pittsburgh Penguins will repeat as NHL Stanley Cup champions, defeating the Chicago Blackhawks in six games, according to an EA sports video game simulation.
The simulation, performed with NHL 10, has Penguins goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury winning the Conn Smythe Trophy as the best player in the post-season.
The video game also predicts the Carolina Hurricanes will win the President's Trophy, leading the league with 113 points, three more than Chicago in the Western Conference. The Calgary Flames - who will win the Northwest Division with 99 points - and the Vancouver Canucks are the only Canadian teams to make the playoffs.
The Canucks finish sixth in the Western conference with 96 points while Edmonton is 12th with 77 points.
In the East, Boston is second behind Carolina with 106 points while Pittsburgh is third with 101. The Montreal Canadiens finish 10th with 83 points, Ottawa will be 11th with 82 points, one point more than Ontario rival Toronto, who will finish 12th.
The simulation also says Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby will have an injury-free season and capture the Hart Trophy as the league MVP with 102 points. Anaheim's Ryan Getzlaf will win the Art Ross Trophy as the leading scorer with 107 points, while Atlanta's Ilya Kovalchuk will win the Maurice Richard trophy with 57 goals.
Calgary defenceman Dion Phaneuf will take the Norris Trophy as top defenceman.
The simulation is conducted by using data from each player. Results are extrapolated by the video game when two teams match up based on player ratings, line combinations, and include variances such as injuries and hot streaks.
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Home / News / Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupe Spied Testing on Wet Roads
Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupe Spied Testing on Wet Roads
Mercedes-Benz CL-Class News
by writer: Zach Gale May 15, 2013
On the same day Mercedes-Benz officially unveils the 2014 S-Class sedan we bring you new spy shots of the S-Class coupe testing on wet roads. Whether it's called the S-Class coupe, SLC-Class, or the CL-Class, the two-door will again function as the automaker's luxury flagship coupe for those who aren't interested in the racier SLS AMG GT.
Now that we've seen the 2014 S-Class sedan, it's a little clearer just how much the coupe's design may share with that of the four-door. Headlights appear similar on both S-Class variants, but this particular coupe prototype appears to have a one-strake front grille. Currently, only the CL AMG variants share this styling feature. The CLA and CLS "four-door coupes" also integrate a front grille with just one strake, and it's a design detail that's been changed on the E-Class coupe for the 2014 model year.
Though it's not easy to tell on the latest batch of Mercedes S-Class coupe spy shots, we expect the two-door to adopt a version of the bold character line running along the side of the 2014 S-Class sedan, ending just in front of the rear wheels. Mercedes may be hiding more significant design changes in the coupe's rear view, with potentially revised LED taillights stretching onto the trunk lid. The CL's profile -- with the B-pillar-less side glass -- appears to have been maintained. The CL550 is currently only offered with all-wheel drive, and that shouldn't change for the new model whether it's called an SLC, S550 coupe, CL550, or something else.
While we'll have to wait a while before seeing official S-Class coupe photos, the two-door will almost certainly offer everything the 2014 S-Class does. Standard and optional S-Class coupe features should include the 2014 S-Class' special massaging seats with a heating function, LED mood lighting with more color and intensity settings than owners will ever need, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster display with a 12.3-inch central display on the dash, an available self-parking system that can also help maneuver out of a parking space, and plenty more. Under the hood of most U.S.-spec S-Class coupes should be a 455-hp 4.7-liter V-8 with 516 lb-ft of torque.
For more on the 2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class sedan, read our First Look here and our By the Numbers trivia post here.
Six new S-Class coupe spy shots are shown at the top of the gallery with a previously captured S-Class coupe prototype and two images of the 2014 S-Class sedan.
Aston Martin DBS 59 Celebrates Le Mans Victory 59 Years Ago
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Peter Svensson, Savan Kotecha, Ariana Grande, Ilya
Ритм-н-блюз/R'n'B
Для голоса и фортепиано (или гитары)
Ноты для печати • количество страниц: 7, ID: SM-000235117
Нажмите, чтобы просмотреть ноты
Фортепиано, Голос, Классическая гитара
“Focus” is a pop song by the popular American R&B singer and actress Ariana Grande. Written by Grande herself together with Peter Svensson, Savan Kotecha, and Ilya, the song was released in 2015, receiving mixed reviews from the music critics. Some noted it was very similar to the singer previous hit “Problem”. “Focus” was meant to be the lead single on Ariana’s 3rd album “Dangerous Woman”, but became one only on its Japanese edition. The song went up the 7th position in the Billboard Hot 100 and became Ariana’s 6th single to get into the Top 10 in America. In 2016, “Focus” won Best Song To Dance To at Radio Disney Awards.
Fred Volters 14 июн 2016 11:26
A solid arrangement, I like it. It does sound similar, very similar to the Problem (but for the chorus) but perhaps that's why I liked it. I do already perform Problem fluent enough so Focus has not presented any difficulties so far, I handled the first part in minutes. The bridge is really same in both of the songs. It's cool that the guitar chords are also present on the score, I could kill two birds with one stone
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The secret to a successful crowdfunding campaign
It pays to be prepared.
When it comes to crowdfunding, there is no such thing as an overnight success story.
Stu Anderson is a hobby beekeeper from the Northern Rivers region in New South Wales who, in 2015, ran a record-breaking crowdfunding campaign with his son Cedar to launch Flow Hive, a honey harvesting system they had invented.
His advice to entrepreneurs who want to launch a crowd-sourced funding (CSF) campaign is to allow for six-months’ planning – at least. “If you go in unprepared, you’ll have a failure on your hands.”
In recent history, entrepreneurs looking for seed capital have congregated in large numbers in places like Silicon Valley in search of the ultimate prize of VC investment. In this competitive environment, success often relies on access to exclusive networks rather than a concept’s merit.
Crowdfunding has emerged as an alternative source of funding that is open to anyone, regardless of geography or connections. “Crowdfunding appears to be democratising access to capital among a larger pool of innovators,” Vanessa Assenova, a professor in management at Wharton, says in an episode of the Knowledge@Wharton podcast.
“If you have a great idea, going on a platform like Kickstarter can give you great visibility — not just among the crowd and the backers who can identify and screen these potential ideas, but your success on one of these platforms can subsequently attract venture capitalists to your area and to your types of projects and ideas.”
New to the world of start-ups, Stu and Cedar Anderson spent a year researching, planning and implementing the Flow Hive CSF campaign (add hyperlink to flow hive). An important development was the release of a teaser video a week before launch. Picked up and shared amongst a global audience passionate about bee conservation, the video went viral.
It was a foretaste of what was to come, highlighting how a highly engaged community can drive innovation and entrepreneurship. In February 2015, Stu and Cedar launched their campaign. They smashed through their $70,000 goal within minutes and reached both the $1 million and $2 million marks in record time. At the campaign’s close, they had raised US$13 million – Indiegogo’s most successful campaign ever.
Suddenly, Flow Hive had 20,000 prepaid orders to be manufactured and shipped to 130 countries. “It rocketed us into business in a way we didn’t expect,” says Stu. Having prepaid orders was an “incredible advantage” that allowed the Andersons to invest in infrastructure and pay both suppliers and manufacturers up front. In 2018, a second funding round raised another US$14.9 million.
Skilling up
“Empowerment doesn’t come from handing people a tool, it comes from teaching them how to use that tool successfully,” says Tom Dawkins, CEO of StartSomeGood, a crowdfunding platform designed to connect innovation with capital to create social change.
“Crowdfunding is an incredibly powerful tool to build communities and raise funds, but people don’t wake up in the morning and intuitively know how to construct stories for people and design outreach strategies and how to do marketing and sales and all the things that are involved in raising money,” he says.
"Now, more than ever, we need an innovation eco-system that is constantly running experiments to keep pace with our ever-changing world."
Tom Dawkins, CEO at StartSomeGood
Dawkins founded StartSomeGood in 2012, inspired by the way Kickstarter allows creatives to bypass traditional cultural gatekeepers like record executives and funding bodies to develop projects. He wanted to offer social entrepreneurs striving to have a positive impact on the world the same opportunity to pitch ideas directly to the communities who care about what they are doing.
Today, StartSomeGood works “with a lot of corporates, foundations, and governments to run programs that inspire, unearth, skill-up and launch innovative projects,” says Dawkins. “Doing that through a crowdfunding model helps de-risk those early-stage investments, because when someone is able to go out there, pitch their idea and raise money from the community, it demonstrates that the community is interested and supportive of what they’re creating.”
Now, more than ever, he says, we need an innovation eco-system that is constantly running experiments to keep pace with our ever-changing world, but the traditional funding system has been reluctant to invest in totally new ideas that have no guarantee of success. Like elusive angel investors, crowdfunding provides “risk-tolerant capital” to these projects that would otherwise never get off the ground.
Dawkins argues that crowdfunding is essentially an outreach activity that offers entrepreneurs a completely new way to connect directly to a pool of engaged investors. “The people who succeed understand that the platform is a tool that they’re using to raise money – not the source of money, and they have to use those tools and go out there and sell their project, pitch themselves and build a community,” he says. “Your story is only as useful as your ability to pair it with the right audience.”
When DC Power Co launched its equity crowdfunding campaign in February 2018, chairman Nic Frances Gilley had a specific market in mind: the two million Australian households with rooftop solar panels that were being underserved by the current energy model that caters for the eight million that don’t.
Gilley and his co-founders set out to disrupt the current energy retail model, creating a much-needed alternative that better serves solar users and, crucially, reduces their bills.
For a small monthly fee, DC Power Co offers consumers wholesale pricing when they buy or sell energy, as well as system and performance updates, assistance with maintenance, and benchmarking. Importantly, the business is owned by its customers through the equity crowd-sourced funding campaign. “It allows us to be in the same space as them,” he says. “When I’m considering the needs of my business, I’m also considering the needs of my consumers.”
Part of the growing movement of smaller, community-based start-ups tackling real world problems for local communities, DC Power Co raised $2.2 million from 12,500 investors in its first round of funding. “That was our seed capital to get the company going,” says Gilley.
It was considerably less than the campaign’s $5 million target, he concedes, but “it was successful in the sense that we built an extraordinary base of people, 10,000 of them who have solar, who have put money on the line to say we will help you build this business.”
Crowdfunding allowed DC Power Co to create a community of highly engaged investors committed to participating in the company’s growth. “It’s not about the money, it’s that each customer has a stake,” says Gilley.
Tips to entrepreneurs planning a crowdfunding campaign:
Do plenty of research, attend workshops and seminars, and talk to other entrepreneurs to increase your expertise. Allow at least six months to plan and execute your campaign.
Identify your target market and focus your crowdfunding pitch on that audience. Be intentional, says Dawkins. “Not everyone cares equally about everything.”
Stay true to your original vision. “Don’t let thoughts of money get in the way of what you’re trying to do, and that is promote what you’ve developed,” says Stu Anderson.
This article was created by BBC StoryWorks, the BBC’s global commercial content division, on behalf of OFX.
Where The World's Moving
Welcome to the Where the World's Moving content series that celebrates what it means to be a global citizen told through the eyes of the people that are living and breathing this ethos every day.
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February 6, 2019 | by Staff Writer
Swastikas Found Drawn on Churchill High Desks
Two swastikas were drawn on a desk at Winston Churchill High School, according to a note the principal sent to families.
Security at the Potomac school as well as the school resource officer immediately began an investigation and the graffiti was removed by the building services team, the letter says.
“We were able to identify the person responsible for the images drawn on the desk,” according to the letter, from principal Brandice C. Heckert.
The letter says that in the eyes of the law, the incident can be considered a hate crime or a bias-based crime, Heckert wrote.
“This type of behavior will not be tolerated at Winston Churchill High School and the person found responsible received consequences aligned with the Student Code of Conduct,” she wrote.
The letter also included a link to the school system’s code of conduct.
About Staff Writer
View all posts by Staff Writer
hate crime potomac swastikas Winston Churchill High School
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Doug Mouton
WWLTV Sports Director
Ashley McLellan,
When WWLTV Sports Director Doug Mouton took on his position at the news channel in 2012, he followed in the footsteps of a very exclusive group. Prior to Mouton, the Sports Director position had only been held by two others, Hap Glaudi and Jim Henderson, and recognizing the important responsibility in carrying on those legends’ good work is key to Mouton’s continued success.
A New Orleans native (he graduated from Brother Martin High School and UNO), Mouton has become known for his energy and contributions during his 30-plus years of journalism both in the newsroom and across the community. He has reported and worked from the field, at the anchor desk and behind the camera.
As we enter into regular Saints season, New Orleans Magazine asked Mouton for his insights on the upcoming football season, his experience in reporting in New Orleans and who he’s watching on the field.
Q: How many years have you been in the journalism business? Thirty-one years now. I started in January of 1987 as an intern for Buddy Diliberto at Channel 6. One day into interning, I knew it’s what I wanted to do.
Q: How and why did you go into sports journalism specifically? I was actually in Psychology at UNO, but three years in, I realized I didn’t want to do that for a living. The day after I made that decision, I was walking across campus and I remember thinking — “What do I do now?” In high school, they always said, “Do what you love.” And I remember thinking, “What do I love to do? I love to go to ball games. So, how do I make a living going to ball games?” I weighed the possibilities and decided that being a sportscaster sounded fun and possibly doable.
I loved following big time sports as a kid, and I knew a ton about the players, but I also knew all the play-by-play announcers and the local sportscasters. Once I came up with the idea of being a sportscaster, it really fit.
Q: Did you or do you play sports? Growing up in New Orleans East, playing football was the thing I cared about most. My friends and I played NORD ball for years at a little playground called Kerry Curley. Our coach was terrific, Joe Bradley, and he moved up with us as we got older. We won a lot of games but by the time I got to high school, my athletic limitations were obvious. I’ve played in a ton of recreational flag football and softball leagues over the years, but I’ll never wow anyone with my athletic prowess.
Q: What advice do you have for Zach Strief as he takes over the play-by-play coverage of the Saints from the legendary Jim Henderson? Jim is one of the greatest examples to follow in broadcasting. Back in the 80s and 90s, as Jim’s legend was growing in New Orleans, ESPN was catching fire. Local sportscasters across the country were all doing terrible imitations of what they saw on SportsCenter, doing silly catch phrases and goofy noises. And Jim was about as opposite of that as you could be. Jim was just Jim. He was an English Professor doing sports. He never tried to be anything but who he was.
The lesson of Jim Henderson is to just be you. It’s your only hope for any long-term survival in this business, because especially in New Orleans, people will immediately see through and reject what’s phony.
Zach already gets that. It takes time to find your own voice, but I think Zach will find his quicker than most. He’s a highly intelligent guy who works extremely hard.
Q: Who are you most excited to see in action for the Saints team this fall? I want to see Drew Brees make another Super Bowl run with an extremely talented team. My dad was an original Saints season ticket holder. I started going to games with him in 1969. That’s almost 50 years of Saints football for me, and the Saints have never had a quarterback close to his level. And I realize that when he’s done, there’s an excellent chance I’ll never see another one as good as him in Black and Gold. I’m looking forward to 16 more games watching number 9.
Q: Although it’s early, how does this season look like to you for the Saints? I think the Saints are absolutely Super Bowl contenders. Obviously, they need a little luck and they need to stay healthy, but I believe no team has a better chance to get to Atlanta than the Saints.
Q: What is your favorite sports play or moment (other than the Super Bowl win, of course)? I don’t think any sports moment could ever compare to Super Bowl 44. Tracy Porter’s game clinching interception is the most spectacular play I’ll ever see. But if I can’t say that, then Garrett Hartley’s overtime field goal in the NFC Championship Game that sent the Saints to Miami would be next.
Born: Baton Rouge. My dad was working for the state Department of Highways at the time. The family moved back to New Orleans when I was 2.
Education: Resurrection (elementary school in NO East), Brother Martin, UNO
Favorite Book: “Moneyball.” Loved the movie too. It combines two of the greatest things in life, baseball and math.
Favorite Movie: My favorite decade is the 70’s. There are so many movies I love from that period, but for when it came out and the wow factor it had on me at the time, I think I’d say “Pulp Fiction.”
Favorite TV show: This is too difficult, but if I had to pick one series I’d pick “Breaking Bad.” Favorite Food: My all-time comfort food is fried shrimp.
Favorite restaurant: Could literally list at least 30, but I love Vincent’s in Metairie and Drago’s and I eat at the Little Tokyo on Causeway all the time.
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The Treaty of Ghent
December 24, 1814 Ghent, Belgium
On Christmas Eve of 1814, the members of the British and American negotiating teams, scrawled their signatures and affixed their individual seals to the document, which once ratified by their respective governments, would end the war of 1812.
Almost immediately after declaring war on Britain, President James Madison began searching for a diplomatic resolution to the conflict. He might even have ratified the August 20, Dearborn-Prevost Armistice if it hadn’t have been for the unresolved issue of impressment. When Russia offered to mediate, Madison sent his negotiators to St. Petersburg, Russia, but the British were adamantly opposed to anything except face-to-face negotiations. Both sides eventually agreed to meet in the Belgian town of Ghent in August of 1814.
By then the U.S. had dropped the impressment issue. With Napoleon Boneparte defeated, Britain had a surplus of sailors and no longer engaged in the practice. The other major U.S. grievance, the Orders-in-Council forbidding trade with European countries, had long since been repealed by Britain. Only the territorial issues remained. Once Britain agreed to drop the creation of a First Nations barrier-state between the United States and Canada, it was only a matter of time before both countries agreed to end hostilities by returning to the exact same conditions that had existed before the war.
The Treaty of Ghent, in effect, meant that thousands of people had died for nothing: nobody won the war of 1812. The United States, though it achieved none of its stated war aims, did achieve the less openly stated aim of pushing the First Nations off their traditional territories, which were now open for white settlement. Britain could rest secure in the knowledge that Canada was safe from U.S. territorial ambitions for the foreseeable future. The real losers were the First Nations. Their warriors had fought alongside Britain on the understanding that they would be rewarded with a country of their own, yet now that it had grown tired of the war, Britain reneged on its promise and retreated behind the meaningless phrase that the First Nations would be given “all the rights and privileges they enjoyed before the war.”
The complete text of the Treaty of Ghent:
Treaty of Peace and Amity between His Britannic Majesty and the United States of America.
His Britannic Majesty and the United States of America desirous of terminating the war which has unhappily subsisted between the two Countries, and of restoring upon principles of perfect reciprocity, Peace, Friendship, and good Understanding between them, have for that purpose appointed their respective Plenipotentiaries, that is to say, His Britannic Majesty on His part has appointed the Right Honourable James Lord Gambier, late Admiral of the White now Admiral of the Red Squadron of His Majesty's Fleet; Henry Goulburn Esquire, a Member of the Imperial Parliament and Under Secretary of State; and William Adams Esquire, Doctor of Civil Laws: And the President of the United States, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate thereof, has appointed John Quincy Adams, James A. Bayard, Henry Clay, Jonathan Russell, and Albert Gallatin, Citizens of the United States; who, after a reciprocal communication of their respective Full Powers, have agreed upon the following Articles.
I. Article - There shall be a firm and universal Peace between His Britannic Majesty and the United States, and between their respective Countries, Territories, Cities, Towns, and People of every degree without exception of places or persons. All hostilities both by sea and land shall cease as soon as this Treaty shall have been ratified by both parties as hereinafter mentioned. All territory, places, and possessions whatsoever taken by either party from the other during the war, or which may be taken after the signing of this Treaty, excepting only the Islands hereinafter mentioned, shall be restored without delay and without causing any destruction or carrying away any of the Artillery or other public property originally captured in the said forts or places, and which shall remain therein upon the Exchange of the Ratifications of this Treaty, or any Slaves or other private property; And all Archives, Records, Deeds, and Papers, either of a public nature or belonging to private persons, which in the course of the war may have fallen into the hands of the Officers of either party, shall be, as far as may be practicable, forthwith restored and delivered to the proper authorities and persons to whom they respectively belong. Such of the Islands in the Bay of Passamaquoddy as are claimed by both parties shall remain in the possession of the party in whose occupation they may be at the time of the Exchange of the Ratifications of this Treaty until the decision respecting the title to the said Islands shall have been made in conformity with the fourth Article of this Treaty. No disposition made by this Treaty as to such possession of the Islands and territories claimed by both parties shall in any manner whatever be construed to affect the right of either.
II. Article - Immediately after the ratifications of this Treaty by both parties as hereinafter mentioned, orders shall be sent to the Armies, Squadrons, Officers, Subjects, and Citizens of the two Powers to cease from all hostilities: and to prevent all causes of complaint which might arise on account of the prizes which may be taken at sea after the said Ratifications of this Treaty, it is reciprocally agreed that all vessels and effects which may be taken after the space of twelve days from the said Ratifications upon all parts of the Coast of North America from the Latitude of twenty three degrees North to the Latitude of fifty degrees North, and as far Eastward in the Atlantic Ocean as the thirty sixth degree of West Longitude from the Meridian of Greenwich, shall be restored on each side:-that the time shall be thirty days in all other parts of the Atlantic Ocean North of the Equinoctial Line or Equator:-and the same time for the British and Irish Channels, for the Gulf of Mexico, and all parts of the West Indies:-forty days for the North Seas for the Baltic, and for all parts of the Mediterranean-sixty days for the Atlantic Ocean South of the Equator as far as the Latitude of the Cape of Good Hope.- ninety days for every other part of the world South of the Equator, and one hundred and twenty days for all other parts of the world without exception.
III. Article - All Prisoners of war taken on either side as well by land as by sea shall be restored as soon as practicable after the Ratifications of this Treaty as hereinafter mentioned on their paying the debts which they may have contracted during their captivity. The two Contracting Parties respectively engage to discharge in specie the advances which may have been made by the other for the sustenance and maintenance of such prisoners.
IV. Article - Whereas it was stipulated by the second Article in the Treaty of Peace of one thousand seven hundred and eighty three between His Britannic Majesty and the United States of America that the boundary of the United States should comprehend "all Islands within twenty leagues of any part of the shores of the United States and lying between lines to be drawn due East from the points where the aforesaid boundaries between Nova Scotia on the one part and East Florida on the other shall respectively touch the Bay of Fundy and the Atlantic Ocean, excepting such Islands as now are or heretofore have been within the limits of Nova Scotia, and whereas the several Islands in the Bay of Passamaquoddy, which is part of the Bay of Fundy, and the Island of Grand Menan in the said Bay of Fundy, are claimed by the United States as being comprehended within their aforesaid boundaries, which said Islands are claimed as belonging to His Britannic Majesty as having been at the time of and previous to the aforesaid Treaty of one thousand seven hundred and eighty three within the limits of the Province of Nova Scotia: In order therefore finally to decide upon these claims it is agreed that they shall be referred to two Commissioners to be appointed in the following manner: viz: One Commissioner shall be appointed by His Britannic Majesty and one by the President of the United States, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate thereof, and the said two Commissioners so appointed shall be sworn impartially to examine and decide upon the said claims according to such evidence as shall be laid before them on the part of His Britannic Majesty and of the United States respectively. The said Commissioners shall meet at St Andrews in the Province of New Brunswick, and shall have power to adjourn to such other place or places as they shall think fit. The said Commissioners shall by a declaration or report under their hands and seals decide to which of the two Contracting parties the several Islands aforesaid do respectely belong in conformity with the true intent of the said Treaty of Peace of one thousand seven hundred and eighty three. And if the said Commissioners shall agree in their decision both parties shall consider such decision as final and conclusive. It is further agreed that in the event of the two Commissioners differing upon all or any of the matters so referred to them, or in the event of both or either of the said Commissioners refusing or declining or wilfully omitting to act as such, they shall make jointly or separately a report or reports as well to the Government of His Britannic Majesty as to that of the United States, stating in detail the points on which they differ, and the grounds upon which their respective opinions have been formed, or the grounds upon which they or either of them have so refused declined or omitted to act. And His Britannic Majesty and the Government of the United States hereby agree to refer the report or reports of the said Commissioners to some friendly Sovereign or State to be then named for that purpose, and who shall be requested to decide on the differences which may be stated in the said report or reports, or upon the report of one Commissioner together with the grounds upon which the other Commissioner shall have refused, declined or omitted to act as the case may be. And if the Commissioner so refusing, declining, or omitting to act, shall also wilfully omit to state the grounds upon which he has so done in such manner that the said statement may be referred to such friendly Sovereign or State together with the report of such other Commissioner, then such Sovereign or State shall decide ex parse upon the said report alone. And His Britannic Majesty and the Government of the United States engage to consider the decision of such friendly Sovereign or State to be final and conclusive on all the matters so referred.
V. Article - Whereas neither that point of the Highlands lying due North from the source of the River St Croix, and designated in the former Treaty of Peace between the two Powers as the North West Angle of Nova Scotia, nor the North Westernmost head of Connecticut River has yet been ascertained; and whereas that part of the boundary line between the Dominions of the two Powers which extends from the source of the River st Croix directly North to the above mentioned North West Angle of Nova Scotia, thence along the said Highlands which divide those Rivers that empty themselves into the River St Lawrence from those which fall into the Atlantic Ocean to the North Westernmost head of Connecticut River, thence down along the middle of that River to the forty fifth degree of North Latitude, thence by a line due West on said latitude until it strikes the River Iroquois or Cataraquy, has not yet been surveyed: it is agreed that for these several purposes two Commissioners shall be appointed, sworn, and authorized to act exactly in the manner directed with respect to those mentioned in the next preceding Article unless otherwise specified in the present Article. The said Commissioners shall meet at se Andrews in the Province of New Brunswick, and shall have power to adjourn to such other place or places as they shall think fit. The said Commissioners shall have power to ascertain and determine the points above mentioned in conformity with the provisions of the said Treaty of Peace of one thousand seven hundred and eighty three, and shall cause the boundary aforesaid from the source of the River St Croix to the River Iroquois or Cataraquy to be surveyed and marked according to the said provisions. The said Commissioners shall make a map of the said boundary, and annex to it a declaration under their hands and seals certifying it to be the true Map of the said boundary, and particularizing the latitude and longitude of the North West Angle of Nova Scotia, of the North Westernmost head of Connecticut River, and of such other points of the said boundary as they may deem proper. And both parties agree to consider such map and declaration as finally and conclusively fixing the said boundary. And in the event of the said two Commissioners differing, or both, or either of them refusing, declining, or wilfully omitting to act, such reports, declarations, or statements shall be made by them or either of them, and such reference to a friendly Sovereign or State shall be made in all respects as in the latter part of the fourth Article is contained, and in as full a manner as if the same was herein repeated.
VI. Article - Whereas by the former Treaty of Peace that portion of the boundary of the United States from the point where the fortyfifth degree of North Latitude strikes the River Iroquois or Cataraquy to the Lake Superior was declared to be "along the middle of said River into Lake Ontario, through the middle of said Lake until it strikes the communication by water between that Lake and Lake Erie, thence along the middle of said communication into Lake Erie, through the middle of said Lake until it arrives at the water communication into the Lake Huron; thence through the middle of said Lake to the water communication between that Lake and Lake Superior:" and whereas doubts have arisen what was the middle of the said River, Lakes, and water communications, and whether certain Islands lying in the same were within the Dominions of His Britannic Majesty or of the United States: In order therefore finally to decide these doubts, they shall be referred to two Commissioners to be appointed, sworn, and authorized to act exactly in the manner directed with respect to those mentioned in the next preceding Article unless otherwise specified in this present Article. The said Commissioners shall meet in the first instance at Albany in the State of New York, and shall have power to adjourn to such other place or places as they shall think fit. The said Commissioners shall by a Report or Declaration under their hands and seals, designate the boundary through the said River, Lakes, and water communications, and decide to which of the two Contracting parties the several Islands lying within the said Rivers, Lakes, and water communications, do respectively belong in conformity with the true intent of the said Treaty of one thousand seven hundred and eighty three. And both parties agree to consider such designation and decision as final and conclusive. And in the event of the said two Commissioners differing or both or either of them refusing, declining, or wilfully omitting to act, such reports, declarations, or statements shall be made by them or either of them, and such reference to a friendly Sovereign or State shall be made in all respects as in the latter part of the fourth Article is contained, and in as full a manner as if the same was herein repeated.
VII. Article - It is further agreed that the said two last mentioned Commissioners after they shall have executed the duties assigned to them in the preceding Article, shall be, and they are hereby, authorized upon their oaths impartially to fix and determine according to the true intent of the said Treaty of Peace of one thousand seven hundred and eighty three, that part of the boundary between the dominions of the two Powers, which extends from the water communication between Lake Huron and Lake Superior to the most North Western point of the Lake of the Woods;-to decide to which of the two Parties the several Islands lying in the Lakes, water communications, and Rivers forming the said boundary do respectively belong in conformity with the true intent of the said Treaty of Peace of one thousand seven hundred and eighty three, and to cause such parts of the said boundary as require it to be surveyed and marked. The said Commissioners shall by a Report or declaration under their hands and seals, designate the boundary aforesaid, state their decision on the points thus referred to them, and particularize the Latitude and Longitude of the most North Western point of the Lake of the Woods, and of such other parts of the said boundary as they may deem proper. And both parties agree to consider such designation and decision as final and conclusive. And in the event of the said two Commissioners differing, or both or either of them refusing, declining, or wilfully omitting to act, such reports, declarations or statements shall be made by them or either of them, and such reference to a friendly Sovereign or State shall be made in all respects as in the latter part of the fourth Article is contained, and in as full a manner as if the same was herein revealed.
VIII. Article - The several Boards of two Commissioners mentioned in the four preceding Articles shall respectively have power to appoint a Secretary, and to employ such Surveyors or other persons as they shall judge necessary. Duplicates of all their respective reports, declarations, statements, and decisions, and of their accounts, and of the Journal of their proceedings shall be delivered by them to the Agents of His Britannic Majesty and to the Agents of the United States, who may be respectively appointed and authorized to manage the business on behalf of their respective Governments. The said Commissioners shall be respectively paid in such manner as shall be agreed between the two contracting parties, such agreement being to be settled at the time of the Exchange of the Ratifications of this Treaty. And all other expenses attending the said Commissions shall be defrayed equally by the two parties. And in the case of death, sickness, resignation, or necessary absence, the place of every such Commissioner respectively shall be supplied in the same manner as such Commissioner was first appointed; and the new Commissioner shall take the same oath or affirmation and do the same duties. It is further agreed between the two contracting parties that in case any of the Islands mentioned in any of the preceding Articles, which were in the possession of one of the parties prior to the commencement of the present war between the two Countries, should by the decision of any of the Boards of Commissioners aforesaid, or of the Sovereign or State so referred to, as in the four next preceding Articles contained, fall within the dominions of the other party, all grants of land made previous to the commencement of the war by the party having had such possession, shall be as valid as if such Island or Islands had by such decision or decisions been adjudged to be within the dominions of the party having had such possession.
IX. Article - The United States of America engage to put an end immediately after the Ratification of the present Treaty to hostilities with all the Tribes or Nations of Indians with whom they may be at war at the time of such Ratification, and forthwith to restore to such Tribes or Nations respectively all the possessions, rights, and privileges which they may have enjoyed or been entitled to in one thousand eight hundred and eleven previous to such hostilities. Provided always that such Tribes or Nations shall agree to desist from all hostilities against the United States of America, their Citizens, and Subjects upon the Ratification of the present Treaty being notified to such Tribes or Nations, and shall so desist accordingly. And His Britannic Majesty engages on his part to put an end immediately after the Ratification of the present Treaty to hostilities with all the Tribes or Nations of Indians with whom He may be at war at the time of such Ratification, and forthwith to restore to such Tribes or Nations respectively all the possessions, rights, and privileges, which they may have enjoyed or been entitled to in one thousand eight hundred and eleven previous to such hostilities. Provided always that such Tribes or Nations shall agree to desist from all hostilities against His Britannic Majesty and His Subjects upon the Ratification of the present Treaty being notified to such Tribes or Nations, and shall so desist accordingly.
X. Article - Whereas the Traffic in Slaves is irreconcilable with the principles of humanity and Justice, and whereas both His Majesty and the United States are desirous of continuing their efforts to promote its entire abolition, it is hereby agreed that both the contracting parties shall use their best endeavours to accomplish so desirable an object.
XI. Article - This Treaty when the same shall have been ratified on both sides without alteration by either of the contracting parties, and the Ratifications mutually exchanged, shall be binding on both parties, and the Ratifications shall be exchanged at Washington in the space of four months from this day or sooner if practicable. In faith whereof, We the respective Plenipotentiaries have signed this Treaty, and have hereunto affixed our Seals.
Done in triplicate at Ghent the twenty fourth day of December one thousand eight hundred and fourteen.
GAMBIER. [Seal]
HENRY GOULBURN [Seal]
WILLIAM ADAMS [Seal]
JOHN QUINCY ADAMS [Seal]
J. A. BAYARD [Seal]
H. CLAY. [Seal]
JON. RUSSELL [Seal]
ALBERT GALLATIN [Seal]
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Black Hebrew Israelite Who Sparked Washington Incident Calls Covington Students ‘Dogs’
By Zachary Stieber January 23, 2019
Nick Sandmann, wearing a "Make America Great Again" hat, stands looking at Nathan Phillips, a Native American and anti-President Donald Trump activist, after Philipps approached the Covington Catholic High School student in Washington on Jan. 18, 2019. (Survival Media Agency via AP)
A member of an obscure religious group who helped spark the incident between Covington Catholic High School students and a group of Native Americans defended hurling obscenities at the students, claiming he was speaking “the word of God.”
The Black Hebrew Israelite, who called himself Chief Ephraim Israel, was captured on video with several other members calling the students a range of expletives on Jan. 18.
The students in response started school cheers. Then, Native American and anti-President Donald Trump activist Nathan Phillips inserted his group into the situation, chanting and drumming in the face of a student while a member of his group told them to “go back to Europe” because they “stole our land.”
Israel said, “The word of God … sparked” the situation in an interview with the New York Post.
“They seen what they’ve done. They’ve been told. I believe they are from Kentucky. They’ve never been spoken like that to by a black or Hispanic guy in their lives. The words of God,” he added. “It was piercing. Their souls was getting ripped. They were catching darts and ninja stars all into their soul.”
Israel was incensed that the students started doing school chants to drown out the slew of vulgar words. “I was cutting into them. I called them dogs. They sounded like dogs,” he added.
He said that Phillips’s group was an unwanted interruption. “I wish he didn’t. We was still teaching. We had so much more to go,” he said.
According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, the Black Hebrew Israelites is a black supremacist group that has grown increasingly militant.
This Hebrew Israelite from Brooklyn sparked the Covington controversy https://t.co/NdxWkjWUcp pic.twitter.com/cK2NToCxSf
— New York Post (@nypost) January 22, 2019
“Although most Hebrew Israelites are neither explicitly racist nor anti-Semitic and do not advocate violence, there is a rising extremist sector within the Hebrew Israelite movement whose adherents believe that Jews are devilish impostors and who openly condemn whites as evil personified, deserving only death or slavery,” the organization stated.
Israel is not the only person to use racially charged language in describing the high school students, who were mostly white with many donning “Make America Great Again” hats in support of President Trump. The students had been in Washington to attend the March for Life, an event in support of unborn babies.
Phillips, the Native American activist, called the students “beastly” in one interview and in another stated they were “like a lynch mob,” while his initial claim that the students chanted “build the wall” was not backed up by the video evidence. A member of his group took to Facebook to defend the Black Hebrew Israelites and make another claim that was not supported by the evidence, that the students were allegedly heckling the Israelites “with loud MAGA chants.” He later admitted that “the Hebrew Israelite brothers said some disrespectful things,” but that he “put that aside and wanted to help.”
Nick Sandmann from Covington Catholic High School stands in front of Native American actvist Nathan Phillips while the latter bangs a drum in his face in Washington on Jan. 18, 2019. (Kaya Taitano via Reuters)
“That’s their teaching, we have ours and that’s what makes us equally beautiful,” he added.
Sandmann, a junior at Covington who was seen standing in front of Phillips as the latter banged a drum in his face, responded to the slew of misinformation about the event in a lengthy statement over the weekend, revealing that he and his family had been subject to threats, including death threats.
Sandmann noted that his group was waiting for buses in front of the Lincoln Memorial, which would take them back to Kentucky, after participating in the March for Life rally and sightseeing, when the Black Hebrew Israelites began calling them vulgar names.
“The protesters said hateful things. They called us ‘racists,’ ‘bigots,’ ‘white crackers,”[expletive],’ and ‘incest kids.’ They also taunted an African-American student from my school by telling him that we would ‘harvest his organs.’ I have no idea what that insult means, but it was startling to hear,” Sandmann said.
File—Nathan Phillips, (C with glasses) and other Dakota Access Pipeline protesters march in N.D. on Feb. 22, 2017. (Mike McCleary/The Bismarck Tribune via AP, File)
“Because we were being loudly attacked and taunted in public, a student in our group asked one of our teacher chaperones for permission to begin our school spirit chants to counter the hateful things that were being shouted at our group. The chants are commonly used at sporting events. They are all positive in nature and sound like what you would hear at any high school,” Sandmann said.
The chants appeared to work in drowning out the hateful language but soon Phillips entered the area and approached Sandmann, chanting words the students couldn’t understand.
“I never interacted with this protester. I did not speak to him. I did not make any hand gestures or other aggressive moves. To be honest, I was startled and confused as to why he had approached me. We had already been yelled at by another group of protesters, and when the second group approached I was worried that a situation was getting out of control where adults were attempting to provoke teenagers,” Sandmann wrote.
“The engagement ended when one of our teachers told me the busses had arrived and it was time to go. I obeyed my teacher and simply walked to the busses. At that moment, I thought I had diffused the situation by remaining calm, and I was thankful nothing physical had occurred,” he continued.
He added, “I never understood why either of the two groups of protesters were engaging with us, or exactly what they were protesting at the Lincoln Memorial. We were simply there to meet a bus, not become central players in a media spectacle. This is the first time in my life I’ve ever encountered any sort of public protest, let alone this kind of confrontation or demonstration.”
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Systems Biology: Where All Points Converge
Andrea Califano applies computational approaches to understand cellular interaction.
Academy Member Andrea Califano, professor of systems biology at Columbia University in New York, uses a simple analogy to describe the phenomenon. "A Boeing 747 has seven million parts," he says. "If I gave you a box with all these parts, you would have a tough time putting it together. This is because the actual assembly manual of a 747 takes more space than the plane itself. If we want to understand disease at the cellular level, we need the complete assembly manual of each relevant disease cell or at least a good abridged version of it."
Systems biology and biomedical informatics use the power of computational approaches to decode how things work together. The focus is not on single variables, such as a gene, protein, or metabolite, but rather on the regulatory mechanisms that allow several of them to work together. "Our goal is to put together a comprehensive regulatory model for normal and disease-related cells to see what components of the regulatory machinery are broken in disease."
Clues to cell behavior
Professor of Systems Biology, Columbia University; Founding Director, Columbia Initiative in Systems Biology; Director, JP Sulzberger Columbia Genome Center; Associate Director for Bioinformatics, Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center.
PhD: Physics, University of Florence.
Activities: Working in the lab; putting four daughters, ages 2 through 18, through the New York educational system; keeping his 26-year marriage going; playing tennis; and watching good movies (preferably with a non-predictable plot).
Currently reading: The Pillars of the Earth, World Without End, IQ84, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo trilogy, Game of Thrones series, The Imperfectionists, several Daniel Silva novels.
Performing computational analyses on supercomputers, Califano uses a variety of current genomic and proteomic profiles from large tumor sample collections to reverse-engineer the regulatory networks that drive the corresponding cells. Taking samples from tumor tissue, for example, scientists can isolate and simulate virtual models of regulation to find the Achilles' heel of the cancer cell.
"We took a bit of a gamble 10 years ago," says the founding director of the Columbia Initiative for Systems Biology, "instead of working on 'omics,' such as genomics, epigenomics, etc., which are important but only indirectly related to the actual behavior of a human cell, we wanted to put together the complete set of molecular interactions that implement its regulatory logic, i.e., the brain of the cell that determines its behavior as a function of the omics and of external stimuli."
When you finally have at your disposal a reasonable, genome-wide model of cell regulation, you can ask an entirely different set of questions, says Califano. "For instance, one may ask: 'If this is the gene expression pattern I'm observing in a cancer cell and this is its regulatory logic, what are the genes responsible for driving that pattern?' This is helping us elucidate mechanisms of tumorigenesis via these kinds of genes, which we call master regulators. It is allowing us to deal with cancer and other diseases as if they were computer programs run amok. Some of these master regulators identify cells that may be far more efficient at initiating tumors, more aggressive, or more resistant to chemotherapy."
Using this approach, Califano, in collaboration with the lab of Antonio Iavarone at Columbia, isolated two key master regulators in an aggressive brain cancer, glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), using a computer-generated map of its gene regulatory network. Interestingly, these genes, the transcription factors Stat3 and C/EBPb, did not present any genetic alterations but were shown to have the capacity to reprogram neural stem cells along a mesenchymal lineage, producing highly invasive tumors. Conversely, silencing both Stat3 and C/EBPb in mouse xenografts from human glioma cells blocked tumorigenesis, as well as the ability of the tumors to invade and migrate in vivo.
"We call genes such as these 'tumor bottlenecks' or 'non-oncogene additions.' That is, tumor cells are completely addicted to them even though they do not present major genetic alterations and would not therefore be selected as candidate therapeutic targets," he says. "While individual mutations may be present only in a small percent of the tumors, these bottlenecks tend to be conserved in a much greater percent of the tumors, approaching 60% in GBM, and can be more effectively targeted as biomarkers and therapeutic targets."
To achieve a better understanding of the processes in place, researchers need access to an enormous amount of information—data made available by open-access collaboration, such as that of the Cancer Genome Atlas, the International Cancer Genome Consortium, and the TARGET consortium for pediatric malignancies. Two years ago, the lab at Columbia University assembled a $12 million supercomputer to allow complex and time-consuming algorithms to be run on the data generated by these programs. Recent developments allow the lab to analyze mutation profiles, expression profiles, and proteomic profiles from these efforts in the context of gene regulatory networks, to identify possible convergence points and clues to cellular mechanisms. "It can't be done one genome at a time. We need a combination of large-scale computers and sophisticated algorithms to get this done," says Califano.
"Genome-wide models of cell regulation allow us to deal with cancer and other diseases as if they were computer programs run amok."
This approach also requires a new type of science: "There's been a traditional division between experimental and computational biologists. The latter see the former as the geeks in lab coats, and the former see the latter as the geeks in front of the glowing computer screens. We need a new generation of scientists who have mutual trust and respect for each other and understand both analytical and experimental biology. Ultimately, we must first be biologists and ask biologically relevant questions, no matter which tools we will use to answer them," says Califano.
The lab he runs at Columbia is both wet and dry, what Califano terms a "humid" lab. The combined approaches allow scientists to perform complex algorithmic analyses, as well as validate the hypotheses that emerge from these in silico models in real cellular systems, both in vitro and in vivo.
Collaboration and open access with fellow scientists is also key. To that end, Califano is involved in a systems biology experiment called the Federation, which is composed of members from five systems biology laboratories across the U.S. Scientists share data, but also ideas, he says. "Because we are now talking to each other on a routine basis, we are discovering areas in which our research is particularly complementary and we're able to achieve projects that would not have happened in individual labs," says Califano. "The experiment seems to be working by promoting a new collaborative rather than competitive model."
This meeting of the minds is essential, says Califano, to cracking some of cancer's, and other diseases', most complex questions.
Marci A. Landsmann is a medical writer in Philadelphia.
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Aaron Hernandez, ex-NFL star convicted of murder, found dead with Bible verse scrawled on his forehead
By Terence Cullen and Leonard Greene
Convicted killer and former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez ended his fall from grace in dramatic fashion — smoking synthetic marijuana and scribbling a Bible verse on his forehead before hanging himself with a bedsheet in his prison cell, according to reports.
Hernandez used a red marker to scrawl John 3:16 above his eyes, a macabre suicide note that used the most widely quoted verse in all of Christianity.
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life," the New Testament's King James version reads.
A Bible in Hernandez's Massachusetts cell was open to the same verse, according to Boston's Fox25.
Prison officials said Hernandez, 27, who was serving a life sentence on a murder conviction, hanged himself with a sheet tied to his cell window at the Souza Baranowski Correctional Center in Shirley.
Aaron Hernandez was serving a life sentence in prison. (Angela Rowlings/AP)
Sources told CBS Boston's WBZ-TV that investigators believe one of the last people to see Hernandez was a close friend who is now in isolation on "eyeball suicide watch."
The sources also told the station investigators are looking into the possibility that Hernandez smoked synthetic marijuana also known as K2 on Tuesday night.
His body was found just after 3 a.m. Wednesday. He was in a single cell in a general housing unit, officials said.
Hernandez had a reputation for being a religious person during his college football career at the University of Florida and would read the Bible with head coach Urban Meyer every morning at 7:30 a.m., former teammates said.
aaron hernandez
The Rise and Fall of Aaron Hernandez
Hernandez, a one-time rising star, was serving a life sentence without parole for the murder of Odin Lloyd in 2013.
Five days ago, Hernandez was acquitted of double murder charges in the drive-by shooting deaths of Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado in July 2012.
Just before his acquittal, Hernandez smiled and blew a kiss to his 4-year-old daughter, who was in court for the first time.
The acquittal was said to have renewed Hernandez' hope that his murder conviction would be overturned.
Hernandez was found dead Wednesday morning at Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center in Shirley, Mass. (Kirby Lee/AP)
Ironically, Hernandez' death may have given him a clean slate. A quirky criminal law is likely to vacate the conviction because his appeal was still pending. Such a move could hamper any civil lawsuits that would rely on the criminal conviction.
Legal experts said the law is designed to protect the integrity of the appeal process.
Prosecutors and the victim's family could challenge any motion to vacate the conviction.
"This is a shocking and sad end to a very tragic series of events that has negatively impacted a number of families," said Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn III, who won the murder conviction against Hernandez.
The Hernandez family posted a message to the front door of their Bristol, Conn. home on the day of his death: 'The family had no comments. Thank you.' (Kevin Armstrong/NY Daily News)
Hernandez's lawyer, Jose Baez, said he is not convinced the former football star killed himself.
"The family and legal team is shocked and surprised at the news of Aaron's death," Baez said in a statement.
"There were no conversations that would have indicated anything like this was possible. Aaron was looking forward to an opportunity for a second chance to prove his innocence," he said. "Those who love and care about him are heartbroken and determined to find the truth surrounding his untimely death. We request that authorities conduct a transparent and thorough investigation."
Hernandez's death came on the same day his former team went to the White House to be honored for its thrilling come-from-behind overtime victory in Super Bowl LI.
Hernandez was acquitted last week of a 2012 double homicide. (WHDH-TV via AP)
Longtime Patriots coach Bill Belichick, in an interview with CNBC last week, described Hernandez's downfall with a single word: "Tragedy."
Hernandez was a standout player during his three seasons at Florida — playing alongside future NFL quarterback and minor league baseball player Tim Tebow.
In 2009 he became the first Florida Gator to win the John Mackey Award, given to the top-performing college tight end.
He opted out of his senior year, entered the 2010 NFL draft and was selected in the fourth round. He played three seasons with the Patriots, and caught a pass in the team's Super Bowl XLVI loss to the Giants in 2012.
During his pro career, the Bristol, Conn., native caught passes for nearly 2,000 yards and scored 18 touchdowns.
He signed a contract with the Patriots in 2010, followed by a five-year $40 million extension in 2012.
Hernandez shared a daughter, 4-year-old Avielle, with fiancee Shayanna Jenkins-Hernandez. She took his name after he was convicted in 2015 of killing Lloyd, a landscaper who was dating Shayanna's sister, Shaneah, at the time of the murder in 2013.
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The New York Times and WBUR Present Modern Love Live on 10/20 at Town Hall
The New York Times and WBUR, Boston’s NPR Station, will present the first-ever Modern Love Live, a live recording of the hit podcast on Thursday, October 20th at 8pm at the historic Town Hall in New York City. Modern Love: The Podcast is based on The Time’s popular series of weekly reader-submitted essays.
Meghna Chakrabarti (host of Modern Love: The Podcast) and Daniel Jones (editor of the “Modern Love” column) will be joined onstage by special guests for a night of readings, comedy, and music as the joys and tribulations of love come to life like never before.
Modern Love Live will be taped at Town Hall and hosted by Ophira Eisenberg (NPR’s Ask Me Another). “Modern Love” essays will be read by Kate Burton (Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal), David Harbour (Stranger Things,) and Amber Tamblyn (Dark Sparkler) with interviews with the writers. Indie pop band Lucius will be performing their music.
Tickets are available for purchase here.
This live show is produced by Pretty Good Friends, in collaboration with The New York Times and WBUR.
Angela He
Angela.He@nytimes.com
NYT Mag Debuts 2016 Great Performers Issue & Virtual-Reality Films
NYT Mag Debuts New Video Series, “Behind The Cover”
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Two dead, two others critically injured following two separate stabbing incidents
15 Sep, 2018 10:47pm Quick Read
Heavy rain, snow and gale force winds to hit South Island
'I love challenging the world's view of what is and what isn't possible' - Attitude Awards finalists on their achievements and challenges
Alicia Kapa, who is studying criminology and Māori studies at the University of Auckland, says her condition can be an advantage for working with troubled youth. Photo / Greg Bowker
By: Isaac Davison
Social Issues Reporter, NZ Herald
isaac.davison@nzherald.co.nz @isaac_davison
They bungy jump, they rock climb, they are Commonwealth Games competitors.
They're artists, athletes, employers, young people, parents and game-changers in their sector.
They are also living with disabilities.
The Herald on Sunday spoke to some of the finalists in the Attitude Awards, which celebrate excellence and achievements of people living with disabilities.
Winners will be announced at a black-tie ceremony at Auckland's SkyCity on November 28.
Alicia Kapa - Youth Spirit Award
First impressions can be misleading, Alicia Kapa says.
Her physical condition often makes people assume she is also cognitively impaired.
"In reality it's only my body," she says.
"I have been raised to think I'm just like everyone else, so personally I find it harder to find things I cannot do than things I can."
Māia on resilience, grace and climbing with attitude
Paraclimbing: Whanganui's Rachel Māia finishes fourth at world championships
14 Sep, 2018 2:03pm
From a broken neck to owning a company
Kapa, 19, is a tertiary student and a disability advocate. She has cerebral palsy, uses a wheelchair, and is mostly non-verbal. For those who cannot understand what she is saying, she communicates by typing words into her iPad with a wand attached to her head.
"I need help with daily tasks such as getting ready for the day, going to university, feeding and communicating with people but other than that it does not really affect day-to-day life," Kapa says.
As if to underline the point, the first video on her YouTube channel "Wheely Wacky Adventures" features her bungy jumping in Taupō.
"We're not going to die," she assures her friend in the video, before being taken out of her wheelchair, strapped into a harness, and hurled off the 50m-high platform towards the Waikato River.
"It's more fun than scary," she says after returning to firm ground, missing a shoe.
There are also videos of her using her head wand to paint, to bake, and to use Facebook. They are about showing what is possible with a disability, Kapa says. One day she hopes to be able to drive a car.
She is studying criminology and Māori studies full-time at the University of Auckland. When she graduates, she wants to work with young people with behavioural challenges in the justice system.
Her condition is an advantage for this sort of work, she says, because it has given her patience and understanding.
"Also from personal experiences I have noticed that people feel comfortable around me, which makes them more inclined to be more open with me and tell me things they wouldn't usually tell people."
Kapa admits she was a little confused about her Attitude nomination because she did not feel she was "contributing significantly to improving society".
"I don't think of myself as doing anything amazing.
"To me, it's not that important to have my life recognised in this way because I believe I'm just living my life like any other 19-year-old.
"In saying that, I do think it is important for other people to see what I am — as well as other people with disabilities are — capable of."
Rachel Māia - Emerging Athlete Award
Rachel Maia, who has severe ankle injuries, says she gets a kick out of telling people she is an international rock climber. Photograph by Bevan Conley.
Rachel Māia loved to climb trees as a child.
"My parents said once that if they were wondering where I'd gotten to they'd generally starting looking at eye level because I probably wasn't below that."
It was a natural step for her to begin climbing competitively at age 16, when she was studying at James Hargest College in Invercargill.
But while climbing in the South Island Secondary School Championship in 1999, she fell awkwardly descending from a climbing wall and injured both her ankles, shattering one and breaking the other.
At the time, Māia thought she could shake it off and compete the next day. But it would be 19 years before she got back on the wall at a competitive level.
Learning to climb again required physical adjustments and rewiring the way her brain worked.
"I think when I started re-learning the patterns that I climbed with, a lot of other rewiring in my life finally clicked and I found my best self. I quite like her — because I've fought to become her."
The 35-year-old mother of three, from Whanganui, is the first New Zealand paraclimber to compete on the international stage. This week, she made the finals of the world championships in Innsbruck, Austria.
"I sat there at the bottom of the wall waiting to be announced for the first climb ... just breathing and reminding myself 'It's a sunny day, with a crowd and an atmosphere, and I'm surrounded by my paraclimbing family to climb together on one of the best walls in the world'.
"Then I went out there and had so much fun and was one of only three athletes to top [the wall]. It felt ridiculously good."
Being a trailblazer was a thrill and a challenge, she says. She had to work it out for herself.
"My coach has been supporting me from afar and there have been some tearful 'I don't know what I'm doing' phone calls and messages. I'm forever thankful for that support."
Nearly 20 years on from her injury, she still gets asked half a dozen times a day by strangers what happened to her or "when will that get better?".
It initially frustrated her, but she has learned to switch the conversation into something positive.
"I smile and respond with 'I'm a paraclimber for New Zealand". I admit I do get a little inward chuckle out of the brief flicker of confusion that crosses many faces when I say I rock climb.
"I love challenging the world's view of what is and what isn't possible."
Celyn Edwards - Emerging Athlete Award
Celyn Edwards competed in the Commonwealth Games in April. Photo / Photosport
Within six weeks of losing an arm, Celyn Edwards was back in the swimming pool for training.
He had his left arm amputated after a car crash at age 5 while being driven home from school in Kaituna Valley, near Akaroa. The car flipped and his arm was caught.
Edwards had begun swimming at about 18 months old and was not deterred.
"It didn't really change that much. I just got back into everything."
The thing that people find most surprising about his disability, he says, was how little difference it made to the way he lived and what he could do.
Now 17, Edwards is a competitive swimmer. He also took up cycling at age 6, later experimenting with a prosthetic arm but throwing it out because it was "too restraining".
The loss of an arm required a slight tweak to his swimming technique.
"Where I fall through the water, it's more centralised, so I don't turn as much. And rotation in the water is also a bit lower than if I had two arms. But for the most part it's pretty similar."
He competed in swimming at the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast in April, placing fourth in the 200m individual medley and cutting his personal best time by 10 seconds.
"That was a big step up for me. I haven't really been to a competition that big ever."
To compete at the highest level, he trains in the pool seven times a week, about 90 minutes each time, with a half-hour warm-up. He also goes to the gym twice a week for 90 minutes. That means getting up at 5am every day to fit in training around studies at Hillmorton High School.
The next goal is qualification for the Tokyo Olympics in 2020.
He also wants to break the world record in the 200m butterfly. He has shaved 10 seconds off the record while swimming "short course" — in a 25m pool. Now, he needs to replicate that time in a 50m pool during competition.
His advice for aspiring athletes with a disability?
"Probably the main thing is give everything a go. Do your best and if it doesn't work, just change it around until it does."
Kiringāua Cassidy - Youth Spirit Award
Despite only being in Year 10, the 14-year-old from Dunedin, who has spina bifida, is part of a kapa haka leadership team and is a facilitator for an after-school children's programme.
Duncan Armstrong - Attitude Artistic Achievement Award
Dancer Duncan Armstrong. Photo / Dean Purcell
The 29-year-old, from Wellington, is a professional dancer, a musician and an actor. As well as touring with the Touch Compass company, the Down syndrome artist recently produced a play, Forcefield, which he said was influenced by both Shakespeare and Disney. He says he wants to be a great artist, not a great disabled artist.
"Being Down syndrome is part of me, but not the whole of me."
Timothy Young - Attitude Entrepreneur Award
Hamilton man Tim Young was paralysed in a snowboarding accident. Photo / Supplied
Since fracturing his vertebrae in a snowboarding accident nine years ago, Young has completed science and psychology degrees and founded an education technology business and an educational video game, Rocket Island.
William Luskie - Attitude Leadership Award
Luskie, from Dunedin, is a leading disability advocate and active member of several groups, including the Dunedin City Council Disability Advisory Group.
Isobel Tamati - Spirit of Attitude Award
Tamati made a "one in a million" recovery from extensive brain damage at age 74, after a lifetime of working with disadvantaged youth and people with disabilities.
Umi Asaka - Attitude Making a Difference Award
Originally from Japan, the 22-year-old moved to New Zealand after the Japanese earthquakes in 2011. Asaka, who has brittle bones, is a social worker at the University of Otago and a disability advocate.
• Tickets to the awards night are available at www.attitudeawards.org/tickets
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Blogomia • Ethiopia • Opinion
Workineh Gebeyehu: Ethiopia’s lobby killed “harmful” US and EU resolutions
by OPride Staff
Written by OPride Staff
(OPride) — Ethiopian foreign minister Workineh Gebeyehu is gloating over a “successful” lobbying effort at U.S. Congress and the European parliament. He is happy that his diplomats allegedly shut down three European Parliament resolutions, which condemned Ethiopia’s human rights record, even before the proposed documents were introduced or made public. Workineh appears even more thrilled that a similar lobbying in the U.S. led to the demise of two harmful 2016 resolutions concocted by “a few scheming members of Congress.”
The Reporter’s Yohannes Anberber covered the minister’s report, which he presented to the country’s rubber-stamp parliament on April 4, 2017.
According to Yohannes, the minister told lawmakers, “senior Ethiopian government officials discussed the two resolutions with U.S. senators who love Ethiopia.” “In addition, much work has been done to raise awareness, including meeting with members of Congress and preparing a document that was meant to help kill the resolutions.”
Workineh admonished the “few members of Congress,” who he said had “a mistaken view of Ethiopia,” emphasizing how a concerted lobbying campaign resulted in placing a permanent “hold on the two resolutions” and ensuring that it is not tabled for a debate.
A closer look at Workineh’s claims shows that he is overselling his accomplishments. First, the public congressional record doesn’t show anyone ever putting a hold on the two measures. Second, the two resolutions received significant bipartisan support in a short period of time. Third, time – not Ethiopia’s lobbying – was the primary reason why Congress did not pass or debate the two resolutions. It’s a particularly busy summer for members of congress, many of whom faced tough reelection bids. And Congress adjourned for elections on September 28. “There was about a week of activity in early December after the elections when the only significant thing that passed was the legislation needed to keep the government from shutting down,” according to one person with knowledge of the process. “Other resolutions were bumped into the 115th Congress to try another day.”
There remains a great deal of support for action against Ethiopia, in part due to ongoing coordinated campaigns by Oromo and Ethiopian community groups. This is evident in the fact that the revised H.Res.128 was reintroduced in February without any objection. It’s already been cosponsored by 22 U.S. Representatives.
A fact that was not lost on Workineh himself. He singled out for criticism “an individual named Chris Smith, who is a member of Congress,” for re-introducing the resolution, which the minister acknowledged had “a potential to undermine Ethiopia’s interests.”
Here is a quick timeline for some context:
April 19, 2016: The Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission held a briefing on the current human rights situation in Ethiopia.
On April 20, 2016: Senator Benjamin Cardin introduced S.Res.432 – A resolution supporting respect for human rights and encouraging inclusive governance in Ethiopia. The resolution was co-sponsored by 21 senators, including nearly a dozen on the same day it was introduced.
April 20, 2016: S.Res.432 Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
June 23, 2016: The Committee on Foreign Relations ordered S.Res.432 to be reported without amendment favorably.
June 28, 2016: Senator Bob Corker reported S.Res.432 without amendment and with a preamble. Without written report.
June 28, 2016: S.Res.432 placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 536.
September 12, 2016: U.S. Representatives Chris Smith, Keith Ellison, and Mike Coffman introduced House Resolution 861, entitled “Supporting human rights and encouraging inclusive governance in Ethiopia.” It was co-sponsored by 38 representatives, including nearly two dozens in November, amidst a contentious election cycle, no less.
February 23, 2017: Senator James Inhofe of Oklahoma quietly visited Ethiopia. The purpose and details of his visit, including who went with him, were not disclosed. But local media reported a U.S. delegation led by Inhofe met with prime minister Hailemariam Desalegn and other Ethiopian senior government officials and discussed U.S.-Ethiopia relations. It was at this meeting that Inhofe presumably assured Hailemariam of his support.
Inhofe, a frequent Ethiopia visitor and a longtime ally of the ruling Ethiopian Peoples Revolutionary Democratic Front, is no doubt the friendly, Ethiopia-loving senator that Workineh refers to in his report. Inhofe is widely known as ‘the Ethiopia’ guy in the Senate.
According to insiders, the Republican lawmaker did, in fact, threaten to issue an anonymous “pocket hold” on S.Res.432. But that threat did not materialize since the Senate went into recess before even considering the resolution.
Minister Workineh appears confident that Ethiopia’s interests will remain protected in U.S. Congress even as the country’s human rights situation continue to deteriorate. But there is still a bipartisan support in Congress for action against Ethiopia. It doesn’t hurt that President Donald Trump is eager to slash foreign aid. Sen. Cardin is planning to re-introduce a new Ethiopia resolution again this year.
To be clear, a resolution in and of itself does not have enforcement mechanisms but it could in theory provide the rationale for a bill that may withhold aid funds from Ethiopia. Ethiopian Americans have for years called on the U.S. to make aid conditional on human rights benchmarks and the opening democratic space, including the release of political prisoners, opposition leaders, and journalists.
None of this is to say that Ethiopia’s lobbying had no effect on the outcome of the 2016 resolutions. Ethiopia doesn’t have “their” one guy in the House of Representatives, but Girma Birru has been to the Capitol Hill several times last year, meeting with key lawmakers, including Keith Ellison and others. In fact, some members of Congress expressed irritation with the sleaze campaign by Ethiopia.
“Rather than spend hundreds of thousands on consultants to try to mislead Members of Congress on the facts and inciting e-mail form letter campaigns by supporters, the Government of Ethiopia can acknowledge their challenges and work with the U.S. government and others in the international community to seek reasonable solutions,” Smith said last month. “We are prepared to help once they are ready to face the ugly truth of what has happened and what continues to happen in Ethiopia today.” Smith was referring to a 3-page “explanatory note” sent to his office by the Ethiopian embassy. The note may have been authored by Ethiopia’s well-paid lobbyists in Washington, who seem to be taking Workineh and his representatives for a ride.
The Ethiopian regime is concerned about its image on the international arena more than ever before. Foreign investment and tourism have plummeted under the draconian state of emergency. It is now pouring millions of dollars into lobbying to influence lawmakers and silence critics abroad even as the country’s people starve to death. On January 18, 2017, the Ethiopian ambassador to the United States, Girma Birru, hired S.G.R. LLC, a U.S.-based government relations and lobbying firm, for $150,000 per month (or $1.8 million a year) “to develop and execute a public affairs plan to enhance the dialogue and relationships with policymakers, media, opinion leaders, and business leaders.”
“The campaign will promote a better understanding of Ethiopia’s political, social, and economic environment. SGR will work to strengthen U.S-Ethiopia business outreach and grow foreign direct investment in Ethiopia,” according to the Memorandum of Understanding.
This is why the diaspora should keep up the grassroots organizing and demand that the House moves quickly on H.Res.128. Workineh is certainly promising a vigorous fight.
“We are working with Ethiopian Diaspora community organizers in select places to oppose and stop the draft resolution,” he told lawmakers in Addis Ababa.
Congress diaspora Ethiopia Hailemariam Desalegn James Inhofe oromia oromo tom lantos
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Kan Maqaadhaaf kaayame tare; Maaltu Itti Aana?
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Home › Voyage to the Rock
Voyage to the Rock
Fr. Matthew Penney
"To be like St. Herman of Alaska!" These words - only a family joke once, were now turning Martin's world upside down. Catapulted from his ideal teenage existence in Boston to Newfoundland, Canada - a place affectionately called "The Rock" by its inhabitants, he doesn't want anything to do with his father's missionary dreams. Accompanied by his parents and his all-too-perky younger sister, a dismal summer of hard work and early mornings is all that awaits Martin. Or so he thinks... But all that changes the day he finds a bronze cross at the site of the historic Viking settlement, L'Anse aux Meadows. A whole new world opens to Martin then, one of trans-Atlantic voyages, unanswered clues, suspicious antique-dealers, narrow escapes, mysterious deaths, and at the center of it all is an ancient cross and a manuscript poem. A burning question begins his search: Is the cross Viking, or could it be from the fabled voyage of St. Brendan the Navigator? Now with the help of his sister, Brigid, and a local Newfoundland boy, Ashley, the three of them race to unlock the mystery of an ancient Christian treasure. But with the Old Wolf, Sullivan O'Connell hunting them, it isn't just about treasure anymore... It's about survival.
Saint Spyridon of Tremithus: Boast of the Orthodox
St Nektarios, The Saint of Our Century
Ο Άγιος Ιερομάρτυς Κυπριανός
St. Herman of Alaska: His Life and Service
Ιστορικό Ιεράς Μονής Αγίου Ραφαήλ
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Rachel Louise Carson
Marine biologist and conservationist whose various publications including Silent Spring inspired the environmental movement that led to the creation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and helped advance the global environmental movement.
Written at a time when concern for the environment was on the rise, but with little understanding of the complicated mechanisms present in the world around us, Carson’s work has proved to be some of the most influential literature ever produced. Her most famous book, Silent Spring, tackled the thorny issue of synthetic pesticide use, arguing that overuse was having an adverse and long lasting effect on ecosystems, that would lead to greater problems in the future. Her predictions on pesticide resistance and invasive species have since proven to be accurate.
Her work helped shape U.S. Environmental policy, but also reverberated around the globe. One legacy of Carson’s work was to ban or limit the use of DDT, Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, a persistent, long-term synthetic insecticide, the levels of which build up through the food chain leading to deaths in non-target groups such as pollinating insects, fish, and small mammals. It also causes egg-shell thinning in birds and direct exposure can lead to toxic build up in humans, in particular affecting foetus development.
As picked by...
Zoë M Simmons, Collections Manager, Life Collections
Want to find out more about other Women in Science?
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Benjamin the Scribe
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My Book on Genesis 1
Lesson 08- Genesis 13; 14:1-2, 8-24; 18:16-33; 19:1-29
February 24, 2018 by Ben Spackman
Lesson 08- Genesis 13; 14:1-2, 8-24; 18:16-33; 19:1-29 February 24, 2018 Ben Spackman
I suspect this lesson will be somewhat charged and sensitive, given the variety of experiences and views among LDS. And be aware, due to the nature of the text, some of the discussion below could be traumatic to people who have been sexually assaulted. Note also that I do not consider what I write in these posts to be “how I would teach the lesson” as much as useful background, details, and resources; I don’t think I would use language this blunt in a class unless I was certain no one would be traumatized by it.
I expect many people will approach the story of Sodom and Gomorrah from one of three perspectives.
van Leyden’s 1520 depiction of Sodom and Gomorrah
Either (perspective 1) Sodom and Gomorrah is a paradigmatic story about gay people and everything that is wrong with society today or (perspective 2) Sodom and Gomorrah has nothing to do with sex at all, and anyone who thinks so is an old-fashioned fundamentalist. A third likely perspective? “This is just another weird Old Testament story, and who knows what’s going on. But since there’s destruction, let’s liken it to ourselves and talk about food storage.”
All joking aside, perspectives 1&2 are inaccurate, for a variety of reasons. So, let’s have an uncomfortable discussion about several generalities and details, and we’ll cap it off with some fruitful questions and comparisons that you can make in class without doing any of this other stuff.
First of all, let’s review the general plot. God hears about the great sin in Sodom, and goes to investigate. Abraham is encamped (as he is a nomadic shepherd) and encounters three men. He showers them with excessive food, friendliness, and hospitality, inquires as to their purpose, and bargains with them/God to save the city they are on their way to, in all likelihood, destroy. Two of the three continue on their way to Sodom.
No one meets them in Sodom but Abraham’s nephew Lot, who is waiting in the city gate. (City gates were not white picket fences, nor medieval portcullis-doors, but a multi-chambered area with a square, where business, legal judgments, and other such things were conducted. It was the center of town, in a way.)
They refuse his offers of hospitality, to spend the night in the square (the implication being that no one else in Sodom offered them shelter), but under extreme pressure, eventually give in, going to Lot’s home. Like his uncle Abraham, Lot makes them a feast. Shortly thereafter, the entire male population of the city surrounds the house, and in slightly-veiled language, demand that Lot send the visitors out to be gang-raped. Lot refuses and offers his two daughters who are legally married, but the marriages have not yet been consummated. The townsmen refuse, the angels step in, and miraculously blind them all, temporarily. Lot is warned to leave, along with his family and his sons-in-law.
When Lot warns his sons-in-law about the oncoming destruction in Genesis 19:14, they think he’s playing a joke on them. I would translate it “screwing around” with them, as this is a perfect alignment of semantic range between languages. The verb tsaḫaq can mean “laugh” (positive) or “mock” (negative) but also carries sexual connotations; when the king of Gerar sees Isaac tsaḫaq –ing with Rebekah, it’s a dead giveaway that she is NOT his sister. Thus, their impression that Lot is just “screwing around” with them seems to capture all of that nicely. Then Lot and family leave the town, and for me, the story more-or-less ends there.
Several details need to be unpacked, but the first thing is to reconcile the clear meaning of what happens in Genesis 19 with later summaries of Sodom. Put bluntly, the main sin in Genesis 19 seems to be sexual (homosexual gang rape), but later prophetic interpretations in Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel do not mention sexual sin. They do mention “abominations” or “abominable things” which covers a variety of sexual but also non-sexual sins.
Without specifying what it was, Isaiah says Sodom did not hide their sin. (Isaiah 3:9)
Addressing Jerusalem, Ezekiel 16:49-50 says “This was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had pride, excess of food, and prosperous ease, but did not aid the poor and needy. They were haughty, and did abominable things before me…” (There’s a little bit more before and after, but this is the main bit.)
3 Maccabees 2:5 refers to “the people of Sodom who acted arrogantly, who were notorious for their vices.”
Later Jewish and Christian interpretations largely return to a focus on the sexual sins of Sodom.
I think there is a way to reconcile all of these, and it has to do with one principle. Whoever gave us Genesis 18-19 assumed a native audience that shared understanding of this principle, now largely lost to us: hospitality. The ancient Near East was a harsh environment. Consequently, extremely strong taboos and duties arose (I’d say “laws” but that implies nation-states, codification, enforcement, etc.) requiring you to provide for the traveler, the outsider passing through, etc. Various degrees of hospitality are on explicit display in Genesis 18-19, and the audience is expected to take note of these and be appropriately humbled (Abraham) and horrified (Sodom). I’ll return to Abraham later, but what are some of these details in Sodom?
First is Lot (a lesser extension of Abraham), waiting in the town gate. There’s no hint he’s the only one at the gate; indeed, Lot was highly unlikely to be alone. The gate was the bustling center of town, in some ways. (See the Tidbits below.) But Lot is the only one there to extend hospitality to the visitors. Having to spend the night in the town square, as they intend to do, apparently to test the people of the city, would indicate that no one in the city had invited them home. That is, no one in the city followed the hospitality duties, which would be exceedingly shameful and worthy of condemnation. Note how this is included in Jesus recounting of the ethical requirements from the Old Testament in Matthew 25-
For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
By contrast, as Jesus continues, if “I was a stranger and you did not welcome me…” merits “going away into eternal punishment” then how should we expect God to react to “I was a stranger, and you gang-raped me”?
The two men have no need to instigate a test, as the entire male population of the city surrounds Lot’s house in an act of hostility. We know it’s the entire male population because of the phrases “the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both young and old” (a merism), “to the last man” (Genesis 19:4.) They demand that Lot bring them outside so they can “know” them. “Know” (Heb. yada’) without any context can mean a variety of things, but “know” with a human direct object is nearly always sexual, as is the case here and in surrounding chapters. What is clearly in view is homosexual rape, and this is recognized by a variety of commentaries.
Does this mean the men of Sodom were gay? Not necessarily, for two reasons.
First, sexual *identity* is largely a modern invention that doesn’t map easily onto the ancient Near East. For that reason, applying the term “gay” to all the men of the city is seriously anachronistic.
Second, we know from other ancient Near Eastern records that homosexual rape was sometimes a tool used to dehumanize and demasculinize other men by essentially putting them in what was thought of as the female sexual role. There are records of the soldiers of a losing army being so treated, for example. Such things were something one did, acts one committed, not an identity or orientation per se.
It’s also clear that the Israelites, as an ancient Near Eastern society, did not conceive of sexuality quite the same way we do today. For example, several passages in the Old Testament make clear that homosexual acts were forbidden. “If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination.” (Lev 20:13, there’s “abomination” again.) But no similar legislation can be found for a woman lying with a woman! This absence is much less likely to be because “Israelites approved of lesbianism” (again, anachronistic a bit) and more likely because a) it wasn’t considered sex the same way male-female sex was, and b) it probably wasn’t really happening.
Returning to the actual story, then, sexually assaulting the men would be an unthinkably heinous violation of the hospitality protocols. Lot calls the men “brothers” and emphatically tells them that they must “do nothing to these men because they have come under the shelter of my roof.” (Gen 19:8) Lot is explicitly reminding the men of the city of the laws of both kinship and hospitality; the strangers are in his care, and thus to do *anything* to them (sexual or not) violates those “laws” and duties of hospitality.
What is the motive of the men of Sodom here? It is probably not lust, given the above. Rather, their intent may be the deliberate violation of the hospitality laws! But why? “A rabbinic interpretation [found several places] suggests that the affluent people of Sodom selfishly adopted a deliberate policy of maltreating strangers in order to discourage visitors to the city and thus not to have to share their prosperity with others.” The JPS Torah Commentary.
If you want people to avoid your town, flagrantly violating the hospitality laws but leaving visitors alive to spread the tale is a sure-fire way to do it. If this is the case (and it seems probable to me), then the one subsumes the other; since today we are blind to the hospitality “laws” or their importance, we naturally focus on the sexual aspects of the story of Sodom as the sole reason for their destruction. In other words, I don’t think a hospitality-based motive for destruction is incompatible with a sexual-based motive for destruction.
What of Lot’s offer of his daughters to the men of Sodom? It’s possible that the surface reading is correct, based on the parallel in Judges 19:24ff, where a similar thing happens. But the differences between Lot and the Judges parallel are not insignificant (and I’m not going to spell them out here.) His two daughters are legally married, but the marriages have not been consummated. (Engagement was equivalent to being legally married, but you didn’t live together and weren’t alone together, if later traditions and customs hold for Genesis 18-19.) If the Sodomites motive is not lust but the infliction of harm on non-residents contrary to the hospitality laws, then there is little at stake in him making this suggestion.
In other words, it’s possible that Lot’s “offer” is a rhetorical move. Note again that in Genesis 19:8 where the daughters are offered to the men, Lot emphatically points out that the messengers are under Lot’s protection and hospitality. I read Lot as potentially saying with some sarcasm “Look, I won’t let you violate the hospitality laws with my visitors, but if you want to rape my virgin married daughters, go ahead.” He’s trying to call their attention to the moral significance of their actions by substituting something that he knows they won’t do. While meriting the death penalty, rape of his married daughters wouldn’t violate the hospitality/protection laws the same way that it would with the angels. I had that idea (i.e. Lot making a rhetorical move) independently, I’ve since found at least one commentary that also looks at it that way. But this is only a possibility.
In any case, if you want, you can take the easy way out, and just read the JST, which changes the story and motives regarding Lot’s daughters. Most classes will be satisfied with that, although I strongly suspect it a change for modern comfort, not a restoration of text or historical setting (if indeed, as per last week, this is historical). For an example of change for modern comfort, see my discussion of JST here, about halfway down, big bold The Joseph Smith Translation heading.
Now back to the big picture. What does this story do? Among other things, it really elevates Abraham. Think back to his hospitality. He’s sitting in the opening of his tent during the hot part of the day, sees some men in the distance, and *runs* to them, bows to them, treats them excessively kindly, makes them a feast. He is enthusiastic, quick, and generous in his hospitality. Jewish tradition picked up on this, of course, and recounts how Abraham, in spite of his age, would go out in the middle of the day, looking for anyone who might be lost in the desert. By contrast, Lot is less hospitable but still respectable. And the Sodomites, are as anti-hospitable as you can get, which merits destruction. Abraham’s model of amazing hospitality is placed next to the Sodomites’ model of anti-hospitality, deliberate disregard of their fellow humans needs, that merits direct destruction from God himself.
Another comparison is implicit. Abraham bargains with God/the angels/men/messengers to save the righteous in the city. He perhaps allows that God is justified in destroying the wicked, but what of the righteous? Is it fair to treat them the same way? Abraham is concerned for others. What other major destruction have we discussed recently?
The Flood! In Genesis, when God says “I’m going to destroy everything” Noah gives a virtual shrug. Indeed, Noah never speaks in the Flood story. Is he not concerned? Does he have no empathy at all, or at least, sorrow at the death of the wicked? God, we are told later, cares even about such flagrantly wicked people as the Ninevites as well as their animals, and takes notice of the fall of every sparrow (Matt 10:29). But Noah makes no arguments, no bargains, just sets about silently making his boat. Abraham, at least, cares about the righteous. Though he speaks of justice, he seems fine with God being unjust towards the wicked or at least sparing them because of the few righteous. To bring in yet another scriptural figure, Enos even goes beyond Abraham to embody Matthew 5:44 and praying for one’s enemies. Enos prays first for his own people, and when God tells him, in essence, “I’m sorry, your people are not going to make it” he turns instead to praying for his enemies (Enos 1:10, 13.) A comparison between Abraham, Noah, and Enos may prove fruitful in asking about our own attitudes towards “our enemies.”
Tidbits:
Note Lot’s transition. “Lot had, by stages, integrated himself into Sodom’s society. First he merely “pitched his tents near Sodom” (13:12). Then “he had settled in Sodom” (14:12). It was solely on his account that the city had earlier been saved by Abraham (14:14). Now he lives in a house there and “sits in the gate” where the city elders gather. His daughters are about to intermarry [or already have] with local men.” The JPS Torah Commentary
Confronting God
“Abraham talks God down to sparing the city if ten innocent people are there. While many things could be said about this text, the important thing for our purposes is that Abraham is perfectly content with confronting God with difficult questions. He never says, “God, your plan makes no sense to me, but I’ll hold my tongue and blindly trust.” Instead, Abraham confronts God with tough questions about God’s violence. Strikingly, God yields to Abraham. This example suggests that we have the freedom to ask God questions, too” Schlimm, This Strange and Sacred Scripture: Wrestling with the Old Testament and Its Oddities, 78.
Notably, Psalms are full of these people who cry out to God because of their difficult circumstances. Schlimm has an entire chapter on this.
The Gate of the city–
“The gate is the place where men met to discuss personal or city affairs and held court. For examples see Deut 21:19; 25:7; Ruth 4:1–12; Amos 5:10, 12, 15. Lot’s presence in the gate need not be taken to mean that he was one of the city officials. As a foreigner he most likely was not an official. (See verse 9.) In translation the literal word gate may only suggest a hinged door-like passage through a fence. To be more accurate it is often necessary to use an expression such as “town meeting place,” “town square,” “market place.” In some languages the focus must be primarily on the function of this place: for example, “where people meet to talk,” “place where men meet to decide matters.” A good expression of this from one translation is “at the meeting and market place by the big gate in the city wall.” SPCL says “at the entrance of the city” and goes on to describe it as “that is the place where people meet.” If it is thought best to focus on the physical feature, we may say, for example, “at the entrance to the city.” – A Handbook on Genesis (UBS Helps for Translators), 413.
Any kind of story explaining causality is an etiology of sorts, and etiological explanations or stories are not necessarily false. Any book that explains the causes of the Civil War is engaging in etiological reasoning. But many cultures have folk tales explaining strange or unusual things in their surroundings, probably best represented with Rudyard Kipling’s Just-So Stories, like “How the Leopard Got His Spots” and “The Elephant’s Child”, explaining why elephants have long noses. It would be surprising for ancient Israelite culture not to have these kinds of stories. These chapters explain the origin of several things. The unusually barren, scorched nature around the Dead Sea? Divine retribution for sin. The origin of the Moabites and Edomites? The result of incest by Lot’s confused daughters (see here, beginning with “to illustrate this”). A human-like pillar of salt? The disobedience of Lot’s wife.
LDS Links
the official LDS website, MormonAndGay
Ty Mansfield on “Homosexuality and the Gospel” at LDS Perspectives. (Note also his publications.)
Elder Christofferson’s brother Tom has published through Deseret Book, That We May be One: A Gay Mormon’s Perspective on Faith and Family
As always, you can help me pay my tuition here, or you can support my work through making your regular Amazon purchases through the Amazon links I post. You can get updates by email whenever a post goes up (subscription box on the right). You can also follow Benjamin the Scribe on Facebook.
The Longer Abraham Drama, co-written by M. Night Shyamalan (Lessons 7-9)
March 3, 2018 Old Testament Gospel Doctrine Lesson 09- Abraham 1:1, 5-20; Genesis 15-17; 21-22
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Home > Get Involved > Legislative Alerts
PEAK wants families and self-advocates to be informed about current and upcoming legislative issues that may affect their family.
This is the place to find current, important legislative issues and information affecting people with disabilities in Colorado and the nation. There are decisions being made every day on a wide range of issues like civil rights, education, employment, health care, housing, technology, long term services and supports, funding, and more.
We encourage you to get involved so you can have a clear understanding of the issues and can take action to advocate for policies and accountability that protect children and adults with disabilities!
Legislative Alerts (Note: each of the links below will open in external, non-PEAK websites):
Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) (Formerly known as the No Child Left Behind)
United Nation's Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Ways to Contact Your Legislator:
Project Vote Smart - Learn about your representatives' voting records and more.
GovTrack.us - Track: bills in Congress, your representatives' voting records, upcoming committee meetings, and sign up to get alerts by email!
National Organizations Active in Legislative Advocacy:
TASH Advocacy Alerts - TASH is an international leader in disability advocacy. Founded in 1975, TASH advocates for human rights and inclusion for people with significant disabilities and support needs – those most vulnerable to segregation, abuse, neglect and institutionalization.
National Down Syndrome Congress (NDSC) Political Advocacy - Provides updates and action items related to major issues for persons with disabilities.
The Arc Action Center - The Arc promotes and protects the human rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and actively supports their full inclusion and participation in the community. This site offers information related to key issues, the legislative agenda, and knowing your rights.
National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD) Action Center - NCLD works to improve the lives of children and adults nationwide with learning and attention issues by empowering parents and young adults, transforming schools and advocating for equal rights and opportunities. Their action center shares information about advocacy overall, the law, and ways to get involved!
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Dervish (ePub)
The Rise and Fall of an African Empire
Colonial Warfare P&S History Pre WWI Military
By Philip Warner
eBook Released: 14th April 2010
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Dervish is the vivid and colourful story of one of the more remarkable episodes in the 'high Empire' period of British history. The Mahdi's rising in the Sudan in the 1880s starting as a localized Holy War against the 'decadent' Turkish/Egyptian overlords, engulfed a million square miles of arid territory and forced the British Liberal Government to get involved after the early disasters of the Hicks expedition and Gordon's death at Khartoum.
The narrative, which makes excellent use of the first-hand diaries and reports, including those of Rider Haggard's brother Andrew and of Father Ohrwalder (the Austrian missionary who spent ten years of captivity in the Mahdi's camp), brilliantly describes the growth and strength of the Mahdist movement and the extraordinary devotion and discipline of the Dervish troops. Facing such opponents with stoic endurance were the British, Egyptian and Sudanese Negro soldiers, and the resulting military engagements evoked amazing feats of courage and derring-do on both sides.
The Dervish Empire outlasted the Mahdi by thirteen years. It ended in the battle of Omdurman and Kitchener's reconquest of the Sudan, which was well supported by Reginald Wingate's military intelligence operations. It lasted a comparatively brief span of time, but it had been established at the expense not only of the neighbouring Abyssinians but also of the European white man, at a time when Britain was approaching the zenith of its imperial power.
Philip Warner is author of Passchendale and The Zeebrugge Raid and numerous other first rate histories. He wrote the biographies of Auchinleck and Horrocks. He was the military obituary writer of The Daily Telegraph for many years. In WW2 he was a POW of the Japanese for 1,000 days. He died in 2000.
Daly History Blog - James Daly
While by no means a definitive account of its subject, it is an entertaining single volume account, well worth the read. This reviewer can see why Pen & Sword chose to republish it.
African Armed Forces Journal, July 2010
Under orders from the Prime Minister, who wavered over the decision, several thousand British troops were sent to an extremely hot and uncomfortable desert country where, along with soldiers from other nations, they were to rescue the country from a fanatical Islamic jihadist sect notorious for their courage, fighting prowess and willingness, even desire, to give their lives for their cause in the belief that such a death would bring rewards in paradise. The British troops were angered at the poor state of their equipment, especially small arms, and the tardiness of any positive responses to their appeals to the government. However, they fought with extreme courage against a relentless foe. Praise was singled out by everyone for the cool bravery and selflessness of the explosive disposal teams who had considerable numbers of mines to deal with. No, we are not talking about Afghanistan or the Taliban in the 21st century. This was Sudan in the 1880s where the enemy were the Dervishes led by the Mahdi, who considered himself to be the natural successor to the prophet Mohammed and whose aim was the removal of the British and Egyptians from their territory coupled with the spread of Islam to embrace the Middle East and beyond.
The author, Philip Warner, is no doubt well known to many FPS members as he was a lecturer in Military History at the RMA Sandhurst. Himself an ex-soldier and FEPOW, he has written many books on military history. It is, therefore, surprising and disappointing that this book is rather disjointed, trying to cover a wide range of history and giving as much information about the British and Egyptian armies as the eponymous Dervishes. Another criticism is that the book suffers from the absence of a map of the region, this exacerbated by the tale flitting about from town to town and region to region, embracing not only the Sudan and Egypt but also Abyssinia. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this is an interesting read full of colourful characters: Gladstone, Gordon, Kitchener, Wolseley, Churchill and many more. The intriguing parallels between the Sudan campaign and that of today in Afghanistan are constantly in focus. Sadly, it seems that few lessons have been learned in the almost 120 years which have elapsed between the two conflicts.
Pennant Magazine
Philip Warner's Dervish: The Rise and Fall of an African Empire provides a sound introduction to this remarkable episode in British military history. Parallels with modern resurgent Islam spring to mind, even though the book originally appeared in 1978. A good story well told.
Soldier Magazine Sept 2010
About Philip Warner
Philip Warner (1914–2000) enlisted in the Royal Corps of Signals after graduating from St Catharine’s, Cambridge in 1939. He fought in Malaya and spent 1,100 days as ‘a guest of the Emperor’ in Changi, on the Railway of Death and in the mines of Japan, an experience he never discussed. A legendary figure to generations of cadets during his thirty years as a Senior Lecturer at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, he will also be long remembered for his contribution to more than 2,000 obituaries of prominent army figures to The Daily Telegraph. In addition he wrote fifty-four books on all aspects of military history, ranging from castles and battlefields in Britain, to biographies of prominent military figures (such as Kitchener: The Man Behind The Legend, Field Marshal Earl Haig, Horrocks: The General Who Led From the Front (Pen & Sword, 2018) and Auchinleck: The Lonely Soldier (Pen & Sword, 2006) to major histories of the SAS, the Special Boat Services, Phantom and the Royal Corps of Signals.
More titles by Philip Warner
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Home | Search | Phrase Dictionary | Crown jewels
The meaning and origin of the expression: Crown jewels
What's the meaning of the phrase 'Crown jewels'?
Literally, the Crown Jewels are the state jewellery of the United Kingdom. In a figurative sense 'the crown jewels' is a slang term for the male genitalia.
What's the origin of the phrase 'Crown jewels'?
Since the 17th century the state jewellery of the United Kingdom, which is carried or worn by the monarch on state occasions, has been known as the Crown Jewels.
They were referred to as such by Edward Bowles in his text The Mysterie of Iniquitie, 1643:
Let the Queen finde a pretence to goe into Holland, (taking with her the Crowne Jewells, which were pawned or sold).
The expression is now more widely used to refer to the pinnacle of quality in all manner of fields. For example, the four golf major tournaments might be called 'the crown jewels of golf', etc.
It might be expected that the slang expression 'the crown jewels', referring to the male genitals, came from the UK too but, in fact, it doesn't.
It is first found in the USA in the 1970s, which not as early as one might imagine. Its definition was recorded in 1970 in the linguistic quarterly magazine American Speech:
Crown jewels, male genitals.
The phrase derives from an earlier expression, also American, that is, 'the family jewels', which has just the same meaning. This was put into print in about half a century earlier by H. N. Cary in Sexual Vocabulary, 1920:
Family jewels, the penis and testes.
See also: the dog's bollocks.
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Coast-To-Coast Javelin
You don’t need to travel overseas to see some of the world’s best flying venues
Published October 25, 2011 Updated February 6, 2016
Pressurization is something like power windows. Once you've lived with it for a while, you wonder how you ever got along without it.
Watching down at the spires of the Rockies from 15,500 feet, breathing comfortably in a 7,000-foot cabin, I can't help but marvel at how deceptively easy it is to climb the tallest mountains and span a continent.
Or hard, depending upon your point of view. Airplanes disguise their sophistication and complexity with pretty pictures, bright numbers and soft leather. The Cessna Javelin conversion I'm flying, for example, is ticking off a mile every 18 seconds, reaching for the East Coast in another nine hours.
What? You've never heard of the Javelin conversion? Don't feel left out. Most other pilots haven't, either.
The Javelin probably seemed a good idea at the time. The original Cessna P-Centurion was a spacious, stable-enough cross-country machine, but it was always a little short on climb and never an especially quick airplane in cruise, especially in contrast to the Piper Malibu. The problem was, quite simply (or not so much), lack of horsepower. Both shortcomings were adequately addressed on the 1985 P210R, but by that time, it was too late. Cessna shut down all piston production after only two years of building the improved P-Centurion.
The Javelin conversion replaced the P210N's stock, 310 hp Continental with a 350 hp Lycoming TIO-540 engine, basically a Navajo Chieftain mill, intended to improve the Cessna's vertical and horizontal speed. Horsepower was translated to thrust via a four-blade, Q-tip prop, a dead giveaway that this wasn't your grandfather's typical, run-of-the-mill P210. Fuel burn at max cruise was about 24 gph in exchange for an extra 15 knots cruise, hardly a fair trade, but hey, avgas in 1980 was only $2/gallon. All of 11 conversions were built.
Still, as I watch the dynamic, ragged edge of high Colorado fade into the mundane Great Plains, the country Americans are lucky to call home is a never-ending photo album.
A little over three hours ago, when I departed Long Beach, I tracked northeast over Palm Springs, drifted south of the Marine base at 29 Palms and crossed the Colorado River at Lake Havasu. California's low desert gets mixed reviews from some people, but it's most often a land of expansive horizons, with unlimited visibility and just enough mountains to provide perspective. Fortunately, I crossed the desert high enough to avoid the 108-degree heat at ground level.
On the Arizona side of the Colorado, the terrain climbs steeply toward the high plateau north of Flagstaff. I slowly transitioned past San Antonio Peak and began to merge with the Grand Canyon. No matter how many times I traverse "the Canyon" (this was the 37th or the 77th or…), America's largest gopher hole is always impressive. Back in the '60s, ink barely dry on my private license, I made my first cross-country flight in my newly purchased Globe Swift to see America's Great Rift Valley. The Canyon has aged gracefully, as if 40 more years of geologic time could possibly make any difference.
On that initial '60s trip to the area, Lake Powell was still mostly a dream, slowly filling in behind the recently commissioned Glen Canyon Dam. It would take another 13 years for the lake to reach its high-water mark and back up hundreds of miles into Utah. Today, the lake is a dark opal gem in the desert, spreading hundreds of water fingers into what were once the dry canyons of Monument Valley.
I deviate slightly south of my Great Circle route to pass within sight of Telluride, Colo., simply because I can. It's one of the most beautiful little box canyons in the mountains. The floor is at almost 9,000 feet, and the surrounding rocks reach as high as 14,000 feet. IFR not advised. My buddy, writer Peter Lert (A-Lert Flying Service), used to live there, probably because he couldn't ignore the sheer beauty of the place. It's a small town in summer, only about 3,000 people, but winter brings throngs of skiers to Telluride's uncommonly spectacular resorts, tripling or quadrupling the population for a few months.
Past Telluride, there's western-flavored Gunnison, another spectacular destination high in the tall pines of central Colorado. Gunnison guards the eastern approach to Monarch Pass, the high point of Highway 50 that cuts straight across the spine of the Rockies.
On this trip, I look down at the apex of Monarch, 4,000 feet below at only 11,300 feet, remembering all those times I had to coax my normally aspirated Swift or Bellanca Cruisemaster just a little higher so I could clear the tourists at the highway viewpoints on the crest.
Simpler times, and who knows, perhaps better. It was certainly more challenging, probably less sane and predictably more fun.
This ain't bad, however. If I was still 30 and into aerobatics, water flying, gliders, helicopters, jet fighters and anything else I could convince someone to let me fly, I might be less enthusiastic about settling into the Centurion's plush leather seat, lofting to three miles above the sea and letting the autopilot guide me toward my next fuel stop in St. Louis. I still love flying in all its forms, and if this old body could take the stress, I'd love to go back to practicing knife-edge Lomcevaks in a Pitts S2B or spiraling in the ridge lift of Dillingham, Hawaii. But after all, SOMEONE has to drive Javelins across the country to Pennsylvania.
Kansas is a flat, patchwork quilt, not a revelation, I know, but flat means section lines that help define true north. Accordingly, I assume an angle across them as I approach Missouri, wondering if I can maintain a reasonably accurate course despite the wind by simply holding the same angle east of north.
It turns out I can. Sure enough, not long after the VNAV suggests it's time for descent, I can see the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers west of St. Louis and the huge, dramatic, half-elliptical St. Louis Arch in the far distance, gateway to the East. (No, I've never even thought about it, but there are a few former pilots who did and got caught.)
The following morning, I'm off the ground with the sun at 6:30 to beat the heat, spinner pointed northeast toward cooler pastures. The Javelin again claws its way to 15,500 feet, this time fighting headwinds, but I'm feeling forgiving, as this is the final leg. Today's destination is Seaman's Airport, 9N3, 30 miles north of Wilkes Barre, Penn., the home of O & N Aircraft, owner of the Javelin STC.
The tan of summer Missouri turns to beige Indiana, then gray-green Ohio and finally to the deep forest hue of Pennsylvania, rolling, emerald hills sprinkled with idyllic lakes and streams, all topped by puffy, baby cumulus. I land at 4+15, a total of 12 hours flying time from one coast almost to the other.
Don't even think about comparing the costs of airline versus Javelin, but it will require nearly the same time, 12 hours, to get home to Long Beach, and it won't be nearly as much fun.
But you probably already knew that. Still crazy after all these years.
One thought on “Coast-To-Coast Javelin”
Jim Little says:
what is the recommended cruise speed of the 210N Javelin conversion?
What is the fuel burn at 16,500ft at recommended cruise speed ?
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[[missing key: search-facet.tree.open-section]] Law (111)
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Constitutional and Administrative Law (5)
Crime and Criminology (7)
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Criminal Law x
Access to and Limits on Evidence Dossiers in Civil Law Systems
Michele Caianiello
Law, Criminal Law
This chapter examines issues surrounding the right of access to and limits on evidence dossiers in civil law systems. It first provides an overview of the general aims pursued by the law ... More
This chapter examines issues surrounding the right of access to and limits on evidence dossiers in civil law systems. It first provides an overview of the general aims pursued by the law in regulating the parties’ right of access to the investigative file before discussing supranational sources, such as the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and the case law of the European Court on Human Rights (ECtHR). In particular, it explores how the jurisprudence of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) and certain directives adopted by the European Union on the right to information by defendants and by victims has influenced the criminal procedures of EU Member States. It also analyzes disclosure at the International Criminal Court (ICC) and concludes by explaining how civil law systems have changed in recent years, what their common features and shortcomings are, and how they could be improved.
Acts and Actus Reus
Vincent Chiao
This chapter examines the concept of actus reus as a basic, essential component of criminal liability. It considers a range of recent scholarly interpretations of actus reus and the extent ... More
This chapter examines the concept of actus reus as a basic, essential component of criminal liability. It considers a range of recent scholarly interpretations of actus reus and the extent to which they are supported in the case law, with particular reference to the Canadian and U.S. jurisprudence. It discusses minimalist and maximalist interpretations of actus reus, the first of which conceives of actus reus on the basis of whatever the legislature has decided to criminalize and the second of which restricts criminal liability to positive acts. The chapter looks at approaches that interpret actus reus based on two factors: a person’s “control” over the prohibited outcome or conduct, proposed by Husak, and the person’s practical reasoning, proposed by Duff. The chapter argues that both minimalist and maximalist views of actus reus conflict with well-established features of the criminal law.
Appeal and Cassation in Continental European Criminal Justice Systems: Guarantees of Factual Accuracy, or Vehicles for Administrative Control?
Stephen C. Thaman
This chapterexamines appeal and cassation as procedural vehicles for challenging criminal judgments rendered by trial courts in five European countries: France, Germany, Italy, Russia and ... More
This chapterexamines appeal and cassation as procedural vehicles for challenging criminal judgments rendered by trial courts in five European countries: France, Germany, Italy, Russia and Spain. More specifically, it considers whether appeal and cassation serve as guarantees of factual accuracy in criminal judgments or as vehicles by which the high courts exercise administrative control over the work of lower courts. The chapter first provides an overview of the hierarchical model of criminal procedure in the civil law system before discussing the structural and philosophical differences between Continental European (civil law) and common law systems. It also describes how appeal and cassation have developed from their classical forms and concludes with an analysis of how they function today, noting that acquittals seem to receive enhanced scrutiny on appeal and cassation in European jurisdictions.
Betrayal by Bosses: Undercover Policing and the Problem of “Upstream Defection” by Rogue Principals
Jacqueline E. Ross
This chapter identifies a management problem in the regulation of undercover operations and terms it the problem of “upstream defection” by a “rogue principal,” in contrast to the ... More
This chapter identifies a management problem in the regulation of undercover operations and terms it the problem of “upstream defection” by a “rogue principal,” in contrast to the better-known problem of the faithless agent (known as the “agency problem”) or “downstream defection.” orThe chapter first considers some of the features of undercover operations that bring undercover agents into conflict with investigative teams and supervisors and that can make undercover agents vulnerable to upstream defection, either real or imagined. It then highlights the distinction between the risks of betrayal facing undercover agents and those facing informants, as well as the differences between real and perceived “betrayals” and the analytical and evidentiary difficulties of distinguishing between them. It also discusses some of the regulatory devices employed by French and German law enforcement agencies to reduce the differences in outlook between undercover agents and other members of the law enforcement team, in order to mitigate the conflicts that can produce both real and perceived forms of defection within the chain of command.
Beyond Common Law Evidence: Reimagining, and Reinvigorating, Evidence Law as Forensic Science
John Jackson and Paul Roberts
This chapter offers a critique of the “common law model” of the Law of Evidence and calls for a new organizing principle that “reimagines” evidence law as forensic science, particularly in ... More
This chapter offers a critique of the “common law model” of the Law of Evidence and calls for a new organizing principle that “reimagines” evidence law as forensic science, particularly in the context of criminal adjudication. It first provides an overview of the orthodox common law model of Evidence Law before deconstructing it, arguing that it adopts a very narrow doctrinal focus, thus undermining the dynamic processes through which evidence is collected, organized, presented, tested, and evaluated in legal proceedings. It also suggests that the model is difficult to defend in terms of robust disciplinary boundaries differentiating that which is specifically evidentiary from broader aspects of substantive and procedural law. Finally, it considers the so-called “New Evidence Scholarship” on evidence law, the impact of the new cosmopolitanism on common law evidence, and the rationale for reconceptualizing evidence law as part of an interdisciplinary “forensic science” that goes “beyond common law.”
Carl-Friedrich Stuckenberg
This chapter examines the role of causation in criminal law and especially as a central ingredient of criminal responsibility. It first discusses whether results should matter in the ... More
This chapter examines the role of causation in criminal law and especially as a central ingredient of criminal responsibility. It first discusses whether results should matter in the determination of legal and moral responsibility before considering causation within the contexts of criminal law and tort law. It highlights the ambivalence surrounding the use of the words “causation” and “cause” in many legal orders and goes on to explore what constitutes a cause and the philosophical debate about the causal relata—the objects connected by the causal relation. Some of the common problems in standard accounts of causation, particularly counterfactual dependency (sine qua non, but for), are also reviewed. The chapter concludes by summarizing a number of approaches to restrict factual causation, including those relating to proximity, the notion of “harm within the risk” or “harm within the scope of the rule violated,” “ordinary hazards,” intervening causes, and culpability.
Challenges of Trial Procedure Reform: Is European Union Legislation Part of the Solution or Part of the Problem?
Helmut Satzger and Frank Zimmermann
This chapter examines the impact of European Union legislation on trial procedure reforms in EU Member States’ national criminal justice systems. It first considers the harmonization of ... More
This chapter examines the impact of European Union legislation on trial procedure reforms in EU Member States’ national criminal justice systems. It first considers the harmonization of procedural rights in the EU from the initial concept of mutual recognition, focusing on the legislative efforts to strengthen the rights of suspects and accused persons as well as the rights of victims in the trial phase, before discussing European rules for the admissibility and assessment of evidence. It then uses the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) as an example to highlight the potential impact of supranational institutions on national trial proceedings. It shows that the criminal trial itself is subject to European influences, noting that the EPPO-Regulation contains some rules for the preliminary question of where the trial will take place.
The Charter and Criminal Justice
Don Stuart
Law, Constitutional and Administrative Law, Criminal Law
This chapter analyses the pervasive impact of the Charter on the Canadian criminal justice system. Active judicial interpretation of Charter rights has put in place distinctive ... More
This chapter analyses the pervasive impact of the Charter on the Canadian criminal justice system. Active judicial interpretation of Charter rights has put in place distinctive constitutional standards of substantive law, including those of fault, and struck down oppressive laws for arbitrariness and overbreadth. Also examined are new standards for police powers to stop, search, detain and interrogate, fair trial rights such as the duty of full Crown disclosure, and for assessing mandatory minimum sentences. This chapter describes and welcomes a robust exclusionary discretion for evidence obtained in violation of the Charter. It is suggested that the Canadian Charter standards are no panacea and are sometimes too weak but that they have often provided a welcome balance to the expedient lure of law-and-order politics.
Codification
Lindsay Farmer
This chapter examines the codification of criminal law by focusing on the theory and practice of codification in England and the United States. The aim of the chapter is to widen the focus ... More
This chapter examines the codification of criminal law by focusing on the theory and practice of codification in England and the United States. The aim of the chapter is to widen the focus from a discussion of what are claimed to be the immediate benefits of a project of codification to raise some broader issues about the meaning and functions of codification of the criminal law. It considers how codification might contribute to values such as liberty by analyzing its relationship with modernity and discusses the immediate benefits of codification. It also highlights the tension between the liberalism and authoritarianism at the heart of the modern codification project and concludes by assessing the function of a penal code.
Colonial Criminal Law and Other Modernities: European Criminal Law in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries
Markus D. Dubber
Law, History of Law, Criminal Law
This chapter reflects on various traditional approaches to the historical study of European criminal law in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. It examines several ways of naming and ... More
This chapter reflects on various traditional approaches to the historical study of European criminal law in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. It examines several ways of naming and framing the subject matter, along with ways of ‘covering’ it along a set of by now fairly well-established narrative paths that generally reflect a quietly reassuring Whiggishness. It then lays out an alternative, two-track, conception of ‘modern’ European criminal legal history. It does this by taking an upside-down—or outside-in—view of the subject, by focusing on an understudied, but fascinating, project of European criminal law: the invention, implementation, and evolution of colonial criminal law.
Comparative Approaches to Criminal Procedure: Transplants, Translations, and Adversarial-Model Reforms in European Criminal Process
Eliabetta Grande
This chapter discusses comparative approaches to criminal procedure, focusing on transplants, translations, and adversarial-model reforms in European criminal process. In particular, it ... More
This chapter discusses comparative approaches to criminal procedure, focusing on transplants, translations, and adversarial-model reforms in European criminal process. In particular, it examines the idea of “Americanization/adversarialization” of European criminal procedures—that is, the possible convergence between American common law and European civil law criminal procedure systems toward a common adversary core structure. The chapter also considers the implications of transplanting some American adversarial features into the non-adversary European soil, such as pretrial investigations conducted by the police and the public prosecutor in lieu of the investigating judge typical of the civilian tradition; exclusionary rules; cross-examination; and jury trial. It compares the so-called tango justice with rumba justice and analyzes the “revolutionary change of procedure” with respect to cross-examination of witnesses, jury trial in Spain, and plea bargaining in Europe.
Comparative Assessment of Sentencing Laws, Practices, and Trends
Tatjana Hörnle
This chapter offers a comparative analysis of sentencing laws, practices, and trends in various jurisdictions. It first provides an overview of the theoretical foundations of sentencing, ... More
This chapter offers a comparative analysis of sentencing laws, practices, and trends in various jurisdictions. It first provides an overview of the theoretical foundations of sentencing, focusing on single-rationale models, mixed models, and hybrid models; prevention-based sentencing such as rehabilitation; desert-based sentencing; and whether sentencing without certainty is about the question of guilt. It then examines the framework for sentencing and sentencing procedures in different legal systems, with particular emphasis on who decides on sentencing rules and outcomes in individual cases. Four types of decision-makers (legislatures, sentencing commissions, sentencing judges, and agencies that decide about parole) are considered, along with sole responsibility versus mixed responsibility models. The article concludes by exploring the overall sentence severity or punitiveness of legal systems and assessing future prospects for sentencing.
Comparative Criminal Law
Law, Comparative Law, Criminal Law
Criminal law occupies an odd position in the field of comparative jurisprudence. Historically speaking, one can occasionally read that comparative law as a serious academic discipline ... More
Criminal law occupies an odd position in the field of comparative jurisprudence. Historically speaking, one can occasionally read that comparative law as a serious academic discipline began as comparative criminal law, either in Germany or in France, or both. And yet, introductions to comparative law tend to assume that comparative law means comparative civil law first and foremost. The first section of this chapter describes criminal law’s parochialism. The second section discusses the histories and functions of comparative criminal law. The third section discusses selected topics in comparative law, such as punishment theory, victims, jurisdiction, the principle of legality, the an analysis of criminal liability, and general principles of criminal liability. The last section discusses comparative criminal law in context, arguing that comparative criminal law is best seen as a mode of critical analysis of law, that is, as one way to gain critical distance from a given legal system by placing it within a larger context.
Luis E. Chiesa
Law, Criminal Law, Comparative Law
This chapter discusses comparative criminal law and demonstrates how comparative analysis can elucidate both domestic and international aspects of criminal law. After explaining what it ... More
This chapter discusses comparative criminal law and demonstrates how comparative analysis can elucidate both domestic and international aspects of criminal law. After explaining what it means to do comparative criminal law and how it differs from similar endeavors, such as compiling the criminal law doctrines of different jurisdictions, the chapter considers the usefulness of comparative analysis in terms of strengthening domestic criminal law doctrines and understanding international criminal law. It also outlines some obstacles to be overcome in order to engage in meaningful comparative analysis, such as language, legal, historical, and cultural barriers. It compares common law and civil law approaches to legal reasoning and presents two examples of doing comparative criminal law by comparing common law and civil law approaches to attempt liability and then exploring mens rea, with an emphasis on the differences between the continental mental state of dolus eventualis and the Anglo-American mental state of recklessness.
Comparing Plea Bargaining and Abbreviated Trial Procedures
Gwladys Gilliéron
This chapter compares U.S. plea bargaining with plea-bargaining-type procedures and penal orders in Continental Europe, with reference to Switzerland, Germany, and France. It first ... More
This chapter compares U.S. plea bargaining with plea-bargaining-type procedures and penal orders in Continental Europe, with reference to Switzerland, Germany, and France. It first considers consensual criminal procedures across jurisdictions and why they exist, focusing on plea bargaining in the U.S. criminal justice system and abbreviated trial procedures in European civil law systems. It then examines the extent to which abbreviated trial procedures in civil law systems differ from plea bargaining in the U.S. system, the problems inherent in consensual criminal procedures, and the question of whether there are any solutions. In particular, it explains how plea bargaining and penal orders may lead to wrongful convictions. Finally, it discusses prospects for reform of plea bargaining in the United States and in civil law systems in Europe.
James G. Stewart
This chapter examines complicity within the framework of criminal law and theory and outlines recurrent normative problems as well as solutions. It considers structural questions that ... More
This chapter examines complicity within the framework of criminal law and theory and outlines recurrent normative problems as well as solutions. It considers structural questions that inform accomplice liability in different criminal systems, such as the mode of participation and whether complicity should be treated as an inchoate offense comparable to attempt or a separate crime. It looks at the unitary theory of perpetration and the conduct required to establish accomplice liability, including actions or omissions, practical assistance, or moral encouragement. It then evaluates the nature and extent of derivative liability, the dilemma presented by causation, and substantial and de minimis contributions by an accomplice. It describes the various static and dynamic mental elements that are often assigned to the concept of complicity and explains how a comparative approach can shed light on blind spots in various schools of thought about complicity, including whether it should be distinct from perpetration.
Conceptualizing the Victim within Criminal Justice Processes in Common Law Tradition
Marie Manikis
This chapter considers the various philosophical underpinnings of victim involvement in the criminal justice processes of common law jurisdictions. It first examines the role of the victim ... More
This chapter considers the various philosophical underpinnings of victim involvement in the criminal justice processes of common law jurisdictions. It first examines the role of the victim in criminal justice processes, focusing on an individualized and private conception of the victim instead of the public interest and public harm as defined by these actors rather than themselves, as well as conceiving the victim as part of the public interest. It then discusses various types of victim participation in criminal justice processes before proceeding with an analysis of the relationship between victims and the actors of criminal justice processes, namely, law enforcement (police and prosecutors) and defendants. The article also proposes a theoretical framework that enables a pluralistic view of victim participation and concludes by highlighting how the foundation and conception of victim involvement can affect the relationship among victims, prosecutors, and the defendant.
The Confrontation Right
Richard Friedman
This chapter examines the right of criminal defendants to be confronted with the witnesses against them. It first provides an overview of the nature, purposes, and costs of the ... More
This chapter examines the right of criminal defendants to be confronted with the witnesses against them. It first provides an overview of the nature, purposes, and costs of the confrontation right before discussing the history of the confrontation right. It then considers a range of issues that may arise in any jurisdiction (or in some cases, any common law jurisdiction) with regard to the confrontation right, using as a touchstone the current status of the right in the United States. In particular, it describes situations in which the question of whether a statement is testimonial typically arises, such as fresh accusations and forensic laboratory reports. It also explores the waiver and forfeiture of the confrontation right, a child’s testimony, and remote testimony as well as the extent of constitutionally protected impeachment before concluding with an analysis of the confrontation right in Europe.
Benjamin Berger
Law, Criminal Law, Constitutional and Administrative Law
Contemporary criminal law is best understood as a species of constitutional reflection. This chapter begins by considering the way in which substantive criminal law has become a ... More
Contemporary criminal law is best understood as a species of constitutional reflection. This chapter begins by considering the way in which substantive criminal law has become a laboratory for the constitutional – a site for reflection on central constitutional themes, including sovereignty and state violence; the anthropology of the legal subject; the rule of proportionality; and the relationship between judgment, discretion, and mercy. It then explores how issues that have long troubled the criminal law have translated into a constitutional register, examining constitutional debates surrounding the limits of the criminal law, requirements for fault, the structure of criminal defences, and standards for punishment. Ultimately, the chapter identifies a challenging irony: that despite this shift in the imaginative relationship between criminal law and the larger legal structure, whereby criminal law has been tethered to questions of constitutional justice, much criminal justice is still left to be done in spite of the law.
Corporate Criminal Liability
Susanne Beck
Law, Criminal Law, Company and Commercial Law
This chapter examines changes in criminal law over the last decades, paying particular attention to corporate criminal liability (CCL). After outlining the main features of CCL with a ... More
This chapter examines changes in criminal law over the last decades, paying particular attention to corporate criminal liability (CCL). After outlining the main features of CCL with a focus on corporations, it traces the emergence and expansion of CCL in various countries such as England and the United States and the adaption of the concept of corporate criminal liability by other countries. It then looks at the opposition of some countries to CCL, including Germany, Italy, Greece, Bulgaria, and Latvia. The chapter also discusses issues of efficiency, fairness, and the transferability of criminal law (and its premises) onto collectives, along with the main differences between existing models of CCL. Finally, it considers the present and the future of criminal law based on the development of CCL, with emphasis on conflict rather than the offender and the domination of preventive aspects.
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The Legal Case Against Saudi Arabia in Yemen
It has been over a year since the Saudi bombardment of Yemen began. In that time a humanitarian catastrophe has been unfolding, killing over 6000 people and leaving millions without access to vital infrastructure, clean water or electricity, leaving the country on “the precipice of disaster.” The destruction on the ground has exacerbated the ongoing civil war between Yemeni forces and Houthi rebels, helping to create a power vacuum that has allowed the expansion of Al-Qaeda and ISIS with reports describing the latter making serious territorial gains, such as around the port city of Mukalla.
The price has also been felt in Saudi Arabia, where mortars and rockets being fired by Houthi groups in Yemen are also killing civilians. Saudi sources claim 375 civilians have been killed since hostilities began. The Saudi regime has said that the conflict is being downscaled, but the death toll is increasing. It claims that it is only striking legitimate military targets, and that much of its work is to spread humanitarian aid, but many of the sites being hit are civilian. A recent air strike on a busy market place killed over 100 people, with witnesses reporting two missiles being fired from the air. According to UN officials 22 children were killed in the strike. The violence has been rightfully condemned by a range of campaign groups and NGOs, with a growing number of voices suggesting the intervention has not just been immoral, it has also been illegal.
In July 2015 the European Parliament passed a motion to “Condemn the air strikes by the Saudi-led coalition and the naval blockade it has imposed on Yemen.” The motion went on to state that “air strikes by the Saudi-led military coalition in Yemen have killed civilians, in violation of international humanitarian law, which requires all possible steps to be taken to prevent or minimise civilian casualties.” One month later, Stephen O’Brien, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief at the United Nations, reported to the UN Security Council, that the “scale of human suffering [in Yemen] is almost incomprehensible.” Condemning “attacks on residential areas and civilian infrastructure” he asserted that the Saudi attacks are “in clear contravention of international humanitarian law.”
These condemnations have been supported by a growing number of NGOs. Human Rights Watch, Oxfam and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) have all accused Saudi Arabia of breaking international humanitarian law. Amnesty International and Saferworld also recently commissioned a legal opinion from Philip Sands QC, which accused Saudi forces of breaking international humanitarian law. Since then, both the European Parliament and the UN have taken their concerns further. This January, a UN panel accused Saudi Arabia of “widespread and systematic” attacks on civilian targets. Its 51 page report“documented 119 sorties relating to violations of international humanitarian law” and reported starvation being used as a war tactic. The report concluded by stating that “not a single humanitarian pause to alleviate the suffering of the Yemeni people has been fully observed by any Yemeni party or by the coalition.”
Last month, despite a concentrated lobbying operation from Saudi Arabia, parliamentarians in Brussels went further, voting overwhelmingly to support an arms embargo against Saudi Arabia. The vote was not legally binding, but it sent a strong political statement and set an important precedent. Commenting on the destruction of the first of three hospital facilities it has lost in the last year, Hassan Boucenine, Country Director of MSF, said “the fact of the matter is it’s a war crime. There’s no reason to target a hospital. We provided [the Coalition] with all of our GPS coordinates.” Since then MSF has announced the closure of its fourth and final hospital in the country, following air strikes in the area. Despite all of these widespread and credible criticisms and allegations, there is no solid evidence of Saudi forces taking any meaningful action to minimize harm to civilians, or making any serious attempts to investigate the deadly consequences of the bombing.
To this backdrop you would hope that the international community would be applying pressure to the Saudi government and calling for meaningful peace negotiations. Unfortunately the exact opposite has happened, with governments like the UK fuelling the devastation by providing political support and selling large quantities of arms to Saudi Arabia. The Foreign Secretary, Philip Hammond, made the UK’s position very clear from the outset, when he pledged to “support the Saudis in every practical way short of engaging in combat.” Unfortunately he has stayed true to his word.
The UK government has licensed over £2.8 billion of arms to Saudi since air strikes began last March. UK fighter jets and bombs have been central to the bombing campaign, with Eurofighter aircraft taking part in air strikes and UK-supplied Paveway IV bombs being dropped from the skies. Last year the UK sent bombs that were originally earmarked for the RAF to Saudi forces to be used against Yemen. UK arms export law is very clear. It says that licences for military equipment should not be granted if there is a “clear risk” that it “might” be used in violation of international humanitarian law. By any reasonable interpretation these criteria should surely prohibit all arms sales to Saudi Arabia that could be used in Yemen. The support has gone beyond arming Saudi forces. Earlier this year, the Saudi Foreign Minister confirmed that UK military personnel have been in Saudi control rooms assisting with the bombing and helping to train Saudi forces.
In response to growing concerns, the House of Commons Committee on Arms Export Controls has called an investigation into the use of UK arms in the conflict. The first sessions have taken place and the Committee is expected to report later this year. The government’s response has been to discard the growing body of evidence and argue that is has not seen any sufficient evidence to conclude that Saudi is breaching international law. It argues that the UK is in constant dialogue with the Saudis while parroting the tired old line that it has some of the most ‘rigorous’ and ‘robust’ arms export controls in the world. One of the arguments for this approach is that the UK can use a positive influence over Saudi forces and ensure that they are following international law. This is an implicit theme when government spokespeople use lines such as “We regularly raise with Saudi Arabian-led coalition and the Houthi the need to comply with International Humanitarian Law in Yemen.” However there is no evidence that the UK has ever reined in Saudi aggression. When it comes to arms sales the power in the relationship lies almost entirely with the buyer.
Of course the relationship is nothing new. For decades now successive UK governments, of all political colours, have given an uncritical level of support to the Saudi regime. One outcome of this partnership has been the high level of integration between UK and Saudi military programmes. Around 240 UK Ministry of Defence civil servants and military personnel work to support the contracts through the Ministry of Defence Saudi Armed Forces Programme (MODSAP) and the Saudi Arabia National Guard Communications Project (SANGCOM).
The last time the UK relationship with Saudi was put under the microscope as much as it is today was in 2006, when the Serious Fraud office began looking into corruption relating to arms sales to Riyadh. The investigation threatened to unearth a litany of embarrassing details, but, after a concerted lobbying effort, including interventions by Tony Blair and the Attorney General, it was dropped. Shortly after the investigation was stopped a major deal on fighter jets was agreed, one that would be worth over £4.4 billion. This pattern of trading arms deals and political favours has only continued. In the last few months serious allegations have emerged that the UK helped to lobby behind the scenes to secure Saudi Arabia’s election to the UN Human Rights Council; a membership which would be laughable if the on-going consequences weren’t so serious. Furthermore, it is perhaps no surprise that Saudi was the only major state with the death penalty to be omitted from the UK’s anti-death penalty strategy.
Earlier this month, CAAT and our lawyers at Leigh Day submitted a claim for a Judicial Review into the arms sales. We are calling on the Department of Business, Innovation & Skills to suspend all extant licences and stop issuing further licences for arms exports to Saudi Arabia while it holds a full review into whether the exports are compatible with UK and EU legislation. It is likely to be a long process, but it is also a very important one. The action is specific to Yemen, but it will expose the hypocrisies at the heart of UK foreign policy, particularly concerning human rights. The longer that this hypocrisy goes on the more victims there will be. If UK arms export law is worth anything then the government must finally stop arming Saudi Arabia.
Air strike in Sana’a. Image via Wikimedia Commons.
Andrew Smith is a spokesperson for Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT). You can follow CAAT on Twitter at @CAATuk.
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In His Typically Sedate Fashion, Julian Assange Accuses Benedict Cumberbatch Of Being A "Hired Gun" Used To Assassinate The Truth
By Joanna Robinson | Think Pieces | October 10, 2013 |
It must be hard, especially for men of such power and influence, to sit back and watch as a version of your life gets made into a movie. How impotently frustrating to have no say in the telling of your own story. Sure, you could tell it yourself. Post it on your website. Give interviews. Participate in documentaries. But what weight does that kind of truth have against the overwhelming power of the Hollywood fantasy? Soon, people may forget what Julian Asange actually looks like and replace his image with Cumberbatch’s in their own head. It’s not that people are dumb, it’s just that good storytelling is that powerful.
That’s not true of every biopic, of course. I don’t think Ashton Kutcher’s feather-light impersonation has any chance of scrubbing the real Steve Jobs (or at least, the black turtleneck wearing, new-phone announcing Jobs) from our memory. But what do you really know about Mark Zuckerberg? Is it Jesse Eisenberg sneering in a hoodie and sports sandals you see when you close your eyes?
I’m not saying Assange and Zuckerberg need me to defend them. They’re brilliant but difficult men who have had immeasurable success and attention in their given fields. Their stories (even hyped up, fictionalized, Hollwood versions) are absolutely worth telling. But I can sympathize a little with Assange’s anger over the upcoming The Fifth Estate movie. This is a man who has dedicated his life to getting the truth out there. (At least that’s what he believes, that’s the mythology he has created for himself and buys into.) And though I’ve not seen the film yet, I can agree with Assange’s fear that Cunmberbatch, an unforgettable, indomitable performer, poses a real threat to Assange’s public image. After all, when most of you think about Sherlock Holmes, hasn’t a voluminous scarf and sweeping black coat replaced the old deerstalker and meerschaum pipe? And the hat and pipe had a century to make an impression on you. To Assange’s credit, he seems to recognize that it’s Cumberbatch’s talent that poses one of the biggest threats.
But, once again, Assange is a difficult, divisive man and playing the victim doesn’t really ring true in the context of his track record. Despite that, I think this letter he wrote Benedict Cumberbatch back in January is worth reading. Presumably, Cumberbatch asked to meet Assange in order to ensure his performance was as accurate and life-based as possible. Or at least incorporated some of the real-life Assange. That’s a pursuit of truth, right? Well as you can see, Assange shot Cumberbatch down. The whole letter is quite long (and there are even supplemental documents available on the Wikileaks site) so I’ve put my favorite bits in bold for you, the TL;DR crowd.
Date: Tue, 15 Jan 2013
From: Julian Assange
To: Benedict Cumberbatch
Subject: Message from Assange
Dear Benedict,
Thank you for trying to contact me. It is the first approach by anyone from the Dreamworks production to me or WikiLeaks. My assistants communicated your request to me, and I have given it a lot of thought and examined your previous work, which I am fond of.
I think I would enjoy meeting you. The bond that develops between an actor and a living subject is significant.
If the film reaches distribution we will forever be correlated in the public imagination. Our paths will be forever entwined. Each of us will be granted standing to comment on the other for many years to come and others will compare our characters and trajectories.
But I must speak directly. I hope that you will take such directness as a mark of respect, and not as an unkindness.
I believe you are a good person, but I do not believe that this film is a good film. I do not believe it is going to be positive for me or the people I care about.I believe that it is going to be overwhelmingly negative for me and the people I care about.
It is based on a deceitful book by someone who has a vendetta against me and my organisation.
In other circumstances this vendetta may have gone away, but our conflict with the United States government and the establishment press has created a patronage and commissioning market - powerful, if unpopular - for works and comments that are harmful to us.
There are dozens of positive books about WikiLeaks, but Dreamworks decided
to base its script only on the most toxic. So toxic is the first book selected by Dreamworks that it is distributed to US military bases as a mechanism to discourage military personnel from communicating with us. Its author is publicly known to be involved in the Dreamworks production in an ongoing capacity.
Dreamworks’ second rights purchase is the next most toxic, biased book. Published and written by people we have had a bitter contractual dispute with for years, whose hostility is well known. Neither of these two books were the first to be published and there are many independent authors who have written positive or neutral books, all of whom Dreamworks ignored.
Dreamworks has based its entire production on the two most discredited books on the market.I know the film intends to depict me and my work in a negative light.I believe it will distort events and subtract from public understanding.It does not seek to simplify, clarify or distil the truth, but rather it seeks to bury it.It will resurrect and amplify defamatory stories which were long ago shown
to be false.
My organisation and I are the targets of political adversary from the United States government and its closest allies.
The United States government has engaged almost every instrument of its justice and intelligence system to pursue—in its own words—a ‘whole of government’ investigation of ‘unprecedented scale and nature’ into WikiLeaks under draconian espionage laws. Our alleged sources are facing their entire lives in the US prison system. Two are already in it. Another one is detained in Sweden.
Feature films are the most powerful and insidious shapers of public perception, because they fly under the radar of conscious exclusion.
This film is going to bury good people doing good work, at exactly the time that the state is coming down on their heads. It is going to smother the truthful version of events, at a time when the truth is most in demand.
As justification it will claim to be fiction, but it is not fiction. It is distorted truth about living people doing battle with titanic opponents. It is a work of political opportunism, influence, revenge and, above all, cowardice. It seeks to ride on the back of our work, our reputation and our struggles.
It seeks to cut our strength with weakness. To cut affection with exploitation. To cut diligence with paranoia. To cut loyalty with naivety. To cut principle with hypocrisy. And above all, to cut the truth with lies.
The film’s many distortions buttress what the prosecution will argue. Has argued. Is arguing. In my case, and in that of others. These cases will continue for years. The studio that is producing the film is not a vulnerable or weak party. Dreamworks’ free speech rights are not in jeopardy - ours are. Dreamworks is an extremely wealthy organisation, with ties to powerful interests in the US government.
I must therefore question the choices and motives behind it: the opportunism, fears and mundanity; the unwritten rules of film financing and distribution in the United States; the cringe against doing something useful and brave.
I believe that you are a decent person, who would not naturally wish to harm good people in dire situations.
You will be used, as a hired gun, to assume the appearance of the truth in order to assassinate it. To present me as someone morally compromised and to place me in a falsified history. To create a work, not of fiction, but of debased truth. Not because you want to, of course you don’t, but because, in the end, you are a jobbing actor who gets paid to follow the script, no matter how debauched. Your skills play into the hands of people who are out to remove me and WikiLeaks from the world. I believe that you should reconsider your involvement in this enterprise.
Consider the consequences of your cooperation with a project that vilifies and marginalises a living political refugee to the benefit of an entrenched, corrupt and dangerous state. Consider the consequences to people who may fall into harm because of this film.
Many will fight against history being blackwashed in this way. It is a collective history now, involving millions of people, because millions have opened their eyes as a result of our work and the attempts to destroy us.
I believe you are well intentioned but surely you can see why it is a bad idea for me to meet with you.By meeting with you, I would validate this wretched film, and endorse the talented, but debauched, performance that the script will force you to give.I cannot permit this film any claim to authenticity or truthfulness. In its current form it has neither, and doing so would only further aid the campaign against me.It is contrary to my interests, and to those of my organisation, and I thank you for your offer, and what I am sure is your genuine intent, but I must, with inexpressible regret, turn it down.
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World Potato Congress recognizes industry leaders
Aug. 18, 2015, Charlottetown – The closing ceremonies of the World Potato Congress featured presentations of the triennial industry awards, recognizing outstanding personal contributions and leadership in the development of the global potato industry.
The awards were presented by David Thompson, president and CEO of World Potato Congress Inc. (WPC), and John MacQuarrie, WPC vice-president and interim chair of the awards committee.
This year’s recipients were Dr. Kevin Clayton-Green (Tasmania, Australia), Dr. Neil C. Gudmestad, (United States), Kees van Arendonk (The Netherlands), Albert T. Wada (United States) and Dr. Yili Chen (China).
Below is a brief summary of the citations for each award recipient:
Dr. Kevin Clayton-Green received his Ph.D. from Melbourne University in 1982. He then played a leading role in developing the country’s blueberry industry during his time as a chairman of the Australian Blueberry Council. In 1993 he joined a leading Tasmanian fresh vegetable exporter, Harvest Moon, where he played a major role introducing and developing new potato varieties for the Australian industry. He was also responsible for introducing the major processing variety for McCain Foods. Clayton-Green continues to work on improving the Australian potato and horticulture industry. He initiated the formation of a Tasmanian seed potato group to ensure Tasmania’s industry and biosecurity matters are addressed and represented. Most recently, he assisted in the formulation of future R&D programs to benefit the industry.
Dr. Neil C. Gudmestad obtained a Ph.D. in plant pathology in 1982 and joined the department of plant pathology at North Dakota State University in 1985. His 30 year research career at NDSU has focused on pathogen biology and diversity and on potato disease management. The diseases he studies affect the potato plant from seed tuber to storage. All of his efforts are aimed at solving real-world problems facing the potato industry. This “one foot in the furrow” philosophy – making certain that his science finds solutions to practical problems – has guided Neil’s research throughout his career. In January, he was named the Neil C. Gudmestad Endowed Chair of Potato Pathology. This position is the first fully endowed faculty position at NDSU and it is the first time a current faculty member has had a position named in their honour.
Kees van Arendonk completed his studies at the Agricultural University in Dronten and the University of Nyenrode. He began his career with the potato co-operative Agrico in 1973. In 1986 he became general sales manager for seed potatoes, and in 1989 he was promoted to commercial director. However, most people know him as CEO of the Cooperative Agrico Group. Under his leadership Agrico became one of the key players in the international potato world, especially in new seed potato varieties. In 1999 he oversaw the merging of the Dutch potato organizations into what is now the Dutch Organization of Potato Merchants (NAO) trade association. He was subsequently elected president of the NAO. Since 2009 he has also served as the president of the European Potato Trade Association (Europatat).
Albert T. Wada is the chairman of Wada Farms Inc., an agricultural enterprise in Idaho growing fresh and processing potatoes, seed and commercial wheat, corn, alfalfa and malt barley. Wada Farms grows crops on approximately 30,000 irrigated acres and includes a trucking company, a potato packing plant, and a potato, sweet potato and onion marketing company. As the founding chairman of United Potato Growers of Idaho and the United Potato Growers of America, Wada helped to educate the industry on supply, demand and price. He helped lead the United Potato Growers of Idaho co-operative members into ownership of Idahoan Foods, a dehydrated potato processing company. He has received wide recognition for his efforts, including Potato Man of the Year and Top 25 Produce Leaders from The Packer, Idaho Potato Grower of the Year, the Idaho Governor’s Award for Marketing Innovation, and induction into the Idaho Potato Expo Hall of Fame.
Dr. Yili Chen graduated from the Northeast Agricultural University in 1970. His career contributed to potato genetics and breeding, and related research and teachings. As a potato breeder, he has released more than 10 new potato varieties, which have being widely planted in China. As a supervisor, he guided six Ph.D students and 30 M.Sc. students. Most of these students now play important roles in China’s potato industry. As the secretary general of the China Potato Association, he has successfully organized 15 China Potato Congresses since 1999. In order to push the potato industry forward, he participated in drafting regulations and standards and served as a consultant for several potato companies. He also ran a number of training courses for potato farmers related to potato production. He has worked as the editor-in-chief the Chinese Potato Journal for over 20 years and published more than 30 books. Chen has been recognized for his huge contribution to the potato industry in China, receiving more than 10 awards from different levels of the industry.
Albert Wada
Kees van Arendonk
Kevin Clayton-Green
Neil Gudmestad
World Potato Congress
Yili Chen
PEI potato tampering reward deadline approaching
Potato tampering remains unsolved
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Stevie Salas on Native American Rockers
Guitarist and movie producer Stevie Salas shares the untold history of Native Americans in rock and roll.
Arts, Culture & Media
Ray Davies’ Favorite American Songs
Ray Davies of The Kinks on the American songs that have meant most to him.
You Oughta Know: An oral history of Alanis Morissette's 'Jagged Little Pill'
CBC Music
The rocker's breakthrough release turned 20 this year. Here is the loose, uncompromising way it was made. "She didn't want to copy anything," said co-writer Glen Ballard. "It was the least derivative thing I've ever done."
How Cajuns and Creoles reinvented rock 'n' roll — swamp style
During the 1950s and '60s, musicians living in the swamps of Louisiana grew tired of traditional music and turned to the sounds of rock 'n' roll. A mashup of the two created a new style called swamp pop, which is still alive in southwestern Louisiana today.
The love affair between Mexican Americans and Morrissey isn't that surprising
English singer-songwriter Morrissey has a staunchly loyal and maybe obsessive fan base. His shows are defined by audience members throwing themselves on stage, clamoring to hug him. But Morrissey's most loyal disciples come from a seemingly unexpected group — young Mexican Americans.
Pop Song Muses
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An impending water crisis in Canada's western prairie provinces
D. W. Schindler and W. F. Donahue
PNAS May 9, 2006 103 (19) 7210-7216; https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0601568103
D. W. Schindler
For correspondence: d.schindler@ualberta.ca
W. F. Donahue
Contributed by D. W. Schindler, February 25, 2006
Profile of David W. Schindler
Canada is usually considered to be a country with abundant freshwater, but in its western prairie provinces (WPP), an area 1/5 the size of Europe, freshwater is scarce. European settlement of the WPP did not begin until the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Fortuitously, the period since European settlement appears to have been the wettest century of the past two millennia. The frequent, long periods of drought that characterized earlier centuries of the past two millennia were largely absent in the 20th century. Here, we show that climate warming and human modifications to catchments have already significantly reduced the flows of major rivers of the WPP during the summer months, when human demand and in-stream flow needs are greatest. We predict that in the near future climate warming, via its effects on glaciers, snowpacks, and evaporation, will combine with cyclic drought and rapidly increasing human activity in the WPP to cause a crisis in water quantity and quality with far-reaching implications.
climate warming
freshwater supplies
Most global studies rank Canada among the top five countries in terms of per-capita water supplies (1, 2). But these rankings are deceptive, because of the great size of the country, the regional variability in water supply, and the concentration of Canada's population near its southern border. Canada's western prairie provinces (WPP; Fig. 1) have an area of ≈2 million km2. The WPP lie in the rain shadow of the Rocky Mountains. As a result, they are the driest large area of southern Canada.
The WPP and their major rivers. The sites where long-term temperature and precipitation measurements were analyzed are shown.
Despite the warnings of Captain John Palliser that water was scarce and land was poor (3), the WPP were settled by European immigrants in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Hardships were severe, particularly in the “dirty 30s,” when drought combined with unsuitable land practices to create “dust bowl” conditions throughout western North America (4). From 1998 through 2004, unusually warm temperatures combined with low precipitation and grasshopper plagues to devastate agriculture in the WPP. This recent drought was more severe than in the dirty 30s, when 7.3 million hectares of agricultural land were affected and 250,000 people left the Canadian prairies (5), although improved modern farming practices have greatly reduced the effects on land erosion.
Drylands such as the WPP have been identified by the Millenium Ecosystem Assessment (www.MAweb.org) as “hotspots” for future environmental degradation, because of the combined effects of climate warming and human activity. The WPP are relatively data-rich compared with other dryland areas of the world, and we believe that our analysis provides a case history for what is becoming a much more widespread global problem. Furthermore, Canada is a country with considerable resources available for addressing the problem of protecting freshwater supplies under a changing climate. It should be able to provide leadership and methodology for managing dryland areas in less fortunate parts of the world.
Droughts in Earlier Centuries
Air temperature and precipitation in the WPP have been measured only since the late 19th or early 20th centuries, when European settlers occupied the area. Although residents think of the weather and climate of the 20th century as “normal,” recent paleoecological studies suggest otherwise. Climate proxies, including both tree rings (6) and salinity-sensitive diatoms (7), indicate that the climate was unusually stable and moist in the WPP in the 20th century (8). Similar findings have been reported for the western United States (9). In earlier centuries, several droughts per century were common, lasting as long as several decades. According to the same proxy indicators, even the droughts of the 1930s and the past few years are relatively mild when considered in a historical context.
Records from the Hudson's Bay and Northwest companies verify paleoecological conclusions that numerous droughts more severe than any of the 20th century occurred in the 18th and 19th centuries. Problems described include those of declining water supplies and limited transportation, in a time when prairie rivers were critical arteries for travel to central and eastern Canada (6). Even in the moist mid-20th century average annual potential evapotranspiration (PET) exceeded average precipitation in the southern parts of the WPP. Only reliance on rivers and aquifers that originate in the snow and ice fields of the Rocky Mountains (Fig. 1) enabled Europeans to successfully colonize the WPP.
Trends in Air Temperature, Precipitation, and River Flows of the WPP
To determine whether the WPP have warmed significantly, we analyzed annual temperature trends at sites with records predating 1925. We chose sites where urban “heat island” effects are unlikely to have contributed to the observed warming, such as airports well outside of urban areas. Most of these sites have undergone a warming of 1–4°C in the past 80–118 years, with much of the increase since 1970 (Table 1). Almost half of the sites analyzed currently receive 14–24% less total annual precipitation than at the beginning of the period of record (Table 1), and none has experienced increases in precipitation. Several studies have determined long-term trends in annual river flows (10–12) but such analyses do not reflect trends during the seasons of peak water demand. In the WPP, peak demands for water occur in the summer months (May–August), when irrigation and municipal use are maximum. In-stream flow needs are also greatest during this period, as a result of warm waters, low oxygen, and coldwater fish fauna that inhabit the rivers and spawn in either spring or fall.
Historical changes in temperature and precipitation in the WPP, and predictions for increases in temperature, precipitation, and evapotranspiration
Reliable summer (May–August) flow records exist for 90–100 years for most major rivers in the WPP. Although there is considerable regional and temporal variability, total annual stream flows have generally demonstrated moderate declines in Canada during the 20th century (5, 10, 11, 13), unlike the increases observed for rivers of Eurasia (14). However, in contrast to annual flows, summer flows in major rivers of the WPP have declined rapidly during the 20th century. Current summer flows in the WPP are 20–84% lower than they were in the early 20th century (Fig. 2). A comparison of rivers suggests that damming, human water withdrawals, and increased warming via its effects on evaporation, evapotranspiration, and winter snowpack have contributed to the declines in flow. The Athabasca River, the only major river in the WPP without dams or large water withdrawals, has summer flows in its lower reaches that have declined by 30% since 1970, and 20% for the period or record (Fig. 2 a), despite increased flows from glacial sources in its headwaters caused by a 2°C increase in average annual air temperatures. In other major rivers of the WPP, where impoundments and large-scale water extractions have radically altered annual flow patterns (e.g., the Peace and Oldman rivers), summer flows are now 40–60% below historical values (Fig. 2 b). Similar effects of impoundment and flow regulation on seasonal flows have been noted by others (15).
Long-term relative change in summer flow (May–August) in major rivers of the WPP. (a) The Athabasca River downstream of Fort McMurray, Alberta (−19.8% from 1958–2003; −33.3% since 1970; P < 0.05). (b) Represented by the black line is the Peace River at the town of Peace River, Alberta (−42.1% from 1915–2003; P < 0.0001), and represented by the gray line is the Oldman River at Lethbridge, Alberta (−57.1% from 1912–2003; P < 0.0005). (c) The South Saskatchewan River at Saskatoon, Saskatchewan (−83.6% from 1912–2003; P < 0.0001). The smooth lines are regressions representing the best fit to the data for the entire period. The percentage reduction in flow is the change in regressed flow during the period of record.
Worst affected is the South Saskatchewan River, where summer flows have been reduced by 84% since the early 20th century (Fig. 2 c). The river's major tributaries (the Oldman, Bow, and Red Deer rivers) all have been subjected to multiple impoundments and large withdrawals for irrigation, municipal, and industrial uses. All of the tributaries also flow through semiarid and subhumid ecozones, where average annual evapotranspiration exceeds average annual precipitation.
More than 70% of licensed surface water withdrawals in Alberta are for irrigation in its dry southern regions drained by the South Saskatchewan and its tributaries. Each year, >2.5 km3 of water are used to irrigate ≈400,000 hectares (≈1 million acres) of land (Statistics Canada, Ottawa, www.statcan.ca), comprising 70% of irrigated agriculture in Canada. This extensive irrigation system has relied heavily on reservoirs that trap spring snowmelt runoff from the eastern Rocky Mountains. Of water removed, only ≈20% is returned to the river.
Declining Glaciers and Snowpacks of the Rocky Mountains
Most climate models project an additional warming of several degrees for the area by the latter part of the 21st century (Canadian Institute for Climate Studies Project, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada, www.cics.uvic.ca/scenarios, Fig. 3). Regional general circulation models coupled with a standard method of calculation (16) indicate that the predicted warming could increase evaporation by up to 55% in some regions of the WPP in the 21st century (Table 1). Most climate models also predict slight increases in precipitation in the WPP (Table 1), but the projected increases are much lower than the expected increases in evapotranspiration. Increases also would be in contrast to historical trends of either declining or relatively stable precipitation in the region. Whether precipitation decreases or increases, the WPP is likely to be much drier in the years ahead.
Temperature increases (°C) predicted by 10 regional general circulation models (mean ΔT = +6.5°C increase from 1961–1990 average; CGCM-2A, Canadian Institute for Climate Studies Project, University of Victoria). The heavy line is a regression of all model data. Points and vertical lines are means and standard deviations among all 10 WPP regional centroids.
All of the major rivers crossing the WPP originate in the Rocky Mountains, where deep snowpacks and melting glaciers maintain river and groundwater supplies. There are signs that these mountain water supplies are diminishing. Glaciers have receded rapidly in the 20th century. Glacial wasting in the eastern Rocky Mountains, which historically contributed 13–56% of summer flows in the Bow River at Banff (17), has advanced enough that glacial melt is now declining (18).
Most large glaciers in the headwaters of the Bow, Saskatchewan, and Athabasca rivers have shrunk by ≈25% in the last century (19). In the Hector Lake basin at the headwaters of the Bow River, the areal extent of 21 glaciers declined by 26.6% between 1951 and 1993, from 23.00 to 16.88 km2. After the late 1960s, glacial mass balances were predominantly negative (20). The termini of the Bow, Saskatchewan, and Athabasca glaciers are now 1.5 km or more upslope of their position in the early 20th century (State of the Canadian Cryosphere, www.socc.uwaterloo.ca/glaciers/glaciers_hist_e.cfm; Fig. 4), and their masses are shrinking rapidly. Eventually glacial sources of water to these rivers will cease to exist (17), although there have been no predictions of when this might occur. In nearby Glacier National Park, Montana, the U.S. Geological Survey predicts that glaciers will be gone by 2030 (21). The glaciers of the Canadian Rockies are much larger, and their likelihood of disappearing will depend on measures taken to control global greenhouse gas emissions.
Historical (a, 1897) and recent (b, 2002) photographs of the Bow Glacier, one of the major sources of the Bow River. The photograph in a was taken by John Norman Collie, Professor of Chemistry at University College London (London). [Reproduced with permission from the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies, Banff, AB, Canada, where its call number is V14/AC-OP/772 (Copyright 1999, Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies.] The photograph in b is by Graeme Pole. [Reproduced with permission from Mountain Vision Publishing, Banff, AB, Canada (Copyright 2003, Mountain Vision Publishing).]
The number of days that winter snow has remained on the ground and the maximum depths of the snowpacks have declined significantly in much of the WPP since the mid-20th century (Table 2). Winter precipitation that normally falls as snow is expected to increasingly fall as rain as climate warms. Winter snowpacks also will be subjected to increasing periodic melts during warmer winter conditions. As a result, the snowpacks that have yielded high river flows in May and June will diminish, supplying little more than half of the water they currently do (22). The primary spring melt also will occur earlier in the year, which will exacerbate the effects of drought. These conditions will become more prevalent at higher latitudes and altitudes as climate warms (23), contributing further to critical water supply problems. At present, monitoring of snow cover in Canada is seriously deficient (24), despite warnings that decreases in snow cover could have critical social and economic consequences (25).
Historical changes in yearly persistence and maximum depth of snowpacks in the WPP (Environment Canada's Canadian Daily Climate Data database)
The Cumulative Effects of Drought, Climate Warming, Increasing Human Demand, and Catchment Modifications
As the result of increased industrial development, Alberta, the westernmost province of the WPP, has experienced rapid population increase. This increase has been largely fuelled by rapid expansion in Alberta's oil sands-based petroleum industry, because of increasing global recognition of the size of the reserve and Canada's political stability. Some communities have grown by 15–40% in the period 1996–2001 (Statistics Canada, Ottawa, www.statcan.ca). Calgary and Edmonton, with their surrounding suburbs, now have >1 million people each. Continued development has caused rapid immigration from other parts of Canada and abroad and even more rapid increases in freshwater use. Unfortunately, this rapid growth, which is expected to continue, has rendered Alberta the most vulnerable of the WPP to water shortages.
Agriculture also has expanded rapidly. In addition to irrigated agriculture, intensive livestock operations are important to economic development in the southern part of the WPP. Alberta now stocks 6.4 million cattle and 1.8 million hogs (Statistics Canada, Ottawa, www.statcan.ca), demanding large supplies of freshwater. Much of their feed is grown on land irrigated from the already oversubscribed Oldman and Bow rivers. Studies have proposed that livestock numbers could be doubled in the next decade (26).
Municipalities, pulp mills, and other industries also use considerable water, although much of it is returned to rivers after use. The petroleum industry injects freshwater or steam into subsurface oil deposits to facilitate gas and heavy oil recovery. Currently, amounts of water used for deep well injection are <1% of licensed water withdrawals in Alberta, but the water is permanently removed from the water cycle. Also, water for deep-well injection currently comprises 25% of licensed groundwater withdrawals, approximately equal to water licensed for municipal use (27).
The Athabasca River supplies the water for oil-sands development in northeastern Alberta. Currently, the oil sands consume three to six barrels of water per barrel of oil produced. Unless future water use is curtailed, oil-sands development will require ≈45 m3·s−1 of water supply by 2020, based on recent estimates (27, 28). This is the equivalent of nearly half of the Athabasca River's low winter flow during eight of the years since 1980 and in every year since 1999. The Athabasca and Peace rivers are critical for ecological sustenance of the Peace-Athabasca Delta World Heritage Site at the rivers' confluence, which is home to several thousand aboriginal people. The vast Delta wetlands are already exhibiting negative effects of declining water supply from climate change and the Bennett Dam on the Peace, but large industrial oil-sands projects in the Athabasca drainage and reservoirs on the Peace River continue to be proposed and approved.
Wetlands are known to be important features of the hydrological landscape, regulating flows and removing chemicals and silt (29). Roughly 70% of the wetlands of the southern WPP have already been drained or destroyed, and surveys indicate that wetland losses are still occurring (Ducks Unlimited Canada, Stonewall, MB, Canada; www.ducks.ca). Agriculture is the biggest destroyer of wetlands, but expansion of urban areas and transportation corridors are increasingly important.
Peatlands cover 365,160 km2 in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, or 21% of the land base (30). Declining water supplies and warming temperatures may impair carbon fixation in these peatlands and increase decomposition rates (30). Increasing forest fires cause underlying peat to become oxidized, releasing carbon dioxide and methane to the atmosphere (31). The total area to be stripped by oil-sands mining in northern Alberta will be ≈2,000 km2 by 2020 (27, 32). An estimated 22–60% of this area is peatlands that will be destroyed by strip mining, and reclamation of peatlands has so far proven impossible. Peat stripping for horticultural purposes also decreases wetland areas and releases significant stores of carbon (31).
In the dry centuries before European settlement, only nomadic aboriginal bands inhabited the WPP. Even in the dirty 30s, human and livestock populations were far lower than at present and there was little industry, muting the potential societal effects of severe drought. The extreme droughts in the 19th and earlier centuries also occurred under cooler climates than at present or than expected later in this century.
There are also signs that changes in ocean temperatures caused by greenhouse gas forcing are beginning to contribute to widespread midlatitude drying that affects both North America and Eurasia (33). If the trends described above continue, the combination of climate warming, increases in human populations and industry, and historic drought is likely to cause an unprecedented water crisis in the WPP. The resulting decrease in water quantity will contribute to declining water quality, as described below. This decline will exacerbate the water crisis in the WPP.
Eutrophication of WPP Lakes and Rivers
Rapid land-use changes, destruction of wetlands and riparian areas, increased discharges of manure and human wastes, and increased fertilizer use all will contribute to increased inputs of nutrients to waters of the WPP. Lower water flows as described above cause increased water retention times in lakes, resulting in higher nutrient retention and larger algal blooms, i.e., accelerated eutrophication (34–36). There will also be an increasing risk from waterborne pathogens. Warmer waters, longer ice-free seasons, and declining sport fisheries will exacerbate the eutrophication problem (37).
Although Cyanobacteria blooms occurred in many lakes even before humans modified the landscape, paleoecological studies show that inputs of phosphorus and nitrogen have increased slowly over the past century, beginning at approximately the time of human settlement (38, 39). The increase in phosphorus typically exceeds that of nitrogen, causing N/P ratios to decline (37, 38). Lower N/P ratios favor nitrogen-fixing Cyanobacteria, which can supplement dissolved nitrogen sources with atmospheric N2 (40, 41). The eutrophication is accompanied by an increased problem with waterborne pathogens. For example, a recent study revealed that agriculture in the catchment of the North Saskatchewan River was a major source of Giardia lamblia and Cryptosporidium spp. to Edmonton's water supply (42). These protozoans are resistant to normal drinking-water chlorination and demand installation of advanced technologies to ensure their removal. In areas of the WPP with moderate to heavy agriculture, rapid increases in animal populations have rendered many streams noncompliant with water protection guidelines for pathogens and nutrients (43).
Clearing of forested land at least doubles the nutrient losses from land until forests are re-established (44, 45). Even greater increases in nutrient losses occur if the land is converted to pastures, feedlots, croplands, and urban areas (45). Increasing recreational demand by expanding human populations, poor fisheries management, and nonexistent enforcement of laws protecting fisheries habitat have lead to the widespread declines and collapses of fisheries for piscivorous species in Alberta (46, 47). Similar declines in piscivorous fish have been observed in other regions (48). The resulting “trophic cascade” can result in high populations of zooplanktivorous fish, stimulating a change from a low-algal to a high-algal phase in lakes (49, 50). The precipitous decline in piscivorous predatory fishes has likely contributed to the increase in algal abundance in many Alberta lakes. Without protection of fisheries habitat and implementation of compensatory fisheries management practices, this problem will worsen.
The cumulative effects of climate warming, drought, and human activity have seldom, if ever, been considered by land managers and policy makers (37). There is little integrated catchment planning in the WPP, and science is poorly represented in the planning process. Generally, decisions to expand cities, clear forested land, fill in wetlands, place and construct feedlots, approve major industrial projects and expansions, apply fertilizer, apportion water supplies, and expand cottage developments are made on a project-specific basis by communities, committees, or even individuals. Ecological instream flow needs and lake levels are often ignored or underestimated. This lack of integrated planning has resulted in the allocation of >100% of at least one river's water, leading to conflict between licensed users. When communities resist development because of concerns over environmental impacts, decision-making powers are often removed to provincial political levels. In addition, governmental agencies charged with environmental monitoring and applying and enforcing laws protecting freshwater resources have suffered extreme funding cuts, primarily for short-sighted budgetary reasons. As a consequence, historical weather, snowpack, and water quality and quantity data are often incomplete or nonexistent. Unfortunately, this host of problems is not unique to the WPP, but is shared by many regions of the world (51). As problems arise, reactionary solutions are derived piecemeal, usually by different departments and levels of government, and too late for easy, inexpensive, or timely remediation. Major societies in the past have faced extended water shortages, often with dire consequences. Catchment-scale planning for management and conservation of freshwaters in the WPP and other rapidly developing dryland areas is urgently needed to maximize efficient use of increasingly scarce freshwaters in a time of warming climate and rapidly increasing human activity.
In response to increasing evidence for water shortages and the need for integrated watershed management, several new programs are attempting to provide direction. The North Saskatchewan Watershed Alliance (Edmonton, AB, Canada, www.nswa.ab.ca) is attempting an assessment of the state of the North Saskatchewan River, with the intention of providing background for strategic watershed planning. The Alberta Water for Life program (Edmonton, AB, Canada, www.waterforlife.gov.ab.ca) has formed committees to study sustainable water strategies for the major river watersheds of Alberta. Both of these processes are in their early stages, and no comprehensive measures have yet been recommended. Although little can be done to halt the disappearance of snowpacks and ice fields, much can be done to protect the integrity of the watersheds of the WPP, by retaining or restoring wetlands and riparian zones. Agricultural developments and industries can be chosen that do not require extensive water supplies, at least during the water-scarce summer months. Controlling greenhouse gas emissions soon can reduce the amount of warming, and hence evaporation and glacial wastage, expected in the latter years of this century. Finally, it may prove wise to keep human populations in the dry WPP relatively low, to avoid the water scarcity that has already become a major problem in the southwestern United States and many other populous dryland areas of the world (ref. 1 and Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, www.MAweb.org).
Sites with >80 years of record and negligible effects of urbanization on warming were selected for analyses of historical daily temperature, precipitation, and snowpack data (e.g., small towns or airports outside of major urban centers; Environment Canada's Canadian Daily Climate Data database; www.climate.weatheroffice.ec.gc.ca). Daily stream-flow data were used to determine long-term changes in total summer river flow (May–August; Water Survey of Canada HYDAT database, www.wsc.ec.gc.ca). In many instances, winter flow data are incomplete. For this reason and because of the ecological and economic importance of summer stream flow in high-latitude ecosystems, we analyzed only summer stream flow.
Climate Warming Scenarios.
Climate warming scenarios for the WPP were generated by the Canadian Institute for Climate Studies Project's CGCM-2A model (University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada). Data from 10 regional models, covering Alberta, central and southern Saskatchewan, and southern Manitoba, were used to determine the anticipated Canadian general circulation model-based projections for future temperature and precipitation changes for this part of Canada.
PET Calculations.
Calculation of monthly PET was done according to Thornthwaite (16). Long-term climate records generally only include temperature and precipitation data. Hence, we are limited in our ability to back-cast PET to the use of simple models. Values for annual heat index are calculated from monthly temperatures
where I = annual heat index, T = monthly mean temperature (°C), and j = number of month (e.g., January = 1). Monthly PET is then calculated from mean monthly temperature, annual heat indices, and standardized mean monthly daylight hours
where PET j = monthly PET (mm), L d = standardized daylight hours (i.e., mean monthly hours of daylight/12), a = 6.75 × 10 −7 I 3 − 7.71 × 10 −5 I 2 + 0.01792 I + 0.49239, a = 0.16 I + 0.5, and
where PET = annual PET (mm).
Absolute values, trends, and percentages of change for all variables were calculated from best-fit lines (ANOVA) for long-term trends in summer stream flow and climatic variables by using spss 6.1.1 for Macintosh. Significance in trends or differences was attributed where P ≤ 0.05.
CGCM-A2 climate scenario projections are courtesy of the Canadian Institute for Climate Studies Project at the University of Victoria. Historical climate data are from Environment Canada's Canadian Daily Climate Data database, and river flow data are from Environment Canada's Hydrometric Database (HYDAT) database (water survey). Reviews by V. St. Louis, S. R. Carpenter, and B. J. Peterson helped to improve an earlier draft of the manuscript. This study was funded by Freshwater Research Ltd., the Walter and Duncan Gordon Foundation, and a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council Discovery Grant (to D.W.S.).
†To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: d.schindler{at}ualberta.ca
This contribution is part of the special series of Inaugural Articles by members of the National Academy of Sciences elected on April 30, 2002.
Author contributions: D.W.S. and W.F.D. designed research; W.F.D. analyzed data; and D.W.S. and W.F.D. wrote the paper.
See accompanying Profile on page 7207.
Conflict of interest statement: No conflicts declared.
WPP,
western prairie provinces;
potential evapotranspiration.
© 2006 by The National Academy of Sciences of the USA
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You are going to email the following An impending water crisis in Canada's western prairie provinces
D. W. Schindler, W. F. Donahue
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences May 2006, 103 (19) 7210-7216; DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0601568103
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Home » Knowledge in the face of adversity, part 1
ColumnsKline: Unmistakable MarksLegal Issues
Knowledge in the face of adversity, part 1
Kristopher M. Kline PLS
KEYWORDS adverse possession
The discovery of evidence of apparent possession of lands not included in the written legal description of the possessor is a familiar occurrence for most surveyors. This situation can create convoluted and costly legal issues for landowners, surveyors and attorneys. This principle is well established in our legal system as observed by the Tennessee Supreme Court.
Historically, there are several policy reasons used to justify adverse possession, such as: (1) the stabilization of uncertain boundaries through the passage of time; (2) a respect for the apparent ownership of the adverse possessor who transfers his interest; and (3) assurance of the long-term productivity of the land. Title by either possession or prescription is an old subject in the English Law, according to one treatise, with counterparts in the Roman law. (Boyer, Survey of the Law of Property).”[1]
Although original boundary lines as described in the original conveyance never move after the moment of their creation, title to additional lands can be gained or lost through the process of adverse possession. This separate title is actually considered to be of the highest character at the moment of its creation, as seen in Cannon v. Stockmon.
And such a title is not only an interest in the land, but it is one of the highest character, the absolute dominion over it, and the appropriate mode of conveying it is by deed…The lapse of time limited by such statute not only bars the remedy, but it extinguishes the right, and vests a perfect title in the adverse holder.[2]
Differences of Opinion
Adverse possession statutes and common law principles vary significantly from state to state; however, certain characteristics are common to most states. In the case of Cumulus v. Shim, the Tennessee courts make a good general statement of these requirements.
Generally, acquisition by adverse possession for the requisite period of time, whether statutory or under common law, must be (a) actual and exclusive; (b) open, visible, and notorious; (c) continuous and peaceable; and (d) hostile and adverse. Id. The adverse possession of real estate is not only inconsistent with the right of the title holder but may, when all elements of the doctrine are present, create an actual ownership interest…”[3]
Likewise, the Missouri Supreme Court stated that “to acquire title by adverse possession or prescription, possession must be: (1) hostile, that is, under a claim of right, (2) actual, (3) open and notorious, (4) exclusive, and (5) continuous for the necessary period of years prior to the commencement of action.”[4]
While relatively simple in concept, this is a very difficult principle to apply in practice, and some court cases based on evidence that seems completely beyond dispute have fallen apart on various technicalities. For example, in Fender v. Smashum, the lower court held that Fender had fulfilled the adverse possession requirements and “found the ten-year statutory period began with the November 14, 1988 deed to Fender and Parker, and ended in November 1998. In finding adverse possession, the court relied on: 1) the receipt by Fender of a warranty deed dated November 14, 1988; 2) the paying of property taxes for the statutory period of ten years; 3) the assertion of title by the giving and receiving of fractional interests through successive conveyances by warranty deeds during the statutory period; and 4) the erection of no trespassing signs on the property during the statutory period.”
However, the South Carolina Appeals court reversed the decision with the following statement: “We find the actions cited by the circuit court do not as a matter of law establish ouster and consequently do not show Fender obtained title to the property by adverse possession.”[5]
Given these differences of opinion, to what degree is the surveyor responsible for adjudicating disputes relating to adverse possession?
Gathering the Evidence
Justice Thomas Cooley’s opinions on the quasijudicial function of the surveyor have been debated for many years, and opinion will no doubt remain divided. Cooley is quick to point out that the surveyor “should hesitate long before doing anything to the disturbance of settled possessions.” He goes on to refer to “the mischiefs of overlooking the facts of possession.”6 However, he also makes the point that current possession lines are (at times) the best evidence of the location of the original stakes: “Occupation, especially if long continued, often affords very satisfactory evidence of the original boundary when no other is attainable.”[6]
His comments on possible acquiescence present yet another complicating factor for the surveyor to consider. At a minimum, the surveyor should use extreme caution when forming a professional opinion regarding ownership of land claimed by adverse possession. “In any case of disputed lines, unless the parties concerned settle the controversy by agreement, the determination of it is necessarily a judicial act, and it must proceed upon evidence and give full opportunity for a hearing.”[7]
It is also interesting that at no point in his famous essay does Cooley specifically refer to the legal mechanism of “adverse possession,” although this term was already well established in the American legal system at that time as cited in an 1844 Virginia case.[8]
The surveyor is in a far more defensible position when he or she is retained to collect information for adverse possession litigation. The skill and experience of the surveyor may well affect the outcome of an adverse possession claim, and a comprehensive knowledge of the principles involved will aid the surveyor in collecting appropriate evidence.
The Statutory Requirements
Each state has specific statutory requirements for adverse possession, and these requirements can change over time by legislative act. The Virginia State Legislature has considered two bills to modify adverse possession statutes since 1997 (House Bill No. 2374, offered January 20, 1997; and Senate Bill No. 67, offered January 13, 2010). The South Carolina legislature considered but failed to pass a bill extending the statutory requirement to 15 years (H-2354, 1981). The statutory time requirement varies widely between states, with California leading the field with one of the shortest statutory periods. “Section 325 of that code requires that to obtain title by adverse possession the land must be occupied and claimed for five years continuously and that claimants or their predecessors must have paid all taxes levied and assessed against the land.”[9]
Some states, including North Carolina and Tennessee, have varying time frames depending on whether the adverse possession occurs under color of title (more on this later). To further complicate the issue, it is possible to adversely possess against the state of North Carolina (in certain limited cases), but the time requirement increases to 30 years without color of title and 21 years with color of title. (G.S. 1-35).
Adverse to the True Owner…
It is a generally accepted principle that permissive use cannot mature into adverse possession. It is also common for unexplained possession to be presumed to be permissive, as was evident from numerous cases studied. The only possible exceptions to this principle seemed to have existed in the past, as in North Carolina.
In the case of Brown vs. Spivey, 109 N. C. R., page 57, and Alexander vs. Gibbon, 118 N. C. R., page 797, the court held that “the law presumes possession unexplained to be an adverse possession.” The above decisions appear to be overruled or at least rendered inoperative by reason of the provisions of Section 386, First Vol. of Pell’s Revisal of 1908, as held by a later decision of our Supreme Court in the case of Bland et .11 vs. Beasley et al, reported 145 N. C. R., pages 168, etc. The Court held in the latter case as follows: “There is no presumption that the possession of real estate is adverse.”[10]
…and Hostility Required
An excellent explanation of this prerequisite is found in the Virginia record. It is well-established that a claimant’s possession is “hostile” if it is under “a claim of right and adverse to the right of the true owner.” The phrase “claim of right,” when used in the context of adverse possession, refers to the intent of a claimant to use land as the claimant’s own to the exclusion of all others. The existence of a claim of right does not depend on the claimant having any actual title or right to the property. However, “where the original entry on another’s land was by agreement or permission, possession regardless of its duration presumptively continues as it began, in the absence of an explicit disclaimer.”[11]
This requirement is sometimes misinterpreted to mean that the two parties must have been battling over possession of the land in question for the entire statutory period. The Missouri court system clarifies this requirement with the statement: “There need not be a dispute between two adjoining landowners over the location of borderline to satisfy the hostile requirement.”[12] In a rather extreme case of contrast, open violence is not necessarily interpreted as adverse possession, as shown in a North Carolina case.
[The court did] "not infer that the act of pointing a gun and telling Carl Pegg to get out means that Cecil Jones considered that he owned any property in fee simple or that that message was communicated to Dr. Pegg.” While the incident with the shotgun is some evidence as to hostility, the evidence discussed above is competent to support the trial court’s finding of fact that defendant’s parents were not holding the property adversely against plaintiff in 1965.13
Next month, we’ll look at the remaining principles involved in collecting evidence for adverse possession litigation.
Neither the author nor POB intend this column to be a source of legal advice for surveyors or their clients. The law can change over time and differs in important respects for different jurisdictions. If you have a specific legal problem, the best source of advice is an attorney admitted to the bar in your jurisdiction.
1. Cumulus Broadcasting, Inc. v. Jay W. Shim, et.al. Tennessee Supreme Court, case no. M2003-02593-SC-R11-CV - Filed on April 27, 2007.
2. R. B. Cannon v. D. M. Stockmon Supreme Court of California 36 Cal. 535; 1869 Cal.
3. Cumulus Broadcasting, Inc. v. Jay W. Shim, et.al.
4. Charles Robert Watson & Carolyn Watson, v. Robert K. Mense & Carolyn K. Mense, (Case No. SC89936) Missouri Supreme Court. 2009
5. Sherwood N. Fender, v. Heirs at Law of Roger Smashum, Opinion No. 3639 Heard March 11, 2003 – Filed May 5, 2003 The State Of South Carolina In The Court of Appeals.
6. Cooley, Thomas M. - The Judicial Function of Surveyors
7. Ibid.
8. Taylor v. Burnsides, 42 Va. 165, 190 (1844).
9. Richard L. Gilardi et al., v. Gary L. Hallam et al., 30 Cal. 3d 317; 636 P.2d 588; 178 California. Rptr. 624; 1981.
10. Smathers, George H., “History of Land Titles in Western North Carolina”; 1938.
11. Young Kee Kim v. Douval Corporation - Record No. 991092 April 21, 2000 - Virginia.
12. Ibid. at 4.
13. Eleanor S. Pegg v. Ervin Jones No. COA07-147 Filed: 4 December 2007 North Carolina.
Recent Articles by Kristopher Kline
Real Property and Appurtenant or In Gross Easements
Unrecorded Plats and Simultaneous Conveyance
Floating Easements and Practical Location in Surveying
Retroactive Laws May Intrude on Vested Property Rights
Surveying to the Inferno and the Heavens?
Kris Kline, PLS L-3374, is president of 2Point Inc., Alexander, N.C. Kline teaches several classes on boundary retracement but remains a student of the discipline. He can be reached at kkline@buncombe.main.nc.us. More information on Kline’s available continuing education courses can be found at www.2point.net. Kline’s books, “Rooted in Stone: The Development of Adverse Possession in 20 Eastern States and the District of Columbia,” and the newly-released “Riparian Boundaries and Rights of Navigation,” are available from the author.
Descriptions Based on Unrecorded Plats, Part 1.
Project management for surveyors and engineers dealing with many small jobs, part 1.
Alaska Senate Bill 93 Introduced to End Adverse Possession
Professional Topography: Facing Forward
House Approves Additional $10 Million for Geospatial Mapping
Recovery Underway After Galileo GNSS Service Interruption
Who Will Be Our Next Generation Surveyors?
Esri Partners With Jane Goodall Institute to Protect Nature
Scottish Scientists Develop High-Precision Laser
Surveyor Outreach Opportunities
What kind of community outreach do you perform on behalf of the survey/geospatial profession?
The usual charitable efforts for my business – donations, sponsorships, personal involvement
Provide some “pro bono” survey and/or geospatial services where I feel it is appropriate
Attend city planning/zoning/land use meetings to observe and comment
Actively participate in planning/zoning/land use meetings to provide information and guidance
Participate in school programs, career days, and guest lectures
None, but I would if I had some guidance on how to participate
None, time is too limited
POB Top 100 Report
We began by creating a survey as a cooperative effort between several high level geospatial leaders, POB staff, and Clear Seas Research market research experts. The survey was sent out to more than 25,000 geospatial professionals who subscribe to POB and/or are members of MAPPS.
In the July 2019 issue of POB, find out how even those who don't use nautical charts benefit from coastal mapping initiatives.
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The immigration visa lottery "randomly hands out green cards without any regard for skill, merit, or the safety of American people."
— Donald Trump on Tuesday, January 30th, 2018 in State of the Union address
Donald Trump leaves out the facts in claim about visa lottery
By Miriam Valverde on Tuesday, January 30th, 2018 at 10:34 p.m.
President Donald Trump in his State of the Union address outlined changes he’s seeking to immigration laws, including the end to the diversity visa lottery program.
Trump said his administration presented a four-pillar proposal "that should be supported by both parties as a fair compromise."
"The third pillar ends the visa lottery — a program that randomly hands out green cards without any regard for skill, merit, or the safety of American people," Trump said Jan. 30.
Trump mischaracterized the program. He failed to note that individuals who come to the United States through the lottery program must be vetted by the United States and also must meet certain education and work criteria.
The White House did not respond to our request for comment on the record.
Here are the facts.
Applicants must meet education or work experience criteria
The visa lottery program was established in 1990 to diversify the United States’ immigrant population. The lottery began in 1995 and selects applicants from countries with low immigration levels during the previous five years. Diversity visas are currently capped at 50,000 per fiscal year.
It’s worth noting that entries chosen in the lottery do not automatically get a visa, they only become eligible to apply for it.
Applicants must meet education or work experience requirements, according to the U.S. State Department and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services:
• At least a high school education or its equivalent, defined as successful completion of a 12-year course of formal elementary and secondary education; or
• Two years of work experience within the past five years in an occupation that requires at least two years of training or experience to perform.
Potential immigrants must undergo vetting by U.S. government
Visa lottery applicants can include a spouse and children in their application. While only the applicant has to meet the education and work requirement, all potential travelers must be thoroughly vetted by the United States.
Applicants who pass a vetting process are awarded the diversity visa.
Information reviewed in the vetting process includes passport, police and medical records, photographs, English translations of documents, and education or work experience credentials.
"No visa can be issued unless all concerns raised by the screening are fully resolved. As part of this screening process, information that might suggest an individual is a potential threat is shared with all appropriate U.S. government agencies," a State Department official previously told us.
"National security is our top priority when adjudicating visa applications," the agency added.
Trump said the visa lottery program "randomly hands out green cards without any regard for skill, merit, or the safety of our people."
While lottery applicants are randomly selected, they must meet education and work experience requirements. They must also be vetted by the United States government before being allowed to come to the United States.
We rate Trump’s claim False.
Says the visa lottery "randomly hands out green cards without any regard for skill, merit, or the safety of our people."
in State of the Union address
Published: Tuesday, January 30th, 2018 at 10:34 p.m.
Researched by: Miriam Valverde
Edited by: Katie Sanders
Subjects: Homeland Security, Immigration
Email interview, White House press office, Jan. 30, 2018
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Green Card Through the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, Last Reviewed/Updated: 01/11/2018
PolitiFact, Diversity visa applicants are vetted, despite contrary claim from White House press secretary, Nov. 2, 2017
PolitiFact, Pick them from a bin? Donald Trump mischaracterizes diversity visa lottery, Dec. 20, 2017
State Department, Diversity Visa - Prepare Supporting Documents
State Department, Instructions for the 2019 Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (Dv-2019
State Department, Diversity Visa - Applicant Interview
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Queen Elizabeth II: This Was Her Biggest Worry After Diana's Death
16. Mai 2019 - 09:16 Uhr / Sarah Schulz
Prince Harry and Prince William were the priority
Prince Charles, Queen Elizabeth II and Lady Diana in 1981.
(© imago / UPI Photo)
The world was shocked when Lady Diana died in 1997 at the age of 36. There was a kind of state of emergency in Great Britain. Former Prime Minister Tony Blair revealed in a documentary what happened in Queen Elizabeth II after Diana's death.
A Rare Insight into a Special Royal Relationship
The Heartwarming Story Behind Prince Harry's Note from Princess Diana
On August 31st, 2019, it will be Lady Diana's (†36) 22nd Anniversary of death. On the occasion of Diana's 20th anniversary of death in 2017, the BBC produced a documentary about the week after Diana's death entitled Diana, 7 Days.
The documentary included many interviews about Lady Di, including with Prince William, Prince Harry and former Prime Minister Tony Blair. He also spoke about Queen Elizabeth II and revealed her concerns after Diana's accident.
Diana und Prinz Charles
(© imago / John Shelley Collection)
William and Harry were the Queen's greatest concerns
Queen Elizabeth II's two grandsons, William and Harry, were most important to her and she was worried how the death of Diana would affect them. "She was obviously most worried, I think, about the impact on the boys. She was obviously very sad about Diana. She was concerned about the monarchy itself because the Queen has a very strong instinct about public opinion and how it plays," Blair said in the BBC documentary.
Princess Diana (†36): A Life In Pictures
No public reaction from Queen Elizabeth II
Queen Elizabeth II did not comment on Diana's death for a long time and did not go to the memorial at Buckingham Palace. It was strongly criticized by the public at that time for her cold reaction to such a tragedy. Blair's words show that the Queen was still emotionally moved and was only trying to protect her grandsons.
"She was being a proper granny. What was the point of bringing the boys down to sit in London with nothing to do but sit there feeling sad about mum. Personally I think I would have behaved in exactly the same way," said the Queen's cousin, Margaret Rhodes (†91), in an interview with CNN, 2012.
Princess Diana almost ruined her wedding dress
This Happened Just Minutes Before Princess Diana Married Prince Charles
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Papelbon says hes more than ready for Philly pressure
CLEARWATER, Fla. � Almost 15 minutes had elapsed in his welcome-to-spring-training news conference at the Phillies� complex on Saturday when a businesslike Jonathan Papelbon smiled for the first time.
CLEARWATER, Fla. - Almost 15 minutes had elapsed in his
welcome-to-spring-training news conference at the Phillies' complex
on Saturday when a businesslike Jonathan Papelbon smiled for the
The question was about pressure and how he felt about the
pressure to win in Philadelphia, a team with a talented roster and
demanding fan base as well as a rapidly closing window of
A flicker of a smile passed over the face of the most decorated
relief pitcher in Red Sox history.
"I like pressure," he said. "That's what makes me tick,
If Papelbon was going to leave Boston, the only major-league
franchise for which he has ever pitched, he scarcely could have
found a better fit for him than Philadelphia. The Phillies play for
a similarly rabid fan base and in a similarly intense atmosphere -
and aside from the $50 million the Phillies will pay him over the
next four seasons, that intensity had as much to do with the
decision he made as anything.
"Those series against the Yankees, those are series that you
elevate your game, and you see how good you can be," he said.
"They're great teams and great division rivals. But there's great
ones in this division, too, with the Braves and the Mets, and I'm
excited to start experiencing those. ...
"A big decision for me was to go to a spot where I felt that I
could thrive in. As you well know, this is the type of situation
that I like to pitch in and thrive in."
The move to the National League could even revitalize Papelbon,
giving him a chance to face Atlanta's Chipper Jones, Miami's Jose
Reyes and Washington's Ryan Zimmerman rather than Derek Jeter and
Alex Rodriguez for the umpteenth time.
"To be honest with you, there were really some days when it got
kind of old sitting there saying, 'I've got to face Jeter again.
He's seen everything I've got. I've seen everything he's
got,' " he said. "That's why I say it brings a little bit of
life to me this year, being in a new clubhouse, being able to face
new guys."
Papelbon finished his Red Sox career with a 2.33 ERA and 219
saves in his seven seasons. After a shaky 2010 - especially by his
lofty standards - Papelbon bounced back in 2011 with a 2.94 ERA and
87 strikeouts to go along with just 10 walks in 64 1/3 innings
pitched.
The lingering Papelbon-related memory from last season for many
still might be the final pitch he threw - the pitch that Robert
Andino hit that fell in front of Carl Crawford in shallow left
field that capped the Red Sox collapse.
The loss in Baltimore set off an onslaught of conversation and
controversy about beer, fried chicken, conditioning and work
ethic.
If something was wrong in the clubhouse in September, however,
the closer said he didn't see it.
"I know everybody has had their own opinion about that situation
and what went on there, but nobody really, truly knows what was
truly going on," he said. "I don't even really, truly know because
I'm worried about myself and doing my own job. �
"I never had to go up to somebody and say, 'Hey, get your act
together.' That never happened with me."
For Papelbon, the memory of that final pitch and that collapse
disappeared just as quickly as he signed his next contract.
"I don't think about it at all, man," he said. "When I was a
rookie, and I made my first All-Star Game, I had a chance to talk
with (Mariano Rivera) about what's the biggest thing that's going
to make me successful in this game, and his first answer was,
'Short-term memory.' You've got to be able to learn from them,
still, and learn from them situations, but I don't sit there and
think about it all spring. You go over things, and you try to learn
from them, but you've got to be able to turn the page."
Papelbon has turned the page. The "P" on his new hat on Saturday
made that clear. He became the first marquee free-agent signing of
the offseason when he signed his lucrative contract with
Philadelphia in early November, and the aggressiveness with which
the Phillies pursued him had a lot to do with his decision.
"I wasn't going to go back and forth," he said. "I was going to
get this done. Whoever wanted me and was interested in me, I was
going to go full throttle. I wasn't going to delay anything. That's
kind of how it worked out."
But Papelbon still paid tribute Saturday to the "lifelong
friends" he has in the Red Sox clubhouse - including recently
retired knuckleballer Tim Wakefield, saying Wakefield and Jason
Varitek taught him "how to respect the game of baseball" - and
didn't deny there's a three-game series in May circled on his
That's a series when he might feel, one might say, a little
extra pressure.
"If I can just go one day at a time right now, I know it sounds
cliche, but that's what I have to do - to stay focused at my job at
hand and be able to go out there every day and do my job," he said.
"But I do know when we play the Red Sox."
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Anxiety&Stress
App Alert
Are My Kids On Track
DogTherapists
DogTherapy
Family Experiment
Wardrobe Wednesday
Hopetown: A New Name - 7th & 8th Graders
Melissa Trevathan August 6, 2015
This past week, we talked with the 7th-8th graders a lot about Jacob. His name means “grabber.” We’re going to pick up at Melissa’s last talk of the camp—and last teaching of the summer…
“Hebrews 11 is considered the hall of fame chapter in the Bible. It talks about a lot of people who trusted God, even though they had a limp like Jacob. Jacob’s made it in, too, in verse 21.
‘By an act of faith, Jacob on his deathbed blessed each of Joseph’s sons in turn, blessing them with God’s blessing, not his own—as he bowed worshipfully upon his staff.’
Jacob’s name no longer is grabber. Now, his name is Israel, with God telling him his descendants will be many. His name is mentioned over 250 times in the Bible. He has much to tell us—in his living, his limp, and his dying.
In this verse, he does two things. First, he blessed each of Joseph’s sons, his grandsons. We come alive when we bless others.
Jacob has been known for his selfishness—his grabbing—his own birthright among other things. But, at the end of his life, his intent is to bless
Secondly, he bowed worshipfully upon his staff. He still had his cane—and his limp. But he is dying with humility, head down, worshipping God. Worship is where we feel and experience God. It is finding a place where we can lean on the everlasting God. Psalm 23 says He is our rod and staff and comforts us.
This diagram represents our week and where we’ve been.
We started with Genesis 32 and Jacob’s story. We talked about how he’s much like where you are developmentally—narcissistic in grabbing. It’s pretty normal for your age, and was for him. Jacob spent a lot of time grabbing, as his name describes. And then he’s have to run—because of the consequences of his grabbing. It’s where our sin comes in, as well. Although you’re in a more narcissistic time in your lives, it’s not a “that’s just the way I am” kind of thing. We want to move out of the narcissism and toward the same blessing that Jacob did.
In verses 13-21, Jacob sends the very things that are most important to him down to the river. In essence, he gives them over to God. We tend to think we have to give those things up. But that’s different than giving them over. Several nights ago, you wrote those things in your own life on a rock, giving them over to God.
Jacob then returned alone. In that night, he wrestled with God. It’s those moments that are often most important for all of us—when we’re alone with God. They’re when you’re in your room and it’s dark and you feel a lot. It’s when you start to wrestle yourselves.
Wrestling involves feelings like:
“I feel lonely.”
“I feel left out.”
“God, where are you?”
It is okay to wrestle. In fact, if you don’t, your faith won’t be very deep. It’s not our feelings that are sin, but what we do with those feelings. You’re starting to feel so much at your age, and God wants to hear and be with you in the midst of those feelings. That’s what wrestling is all about.
Jacob wrestled with God till almost day break. And, before he let him go, God gave Jacob a limp that he’d have the rest of his life. That limp was to remind him to trust God.
You have a limp, too. We shared those this week. It can be something that’s happened to you or something you’re doing. We say often that God’s greatest gift is forgiveness. In the cross, God said, I love you so much and you can’t do it right. I want you to hold on. Put your arms around our neck and hold tight. He took every sin. That’s our joy. We hold tight to God’s word as we wrestle (Psalm 46).
Jacob, at the end of his wrestling, held on to God until he blessed him. In that blessing he was given his new name—Israel, just like the new names you’ve been given this week. He makes you new. He calls you to something higher as you hold on to him and reminds you of his great and deeply personal love for you.
We are all limping toward the cross together. It’s not our limp, but His love that takes us there. Jesus doesn’t expect you to be perfect, but He does want you to lean on Him.”
InHopetown TagsHopetown
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hMag Mayoral questionnaire: Councilman Ravi Bhalla
Can you please tell our readers your name (as it appears on the ballot), and how long you’ve lived in Hoboken?
Ravi Bhalla 17 years
We recently saw a political campaign ad from 1981 that cites, “potholes,” “lack of recreation,” “sewers that cannot hold a simple rainfall,” “overworked police force,” and “enormous profits” for developers as being major issues facing Hoboken. Yet here we are—36 years later—having a lot of the same discussions. Why should voters have any faith in your campaign promises?
When I came into office eight years ago, Hoboken was under state fiscal supervision and our bond rating was close to junk. We inherited a broken City Hall with a well-earned reputation for cronyism, corruption and unprofessional budget practices. As a leader on the Council, working in partnership with Mayor Zimmer, I played a central role in the Hoboken turn-around. We made the tough fiscal decisions, including reorganizing our top-heavy police and fire departments and modernizing and streamlining city services And. we saved our hospital from closing by finding a qualified private buyer, preventing a crippling default that would have left us holding the bag for an ill-advised $52 million bond guarantee. Today, we have a strong AA+ bond rating and Hoboken is on a sound long-term fiscal path.
And that’s far from all, We have upgraded all of our parks and secured additional open space for new ones as well as making significant strides to address our flooding problem, including winning a $230 million dollar federal grant for a comprehensive storm protection and flood prevention project called Rebuild by Design.
Based on this track record, I believe the voters can have faith in my campaign promises, which are based on the realistic and detailed plans that I have put forward on the major challenges facing our City.
Aside from the aforementioned issues, what else does the City of Hoboken need to address, and how will your administration do it?
The single most important challenge facing Hoboken in the years to come is bringing our aged infrastructure into the 21st Century.
As Mayor, I will act to upgrade our infrastructure, fixing our water mains, roads, sewers and piers and providing regular maintenance. I will ensure that we are better prepared for the intense storms that are predicted as a result of climate change, completing our comprehensive federally-funded flood prevention project, Rebuild by Design, and working to strengthen our electrical grid.
Additionally, I will push NJ Transit and the Port Authority for expanded bus and rail service, as well as more affordable ferry service. Our residents deserve to have reliable, reasonably priced transportation options that can also help to reduce traffic and improve our quality of life.
In order to accomplish these goals cost-effectively, I will develop a 10-year infrastructure improvement and maintenance plan that will be completed in the first 90 days of my term.
This campaign to date has certainly been spirited, some might even say divisive. Yet win or lose, many of the candidates will still be actively involved with the administration of Hoboken after November 7th. With that in mind, how would your Mayoral administration work to move ahead the projects and services that Hoboken residents need?
I will work hard after the election to reach out to all my opponents and their supporters, listening to their ideas and concerns, and working hard to bring Hoboken together. I will be a Mayor for all of Hoboken and have a proven track record of being able to work with people with diverse opinions who may not always agree with me. Given my experience under fire when we made the tough decisions to put Hoboken back on the right path, I am ready to lead from day one.
Everyone’s a critic. There’s no shortage of negative feedback on Hoboken’s various social media platforms—meanwhile voter turnout for municipal elections is routinely low. How would you encourage effective civic involvement in Hoboken?
I will actively promote the many opportunities to serve our city, whether that is on a city board or commission, as a first responder during emergencies, or as a volunteer for the many non-profit organizations that do great work. By getting a broader range of people involved civically, we not only strengthen our community; we increase interest in local politics and government.
What do you feel is the chief criticism of your candidacy, and how would you answer that criticism?
My work as a non-equity partner, a salaried employee, at a major New Jersey law firm has been distorted with a number of false and misleading attacks, that imply I am profiting from the work done by other lawyers at the firm – which is simply not true. We have responded to these attacks by supplying the facts.
But the most important information going forward is that. if I am elected Mayor, I will be working full-time for the people of Hoboken, severing my employment with the firm.
Say you win… congratulations. In four years, why would the people of Hoboken re-elect you?
The people of Hoboken would re-elect me because I will hold the line on taxes, will make fiscally responsible decisions, will complete Rebuild by Design, a comprehensive federally-funded flood prevention project, will have made substantial progress on upgrading our aging infrastructure with a sound plan going forward, and will have constructed new parks, among other important goals. In other words, I will do exactly what I said I would do in this campaign.
What’s the very first thing you’ll do after being sworn in?
I will convene a working group to begin developing our 10 year infrastructure improvement and maintenance plan that will be completed in our first 90 days.
Last but not least, why you?
I am the best prepared of all the candidates because I was centrally involved in making the tough decisions that turned our City around and put us back on the right path, taking Hoboken from Junk Bond status to a AA+ bond rating. I also have put forward the most detailed, realistic plans for the major challenges facing Hoboken, including upgrading our aging infrastructure, protecting our City from intense storms and the flooding it generates, holding the line on taxes and keeping the City on a sound long-term fiscal path, and securing more parks and open space. I know how to get this tough job done and working together with the Council and Hoboken residents, how to forge an even brighter future for the City we all love.
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Which Countries Are Hot All Ye...
Home Geography
Which Countries Are Hot All Year Round?
Many countries are hot throughout the year due to their location on or near the Earth's equator, which is where the sun's rays are the strongest. Some of these countries include Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, Kuwait, Oman, Somalia, Indonesia, Ecuador, Colombia and Libya.
Temperatures in Saudi Arabia average 113 degrees Fahrenheit during the summer, 84 degrees in the spring and around 60 degrees during the winter. Iraq has an average high temperature of about 85 degrees Fahrenheit and an average low of 61 degrees Fahrenheit, but during the hottest summer months, temperatures can reach above 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Kuwait has a semi-desert climate, and average temperatures during the summer range from 107 to 118 degrees Fahrenheit. Winter temperatures in Kuwait drop to around 60 degrees Fahrenheit. In Oman, summer temperatures average around 95 degrees Fahrenheit, while winter temperatures average around 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Libya is not part of the Middle East, but it is perhaps the hottest country in the world. It is about 95 percent desert, and temperatures have been recorded as high as 136 degrees Fahrenheit. The average temperature during the warm season in Libya is 90 degrees Fahrenheit, and the average temperature during the cold season is 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Additionally, humidity ranges from a comfortable 31 percent to a startling 100 percent throughout the course of the year.
What Time of Day Is the Sun the Strongest?
What Is the Function of the Ozone Layer?
What Is the Difference Between Equinox and Solstice?
What Happens in Spring?
which countries are in europe
which countries are socialist countries
which countries are in nato
which countries are the happiest
which countries are in g20
which countries are communist
which countries are us enemies
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Vacation In Huts Off Of Mexico And Close To Aztec Ruins
A lot of doors close when you have a child. plastic containers for everything, bees unexplainably dying off, oceans acidifying, shellfish and coral reefs dying, carcinogens, mutagens, six billion p.
(CNN) — Mexico has always had all the elements of an upscale vacation destination: glittering white Caribbean beaches and wave-crashed Pacific shores, thriving cities, pre-Columbian ruins, world.
If you only visit one ruins in New Mexico, choose this one. The UNESCO World Heritage Site is vast in scale. In its heyday, Chaco consisted of 600 rooms, standing four stories high, and the site boasted 40 kivas.
Hiking Boots Ankle Support “If you’re going running, wear running shoes; going on a hike, wear hiking shoes,” Dr. Davis says. “Wear the appropriate footwear for whatever activity you’re doing to help support. boots can take. So when she found herself struggling after an
Free Download Hike You Can Download FREE Sample Brochure @ https://www.marketexpertz.com/sample-enquiry-form/17679 Apart from this, the valuable document weighs upon the performance of the industry on the basis of a pro. Tunecore names 34 improvements made over three years and several paid features that
Nestled near the Four Corners in northwestern New Mexico, Farmington is a small town that thinks big. The town of just 40,000 has enough historic sites, recreation.
mayan ruins tours The mystique of the ancient cities of the Maya have amazed and intrigued us for centuries. This once great nation dominated southern Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala for hundreds of years, before abandoning the great cities around 900AD.
Mexico is resplendent with ruins such as in Tulum, Chichen Itza and Xel-Ha. Still, it’s rare to find something as majestic as those iconic structures just lurking under a decades-old hotel. Still, it’s rare to find something as majestic as those iconic structures just lurking under a decades-old hotel.
North Face Isabella Backpack The North Face Isabella daypack is designed specifically for women to be an ideal school or transit pack. Available at REI, 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed. He is said to be heavily tattooed, including on his face and head. Both Isabella and
Cancun Mexico Resorts and Vacations. 70% Off w/Air + Kids Under 18 Stay Free All-Inclusive. Guest Rating: Fair 3.2/5. Explore underground caverns, book a picturesque sail or walk the ancient Mayan ruins with a vacation package to one of Mexico’s most vibrant, yet family-friendly cities.
The area is the most visited archeological site in Mexico and roughly 1.2 million tourists comed to marvel at the ruins each year. The Kukulcán pyramid is one of the most famous and best preserved Mayan temples in the area.
But there are at least five reasons why neither India nor China will knock America off its economic perch any time soon, at least not by the only measure that matters: Offering the best life to the mo.
Since Iceland’s financial collapse in 2008, the country has debated whether it should stick with the krona or adopt the currency of another country. The obvious choice seems to be for Iceland to submi.
American Graffiti (1973) TMC Wed. 11 a.m. TMC Thur. 4:30 a.m. An American in Paris (1951) TCM Tues. 8:45 a.m. The Best Years of Our Lives (1946) TCM Sun. 12:30 p.m. City Lights (1931) TCM Sun. 9 a.m.
There are hundreds of Mayan ruins throughout Mexico, Belize, Honduras and Guatemala, but the Yucatan Peninsula (where Tulum, Playa del Carmen and Cancun are) have some of the most impressive ruins. TULUM
Overwater bungalows in Mexico When many of us think of a tropical winter vacation, we immediately think of Mexico, so it’s no wonder that quite a few people hope to find overwater bungalows in the country.
1. Chichen Itza, Mexico. Within striking distance of clamorous Cancun, this Mayan city is hardly off the beaten track, but it’s a joy to behold.
Overwater bungalows in Mexico When many of us think of a tropical winter vacation, we immediately think of Mexico, so it’s no wonder that quite a few people hope to find overwater bungalows.
Nestled near the Four Corners in northwestern New Mexico, Farmington is a small town that thinks big. The town of just 40,000 has enough historic sites, recreation hotspots and cultural activities to entertain millions.
If you only visit one ruins in New Mexico, choose this one. The UNESCO World Heritage Site is vast in scale. In its heyday, Chaco consisted of 600 rooms, standing four.
Mexico City provides one of the best vacations in Mexico for those seeking to visit one of the world’s major cities. One of the top 10 places to go in Mexico, the country’s capital is home to sights such as the Catedral Metropolitana, Chapultepec Park, and the Plaza Mexico, which is the world’s largest bullfighting ring.
Holiday Party Blouses
Puataukanave International Hotel
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PSD2 Is Coming — Are Merchants Ready?
By PYMNTS
From using instant messaging to getting directions and shopping online, consumers are constantly generating a trail of data about their preferences and whereabouts.
However, while all that happens in the background, consumers are growing increasingly wary of how their data is collected and stored. With data breaches making headlines almost every other day, consumers want to know that their data is being protected, and that it’s not being used in ways they don’t approve.
Thankfully, regulators are taking notice, and are passing protection laws like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) — enforced in April 2016 and implemented earlier this year — and parts of the Second Payment Services Directive (PSD2), set to take effect in September.
In this inaugural PSD2 Tracker, PYMNTS explores the latest news and developments surrounding data protection and regulation, and whether merchants are prepared for PSD2 to take effect.
Around The PSD2 World
Some businesses are already feeling the effects of privacy regulations.
German social media platform Knuddels.de, for instance, was docked €20,000 ($22,769 USD) over a data breach that reportedly exposed the personally identifying information (PII) of more than 33,000 users, including email addresses and passwords, according to a statement from the company.
Knuddels first reported the breach to authorities in September after learning that nearly 2 million usernames and passwords, along with more than 800,000 email addresses, were posted online. While the fine was slightly lower than experts predicted, the company’s efforts to report the incident and cooperate with authorities helped mitigate the final amount.
“Smart cities” based outside the U.S. could also face fines related to GDPR and PSD2, according to a report from The Telegraph.
These cities could be on the hook for GDPR-related fines if they’re found to have misused data from citizens of the U.K. This comes from the U.K.’s strategic advisor on smart cities, Dr. Jacqui Taylor, who said fines could amount to millions of pounds. Under GDPR, fines could be 4 percent of a city’s revenues or £17.4 million ($22.2 million USD), whichever is greater.
Meanwhile, in the U.S., lawmakers are considering passing and implementing data protections that resemble GDPR.
Recently, at the Aspen Cyber Summit in San Francisco, Representative Will Hurd (R-TX) — the chairman of the Information Technology Subcommittee of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform — claimed that an American version of the regulations was a possibility. The legislative body is already evaluating the Secure Elections Act and the Email Privacy Act, and California legislators recently passed new privacy laws that will go into effect in 2020.
Are Merchants Ready For PSD2?
Less than a year to the PSD2 deadline, many merchants are still working to prepare for the arrival of the new rules, and make sure they don’t find themselves on the wrong side of regulators.
In the inaugural PSD2 Tracker feature story, Charles Damen, senior vice president of payment strategy at Worldpay, told PYMNTS how merchants can best prepare themselves for the arrival of new regulations.
“The analogy that I often use is that we’re moving from an opt-in model, where the merchant [can] decide whether to authenticate a transaction, to an opt-out model, where every transaction needs that strong customer authentication,” Damen said.
About The Tracker
The PSD2 Tracker, powered by Whitepages Pro, is the go-to resource for staying up to date on a month-by-month basis on the trends and changes regarding PSD2, and other privacy and data protection regulations.
Related Items:authentication, consumer data, data breach, data privacy, data protection, fines, GDPR, Main Feature, News, PSD2, PSD2 TRACKER, regulations, Smart Cities, Tracker Series, Whitepages Pro, Worldpay
VW To Debut eCommerce Marketplace For Connected Cars
Corcentric On Myth-Busting Electronic B2B Payments Adoption
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Multiple-Family Group Intervention for Incarcerated Adolescents and Their Families: A Pilot Project
By Keiley, Margaret K. | Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, January 2007 | Go to article overview
Keiley, Margaret K., Journal of Marital and Family Therapy
The Multiple-Family Group Intervention (MFGI) was developed to address the need for an effective and yet affordable treatment for reducing recidivism for incarcerated adolescents and altering the families' coercive interactional patterns from an affect regulation and attachment perspective. The 8-week MFGI program was conducted in two Indiana juvenile correctional institutions. The research study utilized pre- and postintervention assessments and a 6-month follow-up assessment. Data from both male (n = 43) and female (n = 30) adolescents were combined, yielding a total sample of 140 respondents (73 adolescents, 67 caretakers). The 6-month follow-up assessment indicated a recidivism rate of only 44% compared to the national norm of 65-85%. Linear growth models were fit to determine the nature of the changes in adolescent behavior over the three assessments. Adolescents and caregivers reported that adolescents' externalizing behaviors significantly declined over time. Adolescent-reported internalizing symptoms as well as their alcohol and drug use significantly declined over the follow-up period, while caregiver reports of these behaviors showed no change over time. Adolescent-reported attachment to their parents, particularly mothers, increased significantly as did both adolescent and caregiver-reported functional affect regulation.
At present, many adolescents after release from correctional facilities to which they have been remanded for criminal behavior return to these delinquent behaviors, alcohol and drug abuse, and sexual offending (Santos, Henggeler, Burns, Arana, & Meisler, 1995). The recidivism rate for incarcerated adolescents is extremely high, hovering in the range of 65-85%;1 many re-offend and are re-incarcerated at great cost to communities, court systems, and mental health service agencies (Deschenes & Greenwood, 1998; Henggeler, 2003; Santos et al., 1995). Often, this cycle is repeated until adolescents reach the age of 18 and transition into the adult mental health and criminal justice systems (Borduin, 1994; Lipsey, 2000).
While incarcerated, the adolescents attend school and individual and/or group therapy, but their relationships with their families are often not targets for treatment. As a result, the coercive interactional patterns common in these families do not improve (Henggeler, Smith, & Schoenwald, 1994; Patterson, 1982, 1994, 2002). These conflictual cycles are associated with high levels of negative emotion that disrupt family members' attachment bonds (Ducharme, Doyle, & Markiewicz, 2002), impair cognitive functioning (Gottman, 1993), and foster chronic physiological arousal (El-Sheikh, 2001; Gottman & Katz, 2002). The result is that adolescents leave the institutions disconnected from their families, unable to cope well with conflict and negative affect/emotion, and therefore are less likely to integrate new information and develop alternative solutions to problems. Instead, they are more likely to revert to old, overlearned and often maladaptive behaviors, leaving them at risk for re-offending and relapse (Henggeler, 2003; Santos et al., 1995). Evidence-based and effective family treatments exist for delinquency and conduct disorder (see Keiley, 2002a, for a review), but many of them are expensive to implement, requiring extensive resources and additional personnel that state-funded juvenile correctional systems seldom can afford. The clinical and research project Multiple-Family Group Intervention (MFGI) was developed and conducted to address the need for effective, yet affordable, treatment for incarcerated adolescents and their families.
Development of Delinquent Behaviors
Adolescents at risk for entry into the juvenile justice system often have already experienced behavior problems in early (Oppositional Defiant Disorder) or late (Conduct Disorder) childhood (American Psychiatric Association, 2000). As a result, they may have social information processing and other cognitive deficits such as hostile attributional bias and poor problemsolving abilities (Dodge, 1993). …
Publication information: Article title: Multiple-Family Group Intervention for Incarcerated Adolescents and Their Families: A Pilot Project. Contributors: Keiley, Margaret K. - Author. Journal title: Journal of Marital and Family Therapy. Volume: 33. Issue: 1 Publication date: January 2007. Page number: 106+. © Blackwell Publishing Ltd. Provided by ProQuest LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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"Troubles" Avoided for Syfy's HAVEN in Nova Scotia
American Cinematographer, April 2014 | Go to article overview
The Syfy series Haven, based on the Stephen King novella The Colorado Kid, takes viewers to the mythical town of Haven, Maine. There the series follows FBI agent Audrey Parker (Emily Rose), who arrives in town to follow a routine case but soon finds herself caught up in the town's many mysteries. Audrey quickly discovers that Haven is a longtime refugee for people affected by a range of supernatural afflictions known as "Troubles," and she herself has a surprising connection to the town.
The series, which just completed its fourth season, is shot entirely in Nova Scotia, Canada, in and around the town of Chester. When the decision was made to shoot in Nova Scotia, Executive Producer Shawn Piller (Stephen King's Dead Zone, Greek) turned to cinematographer Eric Cayla, CSC, whom he had worked with on a previous series.
"When I came on board, Shawn already had a specific look in mind, and he knew he wanted to shoot on film," says Cayla. "There is a mythology on the show that film serves. Although Haven is a contemporary show, we wanted it to have a timeless feel to it. Film images have a painterly quality to them, and as a cinematographer, I like y to reference my work A to painters. I drew ( my references from Winslow Homer, JM Andrew Wyeth and Edward Hopper to get the light and feeling for this series. Shawn and the pilot director, Adam Kane, knew it was the right look for the show."
There was an initial budgetary push to shoot digitally, but the production company Piller/Segan/ Shepherd made it work. "About 70 percent of our show is shot on location," notes Cayla. "We're often outside and usually by the water. We would have spent a lot of money manipulating the image to get the look we wanted using digital. With film, the look and texture we want is right there. We also shoot on 2-perf, and only use 3-perf to get wide shots, crane shots, helicopter shots, and green screens."
Cayla uses KODAK VISION3 500T Color Negative Film 5219 and KODAK VISION3 200T Color Negative Film 5213. …
Publication information: Article title: "Troubles" Avoided for Syfy's HAVEN in Nova Scotia. Contributors: Not available. Magazine title: American Cinematographer. Volume: 95. Issue: 4 Publication date: April 2014. Page number: S3. © American Society of Cinematographers. Provided by ProQuest LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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My Sex Life (1996)
"I don't care what you say anymore, this is my life" is a song reference that doesn't really fit here, because I think we can agree that this type of life is not really one to meddle with. If nothing else makes me disinterested about this guy's sex life, it's this film's runtime, because if this film is going to be as long as it is, then it better be covering Mathieu Amalric's Paul Dedalus character's entire life or something, because, you know, that would be so much less dull. No, this film is able to keep things going just fine throughout its course, but goodness' sake, I don't really understanding why this has to be just shy of three hours. Yeah, I was hoping that this argument better be a really momentous one, and I knew that it had to be a big one, because apparently the members of the main couple in this film have been trying to get rid of each other for about ten years, or at least that's what the synopsis and, well, this film tell me. Hey, I'm still dubious that this couple has been around for ten years, because this film plops us right in the middle of this relationship and runs about eleven years. Jokes aside, the French sure know how to experiment when it comes to cinematic storytelling, or at least Arnaud Desplechin does, because the Frenchman is not particularly known for making brief affairs, so it's really saying something that this film about affairs is his longest film. I guess it's only fitting that this film be pretty good then, and yet, while this film is thankfully three hours reasonably well spent, its title isn't its only somewhat awkward aspect. Needless to say, this character study has more than enough time to flesh out its human-driven story, and yet, there are still lapses in full expository depth, and such moments render certain character undercooked enough for you to meditate upon their conventionalism as character types who may be generally pretty engaging, but stand to be more unique, rather than blandly familiar. Yeah, I'm going on a bit of a stretch by criticizing this film as underdeveloped, because it is pretty well-rounded on the whole, it's just that several characters are too familiar for their own good, and too undercooked in some ways for their conventionalism to be obscured by additional flesh-out, thus creating some light blows to engagement value that are, of course, quickly forgotten when engagement value takes heavier blows from such issues as atmospheric dry spells that bland things up for a few moments in this film that has plenty of moments to bland up. The film is very rarely, if ever truly dull, and is actually pretty entertaining more often than not, - as well it should be, given it's runtime - but there are more than a few dry spells, and their quantity would undoubtedly be reduced if it wasn't for this film's more expected issue, which is emphasized further by the aforementioned moments in which a generally steady clip lapses. At 178 minutes, just shy of three hours, this slice-of-life character study is "way too long", obviously with enough material to get by, but hardly as truly tight, due to excess material, as well as filler that gets so excessive that, before too long, it bonds with the narrative and comes off as aimless material. Needless to say, when filler dominates the narrative, all of the minimalism in this film's story concept goes emphasized, and the final product slips into several aimless spells, or at least repetition, which never settles steam to underwhelming state, but retards momentum nonetheless. There's something warmly inviting about this film in a lot of areas, and if these areas were more played up, the final product might have stood a chance of being unexpectedly strong, but in the end, as rewarding as this film is, there's too much that's familiar, or slow, or overblown about this epic-length non-epic of a conceptually thin character piece for engagement value to be all that firmly secured. That all being said, the point is that this film is indeed rewarding, in spite of its shortcomings, which are impossible to deny, but find a formidable challenge in shaking this film's enjoyment value, which stands secure, even when it comes to the soundtrack. Being that there are plenty of dry spells in this film, there are, of course, plenty of moments of quietness, or at least moments where liveliness has to be kept alive by sharp dialogue, rather than musical soul, but when played up, this film's primarily classical soundtrack and Krishna Levy's original score tastefully fit and color up entertainment value, if not moments of dynamicity in tone that would have succumb to the repetition that claims quite a few areas in storytelling were it not for playfulness in music. The film's musical touches boast a lively artistry that is worth waiting for through all of the quieter spells, which are still accompanied by another, more recurring artistic touch, which is, of course, of a photographic nature, as cinematographers Stéphane Fontaine, Eric Gautier and Dominique Perrier-Royer deliver on their own distinct types of style, but at least keeping consistent in handsomely warm coloring that may not be downright stunning, but is very inviting as a recurring compliment to each one of this film's visual styles. If nothing else, this film is tastefully done, with a generally fine musical ear and a consistently sharp visual style, and such aesthetic value does a fair bit to drive this film's liveliness, but when it's all said and done, a film this simultaneously minimalist and overblown needs to deliver on effective substance if it stands a chance of rewarding. In concept, this film's story of making serious life decisions and changes in order to find a path], if a bit familiar, but taken on its own, it cannot sustain a three-hour runtime, and Arnaud Desplechin, realizing this, does all he can to bring compellingness to the execution of a worthy concept, putting together a script with Emmanuel Bourdieu that delivers on both clever dialogue (or at least I think it might be clever) and a well-rounded piece of characterization for every familiar or undercooked one, while individually turning in a directorial performance that keeps entertainment value generally adequate with a lively atmosphere, whose more restrained spots are still with there share of moments that breathe essence into what dramatic depth this film has. There's not too much dramatic weight to this film, but this is still a conceptually very human story that Desplechin may flesh out too much in a lot of places, and not really flesh out enough in a few other places, but generally takes plenty of time meditating upon, to where you get a genuine sense of progression and development in this character piece are further sold on you by the portrayers of the characters who drive this opus. Featuring dramatic character shifts that are more like processes than breakthroughs, this film doesn't offer terribly strong acting material, yet every member of this hefty cast of mostly pretty talents (Marion Cotillard has a [*cough*top*cough*less*cough*] cameo, that's how pretty these female cast members are) has his or her own kind of distinct charisma that commands your attention, while the occasional subtle dramatic note helps in reinforcing human depths within this layered character piece. In terms of quantity, there's aren't a whole lot strengths to this film, as surely as there aren't a whole lot of flaws, but there still more strengths than flows, and they sure do count, gracing this film with inviting warmth, charm and compellingness that prove to be considerable enough to power the film as a rewarding investment of three hours. To put this argument to a rest, in spite of undercooked characterization spots that allow you to momentarily meditate upon familiarity within this film's driving characters, and bland spots in atmosphere that allow you to meditate upon just how overlong the often repetitious and sometimes aimless affair is, to where it cannot sustain a wealth of weight, there is enough tastefulness within the classical soundtrack, score and warmly handsomely, stylistically dynamic cinematography, and value to the substance, emphasized by clever writing, generally lively direction and charismatically convincing acting to keep compellingness well-secured enough for "Comment je me suis disputé... (ma vie sexuelle)", or "My Sex Life... or How I Got into an Argument" (Whether it's in French or English, this film's title is a mouthful) to stand as a rewarding character study that engages time and again throughout its gratuitously sprawling course. 3/5 - Good
Cameron J true
Godzilla vs. the Thing (1964)
It's all of the excitement of a big lizard facing off against a big moth... and both combatants are giant monstrosities tearing up Japan. Wow, that actually does sound kind of cool, but after "King Kong vs. Godzilla", I think that we could have gone a while without seeing another crossover between "Godzilla" and another monster series, rather than the first of so very, very, very many. There ought to be a little more inspiration this time around, thanks to desperation, because even though the film "Mothra" was fairly successful, the people behind it just had to have known that the "Godzilla" franchise was going to be the best thing to happen to their franchise. If nothing else will make this film more inspired than "King Kong vs. Godzilla", it's the fact that this time around, there aren't any ignorant Americans to mess this project up, like you know they would have, seeing as how when they got ahold of this film, they came up with a title as "inspired and creative" as "Godzilla vs. the Thing". You know that they're not referring to Christian Nyby's "The Thin from Another World", because no one paid that much attention to that creature until John Carpenter's remake that came out about 22 years later, just as no one pays that much attention to Mothra outside of the "Godzilla" franchise. You know, maybe those involved in this crossover aren't too much more creative than the Americans, because, again, even though these rascals are big and destructive, at the end of the day, we are talking about a big lizard facing off against a big moth. Well, at least this film is decidedly better than "King Kong vs. Godzilla", in spite of its shortcomings, such as natural ones. I mean, I don't how much we're to expect out of a crossover between Mothra and Godzilla in the first place, but this film's story can't even be that meaty, being a lot of dramatically inconsequential chatter, punctuated by action sequences that come without any real sense of consequence over spectacle. That's the usual kaiju premise, and exactly ten years after this monster film genre was established, by way of "Gojira", it was already being worked to death, so, on top of being thin to begin with, this film's story concept is hardly anything new, crafting typical human characters, following a familiar beat and path, and ultimately hitting a number of other fluffy conventions, plenty of which are not the right ones, if you know what I'm getting at, people who saw "Mothra". The "Godzilla" series started out intelligent and reasonably grounded, with some real substance over spectacle, but "Mothra", a more stereotypical Japanese pop piece, carried many a silly aspect that returns here (Those stupid tiny twins), further taking you out of an already somewhat unengaging premise, backed by cheese on the writing that probably shouldn't be there. A lot of the dialogue is cornball, and the humor, while plenty charming and often quite amusing, breaks what tension there is in this rather dated, even if there is always a consistency in a lack of subtlety, which bloats a lot of the popcorn traits, and still not as much as it probably should to really liven things up, at least when it comes to pacing. Running not even 90 minutes, this film is almost as short as those stupid tiny twins, and it's not much of anything beyond dragging, taking what feels like a long, long time to unveil Mothra, and an even longer time to unveil Godzilla, let alone get into the action, and focusing a lot of talk that is colorful, but backed by a subdued air that is occasionally rather dulling. Too much talk has always been a problem with these kaiju classics, but this film, in particular, cannot afford to bore, especially not after "King Kong vs. Godzilla" fell flat as more of a snoozefest than the inconsequential fluff piece that it and this film aims to be. Fluffy, familiar, silly and draggy, this film stands a very real chance of falling to the level of "King Kong vs. Godzilla", but it ultimately gets by as entertaining and, well, focused, for what it is. Even with all of the over-reliance on chatter, this film doesn't have much pretense about what it is: a fluff piece, and while that establishes a whole lot of natural shortcomings that are made all the more distancing by silly story traits and some cheesy writing, but quite frankly, this premise is plenty of fun, and Shinichi Sekizawa's scripted interpretation does add to that through some charming comic relief, and perhaps even more charming characters. The human characters are genuinely memorable, and every one of them are played the way they ought to be, making them even more charming and endearing amidst all of their aimless chit-chat, and with the help of a competent director. Ishiro Honda, the director who started it all, finally returns to the "Godzilla" franchise, but brings with him sensibilities more in the vein of his directorial performance on "Mothra", complete with more limp pacing than ponderous thoughtfulness, and more emphasis on style over substance, although that is not a huge criticism, considering that Honda often manages to keep the pace tight enough for you feel some, maybe a little too much extensiveness, backed by an adequate deal of flare. Akira Ifukube adds to this flare with a formulaic, but lively and occasionally emotive score, whose underusage keeps it from being as recurrent of a compliment to aesthetic value as Hajime Koizumi's somewhat flat, but colorfully sound and, therefore, handsome cinematography. If nothing else can be admired about the visual style of this film, it's its scope, which immerses you into a number of distinguished, often lovely locations and settings, and creates a sense of scope that further adds to the fun factor of this popcorn piece, especially in the heat of action. We're ultimately here for Mothra and Godzilla, and they take a long time to show up, arriving as effects that have become terribly dated, like a couple of other effects in this film (Those stupid tiny twins didn't always blend in, and those tanks look like the toys they are), yet are still unique and flashy enough to sell, at least as components to spare, but grand and nifty action sequences that are worth waiting a long time for. As things progress, the film does grow livelier and livelier, after plenty of slow early phases, but, honestly, the final product is almost always some degree of entertaining and colorful, keeping up enough charm and entertainment value to satisfy as a fluff piece, even if only that. When the battle is done, this fluff piece finds its natural shortcomings as an inconsequential story that goes further plagued by familiarity and a silliness which is itself exacerbated by cheesy scripting moments that still don't manage to liven things enough to prevent a surprising amount of dragging and slow spells from threatening the final product's decency, ultimately secured by an at least entertaining premise's being done enough justice by colorfully charming humor, characters, performances and direction, and by charged score work, handsome cinematography and settings, and thrilling, if dated effects and action sequences to make Ishiro Honda's "Mothra vs. Godzilla" a fun, if inconsequential "first" crossover between two of Toho's biggest (Figuratively and literally) icons. 2.5/5 - Fair
Godzilla Raids Again (1959)
"Whoopie-ti-yo, the biggest lizard raids again!" Sorry, Chris LeDoux and whoever the littlest cowboy is, but I, with a heavy heart, must admit that "Falco Rides Again" fits better, just because of that line, "This is the story of a lonely man who's seen the world, from 'Japan' to Afghanistan!". Well, say what you will about Falco, but when he rode again, he apparently actually got out of Japan eventually, whereas the Gojira/Godzilla stuck with Japan... after returning from the dead... I think. Hey, you have to give us Americans credit for changing this rascal's voice and origin around in 1959 to get the point across that this is, in fact, not the same monster from the original "Gojira", or "Godzilla", or whatever, although we had to have known that we wouldn't make much profit off of "Gigantis". That's actually dumber than "Gorilla-Whale" ("Gojira" is an amalgamation of the Japanese words for gorilla and whale), and as if that's not offensive enough, they gave everyone's favorite monster a demotion, from "King of Monsters" to plain old "Fire Monster". This film has so many titles, but what they really should have done was just aggravated religious nuts even more by calling this "Godzilla: The Second Coming", for his return is an event of such biblical proportions that he brought a few beast to brawl. Yeah, when it comes to advertising, it would appear as though Anguirus gets the shaft most of all, but he'll always have the honor of being Godzilla's first enemy and Gigantis' only one, and in a pretty entertaining flick, no less, until the slow spots come in, that is. The predecessor tossed in more than a few surprising slow spells, yet it could kind of justify them by featuring an even more surprising amount of depth, whereas with this film, while there is a little more entertainment value, the superficiality intensifies the slow spells as rather dull, almost as much as the dragging in plotting. Seeing as how this film is about 82 minutes long, one of the last things I expected was draggy spells, but the final product manages to find the time to work a couple in there by shaving down on exposition, answering to the extensiveness of the predecessor with glosses over scientific and narrative reasoning behind the establishment of the central conflict, and with limited characterization. With a shortage on a sense of motivation behind the characters, the film's human story angles surrounding the monsters' brawl and rampage fail to convince enough to overcome a sense of contrivance, exacerbated by some silly subtlety issues in the telling of an already either histrionic or over-the-top story. The original's story was by no means especially convincing, and it was a whole lot of chatter, with only so much action, but it did offer some genuine depth and potential, while this film, arguably a little too much action, is simple, dialing social, political and scientific themes way back for fluff. Without the dramatic bite of its predecessor, this film has difficulty in overshadowing the silliness of its premise, and it doesn't help that this kaiju-style story isn't as fresh as it was in its then-five-month-old predecessor, especially not when backed by a couple of tropes of the time which the original "Gojira"/"Godzilla" managed to transcend, and which make this fluff piece all the more predictable. There's something a little lazy about this film, as one might expect from a sequel that was made not even half of a year after its predecessor hit big, and while there is enough compensation in aesthetic and entertainment value to endear, the final product is familiar and superficial, as well as unevenly paced, undercooked and manufactured. The final product may succumb to mediocrity for many, but for me, again, it gets by, not as effective on the level of an already admittedly underwhelming predecessor, but as viscerally and stylistically enjoyable. Masaru Sato's score isn't as fresh or effective as Akira Ifukube's score for the predecessor, and it is already fairly underused, but its striking lighter spots and grand sweeping spots immerse, not unlike cinematography, by Seiichi Endo, that doesn't have the handsome bleakness of the predecessor, yet remains sometimes beautifully well-lit, with an engrossing range in lensing scope. If nothing else provides a sense of scale in this film, then it is, of course, the effects, which, like those in the predecessor, are dated and sometimes cheesy, - especially considering that this film is even more reliant on them - but are nonetheless remarkable for their time, while still proving respectable to this day, with unique designs for Gojira/Godzilla and Anguirus, whose size and havoc are solid just fine. All of the chaos that comes about when these monsters feud with humans, man-made structures, and each other is not simply where the technical and stylistic value really shines, but where the film itself really shines, with surprisingly dynamic and sweeping staging, and enough flare to the effects to dazzle at times, and consistently engage in the heat of action. To be so slam-banged, this film may actually offer stronger effects than its predecessor, although you might simply think that because the effects are brought more to the forefront, until they try to bring in substance over style with a charming, but thematically superficial and dramatically manufactured human angle that is neither unique or grand. Some color in the narrative goes a long way in holding some degree of your investment, especially when the cast turns in some charismatic performances that are more convincing than the characterization itself, but at the end of the day, this film doesn't have the substance of its predecessor, and neither style nor charm can endear you through the natural and consequential shortcomings here, not without colorful direction. Director Motoyoshi Oda's slow spots in storytelling feel more limp than thoughtful, like the still-sometimes limp direction of Ishiro Honda in the predecessor, but when storytelling does liven up a bit, it holds your attention with a few charming plays with the performers, and really immerses with style, particularly during the action sequences that only mark a height in entertainment value. For all of its slow spots, the film is adequately entertaining throughout its course, and just as the simplicity thins down the potential for this fluff piece, it does establish a potential for a fun factor that is fulfilled just enough by charm and relatively high-caliber production values to get by, even if just barely. Once the raid has wrapped, at least for now, the final product all but collapses into underwhelmingness under the pressure of superficiality which is stressed by dull and draggy spots, expository shortcomings, contrivances and familiarity, but which is met with enough charming acting, engaging scoring and cinematography, colorful storytelling and relatively spectacular effects and action for "Godzilla Raids Again"... or "Gojira no Gyakushu", or "Counterattack of Godzilla", or "Godzilla: The Second Coming" (We'll just continue to forget about "Gigantis, the Fire Monster") a reasonably entertaining, if perhaps overly fluffy second installment in a legendary franchise. 2.5/5 - Fair
"Oh no, there goes Tokyo; go-go-gorilla-whale!" Godzilla's original name is Gojira, deriving from the Japanese word for gorilla, "goriria" (Oh yeah, that's not supplementary to racist stereotypes), and the Japanese word for whale, "kujira". Oh yeah, nerds, I just went there, and if you thought that was a slightly uninteresting stretch, well, just wait until you see the rest of the "Godzilla", or "Gojira", or "Gorilla-Whale", or whatever franchise. He literally is a god among lizards, a king among monsters, and yet another over-the-top horror to hit Japan that derived from working with nuclear stuff. I don't know about Tokyo, but this lizard sure is doing a number on people's comfort zones, because he's a nuclear disaster in Japan not ten years after Hiroshima and Nagasaki got bombed, and then he comes over to the States with some sort of sacrilege trailing his new name. It was sacrilege to Japan, too, because when he showed up in the States, almost two years after this film was released, it was heavily re-edited and Americanized, with less emphasis on social and political themes. Shoot, while I do like this film a fair bit, maybe it does need to dial a few things back a bit. Actually, subtlety issues aren't that enormous of a deal here, at least when it comes to the allegorical themes, which are nonetheless laid on a little thick at times, largely by overdramatic moments that are typical with Japanese cinema, particularly at the time. Sure, the effects, while impressive at the time and still admirable to this day, are pretty decidedly more dated than anything in this film, but as surprisingly serious as this film feels in so many ways, the dramatic writing gets a little overblown, and the atmospheric tension tends to bear down a bit, as well. Tonal contrivances, courtesy of director Ishiro Honda, are actually few and far between, and that's because there's a surprising amount of delicacy in this film's storytelling, which I can appreciate for its providing a sense of importance and weight to a potentially stupid film, but can't really embrace it when material for Honda to draw upon with his thoughtfulness lapses. Pacing and structure are ultimately the film's biggest problems, because there are times in which the film gets a little boring with all of its dry talk, dragging its feet on its way to showcases of the titular iconic monster, who goes underused for a whole lot of nothing. Looking at this basic premise about a prehistoric monster wreaking havoc, and at the lame-brain simplicity of very many of the Kaiju films this classic inspired, it should come as a surprise that this film's subject matter is fairly intelligent and dramatically weighty, but the plot is still a little straightforward, no matter how much they bloat it with aimless chatter and exposition which only stress certain inconsequentialities in this promising, but underwhelming film. So much is done very well here, and I can understand why this classic has resonated and reward so many through the years, for it has a lot of rewarding elements, although it doesn't quite stand strong, getting a little too ambitious, especially with sensibilities of the time, to stay subtle, and getting a little too problematically paced for natural shortcomings to be overlooked. The final product falls short of rewarding, but just barely, because, again, a lot in this film is done very well, even when it comes to technicality. Glazing some handsome bleakness over a black-and-white palette, and having some hand in the dynamic visual scope that ranges from tightly intimate to sweeping, Masao Tamai delivers on excellent cinematography that compliments the tone of this heavy and broad-scale thriller, more recurrently than Akira Ifukube's powerful score, whose subtleties are racked with tension and, at times, piercing resonance, and whose sweep is occasionally monumental. Aesthetic and technical value stand strong in this film, which is best-remembered for its effects, which have become dated, often terribly so, yet were actually pretty incredible at the time, so much so that you still kind of buy into the unique design of Gojira/Godzilla, and into the illusions utilized to simulate the monstrosity's overwhelming scale. The beast is chillingly enormous, and when he wreaks havoc, while you can see the seams in the miniatures and superimpositions, it makes for spectacle that is still genuinely worth waiting for, through all of aimless plot. Again, this film doesn't use Gojira/Godzilla all that much, and between his raid is a whole lot of social, political and scientific mumbo-jumbo, thus making for something of a thin plot, but not as much of one as you might think, for this film does, albeit sometimes a little heavy-handedly, take on audacious and worthy themes regarding the dangers of working with radioactivity, and the political and social instabilities chaos can bring, backed by a plot that doesn't focus too much on contrived subplots, and takes an extensive look as a society's handling of a grave situation. The human qualities of the film are actually brought to life by a large, very talented cast, whose members project human charisma and chemistry, as well as a genuine sense of fear and a great deal of emotion to define the dramatic significance of this kind of an event. It helps that screenwriters Ishiro Honda and Takeo Murata provide quality material to the characterization, which fleshes out most everyone in his or her respective role, without getting uneven, in spite of all of the aimless chatter that is still smart in its complimenting adequately buyable, fictional science, and plenty buyable allegories, with a generally solid degree of subtlety that is capitalized on by Honda's direction, which may get a little subtle for its own good, as well as occasionally a little manipulative, yet is engaging in its thoughtfulness when working with intriguing material, until broadening enough to establish genuine tension. The film is gripping at times, and much more often than that, it is fairly compelling, flattened too much by pacing issues and natural shortcomings, though not to where the final product can't be admired for having intelligence to accompany the originality and intrigue of a story that is handled well enough to come to the brink of rewarding, even if it is only the brink. Overall, there are a few thematic and dramatic subtlety issues, which are just a part of the fair deal of dated aspects that is challenged by thoughtfulness that largely only emphasizes bland dragging that in turn emphasizes the natural shortcomings of a somewhat underwhelming, but still intriguing story, whose original flare is brought to life by excellent cinematography and score work, and by once-stellar and still-admirable effects and action, while substance goes complimented enough by worthwhile themes, strong performances, intelligently well-rounded writing, and generally effective direction to secure Ishiro Honda's "Godzilla" as a true classic that, for all of its shortcomings, compel reasonably well. 2.75/5 - Decent
"I have had to fight, almost every night, down throughout these centuries; that is when I say, oh yes, yet again, 'Can you stop the Calvary?'". Sorry, Jona Lewis, but the Cavalry has arrived, but they couldn't even spell their name right, so I don't know how much help they would be. For the record, I understand that Calvary was the spot where they crucified Christ, and now, this poor sucker might end up being crucified, figuratively, at least. Man, the poster makes this film look really important and dramatically intense, and all this and all that, but it is directed by the guy who did 2011's "The Guard", so you know that it's going to be rather lighthearted. I don't know if this dark comedy is going to be heavier on the darkness or heavier on the comedy, because in this film, the type of authority figure Brendan Gleeson is playing is a priest, something that always makes me laugh. Now, before you thumpers of the Catholic Bible-thumpers get mad and, I don't know, flog me or something, first off, this film is actually something of a deconstruction of the Catholic Church, and secondly, as Jonathan Swift taught us, Irish priests have the best sense of dark humor. I think that's just the Irish in general, because they have all gone through some serious junk, including this guy, whose humor still can't completely overshadow his issues or, well, the issues of this film. A little dramatically weightier and comically lighter than "The Guard", this film would be all over the place with its tone if all of the cold dryness didn't subdued much of the tone, which still finds time to jar about the place, taking you out of the direction of this dark dramedy that cannot afford to lose resonance as either a drama or a comedy. The themes of this satire on Catholicism, at least in modern Ireland, don't always sell, largely because of the inconsistent tone that leaves elements in the narrative that are comically exaggerated to feel more unconvincing than anything. Really, this film is something of a mess in all kinds of ways, especially when it comes to the focus of the plot itself, for although this film keeps a consistent lead to serve as an audience avatar, many characters with a distinct piece of the plot come in and out of play, and hardly ever all that organically. The film might not quite be all over the place in tone, but in plot structure, it is a mighty mess, bloated with layers and layers of seemingly random events that only stress the simplicity of this straightforward, largely comedic opus that doesn't even have the energy to fulfill its comic potential. The script is sharp and the acting is razor-sharp, while direction has some nifty moments to liven things up, but through all of that, this film is quiet and dry, same as "The Guard", with less colorful fluff, resulting in a blandness that very often descends into a dullness. This film is a competent crawl that isn't always dull, and isn't always competent, being disjointed in its tone and, even more so focus, and finding itself meandering along a simple story until the final product finally sputters out as almost forgettable, at least for the most part. John Michael McDonagh once again fails to hit me like he does others, but he got me and will certainly get others by, and almost makes the final product decidedly rewarding, with generally intelligent storytelling, and surprisingly solid score. If Patrick Cassidy's score doesn't rank among the best of the year, that's simply because it's criminally underused in this very dry affair, because when it is used, it's incredible, with a deeply spiritual connection that ranges from piercingly touching to strikingly intense, and compliments the emotional effectiveness of what dramatic aspects there are in this affair, as surely as it supplements solid aesthetic value. Cassidy is a deeply gifted composer, and I seriously wish that his colorful efforts were much more prominent, although it's not as though the film is aesthetically cold for the most part, for the also gifted Larry Smith delivers an upstanding cinematographic performance whose well-defined, almost dreamy emphasis on crisp lighting and fittingly cold coloration makes for a consistently handsome visual style, punctuated by stunning moments in imagery. Style is solid, and as director, John Michael McDonagh orchestrates it and other technical highlights in order to liven up an atmosphere that he usually chills down to its bone, with a ponderous pace that ranges from bland to dull, but only on the whole, because when his thoughtfulness finds its place, it captures the subtle wit of much of the humor and satire, as well as the sting of the heart of dramatics which grow more and more prominent, until finally coming down to a surprisingly powerful ending. Gradually building in weight as a portrait on a priest losing his faith in humanity as his potential murder draws nearer and nearer, this story has an edge that sharpens as things progress, yet on the whole, this is a story that is too lighthearted to stand up all that firmly against the inconsistencies, although it is always intriguing in its fresh, if sometimes ambiguous deconstructions on the Catholic fate and the true goodness of those who celebrate it, and when McDonagh does do it justice, as writer, he hits deep with the humorous heights in consistently clever dialogue that maintains some degree of entertainment value, while some degree of your investment is maintained by well-rounded characterization. This film is a mess in how it juggles so many characters and layers, but it's almost amazing how McDonagh manages to flesh everyone's respective role out, although, in all fairness, he does receive some help from a solid cast. If nothing else sells the many problematically drawn and juggled characters in this layered opus, it is the characters' charismatic portrayals, found virtually all across the board (Believe it or not, Chris O'Dowd is a dramatic revelation, and I seriously hope to see him flesh out his true capabilities in future films), though not like it is within leading man Brendan Gleeson, who plays his usual charismatic role, and does essentially nothing beyond that, only to end up packing on some powerful layers as the plot thickens, shining a dark light on humanity and seeing the Father James character grow more fearful for his life, while presenting Gleeson the opportunity to express rich dramatic nuance and devastating emotional intensity that he more than fulfills. Gleeson is always engaging, but in the latter acts, he cuts deep, and just as his highlights come in a little too late for the performance to be outstanding on the whole, the overall film's highlights come in a little too late for the final product to be all-out rewarding, and yet there's always something engaging about this film, as well, enough so to make the final product decent, if not powerful to many, for all of the shortcomings that leave me feeling a little bit cold. When it's all said and done, the inconsistencies in tone make it hard to buy into the film's satire and, to a lesser extent, happenings, while an unevenly overblown focal structure reflect an excessiveness in the telling of a simple story that is still told with too much bland, if not dull coldness for the final product to transcend underwhelmingness, in spite of the magnificent, if criminally underused score work, solid cinematography, intriguing subject matter, sometimes effectively thoughtful direction, generally clever and well-characterized writing, and across-the-board engaging performances - especially that of Brendan Gleeson - that secure John Michael McDonagh's "Calvary" as an always fairly smart and occasionally powerful black comedy-drama that fails to hit as hard as it probably should have on the whole, but is decent. 2.75/5 - Decent
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Israel apologises over embassy employee's threat to 'take down' UK minister
Updated / Sunday, 8 Jan 2017 14:48
The Israeli embassy said the employee was not a diplomat
The Israeli embassy in London sought to head off a diplomatic row, apologising after one of its staff was caught on camera threatening to "take down" a British government minister.
The Mail on Sunday newspaper posted the footage showing the embassy employee telling an undercover reporter from Al-Jazeera that "I want to take down... the Deputy Foreign Minister" (Alan Duncan) - a long-time critic of Israel, and Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson's second-in-command.
Mr Duncan was "doing a lot of problems," he added.
The embassy issued an immediate apology, saying it "rejects the remarks concerning Minister Duncan, which are completely unacceptable".
"The comments were made by a junior embassy employee who is not an Israeli diplomat, and who will be ending his term of employment with the embassy shortly," it added.
Ambassador Mark Regev apologised personally to Mr Duncan on Friday, according to the embassy.
Britain's Foreign Office confirmed they had received an apology, and that it now considered "the matter closed".
The footage was recorded at a restaurant opposite the Israeli embassy in Kensington, west London, during a meeting attended by Maria Strizzolo, senior aide to Conservative Education Minister Robert Halfon.
Ms Strizzolo spoke of her influence in helping Mr Halfon become a minister, prompting the embassy staffer to ask her "can you do the opposite stuff as well?"
However, Ms Strizzolo said Mr Duncan would be "impossible to rebuff" due to having powerful "friends", but then suggested "a little scandal, maybe?"
The embassy employee also called Mr Johnson an "idiot" and mocked "crazy" opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and his "weirdo" supporters.
Ms Strizzolo told the newspaper that her conversation with the employee was "tongue-in-cheek and gossipy", adding: "Any suggestion that I ... could exert the type of influence you are suggesting is risible."
She said she knew him "purely socially and as a friend. He is not someone with whom I have ever worked or had any political dealings beyond chatting about politics, as millions of people do, in a social context".
Ms Strizzolo is now understood to have resigned her civil service post.
Labour has demanded an investigation into the extent of Israeli "interference" in British politics.
Shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry called for the government to begin an inquiry into the extent of "improper interference" by the Israeli government.
She said: "The exposure of an Israeli embassy official discussing how to bring down or discredit a government minister and other MPs because of their views on the Middle East is extremely disturbing.
"Improper interference in our democratic politics by other states is unacceptable whichever country is involved.
"It is simply not good enough for the Foreign Office to say the matter is closed. This is a national security issue.
"The embassy official involved should be withdrawn, and the government should launch an immediate inquiry into the extent of this improper interference and demand from the Israeli government that it be brought to an end."
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Mayor eager to work with Bucks president on race relations
MILWAUKEE (AP) Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett said he's eager to work with Bucks president Peter Feigin to improve the city's race relations after the NBA executive last week called the city the ''most segregated, racist place'' he has seen.
However, Feigin said Tuesday in a statement that he didn't intend to characterize the city as ''overtly racist,'' that it's ''a terrific community with wonderful people'' and he is ''proud to be a part of it.'' according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (http://bit.ly/2cJ81qU ).
Barrett and Feigin, who is from New York City, had a ''good conversation'' on Monday, the mayor said.
''I hope we can change his feelings, but to do that, we've got a lot of work to do,'' Barrett said.
Last week, the Wisconsin State Journal reported that Feigin called Milwaukee the ''most segregated, racist place I've ever experienced in my life'' during a speech in Madison.
''It just is a place that is antiquated. It is in desperate need of repair and has happened for a long, long time. One of our messages and one of our goals is to lead by example,'' Feigin was quoted as saying.
In his statement Tuesday, Feigin said the comment came as he was ''addressing a question about the social, economic and geographic divides that exist and how we can help address them.''
Barrett said that Feigin and the Bucks' ownership team ''seem to be a willing partner'' to address the racial disparities in the city of 600,000 along Lake Michigan, which a 2012 Manhattan Institute analysis of census data found is the country's most segregated metropolitan area, surpassing Chicago, Cleveland and Detroit.
Feigin has said the team is committed to helping Milwaukee. In May, the Bucks' owners agreed to pay workers at the new $500 million downtown arena at least $12 per hour by next year, and at least $15 per hour by 2023. The agreement also includes provisions to protect workers' ability to unionize and ensure that the team hires workers from Milwaukee's poorest neighborhoods.
The deal is expected to apply to about 1,000 employees, including full- and part-time workers at the arena and the team's practice facility and parking garage.
Wisconsin Republican Gov. Scott Walker signed bipartisan legislation in August 2015 that committed taxpayers to paying half the cost of the arena over the next 20 years in exchange for the team remaining in Milwaukee. The new arena is expected to open in 2018.
Information from: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, http://www.jsonline.com
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Cavaliers/Raptors Eastern Conference Finals Preview
Dylan Goldman | May 17th 2016, 12:18 pm
The Toronto Raptors have reached a new height of playoff success, appearing in the franchise’s first conference finals. Awaiting them is a Cleveland Cavaliers team thinking Finals or bust. Will the squad with nothing to lose get the better of the defending conference champs?
The Raptors and Cavs will meet in the Eastern Conference finals starting tonight at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland. The two teams met three times during the regular season, with Toronto winning twice. The home team won all three games during the season series, however, which might be a good sign for Cleveland, since they have home court advantage.
Toronto hasn’t had an easy ride this postseason. Both of its series, against Indiana and Miami, went seven games.
Its calling card all season has been its start-studded backcourt. The combination of point guard Kyle Lowry and shooting guard DeMar DeRozan has been tough to stop. DeRozan has led the team in scoring throughout the postseason averaging 20.0 points per game. Lowry has averaged 18.6 points per game, including his 35 in their Game 7 victory over the Heat.
Toronto is sound defensively, but will miss rim-protector Jonas Valanciunas for at least Game 1 (sprained ankle). The Raptors know what they’ll get from their backcourt, but they need players from their supporting cast to step up. Patrick Patterson, Cory Joseph, and DeMarre Carroll will need to increase their production in order for Toronto to have a chance in this series.
Cleveland has had a joy ride through this year’s playoffs so far. It swept its first two opponents, Detroit and Atlanta, making the Cavs the only undefeated playoff team. Its roster is built around the “Big 3” of LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Love. Irving has averaged 24.4 points per game in the postseason, which leads the team. James has averaged 23.5 points per game, and Love 18.9.
Cleveland has caught fire from beyond the arc at the right time. The Cavaliers shot 51% from three-point range against Atlanta, and were the first team in NBA history to make at least 15 threes in four straight games. Cleveland’s defense has allowed an average of 97 points during the playoffs, but expect that to change when they face Toronto's backcourt.
While the Raptors are a trendy pick because of their backcourt, injuries to their frontcourt will make it difficult to win this series. Also, the way Cleveland is shooting, it will be very difficult to stop them. Not to mention: LeBron James.
The Cavaliers will win in five.
Photo: Claus Andersen/Getty Images (action), Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images (Lowry), Dave Sandford/NBAE via Getty Images (James)
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Re-making Fleabag's Guinea Pig Cafe / April 11, 2019 by Jonathan Green
After creating the iconic cafe for Series 1, we were faced with a huge dilemma for Series 2.
The cafe was in the process of undergoing a major re-fit and was completely gutted. Worse still, the restaurant was due to be finished just as we needed to start shooting. So we toyed with the idea of a script change that would have had Fleabag updating her cafe to something a bit more normal.
But ultimately, we all felt that the Guinea Pig cafe was as much part of Fleabag’s world as she was, and so we even considered a set build in a studio.
Once the shoot started, we still hadn’t decided which way to go, but we heard that their re-fit was running way behind schedule. At that point I decided to pay them a visit late one evening after a long shoot day, to see how the restaurant was looking.
When I got there, I was a bit disturbed to find a gutted empty shell of a building, but miraculously, the outside frontage hadn’t been touched.
And so the idea of turning it back to how it was, for a few short days, started to seem like a pretty decent idea.
The owners would need to be on board to hold up their builders for a week, but that felt like a possibility. And so I got measuring and sketching, and went away, with a telephone call to the Producer, and emails to the Director to put forward my plan.
There was a bit of scepticism, because the counter area was completely ripped out, and so we would only be able to effectively shoot in one direction, but everybody jumped on board to get re-creating the cafe.
About a week later, carpenters went in, and we set about building a set within the shell, and once that was done we dressed the set with as many items as we had stored from series 1 (the tables and chairs belonged to the previous restaurant, but had long since gone, so we had to hire as close to the original as we could)
And the next day, the shooting crew arrived, and we all felt like we’d come back to visit an old friend.
It was a real joy to recreate a space we all thought had long since gone, and Phoebe’s delight at returning to her old cafe was a great reward.
We were only there a few days, and then we pulled it all out, and left it as the shell I had found a few weeks before. Fleeting moments of joyful memories and nostalgia.
Fleabag, Phoebe Waller Bridge, Guinea pig cafe, Fleabag 2 April 11, 2019
Work update / June 18, 2017 by Jonathan Green
It's been a long while since I wrote a blog post, so here's a quick update of whats been going on:
January started with designing Jack Whitehall's current travelling tour, which started at the Echo Arena in Liverpool.
The Chase also returned to the studio after a Christmas s break, and I worked on a small pilot called Coconut for BBC3
Next I designed a small studio set for a Facebook Live show called Studs Up, and then want on to Series 2 of the Channel 5 comedy, Borderline which shot through March.
April seemed to come and go all too quickly, with a brand new Channel 4 show called Lego Masters. Not sure when that airs, but reckon it will be popular.
Then into May and the annual visit to Qi and Mock The Week, and then straight in to pre-production for the new series of Still Game in June.
So that's about it for now. Hoping for a nice juicy show in the Autumn before Fleabag 2 goes in to production early next year, if all goes to plan.....
LegoMasters, Qi, Mock the week, Still Game, Jack Whitehall June 18, 2017
Michael, Marlon & Elizabeth - Urban Myths / January 15, 2017 by Jonathan Green
Sadly, as a viewer, you'll never get a chance to see this production.
As of two days ago, Sky in their wisdom decided to pull it on the strength of objections by the Jackson family, who thought the portrayal (having only seen a 10 second trailer) to be "offensive".
Having worked on this show and seen the completed programme, I can honestly say all the hype around it is totally wrong.
Unlike every other comedy before it, this portrayal of Michael Jackson is not a "piss take", and does not show the artist in a bad light. It's a beautifully performed charming and heart-warming piece, with caring and nuanced acting by all of its cast, including one of the last performances by Carrie Fisher.
Unfortunately, the world has been robbed of this delightful show, which sets a seriously worrying precedent for the Film & TV Industry.
If we are to have a show pulled that is deemed too offensive because of it's portrayal of celebrities, we will never again see the likes of shows such as Brass Eye, Spitting Image, even Star Stories amongst many others, or actors such as Ben Kingsley playing Ghandi, which is a depressing thought.
Michael Jackson, Urban Myths, Michael Marlon Elizabeth, Sky January 15, 2017
Stag / March 2, 2016 by Jonathan Green
Now that Stag has started airing on BBC2 Saturdays 9pm, I'm able to start uploading some on set photos.
Stag was spilt across locations in the Highlands of Scotland, and in and around Pinewood Studios, outside of London.
If you get the chance to watch on catch-up, please do. It's a remarkable piece of television, that I'm hugely proud to have been involved in.
The house that we turned in to a pub
stag March 02, 2016
Episodes Network Office set designed by Jonathan Paul Green
Episodes by Jonathan Paul Green
© Jonathan Paul Green 2019 All rights reserved. Images or text must not be reproduced without prior permission.
WPA UK | Worldwide Production Agency
26 Berwick Street, London, W1F 8RG
O: +44 (0)207 28 79564
www.wp-a.co.uk
Amber Thompson
amber@wp-a.co.uk
M: +44 (0)7393 376 975
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By The We Serve Team| SEPTEMBER 27, 2016
By Kyle Guerin
Sr. Manager, We Serve
Whether it’s the belly laugh of a child, a cat wearing roller skates, or an 80-year-old doing the Macarena, there are so many reasons to smile. Now that I think about it all of those things make me smile but what really lights me up is the thought of people helping people. On Aug 20th over 4,000 members of the Smile Generation family across 18 states set out to help over 2000 people get over million in donated dentistry. If that doesn’t make you smile, there’s no way that roller skating cat is going to make you chuckle.
John Hagee said it best when he said “The measure of a man’s greatness is not the number of servants he has, but the number of people he serves.” On Smile Generation Serve Day, there were so many incredible stories of people serving others. Here are just a couple of them.
Tigard, OR
A team partnered with Breast Friends, a support group for women who have had or have breast cancer, to provide them with donated dentistry. Our team was inspired by the strength of the women facing a seemingly insurmountable challenge. Through the tears, the teams were able to smile.
One patient we fell in love with works as a cashier at 7-11, where her hours just got cut. She lives with her aunt, who helped raise her as her mother was a drug abuser. She served in Iraq at the age of 20 and is a single mom to two kids. She met our Benefits Coordinator, who has braces, at 7-11. We decided to bring her in and were able to help her with all of her dental needs. The last thing she needed was braces, and we agreed to do that for her, too. She cried, and then we cried because we were able to bring such a smile to her face.
These are just two stories. There are hundreds more stories of people simply helping people because it makes them smile.
Configure author profile in page properties
The We Serve Team
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The Solar Digest for Solar Power, Solar Energy and Photovoltaic PV News - Installation
Solar, So Good for York Tenants
Published: Friday, 15 June 2012 17:54
City of York Council is starting work on installing photovoltaic panels on suitable council homes to reduce carbon emissions and provide free daytime electricity for tenants.
Working with Empower Community Solar, the panels will be fitted on homes which have already been identified as potentially suitable in terms of size, orientation and pitch. The work will be carried out over the next six weeks at no cost to the council or to tenants to generate low cost, sustainable energy from daylight and could continue beyond that time, depending on an imminent announcement on Feed-in Tariff rules.
Once fitted, the panels will allow tenants to use as much of the free solar electricity generated as they wish during daylight hours. Research suggests this could supply in the region of 40 per cent of household requirements, while any electricity used outside daylight hours will be charged at the normal tariff. Tenants won't have to change their energy supplier.
To ensure the panels are placed on suitable roofs, the council is undertaking a joint survey of 780 homes with the installers, Nationwide Solar, to determine the exact size, angle, orientation and overshadowing of the roofs. Nationwide Solar will be contacting tenants to arrange the joint surveys and tenants will be asked to give their consent for panels to be installed and maintained - something which won't affect tenancies in any way.
Councillor Tracey Simpson-Laing, City of York Council's Cabinet member for Health, Housing and Adult Social Services said: "I believe it's essential that as a responsible landlord we take every opportunity to enable our tenants reduce their carbon footprint and reduce their energy bills. This low-carbon source of sustainable energy will serve to keep tenants comfortable, healthier and better off."
Steve Waddington, City of York Council's Assistant Director of Housing and Community Safety said: "It's great to see work to fit these panels has begun. We have been working with Empower Community and Community Energy Solutions for over 12 months to make the scheme viable and we are delighted that we are now in a position to start work. Unfortunately not every home is suitable for these panels but where it is the free electricity will significantly reduce the tenant's energy costs. "
Alex Grayson from Empower Community said: "Our mission is to accelerate the transition to sustainable, low carbon local economies and to start with Feed-in Tariff-backed solar PV for York's housing makes a lot of sense for all concerned. We're very happy to be undertaking this initial project with City of York Council and are hopeful that the new Feed-in Tariff rules, due to be announced today, will enable us to build on these first installations."
Nationwide Solar,york,solar industry,solar digest,
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Brown: It's like a second family
@SUFCRootsHall
Phil Brown on the tough Christmas schedule ahead for Blues
Phil Brown says Blues will be working just as hard as always over the Christmas period to prepare for four big games.
With AFC Wimbledon on Boxing Day and Accrington Stanley three days later, Blues’ players and staff will get little time to see their family over Christmas.
But Brown says the players and staff are almost like a second family – and the bond is important at this time of year.
He said: “We’ll all be working hard going into this busy period, it’s just another day to us as far as we’re concerned (Christmas Day).
“The players and staff here are your secondary family and when you have success, that bond grows stronger in the changing room.
“I think it’s important you still get to spend some time with your family, but this is your family too, it has to be.
“You have all the lads around you and the backroom staff going into these games.
“We’re together a lot of the time anyway but this is a very busy period for all football clubs.”
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Career Colleges and Vocational Schools in Argentina
Career Colleges and Vocational Schools in Argentina by City:
Buenos AiresLa PlataVilla María
About Career Colleges and Vocational Schools in Argentina
The Argentine economy is the third largest in all of Latin America, which for most translates to a very high quality of life. The country boasts the most literate and highly educated populace in the region and with rich natural resources and a wide array of agriculture products, all of which are in high demand the world over, it is also one of the leading exporters in the area. Couple this with a very diverse industrial base and it’s easy to see why Argentina continues to thrive and grow, even the midst of the ongoing global recession, and is considered an emerging market according to the Global Equity Index.
The wealth of resources enjoyed by Argentina is only one component of the country’s recent economic success, with the other being the knowledgeable and highly skilled workforce they possess—the workforce required to transform those resources into profits. This latter benefit was not always present, however. After the Federal Law of Education in 1995, which essentially did away with technical secondary schools in the region, Argentina had a deficiency of skilled and technically qualified workers. Moreover, prior to 2007, schooling of any kind after the primary level was not even compulsory. Consequently, estimates suggest that nearly half of all eligible students discontinued their studies at age 15 or 16, particularly those students in rural areas, citing the need to help their families economically. Even more, the majority of students who did attend secondary school studied a predominantly academic track, rather than a vocational one, with the goal of majoring in professional studies at the university.
This has all changed now, both at the secondary and tertiary level, as vocational schools and career studies have now become a major priority of this very successful school system.
Vocational Studies: Secondary School
The high schools in Argentina are called Polimodals—schools that offer different modes or categories of education from which students can choose. One of these educational tracks, called Escuelas Tecnicas, or technical schools, provides students an introductory-level education and hands-on training experience in which they gain expertise in the various technologies used in businesses throughout Argentina, from agriculture to industry. Upon graduation, many of these students will use this knowledge as a ticket into one of many entry-level career openings, and those that desire an even more advanced education will enroll in tertiary school.
Vocational Studies: Tertiary Schools
While secondary vocational education is very broad and basic, the tertiary schools in Argentina offer students a more advanced education toward specific careers. There are currently close to 1800 public tertiary schools in the country. These schools are tuition-free, and the only costs incurred by students are transportation and course materials. Approximately half of these tertiary schools are dedicated to teacher education, with the remainder specializing in various vocations in which a competency certificate is required, including the automobile and printing industries.
More recently, many private vocational schools have emerged in response to industry needs in many Argentine communities. At these schools students have an array of career fields from which to choose, including computer repair, IT, welding, business administration, child care, automobile mechanic, construction, and electrician.
Collectively, the technical, secondary and tertiary schools in Argentina, both public and private, are filling a tremendous need in the country, giving all Argentine students the opportunity to better themselves through education, which in turn adds value to the state.
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Week Ending 4/7/17: Hively v. Ivy Tech
Schorr & Associates’ Employment Case of The Week ending April 7, 2017
Hively v. Ivy Tech Cmty. College of Ind., 2017 U.S. App. LEXIS 5839, (7th Cir. [En banc], April 4, 2017)
In a case we have been closely watching, the 7th Circuit, ruling en banc, held that sexual orientation discrimination is protected by Title VII. We wrote about this case on October 14, 2016, when the Seventh Circuit agreed to hear en banc, a ruling which agreed that sexual orientation should be protected, but nevertheless ruled that precedent would not permit the Court to extend that right. An en banc appeal is where all of the Circuit judges in a particular circuit agree to hear a case that had been previously heard by only a panel of Circuit judges.
To recap the facts and procedures, Kimberly Hively, a part-time adjunct professor, sued Ivy Tech Community College in South Bend, Indiana, alleging that she had been denied numerous full-time positions solely due to her sexual orientation. The College’s only defense is that Title VII does not apply to claims of sexual orientation and therefore Hively made a claim for which there is no legal remedy. The District Court agreed and Hively appealed to the Seventh Circuit. The Seventh Circuit affirmed, but attacked the law as illogical and anachronistic.
The Full panel of the 7th Circuit was far from unanimous. The majority held that, by its definition, sexual orientation is necessary about sex:
Viewed through the lens of the gender nonconformity line of cases, Hively represents the ultimate case of failure to conform to the female stereotype (at least as understood in a place such as modern America, which views heterosexuality as the norm and other forms of sexuality as exceptional): she is not heterosexual. Our panel described the line between a gender nonconformity claim and one based on sexual orientation as gossamer-thin; we conclude that it does not exist at all. Hively's claim is no different from the claims brought by women who were rejected for jobs in traditionally male workplaces, such as fire departments, construction, and policing. The employers in those cases were policing the boundaries of what jobs or behaviors they found acceptable for a woman (or in some cases, for a man).
There were two concurring opinions, which agreed with the majority, but expressed additional reasons. Both concurring opinions were written by Judge Posner, one of the smartest and most influential jurists to never be on the Supreme Court. There was a dissent written by Judge Sykes, who believes that it should be up to Congress to change the law by statute and not up to the Courts to make that decision.
Ivy Tech Community College has already announced that they will not appeal the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court. The School insists that it does not discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation and did not discriminate against Ms. Lively. The case will now go through the litigation process, Since this had begun on a motion to dismiss, the case is essentially now starting from scratch.
As we stated before, sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination is protected by the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination. Federal law in the Third Circuit, where New Jersey is, still does not recognize protection for sexual orientation. This case is only precedent in the Seventh Circuit, so the fight for equal rights for the LGBTQ community continues.
Appellate Judges: WOOD, Chief Judge, and BAUER, POSNER, FLAUM, EASTERBROOK, RIPPLE, KANNE, ROVNER, WILLIAMS, SYKES, and HAMILTON, Circuit Judges. POSNER, Circuit Judge, concurring. FLAUM, Circuit Judge, joined by RIPPLE, Circuit Judge, concurring. SYKES, Circuit Judge, with whom BAUER and KANNE, Circuit Judges, join, dissenting.
Adam Schorr
Written by Adam Schorr
View all posts by: Adam Schorr
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Select language: en
About Schüco
Based in Bielefeld, the Schüco Group develops and sells system solutions for windows, doors and façades. With more than 5400 employees worldwide, the company strives to be the industry leader in terms of technology and service today and in the future. In addition to innovative products for residential and commercial buildings, the building envelope specialist offers consultation and digital solutions for all phases of a building project – from the initial idea through to design, fabrication and installation. 12,000 fabricators, developers, architects and investors around the world work together with Schüco. The company is active in more than 80 countries and achieved a turnover of 1.670 billion euros in 2018.
With 5400 employees and 12,000 partners active in more than 80 countries.
Made for more - the new corporate movie
Schüco stands for innovative window, door and façade systems that meet the highest requirements in terms of design, comfort and security and set new standards in energy efficiency.
The new corporate movie shows that Schüco offers far more than that: Made for more.
Watch the film now and let it inspire you!
What we stand for and why we act
Milestones in company history
At home in Bielefeld, presence worldwide
OTTO FUCHS Group
Schüco Technology Center
Directions and sites
Active in more than 80 countries
Brand Ambassador Programme
Corporate Events & Sponsorship
Schüco as an employer
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Radio, TV & Film›
TV consumption in the UK: daily viewing time per individual 2010-2017, by gender
Average daily time spent watching TV per individual in the United Kingdom from 2010 to 2017, by gender (in hours)
by Katrin Kienast, last edited Apr 4, 2018
This statistic shows the average daily TV consumption time of individuals in the United Kingdom from 2010 to 2017, by gender. Women consumed 4.03 hours of TV daily and men consumed 3.41 hours of TV daily in the United Kingdom in 2017.
2010 3.99 4.6
data from a panel of national representative homes
* Viewing is in decimal form; i.e. 3.75 is equivalent to 3 hours and 45 minute.
For additional information regarding methodology, see here.
Television industry in the United Kingdom (UK)
Leading TV channels in the United Kingdom (UK) as of Q1 2019, by quarterly reach
TV consumption in the UK: hours of daily viewing per individual 2010-2017, by age
Most-watched sports games on TV in the United Kingdom (UK) 2018
Most-watched TV programs in the United Kingdom (UK) 2018
Women and media in the United Kingdom (UK)
Everything On "Women and media in the United Kingdom (UK)" in One Document: Edited and Divided into Handy Chapters. Including Detailed References.
Statistics on "Television industry in the United Kingdom (UK)"
Consumption & User Behavior
Pay and Online TV
Television industry revenue in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2004 to 2017, by source (in billion GBP)TV industry revenue in the United Kingdom (UK) 2004-2017, by source
TV industry revenue in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2004 to 2017, by sector (in billion GBP)TV industry revenue in the United Kingdom (UK) 2004-2017, by sector
Distribution of non-broadcast TV industry revenue in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2017, by source (in million British pounds)TV industry revenue: distribution of non-broadcast revenue in the UK 2017, by source
Gross value added of the TV programming and broadcasting activities sector in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2008 to 2015 (in million GBP)TV programming and broadcasting activities GVA in the United Kingdom (UK) 2008-2015
Export revenue of UK-produced TV programs in fiscal year 2015/2016, by type and territory (in million GBP)Export revenue of UK-produced TV programs 2015/16, by type and territory
Television companies ranked by consolidated operating revenues in Europe in 2017 (in million euros)Leading television companies in Europe 2017, ranked by revenues
Revenues of the leading audiovisual companies in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2017, by audiovisual turnover (in million GBP)Audiovisual industry market leaders in the UK 2017, by audiovisual turnover
Television networks ranked by revenues in the United Kingdom (UK) in December 2016 and December 2017 (in million GBP)Television networks ranked by revenues in the United Kingdom (UK) as of December 2017
Television platforms ranked by number of households in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2017 (in 1,000 households)TV platforms ranked by number of households in the United Kingdom (UK) 2017
Television audience share of main broadcasters in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2010 to 2017*Audience share of the main TV channels in the UK 2010-2017
Quarterly reach of the leading 20 TV channels in the United Kingdom (UK) as of 1st quarter 2019 (in millions)Leading TV channels in the United Kingdom (UK) as of Q1 2019, by quarterly reach
Number of multichannel television homes in the United Kingdom (UK) from January 2000 to January 2018 (in million homes)Number of multichannel TV homes in the United Kingdom (UK) 2000-2018
Number of multichannel television homes in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2000 to 2018, by platform (in million homes)Number of multichannel TV homes in the United Kingdom (UK) 2000-2018, by platform
Number of TV households in the United Kingdom from 2009 to 2018, by technology (in millions)Number of TV households in the UK 2009-2018, by technology
Age distribution of television consuming households in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2018, by platformAge distribution of TV households in the United Kingdom (UK) 2018, by platform
Total television reach in the United Kingdom (UK) as of 1st quarter of 2019, by population segment (in million viewers)TV reach in the United Kingdom (UK) as of Q1 2019, by population segment
Average monthly household spending on television services in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2007 to 2017 (in GBP)Household spending per month on television services in the UK 2007-2017
Average daily time spent watching TV per individual in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2010 to 2017, by age (in hours)TV consumption in the UK: hours of daily viewing per individual 2010-2017, by age
Average daily time spent watching TV per individual in the United Kingdom from 2010 to 2017, by gender (in hours)TV consumption in the UK: daily viewing time per individual 2010-2017, by gender
Average daily time spent watching TV per individual in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2017, by month (in minutes)Daily TV viewing time per person in the United Kingdom (UK) 2017, by month
Share of television viewing in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2017, by genreGenre breakdown of TV viewing in the United Kingdom (UK) 2017
Share of television viewing time-shifted in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2017, by DTR ownershipTime-shifted share of TV viewing in the UK 2017, by DTR ownership
Preferred number of TV show episodes to watch in one binge watching session in the United Kingdom (UK) in December 2016Number of TV show episodes watched per binge watching session in the UK 2016
Number of television channels available and established in the United Kingdom (UK) as of December 2018, by genreTV channels available in the United Kingdom (UK) 2018 by genre
Most-watched TV programs in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2018 (viewing audience in millions)Most-watched TV programs in the United Kingdom (UK) 2018
Most-watched TV programs on non-PSB channels in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2018* (viewing audience in millions)Most-watched TV programs on non-PSB channels in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2018
Most-watched sports games on television in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2018 (average audience in millions)Most-watched sports games on TV in the United Kingdom (UK) 2018
Opinion on the quality of TV programs over the past 12 months in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2005 to 2018Opinion on quality of TV programs in the United Kingdom (UK) 2005-2018
Main reasons given for TV programs getting worse in the past 12 months in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2018Opinion on reasons for TV program quality decline in the United Kingdom (UK) 2018
Television advertising revenue in the United Kingdom from 2011 to 2019 (in billion GBP)Television advertising revenue in the UK 2011-2019
TV net advertising revenue in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2010 to 2017, by source (in billion British pounds)TV net advertising revenue in the United Kingdom (UK) 2010-2017, by source
Advertising media with the highest profit return on investment (ROI) in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2014 to 2017 (in GBP)Advertising media ranked by profit ROI in the United Kingdom (UK) 2014-2017
Advertising media with the highest share in short-term profit for FMCG brands in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2014 to 2017Ad media ranked by short-term profit share for FMCG brands in the UK 2014-2017
Advertising media with the highest share in short-term profit for retail brands in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2014 to 2017Ad media ranked by short-term profit share for retail brands in the UK 2014-2017
Leading television commercial sales houses in the United Kingdom in 2017, ranked by share of commercial impacts*Leading TV commercial sales houses in the UK 2017, by commercial impacts share
Television advertisers ranked by broadcast views in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2017 (in billion commercial impacts)Most-viewed TV advertisers in the United Kingdom (UK) 2017
Number of broadcast TV commercial impacts in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2009 to 2017 (in billion impacts)Broadcast TV commercial impacts in the United Kingdom (UK) 2009-2017
Gross pay-TV revenue in the United Kingdom (UK) 2011-2017 (in million euros)Pay-TV revenues in the United Kingdom (UK) 2011-2017
Pay-TV revenue in the United Kingdom (UK) 2012-2017, by platform (in million euros)Pay-TV revenues in the United Kingdom (UK) 2012-2017, by platform
Online TV revenues in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2006 to 2017 (in million GBP)Online TV revenues in the United Kingdom (UK) 2006-2017
Take-up of the leading subscription video on-demand services in the United Kingdom (UK) from 1st quarter 2014 to 2nd quarter 2017 (in 1,000 households)SVOD services take-up in the United Kingdom (UK) Q1 2014-Q2 2017
Leading services used to view online TV programs in the United Kingdom (UK) in 1st half 2018Leading online television services used in the United Kingdom (UK) H1 2018
Viewing time on all online TV platforms audited in the United Kingdom (UK) during the week ending September 9, 2018, by TV player and content type (in million minutes)Online TV viewing time in the UK in September 2018, by player
Frequency of online film and TV program downloading in the United Kingdom (UK) as of May 2018Frequency of online film and TV program downloading in the United Kingdom (UK) 2018
Online on-demand TV programs ranked by streams in the United Kingdom (UK) during the week ending September 9, 2018 (in average program streams in thousands)Most streamed online on-demand TV programs in the United Kingdom (UK) 2018
Weekly TV viewing time per person in the United Kingdom (UK) 2017
U.S. TV consumption: average viewing time in 2018, by employment status
Online TV services used weekly in the UK 2013, by viewer's age
Live TV viewing by device and age in the UK 2013
Live television viewing occasions in the United Kingdom (UK) 2012
Weekly TV watching among Millennials in the U.S. 2016, by type
Time spent watching films on television in the Netherlands 2012-2017
Share of people who binge watch TV at least once a week Australia 2017, by generation
Italy: viewers habits in second screen use 2016, by frequency
Frequency of television news consumption among youth in the Netherlands 2018
Time spent watching TV content people aged 14 to 27 Australia 2017, by method
Time shifted viewing reach in Flanders in Belgium 2010-2016
On-demand TV viewing by device and age in the UK 2013
Genre distribution of aired television hours in Flanders in Belgium 2015
Monthly television viewing in the United Kingdom (UK) 2015, by age and type
Share of people watching news on television daily in the Netherlands 2017, by age
Change in TV viewing time among young people in the UK 2014, by genre
Industry revenue of »manufacture of clay building materials« in Austria 2011-2023
Industry revenue of »manufacture of other products of wood« in Finland 2011-2023
Television in the U.S.
Pay TV in the U.S.
Online TV in the U.S.
Subscription Video On Demand
Sports on TV in the U.S.
Television in Sweden
Video on demand in Europe
TV and Multi-tasking
Video Trends Report Q2 2017
Video on demand in Italy
Television consumption in France
Video on demand in the Netherlands
Television industry in Belgium
Television industry in Italy
Television in Canada
Television industry revenue in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2004 to 2017, by source (in billion GBP)
TV industry revenue in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2004 to 2017, by sector (in billion GBP)
Distribution of non-broadcast TV industry revenue in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2017, by source (in million British pounds)
Gross value added of the TV programming and broadcasting activities sector in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2008 to 2015 (in million GBP)
Export revenue of UK-produced TV programs in fiscal year 2015/2016, by type and territory (in million GBP)
Television companies ranked by consolidated operating revenues in Europe in 2017 (in million euros)
Revenues of the leading audiovisual companies in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2017, by audiovisual turnover (in million GBP)
Television networks ranked by revenues in the United Kingdom (UK) in December 2016 and December 2017 (in million GBP)
Television platforms ranked by number of households in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2017 (in 1,000 households)
Television audience share of main broadcasters in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2010 to 2017*
Quarterly reach of the leading 20 TV channels in the United Kingdom (UK) as of 1st quarter 2019 (in millions)
Number of multichannel television homes in the United Kingdom (UK) from January 2000 to January 2018 (in million homes)
Number of multichannel television homes in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2000 to 2018, by platform (in million homes)
Number of TV households in the United Kingdom from 2009 to 2018, by technology (in millions)
Age distribution of television consuming households in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2018, by platform
Total television reach in the United Kingdom (UK) as of 1st quarter of 2019, by population segment (in million viewers)
Average monthly household spending on television services in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2007 to 2017 (in GBP)
Average daily time spent watching TV per individual in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2010 to 2017, by age (in hours)
Average daily time spent watching TV per individual in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2017, by month (in minutes)
Share of television viewing in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2017, by genre
Share of television viewing time-shifted in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2017, by DTR ownership
Preferred number of TV show episodes to watch in one binge watching session in the United Kingdom (UK) in December 2016
Number of television channels available and established in the United Kingdom (UK) as of December 2018, by genre
Most-watched TV programs in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2018 (viewing audience in millions)
Most-watched TV programs on non-PSB channels in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2018* (viewing audience in millions)
Most-watched sports games on television in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2018 (average audience in millions)
Opinion on the quality of TV programs over the past 12 months in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2005 to 2018
Main reasons given for TV programs getting worse in the past 12 months in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2018
Television advertising revenue in the United Kingdom from 2011 to 2019 (in billion GBP)
TV net advertising revenue in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2010 to 2017, by source (in billion British pounds)
Advertising media with the highest profit return on investment (ROI) in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2014 to 2017 (in GBP)
Advertising media with the highest share in short-term profit for FMCG brands in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2014 to 2017
Advertising media with the highest share in short-term profit for retail brands in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2014 to 2017
Leading television commercial sales houses in the United Kingdom in 2017, ranked by share of commercial impacts*
Television advertisers ranked by broadcast views in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2017 (in billion commercial impacts)
Number of broadcast TV commercial impacts in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2009 to 2017 (in billion impacts)
Number of television advertisements seen daily per individual in the United Kingdom (UK) from H1 2005 to H1 2017
In which, if any, of the following places are you most likely to find advertising that you trust?
Gross pay-TV revenue in the United Kingdom (UK) 2011-2017 (in million euros)
Pay-TV revenue in the United Kingdom (UK) 2012-2017, by platform (in million euros)
Online TV revenues in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2006 to 2017 (in million GBP)
Take-up of the leading subscription video on-demand services in the United Kingdom (UK) from 1st quarter 2014 to 2nd quarter 2017 (in 1,000 households)
Leading services used to view online TV programs in the United Kingdom (UK) in 1st half 2018
Viewing time on all online TV platforms audited in the United Kingdom (UK) during the week ending September 9, 2018, by TV player and content type (in million minutes)
Frequency of online film and TV program downloading in the United Kingdom (UK) as of May 2018
Online on-demand TV programs ranked by streams in the United Kingdom (UK) during the week ending September 9, 2018 (in average program streams in thousands)
Average weekly time spent watching TV per individual in the United Kingdom (UK) from week 1 to week 52 of 2017 (in hours)
Average daily time spent watching TV per capita in the United States in 2018, by employment status (in hours)
Online TV services used weekly to watch TV programmes in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2013, by age of viewer
Devices on which live TV was mostly watched in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2013, by viewer's age
Occasions respondents watched live television in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2012
Share of Millennials who watch TV weekly in the United States in 2016, by type
Average time spent watching films on television in the Netherlands from 2012 to 2017 (in hours per year)
Share of people who binge watch television at least once a week in Australia in 2017, by generation
Viewers habits in second screen use in Italy in 2016, by frequency
How often do you follow the news via the television?*
Distribution of time spent watching television of people aged 14 to 27 years in Australia in 2017, by programming method
Time shifted television viewing reach among 18 to 54 year old individuals in Flanders in Belgium from 2010 to 2016
Devices used to spend the most time watching on-demand TV in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2013, by viewer's age
Genre distribution of aired television hours in Flanders in Belgium in 2015
Monthly television viewing in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2015, by age group and content type
Share of people watching news on television daily in the Netherlands in 2017, by age group*
Change in average time spent viewing TV programs among 16- to 24-year-olds in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2004 versus 2014, by genre
Industry revenue of »manufacture of clay building materials« in Austria from 2011 to 2023 (in million U.S. Dollars)
Industry revenue of »manufacture of other products of wood« in Finland from 2011 to 2023 (in million U.S. Dollars)
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Westminster Faith Exchange
I received a number of Easter cards from people, for which many thanks if I haven’t yet written to you. In the one I got from Enid, she’d written a note in, and mentioned how from my articles she’d read, I seem to be getting about to different places. This month has been no different. There is an organisation called the Westminster Faith Exchange, which is run by Westminster City Council. People of all faiths are invited to attend, to hear a talk or to be involved in discussions on any number of things. It meets once a quarter, and I’ve been to two of the meetings since I got here. The meeting at the end of March was a very interesting meeting, the speaker, the topic and the venue!
The meeting was held in the Speaker’s Chambers of the Houses of Parliament. We had to go to Portcullis house, which is on the opposite side of Bridge Street to the houses of Parliament. After waiting a while to go through security, Andreas and I were led by a policeman along a passageway, and before long I realised we were under the road of Bridge Street (which leads from Parliament Square to Westminster Bridge) and in a moment we came out underneath St Stephen’s Tower (the tower of Big Ben). We were then pointed in the direction of a door that would lead to the Speaker’s Chambers! The staircase was the grandest staircase I’ve seen! The passage ways and corridors were wonderful, and then when we got the grand chambers, with huge fireplaces, beautiful plasterwork and wall panelling were wonderful to see.
The speaker for the evening was the Reverend Rose Hudson-Wilkin, who is chaplain to the Speaker of the House of Commons. She was speaking on faith in politics, and I found her to be a really interesting person to listen to. I was just a tad disappointed that the length of time that it had taken to get through security meant that we missed the start of her talk. After the talk and questions, we were able to look around the rooms. In there, is the bed in which the monarch sleeps the night before the Coronation, which was good to see. It was also a peculiar feeling to look out of a window at Westminster Bridge, rather than being on Westminster Bridge looking at the windows!
The better part of April was taken up with preparations for Easter. We had a number of services here at Saint Matthew’s. On the Wednesday of Holy Week, we had a Synaxis service, (which has been a service of prayer we have held once a month) based on a service called Tenebrae, which was interesting to learn about. On Thursday we went to the Chrism Mass at Saint Paul’s Cathedral, which was really good. The Bishop preached a good sermon, the point of which was that we are quite often bothered with the problem of starting at Omega, and looking back. But with God we are just at Alpha, and should look forwards. It was a really good service, and the thing that put the icing on the cake, was that Frank Williams, (the actor that played the Vicar in Dad’s Army, was sitting behind us!).
On Good Friday, we joined the Crucifixion on Victoria Street, which was a procession of Christians from Methodist Central Hall, to Westminster Cathedral and back to Westminster Abbey, so it was a collection of Methodists, Church of England and Roman Catholic people all together. The event started with readings and prayers at Central Hall, and then the procession set off lead by two men carrying a large wooden cross. It was such a moving experience, and brought home the solemnity of Good Friday, when all these hundreds of people walked down Victoria Street, in silence!
Holy Saturday (which was also my birthday) was spent cleaning the church, and then in the evening we went off to Saint Paul’s for the Easter Vigil service, with baptisms and confirmations. Easter Sunday began very early, with St Matthew’s Easter vigil at 6am, followed by breakfast in the dining room, and then back into church for 11am!
Our pastoral assistant, Andrew, has been writing his "Andrew's Travels" column in his Parish magazine for three years. He continues to contribute and his current articles will be published here.
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Início2013315Extras2012298 - Pegue essa carona e apareça na Speak UP 300
316 - The Wild Man
Jimmy Kimmel (Standard American accent)
Our next guest makes his living intentionally endangering his own life, he has a TV show called Man vs. Wild and, starting in May, a new live show coming to your city, to possibly endanger you; it’s called Mud, Sweat and Tears Live. Please welcome the unkillable Bear Grylls! (applause and music) How are you doing?
Bear Grylls (Standard British accent)
Yeah, good, surviving...
Thanks for coming...
...at least I’m not under your desk this time...
Yeah, that is nice! Well, I guess it’s nice.
Are you still putting the gum under there and...?
Yeah, yeah, yeah, we did a little something, for those who didn’t see it, months ago, where you were trapped under my desk, but you escaped.
Well, I was doing a show under there!
That’s right. How are you? How’s everything going?
Yeah, good, yeah, I’ve been kind of busy, but...
You do so much dumb stuff it’s hard for me to believe you’re not American, you know!
I’ve dropped on my head a lot, at a young age!
How many seasons of your show, of Man vs. Wild, have you done!
Well, I’ve just wrapped up season six of... of the show, so... (applause)
And... and when will... when will you declare a winner, will there ever be a winner declared, or it’s just... it will keep going?
I’m slowly learning the wild is... the wild really is the winner.
I think people don’t know about you is that you have a family, you have little kids, and a wife, and while you’re off doing this crazy stuff, they’re probably at home hoping you come back home, right?
Yeah, I’ve got three young boys, Jesse, Marmaduke and Huckleberry, (applause) and they’re... they’re totally wild!
And you decided to let their... they be... them be in danger on the school yard14, instead of...! Marmaduke, huh? You know that’s a cartoon dog over here, right?
I know! I know! Everyone in America says, “You can’t call your son after a dog!” but the thing is in the UK Marmaduke was a... he was a great World War One fighter pilot ace, so I thought...
He was?
Yeah, he was.
So was Snoopy, you know!
But, no, no, they’re fun kids and they love of all of this adventure stuff.
They do? I would bet they do, you must be the coolest dad that ever walked the Earth, I mean, really! How could you ever tell them not to do anything?
I’m always telling them not to do stuff! The thing is, you know, I came home the other day, I was doing a work-out, and I... and I said to Jesse, I said, “Listen, just fill up my water bottle, go outside, you know, I’m training, just fill it up... up at the hose.” Heraces outside and he comes back and he’s grinning. And he gives me the water bottle and I take a swig, and he... he’s peed in it! (laughter) I go, “You’ve peed in my water bottle! What are you doing?” And he goes, “Papa, you... I saw you peeing in a snake skin, you pee in the snake skin!” So I’m saying, “Look, do as I say, and not as I do!”
316 - The Mistery of Existence - Nigel Lesmoir-Gordon 15 Fev 2014
316 - Discover the High Line - High Line History 15 Fev 2014
315 - The Art of Emily the Strange 15 Fev 2014
315 - Plain English, Please! 15 Fev 2014
315 - Matt Anderson - stuntman 15 Fev 2014
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Weekly review 2nd - 8th May
LVSport weekly review 2nd – 8th May 2016
Last week was tough for the boys. The boys fought hard, coming away with two well deserved wins. The 1st XI cricket team were fortunate enough to play in sunny London on Wednesday against a well drilled Latymer Upper side. LVS were to bowl first. The boys bowled well keeping their strong opposition at bay. It was also a good performance from the fielders who were quick to prevent any extra runs. It was a good first innings from the boys who sent Latymer in to tea with a respectable but not untouchable score. After the break it was Billy Oxley and Gordon Hawkes who opened the batting. Despite all their previous efforts, a strong bowling performance from the opposition proved too much for LVS. There were some hopeful spells down the batting order from Michael Dykes and others. Ultimately the end result left LVS all out and losing the game by 130 runs. This was only the boy’s second loss of the season and one not to be ashamed of. The boys will face Leighton Park next week at home hoping for another win.
Wednesday was also the first test for the U13 tennis squad. Coach Mr Bury was looking for his second win of the season, this time against a strong Charters side. The team consisted of George Grewal (Year 7), Hugo Kjessler (Year 7), Luke Fletcher (Year 7), and Thomas Morrison (Year 8). Our boys looked to be in good form. There were some exciting rallies and good shots being played all over the courts. A special mention goes to Hugo Kjessler who won his singles match and was outstanding throughout! Unfortunately Charters were too strong in the doubles competitions meaning a defeat for LVS. This was only the first of many matches for the boys in what looks like a promising season ahead.
Moving on to the weekends cricket fixtures, Year 7 hosted Claire’s Court over at Locks Ride. This was a long awaited fixture for the boys and their first time playing together. Their commitment and hard work in training certainly paid off. Due to the array of talent, seven of the eleven boys bowled and some of the others were able to prove themselves with the bat. We batted first setting a strong score of 121 runs. Claire’s Court managed to see out the whole of the second innings but couldn’t catch up. This meant a victory to LVS by 22 runs. A special mention has to go to Harry Jones who scored 41 runs not out and took 2 wickets on the day. Wickets also came from Bennett, Armstrong and Antippa.
Both the U13’s and 14’s played away at Claires Court School. It was a positive performance from the U13 boys who were sharp in the outfield. This was backed up by some good bowling. However, the game was lost by 7 wickets as the batting didn’t quite match up. All in all it was a good performance and the boys know they must apply themselves when batting next week.
It was similar day at the office for the U14’s. It wasn’t their most successful game but one which they could build upon. The end result was a loss by 77 runs. We wish the boys luck in their upcoming cup fixture against charters this coming Monday.
Finally it was the U15’s who took to the field. They had the privilege of hosting Claires Court at LVS in front of a home crowd. Captain Elliot Coggins led the boys out on to the field for the first innings. It was a great start from LVS with two maiden overs, one from Elliot Coggins and the other from Alex Richardson. The boys continued to bowl and field exceptionally sending Claire’s Court in to tea with 73 runs. After the break it was our turn to bat. Elliot put us in good stead but was caught in the eighth over. Now three wickets down the boys were still not phased. With only a few runs to win they pulled through and it was all over by the tenth over. Although all the boys played well it was the two opening bowlers that deserve a special mention this time. Alex Richardson was consistent throughout and Elliot took one for five, both contributing to a good win from the U15 boys. We wish them luck in their cup fixture this coming Monday.
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Should Irish Boxers Be Worried?
Irish Medal Tally at the Olympic Games
Last week Matt Cooper spoke about the possibility of allowing professional boxers compete in the Rio Olympics on his talk show the Last Word. The guests considered the merits of the AIBA’s proposal and the implications for Ireland. The aim is to abolish rules that stops boxers with 15 or more paid bouts from competing at the Olympics. The Independent newspaper carried the story and details last Wednesday.
While Ireland’s Katie Taylor said the new rules would not alter her preparation, the re-design could spell trouble for Ireland’s medal chances at Rio. 57% of our Olympic medals have come from boxing – two gold’s, five silvers and nine bronze. The table shows Ireland's medal tally at the Olympic games.
While nothing would be stopping Irish professional boxers from competing for a gold, something tells me that our share of boxing medals may not be as high if the proposal is ratified.You would have to worry for the amateurs, surely Wladimir Klitschko would like to add more Olympic golds to his CV?
Diet-Barcelona?
Following the normal winter break, this week's Arsenal-Barcelona match felt like a long overdue reintroduction to the Champions League. The tie is now probably over following Barcelona’s 2-0 win in London. On the evidence, La Liga generally appears to be ahead of the English Premier League.
This is a far cry from the years 2005 to 2012 when an English club appeared in seven out of eight Champions League finals, emerging as winners on three occasions. The 2008 final was even consisting of two Premier League clubs, with Manchester United defeating Chelsea on penalties.
What’s interesting about the current Arsenal-Barcelona duel is that it is another repeat of the 2006 Final in Paris. Arsenal, sometimes referred to a diet-Barcelona or Barcelona-light, were less than fifteen minutes away from winning the competition that year. This was despite playing from the 18th minute onwards with just ten men. The 61st minute introduction of former Celtic star Henrik Larsson turned the game in the Catalans’ favour, a view supported by Arsenal captain Thierry Henry, who gave an emotional interview after the game, saying:
“All the time you talk about Ronaldinho and everything, but I didn’t see him today, and I saw Henrik Larsson two times. He came on, that was the key of the game. So, sometimes I think all the time you talk about people like Ronaldinho, Eto’o, and people like that. Talk about the proper people, sometimes make a difference, and that was Henrik Larsson tonight, on two assists. Cos I did not see no Ronaldinho and did not see no Eto’o”. (Full interview here)
What’s really interesting is to look at the clubs performance, through time, both before and after the 2006 Final. Prior to the game, (younger fans may not believe this!) but it was no foregone conclusion Barcelona would win. The Spanish club’s pedigree in the European Cup/Champions League was almost non-existent when compared to rival’s Real Madrid, AC Milan, or even Liverpool. The club had just one European Cup to their name, arriving in 1992 at Wembley courtesy of an extra time goal from Ronald Koeman. Entering the 2006 final the Champions League/European Cup wins record between the clubs was just 1-0 to Barcelona.
The table below shows the number of major tournaments won by both clubs entering the finalin May 2006.
While Barcelona’s record was stronger, much of the difference can be put down to success in the Copa del Rey, in the early part of the 20th century. 57 trophies to Arsenal’s 39 also fails to account for the more competitive nature of football in England, something that Real Madrid and Barcelona have almost eclipsed in recent times in Spain.
If one considers the post World War II period the score is even closer, and reads 46 – 32 in favour of Barcelona, a difference of just 14, ceteris paribus.
What has happened thereafter is quite dramatic. The 2006 final saw Barcelona move in one direction, and Arsenal another. The table below lists the number of successes by competition after the 2006 final. Of course, this does not account for financial prudence, stadium development, revenue, financial fair play, etc. It merely looks at what most football fans think matters.
On the evidence of this week, it’s hard to think the gap 24-4 will close any time soon.
Dog Walking and the Psychology of Exercise
Last month's edition of Psychology of Sport and Exercise carried an article on dog walking (here). This is an activity I will be undertaking with greater regularity as the daylight hours lengthen (and maybe the rainfall becomes less persistent). Although my planned dog walking would not be included in the study as the dog turns 7 years of age this month (a younger version is presented in the picture opposite). So called "senior" dogs were not included. My walking might also be excluded on the grounds that I don't own the dog. His owner has taken to walking him in the last couple of weeks but there is no guarantee that this will continue into the summer.
The authors motivate the reader by citing literature on the benefits of regular physical activity and the positive impact of dog ownership on walking. They then set about explaining the amount of walking that the owners do and how it depends on the owners' psychology and some characteristics of the dogs, i.e. age, size and energy. Young, big, and energetic dogs get more walking.
The motivation of the owner is measured using the Behavioural Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire 2 (BREQ-2). In doing so they attempt to distinguish between different types of motivation. There are motivations like "other people say I should", "I feel guilty", "I value the benefits", and "It is fun". While all types of motivation work, the latter two motivations have a bigger impact. The last sentence in the article says "future interventions in this area should accentuate dog walking as an investment in quality time and an opportunity to bond with one's dog".
My motivation is probably closest to the "I feel guilty" classification. In fact, the dog employs a few tricks to make me feel guilty. One method is where he raises his head, looks from left-to-right or right-to-left, and starts looking alert. "What's happening? Are we going for a walk?" A walk for him means getting into the back of my car, travelling 10km, and then going for a 4km walk on a lead. If he is really keen then he will start running between me and the car. "Follow me to the car and let's go for a walk." This is a favourite trick of TV animals like Lassie, Skippy (the kangaroo), and Flipper (the dolphin). However, his most successful ploy is to droop his head to the side and look up at me with his sad eyes. When this is accompanied by a low whimper it is almost 100% successful.
It is a pity we could not have a BREQ-2 for the dogs as well as their owners. It might help explain why our dog seems to prefers walking on a leash rather than roaming freely in the fields around our house. Maybe it has to do with the relative frequency of each type of activity. Or maybe the explanation is a social one. He likes meeting other dogs. He bares his teeth and threatens them with all sort of destruction. He is very brave while I am restraining him!
The social side does not play a big role in the way economists explain things. Economists tend to focus on the individual. How would an economist explain the decision to exercise (or to purchase gym membership)? It can depend on the way they think about humans. Consider the following explanation by Tim Harford of the Financial Times.
“Imagine – I realise this sounds like some bizarre joke – how Mr Spock, Odysseus and Homer Simpson would go about applying for membership of a gym. Spock would choose a suitable contract – a costly payment per visit, or an annual flat-fee for unlimited visits – after correctly forecasting his gym usage. Simpson, wrongly expecting that he would use the gym a lot, would sign up for the expensive annual membership. Odysseus might also choose the annual membership, but for a different reason: he would hope that the “all-the-iron-you-can-pump” contract might provoke him to exercise, despite the foreseeable temptation to stay in bed.”
Odysseus (aka Ulysses) uses the membership as a commitment mechanism. His current self buys the membership so as to constrain his future self. Odysseus is used as an example in a wide variety of disciplines. Neuroscientist David Eagleman uses the Ulysses example (watch his 2min YouTube video here). Interestingly, Eagleman uses the social pressure from another human to help make sure he goes to the gym. A dog could provide some of the same pressure. Maybe that should be another lesson. Buy a dog instead of gym membership.
Eamon Dunphy and Lord Keynes
Last week Newstalks’ Off The Ball had an interesting interview with Kerry Senior Footballer Fionn Fitzgerald who has started preliminary work on relative age effects in Gaelic Games. This is of particular interest to us, having conducted work into the area for Irish soccer in the past. Our research not only confirms a bias towards players born in the months just after the cut-off point in underage soccer (January), but also a shifting bias, as prior to 1997 the 1st of August had been the cut-off date for registration.
While this interview was my main reason for me listening, I was also captured by a very interesting segment at the start of the show where the punditry of Eamon Dunphy was analysed. For those unfamiliar with Dunphy, he is one of the more outspoken pundits of Irish and Premier League soccer. His previously held views on FIFA Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo are now legendary. It was to this that listeners were treated to. Two segments were played. One from 2008 and the other from after last Tuesday night’s game between Roma and Real Madrid.
Here’s what Eamon said in 2008:
“The Tiger…someone like Tiger Woods. Someone like Johnny Murtagh. Someone like Ruby Walsh. Eh…someone like Padraig Harrington. They set the standards in their behaviour. In the way they deal with adversity. In the way that they deal with success and triumph. And we want to see that in our own sport. John (Giles) loves the game deeply. I love the game, and Liam (Brady) does. And to see this fella. Why do we need to say it? Throwing himself on the ground, at least half a dozen times, looking for fouls that he didn’t get. Claiming two penalties which he didn’t get. But…waving his arming at other players, on his own team. It was a disgrace to professional football”.
[Bill O’Herlihy to Eamon Dunphy - “We’ve seen it before though?]
“Yeah, hold on. You asked before was this about two great one players – Messi and Ronaldo? Well if it was, Messi proved himself after only forty-five minutes football in the last six weeks, to be at least a real pro, and a real player. This fella Ronaldo is a cod”.
And last week…
“Athletically and football-wise he (Ronaldo) is a great, great player. I don’t think we have seen a goal scorer like him in the history of the game. His greatness now for me, at this stage, redeems everything. You know, but he’s a great. His goals. I was wrong. I should have embraced him from the start”.
One of the most interesting books I have read over the past couple of years is Keynes Hayek: The Clash that Defined Modern Economics. The book tells the wonderful story of the clash of ideologies, from the early 1920s onwards, between the established Keynesian School at Cambridge, and the then recently established, London School of Economics off the Strand in central London.
A recurring criticism of the great J.M. Keynes, often levelled at the man, was his frequent changing of position. Following the stock market crash of 1929, the first Labour Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Snowden, rejected Keynes’ advice on how to cure the crisis in Britain. This forced Keynes to change his position.
A round of jokes following on from this, with Winston Churchill alleged to have remarked “If you put two economists in a room, you get two opinions, unless one of them is Lord Keynes, in which case you get three”. Keynes’ reply is legendary. He said “When the facts change, I change my mind. What do you do, sir?”
Eamon Dunphy, take a bow.
Labour Flows and Eastern Asia
This week Ezequiel Lavezzi and Nikata Jelavic joined a growing list of big name footballers that have decided to move to China. Lavezzi and Jelavic join players such as Jackson Martinez, Ramires, Alex Teixeira, Gervinho, Paulinho and Demba Ba. Well known managers such as Sven Goran Eriksson and Phil Scolari have also moved to Eastern Asia to work. The Chinese have shown a clear willingness to spend vast amounts of money to attract elite talent.
It is interesting to think about elite talent flowing the other way to major Asian leagues, in this case the Chinese Super League. For many years the best Asian talent has moved to European leagues. The increasing migration roughly began at the turn of the millennium. Premier League fans will recall Arsenal signing Junichi Inamoto in 2001 and Tottenham signing Kazuyuki Toda in 2003. At the time I remember skeptics questioning whether there was economic motives behind these signings. As the years have gone on however the best Asian talent has continued to arrive on European shores with examples including Park Ji-sung, Shunsuke Nakamura, Hidetoshi Nakata, Lee Chun-soo and, now, Son Heung-min.
The chart below shows the number of footballers from Eastern Asian countries playing in the 'Big 5' European leagues for each season since 1992/1993. To be classified as Eastern Asian a player must be from China, Macau, Hong Kong, Japan, Mongolia, Republic of Korea or Taiwan. The Bundesliga (yellow bars with numbers) has witnessed the sharpest increase in the number of Eastern Asian players over the years, with twenty Eastern Asians contracted to clubs in the top German league as of last season. This is highest number of Eastern Asian players to play in the 'Big 5' in any one season.
The growth in players from Eastern Asia seen above is primarily driven by South Korean and Japanese imports. My hunch would be that both Japan and South Korea's stellar performance at the World Cup in 2002 convinced European clubs of the quality of their talent. There is a notable increase in the numbers for the start of 2002-2003 season.
While the destination for elite players in Europe now may be the Chinese leagues, imports from China to the 'Big 5' have been few and far between over the years. On my count, there was only twelve Chinese players to join elite European clubs from 1992 to 2015, all of whom had different levels of success. Five came to the Premier League, two came to France, one to Italy and four to Germany. A Chinese player is yet to play in La Liga. You might recognise one or two names from the list below.
*Bo Qu had a month-long period with Tottenham but was forced to leave due to the lack of a work permit.
With the 'Chinese Football Revolution' taking off, the question remains whether elite talent from Eastern Asia will choose to stay there. Sure, big pay packets can attract usually aging but still marketable South American and African stars to the Chinese Super League, but will this be sustainable? Maybe a truer test of the Chinese Football Revolution is whether Chinese clubs can attract the best from their surrounding region, and of course, keep their best Chinese players at home. The phrase running before you can walk comes to mind.
State Aid: A New Battleground for Sport?
Twenty-eight years ago, Michael Dukakis ran for President of the United States. Many Irish emigrants to Boston witnessed how things did not work out for Dukakis. A prolonged period of underperformance in the 1980s meant the Irish emigrated in sizable numbers. Boston was one place to which they travelled. Many went to work in construction. And, there was plenty of work because of a Massachusetts-miracle for which Dukakis claimed credit.
I was there during the summers of 1987 and 1988. It seemed to us Irish that some of the steam was running out of both the economy and the Dukakis' Presidential bid during 1988. With less work to go around, there were stories of union-inspired inspections of construction sites where illegals might be working.
I was reminded of these events when reading a recent State Aid case in relation to golf in the United Kingdom (here). The case involves a complaint by the Association of Golf Club Owners against member-owned golf clubs. The complaint was submitted against a background of declining golf playing numbers. For example, Golf England says that in the decade after 2004, golf club membership declined by 20%. While this was not just a UK phenomenon (see here), it does help provide some possible motivation for the complaint.
The complaint centres on relief from corporate taxation granted to Community Amateur Sports Clubs (CASC). The relief was on £30,000 of trading revenue and £20,000 of revenue from property. It was alleged that this exemption provided "selective advantage" to CASCs and also potentially damaged intra-EU trade. The EU Commission reached the conclusion that the tax measure "does not constitute State aid pursuant to Article 107(1) TFEU". This conclusion was based on the fact that CASCs did not compete in competitions at professional level, had a geographically limited attraction zone, and the amounts involved were relatively small (although the amount across all CASCs might be sizable).
It seems that State Aid is becoming a new battleground for sport as participants realise the opportunities afforded by Article 107.
And it is not only sport. While many Irish were heading to the US in the 1980s, an increasing number of US companies were heading to Ireland. Apple Computers located a plant in Cork. Three decades after the Cork plant was established the EU Commission is investigating the legality of the tax arrangements between Apple and the Irish authorities. It is doing this under a State Aid investigation.
Like the events in Boston construction, or in the UK golf industry, a downturn in economic activity could have been the catalyst. The decline in fiscal revenues that accompanied the Great Recession led to a greater inspection of corporate tax regimes. Apple came under the spotlight when Carl Levin invited Apple Inc to talk to his Permanent Sub-Committee on Special Investigations. Apple and the Irish government have been on the back-foot ever since. In the coming months the EU Commission will issue a decision on whether or not Apple received unfair State Aid from Ireland via corporate taxation. It could have important implications for a policy that sought to bring US companies to Ireland rather than have Irish people going to the US to work.
What promises are being made in relation to sports in the 2016 General Election?
The General Election campaign is in full swing in Ireland. Each party has published their manifestos. What is in them for the Irish sports community?
Fine Gael (the largest party in the current coalition government) proposes more physical education at primary school level and its introduction as a leaving certificate (high school) subject. They claim they will work with the Irish tourism promotion board to develop tourism in cycling, sailing, running and in adventure sports. They commit to an annualised round of sports capital grants. The party promises to produce a national sports strategy but there are no specific elements of that measure, though greater public use of the national sports campus facilities is suggested.
The Labour Party (the smaller party in the current coalition) always proposes a national sports strategy, though they indicate that, as part of that strategy there will be a specific sports bidding entity to facilitate bidding for events across all sporting organisations. The sports policy will also include elements to support sports tourism. In relation to sports capital grants they indicate that they will prioritise applications that are jointly submitted by sports clubs and schools to incentivise the facilities being available more generally to the public. They suggest a National Physcial Activity Plan which will have an objective to support the Special Olympics and increased participation in sport by females.
The Fianna Fail policies are framed largely in the context of improving health outcomes through encouraging physical activity. The plan around improving health includes taxes on sugar sweetened drinks, healthy eating programmes in schools, and strengthen local authorities’ powers to compulsorily purchase land for recreational use. The party promises to ‘phase out’ alcohol companies’ sponsorship of sporting events. They indicate that there will be an audit of NAMA properties to identify those suted for sports and recreation use and that “major construction project levies should integrate a contribution to locals sports clubs, such as land or monetary contributions”. The party will change the Sports Capital Grants system to allow funding of Community Centres, providing services to elderly social groups. It’s unclear if this will be mean a reduction in the money available to sports clubs.
Sinn Fein’s commitments on sport are contained in the section on building communities. The manifesto says they “ see sport as having a vital role in developing communities and want to ensure that investment is made in recreational sport first and foremost at community level; and that all sporting bodies, particularly at professional level, are properly funding and governed.” There is an unquantified commitment to invest in sport and another commitment to invest €42 million in sport at community level. This is in a section headed an all-island approach.
Renua Ireland is the only party to mention specific sports in their election manifesto. They have sections dedicated to Horse and Greyhound Racing and the Horse Sport Industry. To support these industries they propose increasing the betting levy from 1% to 3% and ringfencing the income for the sports. They state that “a senior level Department unit should be created to facilitate and drive government policy on the [thoroughbred] sector”. With specific reference to the showjumping, eventing and dressage sectors, they propose a four year tax incentive scheme “to attract investment in the sector, with a clear goal of garnering medals at the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2020”.Interestingly the policy also states in the section on the tax system, that “the only circumstance in which RENUA Ireland believes reliefs should be permissible is a situation where appalling economic planning has led to a market failure”.
The Social Democrats, a new party in this election, do not have any mention of sports in their manifesto. There were no mentions of sport in the manifesto of People Before Profit, and I couldn’t find a manifesto for their allies in the Anti-Austerity Alliance.
The Cogs and the Wheel
A standard approach in labour economics is to view human capital as a set of skills and characteristics which are important to the efficiency of the firm and are useful in the production process. Although different interpretations of human capital naturally exist, workers can be modelled as agents that hold the capacity to graft, obey orders and take their place in the hierarchy of the firm.
An interesting case arose last weekend in the English Premier League which showcased how the workforce must toe the line. In the era of player power it was refreshing to see Liverpool prevent Daniel Sturridge from wearing a hat that marketed his own brand. I’m sure New Balance, the manufacturer of Liverpool’s kits, had an issue with Sturridge’s brand building exercise.
With the exception of a few footballers, such as David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo, David Ginola, Eric Cantona and Vinny Jones (and probably a few more) it can be hard for players to build a distinct and successful brand based on their image. This episode with Mr. Sturridge's apparel might remind fans that the players are after all only one cog in the wheel, albeit a critical one. And while much emphasis is placed on human capital in football clubs in the short run, the players are ultimately transient – in ten years’ time I'm sure Sturridge and the current crop of Liverpool stars will only be a memory, the firm no doubt will live on.
Short Lecture - Economists of the Future
I gave a short lecture to visiting senior cycle secondary school students (high school) on issues in Irish sport today. The talk focussed on participation rates in Irish sport and the role of mega sporting events to the economy. The event took place in University College Cork and my slides from the talk can be viewed below
Picking 'Your' Club
Last evening, myself and a friend were discussing the current Premier League title race. The two of us have both independently formed the view that Leicester City (amazingly) could now win the Premier League title. We came to this conclusion by a process of elimination of who can stop them? Liverpool or Chelsea? Certainly not. Man United Probably not. Arsenal or Tottenham can’t be trusted, with the former traditionally capitulating at this point in the season, while the latter having no recent experience of even challenging for the title. So that leaves just Manchester City, who enter a period of huge uncertainty now that Manuel Pellegrini is set to leave this summer.
We joked that some children growing up around Ireland could now end up becoming Leicester City fans on the back of one excellent season. This brought us to the more philosophical conversation as how one becomes a supporter of a particular club in the first place.
In the Irish context, this is very interesting as the vast majority of football fans with an interest in the English Premier League have no natural affiliation to any club. Therefore, it’s simply a matter of choice.
I have been a Liverpool supporter for as long as I can remember. In fact, I have no memory of my conscious decision to become a Reds supporter. I assume I picked Liverpool because of their success in the mid-1980s. Many people of my age in Ireland would have made an identical choice. In many ways this is what makes football so wonderful. As other things I believed in as a child fade or are proven wrong, football is my one constant.
A nice break occurs at the start of the Premier League in 1992. Two years earlier Manchester United won the FA Cup. While many people in Ireland born between 1970 and 1985 support Liverpool, less are probably fans of the Merseyside club if born post-1985. Many of these wear a different ‘red jersey’ with people aged between 15 and 30 more likely to be Manchester United fans. In recent years, from talking to friends that work in underage soccer and schools, a growing number of Chelsea and Manchester City fans are emerging. These are added to the mix of the always popular Arsenal and Tottenham.
This is not a new phenomenon. I recall attending primary school with a Blackburn supporter (won the EPL in 1995) Newcastle fan (almost won the league in the late 1990s) and even a Norwich City fan (played in the UEFA Cup 1993, beating the mighty Bayern Munich). I played street-league soccer in the late 1980s at home both with and against West Ham, Everton, Stoke City, Leeds United fans, and even a Sheffield Wednesday fan.
I wonder is this still the case today? The number of clubs kids now support seems to be shrinking. The concentration ratio appears to have shot up. This could be a consequence of the emerging 'big clubs' and the dominance of the likes of Man Utd, Chelsea, Aresenal, etc. That said, Leicester’s amazing run this season may see the emergence of a new Irish supporter, especially those young enough not to be aligned to any club.
As I said, I think they can win the league this year, but potential fans beware. It might be short-run gain but long-run pain. Something a Liverpool fan like me knows all too well!
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We will be taking our usual Christmas break and will return on Monday the 11th of January. We would like to wish all of our readers a happy Christmas and prosperus new year.
The 2nd sportseconomics.org workshop on sport and economics will take place on Friday 22nd of July 2016 at University College Cork.
GAA Stadia
This week Jose Mourinho complained that his work was sabotaged by players that no longer seemed to listen to him. Within days he lost his job. Only days earlier, a colleague emailed me wondering if anyone was listening to us or reading the blog given what has been previously posted about GAA stadia (here). That post got to the heart of the matter. The GAA builds stadia because it does not pay the players. Much of the revenue generated by the GAA finds its way into the development of stadia.
The GAA approach to stadia got plenty of coverage in the Irish Examiner this week. Paul Rouse started the ball rolling (his recent book on Sport & Ireland is reviewed elsewhere on this blog). Rouse raised many questions about the proposed new "M50" stadia and the GAA's stadia policy in general (here). The following day, in the same newspaper, Brendan O'Brien returned to the issue (here). O'Brien noted how other stories, again in the Irish Examiner, pointed to the competing financial demands on county boards. One of these demands is the cost of preparing teams. At the top of the page where O'Brien's article appeared there was story explaining how Tipperary spent over €1m preparing their inter-county teams in 2015. Under Paul Rouse's piece the previous day, Jackie Cahill documented how Wexford spent over €800k preparing their teams. Earlier this month the Irish Examiner documented that the expenses in Limerick were also over €1m (here).
Remember the €1m per year, per county, figure is for teams composed of players that are not paid for playing. It is questionable whether or not the GAA could afford to go professional. However, there is more money being generated by the inter-county game than is being spent on expenses. Therefore, extra revenue tends to find its way into facilities (playing facilities and stadia capacity) in a similar way to the way that increases in Premier League TV broadcasting money tend to find its way into players (transfers and wages). When it comes to GAA stadia, the key feature tends to be capacity. One is unlikely to find a dining venue or a shop selling county merchandise. These activities tend to be left to the street traders.
Over a decade ago, Seamus Coffey and myself documented the demand for larger GAA stadia capacity (here). In the intervening period, this work has been regularly updated but the broad picture remains the same. There is a need for some larger stadia to accommodate All-Ireland and Provincial finals. But, the majority of games involve less than 20,000 spectators. This is illustrated in the figure below that presents 10 years of events (i.e. there could be more than one game played). Less than 50 events attracted 80,000+ over the ten years whereas there were over 250 games with 5,000 or fewer.
Another feature of the data is that the Dublin footballers are a key driver of the larger attendances. In recent years, Dublin footballer have only played in Croke Park. Add to this, the fact that the latter stages of the All-Ireland series take place in Croke Park and it is easy to understand why that venue dominants the GAA landscape. Croke Park dominates the men's senior championships in terms of the games it holds but particularly in terms of the numbers that pass through the turnstiles. This is illustrated in the picture below where it is difficult to see some of the bars for many of the stadia because of Croke Park's dominance.
The difficulties involved in having a more "rational" distribution of stadia are many. Paul Rouse and Brendan O'Brien drew attention to the range of vested interests. Another difficult is tradition (Rouse also refers to this aspect). Wearing my economist hat, I might suggest that one 55,000 seat stadium in the largest urban centre in Munster (Cork) should hold all Munster championship games. However, wearing my former player hat, I would not swap playing in Thurles, against Tipperary in a Munster final, for anything. I know footballers who feel the same about Killarney and Kerry. And, what about Limerick? Should the GAA divert the smaller games to Limerick in the same way Munster rugby diverts smaller games to Cork? (I'm ignoring that fact that I'll be accused of a Cork bias.)
Then there are commercial difficulties. Take corporate boxes for example. At present, the GAA sells corporate box and premium level seating in Croke Park. These patrons are promised a certain number and type of games. There are only so many All-Ireland finals, semi-finals, and quarter-finals to go around. It would be doubtful if corporate boxes or premium level seating outside of Croke Park could provide a financial windfall. Brendan O'Brien drew attention to the quality of the press box facilities in Portlaoise.
It is over 12 years since Seamus Coffey and myself addressed the issue in our working paper. Our paper addressed issues raised in the GAA's Strategic Review. We proposed the (re)development of one major stadium in Connaght, Leinster, Munster, and Ulster. We were less convinced by the proposal to develop two new medium capacity stadia outside of Dublin. However, there may well be a case for one quality stadium on the "outskirts" of Dublin. The outskirts might stretch as far as Portlaoise, Newbridge, or Navan. Or it could be as close as the M50. The key is that it should be part of a wider investment strategy. But it is difficult to get away from the fact that, because of its financial model, the GAA is always likely to have too many larger stadia.
Fundamental questions for the League of Ireland prompted by new paper
The Economic and Social Review (Ireland's leading journal for economics and applied social science) publishes two sports economics articles in its latest issue. One of the articles is written by colleagues in UCC and this blog (the Butler Brothers). The other is an article by Barry Reilly of the University of Sussex on the demand for League of Ireland football, specifically Premier Division football.
This paper is particularly timely given current debates within the league and the Irish football community generally on the contents of the Conroy Report on the sustainability of the league. The paper is a very welcome contribution to the Irish sports economics literature. This is the first paper of which I am aware that conducts such a robust analysis of the determinants of demand for the league. This might primarily due to data limitations, with attendance figures for the league only recently being available more generally and being somewhat reliable. It is notable that the attendance data (sourced from extratime.ie) are, for some clubs, estimates from journalists and others in attendance rather than official club or league records.
The paper structures the determinants of demand around three groups of variables, expected match quality, outcome uncertainty and opportunity costs for supporters. The findings are consistent with studies for lower leagues in England and in general are unsurprising. The evidence though shatters some dearly held myths about League of Ireland attendances. For example, there is a perception that club supporters would tire of games involving the same Dublin teams too frequently in a season, but the paper finds that derbies (in Ireland these are almost completely between Dublin clubs) are strongly positive effects. Also, live TV broadcast of the game (or another game at the same time) has no significant effect on attendance and the weather seems to be irrelevant (either we League of Ireland fans are a hardy bunch or the switch to “summer soccer” has removed the weather as an important effect).
The key findings are that fixture quality, uncertainty of outcome (a better chance of a home win), geographical distance between the teams, recent team performance and seasonal competitive balance have positive effects on match attendance. The paper is comprehensive and should be used to inform decisions on restructuring and reform of the league. The author suggests that there is little evidence from his analysis that an increase in league size in justified and it is hard to disagree – since such a move would necessarily reduce the number of matches that had an important outcome at stake. The striking finding for me from the paper is the importance of outcome uncertainty – where “the perceived certainty of a match outcome adversely affects attendance for matches where the ex ante home win probability is 0.25 or less” (page 504), and particularly that a fifth of matches fall into this category. This is strong evidence against an increase in the size of the Premier Division.
The author however goes on to recommend a “sizeable reduction” in the size of the Premier Division – and I think the case is less convincing here. The author doesn’t indicate what a sizeable reduction would be. Currently the Premier Division has 12 teams and the Conroy Report has recommended a reduction to 10 from the 2017 season. Is there a point after which the size of the Premier Division works against it being a credible competition? Greater match quality is assumed to accrue from a greater concentration of playing talent in fewer clubs and that these clubs would then be of closer quality. This may very well be the case but the semi-professional (or for some clubs amateur) status may work against clubs attracting talent, particularly for provincial clubs. A good player may be indifferent to playing with one of the many Premier Division Dublin or nearby clubs but it is more difficult for provincial clubs to attract the better players from Dublin. In his most recent book, using a different measure, Stefan Szymanski noted that the League of Ireland was the most competitive European league, so this would seem to suggest the status quo is working in terms of competitive balance.
The Conroy Report refers (and the paper also makes passing reference) to having more games where something is at stake. This is not necessarily increased with fewer clubs (although more balanced clubs would likely mean greater uncertainty of outcome for individual games). The Conroy Report suggests having a break in the season where the division splits in two. In a previous post I suggested an MLS-style conference system with play-offs, which would keep clubs interested longer in the season.
Finally, although it is beyond the scope of Barry Reilly’s paper, the question needs to be asked about what the League of Ireland is for. If it is to generate greater interest (measured for example by attendances) then why not exclude clubs that have shown over many years that they cannot generate large crowds. Perhaps this occurs anyway with the loss of clubs like Monaghan United, Sporting Fingal and Dublin City – it is hardly likely that a club like UCD could be run on a commercial basis. However, if the league is intended to provide an outlet at senior level for as many Irish football supporters then a more regional structure is required and would need to be supported. It is relevant to note that only today the Irish Times reports that soccer is the most popular sport in Ireland – though this is hardly visible in attendances at League of Ireland grounds.
It is these questions that need to be answered before the league is reformed once again. The history of League of Ireland reform suggests that tinkering with league size or structure will fail to address medium to long-term sustainability without a fundamental soul-searching about the league among those who run it and care about it. Barry Reilly’s paper is a critical element in the discussions on what changes are needed, as (finally) we can point to evidence on which to base decisions.
The End-of-Day Effect
Over the years sport has acted as a useful domain to study decision making under risk and uncertainty. This is because incentives are at work in semi-structured environments where participants mostly have had the chance to learn. A curious and quite old finding, where people make such ‘real-life’ probability estimations, comes from studying the behaviour of gamblers at race tracks.
The End-of-Day effect involves choosing bets that have a lower probability of occurring but higher payoffs, in the later stages of a round of gambling, and is one of many cognitive biases psychologists and behavioural economists have discovered. The problem at hand is intuitively quite simple. Imagine you are at a racetrack where eight races are going to post throughout the day. You have a fixed budget of a €10 bet per race. Let’s assume that you are not having any luck; you are backing favourites and none of them have won!
By the time the last race goes to post you are €70 out of pocket after seven previous failed bets. Given that you only have €10 euros left, what do you choose to place your final bet on? Do you a) bet on a horse that is clearly odds on favourite at 1/7, as you have been doing all day, or do you b) shift your preference to an outsider horse who has a chance but is priced at 7/1? If you stick with the 1/7 favourite and are successful (which is most likely to happen) you will leave the racecourse with €14.28 (a lot less than the €80 you arrived with). If you switch to the 7/1 long-shot however there’s an outside chance you will leave with your original budget of €80. Of course, as it’s a long-shot it’s more likely you’ll leave the race track penniless!
The most famous study on this idea was conducted in the middle of the 20th century when William McGlothin (1956) collected data on 9,605 horse-races, primarily from California tracks from 1947-1953. He was interested in the stability of risk taking behaviour over a series of events, in particular the constancy of subjective probability and subjective utility of those who place bets over the course of a day. On-course betting allowed the preferences of gamblers to be measured that were of equal expectations but different probabilities of success. McGlothin (1956, 615) concluded that “the group behaved in a manner such as to increase the variability of their assets as a series of risk-taking events preceded”. In the last race risky decision making increased as bettors shifted towards horses that held longer odds.
Further evidence of the end-of-day effect in the race course is provided by Muktar Ali (1977) who analysed 20,247 horse races over a five year period. Again, horses with a high objective probability of winning were seen to be understated and horses with a lower objective probability of winning were overstated. This relationship was shown to be robust across different race tracks and alternative race conditions, supporting the original McGlothin (1956) study.
Why is this interesting to economists? The answers is because such behaviour is inconsistent with the predictions of subjective expected utility theory - a central theory in the discipline. This theory suggests that when offered a risky gamble we make a rational choice by weighing up probabilities and likely consequences, consistently choosing the best outcome. In the thought experiment given above, you should treat the races independently. On average punters wouldn’t back a 7/1 shot over a 1/7 shot in the first race, so why would more people do so in the last? The problem is because it is psychologically challenging for any race-goers to treat their wealth level and races independently; logically one should not seek out a long-shot in the final race but rather incur a small gain of €4.28 (but retain a net loss) and treat the first race of the next meeting you attend as your next bet.
While the End-of-Day effect is outside of the predictions of the traditional utility theory in economics, it can be accommodated by Prospect Theory. Perhaps we shift toward more risky bets as the day goes on because we form reference points in regards to profit making? The reference profit is commonly zero. If gamblers are incurring high loses by the last race of the day they would prefer to substitute away from gambling on favourites, towards horses that have a lower likelihood of winning, in an effort to return to this reference point of zero.
My advice would be to keep the End-of-Day effect in mind the next time you head to the race track, casino or even when you see your bookmakers offer a boosted price for long-shots in later races. By that last race of the day you’ll probably see punters who just don’t care about their final €10 and irrationally take a big punt that could, but probably won't, come off! .
Short Lecture - Sports Econ
I gave a short lecture to senior cycle secondary school students (high school) on the Economics of Sport yesterday. The talk focussed on prize money distributions across sports. The event took place in University College Cork and my slides from the talk can be viewed below.
Italian Ryder Cup
The Ryder Cup was in the news today, despite the fact we are not in a Ryder Cup year, when it was announced that the Marco Simone Golf and Country Club (not to be confused with the former AC Milan striker), on the outskirts of Rome would become the first Italian golf course to host the event. Italy will become only the third mainland European country to host the biennial event, after beating off competition from Austria, Germany and Spain.
The economic forecasts have already begun, and the value of the event to the local and national economy. To be fair to the event, which is the biggest in golf, it does not possess some of the cost associated with the ‘biggest’ events in other sports. For a start it’s just three days long. While investment in some sport infrastructure is required, most of this is temporary, and can be dismantled afterwards. Just one venue is also required.
It’s likely the majority of spectators will be from outside of Italy, as was the case in Celtic Manor in 2010 and Gleneagles in 2014. It’s estimated that the value of the event to Wales in 2010 was around £80 million pounds with less than 30% of spectators from the host country. Scotland claims to have had a similar positive experience. An impact study by Sheffield Hallam University's Sport Industry Research Centre (SIRC) suggested that the 2014 event was worth in excess of £100 million to the Scottish economy.
I’m sure Rome and Italy will hope for an even better result.
The Growth of Chess
A couple of months ago the Financial Times did a special report on the state of chess (here). The front page headline referred to the growth of chess. A story, inside the FT supplement, claimed that chess attracts seven times more regular players than golf worldwide. Elsewhere, Adam Thomson makes the point that getting to professional level is easier nowadays. He may have a point but looking at the number of new Grandmasters, one might wonder if the sport has moved past its peak at the upper levels. The years between 2007 and 2009 saw the largest numbers being awarded the title.
If we take a slightly longer view it is possible to see the growth of Grandmaster numbers towards the end of the twentieth century and into the twenty-first century. The picture below shows the awards of Grandmaster title in 1974, 1984, 1994, 2004 and 2014. It also shows the age (defined as the gap between the person's birth year and the year of the award) of the person achieving the title of Grandmaster. It seems to confirm the FT view that technology has facilitated younger achievement in chess.
The outliers in 1984 are Stojan Puc and Eero Book. The outlier in 2004 is Yuri Shabanhov. A full list of those who achieved the title of Grandmaster is available here.
Birthplace and Elite Performance
According to my count, 57 footballers currently registered as Irish are contracted to English Premier League clubs. 27 are senior players while the remaining 30 are part of reserve squads, development squads or academies. Some are on loan.
The first map below shows the birthplace of these Irish footballers. Birthplace could be considered a proximate measure for where players learned the game and trained from a young age. 21 were born in Dublin, 23 were born in the U.K. and the remaining 13 were born in other cities and towns outside of Dublin but in the Republic. One noticeable trend is the absence of any current Premier League players born in the West region of Ireland. The West region of Ireland consists of counties Galway (city), Mayo and Roscommon (NUTS Level III). Damien Delaney makes sure that the South West region of Cork and Kerry have a presence, albeit minimal.
The second map shows the birthplace of the current England squad and recent call-ups. There was 40 English players in the list (Raheem Sterling was removed as he was born in Kingston, Jamaica). Clusters are visible in the urban areas of London, Liverpool and Manchester. Daniel Sturridge is the only player to put Birmingham on the map.
Monopoly Prices & The Future of EPL Broadcasting
A number of months ago I examined Premier League broadcasting rights and the costs that consumers face when watching live football. For those unfamiliar with the piece, I questioned whether consumers were better off following an agreement between the Premier League and European Commission a decade ago to end Sky Sports’ monopoly coverage of all live English Premier League matches.
The Guardian recently reported on a related issue of broadcaster Virgin Media querying the current Premier League broadcasting rights deal with UK media regulator Ofcom. Virgin Media are unhappy with the current allocation of rights, where the Premier League sells six broadcasting packages to the highest bidder. They believe the Premier League are limiting supply, and therefore, creating an artificially high price for consumers.
Virgin Media want to make all 380 Premier League games available live on television, and have lobbied for a removal of the traditional 3pm blackout in England, wanting the US-style “regional blackouts”. This would mean that fans based in North London for example, would not be able to watch Arsenal or Tottenham live on TV but could watch Manchester United or Liverpool.
Virgin Media’s stance is interesting but I wonder will it solve the problem for customers?
As mentioned previously, UK customers now pay more in total, and on average, to watch all live games available each season, despite the fact that Sky Sports’ monopoly ended in 2007. Setanta, ESPN, and most recently BT Sport have done little to push prices down for the consumer.
Why has competition not worked?
The problem lies in the fact that broadcasters compete to buy each of the six broadcast packages but do not compete on the broadcasting rights of individual matches, once they secure the rights. Imagine if both Sky Sports and BT Sport were broadcasting the same live matches. Customers could choose to purchase the rights from the company that was the cheapest, provided the best analysis, overall value, offered best punditry etc. Selling the rights off in tranches of six does little for the consumers. Smaller monopolies are emerging. The current scenario is very much in the interests of the sellers. How much would a TV company pay for a broadcast package if it were not an exclusive right to screen those games? A fraction of what they are now paying.
There are a plethora of unintended consequences that could emerge if Virign Media's proposals are adopted. Lower league clubs should continue to fight to retain the 3pm blackout and need only look at attendances in the the League of Ireland since the late 1970s and early 1980s onwards to see the damaging impact televised football can have. Daire Whelan's Who Stole Our Game plots the remarkable decline in attendance at domestic Irish football matches following the arrival of live broadcasts. The Irish 'blackout' was overcome by technology. Technology is again threatening to end the blackout in England. Smaller clubs beware.
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Interesting Facts About the Hindi Language
By Yann, published on 24/08/2018 We Love Prof - IN > Languages > Hindi > A Guide to the Hindi Language
History of the Hindi Language
Different Dialects of Hindi
The Influence of Hindi on Other Languages
Are you thinking of learning Hindi? This Indian language is spoken by over 500 million people worldwide, so you’ll definitely have someone to talk to.
Although India doesn’t have a national language, Hindi is an official language of India, along with Telugu, Tamil, Bengali, Punjabi and many others. The government has long been pushing to make it the national language of India next to and eventually supplanting English as the administrative language, but speakers of other Indian languages have opposed this scheme, fearing India’s language diversity will suffer if everyone has to learn Hindi in school. This lead to the Official Languages Act in 1963, where the official languages of India are listed, only one of which is Hindi.
Both Hindi and English are official languages India – but so are many others. Photo credit: Padmanaba01 on Visual Hunt
The constitution may have specified two official languages (English and Hindi), but no national language!
Hindi is a tongue spoken in parts of northern India but has attained a universal appeal through Indian movies and literature. Many Indians speak Hindi as a second language, even if their first language might be Marathi or Kannada. In fact, most Hindi are multilingual.
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Hindi is a Hindustani tongue spoken in North India from the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European language family. Ultimately, it derives from Vedic Sanskrit, a language spoken and written in the 2nd millennium BC. (The Dravidian languages of southern India developed from entirely different roots.)
Sanskrit roots
Vedic Sanskrit probably dates to about 1500 BC. As languages do, it evolved constantly; the form now known as Classical Sanskrit dates to about 800 BC. Many of the classical texts of Indian literature are written in Sanskrit. It is still taught in India, much as Latin is still taught in Europe as the root of classical literature and science.
Most of the Indo-European languages of India came from Prakrit, a group of languages that evolved from Vedic Sanskrit, some of them as early as 500 BC. Depending on the region, Prakrits became purely literary languages (Dramatic Prakrits were almost exclusively used for poetry or plays) or evolved from a court language into a vernacular.
Languages grow and change, just like this little Hindi-speaker will. Photo credit: lydurs on VisualHunt.com
Apabhramsha
Apabhramsha refers to the dialects derived from Prakrit, in use from around 500 AD to the 13th century. They slowly evolved into separate languages. Most of the North Indian tongues were distinct languages by the 12th century AD.
Persian Influences
Under the Delhi Sultanate (13th to 16th centuries) and later the Moghul Empire (until the 18th century), much of northern India was ruled by Persian monarchs. As such, it was inevitable that Persian words and phrases should influence the emerging Hindustani language, providing a lot of vocabulary and some points of grammar. The native languages spoken at the time were called Khariboli; Hindustani was a variation used by the northern Indian upper class.
Hindi and Urdu
With the fall of the Moghul Empire and other Indian kingdoms, the British Empire set up an administration to rule over their new colonial territories – and were looking for a native tongue to set up as an official language. They chose Hindi (which they called Urdu).
When India became independent and the state of Pakistan was formed, Hindi was among the official languages of India, while Urdu became the national language of Pakistan. They are both variants of the same language, but with some differences as we shall see.
When we speak of the Hindi language, we are not talking about a unified language. Apart from the standardised Hindi learned in schools, there are many dialects of Hindi. Most of them are localised, but some similar dialects can be found in very different areas of the world.
However, it is important to note that early linguists often classified a local language as a Hindi dialect even though it was really a separate language. Thus, you might find Bihari or Rajasthani listed as a Hindi dialect, even though they’re not.
In the whole question of Hindi dialects, the most difficult part is figuring out the difference between Hindi and Urdu. Both are Hindustani languages, and on the vernacular level, they are both mutually intelligible. Their grammar is almost identical. A Pakistani will be able to communicate with someone from Delhi. The main difference is in their vocabulary and their alphabet:
Hindi is written with the Devanagari script and is more heavily influenced by Sanskrit.
Urdu is written using a variation of the Arabic alphabet and has more Persian words.
However, a Hindi speaker might have trouble with Urdu poetry and literature, and vice-versa, as the literary register tends to rely more heavily on words and phrases derived from their main linguistic influence.
Are Hindi and Urdu dialects of Hindustani, or simply registers of the same language? We’ll leave this one to the linguists.
Other Hindi dialects
Hindi is usually divided into two dialect groups:
The Eastern Hindi dialects of Awadhi, Bagheli and Chhattisgarhi.
The Western Hindi dialects of standard Hindi, Braj Bhasha, Haryanvi, Bundeli and Kannauji.
There are also a number of Hindi pidgins and Creoles throughout the world. In India itself, a pidgin form of Hindi has become a lingua franca in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, while a form of Hindi is the common trade language on the Andaman Islands.
This man’s frustration may stem from the fact that his donkey speaks another language. Hindi is often used as a lingua franca in India. Photo on VisualHunt
Perhaps surprisingly, Hindi has not donated a lot of loan words to Asian languages outside of India itself. Its greatest influence is on other languages of India and Pakistan, and one particular European language: English.
The influence of Hindi on other Indian languages
Many Indians who do not speak Hindi as their mother tongue will have learned it as a second language, speak a pidgin form of the language or at least understand it.
This is in part due to the government’s wish to promote Hindi as a national language. Though it has always been unsuccessful in this regard, various implementation schemes have made Hindi widely known throughout India. And while speakers of Gujarati, Tamil, Nepali or Punjabi object to learning Hindi in school, they don’t mind using it to communicate with other Indians or using phrases they learned from Hindi movies.
For the other great disseminator of Hindi is Bollywood. Though the Bollywood capital Mumbai (Bombay) is in the state of Maharashtra, where they mostly speak Marathi, a lot of Bollywood films are in Hindi. So much so that the film industry has spawned a dialect, Bombay Hindi (with a lot of loan words from Marathi).
Bollywood is a great influence in making Indian languages better known – among them, Hindi.
Interestingly, Bollywood’s success in making Hindi words and phrases popular in other Indian languages stems from the fact that their films also feature a lot of other Indian tongues. Thus, native speakers of Tamil or Marathi will go see a film in which Hindi is also spoken, and learn to speak Hindi that way!
Bollywood is also a great equalizer in the Hindi/Urdu controversy. The Hindi spoken in Bollywood movies has a lot of Urdu words in it, making Hindi-speakers more familiar with Urdu vocabulary. On the other side of the coin, Bollywood’s popularity in Pakistan brings more Hindi-specific terms closer to Urdu speakers.
Hindi words in English
The colonial period introduced a great number of Hindi words into the English language. They were brought over by Indian slaves and settlers moving to other English colonies and even to England itself, but also by the colonial governors, plantation owners, merchants and soldiers who lived, administered and fought with Hindi speakers. Not all terms of Indian origin come from Hindi, either (curry, for example, comes from Tamil), but Hindi loan words include “avatar”, “dinghy” (a type of boat), “chit” (from chitti, a letter or note), “jodhpurs” (named after a region where the men wore similar trousers), “pundit” (a priest or scholar) or “typhoon”.
In turn, many of these words made it into other European languages through English, though the Dutch and Portuguese, who traded with India, may have borrowed some directly.
As you can see, Hindi is a fascinating language whose roots go back to Antiquity. It is also a dynamic language, changing with the times, and a wonderful way to learn more about India and the Hindu culture of northern India especially.
So why not learn Hindi with a Superprof tutor? There are many native speakers eager to teach you the Devanagari alphabet, Hindi vocabulary and popular expressions, so you can watch Hindi movies in the original in no time!
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Social Studies StoryBoard That
By bbd4a1e9, Updated
William Shakespeare was one of the greatest English playwrights ever. He was mostly known for his gift to write the best books and plays in English literature.
Queen "Bloody" Mary
Leonardo Davinci was born in Florence and he is a famous artist. He is most notorious for his work of art called the Mona Lisa. He showed human emotions through the way of art.
Johannes Gutenberg is a German inventor who has made multiple inventions. He is famous for the printing press, a revolutionary invention that made it easier to get books and it made it more reliable.
Jacques Cartier
on.Queen Mary I is the daughter o King Henry VIII. Mary is a very stubborn women. In fact she is most known for her aggressive attempt to reverse the English reformation.
Martin Luther was a priest and a professor of Theology. He was ordained to priesthood in 1507. He was the first to openly reject the speakings and teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. In result he was excommunicated from the church.
Jacques Cartier was a French explorer. He is notorious for claiming what is now Canada for France. He lived for 66 years from 1491 to 1557.
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Automotive > Connected Mobility Blog
Uber's Winter of Discontent Turns Fatal
by James Messeder | Feb 08, 2019
A week ago, New York City livery driver Douglas Schifter committed suicide in front of City Hall in New York after posting a 1,700-word note on Facebook regarding his newfound inability to make a living in his chosen field thanks to the rise of Uber, Lyft and other ride hailing/sharing services.
In his post he wrote:
"Companies do not care how they abuse us just so the executives get their bonuses," he wrote. "Due to the huge numbers of cars available with desperate drivers trying to feed their families, they squeeze rates to below operating costs and force professionals like me out of business. They count their money, and we are driven down into the streets we drive, becoming homeless and hungry. I will not be a slave working for chump change. I would rather be dead."
https://www.npr.org/2018/02/10/584757778/taxi-drivers-face-financial-crisis
https://nypost.com/2018/02/09/de-blasio-were-working-on-ride-share-rules-after-city-hall-suicide/
Schifter blamed New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, Governor Andrew Cuomo and former Mayor Michael Bloomberg for his plight and described Uber as a “known liar, cheat and thief.”
According to the Taxi and Limousine Commission in New York the number of for-hire vehicles has nearly tripled since the arrival of Uber, Lyft and their ilk. An early assessment of ride hailing’s impact in New York City focused on congestion, but concluded that the emergence of these services had not had a major impact.
The bigger issue, though, hasn’t so much been congestion as it has been driver compensation. As in most cities with a regulated taxi industry, New York saw the economics of drivers paying for a taxi medallion swiftly unravel in the face of app-based transportation options.
In essence, investors have been funding a scheme whereby professional drivers are being forced out in favor of under-compensated amateurs. The issue is playing out all over the world and some cities – in the U.S. and Europe – have barred Uber and Lyft from operating beyond the bounds of regulation normally applied to traditional taxis.
Consumers love the services and can hardly be blamed for doing so given the delta between a typical Uber/Lyft fare and the standard fare of a normal taxi. Using app-based transportation is a no-brainer – even if the driver may need help with directions or can’t speak English.
Uber and Lyft can afford to offer discounted fares because their unprofitable businesses are funded by investors playing for the big payoff that will result once they have established control of local ad hoc transportation. But this “race to the bottom” in Douglas Schifter’s words, has consequences including professional drivers that can no longer make a living and ad hoc transportation services operating outside of regulatory controls.
My personal nightmare scenario is the taxi line at the airport with no taxis – that is, after these companies are finally put out of business. Or, the day of inclement weather when Uber and Lyft freelance drivers are afraid to drive or unavailable – but the taxi companies that used to pick up under any and all circumstances are long gone. Or, maybe, taxis only exist to serve the suburbs after the Ubers and Lyfts of the world drive them out of the cities.
Are Uber and Lyft going to be there to pick you up in the dead of the night, in a bad neighborhood, if you have special needs? What is the commitment to quality of service beyond a five-star rating? Zero.
Cheap rides have consequences and, presumably, New York City will not be the last city to re-evaluate its more or less unregulated approach to managing ride hailing services. Uber and Lyft identified a need for an app-based experience delivered with personally-owned vehicles. It’s time for regulators to step in with proper registration requirements, background checks, training and tests.
It’s lovely that virtually anyone with a car or even without a car can be up and running as a Lyft or Uber driver in less than a day. But is it right? How many Douglas Schifter’s will it take before regulators realize that it is time to step in to this bonfire of the livery drivers and implement some reasonable regulations.
As for the services themselves, Uber and Lyft have been a boon to travelers wherever they are available. I love the drivers and their stories – including the Lyft driver in Las Vegas who shot a fleeing 7-11 thief (not fatally) in the legs while on the job and the female Lyft driver in Los Angeles who survived being aggressively propositioned by a fare.
Unlike Airbnb, which serves a valuable role of creating affordable lodging inventory in some cases where no rooms are available, Uber and Lyft are directly displacing existing transportation alternatives which, in most cases, are closely regulated thereby limiting their ability to compete.
But the truly twisted part of it all is that fat cat investors are essentially using Uber and Lyft to prey on taxi drivers and operators, while taking advantage of a scenario that allows these companies to forgo vehicle ownership or inventory or driver training or evaluation or any service commitment. The Uber and Lyft drivers are often themselves getting screwed even as they are screwing the taxi drivers.
And let’s not forget the endgame – which is to get rid of drivers altogether.
It will be interesting to see what the next step is for New York City. The streets are already clogged with an estimated 130,000 for-hire vehicles and a growing number of delivery trucks from Amazon and others. Clearly, something has got to give. That something shouldn’t be professional drivers.
Previous Post: Uber's Monkey in the Wrench | Next Post: Movin' On: Transportation Trascendence
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PF2Uf4T1PPk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-GAXQEk6OY
In 1990, Bob Curnow decided to create a jazz ensemble dedicated to the performance of classic big band music. The New Jazz Repertory Ensemble did its first performance at Spokane Falls Community College and has never looked back. A few years later, Bob was encouraged to change the name of the band to the Bob Curnow Big Band. That name has seemed to draw many more people to performances, perhaps due to Bob’s highly successful recording of his arrangements of the music of Pat Metheny and Lyle Mays in 1994 (with his L.A. Big Band) and the stunning CD recorded with the SWR Big Band of Stuttgart, Germany, exclusively featuring Bob’s arrangements and compositions.
This band has existed now for 20 years, and it has never been better. The skill and creativity of the band members is extraordinary, resulting in performances of the highest caliber, while building a large, supportive and very loyal audience. Most of the members of the band are not only superb performers but dedicated music educators. It doesn’t matter if its the music of Stan Kenton, Count Basie, Buddy Rich or the more contemporary sounds of Pat Metheny and Bob’s own original compositions and arrangements, the band rocks and, above all, it swings.
Every year the band records all of the new jazz band music published by Sierra Music Publications, Inc., one of the largest jazz band publishers in the world. The company is located in Liberty Lake, WA. The band has also performed at many jazz festivals in the area and regularly shares its stage at the Ichiban Sushi Lounge in Spokane with many of the outstanding school (middle school, high school and university) jazz ensembles in the region. This comittment to jazz education and the support of jazz in the Northwest is paramount to the existence of the Bob Curnow Big Band. The Ichiban performances happen almost every other Monday night and have for the past couple of years.
The Music of Pat Metheny & Lyle Mays
When the Trumpets Call – University of Georgia Wind Symphony
Washington Square – London Symphony Orchestra
Refractions – Sotto Voce Quartet
Shostakovich Symphonies 5 and 9 – The Russian National Orchestra
Fiery Blues – Tony Monaco
Sotto Voce Quartet
Wade Mikkola
Wayne Coniglio
Scott Mendoker
Scott Whitfield
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Credit: 20th Century Fox
Deadpool 2 'Super Duper Cut': Wade Wilson takes the polar plunge and fights fascism in new scenes
Tag: CONS
Tag: San Diego Comic-Con 2018
Tag: SDCC 2018
Tag: Deadpool 2
Tag: Ryan Reynolds
The "Super Duper Cut" version of Fox's Deadpool 2 was screened for the first time at San Diego Comic-Con Saturday night, and as you'd expect, it ramped up the yuks and raunch. Both Ryan Reynolds and director David Leitch showed up to introduce the movie, thank the fans, and crack a few jokes, one of which involved what Reynolds referred to as "the impending Disney takeover."
"When you're making a movie like this," said Leitch, "there are so many funny things that you can't put in. They'd come to set, [screenwriters] Rhett [Reese], Paul [Wernick], Ryan would have joke after joke after joke after joke... we could probably cut together this movie with [jokes] in almost every spot. So we did our best to give you as much new material as possible."
WARNING! The following contains spoilers for the extended version of the film.
Held at the Horton Grand Theater, the screening of Deadpool 2: The Super Duper Cut included 15 extra minutes of footage that were not featured in the movie's theatrical release. One example comes after the death of Wade's girlfriend, Vanessa (Morena Baccarin). Seeing no reason to go on living without her, our protagonist engages in what can only be described as a suicide montage.
He heads to the zoo and has a cute little exchange with a little girl who asks if he's a superhero. Wade says yes, stating that his hero name is "Captain Delicious Pants." Getting a running start, he plunges straight into a polar bear enclosure and we see a splatter of blood hit the terrified little girl's face. His second attempt at offing himself involves chucking an entire bottle of drain cleaner and hurling himself from the top of a building (for good measure). When neither of these works, Wade decides to blow himself up in his and Vanessa's apartment.
Another standout moment not seen in the theatrical version comes during the end credits after Deadpool goes back in time to save Vanessa, kill the version of himself from X-Men Origins: Wolverine (including an extended monologue directed at Hugh Jackman that hints at the return of his character), and kill Ryan Reynolds before he can make Green Lantern.
In the fourth post-credits scene, Wade walks into a hospital ward and up to a crib, where he begins psyching himself up, using Clark Griswold's "This is crazy" shtick from National Lampoon's Vacation. You probably know where this is going, but the camera suddenly focuses on the nametag on the crib, which reveals Wade is in late 19th-century Austria to kill a baby Adolf Hitler. He quips that he'll probably go to hell for such an action, but takes solace in the fact that at least Hitler will be there to keep him company. As his hands reach forward to smother the child, they cover the frame, turning it black, allowing the remaining credits to roll.
At the end of the special screening, attendees were treated to free T-shirts, the design modeled after the X-Men "Trainee" shirt that Wade wears near the start of the film.
"Thank you guys for everything," Reynolds told the audience at the start of the event. "Honestly, it all started at San Diego Comic-Con 2015 with us sitting in front of you guys showing you footage."
Deadpool 2 arrives on home video Aug. 21, with Blu-Ray copies featuring the "Super Duper Cut.” If you can't wait, the sequel hits digital platforms Aug. 7.
Click here for SYFY WIRE's full coverage of SDCC 2018, including up-to-the-minute news, exclusive interviews, and videos.
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China's Largesse in Tonga Threatens Future of Pacific Nation
NUKU'ALOFA, TONGA - The days unfold at a leisurely pace in Tonga, a South Pacific archipelago with no traffic lights or fast-food chains. Snuffling pigs roam dusty roads that wind through villages dotted with churches.
Yet even in this far-flung island kingdom there are signs that a battle for power and influence is heating up among much larger nations - and Tonga may end up paying the price.
In the capital, Nuku'alofa, government officials work in a shiny new office block - an $11 million gift from China that is rivaled in grandeur only by China's imposing new embassy complex.
Dozens of Tongan bureaucrats take all-expenses-paid training trips to Beijing each year, and China has laid out millions of dollars to bring 107 Tongan athletes and coaches to a training camp in China's Sichuan province ahead of this month's Pacific Games in Samoa.
"The best facilities. The gym, the track, and a lot of equipment we don't have here in Tonga," said Tevita Fauonuku, the country's head athletic coach. "The accommodation: lovely, beautiful. And the meals. Not only that, but China gave each and everyone some money. A per diem."
China also offered low-interest loans after pro-democracy rioters destroyed much of downtown Nuku'alofa in 2006, and analysts say those loans could prove Tonga's undoing. The country of 106,000 people owes some $108 million to China's Export-Import bank, equivalent to about 25% of GDP.
The U.S. ambassador to Australia, Arthur Culvahouse Jr., calls China's lending in the Pacific "payday loan diplomacy."
"The money looks attractive and easy upfront, but you better read the fine print," he said.
China's ambassador to Tonga, Wang Baodong, said China was the only country willing to step up to help Tonga during its time of need.
Graeme Smith, a specialist in Chinese investment in the Pacific, is not convinced China tried to trap Tonga in debt, saying its own financial mismanagement is as much to blame.
Nonetheless, he said it's worrying that the nation of 171 islands, already vulnerable to costly natural disasters, has little ability to repay.
Why is China pouring money into Tonga?
Teisina Fuko, a 69-year-old former parliament member, suspects China finds his country's location useful.
"I think Tonga is maybe a window to the Western side," he said. "Because it's easy to get here and look into New Zealand, Australia."
"It's a steppingstone," he said.
For decades, the South Pacific was considered the somewhat sleepy backyard of Australia, New Zealand and the United States. Now, as China exerts increasing influence, Western allies are responding.
Experts say there hasn't been this level of geopolitical competition in the region since the U.S. and Japan were bombing each other's occupied atolls.
"We haven't seen anything like this since World War II," said Smith, a research fellow at Australian National University.
After Cyclone Gita destroyed Tonga's historic Parliament House last year, the government first suggested China might like to pay to rebuild it. Then Australia and New Zealand stepped in and are now considering jointly funding the project.
Elsewhere in the region, Australia is redeveloping a Papua New Guinea naval base while New Zealand has announced it will spend an extra $500 million on overseas aid over four years, with most of it directed at South Pacific nations.
Rory Medcalf, the head of the National Security College at Australian National University, said the area could provide a security bridgehead for China's navy, which currently must sail through the U.S.-friendly islands of Japan, Taiwan and the Philippines to get to the Pacific.
Other possible explanations, Medcalf said, include the region's fisheries, seabed minerals and other natural resources, as well as China's ongoing effort to lure away the few remaining countries that recognize Taiwan instead of China - several of them Pacific island nations.
"It's not entirely clear what China wants in the South Pacific," Medcalf said. "It's just clear that China is becoming very active and making its presence felt."
China has poured about $1.5 billion in aid and low-interest loans into the South Pacific since 2011, putting it behind only Australia, according to an analysis by Australian think-tank the Lowy Institute. And that figure rises to over $6 billion when future commitments are included.
China's use of loans and aid to gain influence in developing nations worldwide is nothing new, as illustrated by Chinese-financed projects from Africa to Latin America and the Asian subcontinent.
Some worry that these can become debt traps when nations can't repay. In Sri Lanka, for example, the government was forced to hand over control of its Hambantota port as it struggles to repay loans it got from China to build the facility - a move that has given Beijing a strategic foothold within hundreds of miles of rival India.
Wang said China has only benevolent intentions in Tonga and no hidden agenda. "Some people in the West are being over-sensitive and too suspicious," he said. "No need."
It's not just money flowing in from China. Chinese immigrants began arriving in the 1990s when Tonga started selling passports.
The passports, which went for about $10,000 each, were aimed at attracting wealthy Hong Kong residents hedging their bets ahead of the former British colony's return to China in 1997. Instead, they were snapped up by rural Chinese looking for a better life - and who now compete with native Tongans for scarce jobs.
Chinese immigrants already run most of the dozens of hole-in-the-wall groceries dotting the islands, selling cheap imports like potato chips and canned meat. And Tongans worry they are now expanding into farming and construction.
Most Tongans live a subsistence existence in a nation where the king is revered and people take Christianity so seriously that working on Sundays is, with few exceptions, banned under the constitution. The economy relies on foreign aid and cash sent home by Tongans working abroad.
And the Chinese loans haven't changed that because the money went to Chinese-run projects, Fuko said.
"They brought the money, they brought the workers, they brought the building materials," he said. "Maybe a few Tongans pulled wheelbarrows."
Wang acknowledged the criticism that Chinese immigrants run many businesses but said Tonga's leaders recognize the contribution they make and have even called on Tongans to learn from their hard-work ethic.
Tonga never benefited from the passport money, either. A former financial adviser to the government, American Jesse Bogdonoff, helped place about $26 million into speculative investments and almost all of it evaporated.
The real threat to Tonga's future may lie in its crippling loans from China.
Debt distress
In December 2017, the International Monetary Fund increased Tonga's debt distress rating from moderate to high risk, citing its vulnerability to natural disasters and noting that the large upcoming loan repayments to China would reduce Tonga's foreign exchange reserves, double its debt-servicing costs, and could force the country to borrow yet more money.
Repayments were due to start last year, and panic crept in.
In August, Prime Minister Akilisi Pohiva called on other Pacific nations to join forces to demand debt relief, warning that China could snatch away buildings and other assets. But he reversed his position days later, saying Tonga was "exceedingly grateful" for China's help.
Within months Tonga announced it had been given a reprieve and didn't need to start repayments for another five years.
Tonga also said it was joining China's Belt and Road Initiative, the trillion-dollar global investment and lending program that is a signature policy of President Xi Jinping.
Tongan officials don't seem eager to discuss the relationship with China. The prime minister withdrew from an interview with The Associated Press because of an illness, while Finance Minister Pohiva Tu'i'onetoa cancelled at the last minute due to "something urgent." The chief secretary to the prime minister's office, Edgar Cocker, agreed to meet but then quickly asked a reporter to leave, saying he wasn't authorized to speak for the government.
Cocker said all questions about China's loans and aid should be directed to Chinese officials.
Wang said there was no link between Tonga getting a break on its loans and joining the Belt and Road Initiative. He said Tonga had raised concerns about the loan, and China was willing to help.
Tonga's immediate financial crisis has been averted, but Fuko thinks the loans have given China the upper hand.
"I don't know how we are going to pay that back," the former lawmaker said.
An unintended consequence of Tonga's China loans could be a reduction in foreign investment and withering of the revenues needed to pay them back.
Take the Scenic Hotel. One of the few large hotels on the main island of Tongatapu, it abruptly closed its doors in March in a setback to the key tourism industry.
Brendan Taylor, managing director of the New Zealand-based Scenic Hotel Group, said one problem was the new Foreign Exchange Control Act Tonga introduced last year.
Designed to keep money in the country and protect its currency during financial emergencies, it was enacted as Tonga prepared to begin making the Chinese loan repayments.
"The issue you have got in Tonga is that no overseas companies are keen to go in," Taylor said. "They've cut out investors."
He said the hotel got a large insurance payout after it was hit by Cyclone Gita. But the new law created legal hurdles to move money out of Tonga to pay New Zealand suppliers for repairs and so the payout languished in a Tongan trust account, he said.
Tonga-based lawyer Ralph Stephenson said that while the law isn't being enforced, it's still spooking investors.
"The penalties for breaching the act are Draconian, in terms of fines that can be imposed, and also in so far as the act actually affords the courts the power to forfeit property," he said.
Wang said any suggestion that China might be engaged in a Pacific power struggle with the West or using Tonga to keep tabs or even spy on New Zealand and Australia is nonsense.
"Tonga is a small country. It's almost impossible to hide any secret," Wang said. "For some of our Western friends, personally, I think they should be confident in their relations and influence in this region."
If China sees any strategic importance to Tonga, it was the country's recognition that Taiwan is part of China, he said. Tonga switched from recognizing Taiwan and established formal diplomatic relations with Beijing in 1998.
China's economic success has allowed it to build new embassies around the world and too much shouldn't be read into the size of its new embassy in Tonga, Wang said.
He said that over the past 20 years, diplomatic relations between China and Tonga have widened to include infrastructure, trade, education and sports. He doesn't see it as a case of larger countries jockeying for influence.
"I don't think so," he said. "Just whoever is able to provide assistance for the goodness of the Tongan people."
But for Ola Koloi, who runs a tourist lodge, China's footprint is too pervasive, influencing what she can buy since so many goods for sale come from China.
She said the China loans should worry every Tongan.
"I feel like I'll be Chinese soon," she said.
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The Sari-Clad Tech
An iconic photo and a professor’s quest.
by Vijaysree Venkatraman
In 2004, the Ray and Maria Stata Center opened on the site of Building 20, a structure that was meant to be temporary but lasted 55 years. At the dedication, Hale Bradt, PhD ’61, emeritus professor of physics, was delighted to see a familiar image in the lobby: a black-and-white picture of a colleague from his graduate school days. The caption read, “Cosmic Ray Research lab assistant, 1959.”
Santosh Verma, a Cosmic Ray Group lab assistant, studies a projected image of a cloud-chamber photograph.
This story is part of our November/December 2013 issue
The photograph of the sari-clad Indian woman had appeared, off and on, in the MIT course catalogue and on various displays at MIT in the 1960s and ’70s. Now here it was again. But at no time had the woman been identified explicitly. And in this permanent memorial to Building 20, she remained anonymous. “The technical and administrative staff who make our research possible typically receive much less recognition than is their due,” says Bradt, “and this was an example of that.”
The woman had joined physicist Bruno Rossi’s research group as a lab assistant in 1955, a year before Bradt signed on as a graduate research assistant. Rossi’s Cosmic Ray Group studied high-energy particles from outer space that produce fundamental particles as they move through Earth’s atmosphere. “In the 1950s, accelerators began generating beams of high-energy particles,” says Bradt. As “scanners” in Rossi’s lab, both he and the lab assistant were charged with scrutinizing projected images of photographs from the cloud chamber at the Brookhaven National Laboratory accelerator, looking for tracks of fundamental particles. Working in Building 20, they were supervised by more advanced graduate students, Yash Pal, PhD ’58, and Elihu Boldt ’53, PhD ’58.
Scanning was tedious business. “As a grad student, I would breeze into the scanning room for a few hours at a time, whereas she worked all day long,” Bradt recalls. “We talked very little, if at all. One had to concentrate on those projected images, carefully perusing all parts of them so as not to miss anything.” Members of the Rossi group socialized outside the lab; researchers and students typically attended dinner parties at each other’s homes, but not the technical staff. So in 2004, Bradt remembered his scanning partner’s face and quiet personality, but not her name.
Two years later, Bradt was preparing a short talk he would give at the celebration of Pal’s 80th birthday in New Delhi. “I went around campus taking photos of places Yash would have known,” he says. Since Building 20 was gone, he photographed the Stata Center Building 20 exhibit instead. From the MIT Archives, he got copies of the title and abstract pages of Pal’s PhD thesis. The archivist, Eva Bacinska, thoughtfully handed him the acknowledgements page as well, because Bradt’s name was included for “considerable help” in the “analysis of pictures.” Listed as a member of the “scanning and measurement” team was Santosh Verma—Bradt’s former scanning partner.
On that trip to India, Bradt made inquiries about Santosh Verma. Pal had attended the same Indian university as her husband. Although Pal did not recall his first name, he remembered that he’d been a graduate student at Harvard. And Pal had invited Santosh to work in Rossi’s group when he realized that the young couple could use a second income. But upon returning to India, Pal and the Vermas went their separate ways.
Back in Cambridge after Pal’s celebration, Bradt contacted Harvard and found a good candidate for Santosh’s husband: Raj K. Verma, a 1960 recipient of a PhD in geological sciences. Bradt found a book the same Verma had written on geodynamics, dedicated to “Santosh.” The author was affiliated with the Indian School of Mines, but a call to that school and Internet searches got Bradt no further. So in the fall of 2009, he shared the story of his quest with Chandar Sundaram, the Indian father of one of his freshman advisees, who volunteered to help.
In a matter of weeks, Sundaram had dug up the Vermas’ phone number and New Delhi address. Bradt called and found that Santosh, who hadn’t worked outside the home after her four-year stint at MIT, had fond recollections of her time in Cambridge, where her daughter was born. Bradt told Santosh about the “ever-present” photograph and mailed her a copy. But the Vermas couldn’t make the trip to see the permanent display at Stata as he’d hoped. Their traveling days were behind them, they said.
Santosh, whose first name means “happiness” in Sanskrit, died in September 2012 at 82. But a framed copy of the photograph Bradt sent now hangs at the Verma residence, cherished by her family.
Vijaysree Venkatraman
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Sony Alpha A6000 review
The Alpha A6000 is now even better value
By Amy Davies 2017-11-24T17:23:00.327Z Digital SLRs/Hybrids
2. Build quality and handling
4. Sample images
5. Verdict
Sony has come within a whisker of creating the perfect CSC in the shape of the A6000, with just a few niggles stopping it being very good indeed.
Great EVF
Built-in Wi-Fi & NFC
Screen not fully articulated
Frustrating AF set process
New: The Sony A6000 has since been replaced by both the Alpha A6300 and Alpha A6500, but that's meant the price has come down considerably and is a great buy for those looking for a feature-packed mirrorless camera at a decent price.
It's been a few months since Sony took the decision to officially drop the NEX moniker from its E-mount compact system cameras, renaming all of its interchangeable lens cameras with the Alpha brand, regardless of whether it is an A mount or an E mount (those formally known as NEX) camera. This means that some Alpha cameras (such as the A6000) take E mount lenses, while others take A mount lenses.
Since then, the most exciting product to make its debut has been the Sony A7 and the Sony A7R, the company's full-frame E-mount cameras which have been causing waves. Although their prices compare well with other full-frame cameras like the Canon 5D Mark III and Nikon D800, they are still a stretch for many.
So – the solution? Sony has taken the decision to introduce what amounts to an APS-C version of the A7 in the shape of the A6000. As of now, two of the NEX lines will be discontinued – the Sony NEX-7, which was the camera aimed at the semi-pro audience, and the NEX-6, which sat at the top of the enthusiast range.
Sony expects NEX-7 customers will head in the direction of the A7, while NEX-6 customers will be catered for by the new A6000.
The A6000 has a similar look and feel to the A7. It features a newly designed 24.3 million pixel APS-C CMOS sensor. Like the device in the A7, the sensor has a gapless on-chip design, which is supposed to increase light collecting efficiency.
The sensor also has 179 autofocus points, of which all 179 are used for phase detection, but 25 are also contrast detection points for the camera's hybrid autofocusing system.
This autofocusing system facilitates Sony's claim that the camera has the fastest AF in the world, for those cameras with APS-C sized sensors at least anyway – and that claim stretches to DSLRs as well as other compact system cameras. With the A7 it also shares features such as Lock on AF, Eye AF and AF area settings.
The camera is also equipped with Sony's latest processor, the Bionz X, something which is also found in the A7/A7R. Sony claims this to be three times faster than the previous generation.
Along with a faster speed, the Bionz X processor facilitates a maximum sensitivity speed of ISO 25600.
On the back of the camera is a tiltable LCD screen, which is joined by an electronic viewfinder, which is the same 0.39 inch device as found in the recently launched RX10 bridge camera.
The A6000 comes complete with inbuilt Wi-Fi and NFC technology
As well as ditching the NEX name, Sony is ditching the NEX menu system, unifying menus across the entire range of Sony cameras – taking the lead from existing Alphas. This should mean that anybody familiar with any type of Sony camera can easily pick one up from higher (or lower) in the range and be able to get started with it straight away.
As is starting to become pretty much standard, the A6000 comes complete with inbuilt Wi-Fi and NFC technology. Like other recent Sony cameras, it is also customisable with apps which can be downloaded to increase functionality – for instance, a time-lapse app is available.
Battery life for the A6000 is around 310 shots, which doesn't compare very favourably with a lot of DSLRs. The Nikon D3300, for instance, has a battery life of more than double that. Previous Sony cameras we have tested before (such as the A7R) have struggled to last a full day, so it will be interesting to see how the A6000 copes.
As standard, the A6000 comes with a 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 power zoom – the same lens that is packaged with the A5000. You can also buy it body only, with a large range of different E mount lenses now available. As it's a high-end enthusiast camera, perhaps the perfect all-round lens for this camera is the Zeiss 16-70mm f/4 optic, but that comes with a much heftier price tag.
The 10 best mirrorless cameras you can buy right now
Current page: Introduction
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Thursday 18 July 2019 | UK News feed
Independent Safeguarding Authority: Christian teachers or charity workers could be targets of malicious allegations
People with strong religious views could be banned from looking after children or charity work under the new vetting scheme because of malicious allegations made against them, it is feared.
By Martin Beckford
7:00AM BST 12 Sep 2009
The Independent Safeguarding Authority will be able to take into account anonymous claims made by members of the public or newspaper articles when assessing potential teachers or nurses, as well as their beliefs and lifestyle.
It is feared that Christians, who are already under pressure in many workplaces because of their beliefs on homosexuality and family life, could be made the targets of smear campaigns and see their careers ruined.
Mike Judge, a spokesman for The Christian Institute, which supports worshippers who feel they have been discriminated against, said: “If people have an axe to grind with Christianity or Christians they could make malicious allegations against them.
“A lot of traditional Christian views are being regarded as beyond the pale. It’s not beyond the stretch of imagination that because they have a particular view about sexual activity they will be deemed not suitable to work with children.
“In an atmosphere where a nurse can be suspended for offering to pray for someone, I’m very concerned that this new approach is going to consider religious belief.”
Why the Vetting and Barring Scheme is madness
Starting next summer, an estimated 11.3million people in England, Wales and Northern Ireland will have to register with the ISA, the new vetting and barring body, if they want to work or volunteer with children, the elderly, ill or homeless.
Everyone from school governors and caretakers to dentists and nurses must have their backgrounds checked, along with authors who want to visit schools and parents who organise lifts to sports matches or Scout groups.
The agency’s staff will contact the Criminal Records Bureau to see if applicants have any convictions that should bar them from such jobs.
From next month, employers will be under a legal duty to tell the agency if they think a member of staff poses a risk to young or vulnerable people.
But official guidance discloses that unproven allegations and subjective opinions about an individual’s beliefs or personal life could also be used to end their careers in education, healthcare or sport, if there are concerns about their conduct.
ISA officials are also entitled to consider “information” received from former employers, professional bodies, members of the public or “stories in the press”.
If an applicant is suspected of harming a child, the case worker only needs to decide “whether it is ‘more likely than not’” that the alleged event occurred to consider barring them.
Even if they had been found not guilty of a crime in court, the guidance points out that the ISA’s standard of proof is lower and so “must still consider the case for itself”.
They are also told that “evidence not specifically relating to any particular event” can be considered relevant if it leads to the suspicion that an applicant may harm someone.
Case workers must then work out “risk factors linked to future harm” based on an individual’s interests, attitudes, relationships and lifestyle, under the ISA’s Structured Judgement Process.
These include, in addition to an obsession with sex or violence, “presence of severe emotional loneliness and/or the inability to manage/sustain emotionally intimate relationships with age-appropriate adults”.
Other supposed risk factors include “links with anti-social peers”, “presence of impulsive, chaotic, unstable lifestyle” or "using substances or sex to cope with stress".
If an applicant raises “definite concerns” in two or more areas the expectation is that they will be barred, although they have eight weeks in which to contest the decision.
The Home Office confirmed that case workers will be allowed to “undertake appropriate research” on “internet chatrooms or social networking websites” such as Facebook if they think they may contain relevant information on an applicant.
However a spokesman insisted the ISA would have to believe an applicant had harmed or may harm a child before they would start looking into his private life, and said only a small proportion would fall into this category while the rest would not raise any concerns.
He said: “All relevant factors would be assessed to establish if there might be a potential risk of harm. The ISA will rely on the information that is provided by the referring organisation or individual.
“Of course such factors are only assessed if the caseworker has established that ‘relevant conduct’ or risk of harm has taken place – stages one and two of the decision making process must be satisfied before any of the risk factors are assessed.”
As of October 12, education and health bodies, councils, employment agencies and professional bodies are legally required to tell the ISA if they have sacked someone for harming a child or vulnerable adult. They must also report someone if they are “concerned about the behaviour or conduct”.
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Raids underway at properties linked to Salim Mehajer
Salim Mehajer
By Lucy Cormack
Properties linked to family members and business associates of Salim Mehajer have been raided by police and forensic accountants in search of financial records to manage his bankruptcy.
The disgraced former deputy mayor of Auburn council was declared bankrupt by the Federal Circuit Court in March, while he was in prison awaiting trial on charges of perverting the course of justice.
Salim Mehajer. Credit:AAP
Eight properties across western Sydney were targeted on Tuesday by forensic accountants and investigators from the Australian Financial Security Authority, alongside police and representatives from Mehajer's registered bankruptcy trustee Pitcher Partners, who requested the raids.
In a statement Pitcher Partners said the properties were linked to "accountants, lawyers, family members and other associated entities" of Mehajer, who were "believed to be holding records pertaining to Mehajer’s business property and affairs".
Bankruptcy trustee Paul Weston, of Pitcher Partners, requested the raids after almost three months of investigation by the firm since Mehajer was declared bankrupt on March 20.
"We have seized a range of documents and some property, so we have accomplished what we wanted to achieve today," Mr Weston said in a statemnet.
"We will now sift through the files and documents we have taken into possession as the next phase of our investigation."
Mehajer is expected to seek to have the bankruptcy annulled or cancelled on the basis he has the funds to pay his debts.
An AFSA spokeswoman said the property searches began early on Tuesday morning and some were still ongoing at 1.30pm.
She said the raids were planned, after Mehajer's registered trustee asked for assistance to obtain documents related to his bankruptcy.
Under the Bankruptcy Act, a trustee of a bankrupt estate can apply to the Official Receiver for assistance to recover books and records, which allows AFSA officials to access premises and recover books associated with the bankruptcy.
It is understood the agency will make an additional statement about the raids on Tuesday afternoon.
A spokesman for NSW Police confirmed a police presence at the raids on Tuesday, where they were assisting the agency "merely to keep the peace".
The liquidator appointed to Mehajer's failed company, SM Project Developments, served a bankruptcy notice on the property developer in September last year and kicked off bankruptcy proceedings in November over a $200,000 debt.
A range of other creditors are chasing Mehajer for payments of more than $1 million, including Prime Marble & Granite, the company behind the staircase in his multimillion-dollar Lidcombe home.
The former deputy mayor is currently awaiting sentencing after he was found guilty of electoral fraud in April.
Earlier this year he spent two months behind bars over charges he attempted to pervert the course of justice and conspired to cheat or defraud for allegedly staging a car crash that prevented him from attending an assault trial last year.
He will stand trial on those charges next year.
Lucy Cormack is a crime reporter with The Sydney Morning Herald.
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Great Tribute Bands This October
We have some great Tribute Bands coming up next month: Trevor Smith & his Friends In Low Places band present the Ultimate Garth Brooks Experience on Sunday the 2nd of October. This incredibly successful show pays tribute to the biggest selling solo artist of the 90’s and country music legend Garth Brooks! Trevor and his eight-piece band perform live all of Garth's greatest hits including Baton Rouge, The Dance, If Tomorrow Never Comes, Standing Outside The Fire, Thunder Rolls and many more as they take the audience on a journey through all of the pinnacle moments of Garth’s music career to date with their spectacular stage show. Tickets are €23.00. Book online here
Good news for Simon and Garfunkel fans: Simon and Garfunkel Through the Years is back by popular demand on Wednesday the 5th of October. It is the world’s most authentic sounding theatre show of its kind. With moving and powerful live performances and multimedia, the show takes a chronological journey through the friendship and behind the scenes of the greatest ever folk-rock duo. Tickets are €20.00 / €18.00 conc. Early Bird price available through Box Office until Sept 23rd: €16.00. Book online here
Aonghus McAnally brings you The Music of Christie Hennessy on Thursday the 20th of October. One of Ireland’s most beloved singer-songwriters, Christie Hennessy delighted audiences at home and abroad until his tragic and untimely death in 2007. In this all-new show, celebrated entertainer Aonghus McAnally brings the Hennessy songbook to life with his uncanny recreation of his close friend Christie’s voice and guitar playing. Tickets are €25.00 / €22.00 conc. Book online here
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Average Law School Debt
Getting Started With Money Student Loans
Alys Tomlinson/Getty Images
By Bob Lotich
According to several reports, the average law school student graduates with between $100,0000 - $200,000 worth of debt. In 2008, students could attend the average public law school for an estimated $16,800 per year. After three years of attendance, you’ll see that prices for law schools have more than doubled in little over a decade. A six-figure debt burden is not to be taken lightly, so be careful not to let this happen to you.
Are Some Prone to Have More Debt Than Others?
For years, supply overwhelmed demand for lawyers in the job market. There is no guarantee that a law school graduate who passes the bar exam will get a high paying job. For this reason, every prospective law school student needs to consider educational costs and the debt that he or she is willing to accept. While private, for-profit schools are notorious for charging sky-high rates for their law school programs, many public universities offer some reasonable alternatives.
According to a U.S. News & World Report survey, students who attended public law schools such as those at Rutgers, University of Nebraska – Lincoln, and Georgia State University graduated with less than $65,000 worth of student loan debt. Brigham Young University’s Clark Law School serves as an exception, where their overall cost is comparable to that of popular public universities. This private, faith-based university costs about $58,133 to attend, and it ranks higher than the listed public universities.
The most expensive private law schools in the country are Columbia, Cornell, and New York University. To attend these schools, law school students commit to tuition rates between $59,330 and $62,700 per year.
Starting Salaries: The Road to Financial Freedom
Even high student debt can pay off big for law school graduates who pass the bar exam and get jobs as lawyers. According to research findings by Earnest, new lawyers make about $140,000 annually. Since their yearly salaries are almost equal to their student loan debt, they have average debt-to-income ratios of one early in their careers. The survey indicated that mid-way through their careers, these lawyers’ debt-to-income ratios go up slightly to 1.01, which means that they make slightly less per year than the cost of their degrees.
Students must consider that expensive, top-tier schools often have strong networks of industry partners and alumni who make getting good jobs easier for their graduates.
The schools’ ranking and prestige in the market also attract employers in some cases.
Qualifying for Law School Student Loan Forgiveness
Many prospective students decide to take the financial plunge and earn their law degrees. Stories of how these smart lawyers paid off massive amounts of student loan debt abound on the internet. They mention everything from investing in real estate to loan consolidation in their quest for financial freedom. For some law school graduates, these are not practical options, however. The good news is that federal aid and federally guaranteed loans are eligible for loan forgiveness. Here are some programs that offer loan forgiveness for law school students.
Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness (FPSLF)
Income-Based Repayment (IBR)
John R. Justice Student Loan Repayment Program
Law School Loan Forgiveness Programs by School
State-Specific Loan Repayment Programs for Lawyers
The FPSLF program forgives loans for lawyers who enter government, military, or other types of public service. It also takes care of lawyers who serve in the Peace Corps and at certain non-profit organizations. To get loans forgiven through IBR programs, lawyers must make a certain amount of payments based upon their income. After the lawyer makes the prearranged number of payments, the rest of her loan is forgiven. Lawyers who serve as public defenders and state prosecutors get debt relief through the John R.
Justice Student Loan Repayment Program.
Some prospective students decide to pursue a law degree based on their personal interests, family traditions, and academic gifts. For others, it’s all about risk versus reward. Being a lawyer is a prestigious and honored profession in most societies. With this information, you gain insight into how to follow your dreams in the most cost-effective way.
Is Medical School Worth the Cost?
How to Get Paid to Go to College
How to Get Your Student Loans Forgiven
Best Grants to Pay Off Student Loans
Going to Medical School? Your Guide to Loans
How Long Does it Take to Pay Off Student Loans?
What Are the Best Value Colleges for the Money?
Student Loan Rates Are Rising. Are You Prepared?
The Student Loan Debt Crisis Has Reached Epic Proportions
How Much Does College Cost (and Why It's Still Worth It)
Applying for Loans and Financial Aid in Graduate School
The 8 Best Student Loan Lenders of 2019
Dropping Out of College Could Cost Students In More Ways Than One
How Much You Can Borrow in Student Loans to Help Pay for College
Take Advantage of Student Loan Forgiveness and Repayment Programs
How to Pay for College Without Student Loans
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END THE VIOLENCE
1 Dead, 3 Wounded at T.I.’s NYC Concert
via @markygeezy
One person was shot dead and three others wounded Wednesday night as gunfire rang out shortly before a T.I. performance at the Irving Plaza concert venue in Manhattan. According to NYPD representatives, at least four people were shot just before the artist went on stage just after 10 p.m.—one 33-year-old victim died from his wounds, and two other men and one woman were hospitalized. At least one of the injured victims remained in critical condition. Rappers Maino and Uncle Murda were on stage at the time of the attack, and multiple witnesses said a scuffle on the venue’s VIP balcony preceded the shooting. The New York Daily News reports the disruption was between crews associated with Maino and rapper Troy Ave. Officials have not corroborated if the altercation was related to the gunfire. At least 1,000 people were reportedly inside the venue, which cleared out almost immediately to make way for police. “One guy got shot in the chest right in front of me,” a witness told the New York Daily News. “Everyone was running, it was crazy.” Police had not reported any arrests early Thursday morning, and the motive of the violence is still unclear.
Video from inside the venue shows the crowd scrambling toward the exit after gunshots rang out.
Read it at DNAInfo NY
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I Warned You About Bill Cosby in 2007
The public may be waking up to the mountain of rape allegations now, but women were coming forward years ago to warn that the Jell-O Man was not so sweet.
Mark Ebner
Updated 04.14.17 2:22PM ET / Published 12.30.15 11:02AM ET
Victoria Will/Invision/AP
In 2007—seven years before she publicly came forward—I spoke with Joan Tarshis, a former Hollywood publicist who claimed that Bill Cosby raped her. After our talk—and, of course, much more research—I filed a version of the following story on my website Hollywood, Interrupted. It identified a number of women who claimed that Bill Cosby had raped them, including Andrea Constand, whose allegations led Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, prosecutors to charge Cosby criminally on Dec. 30, 2015.
In my interviews with several of the women back then, I found the tale they told disturbingly similar: All were young and impressionable, beautiful, and talented. Cosby had taken a keen interest in their careers, and had offered to mentor them or otherwise open the fabled doors to the glistening kingdom of show business, for which he was a principal emissary. All were given spiked drinks—or drugs misrepresented as medicine—and became incapacitated, the women charged. And all allegedly awoke with the unshakable sense that something wrong had occurred. People magazine even ran an article on the lawsuits that were settled with several of the women, but never followed up on it. And from my own experience, I can confirm that the story shook people to the core: Even more than Woody Allen, Bill Cosby was a beloved figure and civil-rights pioneer; hardened editors were horrified at the prospect of taking him down. I might as well have pitched a story about Martin Luther King Jr. philandering with white women. The story went nowhere.
It’s important to track the history of this story, and the media complicity that enabled it to remain untold for so long. Heroes always fall hard, but their suffering and anguish is nothing compared to that of their victims. — Mark Ebner
William Henry Cosby occupies a permanent place in the American pantheon. Like Jackie Robinson in baseball or Sidney Poitier in Hollywood films (with whom he partnered twice), Cosby was the first to successfully cross the color line in his field—initially nightclub comedy, and then network television—carrying the struggle for racial equality and civil rights literally into the nation’s living rooms. One of the most revered performers of the last half-century, his long-running series The Cosby Show and endearing commercials as a pitchman for Jell-O made him not only one of the wealthiest celebrities (he once considered buying NBC), but earned him unofficial status as America’s first father. (He is the author of a best-selling book titled simply Fatherhood.) This was only reinforced when his son Ennis, 27, was shot and killed in a senseless act that was quickly recast as a national tragedy.
Yet like many pathfinders, Cosby may possess an inexplicable and almost unfathomable darkness, one that has caused him to reportedly commit unspeakable atrocities in defiance of his public persona. Let’s enter that mirror world where the father we felt we knew can allegedly defile young women who looked up to him, without their approval, and often without their conscious awareness. Shall we, Dr. Huxtable?
Bill Cosby was born July 12, 1937, in Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly Love. He followed a stint in the Navy with a career in stand-up comedy, where his accessible, family-centered routines and affable nature proved a winning combination for white liberal audiences looking to assimilate black comedy into their monochromatic world. A series of folksy, astoundingly successful comedy albums led to appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show and then in 1965, I Spy, where he became the first black performer to be cast in a network television series or win an Emmy, paving the way for Richard Pryor, Redd Foxx, Eddie Murphy, Chris Rock, and an entire generation of comics. He followed that with several series, including an animated Saturday-morning show called Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids which ran for eight seasons, ending in 1984. That same year, The Cosby Show began its eight-year run at the top of the ratings, establishing a comedy beachhead on NBC Thursday nights that has endured for two decades.
Cosby received a doctorate in education from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and in later years, the father of five was presented with a Kennedy Center Award by President Bill Clinton. So great is his enduring appeal that in the ensuing national grief following his son’s murder in 1997, radio talk-show host Tammy Bruce could be fired for suggesting that the killing was not racially motivated, but possibly the result of the Cosby heir being in the wrong place at the wrong time in an expensive, carjack-able vehicle.
Cracks in the Wall
Two days after Ennis Cosby’s death, 22-year-old Autumn Jackson and a male companion were arrested in Los Angeles after allegedly flying there to extort $24 million from the elder Cosby in exchange for not revealing that he was her father, following an extramarital affair with her mother, Shawn Upshaw, in the mid-’70s. In the ensuing trial, Cosby admitted to the affair and to having paid Upshaw $100,000 over the intervening decades and set up a trust fund in her name, but denied he was Jackson’s father. She refused to take a paternity test, and was eventually convicted of extortion and sentenced to 22 months in prison.
Cosby generated controversy again in 2000, while speaking at Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C., at a dinner sponsored by the NAACP Legal Defense Education Fund and Howard University. Cosby chose the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision that ended segregation in public schools to deliver a rambling, unfocused speech that vilified “lower-class blacks” for their failure to honor the unspoken social contract of civil rights, and called into question their parenting skills. Middle-class blacks and black institutions were outraged.
As the years went on, the bombshells kept coming—seemingly bigger with each blast. That included an allegation from 2000, when 20-year-old actress La’Chele Covington, who had performed a bit part on his TV series, claimed Cosby had fondled her breasts and exposed himself to her in his Manhattan home. No charges were ever filed in that incident.
Andrea Constand, then a 31-year-old former University of Arizona basketball star and athletic department executive at Temple University in Philadelphia, Cosby’s alma mater, came forward to allege that after a dinner party in January 2004, Cosby drugged her in his Philadelphia mansion, touched her breasts, put her hand on his genitals and that she awoke with her clothing in disarray and the sense that she had been violated. Her father told reporters that Constand, who has returned to her native Canada, had been good friends with Cosby, which is why it took her a full year to work up the courage to report the incident to authorities. Although no criminal charges were filed against Cosby originally, the comedian settled a lawsuit filed against him by the Canadian woman, seeking compensation from Cosby for “mental anguish,” “post-traumatic stress disorder” and the “loss of enjoyment of life’s pleasures.” The terms of the settlement, of course, are confidential. Constand’s lawyer, Dolores Troiani, issued a statement that confirmed the two parties “have resolved their differences and, therefore, the litigation has been dismissed.” But that wasn’t the only related lawsuit his wallet vanquished.
On Aug. 28, 2007, Hollywood, Interrupted broke the news that Cosby had reportedly settled and paid big bucks to avoid fallout from a 2006 lawsuit filed against his attorney, Martin Singer, and a tabloid newspaper by accuser Andrea Constand. In her complaint, Constand alleged that she had been libeled, defamed, and her privacy had been invaded by Cosby, et al. (See complaint here.) After that story appeared, mainstream news interest was scant, with corporate media apparently lacking the stomach to slaughter one of America’s sacred cows. (In fact, a wire service editor told me personally, “We don’t want to libel Mr. Cosby.”) But even more disturbing is Bill Cosby’s longtime, uneasy relationship with the tabloids.
Back when Cosby’s son Ennis was murdered, an American tabloid offered a $100,000 reward that successfully led to the apprehension and conviction of the murderer. That victory for the tab became a bargaining chip in all future dealings with the superstar. In 2005, the tabloid was set to publish an exposé on Cosby, featuring allegations from new self-described Cosby victims. A woman calling herself “Barbara” (later identified as former Hollywood publicist Joan Tarshis) claimed that in 1969, after a meeting on the set of a television show, Cosby slipped her a mickey and forced her into oral copulation, after which he tossed her ten bucks for cab fare. (It was Tarshis who gave the comedian the memorable epithet “Jell-O Man.”) She agreed to meet with tabloid editors in New York City and take a lie detector test to back up her claims. The tabloid realized that they had a bombshell story on their hands, but the exposé was mysteriously killed when Cosby agreed to a clandestine interview with an editor staged in a hotel room in Houston.
What resulted from that meeting was a garden-variety cover story in which the tabloid’s prize was getting Cosby to thank the paper for helping to nail his son’s killer, in between veiled intimations of shakedowns and how his accusers (specifically Andrea Constand) just wanted his money. Not surprisingly, the issue was a loser at the newsstand.
Attorney Tamara Green, 58, a former fashion model and ex-wife of The Wild Bunch screenwriter Walon Green, claims the comedian drugged and forced himself on her over 40 years ago. In response to comments by the Philadelphia district attorney that she perceived as indicating the charges against Cosby were in doubt, Green announced that she had the names of three other women who would testify to almost identical stories of being drugged and assaulted. Green also claimed a young woman by the name of Page Young was so distraught over a similar sexual assault by Cosby that she was driven to suicide by a fatal drug overdose.
“Do I want everybody to know that he [Cosby] had his dirty paws all over me? No,” Green told the Philadelphia Daily News. But the attorney decided to come forward with her sordid story in defense of Cosby’s Canadian accuser. Green says that it is her “civic duty and moral obligation” to come forward so that the Canadian woman would not be intimidated by the Cosby legal camp, nor would she be alone should her charges make it to the Philadelphia courtroom.
Green claims that while she was a model doing cosmetics and Coca-Cola commercials in the early ’70s, Cosby employed her to help him open a private Los Angeles nightclub. Suffering from flu symptoms one day, she decided to call in sick. Cosby invited her to lunch at the club that day. “Maybe you’ll feel better,” Green says he told her. When she arrived at the club, she reports that Cosby offered her some pills that she says he told her were the cold medicine Contac. Ten minutes after taking the pills, she reports that she “was really stoned, I mean, smashed.” Cosby then offered to drive her home; when they got to her apartment, she alleges that he attacked her by attempting to take off her clothes.
“I started fighting him and he’s kissing on me, peeling off my clothes,” she said.
After Green started screaming and threatened to throw a lamp through her window to get someone’s attention, she says Cosby finally let her go. As a final indignity, Green alleges that he dropped two $100 bills on her end table and left.
“That infuriated me,” she said.
Read More on the Bill Cosby Rape Scandal
Shawn Upshaw, the mother of Cosby’s discredited “love child,” Autumn Jackson, also told the National Enquirer, “I was put in the same position with Bill.”
When Upshaw was visiting Cosby at his Beverly Hills rented mansion in the ’70s, she claims that he slipped debilitating drugs into a drink he prepared for her. She then claims that the drink “looked strange” to her and she didn’t want to drink it, but Cosby insisted she finish it. She immediately started feeling out of sorts. “I knew definitely that I had been heavily drugged,” she says.
Although it was the last thing she remembered of the evening, Upshaw claims that Cosby put her to bed, and she awoke the next morning “knowing I’d had sex during my sleep.”
In my reporting, I fielded reports from numerous women (including Joan Tarshis) with similar stories to tell. An airline attendant claims that Cosby flew her and her aspiring actor-brother to Las Vegas and put them up in a luxury suite, promising to share his professional contacts with them. The weekend, she claims, quickly devolved into a wash of booze and drugs, and the stewardess says she had to repeatedly fend off Cosby’s inappropriate and aggressive sexual advances. Now, thanks to the public tribunal of Facebook, a decades-old story that the media consciously turned a blind eye to has gathered renewed momentum. In 2014 proto-supermodel Janice Dickinson adding her name to the afflicted—a charge she made in her 2002 autobiography No Lifeguard on Duty, but now claims she was forced to remove when Cosby’s legal team pressured publisher HarperCollins. (Cosby’s lawyers, both then and now, refused to comment further.)
As is equally clear from his shambolic talk-show appearances and his extemporaneous attempts at social commentary in a public forum, Bill Cosby has long existed in a bubble. You don’t create movies like Leonard, Part 6, a catastrophically conceived 1987 James Bond parody in which the comedian at one point rides an ostrich, and not be dangerously out of touch with the world around you, or protected behind layers of hierarchy and protocol. With this much darker turn into pathology and alleged predation, it appears that for the entire 45 years of his public life, Cosby has been, in Shawn Upshaw’s words, “an incurable womanizer,” adulterer, and accused serial rapist—alleged actions in which his media champions were complicit. Moreover, the duration and degree of these incidents suggest a parallel history, one that once revealed in all its explosive detail, may render what we now know so far merely the tip of the iceberg.
Editor's Note: This story has been updated thoroughout.
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Syria's brave but divided opposition will have to take down Assad on their own
Mehdi Hasan
President Bashar al-Assad is ruthless and resilient. Western-led military intervention in Syria would be a disaster
Sun 11 Dec 2011 16.00 EST First published on Sun 11 Dec 2011 16.00 EST
Smoke rises behind residential buildings in the Syrian city of Homs last week after the bombing of an oil pipeline – blamed on a terrorist group by the authorities. Photograph: Sana/handout/EPA
Given the events of the Arab spring, some might say that the tell-tale sign that a dictator's days are numbered is when his defiance turns to delusion. Last Wednesday, in an interview with ABC's Barbara Walters, a chuckling and snorting Bashar al-Assad, the Syrian dictator, tried to deny any responsibility for the attacks on his own people: "They are not my forces. They are the forces belonging to the government. I don't own them, I'm president."
This, of course, is denial of the highest order. Syria is a police state in which Assad and his Ba'ath party cronies call all the shots – literally. According to the United Nations, Syrian security forces have killed more than 4,000 since protests against the regime broke out in March. ("Some mistakes committed by some officials," shrugged Assad.)
His television interview has been interpreted by some as further evidence that the Syrian regime is on the backfoot. But is Assad really close to quitting? Or being toppled? Of the three dictators who have fallen since the start of the Arab spring, one (Gaddafi) is dead, one (Mubarak) is on trial, and one (Ben Ali) is in exile. Assad is reported to have turned down offers of safe haven in the Gulf and continues to show no mercy to the protesters. His Shabiha militias roam Syria's streets, shooting, maiming and torturing. On Sunday at least nine people were killed in clashes as opposition activists tried to call a general strike.
So it would be a mistake to write off the ruthless Syrian president, no matter how deluded he might seem on television. His regime has been remarkably resilient, despite having endured US-imposed sanctions for the past seven years. In 2005, following the assassination of the former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq al-Hariri – allegedly on the orders of Syrian intelligence – many western analysts assumed that Assad, the young, pampered, UK-educated eye doctor, was finished. Yet he not only survived but emerged stronger, more determined and more outspoken on issues of Middle East diplomacy (from the civil war in Iraq to the calcified politics of the Arab-Israeli conflict).
Syria, of course, is a key player in the region: the Americans and Israelis want Assad gone in order to try and pull Syria out of Iran's orbit and thereby further isolate the mullahs in Tehran (as well as Syrian-sponsored militant groups like Hamas and Hezbollah); the Russians are defending Assad in order to protect their business interests in Damascus and to prevent any knock-on effects from a Syrian civil war on Russia's own restive province of Dagestan; the Turks have turned on Assad, their former ally, in order to bolster their new position as a regional power and diplomatic linchpin; and the Gulf Arabs just want to back a Sunni majority against a minority Shia/Alawite regime.
Yet, as Flynt Leverett, a former Middle East analyst for the US National Security Council and the CIA, has observed: "It is far from clear that the Assad government is actually imploding ... Moreover, no one has identified a plausible scenario by which the 'opposition', however defined, can actually seize power."
Leverett is right to put the word "opposition" in quotation marks. There is no singular, unified or cohesive movement against Assad. In a reflection perhaps of the country's array of religions, sects and ethnicities, Syria's dissident groups are diverse and divided. They cannot agree on tactics or goals, with credibility and legitimacy varying from group to group.
The biggest point of tension is between exiled opposition activists and protesters on Syria's streets. "There have been a dozen conferences and statements in several cities but nothing to show for it," a protester told the Economist back in September. "Meanwhile we continue to go out and take the bullets."
Another major tension is between the Syrian National Council (SNC) – formed in August from a multiplicity of opposition groups, including the Muslim Brotherhood and the Kurdish Future Movement party, and led by the Paris-based Syrian academic Burhan Ghalioun – and the Free Syrian Army (FSA), composed of around 15,000 defectors from the armed forces.
Ghalioun is a popular figure in Washington, having told the Wall Street Journal earlier this month that a post-Assad Syria would cut off military ties with Iran and reduce its support for Hamas and Hezbollah. Yet his SNC insists that the Syrian opposition must not resort to violence or turn to armed resistance. The FSA, however, has launched attacks on Syrian soldiers and Ba'ath party offices. "We don't like [the SNC] strategy," the FSA coordinator Abdulsatar Maksur told the New York Times last week. "We favour more aggressive military action."
Then there are the sectarian and ethnic tensions. The opposition has been desperate to downplay the fact that it is largely drawn from Syria's Sunni Arab majority and rejects claims that it is directing its protests and anger towards the privileged Shia Alawite minority that rules the country. Yet in July the International Crisis Group, an independent, Brussels-based thinktank, published a report that claimed the opposition had "edit[ed] out sectarian (ie anti-Alawite) slogans that at times are voiced on the streets" from the videos of protests that it regularly posts on the internet. In August, at a meeting of opposition figures in Turkey, the Kurdish delegation is reported to have staged a walkout when the other opposition groups declared their wish to keep the word "Arab" in the name of the Syrian republic.
Since Friday, however, the SNC has been focused on one particular task: warning western governments and journalists that Syrian forces are planning a massacre in the western city of Homs.
There are reports that western intelligence agencies have been training the FSA. More worryingly, if one looks at precedents from Kosovo in 1999 to Libya this year, this could mark the beginning of a descent down the slippery slope to war.
But a western-led military intervention in Syria would be a disaster. Unlike with Libya, there is no prospect of a UN security council resolution, and nor has there been a call for military action from the Arab League – or from Syria's internal opposition groups. "We reject foreign intervention – we think it is as dangerous as tyranny. We reject both," says Hassan Abdul-Azim, a leading member of the National Coordination Committee, a grassroots (and anti-SNC) umbrella group of nonviolent opposition activists inside Syria.
Logistically, a no-fly zone would be of little value in Syria, where Assad's security forces and militias are carrying out small-scale, street-by-street operations against unarmed civilians, rather than launching massed army assaults or air strikes.
So the west's approach in Syria should be Hippocratic: first, do no harm. Further sanctions might succeed in squeezing Assad's mafia-like regime, but sending British or American planes to carpet-bomb the suburbs of Damascus or Aleppo will do little to protect civilian lives or bolster the opposition.
The youth of Syria – brave, unarmed, idealistic – are being cut down by Assad's troops and yet the grim reality is that there is little the west can do to help them: we cannot control events in Syria or bring about a speedy end to the crisis. If the popular uprising against the Ba'athists is to succeed, Syrians – of all parties, sects and ethnicities – will have to make it happen on their own. The sad truth is, it is not our job to topple Assad.
Arab and Middle East unrest
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Extension of tax laws was positive for Nebraska, Johanns says
By Robert Pore robert.pore@theindependent.com
Robert Pore
It was down to the wire in passing a deal between two warring parties in Congress and the White House to avoid falling off the "fiscal cliff," which would have seen tax increases and mandatory spending cuts to the U.S. budget.
While neither party got its way in the tax-and-spending agreement, U.S. Sen. Mike Johanns, R-Neb., said Nebraska fared well in the final outcome.
"The legislation protects about 99 percent of population from higher income tax rates," Johanns said. "I can say to the vast, vast majority of Nebraskans that the rates you have grown used to over the last 12 years are the rates that will apply to you. That is very positive."
The agreement between Congress and the White House also involved estate tax rates.
The agreement restored the $5 million exemption level for the estate tax, or $10 million per couple. It is indexed to inflation. If an agreement had not been reached, that exemption level would have fallen to just $1 million.
But the top estate tax rate increased from 35 percent to 40 percent on estates with a value greater than $5 million. All changes to the estate tax under the fiscal cliff package are permanent.
Johanns said the agreement involving the estate tax was important for Nebraska.
"The estate tax changes that were put in place two years ago that were so helpful to agriculture are now permanent," Johanns said. "Virtually every estate in Nebraska will pass without a death tax as long as that person has done some estate planning and has a good estate plan in place."
He said the certainty that the agreement brought to estate tax laws has been received well by Nebraska farmers and ranchers.
The average age of Nebraska farmers and ranchers is 55.9 years old, according to the U.S. Ag Census of 2007. That number has been increasing steadily since the 1940s, when the average age of Nebraska farmers and ranchers was 46.2 years.
Also, along with record cropland and grassland values, the number of farms and ranches in Nebraska has declined since 1940, when there were more than 121,000 farms and ranches in the state. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, that number was 46,800 in 2011. The average-size farm or ranch in 1940 was 391.1 acres, compared to 972 acres in 2011.
"If this (estate tax) bill had not passed and we went back to a 55 percent rate and a million-dollar exemption for a single person, at the end of the day, what you end up with is land sales," Johanns said. "Getting this done was a gigantic step, and making it permanent was so important for our state."
He also pointed out the permanent capital gains tax provisions that retained the lower rate of 15 percent for income under $400,000 for a single person and $450,000 for a married couple. If Congress had not fixed the law, the capital gains tax would have gone up to 20 percent on Jan. 1.
But Johanns was frustrated by Congress' inability to pass a new Farm Bill. Johanns, who serves on the Senate Agriculture Committee, helped write a new Farm Bill, which passed in the Senate, along with the House Agriculture Committee. But those efforts came to a halt as the House version of the Farm Bill did not reach the floor for a vote.
Extending the 2008 Farm Bill instead did not include the cuts in the nutritional part of the bill, which accounts for more than 80 percent of the bill's five-year cost. The Senate slashed $23 billion from its version of the Farm Bill, and the House Ag Committee made even larger cuts.
Both the Senate and House versions would have eliminated direct payments for corn, soybeans, wheat and other crops, which were costing taxpayers about $5 billion annually. By extending the 2008 Farm Bill, direct payments will be continued for 2013.
Johanns said getting a new Farm Bill through the Senate Agriculture Committee, then through the Senate and then through the House Agriculture Committee was an "uphill battle all along the way."
But to have it stopped at the end by the House leadership was characteristic of many of the problems faced by Congress last year.
Johanns said it's unfortunate that a lot of the legislation passed in Congress results from an agreement reached by a handful of people.
"We should be working legislation up through our committees, voting on it and debating on it and moving it to the floor, if there are the votes to do that, and then debating it on the floor," he said. "Unfortunately, instead of doing more of that, which I believe would be helpful to the country in solving problems, it just seems to me that each year we do less and less of that. That is not good."
"We will go back to work and do a Farm Bill," Johanns said.
But that could be a challenge as writing a Farm Bill has as much to do with regional differences in the type of crops that are grown, such as rice and peanuts versus corn and wheat, as with party or political differences.
"That is the reality of farm policy," Johanns said. "You get these debates that have nothing to do with your party registration but have a lot to do with regions and crops, different growing conditions and a host of issues."
But Johanns believes the Farm Bill template, which was passed by the Senate Agriculture Committee and was highly praised by many farm groups across the country, will be what the Senate passes.
"I think we can get a Farm Bill out of committee, and hopefully we can get floor time and an open amendment process," he said. "I continue to be confident that, on the Senate side, we can get it done."
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Essays, Memoirs, and True Stories
Cash Cow
By Samantha Tetangco
There are two kinds of people who show up for a taping of the PBS television program Antiques Roadshow. The first kind of person arrives bearing family heirlooms for the experts to appraise: old rocking chairs and wooden spindles, painted mirrors and Civil War swords once swung by their great-great-great-grandfathers. These people come to learn more about their items. They’re eager to know the value, too, but they rarely sell.
The second group is made up of people who want money. People like me.
According to Marsha Bemko, the show’s executive producer, I am in the minority, but standing inside the Albuquerque Convention Center in New Mexico, I find this hard to believe. The room is abuzz, as if we were awaiting the opening of a new casino: I hope you win big. Good luck. I’m sure that one’s a winner. Very few people here are my age — early thirties — and no one around me is alone. The two women behind me in line are Daughters of the American Revolution. The couple in front are retired weapons engineers from Los Alamos. Most people are more prepared than I am: They wear comfortable shoes and carry folding chairs. Those with large items have brought hand trucks or small wagons. Everyone’s treasures are tucked into boxes or covered in plastic to keep them safe. The paintings are draped with sheets.
My painting is exposed. With the frame it is forty by fifty-two inches — three times bigger than any box I could find around the house. I have no hand truck or wagon. Not knowing what else to do, I have covered the corners in cardboard triangles held on with pieces of twine. While most people move through the line with ease, I strain and tug, damp with sweat. “Be careful not to put your knee through that canvas!” a woman calls out. She was smart enough to bring a wagon, and her two paintings are meticulously packed and cushioned by a fleece blanket. Another woman shakes her head and asks what I was thinking. I give up trying to keep the painting aloft and just slide it along. When it hits a crack in the cement floor, I cringe. This is not just any painting; it is my ticket to a better future. And many people around me seem to agree about its worth. A man nudges his wife, and they gape at me from down the line. “Well,” the man jokes, “at least we know who to mug in the parking lot.”
What these people don’t know is how much I need this money. I have nine thousand dollars in credit-card debt and almost twenty thousand in student loans. My teaching contract at the university recently came to an end, and I’m not certain I’ll have a job in the fall. In another month I may not be able to pay my rent. But a few months ago my wife discovered this painting, and now here in line I’m convinced: everything is about to change.
My wife, Randi, has been a fan of Antiques Roadshow for years. She’s drawn to the fairy-tale quality of the people’s stories: The woman who bought a framed poster at Goodwill only to discover a far more valuable piece tucked inside; the man with the fifteen-thousand-dollar doll salvaged from the county dump. Randi has always wanted to join their ranks. When she was growing up, she and her mother would wait for the day when the city picked up junk at the curb. They would wake early and prowl the neighborhood, searching for items they could sell for a quick buck. They learned quickly what furniture could be polished and resold and which obscure knickknacks might garner the most cash at the local flea market. For Randi, finding something of real value was only a matter of time.
The painting used to hang in a library on the third floor of the English-department building where I work. The library is small and cavelike, its dusty corners home to ancient computers, forgotten record players, and stained coffeepots. Once a busy hub, it’s now a locked fortress, opened only for class use and dissertation defenses. A few months ago the English department debated whether to give employees raises or renovate the third-floor library. The library won out.
I was not involved in this decision. I work as a term lecturer, which means I teach the same course load as a regular lecturer, but for roughly fifteen thousand dollars less per year. We term lecturers are never certain whether our contracts will be renewed. So for two months every summer we wait with fingers crossed. We’re also not allowed to attend faculty meetings, which is why I didn’t know about the library renovation until one day I rounded the corner and saw a handful of graduate students riffling through leather-bound books, vinyl records, and VHS tapes that were being given away.
I flipped through the books and left empty-handed, but later I returned with Randi, knowing she would want to rummage through the rejects. She took two steps into the room and went straight toward some artworks in a corner.
“Look at this!” she said. She moved aside several frames, and there, tucked behind a print of snowy owls, were the cows. The artist had painted three in the foreground and three more behind them. In the distance, beneath a tree, lounged several others. One cow stared at the viewer. The rest grazed on a rolling hillside, looking the way you might expect cows in an old painting to look.
“Isn’t it something?” Randi said.
“It’s something, all right,” I replied. Over the previous six years I’d seen Randi make a beeline toward many discarded objects: chairs she’d meant to refinish but never had; two-by-fours that might have become a raised flower bed if she’d found the time. Until recently we’d lived in Indiana in a home with a basement and a backyard where such items could accumulate, but now, in New Mexico, we were renting a room in a shared house. Most of our belongings were still in storage back in Indiana. That morning we’d deflated an air mattress to access our closet. This painting would hardly fit into our car, let alone that cramped bedroom.
But Randi is a hard woman to say no to. She convinced me to help her carry the cows to my office, where we propped them on my paper-laden desk. At first I couldn’t keep from laughing: the painting was bigger than the desktop, bigger than the chalkboard on the wall, and absurdly out of place in that dilapidated office, which I shared with three other lecturers, all of us squeezed in tight. But then I considered the gilded frame surrounding the peaceful brown cows. This work of art could have been in a museum or a mansion, someplace with low lighting and an expansive wall. It belonged to a world beyond this building and this department, and far from the pothole-covered road running by outside. Maybe it was the golden afternoon light, but I suddenly saw what Randi had seen in an instant: this painting had value.
Here is what you should know about Randi: She is a tenacious researcher. Once, while taking an undergraduate English course, she became so absorbed by the work of an obscure poet that she scoured the library for every article ever written about the man and produced a paper that read like a PhD thesis. She’s plagued by a fear of not knowing, which is exacerbated by a fear of looking stupid. Neither should be a concern for her. My wife is brilliant — and beautiful. Her Irish-Cherokee roots have given her dark hair, pale skin, and blue eyes that seem to change color depending on the weather: silver when a storm is approaching; green when the day is warm and bright.
That afternoon and evening Randi spent hours on the Internet. It was well after midnight when I heard her cry out and rushed into the bedroom, where she pointed to her computer screen. Sure enough, there it was, the same squiggle of a signature that appeared at the bottom of our canvas, the last name not Champagne, as we’d first thought, but Champney: Edwin Graves Champney.
Randi searched auction sites for Champney paintings that had changed hands within the last ten years and hit upon the information we were seeking: A watercolor by Champney had sold for $1,400. A few oil paintings, including one of a single brown cow similar to the cows in our painting, had sold for roughly $2,000 apiece. And these works were small. Ours was a billboard by comparison. When it comes to oil paintings, Randi explained, size does matter. If these other paintings were worth two grand, ours had to be worth at least twice that. And it was still sitting on my desk in my shared office.
“We have to get it,” I said.
It wasn’t that we thought the painting would be stolen — after all, it had sat in a room full of giveaways for more than a week, and no one had claimed it. We just needed to know that it was safe. So we got into our car and drove across town, pulling right onto campus, where cars are not allowed to drive. We dashed up the stairs and carted the painting down, as quick as thieves. And that’s what we must have looked like to someone passing by: two young women carting away a work of art in the dead of night. The entire drive home I kept glancing in my rearview mirror, expecting sirens. I couldn’t get over the feeling that, although we’d broken no law, we were getting away with something.
In line at the Roadshow people are talking about the cows. I love your cows. Oh, those cows! What weighs more — this painting or a real cow? A woman stops to take my picture. “You’re going to be on the show,” she says, and people around her agree.
I had forgotten about this possibility. I was in such a rush this morning that I didn’t bother to fix my hair, and now I feel it coming out of my ponytail in messy tufts. My jeans are too big. There’s a tear in my top. I wish I’d remembered to wash my face. All around us screens show clips from past episodes of the show, and I imagine myself and my painting in one of them.
A gray-haired woman hands me a business card for a Santa Fe gallery. “Let me know if you’re interested in selling those cows,” she says.
A few people glance from their objects to mine, and the comparison seems to leave them disappointed. Still, they wish me luck. I can tell that, like me, they hope they’re carrying the realization of a dream: a new roof, a trip to Maui, that sports car they’ve always wanted but never believed they could afford. The slot-machine wheels are spinning, and we’re all watching, hoping those blazing 7’s will line up.
Randi learned that a painting’s value increases when the seller has more information about it. For a solid month she devoted herself to Edwin Graves Champney. She had his journals sent over from the Smithsonian and spent days scouring the microfilm, hoping to find a mention of this particular work: Why had it been created? Who had previously owned it? Bit by bit, Randi put the puzzle pieces into place.
Edwin Graves Champney served in the Civil War as a soldier and sketch artist for the Union Army. He studied painting in Europe, and in his later years he worked on murals at Boston’s famous Trinity Church and taught at the Boston School of the Museum of Fine Arts. As far as Randi could tell, the painting was his largest on record, created at the end of his career in 1884. Despite all this knowledge, she couldn’t say how the cows had wound up in a university library in New Mexico. “Once I learn that,” Randi said, “the value could double.”
At the end of the month we needed a break from our research and took a road trip through New Mexico, Arizona, and California. Along the route we told anyone who would listen about the painting. The more we talked about it, the bigger its potential value became. Could it be worth ten thousand dollars? Twenty? Possibly more?
By the time we returned home, we were fantasizing about buying a house. I am thirty-three years old. Randi is twenty-eight. We’ve been married for three years and want to start a family, but it’s difficult to think of raising children when the only certainty in our future is the increasing size of our debt. The painting, however, could help us reach our hoped-for future. We started stopping at houses with FOR SALE signs. Randi knew how to make adobe bricks and run wiring. If we found a run-down place with good bones, we could do the rest.
One day Randi drove out to her favorite coffee shop, which was located in a converted adobe house outside of Albuquerque. She hadn’t been there for a while, and when she arrived, the door was locked, and the building was empty. A note said, “For the last twenty-five years, we’ve given it our best shot.” It listed a number in case anyone was interested in buying the place.
We drove out to the property together on a Sunday. It had a sloping yard with a stream and an old shed that appeared to be a hundred years old. An herb garden grew amid budding weeds. We could build a chicken coop, maybe have the horse and goat Randi wanted. I wanted the beauty and security a place like this seemed to promise.
After wandering the one-acre grounds, we sat on a bench that faced the building to imagine what our life there might look like.
“Close your eyes,” Randi said. “What do you see?”
I tried to picture the house and the kids and the rest, but all I could see was the painting of the cows. The realness of the house and the land was overwhelming, and our fantasies suddenly seemed to be just that: fantasies.
“I can’t imagine anything until I know what the painting is worth,” I said.
Randi’s face dropped. She picked at the cuticle of her thumb, and I saw a bead of blood that she wiped on her jeans. All her life, she told me, she’d been striving for things people said she could never have. She’d wanted to leave Oklahoma, and she had. She’d wanted a horse farm, and she’d had one. “I’ve always imagined the thing first and then made it happen.”
But I knew Randi had been homeless when she’d moved to Albuquerque, and she’d lost the horse farm. And I wasn’t like her. I couldn’t plan on a future unless I knew that future was possible. Still, I wanted to be able to want it. And sitting there, listening to Randi talk about her vision of our home, I let myself imagine it, too.
At the end of the first line, I am given a ticket and sent to stand in a different line, for “drawings and paintings.” The hopeful energy fades as, one by one, the objects are appraised, and their owners return to reality.
The man behind me carries a landscape of California redwoods painted by his grandfather. He and I can both tell it was the work of an amateur. His wife has already been through several shorter lines and gotten three disappointing appraisals: $50 to $75; $200 to $300; sentimental value only. Now her eyes are on the cows as I shift them forward. The cardboard slides off the corners, and I put it back with the utmost care.
“You want me to help?” the wife asks.
“Thanks,” I say, “but we’re almost there.”
A Roadshow employee beckons me forward.
It was supposed to have been Randi who took the painting to be appraised. She was the one who’d spent days researching its origins. She was the one who knew this world of junk and treasures. But a friend of ours was taking a road trip through the Midwest and offered to let Randi come along; after they got to Indiana, Randi would rent a U-Haul and return with the rest of our belongings. I would have gone with her, but I’d been offered a job teaching a summer class, and we needed the money. So it’s me in this line.
Last night I went on YouTube and searched for “Antiques Roadshow paintings.” I watched a man appraise a nineteenth-century landscape that also contained a small herd of cows. “Cows are common during this era,” the appraiser said. “As a result they’re not usually popular with buyers.” He turned his attention to the background figure of a man in a boat rowing down a stream. The camera pulled back, and I saw that the painting was only a quarter the size of ours. When the appraiser gave the final value, I gasped: three hundred thousand dollars. If our painting could garner even half as much as the one on YouTube, we could purchase the adobe house outright. Maybe this was actually going to happen, I thought. Maybe my luck was about to change.
Here are some things you should know about me: When I was a kid, I was driven and ambitious, aspiring to be a doctor, or a lawyer, or the president of the United States. Then my father died of cancer while I was in college, and I started to question whether all my hard work in school had been worth it. He had worked hard, too. He’d emigrated from the Philippines after medical school and raised his family while starting his career and future. And just when it had come time for him to enjoy the fruits of his labor, the cancer had spread through his brain, and he’d died. I was twenty years old. I stopped thinking about the future and started living for the present. I hung around bars and drank away most of my twenties. Then I met Randi, and I began to plan for the future again. Now those plans had grown exponentially.
After the video ended, I called Randi. She was somewhere near Louisville, Kentucky, and she didn’t understand why I was nervous. “You’re just getting an appraisal,” she said. “You aren’t actually selling it.” She felt guilty that I had to go alone and suggested the experience would be fun. Even though I agreed, she could tell my agreement was forced. I didn’t have to go if I didn’t want to, she said. We could pay to get the painting appraised later.
Her suggestion felt like a slap. Didn’t she understand that this wasn’t about whether we had the painting appraised the next day or later? It was about our dream of buying a house, a dream that I now believed in. The next day I’d be holding that dream in my hands, loading it into the car, and driving it to the convention center. What if the appraisal didn’t go well? I couldn’t even think about that.
“You should be here with me,” I said, miserable. By the time we hung up, I’d made Randi miserable, too.
The art appraiser wears a gray suit. Unlike the people in line, he does not react to the painting. He doesn’t ask me to lift it onto the table. He doesn’t need me to remove the cardboard corners or what’s left of the twine. “I can see it from here,” he says.
He asks me what I know. I tell him about Edwin Graves Champney, and he searches for Champney’s signature on his computer while I wait, the painting leaning against my side. It takes two minutes.
“What’s your history with this object?” the appraiser asks.
I’ve been telling the story to people in line all morning, letting the tale grow more elaborate each time, but this man seems tired, uninterested. “A library was giving it away,” I say. “No one wanted it.”
He clears his throat and explains that the image is “quite unique,” and a Champney painting of this size is extremely unusual. “No one has sold anything like it in the last two decades,” he says, explaining that this is as far back as the databases go.
I knew this already, but coming from the appraiser’s mouth, it feels more meaningful. I find myself nodding the way people do on the show: the appraiser tells you bits of information, and you are interested — you are — but you’re also waiting for the final price.
“From what I can tell,” he continues, “I’d say it’s worth two to four thousand dollars. Cows are pretty common, but you should be able to sell it, especially around here. People here like their cows.”
He gazes at me, this man in a gray suit, and I imagine he sees the crushing disappointment on my face. Clearly he feels compelled to say something kind, but he cannot change the appraisal. “I’m impressed you were able to haul this through the lines,” he tells me. “It’s the biggest painting I’ve seen so far.”
Two to four thousand dollars had been good news when we’d found the painting. It had been enough for us to drive across town and retrieve the artwork from my office. But now I cannot hide how let down I feel — not from the appraiser, and not from the wife of the man behind me in line, who is eager to know how it went.
“Two to four thousand,” I say. “I thought it was going to be worth more.”
When I break the news to Randi, she doesn’t sound surprised. I tell her about the people in line. “They really loved the painting,” I say. “I wish the appraiser had loved it, too.”
“I knew the painting was special,” she says. She tells me Champney would be happy to know how many people got to see it after it had been hidden away for so many years. But I’m not in the mood for her to convince me the experience alone was worth it. I want to wallow.
A year has passed since then, and Randi and I are still scraping by. I’ve grown quite fond of the painting, which we haven’t sold yet. When we wake in the morning, it is the first thing we see, and sometimes I lie in bed and stare at the cows, trying to find comfort in their patient stillness. When the time is right, I’ll dig out that gallery owner’s business card, or Randi will place the painting in an online auction, and we’ll accept whatever is offered (and, yes, maybe still wonder whether we could have gotten just a bit more). Until then, it waits on the wall. Even as I write this, I can almost hear the cows grazing on that century-old grass.
Most people go to the Roadshow looking for a story. They hope their items will earn high appraisals, but big price tags are unusual. Most are probably happy to go home with the Civil War sword or the Chinese drum or the wooden spindle and return it to its place on the mantel or beside the hearth. I imagine someone telling a spouse that the drum isn’t worth much, but it was once used in celebrations, or that a great-aunt’s spindle might bring only fifty dollars, but it’s a piece of family history. These people are a little discouraged, but by the time they turn off the lights and climb into bed, the experience has left them satisfied.
On my way home from the Roadshow that day, I saw a young man with a piece of art balanced on the back of his bicycle. It was a contemporary painting of a military tank, its gun barrel fashioned from a neon sign. The man was blond and in his early twenties. I imagined the painting lit up and hanging on the wall of his living room while he and his friends ate pizza and played video games.
I rolled down my window and asked if he’d just come from the convention center. He stopped and, shading his eyes from the afternoon sun, said he had. “How’d you do?” I asked. By then I was used to making conversation with strangers about money.
“Two to three hundred bucks,” he said with a big smile.
“Not bad,” I said.
“No,” he replied. “Not bad at all.”
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Samantha Tetangco beat a farm boy to catch a pig at a county fair when she was six years old and won a five-hundred-dollar savings bond in the eighth grade for an essay about violence. She lives in Albuquerque and teaches at the University of New Mexico. And, yes, the painting she describes in her essay in this issue is still available for purchase.
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By Richard Grossinger & Lindy Hough
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Joey Chestnut devoured 71 hot dogs to win 12th eating contest on July 4th
Miki Sudo also repeated as women's champion to win her sixth Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest by eating 31 franks.
Meet the Nathan's Famous 4th of July hot dog eating champs
By Scott Stump
It just wouldn't be the Fourth of July without a feeding frenzy by "Jaws."
Joey "Jaws" Chestnut, 35, won his record 12th Nathan's Famous Hot Dog-Eating Contest in Coney Island, New York, on Thursday by mowing through 71 hot dogs in 10 minutes, coming three short of his own record of 74 set last year.
Joey Chestnut took home the mustard belt for a record 12th time after winning the men's competition at the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest in New York. Sarah Stier / AP
"I was going for 75,'' Chestnut said on the live ESPN broadcast. "I always love to get a new record. Hopefully, I'll come back next year, and I'll strategize, and I'll figure out a way to do it."
As a throng of fans wearing foam hot dog hats cheered for him in the nearly 90-degree heat, Chestnut got off to a furious pace, eating 45 hot dogs after five minutes before coming up just short of his goal in the end.
"I came out fast and then I slowed down,'' he said on ESPN. "I tried to adjust, tried to chew more, make it easier for my throat to swallow, but I was just slowing down. I don't know if it was the heat or what. I'll figure it out."
Chestnut, who holds 49 world records across various eating categories, obliterated the competition once again to retain the mustard belt that goes to the winner. Darron Breeden was the closest competitor with 50 hot dogs.
Meet the 2018 champions of Nathan's hot dog eating contest
Using the popular "Solomon Method" — in which the hot dog is split in half, the buns are dipped in water, and then both are consumed — Chestnut started off eating 10 hot dogs per minute through the first three minutes to set a furious pace.
He wasn't the only dominant eater buzz-sawing through hot dogs on Thursday, as Miki Sudo, 33, repeated as women's champion by firing down 31 after eating 37 to win the crown last year.
Miki Sudo celebrates after winning the Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog-Eating Contest for the sixth straight time. EDUARDO MUNOZ / Reuters
The Arizona resident has now won six pink belts in a row as women's champion to tie men's competitor Takeru Kobayashi for the second-longest winning streak of either gender behind Chestnut.
Michelle Lesco ate 26.5 hot dogs to finish second to Sudo for the second straight year. Sudo also holds world records for eating kimchi (8.5 pounds in six minutes); ice cream (16.5 pints in six minutes) and wild rice hot dish (14 pounds in eight minutes), according to Major League Eating.
Since 1972, Nathan's Famous has hosted the contest in Coney Island every year on July Fourth, which also falls within National Hot Dog Month.
Watch a hot-dog eating contest on the TODAY plaza!
The contest was derived from a patriotic legend in which four immigrants allegedly gathered at the first Nathan's Famous hot dog stand on Coney Island in 1916 on Independence Day, according to Nathan's. They wanted to determine who was the most devoted U.S. citizen and did so with a hot dog eating contest.
As for the modern-day legend of the contest, Chestnut uttered the three most terrifying words to any hot dog eating competitor at the end of his ESPN interview after his win on Thursday.
"I love pushing myself on this stage,'' he said. "And I'll be back."
Scott Stump
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'Something is not right': Woman reverses tubal ligation after complications
When Rebecca Revely had tubal ligation surgery, she started experiencing unpleasant side effects. When she saw her doctor for a checkup, she felt really off.
By Meghan Holohan
After Rebecca Revely had her third child, she and her husband decided their family was complete. Many women she knew had their tubes tied as a form of permanent birth control, so in 2013 the now 38-year-old mother had tubal ligation surgery, expecting to be free of the side effects of hormonal birth control.
Almost immediately she knew something was wrong.
By the time she returned to the doctor for a checkup, her symptoms were getting worse.
“I was already saying, ‘Hey, what is going on with me? Something is not right,’” Revely of Ashland, Kentucky, told TODAY. “We had never heard anyone say anything adverse about having their tubes tied.”
Her belly bloated massively, her hair started thinning and sex with her husband hurt. Her doctor ran blood tests and conducted a physical exam but didn’t find anything concerning. That’s when Revely’s internet search uncovered post-tubal ligation syndrome (PTLS), a collection of symptoms that some women say they experience after having their tubes tied.
Health & WellnessAfter having ‘tubes tied,’ women report painful side effects that doctors never mention
What is post-tubal ligation syndrome?
Tubal ligation is where a doctor either clips, sews, cuts or removes fallopian tubes to stop the egg and sperm from meeting, preventing pregnancy. It’s one of the most popular forms of birth control worldwide, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that 13% of women age 15 to 44 have had their tubes tied.
Doctors consider it to be a low-risk procedure and some say the two biggest side effects are regret and accidental pregnancy — it has a 0.5% failure rate according to the CDC.
Yet an unknown number of women claim to have problems afterward. Post-tubal ligation syndrome is a condition that is not widely understood in the medical community. According to a review of literature on the topic published in 1992, some women reported experiencing a variety of symptoms, including painful periods (cramps), prolonged bleeding during periods and mid-cycle bleeding. Despite tubal ligation being a common procedure worldwide, there's been no further research why some women experience debilitating side effects and others have no problems.
Earlier this year, dozens of women reported to TODAY they experienced additional symptoms like fatigue, migraines, nausea, depression, mood swings and loss of sex drive.
Some experts dispute the condition exists.
“There has been no known post-tubal ligation syndrome. There is no clinical definition of what post-tubal ligation syndrome is,” Dr. Donna Mazloomdoost, director of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Pelvic Floor Disorders Network in Bethesda, Maryland, told TODAY.
“There is probably a subset of women who have a reaction of scar tissue and have a disruption,” Mazloomdoost explained.
Health & WellnessWhat actually happens when you get your tubes tied?
How common are tubal ligation reversals?
Like Revely, women who are impacted by PTLS struggle to find relief. Some believe that having their tubal ligation surgeries reversed may be the only cure for their unpleasant symptoms. However, a reversal surgery is not simple and is not recommended by doctors.
“The reversal itself is a much more difficult procedure,” Dr. Carolyn Givens, medical co-director at Pacific Fertility Center in San Francisco, and an ACOG fellow, told TODAY. “It is intended to be permanent.”
Givens said reversing a tubal ligation involves very fine sutures and can take about two to three hours. Sometimes it’s impossible to reverse it, because there might not be enough of a tube to reattach. Reversals are more successful when there is an adequate amount of healthy fallopian tube left. During the procedure, doctors will ultimately use small stitches to reattach the undamaged ends of the fallopian tubes to a woman's uterus.
In 2015, Revely sought to have her tubal ligation reversed. Neither her OB-GYN nor her physician had heard of PTLS. Other doctors quoted her a fee of about $20,000, since insurance does not routinely cover the procedure. Revely eventually traveled to an OB-GYN in Tennessee who performed the procedure for a reasonable price.
Immediately afterward, she noticed a positive change.
“It felt different,” she said. “Within a few short weeks my body started to behave itself. The pain with intimacy went away completely. My hair came in thicker. All the things seemed to be related.”
But then she became pregnant with her fourth child.
"Having a child wasn’t necessarily the goal but it was a happy byproduct," she said.
Another patient who says she's been suffering from PTLS has yet to undergo a reversal. Stacey Underwood has been bleeding vaginally for more than six months straight and experienced a blood clot, which her doctor believes is because the clip used to close off her tube is dislodged.
“When I (saw) the tubal reversal specialist he thought maybe that my hormones were off, which was the cause of my constant vaginal bleeding. He did a hormone panel test and absolutely everything came back normal, so there is no other reason for my symptoms,” the 36-year-old from Lexington, North Carolina told TODAY.
Underwood's reversal surgery is scheduled for sometime in August.
Since having her tubal ligation, Stacey Underwood experiences heavy bleeding and other problems. She hopes that undergoing a reversal in August will fix her symptoms. Courtesy of Stacey Underwood
Dr. Charles Monteith who conducts tubal ligation reversals in his practice in Raleigh, North Carolina said he has seen some women who say they have PTLS, but he considers a tubal ligation reversal a “last resort.”
“Women need to be evaluated for other conditions,” he said. “If no other conditions can be identified … then thinking about reversal is something that might be helpful.”
Consent for permanent sterilization
The experts agree that when doctors discuss sterilization with their patients they need to stress it’s permanent and make sure patients clearly understand that. The women interviewed for this story also hope that doctors will disclose that there could be negative side effects to the procedure.
"It is the biggest regret of my life," Underwood said of her tubal ligation surgery, and she's still struggling to deal with its effects.
Meghan Holohan
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Things to Do in Salinas, California for a Day or a Weekend
United States California
All California
Plan a Salinas Getaway - Quick and Easy
By Betsy Malloy
©2000 Betsy Malloy Photography. Used by Permission.
Salinas has more of a reputation for vegetation than visitation, but it can be a great place for a short getaway, and you'll find one of the state's most unusual and fun bed and breakfasts here. You can plan your Salinas weekend getaway using the resources below.
Why Should You Go? Will You Like Salinas?
If you like seeing things growing and visiting farm stands, you'll have a great time here. Fans of writer John Steinbeck will also enjoy a visit to his hometown. Animal lovers shouldn't miss Vision Quest Bed and Breakfast.
Best Time to Go to Salinas
Salinas weather is best during spring through fall, but most afternoons are windy.
Six Great Things to Do in Salinas
National Steinbeck Center: Nobel Prize-winning author John Steinbeck grew up in Salinas. The Steinbeck Center offers a journey through his world and includes seven themed theaters showcasing his works "East of Eden," "Cannery Row," "Of Mice and Men," "The Grapes of Wrath" and more. And if you ever read "Travels With Charley," they have Steinbeck's camper from that epic cross-country road trip. Steinbeck is buried at Garden of Memories Cemetery, 768 Abbott Street and you can visit his childhood home (which is also a restaurant) for a tour or a bite to eat.
The Farm: The fertile Salinas Valley is all about agriculture, and this "agricultural education center" offers farm tours, family activities and fresh produce for sale.
Roadside Art: Around Salinas and Monterey County, you're likely to see some lifelike murals and cutouts by artist John Cerney, like the one in the photo above. Favorites include "The Harvey House Train" located behind the Harvey House and next to the train station, an accident scene at a downtown intersection and an old-fashioned baseball game on Highway 101 south of Prunedale. You can find out more about them on John Cerney's website.
Wild Things, Inc: It started out as a hobby, but the next thing he knew, owner Charlie Samut had a business, providing animals for filming. As his stars got older, he wanted a way to keep them home more while earning their keep. That spurred him to create a safari-style bed and breakfast, where you can see the animals and maybe even make friends with an elephant. Even if you don't stay at the B&B, you can take their daily tours and see their star cast of animals.
Mazda Raceway at Laguna Seca: This racetrack is an 11-turn, 2.238-mile road course that is widely hailed as one of the top ten traditional road courses in the world. They host five world-class race weekends each season. It's about a 20-minute drive south of town. Find out more about their season and get tickets at their website. You don't have to just watch, either. Allen Berg Racing Schools offer Grand Prix racing experience on the famous track.
Annual Events You Should Know About in Salinas
California Rodeo Salinas: The California Rodeo in Salinas is one of the country's top 20 rodeos. It draws the most competitive cowboys and cowgirls, who compete for hundreds of thousands of dollars in prize money.
Salinas Air Show: Held in late September/early October, it features lots of aerial acrobatics.
Tarpy's Roadhouse, an authentic 1917 roadhouse, serves lunch, dinner, and Sunday brunch. It's at 2999 Monterey-Salinas Highway west of town.
The most interesting and fun place to stay in Salinas is Vision Quest Bed and Breakfast.
If you'd rather stay somewhere else, you can find quite a few hotels and motels along US Hwy 101. Use our recommendations to find a good place to stay, cheap.
Salinas is 60 miles from San Jose, 106 miles from San Francisco and 174 miles from Sacramento.
What to Do for a Day or Two in Spectacular Monterey
What to Explore on the Amazing Mendocino Coast
69 Places for a Weekend Getaway in California
Los Angeles to San Francisco on the Pacific Coast Highway
An Epic Road Trip: LA to San Francisco on Highway 101
Best California Destinations: How to Pick the Best One for You
The 9 Best Monterey, California Hotels of 2019
Day Trips and Side Trips From San Francisco
Day Trips and Vacation Side Trips From Los Angeles
Guide to Visiting California's Big Bear Lake
Best Short Road Trips and Getaways from LA
Why Manhattan Beach is the Beach Town of Your Dreams
Why You'll Love Spending a Weekend in Morro Bay
For a Day or a Weekend, Things to Do in La Jolla That You'll Never Forget
How to Spend a Day or a Weekend in Berkeley California
You Will Love Cayucos, California's Cutest Beach Town
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Delhi tops TC in round two
Jose Cruz of Delhi makes his way around the corner to look for an open player during the second half of Fridays win over Turlock Christian. - photo by EDDIE RUIZ / The Journal
Updated: Dec. 19, 2014, 8:32 p.m.
Action at the Denair High basketball tournament resumed on Friday when two local teams in Turlock Christian and Delhi met on the court in the consolation bracket with both teams seeking a win after falling in the first round.
The first half was a back breaker for both sides after they exchanged big shots. But by the end, the Delhi Hawks, with the help of Jose Cruz, pulled out of the game with a 58-47 win over the Eagles of TC.
“I don't know if we controlled them, but the tempo, we definitely got that where we wanted it,” said Delhi head coach Eugene Drummond. “TC likes to play fast too and Eddie [Sai] does a great job with his kids to play extremely hard. We just made shots and some didn't go in for them.”
It has been just an unfortunate turn of events for the Eagles in the first two days of the Denair tournament, but coach Sai is encouraging his team to stay focused and driven.
“Win or lose right now it doesn't matter to me because they will need to learn how to play our ball if we're going to get where we need to go,” he said. “We play team ball and great defense and if they just don't want to play defense and just shoot the ball it's not a part of what we do.”
It was a frustrating finish for the Eagles who did not get much production from all sides of the court.
Egan Farrar was the leading scorer on the team with 16 points and Jordan Riise added 12 while Manuel Preciado finished with 10.
The Eagles were outscored in the second half 25-18 after Delhi's press defense really made the margin of mistake minor for the Eagles.
The Hawks efficiency on their tight and aggressive defense caused havoc for the Eagles team that has yet to find their mojo.
With the help of Cruz, who returned after being out the first day of the tournament, the Hawks spread the ball around and pulled the Eagles defense enough to leave open shots available.
“Jose [Cruz] is a pretty good player and he is like having another coach on the court since he has played varsity for three years and has started,” Drummond said. “He knows the offense and defense just as good as me and knows what we need to do when we need it.”
Arnold Perez of Delhi finished with a team-high 16 points and made four three-point shots. Chance Browning topped out with nine points and Adrian Valladez ended the night with 10 points.
“I don't know how much we really take from these tournaments in December since TC also had some guys not playing,” Drummond added. “We are integrating a lot of players and just getting them used to playing varsity basketball, everyone is trying to improve and get ready for league, which is what matters these days.”
Delhi will face off against the winner between Tioga and Waterford at 1p.m.today.
TC's next game will be against the loser of Tioga and Waterford with the game set to begin at 11:30 a.m.
Big changes for Eagles athletics
TC names former Eagle new boys basketball head coach
Locals showcase talent one last time in high school All-Star game
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Home > Grant Havers, Ph.D.
Grant Havers, Ph.D.
Chair, Department of Philosophy, Professor of Philosophy and Political Studies
havers@twu.ca
School(s)
Department(s) or Program(s)
Interdisciplinary Humanities (MA)
Honours B.A., Phil (Calgary); M.A. (York); Ph.D (York);
Davis Distinguished Teaching Award (2004)
"The Politics of Paradox: Leo Strauss's Biblical Debt to Spinoza (and Kierkegaard)," Sophia 54 (2015), pp. 525-543.
Leo Strauss and Anglo-American Democracy: A Conservative Critique. (Northern Illinois University Press, 2013)
"Who is to say Nay to the People? Publius, Majority Rule, and Willmore Kendall," Library of Law and Liberty 28 May 2012.
"Conservatism True and False in America: Evaluating Leo Strauss from the Right," Library of Law and Liberty 15 April 2012.
"James Burnham's Elite Theory and the American Postwar Right," Telos 154 (Spring 2011), 29-50.
"Northern Right," The American Conservative, March 2011.
"Natural Rightism and the Biogenetic Debate," in Gabriel R. Ricci, ed., Values and Technology: Religion and Public Life, New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction Publishers, 2011, 93-105.
"Is Liberal Democracy too Liberal?" Skepsis 21, vol.1 (2010), 47-61.
"Willmoore Kendall for our Times," Voegelin View, September 2010.
"Lincoln, Macbeth, and the Illusions of Tyranny," The European Legacy 15, no.2 (2010), 137-147.
"Hegel from the Right," Salisbury Review 28, no.1 (Fall 2009), 26-28.
"Hegel, Christianity, and the Modern Philosophical Revolution," Fideles 4 (2009), 5-25.
"Lincoln and the Conservative House Divided," The Salisbury Review 27, no. 4 (Summer 2009), 25-27.
Lincoln and the Politics of Christian Love (U. of Missouri Press, 2009)
“Was Spinoza a Liberal?” The Political Science Reviewer 36 (2007), pp. 143-174.
"Between Athens and Jerusalem: Western Otherness in the Works of Leo Strauss and Hannah Arendt," The European Legacy vol. 9, no. 1, pp. 19-29. (2004)
"The Right-Wing Postmodernism of Marshall McLuhan," Media, Culture, Society vol. 25, no. 4, pp. 511-525. (2003)
Political philosophy, History of philosophy, Ethic of natural rights, Philosophy of the Enlightenment, Tension between reason and faith, and Right-wing political thought.
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For the related economic kind of inequality, see Economic inequality.
For other uses, see Inequality (disambiguation).
Main theories
Structural functionalism
Ethnomethodology
Subfields and other major theories
Social psychology in sociology
World map showing the Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index in 2014. This index captures the Human Development of the average person in society, which is less than when there is inequality in the distribution of health, education and income.
Social inequality occurs when resources in a given society are distributed unevenly, typically through norms of allocation, that engender specific patterns along lines of socially defined categories of persons. It is the differentiation preference of access of social goods in the society brought about by power, religion, kinship, prestige, race, ethnicity, gender, age, sexual orientation, and class. The social rights include labor market, the source of income, health care, and freedom of speech, education, political representation, and participation.[1] Social inequality linked to economic inequality, usually described on the basis of the unequal distribution of income or wealth, is a frequently studied type of social inequality. Though the disciplines of economics and sociology generally use different theoretical approaches to examine and explain economic inequality, both fields are actively involved in researching this inequality. However, social and natural resources other than purely economic resources are also unevenly distributed in most societies and may contribute to social status. Norms of allocation can also affect the distribution of rights and privileges, social power, access to public goods such as education or the judicial system, adequate housing, transportation, credit and financial services such as banking and other social goods and services.
Many societies worldwide claim to be meritocracies—that is, that their societies exclusively distribute resources on the basis of merit. The term "meritocracy" was coined by Michael Young in his 1958 dystopian essay "The Rise of the Meritocracy" to demonstrate the social dysfunctions that he anticipated arising in societies where the elites believe that they are successful entirely on the basis of merit, so the adoption of this term into English without negative connotations is ironic;[2] Young was concerned that the Tripartite System of education being practiced in the United Kingdom at the time he wrote the essay considered merit to be "intelligence-plus-effort, its possessors ... identified at an early age and selected for appropriate intensive education" and that the "obsession with quantification, test-scoring, and qualifications" it supported would create an educated middle-class elite at the expense of the education of the working class, inevitably resulting in injustice and – eventually – revolution.[3] A modern representation of the sort of "meritocracy" Young feared may be seen in the series 3%.
Although merit matters to some degree in many societies, research shows that the distribution of resources in societies often follows hierarchical social categorizations of persons to a degree too significant to warrant calling these societies "meritocratic", since even exceptional intelligence, talent, or other forms of merit may not be compensatory for the social disadvantages people face. In many cases, social inequality is linked to racial inequality, ethnic inequality, and gender inequality, as well as other social statuses and these forms can be related to corruption.[4]
The most common metric for comparing social inequality in different nations is the Gini coefficient, which measures the concentration of wealth and income in a nation from 0 (evenly distributed wealth and income) to 1 (one person has all wealth and income). Two nations may have identical Gini coefficients but dramatically different economic (output) and/or quality of life, so the Gini coefficient must be contextualized for meaningful comparisons to be made.[5]
inequality and ideology
inequality and social class
patterns of inequality
inequality and economic growth
Social inequality is found in almost every society. Social inequality is shaped by a range of structural factors, such as geographical location or citizenship status, and are often underpinned by cultural discourses and identities defining, for example, whether the poor are 'deserving' or 'undeserving'.[6] In simple societies, those that have few social roles and statuses occupied by its members, social inequality may be very low. In tribal societies, for example, a tribal head or chieftain may hold some privileges, use some tools, or wear marks of office to which others do not have access, but the daily life of the chieftain is very much like the daily life of any other tribal member. Anthropologists identify such highly egalitarian cultures as "kinship-oriented", which appear to value social harmony more than wealth or status. These cultures are contrasted with materially oriented cultures in which status and wealth are prized and competition and conflict are common. Kinship-oriented cultures may actively work to prevent social hierarchies from developing because they believe that could lead to conflict and instability.[7] In today's world, most of our population lives in more complex than simple societies. As social complexity increases, inequality tends to increase along with a widening gap between the poorest and the most wealthy members of society.[4]
Social inequality can be classified into egalitarian societies, ranked society, and stratified society.[8] Egalitarian societies are those communities advocating for social equality through equal opportunities and rights, hence no discrimination. People with special skills were not viewed as superior compared to the rest. The leaders do not have the power they only have influence. The norms and the beliefs the egalitarian society holds are for sharing equally and equal participation. Simply there are no classes. Ranked society mostly is agricultural communities who hierarchically grouped from the chief who is viewed to have a status in the society. In this society, people are clustered regarding status and prestige and not by access to power and resources. The chief is the most influential person followed by his family and relative, and those further related to him are less ranked. Stratified society is societies which horizontally ranked into the upper class, middle class, and lower class. The classification is regarding wealth, power, and prestige. The upper class are mostly the leaders and are the most influential in the society. It's possible for a person in the society to move from one stratum to the other. The social status is also hereditable from one generation to the next.[1]
There are five systems or types of social inequality: wealth inequality, treatment and responsibility inequality, political inequality, life inequality, and membership inequality. Political inequality is the difference brought about by the ability to access governmental resources which therefore have no civic equality. In treatment and responsibility differences, some people benefit more and can quickly receive more privileges than others. In working stations, some are given more responsibilities and hence better compensation and more benefits than the rest even when equally qualified. Membership inequality is the number of members in a family, nation or faith. Life inequality is brought about by the disparity of opportunities which, if present, improve a person’s life quality. Finally, income and wealth inequality is the disparity due to what an individual can earn on a daily basis contributing to their total revenue either monthly or yearly.[8]
The major examples of social inequality include income gap, gender inequality, health care, and social class. In health care, some individuals receive better and more professional care compared to others. They are also expected to pay more for these services. Social class differential comes evident during the public gathering where upper-class people given the best places to seat, the hospitality they receive and the first priorities they receive.[8]
Status in society is of two types which are ascribed characteristics and achieved characteristics. Ascribed characteristics are those present at birth or assigned by others and over which an individual has little or no control. Examples include sex, skin colour, eye shape, place of birth, sexuality, gender identity, parentage and social status of parents. Achieved characteristics are those which we earn or choose; examples include level of education, marital status, leadership status and other measures of merit. In most societies, an individual's social status is a combination of ascribed and achieved factors. In some societies, however, only ascribed statuses are considered in determining one's social status and there exists little to no social mobility and, therefore, few paths to more social equality.[9] This type of social inequality is generally referred to as caste inequality.
One's social location in a society's overall structure of social stratification affects and is affected by almost every aspect of social life and one's life chances.[10] The single best predictor of an individual's future social status is the social status into which they were born. Theoretical approaches to explaining social inequality concentrate on questions about how such social differentiations arise, what types of resources are being allocated (for example, reserves versus resources),[11] what are the roles of human cooperation and conflict in allocating resources, and how do these differing types and forms of inequality affect the overall functioning of a society?
The variables considered most important in explaining inequality and the manner in which those variables combine to produce the inequities and their social consequences in a given society can change across time and place. In addition to interest in comparing and contrasting social inequality at local and national levels, in the wake of today's globalizing processes, the most interesting question becomes: what does inequality look like on a worldwide scale and what does such global inequality bode for the future? In effect, globalization reduces the distances of time and space, producing a global interaction of cultures and societies and social roles that can increase global inequities.[9]
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Hacker Outrage
In a recent column, I wondered why people werent expressing more outrage at what I viewed as the promotion of criminal activity in the course ...
By Ara C. Trembly | January 12, 2005 at 07:00 PM | Originally published on National Underwriter Life & Health Magazine
In a recent column, I wondered why people werent expressing more outrage at what I viewed as the promotion of criminal activity in the course offerings of The Fifth HOPE (Hackers on Planet Earth) convention held this past July in New York.
Well, I neednt have worried, because there was plenty of outragenot from the general public, but from some self-described “hackers” who were less than pleased with my description of their activities.
One such person castigated me for my “ignorance,” calling the column “absolutely ludicrous.” And his was one of the more polite e-mails I received.
Someone who identified himself as a high school student from Nova Scotia said I lacked integrity and objectivity, as well as “the energy it would take to attempt to contact the victims of your blatantly stupid biases.” I wondered why a Canadian high schooler was reading a U.S. insurance technology magazine, but thats not important.
One responder declared that I had produced “the most ignorant, sensationalistic piece on computer hackers that Ive read in about a decade.” Another decried my “bonehead” statements, summing up by noting that I was “just another frustrated college-boy yuppie with a one-sided mind. Go take your bleeding heart and your gripes and write to Barney & Friends, maybe they will care.” Yes, I admit I went to college, but I dont have the financial resources to be a yuppie. And I havent watched Barney in years. Really!
On the international front, one responder, who described himself as a hacker from the Netherlands, stated: “It is with utmost sincerity that we over here in Europe have to conclude that you are by far the least competent technology editor we have seen publish nonsense.” Sure, Ive managed to irk and irritate some individuals and groups over the yearsbut to have offended an entire continent is, well, historic!
In addition, my entire column was read on air on a New York City radio program, followed by the hosts criticizing me for “fear-mongering.” Did I mention that the show was sponsored by the same organization that sponsored the HOPE conference? A minor point, I know.
Nonetheless, these responders did cause me to re-examine my position. Several said that I obviously had not attended the conference in question. They were quite right. My remarks were based solely on the published conference materials, which are inflammatory enough on their ownand that was my point. I do hope (no pun intended) to attend this event next year, should the conference sponsors feel inclined to welcome me.
Two responders said I had mischaracterized hackers, referring me to the online works of author Eric S. Raymond, who describes himself as “a long-time hacker, active in the Internet culture since the 1970s.” Raymond is also known as a historian/anthropologist of the hacker culture and a leading figure in the open source movement. (Open source refers to software from a development community, rather than a company, the source code of which is available without charge.)
In his online essay, “How to Become a Hacker,” which I quote here with the authors permission, Raymond defines hackers as “a community, a shared culture, of expert programmers and networking wizards that traces its history back through decades to the first time-sharing minicomputers.” Hackers, he notes, “built the Internet” and “made the Unix operating system what it is today.”
Raymond adds, however, that there is another group of people who call themselves hackers but are not. “These are people (mainly adolescent males) who get a kick out of breaking into computers and phreaking the phone system. Real hackers call these people crackers and want nothing to do with themThe basic difference is this: Hackers build things, crackers break them.”
He also points out that real hackers are “proud of what they do and want it associated with their real names.” Interestingly, none of my e-mail detractors was willing to be quoted by name (where a name was given) in this space.
Herein lies the problemone term applied to two divergent groups. Even Websters defines hackers both as experts at programming and as people who illegally gain access to, and sometimes tamper with, computer systems. Its not just a PR problem for the good guys; were talking about perceptions ingrained in our language and culture.
So, to those hackers who truly are computer wizards without malicious intent, I apologize for lumping you in with the crackers. For those crackers who are carrying out nefarious activities, I will henceforth attach the correct titlecriminals.
Its truly unfortunate that not everyone who calls himself “hacker” can be trusted. As an individual named DiGiT says in the hacker magazine Phrack, “People that say they release bugs/exploits for the good of the world or something like that are full of ****.”
Reproduced from National Underwriter Edition, January 20, 2005. Copyright 2005 by The National Underwriter Company in the serial publication. All rights reserved.Copyright in this article as an independent work may be held by the author.
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Jewish Agency to help its gay employees pay for surrogate services overseas
Grant valued at about $11,000, a small portion of the costs; Herzog says policy is ‘symbolic statement’ because agency ‘is one big family, and all its members are equal’
By Marcy Oster 5 March 2019, 8:46 am 0 Edit
Illustrative image of members of the LGBT community and supporters participating in a demonstration against a Knesset bill amendment denying surrogacy for same-sex couples, outside the supreme court in Jerusalem on July 23, 2018. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
JTA — The Jewish Agency for Israel became the first Israeli public institution to grant loans to its employees to pay for surrogacy services abroad.
While the grants are available to all employees, its biggest boon is to gay men, who are barred by law from using surrogates in Israel.
It also will be helpful to some of the 450 Jewish Agency employees, such as Israel emissaries, who spend several years living in a Jewish community abroad.
The grant is valued at about $11,000, which is a small portion of the actual cost of surrogacy abroad. Some Israelis who qualify for surrogacy in Israel also turn to services abroad to speed the process, though Israeli health services do not pay for surrogacy services outside of the country.
Opposition Leader Isaac Herzog attends a faction meeting at the Knesset in Jerusalem on January 8, 2018. (Miriam Alster/Flash90)
The Jewish Agency’s chairman of the executive, Isaac Herzog, said that the organization is “making a symbolic statement, because it reflects the egalitarian stance of a large organization that is recognizing the right of every man or woman to actualize their wish to be parents and to raise a family, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation. The Jewish Agency is one big family, and all its members are equal.”
Several Israeli high-tech firms already offer the service.
In November, the Knesset rejected a bill that would have allowed same-sex couples to have children by surrogacy.
Jewish Agency for Israel JAFI
Isaac Herzog
LGBTQ Jews
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Point of Honor a pleasant surprise for trainer
https://www.timesunion.com/sports/article/Albany-Dutchmen-prepare-for-playoffs-with-sweep-11721878.php
Albany Dutchmen prepare for playoffs with sweep
Dutchmen earn sweep, prepare to meet same team in East semifinal
Updated 11:29 pm EDT, Monday, July 31, 2017
The only question now is whether the Albany Dutchmen used up all their mojo on the last day of the regular season.
They dominated a non-traditional doubleheader Monday, producing an eight-run inning in each game at Mohawk Valley to win 18-3 and 10-4. The Dutchmen (the No. 2 seed in their half of the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League) will play host to Tuesday's one-game East Division semifinals against Mohawk Valley, as well, after traveling to Little Falls right before the playoffs.
Tuesday's game at Siena will start at 5 p.m.
The Dutchmen probably wish they could have just played a third game Monday night against the Diamond Dawgs. They started the day with a 6-1 lead in the top of the sixth with two outs, finishing up a suspended July 26 game. Albany was far from finished, though, needing one win in two tries to assure a home playoff game.
Justin Childers had a home run for an 8-2 lead in the bottom of the sixth before Albany added two runs scored on bases-loaded walks and Nick Gallo chipped in a bases-clearing double as part of an eight-run sixth.
In the second game, Griff Herrera's second-inning grand slam sparked a 6-0 lead. Chase Allen's two-run homer capped an eight-run inning.
Tom Moore (Saint Rose) broke up Deaven Phillips' perfect game in the bottom of the third with a solo home run.
Adam Elliott countered in the fourth for Albany, running the lead back to 9-1. Colin Kaucher had an inside-the-park home run in the eighth for a 10-3 lead.
Albany finished the regular season 33-16.
A win Tuesday would mean a shot at a three-game series for the East Division final running Wednesday through Friday. The championship, also a three-game series, does not yet have definitive dates.
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Chrysanthemum Award Presented to Nancy Moss
Sedalia resident, Nancy Moss, was presented with the Chrysanthemum Award at the Scott Joplin International Ragtime Festival May 30, 2019. Moss told the crowd during the presentation at a concert intermission “I’m truly honored”. She also thanked her family for “putting up with me in my Scott Joplin mode for more than 23 years”.
John Simmons, President of the Scott Joplin International Ragtime Foundation, noted the first-ever Chrysanthemum Award is a “pinnacle” award that won’t be given annually. Instead, it will be presented periodically to those who are found to be a ‘curator of ragtime culture’.
Nancy has attended every Festival since its inception in 1974. She has also served on the Foundation’s Board of Directors for 22 years and given monetary contributions for 28 years. She also began the Festival’s Hospitality Room 20 years ago to provide refreshments and food to ragtime performers between performances.
Simmons noted, “she’s got that institutional knowledge and you can count on Nancy not to let something slip by…I can’t say enough about her focus, her passion and sense of duty”.
Information sourced from Faith Bemiss’ article in the Sedalia Democrat
Peter Lundberg Receives 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award
During the Music Hall concert Saturday, June 1, 2019, Peter Lundberg received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2019 Scott Joplin International Ragtime Festival in Sedalia, Missouri.
Peter was one of the first researchers and performers in modern times to travel around the US and document our ragtime history. He has been a featured performer over numerous years at our festival and elsewhere.
On his own initiative in 1963, he ventured from his home in Gothenburg, Sweden to many of the most significant locations related to the music's development. He made important observations, and met contacts along the way, which led to further research, all the while connecting dots that we now take for granted. He was one of the few people at the time to actively reach out to Mrs. Joe Lamb, Rudi Blesh, Eubie Blake, Charles Thompson, Wally Rose, Trebor Tichenor, Max Morath, Bob Darch (who mentored Peter), John Stark's daughter Carrie, and others in his cross-country journeys. His stops also included the WC Handy Music Company Building, (meeting Handy's children), the QRS piano roll company, the Library of Congress, and numerous historically important performance venues.
Following his initial journey, Peter kept up on correspondence, pursuing questions, publicizing his discoveries, and, most importantly, inspiring young American and European players to perform and study ragtime. He has given talks on his travels, and there is always great interest in his work from serious ragtime aficionados.
It should be noted that Peter was doing his work long before the 1970s rediscovery of ragtime in the US, the start-up of regular festivals, and the Internet and email. So his dedication is that much more impressive and worthy. Also, he has contributed to the repertoire of music through his many popular compositions. I feel that Peter Lundberg is an excellent choice for this year's award.
---Courtesy of David Reffkin's Nomination
Richard Dowling is in Sedalia as this year's Artist-In-Residence
The Scott Joplin Foundation is pleased to announce Richard Dowling as our 2018 Artist in Residence. Dowling, of New York City, will be in Sedalia Jan. 29 to Feb. 1 visiting the schools in and around Sedalia.
The Artist in Residence is a component of the Local Awareness Campaign and is part of a youth based Ragtime Curriculum Package designed to introduce grade-school students to: Scott Joplin as the King of Ragtime, Classic Ragtime as the root of American music, and Sedalia’s connection to American music history. The Artist in Residence Program reaches approximately 3,000 students each year and has been sponsored by the Sedalia Rotary and local PTA’s since 1997.
Dowling gave two concerts at Carnegie Hall on April 1, 2017, exactly 100 years from the death of Scott Joplin. In the four hours of concerts, he played all 53 pieces written by Joplin, becoming the first-ever solo performer to play all of Joplin’s works in concert. Since that time, he has traveled the U.S. giving those two concerts, and has more booked for 2018. We are extremely glad to have him scheduled for the week here.
In addition, Dowling will perform for a silent movie at the Liberty Center in downtown Sedalia. The silent movie selection, “Safety Last” featuring Harold Lloyd, will begin at 7 p.m, Tuesday, January 30th. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door.
Brazil Ragtime Fans Make Pilgrimage to Sedalia
Tarcisio and Izilda Tamega and their daughter Gizel and son-in-law Paulo, from Sorocaba Brazil, had only one day and two nights in Sedalia, but we filled it well. They had rooms at Bothwell Hotel where I met them. Tarcisio was excited to show me photos of his collection of ragtime CDs and vinyl and how his kitchen is decorated with covers of ragtime music. He has purchased many items from our Foundation.
We went to Fitter’s for supper where Tarcisio played the piano there, even though it was severely out of tune. We met the Sedalia Mayor there and he invited them to visit City Hall the next day.
Sad News...Karen Melton has passed
Karen Marie Hatcher Melton died, Thursday, June 29 at Mercy Hospital, St. Louis from a series of debilitating strokes.
Karen was born April 2, 1944 in Union and with her brother David Hatcher went to public school there. Karen’s parents were Wanda and Raymond “Hatch” Hatcher. She was a diploma graduate of the Research Hospital School of Nursing program and she earned her nursing license in 1965. Her forty-five-year ministry of care-giving included nearly ten years at Bothwell Hospital in Sedalia, Missouri and almost thirty-five years at Mercy Hospital, Washington. She retired in 2012 as a nurse in the Ambulatory Care Unit.
Karen and her husband Larry co-founded the first Scott Joplin Ragtime Festival in Sedalia, Missouri in 1974. It has become a long-running annual event. Karen was also active in the First Baptist Church, Washington.
Lucille Salerno Receives Outstanding Achievement Award for 2017
Lucille Salerno has been a champion of Ragtime music and its place in American Musical History for almost thirty years. For several years, she served as a Board Member of the Scott Joplin Ragtime Festival, commuting from her home in Columbia. A recipient of the Distinguished Service Award from the University of Missouri-Columbia, Lucille has served MU as a psychologist, researcher, grant writer, Peace Camp Director, and an instructor and Director of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute in MU Extension’s Division of Continuing Education.
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People’s Choice
Support Our Artists
Tuckered Out Angel
Lee Leuning & Sherri Treeby - Aberdeen, SD
Sculptors Lee Leuning and Sherri Treeby formed the art studio, Bad River Artworks, after collaborating on several sculpture projects while attending Northern State University in the late `80's. Sherri and Lee primarily worked high relief sculptures of wildlife and gained a national following through the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and Ducks Unlimited where their works were sold to promote wildlife conservation. Their works were also sold extensively to aid local charities and wildlife groups. Selected as one of four of the "City of Presidents" Foundation's artists in 1999, they have completed four of ten of our nation's presidents as life-size bronze statues. In 2001, they were selected from a large field of artists to create this nation's first state World War II monument in Pierre, SD. In fourteen months they finished 6 larger than life statues of soldiers, from all the branches of service, in time to be dedicated four days after the 9/11 attack. Recently, they added a life-size sculpture of a Korean War Soldier to the Capitol site. Currently they are sculpting a Vietnam soldier to be added to the State War Memorial in September of 2016.
Artist Website »
Copyright © 2019 Sculpture Tour Eau Claire. All rights reserved.
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Use these links to rapidly review the document
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Dear Huntsman Corporation Stockholder:
I am pleased to inform you that on , the board of directors of Huntsman Corporation ("Huntsman") approved the spin-off of our Pigments & Additives segment as a separate, publicly traded company, which we have named Venator Materials Corporation ("Venator"). We believe that this separation of Venator to form a new publicly traded company is in the best interests of Huntsman, its stockholders and Venator.
After the spin-off, Venator will have outstanding two classes of common stock, Class A common stock and Class B common stock. The rights of the holders of Class A common stock and Class B common stock will be the same, other than with regard to voting. Each share of Class A common stock is entitled to votes. Each share of Class B common stock is entitled to votes.
The spin-off will be completed by way of a pro rata distribution on of all of Venator's outstanding shares of Class B common stock to Huntsman stockholders of record as of the close of business on , the spin-off record date. Following the distribution, (i) the holders of Venator's Class B common stock will hold 60% of all of Venator's outstanding common stock and 80.1% of the voting power of all of Venator's outstanding common stock and (ii) Huntsman (through one or more of its subsidiaries) will retain all of Venator's Class A common stock, representing 40% of all of Venator's outstanding common stock and 19.9% of the voting power of all of Venator's outstanding common stock. Each Huntsman stockholder will receive shares of Venator Class B common stock for each share of Huntsman common stock held on the record date. The distribution of these shares will be made in book-entry form, which means that no physical share certificates will be issued. Following the spin-off, stockholders may request that their shares of Venator Class B common stock be transferred to a brokerage or other account at any time. No fractional shares of Venator Class B common stock will be issued. If you would otherwise have been entitled to a fractional share of Class B common stock in the distribution, you will receive the net cash proceeds of the sale of such fractional share instead.
Huntsman stockholder approval of the distribution is not required, nor are you required to take any action to receive your shares of Venator Class B common stock.
Immediately following the spin-off, you will own common stock in Huntsman and Class B common stock in Venator. Huntsman's common stock will continue to trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "HUN." Venator's Class B common stock will trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "VNTR."
The spin-off is conditioned on Huntsman's receipt of an opinion from its tax advisor that Huntsman's pro rata distribution of all outstanding Venator Class B common stock to its stockholders qualifies as a tax-free transaction under Sections 355, 361 and/or 368(a)(1)(D) of Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code") and that certain elements of the restructuring transactions undertaken as part of the spin-off will also qualify for tax-free treatment under Sections 355, 361 and/or 368(a)(1)(D) of the Code. Tax advisor's opinion will, in part, be based upon a private letter ruling received from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service by Huntsman to the effect that the retention of Class A common stock will not be in pursuance of a plan having as one of its principal purposes the avoidance of federal income tax, that certain post spin-off exchanges of Class A common stock for Huntsman indebtedness will be treated as distributions that are part of a plan of reorganization for purposes of sections 361(c)(1) and 361(c)(3), and that certain payments or transfers of assets and liabilities that may occur following the spin-off will be treated as part of the spin-off transaction.
However, any cash that you receive in lieu of fractional shares generally will be taxable to you. You should consult your own tax advisor as to the particular tax consequences of the distribution to you, including potential tax consequences under state, local and non-U.S. tax laws. The spin-off is also subject to other conditions, as described in the enclosed information statement.
The enclosed information statement, which is being mailed to all Huntsman stockholders, describes the spin-off in detail and contains important information about Venator, including its financial statements. We urge you to read this information statement carefully.
I want to thank you for your continued support of Huntsman. We look forward to your support of Venator in the future.
Peter R. Huntsman
Huntsman Corporation
Dear Venator Materials Corporation Stockholder:
It is our pleasure to welcome you as a stockholder of our company, Venator Materials Corporation. We are a leading global manufacturer and marketer of chemical products that improve the quality of life for downstream consumers and promote a sustainable future.
As a separate, publicly-traded company, we believe we can more effectively focus on our objectives and satisfy the capital needs of our company, and thus bring more value to you as a stockholder.
Upon completion of our spin-off from Huntsman Corporation, our Class B common stock will trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "VNTR."
We invite you to learn more about Venator by reviewing the enclosed information statement. We look forward to our future as a separate, publicly-traded company and to your support as our stockholder.
Simon Turner
Venator Materials Corporation
Information contained herein is subject to completion or amendment. A Registration Statement on Form 10 relating to these securities has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
PRELIMINARY INFORMATION STATEMENT
(Subject to Completion, Dated May 10, 2017)
Class B Common Stock
(par value $0.01 per share)
This information statement is being sent to you in connection with the separation of Venator Materials Corporation ("Venator") from Huntsman Corporation ("Huntsman"), following which Venator will be a separate, publicly traded company. We have named the company Venator Materials Corporation. After the spin-off, Venator will have outstanding two classes of common stock, Class A common stock and Class B common stock. The rights of the holders of Class A common stock and Class B common stock will be the same, other than with regard to voting. Each share of Class A common stock is entitled to votes. Each share of Class B common stock is entitled to votes. As part of the separation, Huntsman will distribute all of the outstanding shares of Venator Class B common stock on a pro rata basis to the holders of Huntsman's common stock. Following the distribution, (i) the holders of Venator's Class B common stock will hold 60% of all of our outstanding common stock and 80.1% of the voting power of all of our common stock outstanding and (ii) Huntsman (through one or more of its subsidiaries) will retain all of our Class A common stock, representing 40% of all of our outstanding common stock and 19.9% of the voting power of all of our outstanding common stock. We refer to the pro rata distribution of our Class B common stock as the "distribution" and we refer to the separation, including the restructuring transactions (which will precede the separation) and the distribution, as the "spin-off." We expect that the spin-off will be tax-free to Huntsman stockholders for United States ("U.S.") federal income tax purposes, except to the extent of cash received in lieu of fractional shares. Each Huntsman stockholder will receive shares of Venator Class B common stock for each share of Huntsman common stock held as of the close of business on , the record date for the distribution. The distribution of shares will be made in book-entry form, which means that no physical share certificates will be issued. Huntsman will not distribute any fractional shares of Venator Class B common stock. Instead, the distribution agent will aggregate fractional shares into whole shares, sell the whole shares in the open market at prevailing market prices and distribute the aggregate net cash proceeds from the sales pro rata to each holder who would otherwise have been entitled to receive a fractional share in the spin-off. See "The Spin-OffTreatment of Fractional Shares." As discussed under "The Spin-OffTrading Prior to the Distribution Date," if you sell your Huntsman common stock in the "regular-way" market after the record date and before the distribution date, you also will be selling your right to receive shares of Venator Class B common stock in connection with the spin-off. If you sell your Huntsman common stock in the "ex-distribution" market after the record date and before the distribution date, you will still receive shares of our Class B common stock in the spin-off. The distribution will be effective as of 12:01 a.m., Eastern Time, on . Immediately after the distribution becomes effective, Venator will be a separate, publicly traded company.
No vote or further action of Huntsman stockholders is required in connection with the spin-off. We are not asking you for a proxy. Huntsman stockholders will not be required to pay any consideration for the shares of Venator Class B common stock they receive in the spin-off, and they will not be required to surrender or exchange shares of their Huntsman common stock or take any other action in connection with the spin-off.
All of the outstanding shares of Venator's common stock are currently owned by Huntsman. Accordingly, there currently is no public trading market for Venator common stock. We expect, however, that a limited trading market for Venator Class B common stock, commonly known as a "when-issued" trading market, will develop on or shortly before the record date for the distribution, and we expect "regular-way" trading of Venator Class B common stock will begin the first trading day after the distribution date. Venator Class B common stock will trade on the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE") under the ticker symbol "VNTR."
In reviewing this information statement, you should carefully consider the matters described under the caption "Risk Factors" beginning on page 28 of this information statement.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this information statement is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
This information statement is not an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities.
The date of this information statement is .
This information statement, or a Notice of Internet Availability of Information Statement Materials, was first mailed to Huntsman stockholders on or about .
SUMMARY 1
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS 55
THE SPIN-OFF 57
TRADING MARKET 69
DIVIDEND POLICY 72
CAPITALIZATION 73
SELECTED HISTORICAL COMBINED FINANCIAL DATA 74
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL INFORMATION 76
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS 86
MANAGEMENT 136
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION 139
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION 154
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT 155
ARRANGEMENTS BETWEEN HUNTSMAN AND OUR COMPANY 156
OTHER RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS 160
DESCRIPTION OF MATERIAL INDEBTEDNESS 162
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK 163
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION 168
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS F-1
This information statement is being furnished solely to provide information to Huntsman stockholders who will receive shares of Class B common stock of Venator in connection with the spin-off. It is not provided as an inducement or encouragement to buy or sell any securities. You should not assume that the information contained in this information statement is accurate as of any date other than the date set forth on the cover. Changes to the information contained in this information statement may occur after that date, and we undertake no obligation to update the information contained in this information statement, unless we are required by applicable securities laws to do so.
TRADEMARKS AND TRADE NAMES
We own or have rights to various trademarks, service marks and trade names in connection with the operation of our business. This information statement may also contain trademarks, service marks and trade names of third parties, which are the property of their respective owners. Our use or display of third parties' trademarks, service marks, trade names or products in this prospectus is not intended to, and does not imply, any relationship with, or endorsement or sponsorship by us. Solely for convenience, the trademarks, service marks and trade names referred to in this information statement may appear without the ®, TM or SM symbols, but such references are not intended to indicate, in any way, that we will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, our rights or the right of the applicable licensor to these trademarks, service marks and trade names.
INDUSTRY AND MARKET DATA
The market data and certain other statistical information used in this information statement includes industry data and forecasts that are based on independent industry publications such as (i) TiO2 Pigment Price Forecast to 2020 Q2/Q3/Q4 2017 and Q1 2017, (ii) TiO2 Pigment Supply/Demand Q2/Q3/Q4 2016, (iii) Global TiO2 Pigment ProducersComparative Cost & Profitability Study 2016, (iv) Feedstock Price Forecast Q3/Q4 2017 and Q1 2017 and (v) TiO2 Market Insight, February 2017, each published by TZ
Mineral International Pty Ltd., as well as government publications and other published independent sources. Some data is also based on our good faith estimates. Although we believe these third-party sources are reliable as of their respective dates, we have not independently verified such third-party information nor have we ascertained the underlying economic assumptions relied upon in those sources. The industry in which we operate is subject to a high degree of uncertainty and risks and such data and risks are subject to change, including those discussed under "Risk Factors" and "Forward-Looking Statements." These and other factors could cause results to differ materially from those expressed in these publications.
This summary highlights information contained in this information statement and provides an overview of our company, our separation from Huntsman and the distribution of our Class B common stock by Huntsman to its stockholders. You should read this entire information statement carefully, including the risks discussed under "Risk Factors," our audited and unaudited historical combined financial statements and the notes thereto and our unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements and the notes thereto included elsewhere in this information statement. Some of the statements in this summary constitute forward-looking statements. See "Forward-Looking Statements."
Except when the context otherwise requires or where otherwise indicated, (1) all references to "Venator," the "Company," "we," "us" and "our" refer to Venator Materials Corporation and its subsidiaries, or, as the context requires, the Pigments & Additives business of Huntsman, (2) all references to "Huntsman" refer to Huntsman Corporation, our ultimate parent company prior to the spin-off, and its subsidiaries, other than us, (3) all references to the "Titanium Dioxide" segment or business refer to the TiO2 business of the Pigments & Additives segment of Huntsman and the related operations and assets, liabilities, and obligations, which we will assume in connection with the spin-off, (4) all references to the "Performance Additives" segment or business refer to the functional additives, color pigments, timber treatment and water treatment businesses of the Pigments & Additives segment of Huntsman and the related operations and assets, liabilities and obligations, which we will assume in connection with the spin-off, (5) all references to "other businesses" refer to certain other businesses that Huntsman will retain following the spin-off and that are included in our historical combined financial statements in "corporate and other" and (6) all references to "Huntsman International" refer to Huntsman International LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Huntsman and the entity through which Huntsman operates all of its businesses.
We are a leading global manufacturer and marketer of chemical products that improve the quality of life for downstream consumers and promote a sustainable future. Our products comprise a broad range of pigments and additives that bring color and vibrancy to buildings, protect and extend product life, and reduce energy consumption. We market our products globally to a diversified group of industrial customers through two segments: Titanium Dioxide, which consists of our TiO2 business, and Performance Additives, which consists of our functional additives, color pigments, timber treatment and water treatment businesses. We are a leading global producer in many of our key product lines, including titanium dioxide ("TiO2"), color pigments, functional additives, timber treatment and water treatment products. We operate 27 facilities, employ approximately 4,500 associates worldwide and sell our products in more than 110 countries. For the twelve months ended March 31, 2017, we had total pro forma revenues of $2,136 million.
We operate in a variety of end markets, including industrial and architectural coatings, construction materials, plastics, paper, printing inks, pharmaceuticals, food, cosmetics, fibers and films and personal care. Within these end markets, our products serve more than 8,500 customers globally. Our production capabilities allow us to manufacture a broad range of functional TiO2 products as well as specialty TiO2 products that provide critical performance for our customers and sell at a premium for certain end-use applications. We are a leading global manufacturer of color pigments and functional additives products and a leading North American producer of timber treatment products. These products provide essential properties for our customers' end-use applications by enhancing the color and appearance of construction materials and delivering performance benefits in other applications such as corrosion and fade resistance, water repellence and flame suppression. We believe that our global footprint and broad product offerings differentiate us from our competitors and allow us to better meet our customers' needs.
Our Titanium Dioxide and Performance Additives segments have been transformed in recent years and we have established ourselves as a market leader in each of the industries in which we operate. We invested $1.3 billion in our Titanium Dioxide and Performance Additives segments from January 1, 2014 to
March 31, 2017 on acquisitions, restructuring and integration. We have recently identified plans for additional business improvements in our Titanium Dioxide and Performance Additives businesses, which are expected to be completed by the end of 2018. If successfully implemented, we expect these plans to result in increased adjusted EBITDA from general cost reductions, volume growth (primarily via the launch of new products) and further optimization of our manufacturing network including the closure of certain facilities. As a result of these efforts, we believe we are well-positioned to capitalize on a continued market recovery and related growth opportunities.
The table below summarizes the key products, end markets and applications, representative customers, revenues and sales information by segment:
We manufacture TiO2, functional additives, color pigments, timber treatment and water treatment products. Our broad product range, coupled with our ability to develop and supply specialized products into technically exacting end-use applications, has positioned us as a leader in the markets we serve. In 2014, Huntsman acquired the performance additives and TiO2 businesses of Rockwood Holdings, Inc. ("Rockwood"), broadening our specialty TiO2 product offerings and adding significant scale and capacity to our TiO2 facilities. The Rockwood acquisition positioned us as a leader in the specialty and differentiated TiO2 industry segments, which includes products that sell at a premium and have more stable margins. The Rockwood acquisition also provided us with complementary functional additives, color pigments, timber treatment and water treatment businesses. We have 27 manufacturing facilities operating in 10 countries with a total nameplate production capacity of approximately 1.3 million metric tons per year. We operate eight TiO2 manufacturing facilities in Europe, North America and Asia and 19 color pigments, functional additives, water treatment and timber treatment manufacturing and processing facilities in Europe, North America, Asia and Australia. For the twelve months ended March 31, 2017, our pro forma revenues (excluding businesses retained by Huntsman) were $2,136 million. We believe recovery in TiO2 margins to historic normalized levels would result in a substantial increase in our profitability and cash flow.
Titanium Dioxide Segment
TiO2 is derived from titanium bearing ores and is a white inert pigment that provides whiteness, opacity and brightness to thousands of everyday items, including coatings, plastics, paper, printing inks, fibers, food and personal care products. We are one of the six major producers of TiO2 that collectively account for approximately 60% of global TiO2 production capacity according to TZ Mineral International Pty Ltd. ("TZMI"), an independent consulting company that reports market data for the chemicals sector. Producers of the remaining 40% are primarily single-plant producers that focus on regional sales. We are among the three largest global TiO2 producers, with nameplate production capacity of approximately 782,000 metric tons per year, accounting for approximately 11% of global TiO2 production capacity. We are able to manufacture a broad range of TiO2 products from functional to specialty. Our specialty products generally sell at a premium into specialized applications such as fibers, catalysts, food, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. Our production capabilities are distinguished from some of our competitors because of our ability to manufacture TiO2 using both sulfate and chloride manufacturing processes, which gives us the flexibility to tailor our products to meet our customers' needs. By operating both sulfate and chloride processes, we also have the ability to use a wide range of titanium feedstocks, which enhances the competitiveness of our manufacturing operations, by providing flexibility in the selection of raw materials. This helps insulate us from price fluctuations for any particular feedstock and allows us to manage our raw material costs.
Performance Additives Segment
Functional Additives. Functional additives are barium and zinc based inorganic chemicals used to make colors more brilliant, coatings shine, plastic more stable and protect products from fading. We believe we are the leading global manufacturer of zinc and barium functional additives. The demand dynamics of functional additives are closely aligned with those of functional TiO2 given the overlap in applications served, including coatings, plastics and pharmaceuticals.
Color Pigments. We are a leading global producer of colored inorganic pigments for the construction, coating, plastics and specialty markets. We are one of three global leaders in the manufacture and processing of liquid, powder and granulated forms of iron oxide color pigments. We also sell natural and synthetic inorganic pigments and metal carboxylate driers. The cost effectiveness, weather resistance, chemical and thermal stability and coloring strength of iron oxide make it an ideal colorant for construction materials, such as concrete, brick and roof tile, and for coatings and plastics. We produce a
wide range of color pigments and are the world's second largest manufacturer of technical grade ultramarine blue pigments, which have a unique blue shade and are widely used to correct colors, giving them a desirable clean, blue undertone. These attributes have resulted in ultramarine blue being used world-wide for polymeric applications such as construction plastics, food packaging, automotive polymers, consumer plastics, coatings and cosmetics.
Timber Treatment and Water Treatment. We manufacture wood protection chemicals used primarily in residential and commercial applications to prolong the service life of wood through protection from decay and fungal or insect attack. Wood that has been treated with our products is sold to consumers through major branded retail outlets. We also manufacture water treatment chemicals that are used to improve water purity in industrial, commercial and municipal applications. Our key markets for water treatment chemicals are municipal and industrial waste water treatment and the paper industry.
Industry Overview and Market Outlook
Global TiO2 sales in 2016 exceeded 6.0 million metric tons, generating approximately $12.6 billion in industry-wide revenues according to TZMI. The global TiO2 market is highly competitive, and competition is based primarily on product price, quality and technical service. We face competition from producers using the chloride process as well as those using the sulfate process. Due to the ease of transporting TiO2, there is also competition between producers with facilities in different geographies. Over the last decade, there has been substantial growth in TiO2 demand in emerging economies, notably Asia. The growing demand in Asia has consumed the majority of Chinese production. We operate primarily in markets where our product quality and service are valued or preferred by our customers and differentiate us from Chinese TiO2 competitors. Cost advantages are typically driven by the scale of the plant, type of feedstock, source of energy and cost of local labor. We are generally able to reduce production costs by finding innovative solutions to convert the by-products arising from our sulfate process into value-adding co-products. Today, approximately 60% of all by-products of our sulfate processes are sold as co-products, and we are one of the largest producers of sulfate co-products in the world, including gypsum, copperas and other iron salts. The profitability of a plant is not solely related to its cost structure, but also importantly to its slate of manufactured products. We believe our differentiated and specialty products, along with our ability to profitably commercialize the associated co-products, enhance our plants' overall efficiency and resulting profitability. With our competitive cost structure, and our slate of differentiated and specialty products, we believe we are well positioned to compete in a cyclical market.
The primary raw materials that are used to produce TiO2 are various types of titanium feedstock, which include ilmenite, rutile, titanium slag (chloride slag and sulfate slag) and synthetic rutile. According to TZMI, the world market for titanium-bearing ores has a diverse range of suppliers with the four largest accounting for approximately 40% of global supply. The majority of the titanium-bearing ores market is transacted on short-term contracts, or longer-term volume contracts with market-based pricing re-negotiated several times per year. This form of market-based ore contract provides flexibility and responsiveness in terms of pricing and quantity obligations.
Historically, the market for large volume TiO2 applications, including coatings, paper and plastics, has experienced alternating periods of tight supply, causing prices and margins to increase, followed by periods of lower capacity utilization, resulting in declining prices and margins. The volatility this market experiences occurs as a result of significant changes in the demand for products as a consequence of global economic activity and changes in customers' requirements. The supply-demand balance is also impacted by capacity additions or reductions that result in changes of utilization rates. In addition, TiO2 margins are impacted by significant changes in major input costs such as energy and feedstock.
Profitability for TiO2 reached a peak in 2011, with significantly higher demand, prices and margins. Following the peak, utilization rates dropped in 2012 as demand fell due to weaker economic conditions, industry de-stocking and the addition of new TiO2 capacity. There was an associated decline in prices and
margins. Over the following three years, demand recovered slowly; however, this modest demand improvement did not result in any significant increase in operating rates, and TiO2 prices consequently declined throughout the period. After reaching a trough in the first quarter of 2016, supply/demand fundamentals began improving in 2016 primarily due to strong global demand growth and some capacity rationalizations. Though the TiO2 market has shown signs of recovery, prices and margins remain below normalized historical levels. With the expectation of global capacity utilization rate improvements and further price increases, TiO2 margins are expected to increase to more historically normalized values. With approximately 70% of our revenue during the twelve months ended March 31, 2017 being derived from TiO2 sales, we believe recovery in TiO2 margins to historic normalized levels should result in increased profitability and cash flow generation.
We estimate that the global demand for iron oxide pigments was approximately 1.3 million metric tons per year for 2016. Approximately 45% of this demand was generated from Asia, with Europe representing approximately 23% of demand and North America representing approximately 21% of demand. The construction industry consumes approximately 45% of colored iron oxide pigments, where the products are used for the coloring of manufactured concrete products such as paving tiles and precast roof tiles as well as for coloring cast in place concrete such as ready-mix, stucco and mortar. Industrial and architectural coatings represent the second largest segment for iron oxides (approximately 30% of total demand), where these pigments bring color, opacity and fade resistance to a variety of solvent and water-borne coating systems. Growth in the demand for iron oxide pigments is therefore closely linked to demand in the construction and coatings industries.
More than 90% of functional additives are sold into coatings, plastics and pharmaceuticals end markets. The demand dynamics for functional additives are therefore similar to those of TiO2. Over the last five years, there has been strong growth in demand for functional additives in specific applications such as white BOPET films. Final applications of these films include flat panel displays for televisions, labels and medical diagnostic devices. The demand for ultramarine blue pigments is primarily driven by the plastics industry, with approximately two-thirds of all ultramarine pigments used as colorants in polymeric materials such as packaging, automotive components and consumer plastics.
Our Competitive Strengths
We are committed to continued value creation for our customers and stockholders by focusing on our competitive strengths, including the following:
Well-Positioned to Capitalize on TiO2 Market Recovery and Growth Opportunities
We believe that our Titanium Dioxide segment is well-positioned to take advantage of an improvement in the TiO2 industry cycle. TZMI estimates that global TiO2 demand grew by approximately 8.5% in 2016 while production capacity grew by approximately 1%, creating an environment favorable for TiO2 price increases. We successfully negotiated four consecutive quarterly TiO2 price increases which took effect beginning in the second quarter of 2016. TZMI estimates that the market price of global high quality TiO2 will grow by more than $500 per metric ton, the equivalent of more than 20%, from December 31, 2016 through the end of 2017. With approximately 782,000 metric tons of annual nameplate production capacity, we believe that we are well-positioned to capitalize on recovering TiO2 demand and prices. According to TZMI, most North American plants are currently running at full operating rates and long delivery lead times and in Europe, several plants are running at full operating rates. If prices continue to increase in and beyond 2017, and as capacity utilization increases globally, TiO2 margins are expected to increase to more historically normalized levels. Additionally, with specialty and differentiated products accounting for approximately half of our 2016 TiO2 sales, we believe we can benefit from our attractive market positioning throughout the cycle.
Successful Implementation of Business Transformations
We have a strong track record of successfully implementing business transformations and have been optimizing our Titanium Dioxide and Performance Additives segments for the past several years. We invested $1.3 billion from January 1, 2014 to March 31, 2017 on acquisitions, restructuring and integration. With these projects, we have positioned ourselves to take advantage of increased demand and product prices during the industry's recovery cycle. Specifically, our Rockwood acquisition and subsequent integration and restructuring provided us the ability to (i) target more specialty and differentiated end markets that yield higher and more stable margins and (ii) deliver more than $200 million of annual cost synergies in the year ended December 31, 2016 relative to the year ended December 31, 2014 pro forma for the acquisition of Rockwood. We believe our investment in restructuring and acquisitions has materially improved our competitive position and operational profile relative to our competitors, which has positioned us to capitalize on growth opportunities. We have recently identified plans for additional business improvements in our Titanium Dioxide and Performance Additives businesses, which are expected to be completed by the end of 2018.
Global Producer with Leading Market Positions
We are a leading global producer in many of our key product lines. We are one of the six major producers of TiO2, and we are among the three largest TiO2 producers, with nameplate production capacity of approximately 782,000 metric tons per year, accounting for approximately 11% of global TiO2 production capacity. We believe we are the leader in the specialty TiO2 industry segment, which includes products that sell at a premium and have more stable margins. We believe we are the TiO2 market leader in the fibers and films, cosmetics and food end markets, and are at the forefront of innovation in these applications, with an exciting pipeline of new products and developments that we believe will further enhance our competitive position. We have a leading position in differentiated markets, including performance plastics and printing inks, as well as in a variety of niche market segments where innovation and specialization are high. We believe the differentiation of our products allows us to generate greater growth prospects and stronger customer relationships.
We believe we are the leading global manufacturer of zinc and barium functional additives, including the only producer of zinc sulfide and the largest global supplier of synthetic barium sulfate, with nameplate capacity to produce 100,000 metric tons of functional additives per year. We are a leading global producer of colored inorganic pigments for the construction materials, coating, plastics and specialty markets. We are one of three global leaders in the manufacture and processing of liquid, powder and granulated forms of iron oxide color pigments, producing approximately 95,000 metric tons per year. We also sell natural and synthetic inorganic pigments and metal carboxylate driers, and are the world's second largest manufacturer of technical grade ultramarine blue pigments.
High Degree of Diversification Across End Markets, Geographies and Customers
We operate a highly diversified, global business serving a variety of end markets, which provides us with the balance to help withstand weakness in any particular market segment. We have total nameplate production capacity of approximately 1.3 million metric tons per year through 27 manufacturing facilities operating in 10 countries around the world, which allows us to service the needs of both local and global customers. We have exposure to more than 10 end markets, including architectural coatings, industrial coatings, construction materials, plastics, paper, printing inks, fibers and films, pharmaceuticals, food, cosmetics, wood protection and water purification.
While our customers include some of the most recognizable names in their respective industries, during the year ended December 31, 2016, no single customer accounted for more than 10% of our Titanium Dioxide segment revenues or more than 10% of our Performance Additives segment revenues.
We have exposure to both emerging and mature markets, and we believe our geographic mix positions us to take advantage of significant growth opportunities while maintaining a steady stream of cash flows.
Broad Manufacturing Network Enhances Relationships with Global Customers
We maintain a global manufacturing and distribution network that enables us to serve customers worldwide in a timely and efficient manner. Our Titanium Dioxide segment operates eight TiO2 manufacturing facilities in Europe, North America and Asia and our Performance Additives segment operates 19 color pigments, functional additives, water treatment and timber treatment manufacturing and processing facilities in Europe, North America, Asia and Australia. The location of our facilities allows us to be closer to our customers, which enables us to service our customers with greater speed, while reducing tariffs and transportation costs and maximizing our cost competitiveness. Approximately 85% of our TiO2 sales are made directly to customers through our own global sales and technical services network, enabling us to work directly with our customers.
Product Innovation and Technical Services to Grow Our Business
We maintain a vibrant pipeline of new product developments that are closely aligned with the needs of our customers. Approximately 7% of our 2016 revenues generated by TiO2 originate from products launched in the last five years. In the specialty markets, which have demanding requirements, more than 20% of our revenues are generated from products commercialized in the last five years. We believe that our technical expertise and knowledge of our customers' applications is a source of significant competitive advantage, particularly in specialty applications. We also believe that our business is recognized by customers as the leading innovator in many applications. Our innovations pipeline is focused on differentiated and more specialized product offerings for printing inks, industrial coatings, performance plastics, cosmetics, food and fibers. Although TiO2 is primarily known for its opacifying properties, our expertise has also enabled us to unlock additional functionality from the TiO2 crystal and our teams are at the leading edge of innovations in UV absorption technology, solar reflectance and catalytic applications. As an example, our UV technology is critical to the development of sunscreens, and our catalyst technology has enabled us to produce TiO2 particles that strip pollutants from exhaust gases and help to remove nitrogen and sulfur contaminants from refinery process streams.
Strong Management Team Driving Results
We have a strong executive management team that combines deep industry experience with proven leadership. Simon Turner, our President and Chief Executive Officer, previously served as President of the Pigments & Additives segment of Huntsman. He has been employed in the Pigments division for 27 years and his wealth of experience brings an immediate, demonstrated track record of success to Venator. Mr. Turner led the successful transformation of our business during the industry's recovery cycle and the successful integration of our Rockwood acquisition, providing us the ability to (i) target more specialty and differentiated end markets that yield higher and more stable margins and (ii) deliver more than $200 million of annual cost synergies in the year ended December 31, 2016 relative to the year ended December 31, 2014 pro forma for the acquisition of Rockwood.
Kurt Ogden, our Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, previously served as Huntsman's Vice President, Investor Relations and Finance, and Russ Stolle, our Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer, previously served as Huntsman's Senior Vice President and Deputy General Counsel. Together, they bring more than 45 years of experience in the chemicals industry, strong relationships with financial market participants and a history of success as part of Huntsman's senior management team.
Our Business Strategies
We intend to leverage our strengths to accelerate growth and improve profitability by implementing the following strategies:
Focus on Cash Flow Generation and Solid Balance Sheet
We intend to focus on cash flow generation by optimizing our cost structure, working capital and capital allocation, including capital expenditures.
We invested $1.3 billion from January 1, 2014 to March 31, 2017 on acquisitions, restructuring and integration. These restructuring and integration initiatives were substantially completed by the end of 2016. We believe we are now well positioned to reap the benefits of these initiatives. In addition, we have recently identified plans for business improvements in our Titanium Dioxide and Performance Additives businesses, which are expected to be completed by the end of 2018. If successfully implemented, we expect these plans to result in increased adjusted EBITDA from general cost reductions, volume growth (primarily via the launch of new products) and further optimization of our manufacturing network including the closure of certain facilities.
We intend to continue to focus on managing fixed costs, increasing productivity and optimizing our manufacturing footprint in each of our segments. We expect that we will have a moderate amount of leverage as of the distribution date and will not assume any environmental or legal liabilities from Huntsman which are not directly related to our Titanium Dioxide and Performance Additives businesses. If the TiO2 industry cycle continues to improve and we succeed in realizing our identified business improvements, we expect to generate higher EBITDA and cash flow and improve our leverage ratios and strengthen our balance sheet.
Continue to Drive Operational Excellence and Efficiency Using Innovative and Sustainable Practices
We intend to pursue profitable growth for our stockholders and operational excellence and efficiency for our customers while continuing our commitment to safety, sustainability and innovation. We plan to continue to improve our operational efficiency by moderating our capacity and managing our cash and working capital demands. We have effectively restructured our facilities to adapt to market dynamics and maximize asset efficiency, closed plants as necessary to adjust for changing demand and expanded into new geographies when growth opportunities arose. We continue to exceed industry standards for sustainable practices and are committed to continuing our focus on environmentally conscious efforts, which is critical to our future success and vision.
In our Titanium Dioxide segment, we have developed an asset portfolio that we believe positions us as the leading differentiated TiO2 producer in the world, with the ability to flexibly meet customers' demands for both sulfate and chloride TiO2. This has allowed us to reduce our exposure to more commoditized TiO2 applications, while growing our position in the higher value differentiated applications where there is a greater need for technical expertise and client service. We have positioned ourselves to benefit from a return to normalized demand and prices, and we intend to continue to evaluate industry dynamics to ensure that our strategic position remains flexible and adaptable. We believe our specialty business is three times larger than that of our next closest competitor.
In our Performance Additives segment, we have reviewed and rationalized our asset and product portfolio to position us as a competitive, high quality additives supplier into construction materials, coatings and plastics end-use applications. We continue to optimize our global manufacturing network to reduce operational costs and improve service. We have strong positions in barium and zinc products, ultramarine blue, iron oxides and timber treatment. Our customers value our ability to tailor colors and products to meet their exacting specifications.
Through the restructuring and integration of the Rockwood businesses, including work force reductions, variable and fixed cost optimization and facility closures, we have delivered more than $200 million of annual cost synergies in the year ended December 31, 2016 relative to the year ended December 31, 2014 pro forma for the acquisition of Rockwood and we will continue to seek opportunities to further optimize our business.
Leverage Leadership and Innovation to Drive Growth
We plan to leverage management's experience in prior business optimization, restructuring and integration to continue creating leaner business segments to effectively manage costs and drive profitability. We have experienced success in recent cost management programs and plan to continue careful oversight of our cost structure and revenue selections in order to further growth.
We continue to focus on using our industry leading technology, innovation and sustainability practices to develop differentiated cutting edge products that meet the needs of our global customers.
In addition, we benefit from our technical expertise and our ability to provide end-to-end solutions to our customers. We provide our customers with a range of support that includes guidance on the selection of the appropriate products, advice on regulatory aspects and recommendations on the testing of products in final applications. We plan to continue to leverage our technical expertise and knowledge in order to provide an optimal customer platform that is conducive to future growth.
On October 19, 2016 we were incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware. Our principal executive offices are located at 10001 Woodloch Forest Drive, The Woodlands, Texas 77380. Our telephone number is (281) 719-6000. Our website address is www.venatorcorp.com, and it will be completed and become fully functional in connection with the completion of the spin-off. Information contained on our website is not incorporated by reference into this information statement or the registration statement on Form 10 of which this information statement is a part, and you should not consider information on our website as part of this information statement or such registration statement on Form 10.
The Spin-Off
On September 7, 2016, Huntsman's board of directors authorized management to pursue the spin-off of its Pigments & Additives segment into a separate, publicly traded company. Following the distribution, (i) the holders of Venator's Class B common stock will hold 60% of all of our outstanding common stock and 80.1% of the voting power of all our outstanding common stock and (ii) Huntsman will retain all Venator's Class A common stock, representing 40% of all of our outstanding common stock and 19.9% of the voting power of all our outstanding common stock.
Before our separation from Huntsman, we and Huntsman will enter into a Separation and Distribution Agreement and ancillary agreements to effect the spin-off. These agreements will provide for the allocation between us and Huntsman of Huntsman's assets, liabilities and obligations, and we will generally be allocated those assets, liabilities and obligations relating to the Titanium Dioxide and Performance Additives business. The agreement is expected to include provisions to address the impact, if any, of Huntsman's pending lawsuit against Rockwood, which is described in further detail in "Arrangements Between Huntsman and Our CompanySeparation and Distribution Agreement" and the insurance proceeds and reconstruction costs relating to the January 2017 Pori facility fire, which is described in further detail in "Risk FactorsRisks Related to Our Business." These agreements will also govern certain interactions between us and Huntsman after the separation (including with respect to employee matters and tax matters). We and Huntsman will also enter into a Transition Services Agreement which will provide for, among other matters, assistance to us or Huntsman as needed after the spin-off and a Master Lease Agreement, pursuant to which we will agree to terms with Huntsman regarding leasing
space at certain shared facilities. We and Huntsman will also enter a Stockholder's and Registration Rights Agreement, pursuant to which we will agree, upon the request of Huntsman, to use our best efforts to effect the registration under applicable securities laws of the disposition of our common stock retained by Huntsman and to list the Class A common stock on the NYSE and Huntsman will grant us a proxy to vote all of our Class A common stock immediately after the distribution in proportion to the votes cast by our Class B common stockholders as long as Huntsman owns the Class A shares. For more information regarding these agreements, see "Arrangements Between Huntsman and Our Company" and the historical and pro forma financial statements and the notes thereto included elsewhere in this information statement. The terms of these agreements may be more or less favorable to us than if they had been negotiated with unaffiliated third parties. See "Risk FactorsRisks Related to the Spin-Off." Our entry into the Separation and Distribution Agreement and the ancillary agreements, the internal reorganization, the amendment and restatement of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws and other related transactions are collectively referred to as our "restructuring transactions" throughout this information statement.
Reasons for the Spin-Off
The spin-off is expected to provide each company with a number of material opportunities and benefits, including the following:
creating two separate businesses that will be industry leaders in their respective areas of operations;
enhancing the ability of each company to focus on their respective businesses and unique opportunities for long-term growth and profitability and to allocate capital and corporate resources in a manner that focuses on achieving each company's own strategic priorities;
providing each company with increased flexibility to pursue strategic alternatives, including acquisitions, without having to consider the potential impact on the businesses of the other company, including funding such acquisitions using their respective common equity;
creating two separate capital structures that will afford each company direct access to the debt and equity capital markets to fund their respective growth strategies and to establish an appropriate capital structure for their business needs;
improving each company's ability to attract and retain individuals with the appropriate skill sets as well as to better align compensation and incentives, including equity compensation, with the performance of these different businesses; and
allowing investors to evaluate the separate investment identities of each company, including the distinct merits, performance and future prospects of their respective businesses.
The distribution is subject to the satisfaction or waiver, in the sole discretion of Huntsman, of certain conditions. In addition, Huntsman has the right not to complete the spin-off if, at any time prior to the distribution, the board of directors of Huntsman determines, in its sole discretion, that the spin-off is not in the best interests of Huntsman or its stockholders or market conditions do not warrant completing the separation at that time. See "The Spin-OffConditions to the Spin-Off."
Questions and Answers About the Spin-Off
The following provides answers only to certain key questions we expect you may have regarding the spin-off. For a more detailed description of the terms of the spin-off, see "The Spin-Off."
What is the spin-off?
In this information statement, when we refer to the "spin-off," we are referring to the separation of Huntsman's Pigments & Additives segment from the remaining business of Huntsman through a series of transactions, including the restructuring transactions, that will result in the Titanium Dioxide
and Performance Additives business being owned by us, and Huntsman's pro rata distribution of all of our outstanding Class B common stock to its stockholders. Following the distribution, the holders of our Class B common stock will hold 60% of all of our outstanding common stock and 80.1% of the voting power of all of our outstanding common stock. The number of shares of Huntsman common stock you own will not change as a result of the spin-off. Your proportionate direct economic interest in us, however, will be lower than your proportionate direct interest in Huntsman, due to the fact that Huntsman will retain all of our Class A common stock, representing 40% of all of our outstanding common stock and 19.9% of the voting power of all of our outstanding common stock (the "Retained Securities").
What will I receive in the spin-off?
As a holder of Huntsman stock, you will retain your Huntsman shares and will receive shares of Venator Class B common stock for each share of Huntsman common stock you hold as of the record date. Your proportionate interest in Huntsman will not change as a result of the spin-off.
What is Venator?
Venator is currently a wholly-owned subsidiary of Huntsman whose Class B common stock will be distributed to Huntsman stockholders if the spin-off is completed. After the spin-off is completed, Venator will be a separate, publicly traded company and will own and operate the Titanium Dioxide and Performance Additives business. Venator will have outstanding two classes of common stock, Class A common stock and Class B common stock. The rights of the holders of Class A common stock and Class B common stock will be the same, other than with regard to voting. Each share of Class A common stock is entitled to votes. Each share of Class B common stock is entitled to votes.
When is the record date for the distribution, and when will the distribution occur?
The record date for determining Huntsman stockholders entitled to receive shares of our Class B common stock in the distribution will be the close of business of the NYSE on . The distribution will occur on .
What are the reasons for and benefits of separating from Huntsman?
Our separation from Huntsman and the distribution of our Class B common stock will provide you with equity investments in two separate companies that are intended to be leaders in their respective areas of operations. The spin-off will enable each company to pursue strategies tailored to the needs of their businesses. For a more detailed discussion of the reasons for and benefits of the spin-off, see "The Spin-OffReasons for the Spin-Off."
What are the risks associated with the spin-off?
There are a number of risks associated with the spin-off and resultant ownership of our common stock. These risks are discussed under "Risk Factors" beginning on page 28.
Why is the separation of Venator structured as a spin-off as opposed to a sale?
Huntsman believes that a tax-free distribution of our Class B common stock is an efficient way to separate us from Huntsman in a manner that will improve flexibility, benefit both Huntsman and Venator and create long-term value for stockholders of both Huntsman and Venator.
What is being distributed in the spin-off?
Upon completion of the spin-off, we estimate that we will have an aggregate of approximately million shares of Class A common stock outstanding and million shares of Class B common stock outstanding based on approximately million shares of Huntsman common stock outstanding as of , 2017, assuming that Huntsman distributes to its stockholders all of our Class B common stock (representing 60% of all of our common stock and 80.1% of the voting power of all of our common stock) and that each Huntsman stockholder will receive shares of Class B common stock for each share of Huntsman common stock. All of our outstanding Class A common stock (representing 40% of all of our common stock and 19.9% of the voting power of all of our common stock) will be retained and held by Huntsman. The actual number of shares of our Class B common stock to be distributed to stockholders of Huntsman and Class A common stock retained by Huntsman will be calculated on , the record date. For more information on the shares being distributed in the spin-off, see "Description of Capital StockCommon Stock."
What will the relationship be between Huntsman and Venator after the spin-off?
Following the spin-off, Venator will be a separate, publicly traded company, and Huntsman will hold the Retained Securities for a maximum of five years. In connection with the spin-off, we will enter into a Separation and Distribution Agreement and ancillary agreements with Huntsman for the purpose of allocating between us and Huntsman various assets, liabilities and obligations relating to the Titanium Dioxide and Performance Additives business of Huntsman. These agreements will also provide arrangements for employee matters, tax matters and some other liabilities and obligations attributable to periods before and, in some cases, after the spin-off. These agreements will also include arrangements with respect to transition services, leased space at shared facilities and registration rights for certain securities. Huntsman will determine the principal terms of these agreements and the allocation between us and Huntsman of Huntsman's assets, liabilities and obligations, with the assets, liabilities and obligations relating to the Titanium Dioxide and Performance Additives business generally allocated to us.
What will Huntsman do with the Retained Securities?
Huntsman will dispose of the Retained Securities within five years after the spin-off. Pursuant to an Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") private letter ruling received by Huntsman, under certain circumstances Huntsman may dispose of some or all of the Retained Securities in a tax-advantaged manner by distributing such shares of Class A common stock within 12 months after the spin-off to its creditors in payment of outstanding third-party debt. If market conditions and sound business judgment permit, Huntsman intends to engage in such exchanges. To the extent Huntsman does not exchange the Retained Securities for third-party debt, Huntsman will sell the Retained Securities. Huntsman anticipates that the proceeds of such sales will be used to repay third-party debt.
How will equity-based and other long-term incentive compensation awards held by Huntsman employees be affected as a result of the spin-off?
The treatment of outstanding Huntsman equity-based and other long-term incentive compensation awards has not been finally determined, and we will include information regarding the treatment in an amendment to this information statement. For more information on Huntsman's current anticipated treatment of equity-based and other long-term incentive compensation awards that may be held by our named executive officers as of the spin-off, see "The Spin-OffTreatment of Long-Term Incentive Awards for Current and Former Employees."
What do I have to do to participate in the spin-off?
You are not required to take any action, although we urge you to read this entire document carefully. No Huntsman stockholder approval of the spin-off is required and none is being sought. You are not being asked for a proxy. No action is required on your part to receive your shares of Class B common stock. You will neither be required to pay anything for shares of Class B common stock nor to surrender any shares of Huntsman common stock to participate in the spin-off.
How will fractional shares be treated in the spin-off?
Fractional shares of Class B common stock will not be distributed. Fractional shares of Class B common stock to which Huntsman stockholders of record would otherwise be entitled will be aggregated and sold in the public market by the distribution agent. The aggregate net cash proceeds of the sales will be distributed ratably to those stockholders who would otherwise have received fractional shares of Class B common stock. Proceeds from these sales will generally result in a taxable gain or loss to those stockholders. Each stockholder entitled to receive cash proceeds from these shares should consult his, her or its own tax advisor as to the stockholder's particular circumstances. The tax consequences of the distribution are described in more detail under "The Spin-OffU.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Spin-Off."
What are the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the spin-off?
The spin-off is conditioned on Huntsman receiving an opinion from its tax advisor that (i) Huntsman's pro rata distribution of all of our outstanding Class B common stock to its stockholders qualifies as a tax-free transaction under Sections 355, 361 and/or 368(a)(1)(D) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), and (ii) certain elements of the restructuring transactions undertaken as part of the spin-off will also qualify for tax-free treatment under Sections 355, 361 and/or 368(a)(1)(D) of the Code. See "The Spin-OffConditions to the Spin-Off." Tax advisor's opinion will, in part, be based upon an IRS private letter ruling received by Huntsman to the effect that the retention of Class A common stock will not be in pursuance of a plan having as one of its principal purposes the avoidance of federal income tax, that certain post spin-off exchanges of Class A common stock for Huntsman indebtedness will be treated as distributions that are part of a plan of reorganization for purposes of Sections 361(c)(1) and 361(c)(3) of the Code, and that certain payments or transfers of assets and liabilities that may occur following the spin-off will be treated as part of the spin-off transaction. Assuming that the distribution will qualify as a tax-free transaction under Sections 355, 361 and/or 368(a)(1)(D) of the Code, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, except for gain realized on the receipt of cash paid in lieu of fractional shares, no gain or loss will be recognized by a Huntsman stockholder, and no amount generally will be included in such Huntsman stockholder's taxable income, as a result of the spin-off. You should, however, consult your own tax advisor as to the particular consequences of the spin-off to you. The U.S. federal income tax consequences of the distribution are described in more detail under "The Spin-OffU.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Spin-Off."
Will our Class B common stock be listed on a stock exchange?
Yes. Although there is currently no public market for our Class B common stock, our Class B common stock will trade on the NYSE under the symbol "VNTR."
It is anticipated that trading of our Class B common stock will commence on a "when-issued" basis on or shortly before the record date. When-issued trading refers to a sale or purchase made conditionally because the security has been authorized but not yet issued. When-issued trades generally settle within four trading days after the distribution date. On the first trading day following the distribution date, any when-issued trading with respect to our Class B common stock will end and "regular-way" trading will begin. "Regular-way" trading refers to trading after a security has been issued and typically
involves a transaction that settles on the third full trading day following the date of the transaction. See "Trading Market."
Will my shares of Huntsman common stock continue to trade?
Yes. Huntsman common stock will continue to be listed and traded on the NYSE under the symbol "HUN."
If I sell, on or before the distribution date, shares of Huntsman common stock that I held on the record date, am I still entitled to receive shares of Venator Class B common stock distributable with respect to the shares of Huntsman common stock I sold?
Beginning on or shortly before the record date and continuing through the distribution date for the spin-off, Huntsman's common stock will begin to trade in two markets on the NYSE: a "regular-way" market and an "ex-distribution" market. If you are a holder of record of shares of Huntsman common stock as of the record date for the distribution and choose to sell those shares in the regular-way market after the record date for the distribution and before the distribution date, you also will be selling the right to receive shares of Class B common stock in connection with the spin-off. However, if you are a holder of record of shares of Huntsman common stock as of the record date for the distribution and choose to sell those shares in the ex-distribution market after the record date for the distribution and before the distribution date, you will still receive shares of Class B common stock in the spin-off.
Will the spin-off affect the market price of my Huntsman stock?
Yes, the market price of shares of Huntsman common stock immediately following the distribution is expected to be lower than immediately prior to the distribution because of the dividend to Huntsman common stockholders in the form of our Class B common stock and the fact that the Huntsman common stock trading price will no longer reflect the value of the Titanium Dioxide and Performance Additives business of Huntsman, partially offset by the cash distribution we will pay to Huntsman, and the repayment of intercompany debt owed to Huntsman by us prior to completion of the spin-off. We cannot provide you with any assurance as to the price at which shares of Huntsman common stock will trade following the spin-off.
What indebtedness will Venator have following the spin-off?
We intend to enter into new financing arrangements in anticipation of the spin-off. We expect to incur up to $ million in new debt, which may include the issuance of senior notes, term loans, borrowings under an asset-based lending facility or a revolving credit facility or a combination thereof. After we have entered into our new financing arrangements but prior to the completion of the spin-off, we intend to use the proceeds therefrom to make a cash distribution of $ million to Huntsman and to repay intercompany debt we owe to Huntsman. We expect that our asset-based lending facility or revolving credit facility will be available for our immediate working capital needs and for general corporate purposes, including issuance of letters of credit. See "Description of Material Indebtedness."
Following the spin-off, our debt obligations could restrict our business and may adversely impact our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. In addition, our separation from Huntsman's other businesses may increase the overall cost of debt funding and decrease the overall debt capacity and commercial credit available to us. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows could be harmed by a deterioration of our credit profile or by factors adversely affecting the credit markets generally. We will have $ million of indebtedness following the spin-off, a portion of which will be subject to variable interest rates. Higher levels of indebtedness may make us more vulnerable to economic downturns and may limit our ability to respond to market conditions, to
obtain additional financing or to refinance our debt. See "Risk FactorsRisks Related to the Spin-Off."
What will our dividend policy be after the spin-off?
Immediately following the spin-off and for the foreseeable future, we do not expect to pay dividends. In addition, we expect that our debt agreements will place certain restrictions on our ability to pay cash dividends.
For more information, see "Dividend Policy."
What are the anti-takeover effects of the spin-off?
Certain provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws, among other things, could prevent or delay an acquisition of Venator. See "Risk FactorsRisks Related to Our Class B Common StockProvisions contained in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws could discourage a takeover attempt, which may reduce or eliminate the likelihood of a change of control transaction and, therefore, the ability of our stockholders to sell their shares for a premium." and "Description of Capital StockAnti-Takeover Effects of Provisions of our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, our Amended and Restated Bylaws and Delaware Law."
In addition, under the Tax Matters Agreement we will enter into with Huntsman in connection with the spin-off, we will agree to take certain actions and refrain from taking certain actions, including agreeing to refrain from entering into certain strategic and corporate transactions. The purpose of these covenants is to help ensure the tax-free status of the spin-off. These restrictions and our related tax indemnification obligations in the Tax Matters Agreement may have the effect, for a period of time following the spin-off, of making it more difficult and less desirable for us to enter into certain transactions, including those that may result in a change of control. See "Arrangements Between Huntsman and Our CompanyTax Matters Agreement" for more information.
Where can I get more information?
If you have any questions relating to the mechanics of the distribution, you should contact the distribution agent at:
Before the spin-off, if you have any questions relating to the spin-off, you should contact Huntsman at:
Attn: Investor Relations
10003 Woodloch Forest Drive
www.huntsman.com
After the spin-off, if you have any questions relating to Venator, you should contact Venator at:
Attn:
www.venatorcorp.com
Summary of the Spin-Off
Distributing Company Huntsman Corporation, a Delaware corporation. After the distribution, Huntsman will hold the Retained Securities.
Distributed Company
Venator Materials Corporation, a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Huntsman. After the spin-off, we will be a separate, publicly traded company.
Distributed Securities (Class B common stock)
Huntsman will distribute all of our outstanding shares of Class B common stock on a pro rata basis to the holders of Huntsman's common stock. Following the distribution, (i) the holders of Venator's Class B common stock will hold 60% of all of our outstanding common stock and 80.1% of the voting power of all of our outstanding common stock. Approximately shares of our Class B common stock will be distributed in the spin-off, based on the number of shares of Huntsman common stock outstanding as of the record date of 2016. Assuming distribution of all of our Class B common stock to Huntsman stockholders, each Huntsman stockholder will receive shares of our Class B common stock for each share of Huntsman common stock held.
Retained Securities (Class A common stock)
Huntsman will retain all of our Class A common stock, representing 40% of all of our outstanding common stock and 19.9% of the voting power of all of our outstanding common stock. Huntsman will dispose of the Retained Securities within five years after the spin-off. Pursuant to an IRS private letter ruling received by Huntsman, under certain circumstances Huntsman may dispose of some or all of the Retained Securities in a tax-advantaged manner by distributing such shares of Class A common stock within 12 months after the spin-off to its creditors in payment of outstanding third-party debt. If market conditions and sound business judgment permit, Huntsman intends to engage in such exchanges. To the extent Huntsman does not exchange the Retained Securities for third-party debt, Huntsman will sell the Retained Securities. Huntsman anticipates that the proceeds of such sales will be used to repay third-party debt.
The record date for the distribution is the close of business of the NYSE on .
The distribution date is .
Internal Reorganization
As part of the separation, and prior to the distribution, Huntsman expects to complete an internal reorganization, which we refer to as the "internal reorganization," in order to transfer to Venator the entities, assets, liabilities and obligations that Venator will hold following the separation.
Restructuring Transactions
As part of the spin-off, we will enter into the Separation and Distribution Agreement and ancillary agreements, conduct the internal reorganization, amend and restate our certificate of incorporation and bylaws and complete other related transactions.
Distribution Ratio
Each Huntsman stockholder will receive shares of our Class B common stock for each share of Huntsman common stock held on the record date.
Distribution Method
Our Class B common stock will be issued only by direct registration in book-entry form. Registration in book-entry form is a method of recording stock ownership when no physical paper certificates are issued to stockholders, as is the case in this distribution.
Fractional Shares
The distribution agent will not distribute any fractional shares of Class B common stock to Huntsman stockholders. Fractional shares of Class B common stock to which Huntsman stockholders of record would otherwise be entitled will be aggregated and sold in the public market by the distribution agent. The aggregate net cash proceeds of the sales will be distributed ratably to those stockholders who would otherwise have received fractional shares of Class B common stock. Proceeds from these sales will generally result in a taxable gain or loss to those stockholders. Each stockholder entitled to receive cash proceeds from these shares should consult his, her or its own tax advisor as to the stockholder's particular circumstances. The tax consequences of the distribution are described in more detail under "The Spin-OffU.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Spin-Off."
Conditions to the Spin-Off
The spin-off is subject to the satisfaction or waiver by Huntsman, in its sole discretion, of the following conditions, as well as other conditions described in this information statement in "The Spin-OffConditions to the Spin-Off":
the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") shall have declared effective our registration statement on Form 10, of which this information statement is a part, under the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"); no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the registration statement shall be in effect; and no proceedings for such purpose shall be pending before or threatened by the SEC;
any required actions and filings with regard to state securities and blue sky laws of the U.S. (and any comparable laws under any foreign jurisdictions) shall have been taken and, where applicable, have become effective or been accepted;
our Class B common stock shall have been authorized for listing on the NYSE, or another national securities exchange approved by Huntsman, subject to official notice of issuance;
the IRS private letter ruling received by Huntsman shall not have been revoked or modified in any material respect (the IRS private letter ruling includes rulings to the effect that the retention of Class A common stock will not be in pursuance of a plan having as one of its principal purposes the avoidance of federal income tax, that certain post-spin-off exchanges of Class A common stock for Huntsman indebtedness will be treated as distributions that are part of a plan of reorganization for purposes of Sections 361(c)(1) and 361(c)(3) of the Code, and that certain payments or transfers of assets and liabilities that may occur following the spin-off will be treated as part of the spin-off transaction);
Huntsman shall have received an opinion of its tax advisor, in form and substance acceptable to Huntsman and which shall remain in full force and effect, that (i) Huntsman's pro rata distribution of all of our outstanding Class B common stock to its stockholders qualifies as a tax-free transaction under Sections 355, 361 and/or 368(a)(1)(D) of the Code and (ii) certain elements of the restructuring transactions undertaken as part of the spin-off will also qualify for tax-free treatment under Sections 355, 361 and/or 368(a)(1)(D) of the Code;
the completion of the internal reorganization;
no order, injunction, decree or regulation issued by any court or agency of competent jurisdiction or other legal restraint or prohibition preventing consummation of the distribution will be in effect;
the completion of our new financing arrangements;
one or more nationally recognized investment banking firms or other firms acceptable to Huntsman, in its sole and absolute discretion, shall have delivered one or more solvency opinions to the board of directors of Huntsman and our board of directors, in form and substance acceptable to Huntsman in its sole discretion, regarding the effect of the distribution and related transactions;
each of the ancillary agreements contemplated by the Separation and Distribution Agreement shall have been executed by each party thereto;
any government approvals and other material consents necessary to consummate the distribution will have been obtained and remain in full force and effect; and
no other events or developments shall have occurred or exist that, in the judgment of the board of directors of Huntsman, in its sole discretion, makes it inadvisable to effect the distribution or other transactions contemplated by the Separation and Distribution Agreement.
The fulfillment of the foregoing conditions does not create any obligations on Huntsman's part to effect the spin-off, and the Huntsman board of directors has reserved the right, in its sole discretion, to abandon, modify or change the terms of the spin-off, including by waiving any conditions to the spin-off or accelerating or delaying the timing of the consummation of all or part of the spin-off, at any time prior to the distribution date.
Trading Market and Symbol
Our Class B common stock will trade on the NYSE under the ticker symbol "VNTR." We anticipate that, on or shortly before the record date, trading of shares of our Class B common stock will begin on a "when-issued" basis and will continue up to and including the distribution date, and we expect "regular-way" trading of shares of our Class B common stock will begin the first trading day after the distribution date. We also anticipate that, on or shortly before the record date, there will be two markets in Huntsman common stock: a "regular-way" market on which shares of Huntsman common stock will trade with an entitlement to shares of our Class B common stock to be distributed pursuant to the distribution, and an "ex-distribution" market on which shares of Huntsman common stock will trade without an entitlement to our shares of Class B common stock. Initially, we do not anticipate any trading market to develop for the shares of our Class A common stock held by Huntsman. For more information, see "Trading Market."
Tax Consequences
The spin-off is conditioned on Huntsman receiving an opinion from its tax advisor that (i) Huntsman's pro rata distribution of all of our outstanding Class B common stock to its stockholders qualifies as a tax-free transaction under Sections 355, 361 and/or 368(a)(1)(D) of the Code, and (ii) certain elements of the restructuring transactions undertaken as part of the spin-off will also qualify for tax-free treatment under Sections 355, 361 and/or 368(a)(1)(D) of the Code. Tax advisor's opinion will, in part, be based upon an IRS private letter ruling received by Huntsman to the effect that the retention of Class A common stock will not be in pursuance of a plan having as one of its principal purposes the avoidance of federal income tax, that certain post spin-off exchanges of Class A common stock for Huntsman indebtedness will be treated as distributions that are part of a plan of reorganization for purposes of Sections 361(c)(1) and 361(c)(3) of the Code, and that certain payments or transfers of assets and liabilities that may occur following the spin-off will be treated as part of the spin-off transaction. See "The Spin-OffConditions to the Spin-Off."
Assuming that the distribution will qualify as a tax-free transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes, except for gains realized on the receipt of cash paid in lieu of fractional shares, no gain or loss will be recognized by a Huntsman stockholder, and no amount generally will be included in such Huntsman stockholder's taxable income, as a result of the spin-off.
For a more detailed description of the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the spin-off, see "The Spin-OffU.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Spin-Off."
Each stockholder is urged to consult his, her or its tax advisor as to the specific tax consequences of the spin-off to such stockholder, including the effect of any state, local or non-U.S. tax laws and of changes in applicable tax laws.
Relationship with Huntsman after the Spin-Off
Following the distribution, Huntsman will retain all of our Class A common stock, representing 40% of all of our outstanding common stock and 19.9% of the voting power of all of our outstanding common stock. We will enter into a Separation and Distribution Agreement and other ancillary agreements with Huntsman related to the spin-off. These agreements will provide for the allocation between us and Huntsman of Huntsman's assets, liabilities and obligations, and we will generally be allocated those assets, liabilities and obligations relating to the Titanium Dioxide and Performance Additives business. These agreements will also govern certain interactions between us and Huntsman after the separation (including with respect to employee matters, tax matters and matters relating to our Retained Securities). We and Huntsman will also enter into a Transition Services Agreement that will provide for, among other matters, assistance to us or Huntsman as needed and a Master Lease Agreement, pursuant to which we will agree to terms with Huntsman regarding leasing space at certain shared facilities. We also intend to enter into an Employee Matters Agreement that will set forth the agreements between Huntsman and us concerning certain employee compensation and benefit matters. Further, we intend to enter into a Tax Matters Agreement with Huntsman regarding the respective rights, responsibilities, and obligations of Huntsman and us with respect to the payment of taxes, filing of tax returns, reimbursements of taxes, control of audits and other tax proceedings, liability for taxes that may be triggered as a result of the spin-off and other matters regarding taxes. We and Huntsman will also enter a Stockholder's and Registration Rights Agreement, pursuant to which we will agree, upon the request of Huntsman, to use our best efforts to effect the registration under applicable securities laws of the disposition of our common stock retained by Huntsman and to list the Class A common stock on the NYSE and Huntsman will grant us a proxy to vote all of our Class A common stock held by Huntsman in proportion to the votes cast by our Class B common stockholders as long as Huntsman owns the Class A shares. Huntsman will determine the principal terms of these agreements. We describe these and other arrangements in greater detail under "Arrangements Between Huntsman and Our Company," and describe some of the risks of these arrangements under "Risk FactorsRisks Related to the Spin-Off."
Indemnities
Under certain circumstances, we may be required to indemnify Huntsman under the Tax Matters Agreement for certain taxes incurred as a result of the failure of the spin-off or certain transactions undertaken in preparation for, or in connection with, the spin-off, to qualify as tax-free transactions under the relevant provisions of the Code. See "Arrangements Between Huntsman and our CompanyTax Matters Agreement." In addition, under the Separation and Distribution Agreement, we and Huntsman will indemnify each other and certain of our respective subsidiaries against claims and liabilities relating to the past operation of our business. See "Arrangements Between Huntsman and Our Company."
Immediately following the spin-off and for the foreseeable future, we do not expect to pay dividends. In addition, we expect that our debt agreements will place certain restrictions on our ability to pay cash dividends. For more information, see "Dividend Policy."
will be the transfer agent and registrar for the shares of our Class B common stock.
Summary Risk Factors
We face both general and specific risks and uncertainties relating to our business and our being a separate, publicly traded company. We also are subject to risks related to the spin-off. Below is a summary of certain key risk factors that you should consider. Please read the full discussion of these risks and the other risks described under "Risk Factors" beginning on page 28 of this information statement and "Forward-Looking Statements."
Risks Affecting Our Business
Our industry is affected by global economic factors, including risks associated with volatile economic conditions.
The market for many of our TiO2 products is cyclical and volatile, and we may experience depressed market conditions for such products.
The industries in which we compete are highly competitive, and we may not be able to compete effectively with our competitors that have greater financial resources or those that are vertically integrated, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
The proposal in the European Union to classify TiO2 as potentially carcinogenic could decrease demand for our products and subject us to manufacturing regulations that could significantly increase our costs.
Disruptions in production at our manufacturing facilities may have a material adverse impact on our business, results of operations and/or financial condition.
Significant price volatility or interruptions in supply of our raw materials and energy may result in increased costs that we may be unable to pass on to our customers, which could reduce our profitability.
Our pension and postretirement benefit plan obligations are currently underfunded, and under certain circumstances we may have to significantly increase the level of cash funding to some or all of these plans, which would reduce the cash available for our business.
Our results of operations may be adversely affected by fluctuations in currency exchange rates and tax rates.
Our efforts to transform our business may require significant investments; if our strategies are unsuccessful, our business, results of operations and/or financial condition may be materially adversely affected.
We will have $ million of indebtedness following the spin-off, a portion of which will be subject to variable interest rates. Our indebtedness may make us more vulnerable to economic downturns and may limit our ability to respond to market conditions, to obtain additional financing or to refinance our debt. We may also incur more debt in the future.
We are subject to many environmental, health and safety laws and regulations that may result in unanticipated costs or liabilities, which could reduce our profitability.
Our operations involve risks that may increase our operating costs, which could reduce our profitability.
Our business is dependent on our intellectual property. If our intellectual property rights cannot be enforced or our trade secrets become known to our competitors, our ability to compete may be adversely affected.
Our flexibility in managing our labor force may be adversely affected by existing or new labor and employment laws and policies in the jurisdictions in which we operate, many of which are more onerous than those of the U.S.; and some of our labor force has substantial workers' council or trade union participation, which creates a risk of disruption from labor disputes.
Risks Related to the Spin-Off
We may not realize the anticipated benefits from our separation from Huntsman.
The combined market value of Huntsman and our shares after the spin-off may not equal or exceed the market value of Huntsman shares prior to the spin-off.
Our historical and pro forma financial information may not be representative of the results we would have achieved as a stand-alone public company and may not be a reliable indicator of our future results.
In connection with our separation from Huntsman, we will indemnify Huntsman for certain liabilities, including those related to the operation of our business while it was still owned by Huntsman, and while Huntsman will indemnify us for certain liabilities, such indemnities may not be adequate.
Our costs may increase as a result of operating as a stand-alone public company, and our management will be required to devote substantial time to complying with public company regulations.
Following our separation from Huntsman, Huntsman will provide us with certain transitional services that may not be sufficient to meet our needs. We may have difficulty finding supplemental or, ultimately, replacement services or be required to pay increased costs to supplement or, ultimately, replace these services.
The agreements between us and Huntsman will not be made on an arm's length basis.
Our Tax Matters Agreement with Huntsman will limit our ability to take certain actions, including strategic transactions, and will require us to indemnify Huntsman for certain potentially significant tax liabilities.
We could have significant tax liabilities for periods during which Huntsman operated our business.
The amount of tax for which we are liable for taxable periods preceding the spin-off may be impacted by elections or decisions Huntsman makes on our behalf.
Huntsman, its stockholders, or we could have significant tax liabilities if the separation, and certain transactions in preparation therefor are not tax-free.
Following the spin-off, certain members of our board of directors and management may have actual or potential conflicts of interest because of their ownership of shares of common stock of Huntsman and the expected overlap of members of our Board with the board of directors of Huntsman.
The spin-off may expose us to potential liabilities arising out of state and federal fraudulent conveyance laws and legal dividend requirements.
Risks Related to Our Class B Common Stock
No market currently exists for our Class B common stock. We cannot assure you that an active trading market will develop for our Class B common stock.
The market price and trading volume of our Class B common stock may be volatile and you may not be able to resell your shares at or above the initial market price of our Class B common stock following the spin-off.
A number of our shares are or will be eligible for future sale, which may cause the market price of our Class B common stock to decline.
Provisions contained in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws could discourage a takeover attempt, which may reduce or eliminate the likelihood of a change of control transaction and, therefore, the ability of our stockholders to sell their shares for a premium.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will designate the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware as the sole and exclusive forum for certain types of actions and proceedings that may be initiated by our stockholders, which will limit our stockholders' ability to obtain an alternative judicial forum for disputes with us or our directors, officers, employees or agents.
Pori Fire
On January 30, 2017, our TiO2 manufacturing facility in Pori, Finland experienced fire damage, and it is currently not fully operational. We are committed to repairing the facility as quickly as possible. We expect the Pori facility to restart in phases as follows: approximately 20% capacity in the second quarter of 2017; approximately 40% aggregate capacity in the second quarter of 2018; and full capacity around the end of 2018. During the first quarter of 2017, we recorded a loss of $32 million for the write-off of fixed assets and lost inventory in other operating (income) expense, net in our condensed combined statements of operations (without taking into account the insurance recoveries discussed below). In addition, we recorded a loss of $4 million of costs for cleanup of the facility through March 31, 2017. The Pori facility has a nameplate capacity of up to 130,000 metric tons per year, which represents approximately 16% of our total TiO2 nameplate capacity and approximately 10% of total European TiO2 demand.
The site is insured for property damage as well as business interruption losses subject to retained deductibles of $15 million and 60 days, respectively, with a limit of $500 million. We have established a process with our insurer to receive timely advance payments for the reconstruction of the facility as well as lost profits. We expect to have pre-funded cash on our balance sheet resulting from these advance insurance payments. We have agreed with our insurer to have monthly meetings to review relevant site activities and interim claims as well as regular progress payments. However, if we experience delays in receiving the insurance proceeds, or the proceeds do not fully cover our property damage, business interruption, lost profits or other losses, our short term liquidity may be impacted.
On February 9, 2017, we received $54 million as an initial partial progress payment from our insurer. During the first quarter of 2017, we recorded $32 million of income related to insurance recoveries in other operating (income) expense, net in our condensed combined statements of operations and we recorded $22 million as deferred income in accrued liabilities for costs not yet incurred.
SUMMARY HISTORICAL COMBINED AND
PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Set forth below is a summary of our historical combined and pro forma condensed combined financial information for the periods indicated. The historical unaudited condensed combined financial information for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016 and the balance sheet data as of March 31, 2017 have been derived from our unaudited condensed combined financial statements included elsewhere in this information statement. The historical unaudited condensed combined financial data as of March 31, 2016 has been derived from our unaudited accounting records not included in this information statement. The unaudited condensed combined financial statements have been prepared on the same basis as our audited combined financial statements, except as stated in the related notes thereto, and include all normal recurring adjustments that, in the opinion of management, are necessary to present fairly our financial condition and results of operations for such periods. The results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016 presented below are not necessarily indicative of results for the entire fiscal year. The historical combined financial information as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 and for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 has been derived from our audited combined financial statements included elsewhere in this information statement. The historical combined financial information as of December 31, 2014 has been derived from our unaudited accounting records not included in this information statement.
The Titanium Dioxide, Performance Additives and other businesses have historically been included in Huntsman's financial results in different legal forms, including, but not limited to: (1) wholly-owned subsidiaries for which the Titanium Dioxide and Performance Additives businesses were the sole businesses; (2) legal entities which are comprised of other businesses and include the Titanium Dioxide and/or Performance Additives businesses; and (3) variable interest entities in which the Titanium Dioxide, Performance Additives and other businesses are the primary beneficiaries. Because our historical combined financial information for the periods indicated reflect the combination of these legal entities under common control, the historical combined financial information includes the results of operations of other Huntsman businesses that will not be a part of Venator's operations following the distribution. We will report the results of those other businesses as discontinued operations in our future financial statements for periods that include the date of the completion of the spin-off. In addition, our historical combined financial information has been derived from Huntsman's historical accounting records and is presented on a stand-alone basis as if the operations of the Titanium Dioxide, Performance Additives and other businesses had been conducted separately from Huntsman. However, the Titanium Dioxide, Performance Additives and other businesses segments did not operate as a stand-alone entity for the periods presented and, as such, the historical combined financial statements may not be indicative of the financial position, results of operations and cash flows had the Titanium Dioxide, Performance Additives and other businesses segments been a stand-alone company.
The historical combined statements of operations also include expense allocations for certain functions and centrally-located activities historically performed by Huntsman. These functions include executive oversight, accounting, procurement, operations, marketing, internal audit, legal, risk management, finance, tax, treasury, information technology, government relations, investor relations, public relations, financial reporting, human resources, ethics and compliance, and certain other shared services. For more information, see "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and results of OperationsFactors Affecting Comparability of Our Historical Financial Results of Operations to Our Future Financial Results of Operations."
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information has been derived from the historical combined financial statements included in this information statement. The pro forma financial information eliminates the results of operations of other Huntsman businesses that will not be a part of Venator's operations following the distribution and otherwise gives effect to the separation of the Titanium Dioxide and Performance Additives businesses into a stand-alone, publicly traded company as a result of
the spin-off. The pro forma adjustments are based on available information and assumptions that are factually supportable and that we believe are reasonable; however, such adjustments are subject to change based on the finalization of the terms of the spin-off and the related separation and distribution agreements, as well as our expected financing. Actual expenses could vary from this estimate and such variations could be material. The pro forma adjustments, including related tax effects, to reflect the spin-off are expected to include the following:
the exclusion of operations, assets and liabilities of businesses that are not part of the Titanium Dioxide or Performance Additives businesses and that will be retained by Huntsman following the spin-off;
the inclusion of accounts receivable previously sold into the accounts receivable securitization programs (the "A/R Programs") sponsored by Huntsman International by one of the legal entities comprising the Titanium Dioxide and Performance Additives segments because we will not participate in the Huntsman A/R Programs following the spin-off;
the incurrence of $ million of new indebtedness by us under new financing arrangements and the application of the proceeds therefrom to make a cash distribution of $ million to Huntsman and to repay the intercompany indebtedness we owe to Huntsman, and an increase in interest expense resulting from the incurrence of the new indebtedness;
the elimination of Huntsman's net investment in, and advances to, us and adjustments to additional paid-in capital;
the issuance of shares of Venator Class B common stock at a par value of $0.01 per share and shares of Venator Class A common stock at a value of $0.01 per share; and
other adjustments described in the notes to the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements.
The separation and distribution, tax sharing, transition services, master lease, employee matters, indemnification, and stockholder's and registration rights agreements have not been finalized, and the pro forma financial information will be revised in future amendments to reflect the effects of those agreements, to the extent material.
In addition, we expect that our recurring costs to operate our business as a stand-alone public company will be lower than expenses historically allocated to us from Huntsman as reflected in our pro forma statement of operations by between $ million and $ million annually. You should read the following summary financial information in conjunction with "Selected Historical Combined Financial Data," "Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information," "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and our audited combined financial statements, unaudited condensed combined financial statements and the notes to those statements included in this information statement.
The financial information presented below is not necessarily indicative of our future performance or what our financial position and results of operations would have been had we operated as a stand-alone public company during the periods presented, or in the case of the unaudited pro forma information, had the transactions reflected in the pro forma adjustments actually occurred as of the dates assumed. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information is for illustrative purposes only. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information constitutes forward-looking information
and is subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. See "Forward-Looking Statements."
Three Months
Ended March 31,
Year Ended December 31,
Statement of Operations Data:
Titanium Dioxide $ 385 $ 392 $ 1,554 $ 1,583 $ 1,411 $ 385 $ 1,554
Performance Additives 152 148 585 577 138 152 585
Other businesses 32 45 170 170 180
Total $ 569 $ 585 $ 2,309 $ 2,330 $ 1,729 $ 537 $ 2,139
Balance Sheet Data (at period end):
Total assets $ 2,873 $ 3,400 $ 2,659 $ 3,413 $ 3,933 $ 2,380 $ 2,557
Total long-term liabilities 1,320 1,480 1,308 1,477 1,579 [ ] [ ]
Other Financial Data:
Segment Adjusted EBITDA(1):
Titanium Dioxide(2) $ 48 $ (3 ) $ 61 $ (8 ) $ 62 $ 48 $ 61
Performance Additives(2) 21 18 69 69 14 21 69
Adjusted EBITDA, as presented on a segment basis, is the measure of profit or loss reported to the chief operating decision maker for purposes of making decisions about allocating resources to each segment and assessing its performance. For further discussion of the non-GAAP financial measure adjusted EBITDA, as well as a reconciliation of total adjusted EBITDA to total net loss, its most directly comparable financial measure calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S. ("GAAP" or "U.S. GAAP"), please read "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of OperationsResults of Operations," as well as note "24. Operating Segment Information" to our combined financial statements and note "12. Operating Segment Information" to our unaudited condensed combined financial statements.
On October 1, 2014, Huntsman completed the acquisition of the performance additives and TiO2 businesses of Rockwood. Huntsman paid $1.02 billion in cash and assumed certain unfunded pension liabilities in connection with the Rockwood acquisition and subsequently contributed these businesses to our Titanium Dioxide and Performance Additives segments.
You should carefully consider the information included in this information statement, including the matters addressed under "Forward-Looking Statements," and the following risks.
We are subject to certain risks and hazards due to the nature of the business activities we conduct. The risks discussed below, any of which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, cash flows, results of operations and stock price, are not the only risks we face. We may experience additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or, as a result of developments occurring in the future, conditions that we currently deem to be immaterial may ultimately materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, cash flows, results of operations and stock price.
Risks Related to Our Business
Our financial results are substantially dependent on overall economic conditions in the U.S., Europe and Asia. Declining economic conditions in all or any of these locationsor negative perceptions about economic conditionscould result in a substantial decrease in demand for our products and could adversely affect our business. The timing and extent of any changes to currently prevailing market conditions is uncertain, and supply and demand may be unbalanced at any time. Uncertain economic conditions and market instability make it particularly difficult for us to forecast demand trends. As a consequence, we may not be able to accurately predict future economic conditions or the effect of such conditions on our financial condition or results of operations. We can give no assurances as to the timing, extent or duration of the current or future economic cycles impacting the industries in which we operate.
In addition, a large portion of our revenue and profitability is largely dependent on the TiO2 industry. TiO2 is used in many "quality of life" products for which demand historically has been linked to global, regional and local GDP and discretionary spending, which can be negatively impacted by regional and world events or economic conditions. Such events are likely to cause a decrease in demand for our products and, as a result, may have an adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition. The future profitability of our operations, and cash flows generated by those operations, will also be affected by the available supply of our products in the market.
Historically, the market for large volume TiO2 applications, including coatings, paper and plastics, has experienced alternating periods of tight supply, causing prices and margins to increase, followed by periods of lower capacity utilization resulting in declining prices and margins. The volatility this market experiences occurs as a result of significant changes in the demand for products as a consequence of global economic activity and changes in customers' requirements. The supply-demand balance is also impacted by capacity additions or reductions that result in changes of utilization rates. In addition, TiO2 margins are impacted by significant changes in major input costs such as energy and feedstock. Demand for TiO2 depends in part on the housing and construction industries. These industries are cyclical in nature and have historically been impacted by downturns in the economy. Relative changes in the selling prices for our products are one of the main factors that affect the level of our profitability. In addition, pricing may affect customer inventory levels as customers may from time to time accelerate purchases of TiO2 in advance of anticipated price increases or defer purchases of TiO2 in advance of anticipated price decreases.
The cyclicality and volatility of the TiO2 industry results in significant fluctuations in profits and cash flow from period to period and over the business cycle. Primarily as a result of oversupply in the market, global prices for TiO2 declined throughout 2015 before reaching a trough in the first quarter of 2016.
Although we have recently successfully implemented price increases, any decline in selling prices in 2017 and beyond could negatively impact our business, results of operations and/or financial condition.
The industries in which we operate are highly competitive. Among our competitors are companies that are vertically-integrated (those that have their own raw material resources). Changes in the competitive landscape could make it difficult for us to retain our competitive position in various products and markets throughout the world. Our competitors with their own raw material resources may have a competitive advantage during periods of higher raw material prices. In addition, some of the companies with whom we compete may be able to produce products more economically than we can. Furthermore, some of our competitors have greater financial resources, which may enable them to invest significant capital into their businesses, including expenditures for research and development.
The global TiO2 market is highly competitive, with the top six producers accounting for approximately 60% of the world's production capacity according to TZMI. Competition is based on a number of factors, such as price, product quality and service. Some of our competitors may be able to drive down prices for our products if their costs are lower than our costs. In addition, our TiO2 business competes with numerous regional producers, including producers in China, who have significantly expanded their sulfate production capacity during the past five years and commenced the commercial production of TiO2 via chloride technology. The risk of our customers substituting our products with those made by Chinese producers could increase as the Chinese producers expand their use of chloride production technology. Further, consolidation of our competitors or customers may result in reduced demand for our products or make it more difficult for us to compete with our competitors. The occurrence of any of these events could result in reduced earnings or operating losses.
While we are engaged in a range of research and development programs to develop new products and processes, to improve and refine existing products and processes, and to develop new applications for existing products, the failure to develop new products, processes or applications could make us less competitive. Moreover, if any of our current or future competitors develops proprietary technology that enables them to produce products at a significantly lower cost, our technology could be rendered uneconomical or obsolete.
Further, it is possible that we could abandon certain products, processes, or applications due to potential infringement of third-party intellectual property rights or that we could be named in future litigation for the infringement or misappropriation of a competitor's or other third party's intellectual property rights, which could include a claim for injunctive relief and damages, and, if so, such adverse results could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial position. In addition, certain of our competitors in various countries in which we do business, including China, may be owned by or affiliated with members of local governments and political entities. These competitors may get special treatment with respect to regulatory compliance and product registration, while certain of our products, including those based on new technologies, may be delayed or even prevented from entering into the local market.
Certain of our businesses use technology that is widely available. Accordingly, barriers to entry, apart from capital availability, may be low in certain product segments of our business. The entrance of new competitors into the industry may reduce our ability to maintain margins or capture improving margins in circumstances where capacity utilization in the industry is increasing. Increased competition in any of our businesses could compel us to reduce the prices of our products, which could result in reduced margins and loss of market share and have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and liquidity.
The European Union ("EU") adopted the Globally Harmonised System ("GHS") of the United Nations for a uniform system for the classification, labelling and packaging of chemical substances in Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008, the Classification, Labelling and Packaging Regulation ("CLP"). Pursuant to the CLP, an EU Member State can propose a classification for a substance to the European Chemicals Agency ("ECHA"), which upon review by ECHA's Committee for Risk Assessment ("RAC"), can be submitted to the European Commission for adoption by regulation. On May 31, 2016, the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety ("ANSES") submitted a proposal to ECHA that would classify TiO2 as a Category 1B Carcinogen presumed to have carcinogenic potential for humans by inhalation. Potential outcomes before both the RAC and the Commission is a final classification as a Category 1B Carcinogen (described by the EU regulation as "presumed to have carcinogenic potential for humans, classification is largely based on human evidence"), a Category 2 Carcinogen classification (described by the EU regulation as "suspected human carcinogens", classification on the basis of evidence obtained from human and/or animal studies, but which is not sufficiently convincing to place the substance in category 1A or 1B), or a decision of no classification, with the Commission making the final decision. Huntsman, together with other companies, relevant trade associations and the European Chemical Industry Council ("Cefic"), submitted comments opposing any classification of TiO2 as carcinogenic, based on evidence from multiple epidemiological studies covering more than 24,000 production workers at 18 TiO2 manufacturing sites over several decades that found no increased incidence of lung cancer as a result of workplace exposure to TiO2 and other scientific studies that concluded that the response to lung overload studies with poorly soluble particles upon which the ANSES proposed classification is based is unique to the rat and is not seen in other animal species or humans. If ECHA were to recommend, and the European Commission were to subsequently adopt, either a Category 1B or Category 2 Carcinogen classification, it could require that many end-use products manufactured with TiO2 be classified as containing a potential carcinogenic component, which could negatively impact public perception of products containing TiO2, limit the marketability of and demand for TiO2 or products containing TiO2 and potentially have spill-over, restrictive effects under other EU laws, e.g., those affecting medical and pharmaceutical applications, cosmetics, food packaging and food additives. Such classifications would also affect manufacturing operations by subjecting us to new workplace requirements that could significantly increase costs. In addition, any classification, use restriction, or authorization requirement for use imposed by ECHA could trigger heightened regulatory scrutiny in countries outside the EU based on health or safety grounds, which could have a wider adverse impact geographically on market demand for and price of TiO2 or other products containing TiO2 and increase our compliance obligations outside the EU. It is also possible that heightened regulatory scrutiny would lead to claims by consumers of such products alleging adverse health impacts. The resulting restrictions in the market place and impact on operations and profitability would be less significant in the event of a Category 2 classification for TiO2 compared to the Category 1B classification proposed by ANSES. In addition, under the Separation and Distribution Agreement, we are required to indemnify Huntsman for any liabilities relating to our TiO2 operations.
Sales of TiO2 in the European Union represented approximately 45% of our revenues for the twelve months ended March 31, 2017.
Manufacturing facilities in our industry are subject to planned and unplanned production shutdowns, turnarounds, outages and other disruptions. Any serious disruption at any of our facilities could impair our ability to use our facilities and have a material adverse impact on our revenues and increase our costs and expenses. Alternative facilities with sufficient capacity may not be available, may cost substantially more or may take a significant time to increase production or qualify with our customers, any of which could
negatively impact our business, results of operations and/or financial condition. Long-term production disruptions may cause our customers to seek alternative supply which could further adversely affect our profitability.
Unplanned production disruptions may occur for external reasons including natural disasters, weather, disease, strikes, transportation interruption, government regulation, political unrest or terrorism, or internal reasons, such as fire, unplanned maintenance or other manufacturing problems. Any such production disruption could have a material impact on our operations, operating results and financial condition. For example, a fire occurred in January 2017 at our TiO2 manufacturing facility in Pori, Finland and the facility is currently not fully operational. We are committed to repairing the facility as quickly as possible and we anticipate a portion of our white end production will be operational during the second quarter of 2017 and full capacity to be available around the end of 2018. However, even if we are able to resume production on this schedule, we may lose customers that have in the meantime found alternative suppliers elsewhere. Huntsman maintains property damage and business interruption insurance coverage subject to retained deductibles of $15 million and 60 days, respectively, with a limit of $500 million. If we experience delays in receiving the insurance proceeds our short term liquidity and earnings may be impacted. In addition, if the proceeds do not fully cover our property damage, business interruption, lost profits or other losses, this will adversely affect our earnings. Additionally, our premiums and deductibles may increase substantially as a result of the fire. The Separation and Distribution Agreement will provide that we will have the benefit of the insurance proceeds related to covered costs incurred in connection with repairs or covered lost profits incurred following the spin-off.
In addition, we rely on a number of vendors, suppliers and, in some cases, sole-source suppliers, service providers, toll manufacturers and collaborations with other industry participants to provide us with chemicals, feedstocks and other raw materials, along with energy sources and, in certain cases, facilities that we need to operate our business. If the business of these third parties is disrupted, some of these companies could be forced to reduce their output, shut down their operations or file for bankruptcy protection. If this were to occur, it could adversely affect their ability to provide us with the raw materials, energy sources or facilities that we need, which could materially disrupt our operations, including the production of certain of our products. Moreover, it could be difficult to find replacements for certain of our business partners without incurring significant delays or cost increases. All of these risks could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and liquidity.
While we maintain business recovery plans that are intended to allow us to recover from natural disasters or other events that could disrupt our business, we cannot provide assurances that our plans would fully protect us from the effects of all such disasters or from events that might increase in frequency or intensity due to climate change. In addition, insurance may not adequately compensate us for any losses incurred as a result of natural or other disasters. In areas prone to frequent natural or other disasters, insurance may become increasingly expensive or not available at all. Furthermore, some potential climate-driven losses, particularly flooding due to sea-level rises, may pose long-term risks to our physical facilities such that operations cannot be restored in their current locations.
Significant price volatility or interruptions in supply of raw materials and energy may result in increased costs that we may be unable to pass on to our customers, which could reduce our profitability.
Our manufacturing processes consume significant amounts of raw materials and energy, the costs of which are subject to worldwide supply and demand as well as other factors beyond our control. Variations in the cost for raw materials, and of energy, which primarily reflects market prices for oil and natural gas, may significantly affect our operating results from period to period. We purchase a substantial portion of our raw materials from third-party suppliers and the cost of these raw materials represents a substantial portion of our operating expenses. The prices of the raw materials that we purchase from third parties are cyclical and volatile. For example, according to TZMI, the prices of all feedstocks used for the production of TiO2 increased 200% to 300% above historical averages in 2011 and 2012. Our supply agreements with
our TiO2 feedstock suppliers provide us only limited protection against price volatility as they are entered into either on a short-term basis or are longer-term volume contracts, which provide for market-based pricing. To the extent we do not have fixed price contracts with respect to specific raw materials, we have no control over the costs of raw materials and such costs may fluctuate widely for a variety of reasons, including changes in availability, major capacity additions or reductions, or significant facility operating problems. While we attempt to match cost increases with corresponding product price increases, we are not always able to raise product prices immediately or at all. Moreover, the outcome of these efforts is largely determined by existing competitive and economic conditions. Timing differences between raw material prices, which may change daily, and contract product prices, which in many cases are negotiated only monthly or less often, also have had and may continue to have a negative effect on our cash flow. Any raw materials or energy cost increase that we are not able to pass on to our customers could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and liquidity.
There are several raw materials for which there are only a limited number of suppliers or a single supplier. For example, titanium-containing feedstocks suitable for use in our TiO2 facilities are available from a limited number of suppliers around the world. To mitigate potential supply constraints, we enter into supply agreements with particular suppliers, evaluate alternative sources of supply and evaluate alternative technologies to avoid reliance on limited or sole-source suppliers. Where supply relationships are concentrated, particular attention is paid by the parties to ensure strategic intentions are aligned to facilitate long term planning. If certain of our suppliers are unable to meet their obligations under present supply agreements, we may be forced to pay higher prices to obtain the necessary raw materials from other sources and we may not be able to increase prices for our finished products to recoup the higher raw materials costs. Any interruption in the supply of raw materials could increase our costs or decrease our revenues, which could reduce our cash flow. The inability of a supplier to meet our raw material needs could have a material adverse effect on our financial statements and results of operations.
The number of sources for and availability of certain raw materials is also specific to the particular geographical region in which a facility is located. Political and economic instability in the countries from which we purchase our raw material supplies could adversely affect their availability. In addition, if raw materials become unavailable within a geographic area from which they are now sourced, then we may not be able to obtain suitable or cost effective substitutes. We may also experience higher operating costs such as energy costs, which could affect our profitability. We may not always be able to increase our selling prices to offset the impact of any higher productions costs or reduced production levels, which could reduce our earnings and decrease our liquidity.
We have underfunded obligations of $266 million as of March 31, 2017 under some of our domestic and foreign pension and postretirement benefit plans. The funded status of our pension plans is dependent upon many factors, including returns on invested assets, the level of certain market interest rates and the discount rates used to determine pension obligations. Unfavorable returns on the plan assets or unfavorable changes in applicable laws or regulations could materially change the timing and amount of required plan funding, which would reduce the cash available for our business. In addition, a decrease in the discount rate used to determine pension obligations could result in an increase in the valuation of pension obligations, which could affect the reported funding status of our pension plans and future contributions, as well as the periodic pension cost in subsequent fiscal years.
With respect to our domestic pension and postretirement benefit plans, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation ("PBGC") has the authority to terminate an underfunded tax-qualified pension plan under limited circumstances in accordance with the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended. In the event our tax-qualified pension plans are terminated by the PBGC, we could be liable to the PBGC for the entire amount of the underfunding.
With respect to our foreign pension and postretirement benefit plans, the effects of underfunding depend on the country in which the pension and postretirement benefit plan is established. For example, in the U.K. and Germany, semi-public pension protection programs have the authority, in certain circumstances, to assume responsibility for underfunded pension schemes, including the right to recover the amount of the underfunding from us.
Our headquarters operations are conducted across two of our administrative offices: The Woodlands, Texas and Wynyard, U.K. We conduct a majority of our business operations outside the U.S. Sales to customers outside the U.S. contributed approximately 75% of our revenue in 2016. Our operations are subject to international business risks, including the need to convert currencies received for our products into currencies in which we purchase raw materials or pay for services, which could result in a gain or loss depending on fluctuations in exchange rates. We transact business in many foreign currencies, including the euro, the British pound sterling and the Chinese renminbi. We translate our local currency financial results into U.S. dollars based on average exchange rates prevailing during the reporting period or the exchange rate at the end of that period. During times of a strengthening U.S. dollar, our reported international sales and earnings may be reduced because the local currency may translate into fewer U.S. dollars. Because we currently have significant operations located outside the U.S., we are exposed to fluctuations in global currency rates which may result in gains or losses on our financial statements.
We operate in a significant number of jurisdictions, which contributes to the volatility of our effective tax rate. Changes in tax laws or the interpretation of tax laws in the jurisdictions in which we operate may affect our effective tax rate. In addition, GAAP has required us to place valuation allowances against our net operating losses and other deferred tax assets in a significant number of tax jurisdictions. These valuation allowances result from analysis of positive and negative evidence supporting the realization of tax benefits. Negative evidence includes a cumulative history of pre-tax operating losses in specific tax jurisdictions. Changes in valuation allowances have resulted in material fluctuations in our effective tax rate. Economic conditions may dictate the continued imposition of current valuation allowances and, potentially, the establishment of new valuation allowances. While significant valuation allowances remain, our effective tax rate will likely continue to experience significant fluctuations. Furthermore, certain foreign jurisdictions may take actions to delay our ability to collect value-added tax refunds.
The impact of changing laws or regulations or the manner of interpretation or enforcement of existing laws or regulations could adversely impact our financial performance and restrict our ability to operate our business or execute our strategies.
New laws or regulations, or changes in existing laws or regulations or the manner of their interpretation or enforcement, could increase our cost of doing business and restrict our ability to operate our business or execute our strategies. This risk includes, among other things, the possible taxation under U.S. law of certain income from foreign operations, the possible taxation under foreign laws of certain income we report in other jurisdictions, and regulations related to the protection of private information of our employees and customers. In addition, compliance with laws and regulations is complicated by our substantial global footprint, which will require significant and additional resources to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations in the various countries where we conduct business.
Our global operations expose us to trade and economic sanctions and other restrictions imposed by the United States, the European Union and other governments and organizations. The U.S. Departments of Justice, Commerce, State and Treasury and other federal agencies and authorities have a broad range of civil and criminal penalties they may seek to impose against corporations and individuals for violations of
economic sanctions laws, export control laws, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (the "FCPA") and other federal statutes and regulations, including those established by the Office of Foreign Assets Control ("OFAC"). Under these laws and regulations, as well as other anti-corruption laws, anti-money-laundering laws, export control laws, customs laws, sanctions laws and other laws governing our operations, various government agencies may require export licenses, may seek to impose modifications to business practices, including cessation of business activities in sanctioned countries or with sanctioned persons or entities and modifications to compliance programs, which may increase compliance costs, and may subject us to fines, penalties and other sanctions. A violation of these laws or regulations could adversely impact our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Although we have implemented policies and procedures in these areas, we cannot assure you that our policies and procedures are sufficient or that directors, officers, employees, representatives, manufacturers, supplier and agents have not engaged and will not engage in conduct for which we may be held responsible, nor can we assure you that our business partners have not engaged and will not engage in conduct that could materially affect their ability to perform their contractual obligations to us or even result in our being held liable for such conduct. Violations of the FCPA, OFAC restrictions or other export control, anti-corruption, anti-money-laundering and anti-terrorism laws or regulations may result in severe criminal or civil sanctions, and we may be subject to other liabilities, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, cash flows and results of operations.
Our substantial global operations subject us to risks of doing business in foreign countries, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We expect sales from international markets to continue to represent a large portion of our sales in the future. Also, a significant portion of our manufacturing capacity is located outside of the United States. Accordingly, our business is subject to risks related to the differing legal, political, cultural, social and regulatory requirements and economic conditions of many jurisdictions.
Certain legal and political risks are also inherent in the operation of a company with our global scope. For example, it may be more difficult for us to enforce our agreements or collect receivables through foreign legal systems . There is a risk that foreign governments may nationalize private enterprises in certain countries where we operate. In certain countries or regions, terrorist activities and the response to such activities may threaten our operations more than in the United States. Social and cultural norms in certain countries may not support compliance with our corporate policies including those that require compliance with substantive laws and regulations. Also, changes in general economic and political conditions in countries where we operate are a risk to our financial performance and future growth.
As we continue to operate our business globally, our success will depend, in part, on our ability to anticipate and effectively manage these and other related risks. There can be no assurance that the consequences of these and other factors relating to our multinational operations will not have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Our efforts to transform our businesses may require significant investments; if our strategies are unsuccessful, our business, results of operations and/or financial condition may be materially adversely affected.
We intend to continuously evaluate opportunities for growth and change. These initiatives may involve making acquisitions, entering into partnerships and joint ventures, divesting assets, restructuring our existing assets and operations, creating new financial structures and building new facilitiesany of which could require a significant investment and subject us to new kinds of risks. We may incur indebtedness to finance these opportunities. We could also issue shares of our stock or securities of our subsidiaries to finance such initiatives. If our strategies for growth and change are not successful, we could face increased financial pressure, such as increased cash flow demands, reduced liquidity and diminished access to financial markets, and the equity value of our businesses could be diluted.
The implementation of strategies for growth and change may create additional risks, including:
diversion of management time and attention away from existing operations;
requiring capital investment that could otherwise be used for the operation and growth of our existing businesses;
disruptions to important business relationships;
increased operating costs;
limitations imposed by various governmental entities;
use of limited investment and other baskets under our debt covenants;
difficulties realizing projected synergies;
difficulties due to lack of or limited prior experience in any new markets we may enter; and
difficulty integrating acquired businesses or products with our existing businesses.
Our inability to mitigate these risks or other problems encountered in connection with our strategies for growth and change could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. In addition, we may fail to fully achieve the savings or growth projected for current or future initiatives notwithstanding the expenditure of substantial resources in pursuit thereof.
If we are unable to successfully implement our cost reduction program and related strategic initiatives, we may not realize the benefits we anticipate from such programs.
In order to position ourselves for our separation from Huntsman, we undertook a series of strategic, structural and process realignment and restructuring actions within our operations, including certain plans for additional business improvement that are expected to be completed by the end of 2018. In recent periods we have recorded restructuring charges in connection with closing certain plant locations, workforce reductions and other cost savings programs in each of our business segments. For example, we have delivered more than $200 million of annual cost synergies in the year ended December 31, 2016 relative to the year ended December 31, 2014 pro forma for the acquisition of Rockwood. However, any additional incremental plans, internal reorganization and restructuring may not provide the benefits we expect, and could lead to disruption of our operations, loss of, or inability to recruit, key personnel needed to operate and grow our businesses following the spin-off and impairment of our key customer and supplier relationships. If we fail to achieve some or all of the benefits that we expect to achieve through these restructuring initiatives, or do not achieve them in the time we expected, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.
If we are unable to innovate and successfully introduce new products, or new technologies or processes, our profitability could be adversely affected.
Our industries and the end-use markets into which we sell our products experience periodic technological change and product improvement. Our future growth will depend on our ability to gauge the direction of commercial and technological progress in key end-use markets and on our ability to fund and successfully develop, manufacture and market products in such changing end-use markets. We must continue to identify, develop and market innovative products or enhance existing products on a timely basis to maintain our profit margins and our competitive position. We may be unable to develop new products or technology, either alone or with third parties, or license intellectual property rights from third parties on a commercially competitive basis. If we fail to keep pace with the evolving technological innovations in our end-use markets on a competitive basis, including with respect to innovation or the development of alternative uses for, or application of, our products, our financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected. We cannot predict whether technological innovations will, in the
future, result in a lower demand for our products or affect the competitiveness of our business. We may be required to invest significant resources to adapt to changing technologies, markets, competitive environments and laws and regulations. We cannot anticipate market acceptance of new products or future products. In addition, we may not achieve our expected benefits associated with new products developed to meet new laws or regulations if the implementation of such laws or regulations is delayed.
Differences in views with our joint venture participants may cause our joint ventures not to operate according to their business plans, which may adversely affect our results of operations.
We currently participate in a number of joint ventures, including our joint venture in Lake Charles, Louisiana with Kronos Worldwide, Inc. ("Kronos") and our Harrisburg, North Carolina joint venture with The Dow Chemical Company, and may enter into additional joint ventures in the future. The nature of a joint venture requires us to share control with unaffiliated third parties. Differences in views among joint venture participants may result in delayed decisions or failure to agree on major decisions. If these differences cause the joint ventures to deviate from their business plans or to fail to achieve their desired operating performance, our results of operations could be adversely affected.
Construction projects are subject to numerous regulatory, environmental, legal and economic risks. We cannot assure you that any such project will be completed in a timely fashion or at all or that we will realize the anticipated benefits of any such project.
Additions to or modifications of our existing facilities and the construction of new facilities involve numerous regulatory, environmental, legal and economic uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control. Expansion and construction projects may require the expenditure of significant amounts of capital. These projects may not be completed on schedule, at the budgeted cost or at all. If our projects are delayed materially or our capital expenditures for such projects increase significantly, our results of operations and cash flows could be adversely affected.
Even if these projects are completed, there can be no assurance that we will realize the anticipated benefits of such projects. For example, we are now commissioning a new production facility in Augusta, Georgia for the synthesis of iron oxide pigments, which we purchased from Rockwood. During commissioning, the facility has experienced delays producing products at the expected specifications and quantities, causing us to question the capabilities of the Augusta technology. Based on the facility's performance during the commissioning process, we have concluded that production capacity at our Augusta facility will be substantially lower than originally anticipated.
In connection with the spin-off, we expect to incur up to approximately $ million of new debt, which may include issuances of senior notes, term loans, borrowings under an asset-based lending facility or a revolving credit facility or a combination thereof. After we have entered into our new financing arrangements but prior to the completion of the spin-off, we intend to use the proceeds therefrom to make a cash distribution of $ million to Huntsman and to repay intercompany debt we owe to Huntsman. Our anticipated debt level and the fact that a significant percentage of our cash flow will be required to make payments on our debt, could have important consequences for our business, including but not limited to the following:
we may be more vulnerable to business, industry or economic downturns, making it more difficult to respond to market conditions;
cash flow available for other purposes, including the growth of our business, may be reduced;
our ability to refinance or obtain additional financing may be constrained, particularly during periods when the capital markets are unsettled;
our competitors with lower debt levels may have a competitive advantage relative to us; and
part of our debt is subject to variable interest rates, which makes us more vulnerable to increases in interest rates (for example, a 1% increase in interest rates, without giving effect to interest rate hedges or other offsetting items, would increase our annual interest rate expense by approximately $ million).
In addition, our separation from Huntsman's other business may increase the overall cost of debt funding and decrease the overall capacity and commercial credit available to us. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows could be harmed by a deterioration of our credit profile or by factors adversely affecting the credit markets generally.
Our properties and operations, including our global manufacturing facilities, are subject to a broad array of environmental health and safety ("EHS") requirements, including extensive federal, state, local, foreign and international laws, regulations, rules and ordinances relating to pollution, protection of the environment and human health and safety, and the generation, storage, handling, transportation, treatment, disposal and remediation of hazardous substances and waste materials. There has been a been a global upward trend in the number and complexity of current and proposed EHS laws and regulations, including those relating to the chemicals used and generated in our operations and included in our products. The costs to comply with these EHS laws and regulations, as well as internal voluntary programs and goals, are significant and will continue to be significant in the foreseeable future.
Our facilities are dependent on environmental permits to operate. These operating permits are subject to modification, renewal and revocation, which could have a material adverse effect on our operations and our financial condition. In addition, third parties may contest our ability to receive or renew certain permits that we need to operate, which can lengthen the application process or even prevent us from obtaining necessary permits. Moreover, actual or alleged violations of permit requirements could result in restrictions or prohibitions on our operations and facilities.
In addition, we expect to incur significant capital expenditures and operating costs in order to comply with existing and future EHS laws and regulations. Capital expenditures and operating costs relating to EHS matters will be subject to evolving requirements, and the timing and amount of such expenditures and costs will depend on the timing of the promulgation of the requirements as well as the enforcement of specific standards.
We are also liable for the costs of investigating and cleaning up environmental contamination on or from our currently-owned and operated properties. We also may be liable for environmental contamination on or from our formerly-owned and operated properties, and on or from third-party sites to which we sent hazardous substances or waste materials for disposal. In many circumstances, EHS laws and regulations impose joint, several, and/or strict liability for contamination, and therefore we may be held liable for cleaning up contamination at currently owned properties even if the contamination were caused by a former owner, or at third-party sites even if our original disposal activities according with all then existing regulatory requirements. Moreover, certain of our facilities are in close proximity to other industrial manufacturing sites. In these locations, the source of contamination resulting from discharges into the environment may not be clear. We could potentially be held responsible for such liabilities even if the contamination did not originate from our sites, and we may have to incur significant costs to respond to any remedies imposed, or to defend any actions initiated, by environmental agencies.
Changes in EHS laws and regulations, violations of EHS law or regulations that result in civil or criminal sanctions, the revocation or modification of EHS permits, the bringing of investigations or enforcement proceedings against us by governmental agencies, the bringing of private claims alleging environmental damages against us, the discovery of contamination on our current or former properties or at third-party disposal sites, could reduce our profitability or have a material adverse effect on our operations and financial condition.
Many of our products and operations are subject to the chemical control laws of the countries in which they are located.
We are subject to a wide array of laws governing chemicals, including the regulation of chemical substances and inventories under the Toxic Substances Control Act ("TSCA") in the U.S. and the Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of Chemicals ("REACH") regulation in Europe. Analogous regimes exist in other parts of the world, including China, South Korea, and Taiwan. In addition, a number of countries where we operate, including the U.K., have adopted rules to conform chemical labeling in accordance with the globally harmonized system. Many of these foreign regulatory regimes are in the process of a multi-year implementation period for these rules.
Additional new laws and regulations may be enacted or adopted by various regulatory agencies globally. For example, the United States Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") finalized revisions to its Risk Management Program in January 2017. The revisions would impose new requirements for certain facilities to perform hazard analysis, third-party auditing, incident investigations and root cause analyses, emergency response exercises, and to publically share chemical and process information. Compliance for many of the rule's new requirements would be required beginning in 2021. On March 13, 2017, the EPA announced that it would reconsider the January 2017 revisions to the rule, and on March 16, 2017, the EPA delayed the effective date of the rule until June 19, 2017. The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration may also consider changes to its Process Safety Management standards. In addition, TSCA reform legislation was enacted in June 2016, and the EPA has begun the process of issuing new chemical control regulations. For example, the recent amendments to TSCA require the EPA to designate chemical substances on the TSCA Chemical Substance Inventory as either "active" or "inactive" in U.S. commerce. The EPA proposed a rule to do so on January 13, 2017. The costs of compliance with any new laws or regulations cannot be estimated until the manner in which they will be implemented has been more precisely defined.
Furthermore, governmental, regulatory and societal demands for increasing levels of product safety and environmental protection could result in increased pressure for more stringent regulatory control with respect to the chemical industry. In addition, these concerns could influence public perceptions regarding our products and operations, the viability of certain products, our reputation, the cost to comply with regulations, and the ability to attract and retain employees. Moreover, changes in product safety and environmental protection regulations could inhibit or interrupt our operations, or require us to modify our facilities or operations. Accordingly, product safety and environmental matters may cause us to incur significant unanticipated losses, costs or liabilities, which could reduce our profitability. For example, several of our products are being evaluated under REACH regulations and their classification could negatively impact sales.
Our operations are increasingly subject to climate change regulations that seek to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases.
Our operations are increasingly subject to regulations that seek to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, or GHGs, such as carbon dioxide and methane, which may be contributing to changes in the Earth's climate. There are existing efforts to address GHG emissions at the international, national, and regional levels. For example, the 2015 Paris climate summit agreement resulted in voluntary commitments by numerous countries to reduce their GHG emissions. The agreement entered into force on November 4,
2016 and could result in additional firm commitments by various nations with respect to future GHG emissions. The EU also regulates GHGs under the EU Emissions Trading Scheme. China has begun pilot programs for carbon taxes and trading of GHG emissions in selected areas.
In the U.S., the EPA issued its final Clean Power Plan rules that establish carbon pollution standards for power plants, called CO2 emission performance rates, in 2015. In February 2016, the U.S. Supreme Court granted a stay of the implementation of the Clean Power Plan. This stay will remain in effect until the conclusion of the appeals process. On March 28, 2017, the Trump administration issued an executive order directing the EPA to review the Clean Power Plan. On the same day, the EPA filed a motion in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D. C. Circuit requesting that the court hold the case in abeyance while the EPA conducts its review of the Clean Power Plan. It is not yet clear what changes, if any, will result from the EPA's review, or how the courts will rule on the legality of the Clean Power Plan. If the rules survive the EPA's review, are upheld at the conclusion of this appellate process, and depending on how states decide to implement these rules, they may result in national or regional credit trading schemes. Collectively, these rules and agreements may affect the long-term price and supply of electricity and natural gas and demand for products that contribute to energy efficiency and renewable energy. These various regulations and agreements are likely to result in increased costs to purchased energy, additional capital costs for installation or modification of GHG emitting equipment, and additional costs associated directly with GHG emissions (such as cap and trade systems or carbon taxes), which are primarily related to energy use. Compliance with these regulations and any more stringent restrictions in the future may increase our operational costs.
In addition, some scientists have concluded that increasing concentrations of GHGs in the Earth's atmosphere may produce climate changes that have significant physical effects, such as increased frequency and severity of storms, droughts, floods and other climatic events. If any such effects were to occur in areas where we or our clients operate, they could have an adverse effect on our assets and operations.
We may need additional capital in the future and may not be able to obtain it on favorable terms.
Our Titanium Dioxide businesses are capital intensive, and our success depends to a significant degree on our ability to develop and market innovative products and to update our facilities and process technology. We may require additional capital in the future to finance our growth and development, implement further marketing and sales activities, fund ongoing research and development activities, and meet general working capital needs. Our capital requirements will depend on many factors, including acceptance of, and demand for, our products, the extent to which we invest in new technology and research and development projects, and the status and timing of these developments, as well as general availability of capital from debt and/or equity markets. Additional financing may not be available when needed on terms favorable to us, or at all. Further, the terms of our debt may limit our ability to incur additional indebtedness or issue additional equity. If we are unable to obtain adequate funds on acceptable terms, we may be unable to develop or enhance our products, take advantage of future opportunities or respond to competitive pressures, which could harm our business.
The markets for many of our products have seasonally affected sales patterns.
The demand for TiO2 and certain of our other products during a given year is subject to seasonal fluctuations. Because TiO2 is widely used in paint and other coatings, demand is higher in the painting seasons of spring and summer in the Northern Hemisphere. We may be adversely affected by anticipated or unanticipated changes in regional weather conditions. For example, poor weather conditions in a region can lead to an abbreviated painting season, which can depress consumer sales of paint products that use TiO2, which could have a negative effect on our cash position.
Although we take precautions to enhance the safety of our operations and minimize the risk of disruptions, our operations are subject to hazards inherent in the manufacturing and marketing of chemical and other products. These hazards include: chemical spills, pipeline leaks and ruptures, storage tank leaks, discharges or releases of toxic or hazardous substances or gases and other hazards incident to the manufacturing, processing, handling, transportation and storage of dangerous chemicals. We are also potentially subject to other hazards, including natural disasters and severe weather; explosions and fires; transportation problems, including interruptions, spills and leaks; mechanical failures; unscheduled downtimes; labor difficulties; remediation complications; and other risks. In addition, some equipment and operations at our facilities are owned or controlled by third parties who may not be fully integrated into our safety programs and over whom we are able to exercise limited control. Many potential hazards can cause bodily injury and loss of life, severe damage to or destruction of property and equipment and environmental damage, and may result in suspension of operations and the imposition of civil or criminal penalties and liabilities. Furthermore, we are subject to present and future claims with respect to workplace exposure, exposure of contractors on our premises as well as other persons located nearby, workers' compensation and other matters.
We maintain property, business interruption, products liability and casualty insurance policies which we believe are in accordance with customary industry practices, as well as insurance policies covering other types of risks, including pollution legal liability insurance, but we are not fully insured against all potential hazards and risks incident to our business. Each of these insurance policies is subject to customary exclusions, deductibles and coverage limits, in accordance with industry standards and practices. As a result of market conditions, premiums and deductibles for certain insurance policies can increase substantially and, in some instances, certain insurance may become unavailable or available only for reduced amounts of coverage. If we were to incur a significant liability for which we were not fully insured, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and liquidity.
Our operations, financial condition and liquidity could be adversely affected by legal claims against us, including antitrust claims.
We face risks arising from various legal actions, including matters relating to antitrust, product liability, intellectual property and environmental claims. It is possible that judgments could be rendered against us in these cases or others for which we could be uninsured or not covered by indemnity, or which may be beyond the amounts that we currently have reserved or anticipate incurring for such matters. Over the past few years, antitrust claims have been made against TiO2 companies, including Huntsman. In this type of litigation, the plaintiffs generally seek treble damages, which may be significant. An adverse outcome in any claim could be material and significantly impact our operations, financial condition and liquidity. In addition, we are subject to various claims and litigation in the ordinary course of business. For more information, see "BusinessLegal Proceedings" below.
We are subject to risks relating to our information technology systems, and any failure to adequately protect our critical information technology systems could materially affect our operations.
We rely on information technology systems across our operations, including for management, supply chain and financial information and various other processes and transactions. Our ability to effectively manage our business depends on the security, reliability and capacity of these systems. Information technology system failures, network disruptions or breaches of security could disrupt our operations, cause delays or cancellations of customer orders or impede the manufacture or shipment of products, processing of transactions or reporting of financial results. An attack or other problem with our systems could also result in the disclosure of proprietary information about our business or confidential information concerning our customers or employees, which could result in significant damage to our business and our reputation.
We have put in place security measures designed to protect against the misappropriation or corruption of our systems, intentional or unintentional disclosure of confidential information, or disruption of our operations. Current employees have, and former employees may have, access to a significant amount of information regarding our operations which could be disclosed to our competitors or otherwise used to harm us. Moreover, our operations in certain locations, such as China, may be particularly vulnerable to security attacks or other problems. Any breach of our security measures could result in unauthorized access to and misappropriation of our information, corruption of data or disruption of operations or transactions, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business.
In addition, we could be required to expend significant additional amounts to respond to information technology issues or to protect against threatened or actual security breaches. We may not be able to implement measures that will protect against the significant risks to our information technology systems.
Economic conditions and regulatory changes following the U.K.'s likely exit from the European Union could adversely impact our operations, operating results and financial condition.
Following a referendum in June 2016, in which voters in the U.K. approved an exit from the EU, the U.K. government initiated the process to leave the EU (often referred to as Brexit). On March 29, 2017, the U.K. government initiated the formal process of Brexit and began discussions with the EU. The process is expected to be completed within the next two years. The referendum triggered short-term financial volatility, including a decline in the value of the British pound sterling in comparison to both the U.S. dollar and euro. It is expected that Brexit will continue to impact economic conditions in the EU. The future effects of Brexit will depend on any agreements the U.K. makes to retain access to the EU or other markets either during a transitional period or more permanently. Given the lack of comparable precedent, it is unclear what financial, trade and legal implications the withdrawal of the U.K. from the EU would have and how such withdrawal would affect our Company.
We derive a significant portion of our revenues from sales outside the U.S., including 40% from continental Europe and 5% from the U.K. in 2016. The consequences of Brexit, together with the significant uncertainty regarding the terms on which the U.K. will leave the EU, could introduce significant uncertainties into global financial markets and adversely impact the markets in which we and our customers operate. Brexit could also create uncertainty with respect to the legal and regulatory requirements to which we and our customers in the U.K. are subject and lead to divergent national laws and regulations as the U.K. government determines which EU laws to replace or replicate.
While we are not experiencing any immediate adverse impact on our financial condition as a direct result of Brexit, adverse consequences such as deterioration in economic conditions, volatility in currency exchange rates or adverse changes in regulation could have a negative impact on our future operations, operating results and financial condition. All of these potential consequences could be further magnified if additional countries were to seek to exit the EU.
Failure to maintain effective internal controls could adversely affect our ability to meet our reporting requirements.
The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the "Sarbanes-Oxley Act") requires, among other things, that we maintain effective internal control over financial reporting and disclosure controls and procedures. One key aspect of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act is that we must perform system and process evaluation and testing of our internal control over financial reporting to allow management and our independent registered public accounting firm to report on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting, as required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, with auditor attestation of the effectiveness of our internal controls, beginning with our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2018. If we are not able to comply with the requirements of Section 404 in a timely manner, or if we or our independent registered public accounting firm identify deficiencies in our internal control over financial reporting that are deemed to be material weaknesses, the market price of our common stock could decline
and we could be subject to regulatory penalties or investigations by the NYSE, the SEC or other regulatory authorities, which would require additional financial and management resources.
Effective internal controls are necessary for us to provide reasonable assurance with respect to our financial reports and to effectively prevent fraud. Internal controls over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements because of inherent limitations, including the possibility of human error, the circumvention or overriding of controls, or fraud. Therefore, even effective internal controls can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to the preparation and fair presentation of financial statements. If we cannot provide reasonable assurance with respect to our financial reports and effectively prevent fraud, our operating results could be misreported. In addition, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting to future periods are subject to the risk that the control may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. If we fail to maintain the effectiveness of our internal controls, including any failure to implement required new or improved controls, or if we experience difficulties in their implementation, our business and operating results could be harmed, we could fail to meet our reporting obligations, and there could be a material adverse effect on our stock price.
The process of implementing internal controls in connection with our operation as a stand-alone company requires significant attention from management and we cannot be certain that these measures will ensure that we implement and maintain adequate controls over our financial processes and reporting in the future. Difficulties encountered in their implementation could harm our results of operations or cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations. If we fail to obtain the quality of administrative services necessary to operate effectively or incur greater costs in obtaining these services, our profitability, financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.
Our results of operations could be adversely affected by our indemnification of Huntsman and other commitments and contingencies.
In the ordinary course of business, we may make certain commitments, including representations, warranties and indemnities relating to current and past operations, including those related to divested businesses, and issue guarantees of third-party obligations. Additionally, we are required to indemnify Huntsman for uncapped amounts with regard to liabilities allocated to, or assumed by us under each of the Separation and Distribution Agreement, the Employee Matters Agreement and the Tax Matters Agreement that we expect to execute prior to the spin-off. These indemnification obligations to date have included defense costs associated with certain litigation matters as well as certain damages awards, settlements, and penalties. As we are required to make payments, such payments could be significant and could exceed the amounts we have accrued with respect thereto, adversely affecting our results of operations. In addition, in the event that Huntsman seeks indemnification for adverse trial rulings or outcomes, these indemnification claims could materially adversely affect our financial condition. Disputes between Huntsman and us may also arise with respect to indemnification matters including disputes based on matters of law or contract interpretation. If and to the extent these disputes arise, they could materially adversely affect us.
Financial difficulties and related problems experienced by our customers, vendors, suppliers and other business partners could have a material adverse effect on our business.
During periods of economic disruption, more of our customers than normal may experience financial difficulties, including bankruptcies, restructurings and liquidations, which could affect our business by reducing sales, increasing our risk in extending trade credit to customers and reducing our profitability. A significant adverse change in a customer relationship or in a customer's financial position could cause us to limit or discontinue business with that customer, require us to assume more credit risk relating to that customer's receivables or limit our ability to collect accounts receivable from that customer.
Our customers, prospective customers, suppliers or other companies with whom we conduct business may need assurances that our financial stability is sufficient to satisfy their requirements for doing or continuing to do business with them.
Some of our customers, prospective customers, suppliers or other companies with whom we conduct business may need assurances that our financial stability is sufficient to satisfy their requirements for doing or continuing to do business with them, and may require us to provide additional credit support, such as letters of credit or other financial guarantees. Any failure of parties to be satisfied with our financial stability could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
Our flexibility in managing our labor force may be adversely affected by existing or new labor and employment laws and policies in the jurisdictions in which we operate, many of which are more onerous than those of the United States; and some of our labor force has substantial workers' council or trade union participation, which creates a risk of disruption from labor disputes.
The global nature of our business presents difficulties in hiring and maintaining a workforce in certain countries. The majority of our employees are located outside the U.S. In many of these countries, including the U.K., Italy, Germany, France, Spain, Finland and Malaysia, labor and employment laws may be more onerous than in the U.S. and, in many cases, grant significant job protection to employees, including rights on termination of employment.
We are required to consult with, and seek the consent or advice of, various employee groups or works councils that represent our employees for any changes to our activities or employee benefits. This requirement could have a significant impact on our flexibility in managing costs and responding to market changes.
Our future success depends on our ability to retain key executives and to identify, attract, retain and motivate qualified senior management and personnel.
We are highly dependent on the experience and strong relationships in the chemicals industry, and financial and business development expertise of Simon Turner, our President and Chief Executive Officer and Kurt Ogden, our Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Because of our reliance on our senior management team, our future success depends, in part, on our ability to identify, attract, develop and retain key personnel and talent to succeed our senior management and other key positions throughout the organization. The loss of the services of our executive officers or other key employees could impede the achievement of our strategic objectives and seriously harm our ability to successfully implement our business strategy. Furthermore, replacing executive officers and key employees may be difficult and may take an extended period of time because of the limited number of individuals in our industry with the breadth of skills and experience required to successfully manage, develop and grow in a highly technical chemicals industry. This risk is further enhanced by the planned spin-off from Huntsman. If we fail to identify and develop or recruit successors, we are at risk of being harmed by the departures of these key employees.
Conflicts, military actions, terrorist attacks and general instability, particularly in certain energy-producing nations, along with increased security regulations related to our industry, could adversely affect our business.
Conflicts, military actions and terrorist attacks have precipitated economic instability and turmoil in financial markets. Instability and turmoil, particularly in energy-producing nations, may result in raw material cost increases. The uncertainty and economic disruption resulting from hostilities, military action or acts of terrorism may impact any or all of our facilities and operations or those of our suppliers or customers. Accordingly, any conflict, military action or terrorist attack that impacts us or any of our
suppliers or customers, could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and liquidity.
In addition, a number of governments have instituted regulations attempting to increase the security of chemical plants and the transportation of hazardous chemicals, which could result in higher operating costs and could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and liquidity.
Risks Related to Intellectual Property
Our business is dependent on our intellectual property. If we are unable to enforce our intellectual property rights and prevent use of our intellectual property by third parties, our ability to compete may be adversely affected.
Protection of our proprietary processes, apparatuses and other technology is important to our business. We rely on patent protection, as well as a combination of copyright and trade secret laws to protect and prevent others from duplicating our proprietary processes, apparatuses and technology. While a presumption of validity exists with respect to patents issued to us in the U.S., there can be no assurance that any of our patents will not be challenged, invalidated, circumvented or rendered unenforceable. Such means may afford only limited protection of our intellectual property and may not; (i) prevent our competitors from duplicating our processes or technology; (ii) prevent our competitors from gaining access to our proprietary information and technology; or (iii) permit us to gain or maintain a competitive advantage. In addition, our competitors or other third parties may obtain patents that restrict or preclude our ability to lawfully produce or sell our products in a competitive manner, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and liquidity.
We generally seek to apply for patents or for similar statutory protections as and if we deem appropriate, based on then-current facts and circumstances, and we will continue to do so in the future. No assurances can be given that any patent application that we have filed or will file will result in issuance of a patent, or that any existing or future patents issued to us will afford adequate or meaningful protection against competitors or against similar technology. If our patent claims are rendered invalid or unenforceable, or narrowed in scope, the patent coverage afforded our products could be impaired. Such impairment could significantly impede our ability to market our products, negatively affect our competitive position and harm our business and operating results. Our patents and patent applications may cover particular aspects of our products. Competitors and other third parties may be able to circumvent or design around our patents. Competitors may develop and obtain patent protection for more effective technologies, designs or methods. In addition, no assurances can be given that third parties will not create new products or methods that achieve similar results without infringing upon patents we own. If these developments were to occur, it could have an adverse effect on our sales or market position.
We rely upon trade secrets and other confidential and proprietary know-how and continuing technological innovation to develop and maintain our competitive position. While it is our policy to enter into agreements imposing nondisclosure and confidentiality obligations upon our employees and third parties to protect our intellectual property, these confidentiality obligations may be breached, may not provide meaningful protection for our trade secrets or proprietary know-how, or adequate remedies may not be available in the event of an unauthorized access, use or disclosure of our trade secrets and know-how. Furthermore, despite the existence of such nondisclosure and confidentiality agreements, or other contractual restrictions, we may not be able to prevent the unauthorized disclosure or use of our confidential proprietary information or trade secrets by consultants, vendors, former employees or current employees. And the laws of foreign countries may not protect our intellectual property rights effectively or to the same extent as the laws of the United States. In addition, others could obtain knowledge of our trade secrets through independent development or other access by legal means. The occurrence of such events could limit or preclude our ability produce or sell our products in a competitive manner, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, competitive position, financial condition or liquidity.
We may not be able to effectively protect our intellectual property rights from misappropriation or infringement in countries where effective patent, trademark, trade secret and other intellectual property laws and judicial systems may be unavailable, or may not protect our proprietary rights to the same extent as U.S. law. Filing, prosecuting and defending our intellectual property in all countries throughout the world may be prohibitively expensive. Moreover, the laws of some countries outside of the United States do not afford intellectual property protection to the same extent as the laws of the United States.
The lack of adequate legal protections of intellectual property or failure of legal remedies for related actions could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and liquidity.
If our trademarks and trade names are not adequately protected, then we may not be able to build name recognition in our markets of interest and our business may be adversely affected.
We rely on our trademarks, service marks, domain names and logos to market our brands and to build and maintain brand loyalty and recognition. We rely on trademark protections to protect our business and our products and services. We generally seek to register and continue to register and renew, or secure by contract where appropriate, trademarks, trade names and service marks as they are developed and used, and reserve, register and renew domain names as appropriate. Our registered or unregistered trademarks, trade names or service marks may be challenged, infringed, circumvented or declared generic or determined to be infringing on other marks. Effective trademark protection may not be available or may not be sought in every country in which our products are made available and contractual disputes may affect the use of marks governed by private contract. We may not be able to protect our rights to these trademarks, domain names and trade names, which we need to build brand name recognition by potential customers or partners in our markets of interest. And while we seek to protect the trademarks we use in the United States and in other countries, we may be unsuccessful in obtaining registrations and/or otherwise protecting these trademarks. If that were to happen, we may be prevented from using our names, brands and trademarks unless we enter into appropriate royalty, license or coexistence agreements.
We are dependent on proprietary technology licensed from others. If we lose our licenses, we may not be able to continue developing and manufacturing our products.
We have obtained licenses that give us rights to third party intellectual property that is necessary or useful to our business. These license agreements covering our products impose various royalty and other obligations on us. One or more of our licensors may allege that we have breached our license agreement with them, and accordingly seek to terminate our license. If we materially breach the obligations in our license agreements, the licensor typically has the right to terminate the license and we may not be able to market products that were covered by the license, which could adversely affect our competitive business position and harm our business prospects. In addition, any claims brought against us by our licensors could be costly and time-consuming and would divert the attention of our management and key personnel from our business operations.
Third parties may claim that we infringe on their proprietary intellectual property rights, and resulting litigation may be costly, result in the diversion of management's time and efforts, require us to pay damages or prevent us from marketing our existing or future products.
Our commercial success will depend in part on not infringing, misappropriating or violating the intellectual property rights of others. From time to time, we may be subject to legal proceedings and claims, including claims of alleged infringement of trademarks, copyrights, patents and other intellectual property rights held by third parties. In the future, third parties may sue us for alleged infringement of their proprietary or intellectual property rights. We may not be aware of whether our products do or will infringe existing or future patents or the intellectual property rights of others. Any litigation in this regard, regardless of outcome or merit, could result in substantial costs and diversion of management and
technical resources as well as harm to our brand, any of which could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We may not realize the benefits that we anticipate from our separation from Huntsman. These benefits include the following:
We may not achieve the anticipated benefits from our separation for a variety of reasons. For example, the process of separating our business from Huntsman and operating as a separate, public company may distract our management from focusing on our business and strategic priorities. In addition, we may not generate sufficient cash flow to fund our growth plans and to generate acceptable returns. Moreover, even with equity compensation tied to our business, we may not be able to attract and retain employees as desired. We also may not fully realize the anticipated benefits from our separation if any of the other matters identified as risks in this "Risk Factors" section were to occur.
We cannot assure you that the combined trading prices of Huntsman's common stock and our common stock after the spin-off, as adjusted for any changes in the combined capitalization of these companies, will be equal to or greater than the market price of Huntsman common stock prior to the spin-off. Until the market has fully evaluated the business of Huntsman without its Pigments & Additives segment, the price at which Huntsman common stock trades may fluctuate significantly. Similarly, until the market has fully evaluated our company, the price at which our common stock trades may fluctuate significantly.
The historical and pro forma financial information included in this information statement has been derived from Huntsman's accounting records and may not reflect what our financial position, results of operations or cash flows would have been had we been a separate, stand-alone entity during the periods
presented or those that we will achieve in the future. Huntsman did not account for us, and we were not operated, as a separate, stand-alone company for the historical periods presented. The costs to operate our business as a separate public entity are expected to differ from the historical cost allocations, including corporate and administrative charges from Huntsman reflected in the accompanying historical and pro forma combined financial statements presented elsewhere in this information statement.
We expect our recurring selling, general and administrative expenses to operate as a stand-alone public company will be lower than expenses historically allocated to us from Huntsman and reflected in our pro forma statements of operations by between $ million and $ million annually. These cost reductions principally relate to lower expected overhead costs for us relative to the allocation from Huntsman included in our pro forma statements of operations with respect to (i) finance, accounting, compliance, investor relations, treasury, internal audit and legal personnel, (ii) information technology costs (iii) professional fees associated with legal and other services, and (iv) executive compensation. Actual expenses could vary from this estimate and such variations could be material. Our capital expenditure requirements, including acquisitions, historically have been satisfied as part of Huntsman's companywide cash management practices. Following the spin-off, we will no longer have access to Huntsman's working capital, and we may need to obtain additional financing from banks, through public offerings or private placements of debt or equity securities or other arrangements if our cash flow from operations is not sufficient to fund our capital expenditure requirements.
For additional information about our past financial performance and the basis of presentation of our financial statements, see "Selected Historical Combined Financial Data," "Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information," "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and our financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this information statement.
If we are unable to generate sufficient cash flow from our operations, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.
After the distribution, we will not be able to rely on Huntsman's earnings, assets or cash flow, and we will be responsible for obtaining and maintaining sufficient working capital and servicing our own debt. We may not generate sufficient funds to service our debt and meet our business needs, such as funding working capital or the expansion of our operations. Our ability to generate cash is subject in part to general economic, financial, competitive, legislative, regulatory and other factors that are beyond our control. If we are unable to generate sufficient cash or repay or refinance our debt as it becomes due, we may be forced to take disadvantageous actions, including reducing spending on marketing and new product innovation, reducing financing in the future for working capital, capital expenditures and general corporate purposes, selling assets or dedicating an unsustainable level of our cash flow from operations to the payment of principal and interest on our indebtedness. In addition, our ability to withstand competitive pressures and to react to changes in our industry could be impaired.
Pursuant to the Separation and Distribution Agreement and other agreements with Huntsman, Huntsman will agree to indemnify us for certain liabilities, including those related to the operation of our business while it was still owned by Huntsman, and we will agree to indemnify Huntsman for certain liabilities, in each case for uncapped amounts, as discussed further in "Arrangements Between Huntsman and Our Company." Indemnity payments that we may be required to provide Huntsman may be significant and could negatively impact our business, particularly indemnity payments relating to our actions that could impact the tax-free nature of the distribution. Third parties could also seek to hold us responsible for liabilities that Huntsman has agreed to retain. Further, there can be no assurance that the indemnity from
Huntsman will be sufficient to protect us against the full amount of such liabilities, or that Huntsman will be able to fully satisfy its indemnification obligations. Moreover, even if we ultimately succeed in recovering from Huntsman any amounts for which we are held liable, we may be temporarily required to bear these losses ourselves.
We will incur additional expenses as a result of operating as a public company, and our management will be required to devote substantial time to complying with public company regulations.
Historically, our operations have been fully integrated within Huntsman, and we have relied on Huntsman to provide certain corporate functions. As a public company, we will incur additional expenses various functions and services that we have not incurred historically. As part of Huntsman, we have been able to enjoy certain benefits from Huntsman's scale and purchasing power. As a separate, publicly traded company, we will not have similar negotiating leverage.
Sarbanes-Oxley, as well as rules subsequently implemented by the SEC and the NYSE, have imposed increased regulation and disclosure and required enhanced corporate governance practices of public companies. We are committed to maintaining high standards of corporate governance and public disclosure, and our efforts to comply with evolving laws, regulations and standards in this regard are likely to result in increased selling and administrative expenses and a diversion of management's time and attention from revenue-generating activities to compliance activities.
In addition, after the spin-off, we will become obligated to file with the SEC annual and quarterly information and other reports. We will also be required to ensure that we have the ability to prepare financial statements that are fully compliant with all SEC reporting requirements on a timely basis.
Certain administrative services required by us for the operation of our business are currently provided by Huntsman and its subsidiaries, including, administrative, payroll, human resources, data processing, EHS, financial audit support, financial transaction support, other support services, information technology systems and various other corporate services. Prior to the completion of the separation, we will enter into agreements with Huntsman related to the separation of our business operations from Huntsman, including a Transition Services Agreement. We believe it is helpful for Huntsman to provide transitional assistance for us under the Transition Services Agreement to facilitate the efficient operation of our business as we transition to becoming a stand-alone public company. These services may not be provided at the same level as when we were a business segment within Huntsman, and we may not be able to obtain the same benefits that we received prior to the spin-off. While these services are being provided to us by Huntsman, our operational flexibility to modify or implement changes with respect to such services or the amounts we pay for them will be limited. After the expiration or termination of the Transition Services Agreement, we may not be able to replace these services or enter into appropriate third-party agreements on terms and conditions, including cost, comparable to those that we will receive from Huntsman under the Transition Services Agreement. Any failure or significant downtime in our own administrative systems or in Huntsman's administrative systems during the transitional period could result in unexpected costs, impact our results and/or prevent us from paying our suppliers or employees and performing other administrative services on a timely basis. Although we intend to replace portions of the services currently provided by Huntsman, we may encounter difficulties replacing certain services or be unable to negotiate pricing or other terms as favorable as those we currently have in effect. For those services currently provided to us by Huntsman but that will not be provided under the Transition Services Agreement after the spin-off, there can be no assurance that we will be as effective performing these services on a stand-alone basis. See "Arrangements Between Huntsman and Our CompanyTransition Services Agreement."
Furthermore, we will rely in some case on facilities shared with Huntsman pursuant to the Master Lease Agreement, and some of the facilities we will share are leased by Huntsman. We may experience unplanned disruptions to our operations in these facilities as a result of actions beyond our control. In some cases, we may share control with Huntsman and differences in views between us and Huntsman may result in delays and may cause us to fail to achieve our planned operating performance. As a result, our results of operations could be adversely affected.
The agreements we will enter into with Huntsman in connection with the spin-off, including, but not limited to, the Separation and Distribution Agreement, Tax Matters Agreement, Employee Matters Agreement, Master Lease Agreement, Stockholder's and Registration Rights Agreement and Transition Services Agreement, will have been negotiated in the context of the spin-off while we were still a wholly-owned subsidiary of Huntsman. Accordingly, during the period in which the terms of those agreements will have been negotiated, we will not have had an independent board of directors or a management team independent of Huntsman. As a result, the terms of those agreements may not reflect terms that would have resulted from arm's-length negotiations between unaffiliated third parties. The terms relate to, among other things, the allocation of assets, liabilities, rights and other obligations between Huntsman and us. See "Arrangements Between Huntsman and Our Company" for a description of these obligations and the allocation of liabilities between Huntsman and us.
Under the Tax Matters Agreement, we will agree to take certain actions or refrain from taking certain actions to ensure that the separation and certain transactions taken in preparation for, or in connection with, the separation, qualify for tax-free status under the relevant provisions of the Code. We will also make various other covenants in the Tax Matters Agreement intended to ensure the tax-free status of the separation. These covenants (which may be waived by Huntsman) restrict our ability to sell assets outside the ordinary course of business and, during the first two years following the spin-off (or, if any Retained Securities are exchanged for Huntsman's third-party debt within 12 months following the spin-off, then during the first two years following the last such exchange), will prohibit (other than with respect to equity-based compensation plans) us from issuing or selling any additional common stock or other securities (including securities convertible into our common stock), or to enter into certain other corporate transactions.
In addition, in connection with the request for the IRS private letter ruling addressing certain aspects of the spin-off, representations were made to the IRS to the effect that (i) during the period ending 12 months (subject to shortening under certain circumstances) after the spin-off (the "Initial Period"), no action will be taken (including the adoption of any plan or policy), that would (if implemented) actually or effectively result in the elimination of the disparate voting rights associated with our classes of common stock, and (ii) during the 24-month period after the Initial Period, no such action will be taken other than in connection with a transaction with one or more persons unrelated to the Company (for example, our merger with another corporation) with respect to which there was no agreement, understanding, arrangement, or substantial negotiations or discussions at any time during the 24-months prior to the end of the Initial Period. Covenants in the Tax Matters Agreement will restrict our ability to take actions that are inconsistent with these representations and compliance with such covenants may limit our ability to engage in certain transactions. See "Arrangements Between Huntsman and Our CompanyTax Matters Agreement."
Further, under certain circumstances, we may be required to indemnify Huntsman under the Tax Matters Agreement for certain taxes incurred as a result of the failure of the spin-off or certain
transactions undertaken in preparation for, or in connection with, the spin-off, to qualify as tax-free transactions under the relevant provisions of the Code.
For any tax periods (or portions thereof) prior to the spin-off, we and one or more of our subsidiaries will be included in consolidated, combined, unitary or similar tax reporting groups with Huntsman (including Huntsman's consolidated group for U.S. federal income tax purposes). Applicable laws (include U.S. federal income tax laws) often provide that each member of such a tax reporting group is liable for the group's entire tax obligation. Thus, to the extent Huntsman or other members of a tax reporting group of which we or one of our subsidiaries was a member fails to make any tax payments required by law, we could be liable for the shortfall. Huntsman is expected to indemnify us for any taxes attributable to Huntsman that we or one of our subsidiaries are required to pay as a result of our (or one of our subsidiaries') membership in such a tax reporting group with Huntsman. We expect we will also be responsible for any increase in Huntsman's tax liability for any period in which we or any of our subsidiaries are combined or consolidated with Huntsman if such increase results from audit adjustments attributable to our business.
Further, by virtue of Huntsman's controlling ownership and the Tax Matters Agreement, Huntsman will effectively control all of our tax decisions in connection with any tax reporting group tax returns in which we (or any of our subsidiaries) are included. The Tax Matters Agreement is expected to provide that Huntsman will have sole authority to respond to and conduct all tax proceedings (including tax audits) and to prepare and file all such reporting group tax returns in which we or one of our subsidiaries are included on our behalf (including the making of any tax elections). This arrangement may result in conflicts of interest between Huntsman and us. See "Arrangements Between Huntsman and Our CompanyTax Matters Agreement."
See note "18. Income Taxes" to our combined financial statements for the amount of our known contingent tax liabilities. We currently have no reason to believe that we have any unrecorded outstanding tax liabilities from prior years; however, due to the inherent complexity of tax law, the many countries in which we operate, and the unpredictable nature of tax authorities, we believe there is inherent uncertainty.
The amount of tax for which we are liable for taxable periods preceding the spin-off may be impacted by elections Huntsman makes on our behalf.
Under the Tax Matters Agreement, Huntsman is expected to have the right to make all elections for taxable periods preceding the spin-off. As a result, the amount of tax for which we are liable for taxable periods preceding the spin-off may be impacted by elections Huntsman makes on our behalf.
Huntsman, its stockholders, or we could have significant tax liabilities if the separation, and certain transactions in preparation therefor, are not tax-free.
The separation is conditioned on Huntsman receiving an opinion from its tax advisor that (i) Huntsman's pro rata distribution of all of our outstanding Class B common stock to its stockholders qualifies as a tax-free transaction under Sections 355, 361 and/or 368(a)(1)(D) of the Code, and (ii) certain elements of the restructuring transactions undertaken as part of the spin-off will also qualify for tax-free treatment under Sections 355, 361 and/or 368(a)(1)(D) of the Code. Tax advisor's opinion will, in part, be based upon an IRS private letter ruling received by Huntsman to the effect that the retention of Class A common stock will not be in pursuance of a plan having as one of its principal purposes the avoidance of federal income tax, that certain post spin-off exchanges of Class A common stock for Huntsman indebtedness will be treated as distributions that are part of a plan of reorganization for purposes of Section 361(c)(1) and 361(c)(3) of the Code, and that certain payments or transfers of assets and liabilities that may occur following the spin-off will be treated as part of the spin-off transaction. The IRS private
letter ruling was issued in reliance on, and the tax opinion will rely on, facts, assumptions, representations and undertakings from Huntsman and us regarding the past and future conduct of the companies' respective businesses and other matters. If any of these facts, assumptions, representations, or undertakings are, or become, incorrect or not otherwise satisfied, Huntsman may not be able to rely on the private letter ruling or the tax opinion and could be subject to significant tax liabilities. In addition, an advisor's opinion is not binding upon the IRS, so, notwithstanding the opinion of Huntsman's tax advisor, the IRS could conclude upon audit that the separation is taxable in full or in part. The IRS may determine that the separation is taxable for other reasons, including as a result of certain significant changes in the stock ownership of Huntsman or us after the separation. If the separation is determined to be taxable for U.S. federal income tax purposes, Huntsman or its stockholders could incur significant income tax liabilities, and we could incur significant liabilities. For a discussion of the potential tax consequences to Huntsman stockholders if the separation is determined to be taxable, see "The Spin-OffU.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Spin-Off." For a description of the sharing of such liabilities between Huntsman and us, see "Arrangements Between Huntsman and Our CompanyTax Matters Agreement."
Following the spin-off, certain members of our board of directors and management will initially own common stock of Huntsman or options to purchase common stock of Huntsman because of their current or prior relationships with Huntsman, which could create, or appear to create, potential conflicts of interest when our directors and executive officers are faced with decisions that could have different implications for Huntsman and us.
In addition, we expect the board of directors of each of Venator and Huntsman to have members in common after the separation, including , which could create actual or potential conflicts of interest.
The separation is subject to review under various state and federal fraudulent conveyance laws. Under these laws, if a court in a lawsuit by an unpaid creditor or an entity vested with the power of such creditor (including a trustee or debtor-in-possession in a bankruptcy by us or Huntsman or any of our respective subsidiaries) were to determine that Huntsman or any of its subsidiaries did not receive fair consideration or reasonably equivalent value for distributing our common stock or taking other action as part of the separation, or that we or any of our subsidiaries did not receive fair consideration or reasonably equivalent value for incurring indebtedness, including the new debt incurred by us in connection with the separation, transferring assets or taking other action as part of the separation and, at the time of such action, we, Huntsman or any of our respective subsidiaries (i) was insolvent or would be rendered insolvent, (ii) had reasonably small capital with which to carry on its business and all business in which it intended to engage or (iii) intended to incur, or believed it would incur, debts beyond its ability to repay such debts as they would mature, then such court could void the separation as a constructive fraudulent transfer. The court could impose a number of different remedies, including voiding our liens and claims against Huntsman, or providing Huntsman with a claim for money damages against us in an amount equal to the difference between the consideration received by Huntsman and the fair market value of our company at the time of the separation.
The measure of insolvency for purposes of the fraudulent conveyance laws will vary depending on which jurisdiction's law is applied. Generally, however, an entity would be considered insolvent if the present fair saleable value of its assets is less than (i) the amount of its liabilities (including contingent liabilities) or (ii) the amount that will be required to pay its probable liabilities on its existing debts as they
become absolute and mature. No assurance can be given as to what standard a court would apply to determine insolvency or that a court would determine that we, Huntsman or any of our respective subsidiaries were solvent at the time of or after giving effect to the spin-off, including the distribution of our common stock.
Under the Separation and Distribution Agreement, from and after the separation, each of Huntsman and we will be responsible for the debts, liabilities and other obligations related to the business or businesses which it owns and operates following the consummation of the separation, and each of Huntsman and we will assume or retain certain liabilities for the operation of our respective businesses prior to the spin-off and certain liabilities related to the spin-off. Although we do not expect to be liable for any such obligations not expressly assumed by us pursuant to the Separation and Distribution Agreement, it is possible that a court would disregard the allocation agreed to between the parties, and require that we assume responsibility for obligations allocated to Huntsman, particularly if Huntsman were to refuse or were unable to pay or perform the subject allocated obligations. See "Arrangements Between Huntsman and Our CompanySeparation and Distribution Agreement."
We may not be able to transfer certain entities that are part of the separation from Huntsman prior to the spin-off.
We may not be able to transfer certain entities that are part of the separation from Huntsman prior to the spin-off because the entities may be subject to foreign government legal approvals that we may not receive prior to the spin-off. Such approvals may include, but not be limited to, approvals to demerge, to form new legal entities and to transfer assets. Following the completion of the spin-off, if receipt of foreign government legal approvals is further delayed or if we are unable to receive any requisite government approvals, we may not realize all of the anticipated benefits of our separation from Huntsman.
Prior to the completion of the spin-off, there has been no public market for shares of our Class B common stock. We cannot predict the extent to which investor interest in our company will lead to the development of a trading market on the NYSE or otherwise, or how liquid that market might become. If an active market does not develop, you may have difficulty selling any shares of our Class B common stock that you receive in the spin-off.
The market price of our stock may be influenced by many factors, some of which are beyond our control, including those described above in "Risks Related to Our Business" and the following:
the failure of securities analysts to cover our Class B common stock after the spin-off or changes in financial estimates by analysts;
our inability to meet the financial estimates of analysts who follow our Class B common stock;
our strategic actions;
our announcements of significant contracts, acquisitions, joint ventures or capital commitments;
general economic and stock market conditions;
changes in conditions or trends in our industry, markets or customers;
future sales of our Class B common stock or other securities; and
investor perceptions of the investment opportunity associated with our Class B common stock relative to other investment alternatives.
As a result of these factors, holders of our Class B common stock may not be able to resell their shares at or above the initial market price following the spin-off or may not be able to resell them at all. These broad market and industry factors may materially reduce the market price of our Class B common stock, regardless of our operating performance. In addition, price volatility may be greater if trading volume of our Class B common stock is low.
Any sales of substantial amounts of our shares of Class B common stock or Class A common stock in the public market or the perception that such sales might occur, in connection with the distribution or otherwise, may cause the market price of our Class B common stock to decline. Upon completion of the distribution, we expect that there will be approximately million shares of our Class B common stock issued and outstanding. These shares will be freely tradable without restriction or further registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), unless the shares are owned by one of our "affiliates," as that term is defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act. We cannot predict whether large amounts of our shares of Class B common stock will be sold in the open market following the distribution. We also cannot predict whether a sufficient number of buyers will be in the market at that time.
In addition, following the distribution, Huntsman will retain our Class A common stock which will entitle it to 19.9% of our voting power and 40% of our value. Huntsman will dispose of the Retained Securities within five years after the spin-off. Pursuant to an IRS private letter ruling received by Huntsman, under certain circumstances Huntsman may dispose of some or all of the Retained Securities in a tax-advantaged manner by distributing such shares of Class A common stock within 12 months after the spin-off to its creditors in payment of outstanding third-party debt. If market conditions and sound business judgment permit, Huntsman intends to engage in such exchanges. To the extent Huntsman does not exchange the Retained Securities for third-party debt, Huntsman will sell the Retained Securities. Huntsman anticipates that the proceeds of such sales will be used to repay third-party debt. In connection with the spin-off, we and Huntsman will enter a Stockholder's and Registration Rights Agreement, pursuant to which we will agree, upon the request of Huntsman, to use our best efforts to effect the registration under applicable securities laws of the disposition of our common stock retained by Huntsman and to list the Class A common stock on the NYSE and Huntsman will grant us a proxy to vote all of our Class A common stock owned by Huntsman in proportion to the votes cast by our Class B common stockholders as long as Huntsman owns the Class A shares. Any disposition by Huntsman of shares of Class A common stock, or the perception that such dispositions may occur, could adversely affect prevailing market prices for our Class B common stock. In addition, because of the difference in voting rights, it is likely that the market price of the Class A common stock and Class B common stock will fluctuate relative to each other.
Provisions contained in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws will provide for a dual-class structure, classified board through 2020, limitations on stockholder proposals at meetings of stockholders and limitations on stockholder action by written consent. These provisions could make it more difficult for a third party to acquire control of our company. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will also authorize our board of directors to issue preferred stock without stockholder approval. If our board of directors elects to issue preferred stock, it
could increase the difficulty for a third party to acquire control of our company, which may reduce or eliminate our stockholders' ability to sell their shares of our Class B common stock at a premium. See "Description of Capital StockAnti-Takeover Effects of Provisions of our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, our Amended and Restated Bylaws and Delaware Law."
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware will, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, be the sole and exclusive forum for:
any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf;
any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any of our directors, officers, or other employees to us or our stockholders;
any action asserting a claim against us or any of our directors, officers or other employees arising pursuant to any provision of the Delaware General Corporation Law ("DGCL") or our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or our amended and restated bylaws; or
any action asserting a claim against us or any of our directors, officers or other employees governed by the internal affairs doctrine.
Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise holding any interest in shares of our capital stock will be deemed to have notice of, and consented to, the provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation described in the preceding sentence. This choice of forum provision may limit a stockholder's ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with us or our directors, officers, employees or agents, which may discourage such lawsuits against us and such persons. Alternatively, if a court were to find these provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation inapplicable to, or unenforceable in respect of, one or more of the specified types of actions or proceedings, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such matters in other jurisdictions.
Certain information set forth in this information statement contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. All statements other than historical factual information are forward-looking statements, including without limitation statements regarding: projections of revenue, expenses, profit, margins, tax rates, tax provisions, cash flows, pension and benefit obligations and funding requirements, our liquidity position or other projected financial measures; management's plans and strategies for future operations, including statements relating to anticipated operating performance, cost reductions, restructuring activities, new product and service developments, competitive strengths or market position, acquisitions, divestitures, spin-offs, or other distributions, strategic opportunities, securities offerings, stock repurchases, dividends and executive compensation; growth, declines and other trends in markets we sell into; new or modified laws, regulations and accounting pronouncements; outstanding claims, legal proceedings, tax audits and assessments and other contingent liabilities; foreign currency exchange rates and fluctuations in those rates; general economic and capital markets conditions; the timing of any of the foregoing; assumptions underlying any of the foregoing; and any other statements that address events or developments that we intend or believe will or may occur in the future. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "believes," "expects," "may," "will," "should," "anticipates" or "intends" or the negative of such terms or other comparable terminology, or by discussions of strategy. We may also make additional forward-looking statements from time to time. All such subsequent forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, by us or on our behalf, are also expressly qualified by these cautionary statements.
Forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions and expectations of future events which may not be accurate or realized. Forward-looking statements also involve risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control. Important factors that may materially affect such forward-looking statements and projections include:
volatile global economic conditions;
cyclical and volatile TiO2 products markets;
highly competitive industries and the need to innovate and develop new products;
increased manufacturing regulations for some of our products;
disruptions in production at our manufacturing facilities;
fluctuations in currency exchange rates and tax rates;
price volatility or interruptions in supply of raw materials and energy;
changes to laws, regulations or the interpretation thereof;
significant investments associated with efforts to transform our business;
differences in views with our joint venture participants;
high levels of indebtedness;
environmental, health and safety laws and regulations;
our ability to obtain future capital on favorable terms;
seasonal sales patterns in our product markets;
legal claims against us, including antitrust claims;
our ability to adequately protect our critical information technology systems;
economic conditions and regulatory changes following the U.K.'s likely exit from the EU;
failure to maintain effective internal controls over financial reporting and disclosure;
our indemnification of Huntsman and other commitments and contingencies;
financial difficulties and related problems experienced by our customers, vendors, suppliers and other business partners;
failure to enforce our intellectual property rights;
our ability to effectively manage our labor force;
conflicts, military actions, terrorist attacks and general instability; and
our ability to realize the expected benefits of the spin-off.
All forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, management's examination of historical operating trends, are based upon our current expectations and various assumptions. Our expectations, beliefs and projections are expressed in good faith and we believe there is a reasonable basis for them, but there can be no assurance that management's expectations, beliefs and projections will result or be achieved. All forward-looking statements apply only as of the date made. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking statements whether because of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by securities and other applicable law.
There are a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in or contemplated by this information statement. Any forward-looking statements should be considered in light of the risks set forth in the section "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in this information statement.
As part of a strategic review to streamline and focus operations, Huntsman's board of directors reviewed the possibility and advisability of separating its Titanium Dioxide and Performance Additives business from Huntsman's other businesses. On September 7, 2016, Huntsman's board of directors authorized management to pursue the spin-off of its Titanium Dioxide and Performance Additives into a separate, publicly traded company. On October 19, 2016, we were formed as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Huntsman. On , Huntsman announced that its board of directors had unanimously approved the spin-off and the distribution of all of the Class B stock of the new company to Huntsman's stockholders as of the record date of . This authorization is subject to the satisfaction or waiver by Huntsman, in its sole discretion, of the conditions described below under "Conditions to the Spin-Off." Following our spin-off from Huntsman, we will be a separate, publicly traded company.
To complete the spin-off on the Closing Date, Huntsman will, following the restructuring transactions, distribute to its stockholders all outstanding shares of our Class B common stock. Following the distribution, (i) the holders of Venator's Class B common stock will hold 60% of all of our outstanding common stock and 80.1% of the voting power of all of our outstanding common stock and (ii) Huntsman will retain all of our Class A common stock, representing 40% of all of our outstanding common stock and 19.9% of the voting power of all of our outstanding common stock. The distribution will occur on the distribution date, which is . Each holder of Huntsman common stock will receive shares of Class B common stock for each share of Huntsman common stock held at the close of business on , the record date. After completion of the spin-off, we will own and operate the Titanium Dioxide and Performance Additives business as a separate, publicly traded company.
Each holder of Huntsman common stock will continue to hold his, her or its shares in Huntsman. No vote of Huntsman stockholders is required or is being sought in connection with the spin-off, and Huntsman stockholders will not have any appraisal rights in connection with the spin-off.
The distribution of our Class B common stock as described in this information statement is subject to the satisfaction, or waiver by Huntsman, of certain conditions. In addition, Huntsman has the right not to complete the spin-off if, at any time prior to the distribution, the board of directors of Huntsman determines, in its sole discretion, that the spin-off is not in the best interests of Huntsman or its stockholders or market conditions do not warrant completing the separation at that time. For a more detailed description, see "Conditions to the Spin-Off."
Manner of Effecting the Spin-Off
The general terms and conditions relating to the spin-off will be set forth in a Separation and Distribution Agreement between us and Huntsman. Under the Separation and Distribution Agreement, the distribution will be effective as of 12:01 a.m., Eastern Time, on , the distribution date. As a result of the spin-off, on the distribution date, each holder of Huntsman common stock will receive shares of our Class B common stock for each share of Huntsman common stock held. In order to receive shares of our Class B common stock in the spin-off, a Huntsman stockholder must be a stockholder at the close of business of the NYSE on , the record date. Huntsman will retain all of our outstanding shares of Class A common stock.
On the distribution date, Huntsman will release the shares of our Class B common stock to our distribution agent to distribute to Huntsman stockholders. For Huntsman stockholders of record, our distribution agent will credit their shares of our Class B common stock to book-entry accounts established to hold their shares of Class B common stock. Our distribution agent will send these stockholders, including any Huntsman stockholder that holds physical share certificates of Huntsman common stock and is the registered holder of such shares of Huntsman common stock represented by those certificates on the record date, a statement reflecting their ownership of our Class B common stock. Book-entry refers to a method of recording stock ownership in records in which no physical certificates are used. Shares of our Class B common stock will be credited by the broker or other nominee for stockholders who hold Huntsman common stock through a broker or other nominee. We expect that it will take the distribution agent one to two weeks to electronically issue shares of our Class B common stock to Huntsman stockholders or their bank or brokerage firm by way of direct registration in book-entry form. Trading of our Class B common stock will not be affected by this delay in issuance by the distribution agent. Following the spin-off, stockholders whose shares are held in book-entry form may request that their shares of our Class B common stock be transferred to a brokerage or other account at any time.
Huntsman stockholders will not be required to make any payment or surrender or exchange their shares of Huntsman common stock or take any other action to receive their shares of our Class B common stock. No vote of Huntsman stockholders is required or sought in connection with the spin-off, including the restructuring transactions, and Huntsman stockholders have no appraisal rights in connection with the spin-off.
Huntsman Retained Class A Common Stock
Huntsman will dispose of the Retained Securities within five years after the spin-off. Pursuant to an IRS private letter ruling received by Huntsman, under certain circumstances Huntsman may dispose of some or all of the Retained Securities in a tax-advantaged manner by distributing such shares of Class A common stock within 12 months after the spin-off to its creditors in payment of outstanding third-party debt. If market conditions and sound business judgment permit, Huntsman intends to engage in such exchanges. To the extent Huntsman does not exchange the Retained Securities for third-party debt, Huntsman will sell the Retained Securities. Huntsman anticipates that the proceeds of such sales will be used to repay third-party debt.
Treatment of Fractional Shares
The distribution agent will not distribute any fractional shares of Class B common stock to Huntsman stockholders. Instead, as soon as practicable on or after the distribution date, the distribution agent will aggregate fractional shares of our Class B common stock attributable to holders of record into whole shares, sell them in the open market at the prevailing market prices and then distribute the aggregate net sale proceeds ratably to Huntsman stockholders who would otherwise have been entitled to receive fractional shares of Class B common stock. The amount of this payment will depend on the prices at which the distribution agent sells the aggregated fractional shares of Class B common stock in the open market shortly after the distribution date. We will be responsible for paying any brokerage fees, which we do not expect to be material. The receipt of cash in lieu of fractional shares of Class B common stock will generally result in a taxable gain or loss to the recipient stockholder. Each stockholder entitled to receive cash proceeds from these shares should consult his, her or its own tax advisor as to the stockholder's particular circumstances. The tax consequences of the distribution are described in more detail under "U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Spin-Off."
U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Spin-Off
The following is a summary of the material U.S. federal income tax considerations relating to holders of Huntsman common stock as a result of the distribution. This summary is based on the Code, the applicable U.S. Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder and judicial and administrative interpretations thereof, in each case as in effect and available as of the date of this information statement and all of which are subject to differing interpretations that may change at any time, possibly with retroactive effect. Any such change could affect the tax consequences described below.
Except as specifically described below, this summary is limited to holders of Huntsman common stock that are U.S. holders (as described below). For purposes of this summary, a U.S. holder is a beneficial owner of Huntsman common stock that is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes:
an individual who is a citizen or resident of the U.S.;
a corporation (or other entity taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) created or organized in or under the laws of the U.S., any state thereof or the District of Columbia;
an estate, the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source; or
a trust, if (1) a court within the U.S. is able to exercise primary supervision over its administration and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all of the substantial decisions of such trust or (2) it has a valid election in effect under applicable U.S. Treasury regulations to be treated as a U.S. person for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
A non-U.S. holder is a beneficial owner (other than an entity treated as a partnership or other pass-through entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes) of shares of Huntsman common stock that is not a U.S. holder.
This summary does not discuss all tax considerations that may be relevant to Huntsman stockholders in light of their particular circumstances, nor does it address the consequences to Huntsman stockholders subject to special treatment under the U.S. federal income tax laws, such as:
dealers or traders in securities or currencies;
banks, financial institutions, or insurance companies;
regulated investment companies, real estate investment trusts, or grantor trusts;
former U.S. citizens or long-term residents of the U.S.;
entities that are tax-exempt for U.S. federal income tax purposes;
traders in securities that elect to use a mark-to-market method of accounting for their securities;
holders who own our Class B common stock as part of a hedging, integrated, or conversion transaction or a straddle or holders deemed to sell our Class B common stock under the constructive sale provisions of the Code;
holders who acquired our Class B common stock pursuant to the exercise of employee stock options or otherwise as compensation;
U.S. holders whose "functional currency" is not the U.S. dollar;
holders subject to the alternative minimum tax; or
partnerships or other pass-through entities and investors in such entities.
This summary does not address the U.S. federal income tax consequences to Huntsman stockholders who do not hold Huntsman common stock as capital assets. Moreover, this summary does not address any state, local or non-U.S. tax consequences or any estate, gift or other non-income tax consequences.
If a partnership (including an entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) holds shares of Huntsman common stock, the tax treatment of a partner in the partnership will generally depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. If you are a partner of a partnership holding shares of Huntsman common stock, you should consult your tax advisor.
HOLDERS OF HUNTSMAN COMMON STOCK SHOULD CONSULT THEIR OWN TAX ADVISORS WITH RESPECT TO THE SPECIFIC U.S. FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL AND NON-U.S. TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE DISTRIBUTION IN LIGHT OF THEIR PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES AND THE EFFECT OF POSSIBLE CHANGES IN LAW THAT MIGHT AFFECT THE TAX CONSEQUENCES DESCRIBED HEREIN.
Tax-free Status of the Distribution
The spin-off is conditioned upon Huntsman receiving an opinion from its tax advisor to the effect that (i) Huntsman's pro rata distribution of all of our outstanding Class B common stock to its stockholders qualifies as a tax-free transaction under Sections 355, 361 and/or 368(a)(1)(D) of the Code and (ii) certain elements of the restructuring transactions undertaken as part of the spin-off will also qualify for tax-free treatment under Sections 355, 361 and/or 368(a)(1)(D) of the Code. Assuming that the distribution qualifies as a tax-free distribution,
no gain or loss will be recognized by, and no amount will be included in the income of, Huntsman stockholders upon their receipt of our Class B common stock in the distribution;
the basis of a Huntsman stockholder in Huntsman common stock immediately before the distribution will be allocated between the Huntsman common stock held by such holder and our Class B common stock received by such holder in the distribution, in proportion to their relative fair market values at the time of the distribution;
the holding period of our Class B common stock received by each Huntsman stockholder will include the period during which the stockholder held the Huntsman common stock on which the distribution is made, provided that the Huntsman common stock is held as a capital asset on the distribution date;
a Huntsman stockholder that receives cash in lieu of a fractional Class B common stock generally should recognize taxable gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount of cash received for such fractional Class B common stock and the tax basis allocable to such fractional interests in our Class B common stock (determined as described above) and such gain will be capital gain or
loss if the Huntsman common stock on which the distribution is made is held as a capital asset on the distribution date; and
no gain or loss will be recognized by Huntsman upon the distribution of our Class B common stock.
Tax advisor's opinion will, in part, be based upon an IRS private letter ruling received by Huntsman to the effect that the retention of Class A common stock will not be in pursuance of a plan having as one of its principal purposes the avoidance of federal income tax, that certain post spin-off exchanges of Class A common stock for Huntsman indebtedness will be treated as distributions that are part of a plan of reorganization for purposes of sections 361(c)(1) and 361(c)(3) of the Code, and that certain payments or transfers of assets and liabilities that may occur following the spin-off will be treated as part of the spin-off transaction. The private letter ruling was issued in reliance on, and the advisor's opinion will rely on, certain facts, assumptions, representations and undertakings from Huntsman and us regarding the past and future conduct of the companies' respective businesses and other matters. If any of these facts, assumptions, representations, or undertakings are, or become, incorrect or not otherwise satisfied, Huntsman may not be able to rely on the private letter ruling or the opinion of its tax advisor. In addition, an advisor's opinion is not binding on the IRS, so, notwithstanding the opinion of Huntsman's tax advisor, the IRS could conclude upon audit that the distribution is taxable if it disagrees with the conclusions in the opinion or for other reasons. There can be no assurance that the IRS or the courts will not challenge the qualification of the distribution as a tax-free transaction under Sections 355, 361 and/or 368(a)(1)(D) of the Code or that such challenge would not prevail.
Even if the distribution otherwise qualifies as tax-free, Huntsman or its affiliates may recognize taxable gain under Section 355(e) of the Code if there are one or more acquisitions (including issuances) of either our stock or the stock of Huntsman, representing 50% or more, measured by vote or value, of the then-outstanding stock of either corporation, and the acquisition or acquisitions are deemed to be part of a plan or series of related transactions that include the distribution. Any such acquisition of our stock within two years before the initial distribution or two years after the final disposition of the Retained Securities (with exceptions, including public trading by less-than 5% stockholders and certain compensatory stock issuances) generally will be presumed to be part of such a plan unless Huntsman can rebut that presumption. If Huntsman recognizes gain under Section 355(e), it would result in a significant U.S. federal income tax liability to Huntsman (although the distribution would generally be tax-free to Huntsman stockholders), and, under some circumstances, the Tax Matters Agreement would require us to indemnify Huntsman for such tax liability. See "Indemnification" and "Arrangements Between Huntsman and Our CompanyTax Matters Agreement."
Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Distribution to U.S. Holders
Distribution of Venator Class B Common Stock
The discussion above under "Tax-free Status of the Distribution" applies to U.S. holders if the distribution qualifies as tax-free under Section 355 of the Code.
If the distribution of our Class B common stock does not qualify under Section 355, then each U.S. holder of Huntsman receiving Class B common stock in the distribution generally would be treated as receiving a distribution in an amount equal to the fair market value of such shares (including fractional shares in lieu of which such holder receives cash) of our Class B common stock. This generally would result in the following consequences to the U.S. holder:
first, a taxable dividend to the extent of such U.S. holder's pro rata share of Huntsman's current and accumulated earnings and profits;
second, any amount that exceeds Huntsman's earnings and profits would be treated as a nontaxable return of capital to the extent of such U.S. holder's tax basis in its shares of Huntsman's common stock; and
third, any remaining amount would be taxed as capital gain.
In addition, Huntsman would recognize a taxable gain equal to the excess of the fair market value of our Class B common stock distributed over Huntsman's adjusted tax basis in such stock, and, under certain circumstances, the Tax Matters Agreement would require us to indemnify Huntsman for such tax liability. See "Indemnification" and "Arrangements Between Huntsman and Our CompanyTax Matters Agreement."
Cash in Lieu of Fractional Shares
Assuming the distribution qualifies as a tax-free distribution for U.S. federal income tax purposes, a U.S. holder who receives cash in lieu of our Class B common stock in connection with the distribution generally will recognize capital gain or loss measured by the difference between the cash received for such fractional Class B common stock and the holder's tax basis that would be allocated to such fractional share. Any such capital gain or loss would be long-term capital gain or loss, assuming that the U.S. holder has held all of its Huntsman common stock for more than one year. If the distribution does not qualify as a tax-free distribution, then the same rule will apply, but the U.S. holder's basis in the fractional share of our stock will be its fair market value at the time of the distribution.
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding
A U.S. holder that receives a taxable distribution of our Class B common stock or payment of cash in lieu of a fractional Class B common stock made in connection with the distribution may be subject to information reporting and backup withholding. A U.S. holder may avoid backup withholding if such holder provides proof of an applicable exemption or a correct taxpayer identification number, and otherwise complies with the requirements of the backup withholding rules. Backup withholding does not constitute an additional tax, but is merely an advance payment that may be refunded or credited against a holder's U.S. federal income tax liability, provided the required information is timely supplied to the IRS.
Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Distribution to Non-U.S. Holders
Provided that the distribution qualifies as a tax-free distribution for U.S. federal income tax purposes, non-U.S. holders receiving stock in the distribution will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on any gain realized on the receipt of our Class B common stock so long as (1) Huntsman's common stock is considered regularly traded on an established securities market and (2) such non-U.S. holder beneficially owns 5% or less of Huntsman's common stock at all times during the shorter of the five-year period ending on the distribution date or the non-U.S. holder's holding period, taking into account both actual and constructive ownership under the applicable ownership attribution rules of the Code. Huntsman believes that its common stock has been and is regularly traded on an established securities market for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Any non-U.S. holder that beneficially owns more than 5% of Huntsman common stock under the rules described above and receives our Class B common stock will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on any gain realized with respect to its existing Huntsman common stock as a result of the distribution if (1) Huntsman is treated as a "United States real property holding corporation" ("USRPHC") for U.S. federal income tax purposes at any time during the shorter of the five year period ending on the distribution date or the period during which the non-U.S. holder held such Huntsman common stock and (2) we are not a USRPHC immediately following the distribution. In general, either Huntsman or we will be a USRPHC at any relevant time described above if 50% or more of the fair market value of the respective company's assets constitute "United States real property interests" within the meaning of the Code. We do not believe that Huntsman is or has been a USRPHC at any time during the five year period ending on the distribution date. Further, we do not expect to be a USRPHC immediately after the
distribution. However, because the determination of whether we or Huntsman are a USRPHC turns on the relative fair market value of Huntsman and our United States real property interests and other assets, and because the USRPHC rules are complex, we can give no assurance Huntsman was not a USRPHC prior to the distribution or that we will not be a USRPHC after the distribution. Any non-U.S. holder that beneficially owns more than 5% of Huntsman common stock under the rules described above and receives our Class B common stock will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on any gain realized with respect to its existing Huntsman common stock as a result of the distribution if (a) both we and Huntsman are USRPHCs and (b) such non-U.S. holders meet certain procedural and substantive requirements described in U.S. Treasury regulations. Non-U.S. holders should consult their tax advisors to determine if they are more than 5% beneficial owners of Huntsman's common stock, or may be more than 5% owners of our Class B common stock, under the applicable rules.
If the distribution does not qualify as a tax-free distribution for U.S. federal income tax purposes, then each non-U.S. holder receiving our Class B common stock in the distribution (including fractional shares in lieu of which such holder receives cash) would be subject to U.S. federal income tax at a rate of 30% of the gross amount of any such distribution that is treated as a dividend, unless:
such dividend was effectively connected with the conduct of a U.S. trade or business, and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, is attributable to a permanent establishment or fixed base maintained by the non-U.S. holder within the U.S.; or
the non-U.S. holder is entitled to a reduced tax rate with respect to dividends pursuant to an applicable income tax treaty.
Under the first exception, regular graduated U.S. federal income tax rates applicable to U.S. persons would apply to the dividend, and, in the case of a corporate non-U.S. holder, a branch profits tax may also apply, as described below. Unless one of these exceptions applies and the non-U.S. holder provides Huntsman with an appropriate IRS Form (or Forms) W-8 to claim an exemption from or reduction in the rate of withholding under such exception, Huntsman may be required to withhold 30% of any distribution of our Class B common stock treated as a dividend to satisfy the non-U.S. holder's U.S. federal income tax liability.
A distribution of our Class B common stock that is not tax-free for U.S. federal income tax purposes could also be treated as a nontaxable return of capital or could trigger capital gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes. A distribution of our Class B common stock that is treated as a nontaxable return of capital is generally not subject to U.S. income tax. Furthermore, such distribution generally is not subject to U.S. withholding tax so long as the common stock of Huntsman is regularly traded on an established securities market, which Huntsman believes to be the case, and the non-U.S. holder does not beneficially own more than 5% of Huntsman's common stock at any time during the shorter of the five year period ending on the distribution date or the period during which the non-U.S. Holder held such Huntsman common stock, taking into account the attribution rules described above. A distribution of our Class B common stock triggering capital gain is generally not subject to U.S. federal income taxation subject to the same exceptions described below under "Cash In Lieu of Fractional Shares," and generally is not subject to U.S. withholding tax subject to the same exception described above for a nontaxable return of capital.
Assuming the distribution qualifies as a tax-free distribution, non-U.S. holders generally will not be subject to regular U.S. federal income or withholding tax on gain realized on the receipt of cash in lieu of fractional Class B common stock received in the distribution, unless:
the gain is effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business of the non-U.S. holder and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, is attributable to a permanent establishment or fixed base maintained by the non-U.S. holder within the U.S.;
the non-U.S. holder is a nonresident alien individual who is present in the U.S. for a period or periods aggregating 183 days or more during the taxable year in which the distribution occurs and certain other conditions are met; or
we are treated as a USRPHC immediately after the distribution, and (i) our Class B common stock is not regularly traded on an established securities market (which we do not believe will be the case), or (ii) if our Class B common stock was regularly traded on an established securities market, the non-U.S. holder beneficially owned more than 5% of our Class B common stock under the rules described above.
If one of the above clauses (1) through (3) applies, the non-U.S. holder generally will recognize capital gain or loss measured by the difference between the cash received for the fractional Class B common stock and the holder's tax basis that would be allocated to such fractional share. Gains realized by a non-U.S. holder described in clause (1) above that are effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business, and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, are attributable to a permanent establishment or a fixed base maintained by the non-U.S. holder within the U.S. generally will be taxed on a net income basis at the graduated rates that are applicable to U.S. persons. In the case of a non-U.S. holder that is a corporation, such income may also be subject to the U.S. federal branch profits tax, which generally is imposed on a foreign corporation upon the deemed repatriation from the U.S. of effectively connected earnings and profits, currently at a 30% rate, unless the rate is reduced or eliminated by an applicable income tax treaty and the non-U.S. holder is a qualified resident of the treaty country. Gains realized by a non-U.S. holder described in clause (2) above generally will be subject to a 30% tax from the receipt of cash in lieu of fractional shares (or a lower treaty rate, if applicable), with such gains eligible to be offset by certain U.S.-source capital losses recognized in the same taxable year of the distribution. Non-U.S. holders that meet the circumstances in clause (3) should consult their tax advisors regarding the determination of the amount of gain (if any) that would be subject to U.S. federal income tax. If the distribution does not qualify as a tax-free distribution, then the same rule will apply, but the non-U.S. holder's basis in the fractional share of our stock will be its fair market value at the time of the distribution.
Payments made to non-U.S. holders in the distribution may be subject to information reporting and backup withholding. Non-U.S. holders generally may avoid backup withholding by furnishing a properly executed IRS Form W-8BEN (or other applicable IRS Form W-8) certifying the non-U.S. holder's non-U.S. status or by otherwise establishing an exemption. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Rather, non-U.S. holders may use amounts withheld as a credit against their U.S. federal income tax liability or may claim a refund of any excess amounts withheld by timely and duly filing a claim for refund with the IRS.
Information Reporting for Significant Stockholders
Current U.S. Treasury regulations require a "significant" stockholder (one who immediately before the distribution owns 5% or more (by vote or value) of the total outstanding Huntsman common stock) who receives our Class B common stock pursuant to the distribution to attach to such stockholder's U.S. federal income tax return for the year in which the distribution occurs a detailed statement setting forth such data as may be appropriate in order to show the applicability to the distribution of Section 355 of the Code.
Under certain circumstances, we may be required to indemnify Huntsman under the Tax Matters Agreement for certain taxes incurred as a result of the failure of the spin-off or certain transactions undertaken in preparation for, or in connection with, the spin-off to qualify as tax-free transactions under
the relevant provisions of the Code. See "Arrangements Between Huntsman and Our CompanyTax Matters Agreement."
As part of the separation, and prior to the distribution, Huntsman and its subsidiaries expect to complete an internal reorganization, which we refer to as the "internal reorganization," in order to transfer to Venator the entities, assets, liabilities and obligations that Venator will hold following the separation. Such internal reorganization may take the form of asset transfers, mergers, demergers, divisions, dividends, contributions and similar transactions, and may involve the formation of new subsidiaries in U.S. and non-U.S. jurisdictions to own and operate the Titanium Dioxide and Performance Additives business in such jurisdictions. Among other things and subject to limited exceptions, the internal reorganization is expected to result in Venator owning, directly or indirectly, the operations comprising, and the entities that conduct, the Titanium Dioxide and Performance Additives business.
Results of the Spin-Off
After the spin-off, we will be a separate, publicly traded company. Immediately following the spin-off, we expect to have approximately registered holders of our Class B common stock, based on the number of registered holders of Huntsman common stock as of , and one holder of our Class A common stock. Upon completion of the spin-off, we estimate that we will have an aggregate of approximately million shares of Class A common stock outstanding and million shares of Class B common stock outstanding based on approximately million shares of Huntsman common stock outstanding as of , 2016, assuming that Huntsman distributes to its stockholders all of the shares of our Class B common stock, representing 60% of all of our common stock and 80.1% of the voting power of all of our common stock, and that each Huntsman stockholder will receive shares of Class B common stock for each share of Huntsman common stock. All of our outstanding shares of Class A common stock representing 40% of all of our common stock and 19.9% of the voting power of all of our common stock will be retained and held by Huntsman. The actual number of shares of our Class B common stock to be distributed to stockholders of Huntsman and shares of our Class A common stock retained by Huntsman will be calculated on , the record date. For more information on the shares being distributed in the spin-off, see "Description of Capital StockCommon Stock."
For information regarding options to purchase shares of our Class B common stock or issuance of other stock awards that will be outstanding after the distribution, see "Capitalization," "Management" and "Arrangements Between Huntsman and Our CompanyEmployee Matters Agreement."
Before our separation from Huntsman, we and Huntsman will enter into a Separation and Distribution Agreement and ancillary agreements to effect the spin-off. These agreements will provide for the allocation between us and Huntsman of Huntsman's assets, liabilities and obligations, and we will generally be allocated those assets, liabilities and obligations relating to the Titanium Dioxide and Performance Additives business. These agreements will also govern certain interactions between us and Huntsman after the separation (including with respect to employee matters and tax matters). We and Huntsman will also enter a Stockholder's and Registration Rights Agreement, pursuant to which we will agree, upon the request of Huntsman, to use our best efforts to effect the registration under applicable securities laws of the disposition of our common stock retained by Huntsman and to list the Class A common stock on the NYSE. Huntsman will grant us a proxy to vote all of our Class A common stock owned by Huntsman in proportion to the votes cast by our Class B common stockholders as long as Huntsman owns the Class A shares. We and Huntsman will also enter into a Transition Services Agreement that will provide for, among other matters, assistance to us or Huntsman as needed and a Master Lease Agreement, pursuant to which we will agree to terms with Huntsman regarding leasing space
at certain shared facilities. For a more detailed description of these agreements, see "Arrangements Between Huntsman and Our Company."
Trading Prior to the Distribution Date
It is anticipated that, on or shortly before the record date and continuing up to and including the distribution date, there will be a "when-issued" market in our Class B common stock. When-issued trading refers to a sale or purchase made conditionally because the security has been authorized but not yet issued. The when-issued trading market will be a market for shares of our Class B common stock that will be distributed to Huntsman stockholders on the distribution date. Any Huntsman stockholder that owns shares of Huntsman common stock at the close of business on the record date will be entitled to shares of our Class B common stock distributed in the spin-off. Huntsman stockholders may trade this entitlement to shares of our Class B common stock, without the shares of Huntsman common stock they own, on the when-issued market. On the first trading day following the distribution date, we expect when-issued trading with respect to our Class B common stock will end and "regular-way" trading will begin. See "Trading Market."
Following the distribution date, our Class B common stock will trade on the NYSE under the ticker symbol "VNTR." We will announce the when-issued ticker symbol when and if it becomes available.
It is also anticipated that, on or shortly before the record date and continuing up to and including the distribution date, there will be two markets in Huntsman common stock: a "regular-way" market and an "ex-distribution" market. Shares of Huntsman common stock that trade on the regular-way market will trade with an entitlement to shares of our Class B common stock distributed pursuant to the distribution. Shares that trade on the ex-distribution market will trade without an entitlement to our Class B common stock distributed pursuant to the distribution. Therefore, if shares of Huntsman common stock are sold in the regular-way market up to and including the distribution date, the selling stockholder's right to receive Class B common stock in the distribution will be sold as well. However, if Huntsman stockholders own shares of Huntsman common stock at the close of business on the record date and sell those shares on the ex-distribution market up to and including the distribution date, the selling stockholders will still receive the Class B common stock that they would otherwise receive pursuant to the distribution. See "Trading Market."
Treatment of Long-Term Incentive Awards for Current and Former Employees
We currently anticipate that outstanding equity-based and long-term incentive compensation awards from Huntsman held by individuals who will be employed by us and our subsidiaries following the spin-off and employees who will stay with Huntsman following the spin-off will be treated in one of the following ways: (1) the awards will be converted into awards based on our Class B common stock, (2) the award holders will retain awards based on Huntsman common stock that are adjusted to reflect the spin-off, or (3) the award holders will receive a combination of converted and adjusted awards. If all or any portion of the awards are converted into awards with respect to our Class B common stock under our equity and long-term incentive compensation programs, the number of such awards will generally be determined based upon the relative trading prices of our Class B common stock and Huntsman common stock in a manner intended to preserve the value of such awards. For any awards that will remain outstanding pursuant to the applicable plans maintained by Huntsman but adjusted, the awards will receive corresponding adjustments made to the number of shares of Huntsman common stock subject to the awards and the reference price of such awards based upon the relative pre-spin-off and post-spin-off trading prices of Huntsman common stock in a manner that is intended to preserve the value of such awards. The compensation committees of the respective entities will make the appropriate determination of the type and form of awards that the employees will be granted or retain in connection with the spin-off.
Huntsman expects that the spin-off will be effective as of 12:01 a.m., Eastern Time, on , the distribution date, provided that the following conditions shall have been satisfied or waived by Huntsman in its sole discretion:
the SEC will have declared effective our registration statement on Form 10, of which this information statement is a part, under the Exchange Act; no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the registration statement shall be in effect; and no proceedings for such purpose shall be pending before or threatened by the SEC;
any required actions and filings with regard to state securities and blue sky laws of the U.S. (and any comparable laws under any foreign jurisdictions) will have been taken and, where applicable, have become effective or been accepted;
our Class B common stock will have been authorized for listing on the NYSE, or another national securities exchange approved by Huntsman, subject to official notice of issuance;
The fulfillment of the foregoing conditions does not create any obligations on Huntsman's part to effect the spin-off, and the Huntsman board of directors has reserved the right, in its sole discretion, to
abandon, modify or change the terms of the spin-off, including by waiving any conditions to the spin-off or accelerating or delaying the timing of the consummation of all or part of the distribution, at any time prior to the distribution date.
Reasons for Furnishing this Information Statement
This information statement is being furnished solely to provide information to Huntsman stockholders who will receive shares of our Class B common stock in the spin-off. It is not to be construed as an inducement or encouragement to buy or sell any of our securities. We believe that the information contained in this information statement is accurate as of the date set forth on the cover. Changes may occur after that date and neither Huntsman nor we undertake any obligation to update the information, except to the extent applicable securities laws require us to do so.
TRADING MARKET
Market for Our Common Stock
There has been no public market for our Class B common stock. Following the distribution, our Class B common stock will trade on the NYSE under the ticker symbol "VNTR." An active trading market may not develop or may not be sustained. We anticipate that trading of our Class B common stock will commence on a "when-issued" basis on or shortly before the record date and continue through the distribution date. When-issued trading refers to a sale or purchase made conditionally because the security has been authorized but not yet issued. When-issued trades generally settle within four trading days after the distribution date. If you own shares of Huntsman common stock at the close of business on the record date, you will be entitled to shares of our Class B common stock distributed pursuant to the spin-off. You may trade this entitlement to shares of our Class B common stock, without the shares of Huntsman common stock you own, on the when-issued market. On the first trading day following the distribution date, any when-issued trading with respect to our Class B common stock will end and "regular-way" trading will begin. We will announce our when-issued trading symbol when and if it becomes available.
It is also anticipated that, on or shortly before the record date and continuing up to and including the distribution date, there will be two markets in Huntsman common stock: a "regular-way" market and an "ex-distribution" market. Shares of Huntsman common stock that trade on the regular-way market will trade with an entitlement to shares of our Class B common stock distributed pursuant to the distribution. Shares that trade on the ex-distribution market will trade without an entitlement to shares of our Class B common stock distributed pursuant to the distribution. Therefore, if you sell shares of Huntsman common stock in the regular-way market up to and including the distribution date, you will be selling your right to receive Class B common stock in the distribution. However, if you own shares of Huntsman common stock at the close of business on the record date and sell those shares on the ex-distribution market up to and including the distribution date, you will still receive the shares of our Class B common stock that you would otherwise receive pursuant to the distribution.
We cannot predict the prices at which our Class B common stock may trade before the spin-off on a "when-issued" basis or after the spin-off. Those prices will be determined by the marketplace. Prices at which trading in our Class B stock occurs may fluctuate significantly. Those prices may be influenced by many factors, including anticipated or actual fluctuations in our operating results or those of other companies in our industry, investor perception of our company and the energy industry, market fluctuations and general economic conditions. In addition, the stock market in general has experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations that have affected the performance of many stocks and that have often been unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of these companies. These are just some factors that may adversely affect the market price of our Class B common stock. See "Risk FactorsRisks Related to Our Class B Common Stock."
Class A Common Stock
Following the distribution, Huntsman will retain all of the shares of our Class A common stock, representing 40% of all of our outstanding common stock and 19.9% of the voting power of all of our outstanding common stock. Initially, we do not (i) intend to list our Class A common stock on a national securities exchange and (ii) anticipate any trading market to develop for Class A common stock held by Huntsman. We and Huntsman will enter a Stockholder's and Registration Rights Agreement, pursuant to which we will agree, upon the request of Huntsman, to use our best efforts to effect the registration under applicable securities laws of the disposition of our common stock retained by Huntsman and to list the Class A common stock on the NYSE.
Transferability of Our Common Stock
The shares of our Class B common stock that you will receive in the distribution will be freely transferable, unless you are considered an "affiliate" of ours under Rule 144 under the Securities Act. Persons who can be considered our affiliates after the spin-off generally include individuals or entities that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, control, are controlled by, or are under common control with, us, and may include certain of our officers and directors. In addition, individuals who are affiliates of Huntsman on the distribution date may be deemed to be affiliates of ours. We estimate that our directors and executive officers, who may be considered "affiliates," will beneficially own approximately shares of our Class B common stock (excluding restricted stock) immediately following the distribution. Jon M. Huntsman, Executive Chairman of Huntsman, beneficially owns approximately % of Huntsman's common stock. Upon completion of the spin-off, Mr. Huntsman will beneficially own approximately % of the shares our Class B common stock, representing approximately % of all of our outstanding common stock and approximately % of the voting power of all of our outstanding common stock. Huntsman may also be considered our affiliate because immediately following the distribution it will retain all of the shares of our Class A common stock, which will entitle Huntsman to 19.9% of the voting power and 40% of the value of Venator. See "Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management" included elsewhere in this information statement for more information. As discussed under "Other Related Party Transactions," we and Huntsman will enter a Stockholder's and Registration Rights Agreement, pursuant to which we will agree, upon the request of Huntsman, to use our best efforts to effect the registration under applicable securities laws of the disposition of our common stock retained by Huntsman and to list the Class A common stock on the NYSE. Huntsman will grant us a proxy to vote all of our Class A common stock owned by Huntsman in proportion to the votes cast by our Class B common stockholders as long as Huntsman owns the Class A shares. See "Arrangements Between Huntsman and Our CompanyStockholder's and Registration Rights Agreement" included elsewhere in this information statement. Our affiliates may sell shares of our Class B common stock received in the distribution only:
under a registration statement that the SEC has declared effective under the Securities Act; or
under an exemption from registration under the Securities Act, such as the exemption afforded by Rule 144.
In general, under Rule 144 as currently in effect, an affiliate will be entitled to sell, within any three-month period commencing 90 days after the date the registration statement, of which this information statement is a part, is declared effective, a number of shares of our Class B common stock that does not exceed the greater of:
1.0% of our Class B common stock then outstanding; or
the average weekly trading volume of our Class B common stock on the NYSE during the four calendar weeks preceding the filing of a notice on Form 144 with respect to the sale.
Rule 144 also includes notice requirements and restrictions governing the manner of sale. Sales may not be made under Rule 144 unless certain information about us is publicly available.
In the future, we may adopt new stock option and other equity-based award plans and issue options to purchase shares of our Class B common stock and other stock-based awards. We currently expect to file a registration statement under the Securities Act to register shares to be issued under these equity compensation plans. Shares issued pursuant to awards after the effective date of such registration statement, other than shares issued to affiliates, generally will be freely tradable without further registration under the Securities Act.
Except for our Class B common stock distributed in the distribution and the Retained Securities, none of our equity securities will be outstanding immediately after the spin-off and, except for the Stockholder's and Registration Rights Agreement with Huntsman with respect to the Retained Securities, there are no registration rights agreements existing with respect to our common stock.
Immediately following the spin-off and for the foreseeable future, we do not expect to pay dividends. However, we anticipate that our board of directors will consider the payment of dividends from time to time to return a portion of our profits to our stockholders when we experience adequate levels of profitability and associated reduced debt leverage. If our board of directors determines to pay any dividend in the future, there can be no assurance that we will continue to pay such dividends or the amount of such dividends. In addition, we expect that our debt agreements will place certain restrictions on our ability to pay cash dividends. For more information please see "Risk FactorsRisk Related to Our Class B Common."
The following table sets forth our cash and cash equivalents and capitalization as of March 31, 2017:
on an actual basis; and
on a pro forma basis to give effect to transactions described in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements.
The table below should be read in conjunction with "Summary Historical Condensed Combined and Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information," "Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information," "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and our historical combined financial statements and the notes to those statements included elsewhere in this information statement.
As of March 31,
Debt Outstanding
Short-term debt $ $
Long-term debt:
Credit facility(1)
Senior notes(2)
Other debt
Net Investment / Stockholders' Equity
Class A common stock, $0.01 par value: no shares authorized, issued or outstanding, historical; shares authorized, shares issued and outstanding, as adjusted
Class B common stock, $0.01 par value: no shares authorized, issued or outstanding, historical; shares authorized, shares issued and outstanding, as adjusted
Additional paid-in capital
Net investment
Net investment/stockholders' equity
Total Capitalization $ $
We expect to borrow $ under either term loans, asset-based lending facilities, revolving credit facilities, or a combination thereof, to repay intercompany debt we owe Huntsman and to make a cash distribution of $ million to Huntsman.
We expect net proceeds of $ from the issuance of senior notes, all of which will be used to repay intercompany debt we owe to Huntsman and to make a cash distribution to Huntsman.
SELECTED HISTORICAL COMBINED FINANCIAL DATA
The following tables set forth selected historical combined financial data for the periods indicated. Our selected historical unaudited combined financial data for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016 and the balance sheet data as of March 31, 2017 have been derived from our unaudited condensed combined financial statements included elsewhere in this information statement. Our selected historical unaudited combined financial data as of March 31, 2016 has been derived from our unaudited accounting records not included in this information statement. The unaudited condensed combined financial statements have been prepared on the same basis as our audited combined financial statements and include all normal recurring adjustments that, in the opinion of management, are necessary to present fairly our financial condition and results of operations for such periods. The results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016 presented below are not necessarily indicative of results for the entire fiscal year. Our selected historical combined financial data as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 and the fiscal years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 have been derived from our audited historical combined financial statements included elsewhere in this information statement. Our selected historical combined financial data as of December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 and for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 have been derived from our unaudited accounting records not included in this information statement.
The Titanium Dioxide, Performance Additives and other businesses have historically been included in Huntsman's financial results in different legal forms, including, but not limited to: (1) wholly-owned subsidiaries for which the Titanium Dioxide and Performance Additives businesses were the sole businesses; (2) legal entities which are comprised of other businesses and include the Titanium Dioxide and/or Performance Additives businesses; and (3) variable interest entities in which the Titanium Dioxide, Performance Additives and other businesses are the primary beneficiaries. Because our historical combined financial information for the periods indicated reflect the combination of these legal entities under common control, the financial information includes the results of operations of other Huntsman businesses that will not be a part of Venator's operations following the distribution. In addition, our historical combined financial information has been derived from Huntsman's historical accounting records and is presented on a stand-alone basis as if the operations of the Titanium Dioxide, Performance Additives and other businesses had been conducted separately from Huntsman. However, the Titanium Dioxide, Performance Additives and other businesses did not operate as a separate, stand-alone entity for the periods presented and, as such, the combined financial statements may not be indicative of the financial position, results of operations and cash flows had the Titanium Dioxide, Performance Additives and other businesses been a stand-alone company.
The financial statements included elsewhere in this information statement may not necessarily reflect our financial position, results of operations and cash flows as if we had operated as a stand-alone public company during all periods presented. Accordingly, our historical results should not be relied upon as an indicator of our future performance.
The following selected historical combined financial data should be read in conjunction with "Capitalization," "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations," "Arrangements Between Huntsman and Our Company" and our historical combined financial statements and related notes thereto appearing elsewhere in this information statement.
Revenues $ 569 $ 585 $ 2,309 $ 2,330 $ 1,729 $ 1,448 $ 1,596
Net (loss) income from continuing operations (13 ) (48 ) (77 ) (352 ) (162 ) (49 ) 150
Total long-term liabilities 1,320 1,480 1,308 1,477 1,579 548 484
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information set forth below has been derived from the historical combined financial statements of the Huntsman Titanium Dioxide, Performance Additives and other businesses including the audited combined statement of operations for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, the unaudited condensed combined balance sheet as of March 31, 2017 and the unaudited condensed combined statement of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2017 included elsewhere in this Information Statement. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements reflect certain known impacts of the spin-off from Huntsman. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements also reflect certain assumptions that we believe are reasonable given the information currently available.
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements have generally been prepared giving effect to the spin-off as if it had occurred as of January 1, 2014 for the unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of operations and as of March 31, 2017 for the unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet. However, for the unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of operations, the incurrence of debt under our new financing arrangements and the use of proceeds therefrom to repay intercompany debt we owe to Huntsman have been given effect as if they had occurred on January 1, 2016. This debt incurrence and debt repayment is therefore not reflected in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of operations for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements presented below should be read in conjunction with "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," our historical combined financial statements and corresponding notes thereto and our unaudited condensed combined financial statements and corresponding notes included elsewhere in this Information Statement.
The historical combined financial statements include all revenues, costs, assets, liabilities and cash flows directly attributable to the Titanium Dioxide, Performance Additives and other businesses, as well as allocations of direct and indirect corporate expenses, which are based upon an allocation method that in the opinion of management is reasonable. For purposes of these unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements, all significant transactions with Huntsman International have been included in group equity. All intercompany transactions within the combined Titanium Dioxide, Performance Additives and other businesses have been eliminated.
The historical combined financial statements have been prepared from Huntsman's historical accounting records and are presented on a stand-alone basis as if the Titanium Dioxide, Performance Additives and other businesses had been conducted separately from Huntsman; however, the Titanium Dioxide, Performance Additives and other businesses did not operate as a separate, stand-alone entity for the periods presented and, as such, the combined financial statements may not be indicative of the financial position, results of operations and cash flows had the Titanium Dioxide, Performance Additives and other businesses been a stand-alone company. The Titanium Dioxide, Performance Additives and other businesses operations were included in Huntsman's financial results in different legal forms, including but not limited to: (1) wholly-owned subsidiaries for which the Titanium Dioxide and Performance Additives segments were the sole businesses; (2) legal entities which are comprised of other businesses and include the Titanium Dioxide and/or Performance Additives businesses; and (3) variable interest entities in which the Titanium Dioxide, Performance Additives and other businesses are the primary beneficiaries. Accordingly, the accompanying historical combined financial statements include amounts from the other businesses discussed above that will be retained by Huntsman following the spin-off. Because the other businesses will be retained by Huntsman and are expected to be treated as discontinued operations upon completion of the legal restructuring prior to the effective date of the spin-off, we have included unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of operations for the
three months ended March 31, 2017 and for the three years ended December 31, 2016 that exclude the operations, assets and liabilities of the other businesses that are not part of the Titanium Dioxide or Performance Additives businesses. Please note that the pro forma condensed combined statements of operations for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 only reflect adjustments to reflect the exclusion of other businesses and are not otherwise adjusted to reflect the spin-off transactions (including the incurrence of debt under new financing arrangements) or the acquisition of the Rockwood business in 2014.
The historical combined statements of operations also include expense allocations for certain functions and centrally-located activities historically performed by Huntsman. These functions include executive oversight, accounting, procurement, operations, marketing, internal audit, legal, risk management, finance, tax, treasury, information technology, government relations, investor relations, public relations, financial reporting, human resources, ethics and compliance, and certain other shared services. For more information, see note 2(b) below.
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information has been included for illustrative and informational purposes only and is not intended to represent or be indicative of what our financial condition or results of operations would have been had the Huntsman Titanium Dioxide, Performance Additives and other businesses operated historically as a company separate from Huntsman or if the spin-off had occurred on the dates indicated. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information also should not be considered representative of our future combined financial condition or combined results of operations.
(Combined Divisions of Huntsman Corporation)
PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED BALANCE SHEET (UNAUDITED)
AS OF MARCH 31, 2017
(Dollars in millions)
Adjustment (a)
Cash and cash equivalents $ 35 $ $ 35 $ $ 35
Accounts receivable, net 275 (10 ) 265 108 b 373
Accounts receivable from affiliates 502 (73 ) 429 (429 ) g
Inventories 440 (11 ) 429 429
Prepaid expenses 11 (1 ) 10 10
Other current assets 63 (1 ) 62 62
Total current assets 1,326 (96 ) 1,230 (321 ) 909
Intangible assets, net 22 22 22
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates 88 14 102 102
Deferred income taxes 175 (18 ) 157 157
Notes receivable from affiliates 57 57 (57 ) g
Other noncurrent assets 35 (1 ) 34 34
Total assets $ 2,873 $ (115 ) $ 2,758 $ (378 ) $ 2,380
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Accounts payable $ 295 $ (11 ) $ 284 $ $ 284
Accounts payable to affiliates 783 (10 ) 773 (773 ) g
Accrued liabilities 188 (7 ) 181 f 181
Current portion of debt 10 10 10
Total current liabilities 1,276 (28 ) 1,248 (773 ) 475
Long-term debt to affiliates 894 894 (894 ) g
Deferred income taxes 10 1 11 11
Other noncurrent liabilities 403 (80 ) 323 f 323
Total liabilities 2,596 (107 ) 2,489 [ ] [ ]
Parent's net investment and advances 678 (27 ) 651 (651 ) d
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (414 ) 19 (395 ) (395 )
Common stockClass A [ ] d, e [ ]
Common stockClass B [ ] d, e [ ]
Additional paid-in capital [ ] d [ ]
Total Venator equity 264 (8 ) 256 [ ] [ ]
Noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries 13 13 13
Total equity 277 (8 ) 269 [ ] [ ]
Total liabilities and equity $ 2,873 $ (115 ) $ 2,758 $ [ ] $ [ ]
See accompanying notes to unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements.
PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2016
(Dollars and shares in millions, except per share amounts)
Other Pro
Trade sales, services and fees, net $ 2,249 $ (110 ) $ 2,139 $ $ 2,139
Related party sales 60 (60 )
Total revenues 2,309 (170 ) 2,139 2,139
Cost of goods sold 2,134 (147 ) 1,987 1,987
Selling, general and administrative 240 (15 ) 225 225 b
Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs 35 35 35
Other (income) expense, net (46 ) 1 (45 ) (45 )
Total expenses 229 (14 ) 215 215
Operating loss (54 ) (9 ) (63 ) (63 )
Interest expense (59 ) 1 (58 ) [ ] c [ ]
Interest income 15 (1 ) 14 [ ] c [ ]
Other (expense) income, net (1 ) 7 6 6
Loss before income taxes (99 ) (2 ) (101 ) [ ] [ ]
Income tax benefit 22 1 23 [ ] e [ ]
Net loss (77 ) (1 ) (78 ) [ ] [ ]
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests (10 ) (10 ) (10 )
Net loss attributable to Venator $ (87 ) $ (1 ) $ (88 ) $ [ ] $ [ ]
Basic and diluted loss per Class A and Class B share:
Net loss attributable to Venator $ [ ]
Weighted average shares [ ] d [ ]
Trade sales, services and fees, net $ 2,270 $ (108 ) $ 2,162
Related party sales 60 (60 )
Total revenues 2,330 (168 ) 2,162
Cost of goods sold 2,192 (146 ) 2,046
Selling, general and administrative 271 (8 ) 263 b
Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs 223 (5 ) 218
Other (income) expense, net (3 ) 2 (1 )
Total expenses 491 (11 ) 480
Operating loss (353 ) (11 ) (364 )
Interest expense (52 ) (52 )
Interest income 22 22
Loss before income taxes (383 ) (11 ) (394 )
Income tax benefit 31 (2 ) 29
Net loss (352 ) (13 ) (365 )
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests (7 ) (7 )
Net loss attributable to Venator $ (359 ) $ (13 ) $ (372 )
Weighted average shares [ ]
Selling, general and administrative 199 (17 ) 182 b
Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs 62 (2 ) 60
Other expense, net 7 3 10
Other expense (1 ) (1 )
Income tax benefit 17 1 18
Net loss (162 ) (9 ) (171 )
Net loss attributable to Venator $ (164 ) $ (9 ) $ (173 )
THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2017
Adjustment(a)
Trade sales, services and fees, net $ 552 $ (15 ) $ 537 $ $ 537
Total revenues 569 (32 ) 537 537
Cost of goods sold 489 (26 ) 463 463
Selling, general and administrative 44 8 52 52 b
Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs 27 (1 ) 26 26
Other expense (income), net 11 (2 ) 9 9
Total expenses 82 5 87 87
Operating loss (2 ) (11 ) (13 ) (13 )
Interest income 2 (1 ) 1 [ ] [ ]
Loss before income taxes (14 ) (11 ) (25 ) [ ] [ ]
Income tax benefit 1 4 5 [ ] e [ ]
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests (3 ) (3 ) (3 )
Notes to Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Statements
NOTE 1ADJUSTMENTS TO UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED BALANCE SHEET
The Titanium Dioxide and Performance Additives segments' operations were included in Huntsman's financial results in different legal forms, including but not limited to wholly-owned subsidiaries for which the Titanium Dioxide and Performance Additives segments were the sole businesses, components of legal entities in which the Titanium Dioxide and Performance Additives segments operated in conjunction with other Huntsman businesses and variable interest entities in which the Titanium Dioxide and Performance Additives segments are the primary beneficiaries. As such, the accompanying historical combined financial statements include amounts from certain businesses that will ultimately not be part of Venator after the spin-off. These adjustments reflect the exclusion of amounts from those other businesses.
Certain legal entities comprising the Titanium Dioxide and Performance Additives segments participate in Huntsman A/R Programs. Under the A/R Programs, these entities sell certain of their trade receivables to Huntsman International. Huntsman International grants an undivided interest in these receivables to a special purpose entity, which serves as security for the issuance of debt of Huntsman International. These entities continue to service the securities receivables. On April 21, 2017, Huntsman International amended its accounts receivable securitization facilities, which among other things removed existing receivables sold into the program by the Pigments and Additives business. In addition, after April 21, 2017 receivables generated by the Pigments and Additives legal entities will no longer participate in the Huntsman A/R Program sponsored by Huntsman. This adjustment reflects the inclusion of accounts receivable previously sold into the A/R Programs by one of the legal entities comprising the Titanium Dioxide and Performance Additives segments.
In anticipation of the spin-off, we intend to enter into new financing arrangements. After we have entered into our new financing arrangements but prior to the completion of the spin-off, we intend to use the proceeds therefrom to make a cash distribution of $ million to Huntsman and to repay intercompany debt we owe to Huntsman. This adjustment reflects the incurrence of $ million of new debt by us, the assumption of $ million of intercompany debt from Huntsman and the application of the proceeds from the new financing arrangements to fund the cash distribution and repay the assumed debt. As described in note (g) below, any remaining intercompany debt would be eliminated.
These adjustments reflect the elimination of Huntsman's net investment in, and advances to, us and adjustments to additional paid-in capital resulting from the following:
Reclassification of parent's net investment and advances $ 651
Exclusion of amounts of certain businesses that will ultimately not be part of Venator (27 )
Contribution by parent of accounts receivable previously sold into the A/R Programs 108
Exclusion of intercompany balances, net 1,181
Inclusion of debt [ ]
Issuance of common stock [ ]
Additional paid-in capital $ [ ]
This adjustment reflects the issuance in connection with the sepration of shares of Venator Class B common stock at a par value of $0.01 per share and shares of Venator Class A common stock at a value of $0.01 per share.
Includes net unfunded pension and postretirement obligations of approximately $266 million.
Prior to the effective date of the spin-off, all outstanding balances with affiliates will be repaid, capitalized or otherwise eliminated.
NOTE 2ADJUSTMENTS TO UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
The Titanium Dioxide and Performance Additives segments' operations were included in Huntsman's financial results in different legal forms, including but not limited to wholly-owned subsidiaries for which the Titanium Dioxide and Performance Additives segments were the sole businesses, components of legal entities in which the Titanium Dioxide and Performance Additives segments operated in conjunction with other Huntsman businesses and variable interest entities in which the Titanium Dioxide and Performance Additives segments are the primary beneficiaries. As such, the accompanying historical combined financial statements include amounts from other businesses that will be retained by Huntsman after the spin-off. These adjustments reflect the exclusion of amounts from those other businesses.
Our selling, general and administrative expenses include corporate and administrative charges, exclusive of all allocations to other businesses, from Huntsman of approximately $24 million, $104 million, $91 million and $78 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively, reflected in the accompanying combined historical financial statements presented elsewhere in this Information Statement. We expect our recurring selling, general and administrative expenses to operate as a stand-alone public company will be lower than expenses historically allocated to us from Huntsman, reflected in our pro forma financial statements of operations by between approximately $ million and $ million annually. These cost reductions principally relate to lower expected overhead costs for us relative to the allocation from Huntsman included in our pro forma statements of operations with respect to (i) finance, accounting, compliance, investor relations, treasury, internal audit and legal personnel, (ii) information technology costs, (iii) professional fees associated with legal and other services, and (iv) executive compensation. Actual expenses could vary from this estimate and such variations could be material.
This adjustment reflects the following increase in interest expense resulting from the assumed incurrence of $ million of indebtedness under our new financing arrangements, the elimination of $1,181 million of intercompany balances, net, and our removal from Huntsman International's A/R Program in connection with the spin-off:
Year Ended
Interest expense on $ million of newly incurred indebtedness $ $
Amortization of debt issuance costs
Commitment fee on credit facility
Elimination of securitization fees 1 5
Elimination of interest expense, net from intercompany balances (11 ) (45 )
Tax impact of changes in interest [ ] [ ]
Total pro forma adjustment $ $
Pro forma interest expense was calculated based on an assumed blended interest rate under our new financing arrangements of % using market rates on an assumed borrowing amount of $ million. Interest expense also includes estimated amortization on approximately $ million of debt issuance costs related to our new financing arrangements, including the asset-based lending facility or revolving credit facility. Such costs are amortized over the terms of the associated debt. Interest expense also includes an estimated % commitment fee on the anticipated new $ million asset-based lending facility or revolving credit facility. Actual interest expense may be higher or lower depending on fluctuations in interest rates. A one-eighth percent change in interest rates would result in a $ million change in annual interest expense.
This adjustment reflects the issuance of shares of Venator Class B common stock at a par value of $0.01 per share and shares of Venator Class A common stock at a value of $0.01 per share to Huntsman in connection with the spin-off.
This adjustment represents the tax effect of the currently anticipated restructuring of intercompany liabilities and receivables in connection with the separation, presented on a stand-alone basis as if the Titanium Dioxide and Performance Additives segments' operations had been conducted separately from Huntsman; however, the Titanium Dioxide and Performance Additives segments did not operate as a separate, stand-alone entity for the periods presented and, as such, the pro forma combined financial statements may not be indicative of the income tax expense or benefit, and income tax related assets and liabilities had the Titanium Dioxide and Performance Additives segments been a stand-alone company. The adjustment also represents the tax effect of pro-forma adjustments to income before income taxes based upon our current assumptions of the impacted tax jurisdiction.
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations (MD&A) should be read in conjunction with the information under the headings "Risk Factors," "Selected Historical Combined Financial Data," "Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information" and "Business," as well as the audited combined financial statements, unaudited condensed combined financial statements and the related notes thereto, all appearing elsewhere in this Information Statement.
Except when the context otherwise requires or where otherwise indicated, (1) all references to "Venator," the "Company," "we," "us" and "our" refer to Venator Materials Corporation and its subsidiaries, or, as the context requires, the Titanium Dioxide, Performance Additives and other businesses, (2) all references to "Huntsman" refer to Huntsman Corporation, our ultimate parent company prior to the spin-off, and its subsidiaries, other than us, (3) all references to the "Titanium Dioxide" segment or business refer to the TiO2 business of the Pigments & Additives segment of Huntsman and the related operations and assets, liabilities, and obligations, which we will assume in connection with the spin-off, (4) all references to the "Performance Additives" segment or business refer to the functional additives, color pigments, timber treatment and water treatment businesses of the Pigments & Additives segment of Huntsman and the related operations and assets, liabilities and obligations, which we will assume in connection with the spin-off, (5) all references to "other businesses" refer to certain other businesses that Huntsman will retain following the spin-off and that are included in our historical combined financial statements in "corporate and other" and (6) all references to "Huntsman International" refer to Huntsman International LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Huntsman and the entity through which Huntsman operates all of its businesses.
This MD&A contains forward-looking statements concerning trends or events potentially affecting our business or future performance, including, without limitation, statements relating to our plans, strategies, objectives, expectations and intentions. The words "aim," "anticipate," "believe," "budget," "continue," "could," "effort," "estimate," "expect," "forecast," "goal," "guidance," "intend," "likely," "may," "might," "objective," "outlook," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "seek," "should," "target, "will" or "would" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. We do not undertake to update, revise or correct any of the forward-looking information unless required to do so under the federal securities laws. When considering these forward-looking statements, you should keep in mind the risk factors and other cautionary statements contained in this information statement. See "Forward-Looking Statements" and "Risk Factors."
The Separation and Spin-Off
On September 7, 2016, Huntsman's board of directors authorized management to pursue the spin-off of its Titanium Dioxide and Performance Additives businesses into a separate, publicly traded company. The spin-off is being executed in accordance with a Separation and Distribution Agreement between us and Huntsman. The spin-off is intended to be tax-free to the stockholders of Huntsman and to Huntsman and us for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Huntsman intends to distribute, on a pro rata basis, all of our Class B common stock to the Huntsman stockholders as of the record date for the spin-off. Venator's Class B common stock will be entitled on an aggregate basis to 80.1% of the voting power and 60% of the value of Venator. Huntsman will retain all of our Class A common stock, which will entitle Huntsman to 19.9% of the voting power and 40% of the value of Venator. Upon completion of the spin-off, we and Huntsman will each be separate, publicly traded companies and will have separate public ownership, boards of directors and management. The spin-off is, among other things, subject to final approval by Huntsman's board of directors and the satisfaction or waiver by Huntsman, in its sole discretion, of certain conditions to the spin-off, including the continued effectiveness of the IRS private letter ruling and an opinion of a tax advisor, with respect to the tax-free nature of the spin-off for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
We were incorporated in Delaware as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Huntsman on October 19, 2016. We will be a diversified global supplier of pigments and additives. See the discussion under the heading "The Spin-Off" included in this information statement for further details.
The Titanium Dioxide, Performance Additives and other businesses have historically been included in Huntsman's financial results in different legal forms, including, but not limited to: (1) wholly-owned subsidiaries for which the Titanium Dioxide and Performance Additives businesses were the sole businesses; (2) legal entities which are comprised of other businesses and include the Titanium Dioxide and/or Performance Additives businesses; and (3) variable interest entities in which the Titanium Dioxide, Performance Additives and other businesses are the primary beneficiaries. Because our historical combined financial information for the periods indicated reflect the combination of these legal entities under common control, our financial statements include the results of operations of other Huntsman businesses that will not be a part of Venator's operations following the distribution. We will report the results of those other businesses as discontinued operations in our future financial statements for periods that include the date of completion of the separation.
Our historical financial information has been derived from Huntsman's historical accounting records and is presented on a stand-alone basis as if the operations of the Titanium Dioxide, Performance Additives and other businesses had been conducted separately from Huntsman. However, the Titanium Dioxide, Performance Additives and other businesses did not operate as a separate, stand-alone entity for the periods presented and, as such, the combined financial statements may not be indicative of the financial position, results of operations and cash flows had the Titanium Dioxide, Performance Additives and other businesses been a stand-alone company.
The combined financial statements include all revenues, costs, assets, liabilities and cash flows directly attributable to the Titanium Dioxide, Performance Additives and other businesses, as well as allocations of direct and indirect corporate expenses, which are based upon an allocation method that in the opinion of management is reasonable. For purposes of the combined financial statements, all significant transactions with Huntsman International have been included in group equity. All intercompany transactions within the combined businesses have been eliminated.
We are a leading global manufacturer and marketer of chemical products that improve the quality of life for downstream consumers and promote a sustainable future. Our products comprise a broad range of innovative chemicals and formulations that bring color and vibrancy to buildings, protect and extend product life, and reduce energy consumption. We market our products globally to a diversified group of industrial customers through two segments: Titanium Dioxide, which consists of our TiO2 business, and Performance Additives, which consists of our functional additives, color pigments, timber treatment and water treatment businesses. We are a leading global producer in many of our key product lines, including TiO2, color pigments, functional additives, timber treatment and water treatment products. We operate 27 facilities, employ approximately 4,500 associates worldwide and sell our products in more than 110 countries. For the twelve months ended March 31, 2017, we had total pro forma revenues of $2,136 million.
Factors Affecting Comparability of Our Historical Financial Results of Operations to Our Future Financial Results of Operations
Following the distribution, we will operate as a stand-alone company and, as a result, the future results of operations will not be comparable to the historical results of operations for the periods presented, primarily because:
The results of operations from other businesses that will be retained by Huntsman that are included in our historical financial statements will not be included in our future results from continuing operations for periods that include the date of separation, affecting the comparability of our historical results to our future results of operation. See "Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information." Those other businesses do not affect our segment results for the Titanium Dioxide and Performance Additives segments.
The combined statements of operations and interim condensed combined income statement also include expense allocations for certain functions and centrally-located activities historically performed by Huntsman. These functions include executive oversight, accounting, procurement, operations, marketing, internal audit, legal, risk management, finance, tax, treasury, information technology, government relations, investor relations, public relations, financial reporting, human resources, ethics and compliance, and certain other shared services. These allocations are based primarily on specific identification of time or activities associated with us, employee headcount or our relative size compared to Huntsman. Our management believes the assumptions underlying the combined financial statements, including the assumptions regarding allocating expenses from Huntsman, are reasonable. Following the completion of the spin-off, we expect Huntsman to continue to provide some services related to these functions on a transitional basis for a fee. These services will be provided under the transition services agreement described in "Arrangements Between Huntsman and Our Company." Upon completion of the spin-off, we will assume responsibility for all our standalone public company costs, including the costs of corporate services currently provided by Huntsman.
We expect our recurring selling, general and administrative expenses to operate as a stand-alone public company will be lower than expenses historically allocated to us from Huntsman as reflected in our pro forma statements of operations by between $ million and $ million annually. These cost reductions principally relate to lower expected overhead costs for us relative to the allocation from Huntsman included in our pro forma statements of operations with respect to (i) finance, accounting, compliance, investor relations, treasury, internal audit and legal personnel, (ii) information technology costs, (iii) professional fees associated with legal and other services and (iv) executive compensation. Actual expenses could vary from this estimate and such variations could be material. Subject to the terms of the Separation and Distribution Agreement, nonrecurring third-party costs and expenses that are related to the separation, other than the debt-related costs, and incurred prior to the separation date will generally be paid by Huntsman. We expect such nonrecurring amounts to include costs to separate and/or duplicate information technology systems, outside legal and accounting fees, and similar costs. See "Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information."
We have historically participated in Huntsman's corporate treasury management program and have not incurred or carried any third-party debt (other than capital leases). Excess cash generated by our business has been distributed to Huntsman, and likewise our cash needs have been provided by Huntsman. Accordingly, we have not included third-party debt (other than capital leases) or related interest expense in our combined financial statements because there was no specifically identifiable third-party debt associated with our operations. We intend to enter into new financing arrangements in connection with the spin-off. We expect to incur up to $ million in new debt, which may include the issuance of senior notes, term loans, borrowings under an asset-based
lending facility or a revolving credit facility or a combination thereof and use the proceeds therefrom to make a cash distribution of $ million to Huntsman and to repay intercompany debt we owe to Huntsman, each prior to the completion of the spin-off. As a result, the capitalization of our business will be different and we will incur cash interest expenses as well as amortization of financing costs. See "Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information."
We expect to institute competitive compensation policies and programs as a standalone public company, the expense for which may differ from the compensation expense allocated by Huntsman in our combined financial statements.
Venator is comprised of operations in various tax jurisdictions. Venator's operations were included in Huntsman's financial results in different legal forms, including but not limited to wholly-owned subsidiaries for which Venator was the sole business, components of legal entities in which Venator operated in conjunction with other Huntsman businesses and variable interest entities in which Venator is the primary beneficiary.
Similarly, Venator's tax obligations and filings were included in different legal forms, including, but not limited to, legal entities in certain countries where fiscal unity or consolidation is allowed or required with other Huntsman businesses, components of legal entities in which Venator operated in conjunction with other Huntsman businesses, and legal entities which file separate tax returns in their respective tax jurisdictions.
The combined financial statements have been prepared from Huntsman's historical accounting records and are presented on a stand-alone basis as if Venator's operations had been conducted separately from Huntsman; however, Venator did not operate as a separate, stand-alone entity for the periods presented and, as such, the tax results and attributes presented in these combined financial statements would not be indicative of the income tax expense or benefit, income tax related assets and liabilities and cash taxes had Venator been a stand-alone company.
The combined financial statements have been prepared under the currently anticipated legal structure of Venator such that the historical results of legal entities are presented as follows: The historical tax results of legal entities which file separate tax returns in their respective tax jurisdictions and which need no restructuring before being contributed to Venator are included without adjustment, including the inclusion of any currently held subsidiaries. The historical tax results of legal entities in which Venator operated in conjunction with other Huntsman businesses that will be retained by Huntsman following the spin-off for which new legal entities will be formed for Venator operations are presented on a stand-alone basis as if their operations had been conducted separately from Huntsman and any adjustments to current taxes payable have been treated as adjustments to parent's net investment and advances. The historical tax results of legal entities in which Venator operated in conjunction with other Huntsman businesses for which the Huntsman business will be transferred out to different legal entities have been presented without adjustment, including the historical results of the other Huntsman businesses which are unrelated to our continuing operating businesses.
Pursuant to tax-sharing agreements, subsidiaries of Huntsman are charged or credited, in general, with an amount of income taxes as if they filed separate income tax returns. Adjustments to current income taxes payable by Venator have been treated as adjustments to parent's net investment and advances.
Venator includes the U.S. Titanium Dioxide and Performance Additives subsidiaries of Huntsman International which are treated for U.S. tax purposes as divisions of Huntsman International. Huntsman International is included in the U.S. consolidated tax return of its parent, Huntsman. A 2% U.S. state income tax rate (net of federal benefit) was estimated for Venator based upon the
estimated apportionment factors and actual income tax rates in state tax jurisdictions where it has nexus. U.S. foreign tax credits relating to taxes paid by non-U.S. business entities have been generated and utilized by Huntsman. On a separate entity basis, these foreign tax credits would not have been generated or utilized. Therefore, no additional allocation of Huntsman foreign tax credits was necessary. Additionally, Huntsman had no U.S. net operating loss carryforward amounts ("NOLs") or similar attributes to allocate to us. We believe this methodology is reasonable and complies with Staff Accounting Bulletin Topic 1B, Allocation of Expenses and Related Disclosure in Financial Statements of Subsidiaries, Divisions or Lesser Business Components of Another Entity.
In addition, there were acquisitions, dispositions and restructuring initiatives completed in the periods presented that will impact the comparability of the historical results of operations for the periods presented and to future periods, primarily comprising the following:
On October 1, 2014, Huntsman completed the acquisition of the TiO2 and performance additives businesses of Rockwood. Huntsman paid $1.02 billion in cash and assumed certain unfunded pension liabilities in connection with the Rockwood acquisition and subsequently contributed these businesses to our Titanium Dioxide and Performance Additives segments. In connection with securing certain regulatory approvals required to complete the Rockwood acquisition, Huntsman sold our TiO2 TR52 product line used in printing inks to Henan Billions Chemicals Co., Ltd. ("Henan") in December 2014.
In 2014, our Titanium Dioxide and Performance Additives businesses began taking significant actions to improve their global competitiveness and implemented a comprehensive restructuring program. In connection with this restructuring program, the Titanium Dioxide and Performance Additives segments recorded significant charges relating to workforce reductions, pension related charges and other restructuring costs that impact comparability of our historical financial statements as well as future financial statements. We expect following the spin-off, to incur charges related to this restructuring program. As of March 31, 2017, we had approximately $34 million of reserves accrued for our remaining Titanium Dioxide and Performance Additives segments restructuring liabilities, approximately $30 million of which was classified as current.
In February 2015, Huntsman announced a plan to close the black end manufacturing operations and ancillary activities at our Calais, France site, which will reduce our TiO2 nameplate capacity by approximately 100,000 metric tons or 13% of our total TiO2 capacity. In 2015, the Titanium Dioxide segment began to accelerate depreciation on the affected assets and recorded accelerated depreciation in 2015 of $68 million as restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs. In addition, during 2015, the Titanium Dioxide segment recorded charges of $30 million primarily for workforce reductions and non-cash charges of $17 million and, in the first quarter of 2016, recorded further restructuring charges of $1 million.
In March 2017, we announced a plan to close the white end finishing and packaging operations of our TiO2 manufacturing facility at our Calais, France site. The announced plan follows the 2015 announcement of the closure of the black end manufacturing operations and would result in the closure of the entire facility. In connection with this closure, we recorded restructuring expense of $22 million in the three months ended March 31, 2017. We recorded $4 million of accelerated depreciation on the remaining long-lived assets associated with this manufacturing facility during the three months ended March 31, 2016. We expect to incur additional charges of approximately $41 million for this facility closure through the end of 2021.
During the fourth quarter of 2015, we determined that our South African asset group was impaired and recorded an impairment charge of $19 million. On July 6, 2016, we announced plans to close our South African TiO2 manufacturing facility. We recorded restructuring expenses of approximately $1 million in the three months ended March 31, 2017 and approximately $6 million in the year ended December 31, 2016. Additionally, we recorded an impairment charge of
$1 million during the second quarter of 2016. The majority of the long-lived assets associated with this manufacturing facility were impaired in the fourth quarter of 2015. We expect to incur additional charges of approximately $4 million through the end of the third quarter of 2018.
On January 30, 2017, our TiO2 manufacturing facility in Pori, Finland experienced fire damage, and it is currently not fully operational. During the first quarter of 2017, we recorded a loss of $32 million for the write-off of fixed assets and lost inventory in other operating (income) expense, net in our condensed combined statements of operations (without taking into account the insurance recoveries discussed below). In addition, we recorded a loss of $4 million of costs for cleanup of the facility through March 31, 2017. The site is insured for property damage as well as business interruption losses subject to retained deductibles of $15 million and 60 days, respectively, with a limit of $500 million. On February 9, 2017, we received $54 million as an initial partial progress payment from our insurer. During the first quarter of 2017, we recorded $32 million of income related to insurance recoveries in other operating (income) expense, net in our condensed combined statements of operations and we recorded $22 million as a deferred income in accrued liabilities for costs not yet incurred. We expect the Pori facility to restart in phases as follows: approximately 20% capacity in the second quarter of 2017; approximately 40% aggregate capacity in the second quarter of 2018; and full capacity around the end of 2018. While we and Huntsman are committed to (i) repairing the facility as quickly as possible, and (ii) working with our insurer to recoup losses incurred as a result of the fire, until full repairs are made, we have lost access to TiO2 nameplate capacity of up to 130,000 metric tons, which represents approximately 16% of our total TiO2 nameplate capacity.
In February 2017, Huntsman filed suit against the legacy owner and certain former executives of Rockwood, primarily related to the failure of new technology that Huntsman acquired in the Rockwood Acquisition that was to be implemented at the new Augusta, Georgia facility and subsequently at other facilities. Huntsman is seeking various forms of legal remedy, including compensatory damages, punitive damages, expectation damages, consequential damages, restitution, and rescission of the Rockwood Acquisition or, to the extent that rescission is not feasible, rescissory damages. Venator is not party to the suit. We are currently evaluating the impact of, and expect the Separation and Distribution Agreement to include provisions addressing, such matters. The following table summarizes revenues, income from operations and operating cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016 and for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 as well as total assets as of March 31, 2017 and 2016 and December 31, 2016 and 2015 that are attributable to the businesses acquired in the Rockwood Acquisition and that will ultimately be part of Venator after the spin-off.
Statement of Operations and Cash Flows Data:
Revenues $ 380 $ 401 $ 1,561 $ 1,509 $ 330
Net income (loss) from continuing operations 6 (4 ) 18 (58 ) 2
Operating cash flows (94 ) 23 70 126 (3 )
Total assets $ 1,847 $ 1,720 $ 1,699 $ 1,679
Total long-term liabilities 539 542 526 531
Raw Material Costs
The primary variable manufacturing costs in our TiO2 business are titanium-bearing feedstocks and energy.
Feedstocks are available in different forms, including ilmenite, sulfate slag, synthetic rutile and chloride slag. Our manufacturing facilities use the different forms in varying proportions depending on their technology and configuration. We incurred manufacturing costs of $388 million and $440 million for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, in relation to feedstocks.
The energy used in TiO2 manufacturing includes electricity, gas and steam. The costs in each location primarily depend on the plant design and prevailing market prices. The manufacturing costs of energy for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 were $183 million and $218 million, respectively.
Business Environment and Industry Outlook
Global TiO2 demand growth rates tend to track Global GDP growth rates over the medium term; however, this varies by region. Developed markets such as the U.S. and Western Europe exhibit higher consumption per person but lower demand growth rates, while emerging markets such as Asia exhibit higher demand growth rates. The TiO2 industry experiences some seasonality in sales reflecting the high exposure to seasonal coatings end-use markets. Coating sales generally peak during the spring and summer months in the northern hemisphere, resulting in greater sales volumes during the second and third quarters of the year.
We are one of the six major producers of TiO2 in the world that collectively account for approximately 60% of global TiO2 production capacity according to TZMI. Producers of the remaining 40% are primarily single-plant producers that focus on regional sales. TiO2 supply has historically kept pace with increases in demand as producers increased capacity through low cost incremental debottlenecks, efficiency improvements and, more recently, new capacity additions mainly in China. During periods of low TiO2 demand, the industry experiences high stock levels and consequently reduces production to manage working capital. Pricing in the industry is driven primarily by the supply/demand balance.
Global TiO2 sales in 2016 exceeded 6.0 million metric tons, generating approximately $12.6 billion in industry-wide revenues according to TZMI. The global TiO2 market is highly competitive, and competition is based primarily on product price, quality and technical service. We face competition from producers using the chloride process as well as those using the sulfate process. Due to the ease of transporting TiO2, there is also competition between producers with facilities in different geographies. Over the last decade, there has been substantial growth in TiO2 demand in emerging economies, notably Asia. The growing demand in Asia has consumed the majority of Chinese production. We operate primarily in markets where our product quality and service are valued or preferred by our customers and differentiate us from Chinese TiO2 competitors. Cost advantages are typically driven by the scale of the plant, type of feedstock, source of energy and cost of local labor. We are generally able to reduce production costs by finding innovative solutions to convert the by-products arising from our sulfate process into value-adding co-products. Today, approximately 60% of all by-products of our sulfate processes are sold as co-products, and we are one of the largest producers of sulfate co-products in the world, including gypsum, copperas and other iron salts. We believe our differentiated and specialty products, along with our ability to profitably commercialize the associated co-products, enhance our plants' overall efficiency and resulting profitability. With our competitive cost structure and our slate of differentiated and specialty products, we believe we are well positioned to compete in a cyclical market.
Historically, the market for large volume TiO2 applications, including coatings, paper and plastics, has experienced alternating periods of tight supply, causing prices and margins to increase, followed by periods of lower capacity utilization, resulting in declining prices and margins. The volatility this market experiences occurs as a result of significant changes in the demand for products as a consequence of global
economic activity and changes in customers' requirements. The supply-demand balance is also impacted by capacity additions or reductions that result in changes of utilization rates. In addition, TiO2 margins are impacted by significant changes in major input costs such as energy and feedstock.
Profitability for TiO2 reached a peak in 2011, with significantly higher demand, prices and margins. Following the peak, utilization rates dropped in 2012 as demand fell due to weaker economic conditions, industry de-stocking and the addition of new TiO2 capacity. There was an associated decline in prices and margins. Over the following three years, demand recovered slowly; however, this modest demand improvement did not result in any significant increase in operating rates, and TiO2 prices consequently declined throughout the period. After reaching a trough in the first quarter of 2016, supply/demand fundamentals began improving in 2016 primarily due to strong global demand growth and some capacity rationalizations. Though the TiO2 market has shown signs of recovery, prices and margins remain below normalized historical levels. With the expectation of global capacity utilization rate improvements and further price increases, TiO2 margins are expected to increase to more historically normalized values. With approximately 70% of Venator's pro forma revenue during the twelve months ended March 31, 2017 being derived from TiO2 sales, we believe recovery in TiO2 margins to historic normalized levels should result in increased profitability and cash flow generation.
Exchange Rate Movements
Our earnings are subject to fluctuations due to exchange rate movements. Our revenues and expenses are denominated in various currencies, including the primary European currencies, which have recently been volatile, while our reporting currency is the U.S. dollar. Generally, a decline in the value of the euro relative to the U.S. dollar will reduce our reported profitability. A decline in the value of the British pound sterling or Malaysian ringgit relative to the U.S. dollar will increase our reported profitability.
The following table sets forth our combined results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 and the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016 (dollars in millions). These results include other Huntsman businesses that are not part of our Titanium Dioxide or Performance Additives segments that will ultimately not be part of our continuing operations. See "Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information."
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Reader Content
Read a digital copy of the latest edition of The Sentinel News online.
Would Sugar Bowl victory be bigger than '91 Fiesta Bowl?
Submitted by Josh Cook on Wed, 01/02/2013 - 3:57pm
The University of Louisville football team, ranked 22nd in the Associated Press Top 25, takes on fourth-ranked Florida at 8:30 p.m. tonight in the Sugar Bowl. If the Cardinals win there's no question it would be a gigantic upset. In fact, there's no question it would be the biggest upset of all the college bowl games so far. However my question for UofL fans (and anyone else who wants to play along) is this, would a victory over the Gators tonight be bigger than the Cards' victory over Alabama in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 1, 1991?
No, I say.
Indulge me for a moment.
UofL, then an independent in college football, began the 1990 season unranked in the national polls after going 6-5 in 1989.
Meanwhile Alabama was ranked 13th in the preseason, coming off a 10-2 season (after which then-coach Bill Curry resigned to, gulp, become the coach at Kentucky) and with a new coach, Gene Stallings, who had played for legendary Crimson Tide coach Bear Bryant at Texas A&M.
In the Cards' first game they tied San Jose State 10-10 out in California. They then won three in a row - 68-0 over Murray State, 28-16 over Kansas and 9-7 at West Virginia - before losing 25-13 at Southern Mississippi. After that loss, though, UofL won six straight - beating Tulsa (38-14), Memphis State (19-17), Pittsburgh (27-20), Western Kentucky (41-7), Cincinnati (41-16) and Boston College (17-10) - to close out the regular season.
Meanwhile the Crimson Tide got off to a rough start under Stallings, who would lead the program to a national title two years later. Alabama lost its first three games - to Southern Miss (27-24), Florida (17-13) and Georgia (17-16) - before bouncing back to beat Vanderbilt (59-28), Louisiana-Lafayette (25-6) and upsetting then third-ranked Tennessee (9-6) and even its record. The following week, though, Penn State blanked the Crimson Tide 9-0 in Tuscaloosa. Alabama, however, finished the regular season with four straight victories - over Mississippi State (22-0), LSU (24-3), Cincinnati (45-7) and Auburn (16-7).
Despite the fact that UofL was higher ranked than Alabama (18 to 25), virtually no one gave the Cards a chance to win the Fiesta Bowl. If you remember, or don't, UofL wasn't even supposed to play in that game. The Cards had already committed to play in the not-so-prestigious All-American Bowl and the Fiesta Bowl was courting Virginia. However after Arizona voters defeated a statewide referendum to honor Martin Luther King with a holiday, the Cavaliers opted to go to the Sugar Bowl instead. That sent Fiesta organizers scrambling and opened the door for the Cards, who had only played in three bowl games in their history to that point. UofL jumped at the chance to play in a New Year's Day bowl game (back then playing on Jan. 1 was actually a big deal) and against a national powerhouse like the Crimson Tide. No one could've predicted what happened when the two teams actually met on the field.
UofL outscored Alabama 25-0 in the first quarter on its way to a 34-7 crushing of the Crimson Tide. It was a win that put the Cards' program on the proverbial college football map and actually made Coach Howard Schnellenberger's bombastic "collision course with a national championship" statement made at his hiring, appear possible.
To me it was incredible victory that wouldn't be trumped, or duplicated, by a victory tonight over the Gators. And just for the record, I don't give the Cards much of a chance. I'll take Florida, 35-14.
The Sentinel-News is your source for local news, sports, events and information in Shelby County and Shelbyville, KY, and the surrounding area.
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This Dessert Made of Chicken is a Turkish Delicacy
According to legend, an Ottoman sultan asked for something sweet, and since no one would ever risk denying the request of royalty, the cooks used the only thing left in the kitchen: chicken.
by Jean-Baptiste Bonaventure
Jul 2 2016, 6:00pm
If there's one generalization you can make about Turkish people, it's that they like their meat. They really, really like their meat, in fact. Even though vegetarianism and veganism have taken hold in the Istanbul's hipster neighborhoods like Cihangir and Karaköy, all you need to do is explore a bit of the country to understand that the meatless revolution won't be sweeping through Turkey anytime soon. In the streets of Istanbul, meat is everywhere—from döner kebabs with stuffed vegetables to the thousands of kebab plates churned out daily.
Özkonak, a restaurant that is known throughout the city for its exceptional chicken desserts.
Hamdi Bey comes over to hear the verdict on the desserts.
In Turkey, people even eat meat for dessert. One of the country's most famous after-dinner treats is simply named "Tavuk göğsü," which literally means "chicken breast." And that's exactly what goes into this sweet pudding. According to legend, the unusual creation was born one night in the gigantic kitchens of the Palace of Topkapı, one of the main residences of the Ottoman sultans. In the middle of the night, the sultan at the time supposedly asked for something sweet, and since no one would ever risk denying the request of royalty, the cooks used the only thing left in the kitchen: chicken. That turned out not to be such a bad idea—Turkish people still can't get enough it.
For Hamdi Bey*—who's worked at Özkonak, a restaurant known throughout the city for its exceptional chicken dessert, for 50 years—the ancient past is irrelevant. The only thing he cares about is making great tavuk göğsü, which is no small feat. Over the last five decades, this man of short stature has lost his hair and the firmness of his cheeks to time, but he continues to make excellent cooked meals and desserts, the best of which is tavuk göğsu.
"Actually, I've almost been here since the beginning!," he laughs. From his seat behind the counter, it initially took some time for him to loosen up, but there's no stopping him now. He yells to his co-workers: "Hey! There's a French journalist here who wants to know how we make tavuk göğsü!" Again, there's a moment of hesitation. Then they get going until eventually everyone is adding to the description of the process.
"Basically, to fill up a tray, you have to boil three liters of milk and half a kilo of sugar. Then, you grab the chicken breasts—nice ones, too! Not the ones you buy at the store; you have to go to the farm! And you put them in a large pot of milk, after it's cooled down, and pound them with a large wooden ladle so they break into pieces and dissolve," explains Hamdi Bey with illustrative hand gestures. "It's difficult. It's physical," he adds, thinking of the cooks. "Afterward, you heat that up for 20 minutes on the stove, and pour it into the metal trays, where it is cut into pieces." There—now you know the secret of the sultans' dessert. Well, almost.
Saïd mimics the gesture used to flatten the chicken breasts in milk. All photos by the author.
Tavuk göğsü on the left, Kazandibi on the right.
"I'm not really sure of the amount of sugar," he says. "It depends on the raw materials you're working with: the milk fat, the texture of the chicken, etc. There isn't actually a specific recipe. Decisions are made on a case-by-case basis, and that's why we have the best Tavuk goğsu." This kind of response would provoke outcry among French chefs, with their love of mathematically precise doses and liquid nitrogen cooling techniques. But this is a country that has absorbed culinary traditions from every ethnicity in the region and nearly every surrounding country. It's a country where every housewife (and, let's be honest, housewives are still the ones doing all the cooking in Turkey) has her own version of the classics. So a recipe without a recipe should surprise no one.
Saïd, a server with a frank smile and intelligent eyes, is eavesdropping as Hamdi Bey trails off into an endless stream of details and repetitions. He drags me away, almost by force, and leads me to the kitchen. As the cooks—all women—look on kindly, he mimes the process of dissolving the chicken in milk. The pot of milk, the wooden spoon, and the general atmosphere remind me of a farm in Queyras, France, where my aunt would take us to buy milk, and where little calves would lick our hands with their raspy tongues. While this looks like a typical restaurant kitchen, there are objects here that are undeniable links between the one who produces the food, the one who prepares it, and the one who consumes it.
Saïd then shows us the platters of tavuk göğsü that are served to customers. After cooling for an hour in the refrigerator, they are placed in the restaurant's display case or sold to dozens of Istanbul restaurants. "We even send some out across the country, and sometimes to Europe," Saïd proudly adds. "These ones, the white ones, come from the top part, and those, the caramelized ones, come from the bottom of the pan. They're called Kazandibi. Some people like them better." I place an order, and two desserts arrive on the table, powdered with cinnamon and crushed pistachios, and accompanied, of course, by a glass of Turkish tea.
Upon first taste, it's honestly good, and creamy, too. The texture of the tavuk göğsü lies somewhere between rice pudding and semolina pudding—it's kind of like a flan. What's left of the chicken is only a slightly fibrous consistency. If, one day, you have an opportunity to taste this dessert, opt for the Kazandibi version, which has a caramel flavor that lends a more refined taste to the dish and makes it less heavy.
In the display case, the platter of tavuk göğsü awaits hungry customers.
At the Kardesler Kebap & Cafe, customers can enjoy Özkonak's tavuk göğsü every night.
While my mouth is still full, the manager calls out to me. With a proud look on his face, he explains that his restaurant makes the best tavuk göğsü, and more importantly, that there isn't much competition among homemakers. Saïd elaborates: "It's very physical and very long, and you need special equipment. It's almost impossible to make a good one at home, so people come buy it here and take it to go." Case in point: During my visit, small packages keep sliding across the counter, and leave the premises in the hands of enthusiasts who find nothing strange about the dish. "Try to make one at home, you'll see! You'll be back here in no time!"
Yet, even in this meat-friendly country, the notion of a dessert made with chicken can seem repulsive. In fact, some people believe that tavuk göğsü's name is only part of the legend. Even several food blogs argue that there isn't a single trace of poultry in the dish.
"Of course it's weird at first, but you need only taste it to forget about that," says Volkan, a Turkish-American, raised on the other side of the Atlantic, who is a regular customer at Özkonak. He adds, full of emotion: "I discovered this after moving back here, and I can no longer live without it." Volkan's enthusiasm is not shared by everyone visiting Turkey. In fact, a common prank for foreigners living in Turkey is to invite friends to eat tavuk göğsü, neglecting to mention the main ingredient until the end. The big reveal is usually met with great surprise, and sometimes a hint of disgust—even though the victims were probably busy inhaling a plate full of kebab meat only a minute or two earlier.
Such is the case, a few hours later and a few meters away, with Fabric and Pétronille, a French couple in their fifties vacationing in Istanbul. At a table at the Kardesler Kebap & Cafe, they are halfway through the dessert when the revelation occurs. Shocked, they put down their spoons. "It's really chicken? Um, I think I'm going to stop here then; I'm not really into that," laughs Fabrice, who won't be taking another bite. "It's really quite good, but to think there's mashed chicken in there is grossing me out a bit" adds his wife, a bit embarrassed.
To enjoy this Turkish delicacy, you'll need to ignore the psychological barrier and get into the Turkish mindset. Because, let's admit it, the country's rich and delicious gastronomic heritage includes other strange meat items, like kokoreç, a sandwich of grilled intestines, and the sloppy-Joe-like islak burger, which literally means "wet burger." Without getting in touch with your inner Turk, you'll find yourself konuya Fransız kaldım, "as lost as a French person," as the old Turkish expression goes.
This story was originally published in French in May 2016 on MUNCHIES FR.
* Bey is a marker of respect that is added to men's names, like Mr., or San in Japanese.
Özlonak
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New Zealand has seen record number of migrant arrivals from Asia and Australia February 25, 2016
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Empathy: From Bench to Bedside
Jean Decety (ed.)
eISBN:
10.7551/mitpress/9780262016612.001.0001
Psychology, Cognitive Neuroscience
There are many reasons for scholars to investigate empathy. Empathy plays a crucial role in human social interaction at all stages of life; it is thought to help motivate positive social behavior, ... More
There are many reasons for scholars to investigate empathy. Empathy plays a crucial role in human social interaction at all stages of life; it is thought to help motivate positive social behavior, inhibit aggression, and provide the affective and motivational bases for moral development; it is a necessary component of psychotherapy and patient–physician interactions. This book covers a wide range of topics in empathy theory, research, and applications, helping to integrate perspectives as varied as anthropology and neuroscience. The contributors discuss the evolution of empathy within the mammalian brain and the development of empathy in infants and children; the relationships among empathy, social behavior, compassion, and altruism; the neural underpinnings of empathy; cognitive versus emotional empathy in clinical practice; and the cost of empathy. Taken together, the contributions broaden the interdisciplinary scope of empathy studies, reporting on the knowledge of the evolutionary, social, developmental, cognitive, and neurobiological aspects of empathy and linking this capacity to human communication, including in clinical practice and medical education.Less
Empathy : From Bench to Bedside
There are many reasons for scholars to investigate empathy. Empathy plays a crucial role in human social interaction at all stages of life; it is thought to help motivate positive social behavior, inhibit aggression, and provide the affective and motivational bases for moral development; it is a necessary component of psychotherapy and patient–physician interactions. This book covers a wide range of topics in empathy theory, research, and applications, helping to integrate perspectives as varied as anthropology and neuroscience. The contributors discuss the evolution of empathy within the mammalian brain and the development of empathy in infants and children; the relationships among empathy, social behavior, compassion, and altruism; the neural underpinnings of empathy; cognitive versus emotional empathy in clinical practice; and the cost of empathy. Taken together, the contributions broaden the interdisciplinary scope of empathy studies, reporting on the knowledge of the evolutionary, social, developmental, cognitive, and neurobiological aspects of empathy and linking this capacity to human communication, including in clinical practice and medical education.
Keywords: moral development, empathy theory, empathy research, empathy applications, anthropology, neuroscience, compassion, altruism, evolution, human communication
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Shailene Woodley: No jail time in plea deal for arrest in pipeline protest
Shailene Woodley live-streamed her arrest during protests against N.D. oil pipeline last year. Her plea deal means she won't serve time in jail.
Shailene Woodley: No jail time in plea deal for arrest in pipeline protest Shailene Woodley live-streamed her arrest during protests against N.D. oil pipeline last year. Her plea deal means she won't serve time in jail. Check out this story on USATODAY.com: http://usat.ly/2nF85hc
The Associated Press Published 12:06 p.m. ET March 27, 2017
Shailene Woodley, left, is led to a transport vehicle by a Morton County Sheriff's deputy after being arrested at a protest against the Dakota Access pipeline near St. Anthony, N.D., on Oct. 10. 2016.(Photo: Tom Stromme, AP)
BISMARCK, N.D. — Activist actress Shailene Woodley has reached a plea deal that calls for no jail time over her arrest in connection with protests against the Dakota Access oil pipeline in North Dakota.
The Divergent star was among 27 activists arrested Oct. 10. She live-streamed her arrest on Facebook.
She initially pleaded not guilty to criminal trespass and engaging in a riot, misdemeanors carrying a maximum punishment of a month in jail and a $1,500 fine.
Woodley signed a court document Friday agreeing to plead guilty to misdemeanor disorderly conduct, serve one year of unsupervised probation and forfeit $500 bond.
The agreement is awaiting a judge's approval. Woodley was scheduled to stand trial this Friday.
Opponents of the $3.8 billion pipeline worry about potential environmental damage. Protestors have backed the Standing Rock Sioux tribe's concerns that the $3.8 billion pipeline could taint their water supply and disturb tribal burial sites.
About 750 protesters have been arrested since August.
In her Facebook video, Woodley said police told her she was arrested "because I'm well-known (and) because I have 40,000 people watching." Other protesters were allowed to leave.
"We were going to our vehicle which they had all surrounded and (were) waiting for me with giant guns and a giant truck behind them just so they could arrest me," she said, claiming she was complying with orders to leave the protest when she was greeted by police. "I hope you're watching, mainstream media."
Read or Share this story: http://usat.ly/2nF85hc
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'Pink Tax' forces women to pay more than men
The list of ordinary things sold to women at a higher price than men can go on and on
'Pink Tax' forces women to pay more than men The list of ordinary things sold to women at a higher price than men can go on and on Check out this story on USATODAY.com: http://usat.ly/2nFwKCc
Anne-Marcelle Ngabirano, USA TODAY Published 3:03 p.m. ET March 27, 2017 | Updated 8:36 p.m. ET March 28, 2017
Studies say products for women cost more than comparable ones to men. USA TODAY
Dry-cleaning is just one example of places women are paying more than men(Photo: NICK UT, ASSOCIATED PRESS)
NEW YORK — The "Pink Tax" has many women seeing red when it comes to gender inequity.
Whether it's razors, dry cleaning or toys, women still pay more for those gender-specific items than men, studies show. As Women's History Month draws to a close, gender-based pricing remains a stubborn issue that is yet to be solved, right along with equal pay for equal work.
"Price discrimination adds another layer to the wage inequality women face, making it harder sometimes for women to make ends meet," said Surina Khan, CEO of the Women’s Foundation of California, a group devoted to advancement of gender equality. The Bureau of Labor Statistics said that in the decade between 2004 and 2014, women earned 80% to 83% as much as men.
What do men get that women don't? Here are a few things
The Pink Tax, so named because of the color of products directly marketed to girls and women, refers to the price difference for female-specific products compared with the gender-neutral goods or those marketed to men. And even though the issue has been around for decades, it is still profound.
In late 2015, the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs published a study comparing nearly 800 products from more than 90 brands, looking for price differences in items marketed to different genders. On average, products for women or girls cost 7% more than comparable products for men and boys. For example:
• Apparel. Girls' clothing cost 4% more than boys, and women's clothing cost 8% more than men’s. A side-by-side comparison of red, short-sleeve polo shirts used as uniforms showed a $2 difference despite there being no obvious difference in style or quality. Both came from the same retailer.
• Toys. Girls' toys and accessories cost an average of 7% more than boys' toys. Separately, a side-by-side comparison of two Radio Flyer My 1st Scooters showed this: A red scooter cost $24.99 and a pink scooter cost $49, despite them being identical in all other ways.
• Personal care. Women's personal care products also cost 13% more than men’s, according to the department's study.
Normally, consumers look to supply and demand to remedy inequities. If prices get to high on a product or service, someone finds out how to provide it cheaper. But “not all markets are perfect,” said Michael Cone, a customs attorney who filed a lawsuit in the U.S. Court of International Trade in 2007 that raised the broader question of whether different tariff rates for men’s and women’s apparel violate constitutional equal protection provisions. The case was dismissed, but discussion around the issue goes on.
The pay gap could vanish for all women — sometime in the 23rd century
Women’s History Month: Women of color
Peggy Alexander and Diane Nash, pictured in the middle, participated at lunch counter sit-ins during the 1960s Civil Rights Movement, and were some of the first African Americans served lunch at a previously all-white counter, along with Matthew Walker and Stanley Hemphill. Gerald Holly, The Tennessean
Maya Angelou was a Pulitzer prize-nominated poet and civil rights activist with her first autobiographyI Know Why the Caged Bird Sings receiving critical acclaim for its depiction of racism and sexual assault. A leader in black feminism, Angelou worked with Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X during the 1960s Civil Rights Movement. Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY
Ella Baker was a civil rights activist who founded the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, a prominent organization in the 1960s Civil Rights Movement that united its young leaders. Baker worked with other leaders, such as Martin Luther King, Jr. and Thurgood Marshall. Jack Harris, AP
Monifa Bandele works as an advocate for food justice at MomsRising, a grassroots organization aimed at empowering mothers politically and educating people on issues that women and mothers face. Brian Harkin, for USA TODAY
Grace Lee Boggs, the daughter of Chinese immigrants, was a prominent writer and activist who worked closely with black Marxist and black power leaders like Malcolm X and her husband James Boggs during the 1960s Civil Rights Movement. Ryan Garza, Detroit Free Press
Melanie Campbell is the president and CEO of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, which seeks to increase black voter participation. Lauren Victoria Burke, AP
Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm, D-N.Y., is seen in this 1971 file photo. Chisholm, the first black woman elected to Congress and an outspoken advocate for women and minorities during seven terms in the House, died, Jan. 1, 2005, a friend said. She was 80. AP
Laverne Cox, star of "Orange is the New Black." Richard Shotwell, Invision/AP
Born in Birmingham, Ala., Angela Davis rose to prominence during the 1960s Civil Rights Movement due to her involvement with the Communist party. She was targeted by the FBI, making its 10 Most Wanted List, and later imprisoned but then acquitted on murder and kidnapping charges in association with a courtroom attack during the trial of the Soledad Brothers, three African-American inmates charged with the murder of a white prison guard. Today, Davis fights against what she calls the prison "industry" and focuses as well on intersectionality in feminism. Mike Coppola, Getty Images for Busboys and Poets
Ava DuVernaywas the first black woman nominated for a Golden Globe forbest directorfor her movieSelma. Her documentary13thwas nominated for an Oscar this year. She's also the first woman of color to direct a live-action film with abudget exceeding $100 million(A Wrinkle In Time). Tibrina Hobson, WireImage
Alicia Garza, along with Opal Tometi and Patrisse Cullors,co-foundedthe Black Lives Matter movement in 2013 after the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the Trayvon Martin murder trial. Here, she attends the Busboys and Poets' Peace Ball: Voices of Hope and Resistance at National Museum Of African American History & Culture on Jan. 19, 2017 in Washington, D.C. Mike Coppola, Getty Images for Busboys and Poets
Roxane Gay is a writer whose collection of essays in Bad Feminist explores what the word "feminist" has come to mean today and how attitudes around the term have shaped women's progress. Jay Grabiec/USA TODAY
LaDonna Harris is a Native American activist and member of the Comanche tribe. She is the founder and president of Americans for Indian Opportunity and served on the National Indian Opportunities Council as President Lyndon B. Johnson’s appointee. Shizuo Kambayashi, Associated Press
Dorothy Height served as president of the National Council of Negro Women for 40 years. Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1994, Height worked as an educator and activist seeking to increase political rights for African American women. David Kohl, AP
Dolores Huerta is a labor activist and co-founder of the National Farmworkers Association, now the United Farm Workers. She has advocated for immigrant and Latino rights in the United States. Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY
Carol Jenkins is an Emmy-award winning TV anchor and journalist. She was a co-host of 'Positively Black' on NBC in New York, one of the first shows dedicated to predominately black issues. Lars Niki, Getty Images for Athena Film Festival
Avis Jones-DeWeeve is the former executive director of the National Council of Negro Women and works today as a female empowerment and workplace diversity consultant. Rogelio V. Solis, AP
Barbara Jordan was a prominent politician and civil rights leader who was the first black woman from the South elected to the U.S.House of Representatives. Barbara Jordan incisiveness as a member of the House Judiciary Committee during the Richard Nixon impeachment hearings gained her national attention. In 1976 she became the first African-American woman to give the keynote speech at a Democratic National Convention. She was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame in 1990 and received a Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1994. Anne Ryan, USA TODAY
Coretta Scott King was a leader in the 1960s Civil Rights Movement and wife of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. After her husband's death, she continued his work advocating for African Americans' rights and became a leader in the women's rights, LGBT rights and anti-apartheid movements. In her memoir, she reiterates how black women, pivotal to the Civil Rights Movement, were too often denied top leadership positions, and how she encountered resistance from some of her husband’s compatriots. John Bazemore, Associated Press
Winona LaDuke is a Native American and environmental activist. She was Ralph Nader's Green Party running mate, a vice presidential nominee, in 1996 and 2000. An economist, she has advocated for tribal land protection and sustainable economic development. Stephen Maturen, Getty Images
Audre Lorde was a self-proclaimed black lesbian feminist warrior poet. She wrote 12 poetry collections and five books of prose, includingA Burst of Light, which won a National Book Award. Salimah Ali, POV
Wilma Mankiller was the first woman to serve as chief of the Cherokee Nation and she fought for the rights of women and Native Americans. She led Cherokee Nation from 1985 to 1995 and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Bill Clinton in 1998. "She understood that great leadership begins with the women — that's our long, cultural tradition," said Chad Smith, who was chief when she died in 2010. "If I had one word to frame her, it would be patriot. A patriot is one who gives her all for her people." Gloria Steinem spoke at her memorial service. Tom Gilbert, Tulsa World via Associated Press
Janet Mock is a transgender activist and writer whose memoirRedefining Realness: My Path to Womanhood, Identity, Love & So Much More made theNew York Times' bestseller list. Chance Yeh, WireImage
Carmen Perezis a civil rights activist focusing on racial inequalities in criminal justice, and she served as a national co-chair for the Women's March on Washington."I want young girls to know they are powerful. They are necessary and they can become the leaders of the next generation," she said. Theo Wargo, Getty Images
Ersa Postonserved as president of the New York Civil Service Commission starting in 1967and in 1977 became the first black woman appointed to the federal Civil Service Commission. Ed Ford, Associated Press
Sylvia Rivera was one of the instigators of the Stonewall uprising and a founding member of the Gay Liberation Front. A Puerto Rican transgender woman, she fought for the protection and safety of all trans people. Justin Sutcliffe, AP
Audrey Rowe is the Administrator for the Food and Nutrition Service at the U.S. Department of Agriculture where she works to provide access to healthy and affordable food for low income families. Rogelio V. Solis, AP
Linda Sarsour servedas a national co-chair for the Women's March on Washington and executive director of the Arab American Association of New York. She is a Palestinian American whoworks as an activist forMuslim Americanrights. Noam Galai, WireImage
Madonna Thunder Hawk is a Native American activist and leader in the American Indian movement, which works toward Native American rights and sovereignty. A member of the Oohenumpa band of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, she is “grandmother to a generation of Native American activists,” according to the website for the advocacy group theLakota People’s Law Project, where she is principal organizer and Tribal Liaison. Susan Walsh, AP
Born into slavery, Harriet Tubman escaped to Philadelphia in 1849 only to return to the South to help hundreds of slaves reach freedom through a network of safe houses known as the Underground Railroad. Tubman also served as a spy for the Union Army during the Civil War and will soon replace Andrew Johnson on the $20 bill. H.B. Lindsley, Library of Congress via AP
Addie Wyatt was the first black woman elected to serve as vice president of a major labor union in the meatpacking industry. In the '60s she marched with Martin Luther King on Washington, Selma and elsewhere.In 1974, she was one of the founders of the Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW), the country's only national organization for union women. She is also a founding member of the National Organization of Women (NOW). Nam Y. Huh, Associated Press
There can be reasons to explain the differences. Service providers say that women’s dry cleaning and haircuts tend to be more labor and time intensive, which is why women are willing to pay higher prices. Dry cleaners who use pressing machines, traditionally built for men’s shirts, need to hand press women's shirts, a more labor-intensive, and costly, process. Women’s often smaller and tapered clothes are typically not suited for these machines. Unisex machines exist at half the price of man-sized machines, but press fewer items of clothing per hour.
Watch: Women rally for equal pay and an end to workplace harassment
Ted Potrikus, CEO of the Retail Council of New York State, a statewide retail trade association, looks to different points along the supply chain that may explain price differences for seemingly identical products.
“Retailers see women as their biggest target,” said Potrikus. “Research and development, following trends, meeting trends, advertising products on television and in magazines are not cheap.” Companies are willing to spend more money advertising to women than they are toward men, contributing to the price discrepancies."
Women's History Month: 31 days of amazing women
But some don't see marketing costs as a big factor. “Advertising that doesn’t talk up the product but tells you you’ll be prettier and more successful is emotional advertising," said Cone. "It creates insecurities and jacks up the price.”
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House passes legislation to remove gendered references to presidents in a US law
On Wednesday, the House of Representatives passed legislation to remove gendered references to presidents in U.S. laws.
House passes legislation to remove gendered references to presidents in a US law On Wednesday, the House of Representatives passed legislation to remove gendered references to presidents in U.S. laws. Check out this story on USATODAY.com: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2019/07/10/house-passes-law-removing-gendered-references-president/1696975001/
Nicholas Wu, USA TODAY Published 4:51 p.m. ET July 10, 2019 | Updated 4:53 p.m. ET July 10, 2019
WASHINGTON – On Wednesday, the House of Representatives passed legislation to remove gendered references to presidents in a U.S. law.
The bill, H.R. 677, the "21st Century President Act," would amend part of an existing U.S. law making it a crime to threaten the president or the president's family. This law currently defines the spouse as female and the president as male, and states that the president's spouse is "the wife of a former President during his lifetime, the widow of a former President until her death or remarriage."
The new legislation would change that section to be "the spouse of a former President during a former President’s lifetime, the surviving spouse of a former President until the surviving spouse’s death or remarriage."
Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Wisc., who introduced the legislation, noted that it would help clear the way for a female or gay president to be elected. Pocan, who is the co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, is openly gay.
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More: Penalizing candidates who interrupt, and other changes coming to the Democratic debates
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"The current field of presidential candidates looks more like American society than ever before. We are closer than ever to the possibility that a woman or an LGBT person could hold the country's highest office," said Pocan on the House floor. "Currently federal law does not reflect the reality we could have a female or a gay president as soon as 2021."
Rep. Doug Collins R-Ga., took the floor to implore the House to vote for the bill.
"I think the bill is a good bill that does exactly what it needs to do and then clarifies for the future and would encourage everyone to vote yes," said Collins.
More: Biden urges caution about policies of 'way left' Democrats, Ocasio-Cortez
More: Elizabeth Warren proposes plan to take on pay and leadership gap for women of color
The bill passed by a simple voice vote, with no members of Congress objecting.
The 2020 Democratic field currently features six women running for president: Sens. Kamala Harris, Amy Klobuchar, Kirsten Gillibrand, and Elizabeth Warren, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, and Marianne Williamson. South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg could be the first openly gay president.
It is unclear what future the bill has in the Republican-controlled Senate, or if President Donald Trump would sign the legislation.
More: Like what you’re reading? Download the USA TODAY app for more
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Carter helps Texas A&M edge Marquette
Women's Tournament Capsules
Carter helps Texas A&M edge Marquette Women's Tournament Capsules Check out this story on USATODAY.com: https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaw/2019/03/24/carter-helps-texas-am-edge-marquette/39249753/
AP Published 4:51 p.m. ET March 24, 2019 | Updated 11:25 p.m. ET March 24, 2019
COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) — Chennedy Carter scored 30 points, Shambria Washington hit the go-ahead 3-pointer late and No. 4 Texas A&M got a 78-76 win over fifth-seed Marquette in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday.
Texas A&M (26-7) moves on to the Sweet 16 for the second straight year where it will meet the winner of Monday night's game between Michigan State-Notre Dame in Chicago on March 30.
A jump shot by Allazia Blockton tied it with a minute left and Amani Wilborn made 1 of 2 free throws with 36 seconds remaining, but a lane violation by A&M gave her one more shot and she made it to put Marquette up 76-74.
Carter found Washington on A&M's next possession and she made the 3-pointer to put the Aggies up 77-76 with 23 seconds left.
Carter stole an inbounds pass from Danielle King after a timeout with five seconds left and she was fouled by King. The Golden Eagles had to foul two more times to get in the bonus, leaving just 0.9 seconds left when Carter made 1 of 2 free throws to secure the win.
ALBANY REGION
No. 1 LOUISVILLE 71, No. 8 MICHIGAN 50
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Asia Durr scored 24 points, including 12 in the first quarter to lead Louisville past Michigan.
The Cardinals (31-3) started fast and stayed in gear on the way to earning their third consecutive Sweet 16 berth.
Durr got them going with two assists before adding the first of five 3-pointers in the game and a 4-point play. She finished 9 of 23 from the field and 5 of 14 from long range.
Louisville's defense also came up big, holding the taller Wolverines to just 23 percent shooting in the second half and 43 percent overall. The Cardinals scored 28 points off 22 turnovers, forcing 17 by halftime alone.
Jazmine Jones added 15 points while Sam Fuehring and Dana Evans each had 10. Kylee Shook had 10 rebounds and guard Arica Carter seven after missing two games with a left knee injury.
Akienreh Johnson had 12 points and Kayla Robbins 10 for Michigan (22-12).
No. 2 UCONN 84, No. 10 BUFFALO 72
STORRS, Conn. (AP) — Napheesa Collier scored 27 points and grabbed 16 rebounds as UConn held off Buffalo to move into the Sweet 16 for a 26th consecutive season.
Katie Lou Samuelson and freshman Christyn Williams each added 17 points for the Huskies (33-2).
Cierra Dillard, the nation's second leading scorer, had 29 points to lead Buffalo, which made a big run in the fourth quarter but could not overcome a 24-point second-half deficit.
Buffalo never led and trailed 73-49 with 3 minutes left in the third quarter. But the scrappy Bulls would not go away. They outscored the Huskies 12-2 to open the fourth, cutting the lead to 75-67.
Their hopes of a comeback were dealt a blow in the middle of that run when Dillard went down after rolling her right ankle in a collision with Collier. She had to be helped to the locker room, but came back into the game less than two minutes later, scoring five more points while clearly hobbled.
Her layup with 1:11 to go made it 79-71, but UConn hit its foul shots at the end to close out the game.
GREENSBORO REGION
No. 2 IOWA 68, No. 7 MISSOURI 52
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Megan Gustafson scored 24 points with 19 rebounds, Makenzie Meyer added 18 points and Iowa blew past Missouri to advance to its second Sweet 16 in five years.
Kathleen Doyle scored 15 points for the Hawkeyes (28-6), who put away the Tigers with a blistering 23-4 run in the second half. They'll face either Kentucky or North Carolina State, who play each other on Monday, in the semifinals of the Greensboro Regional next week.
Tania Davis hit her first 3 of the game to open the fourth quarter, putting Iowa up 50-41, and Meyer's corner 3 pushed the lead to 13. Gustafson's jumper over two defenders made it 60-43 with 4:21 to go, capping a spurt that helped Iowa clinch its highest win total in 31 years.
Amber Smith scored 21 points for Missouri (24-11). The Tigers bowed out in the second round for the third time in four years after scoring just 23 points in the second half.
No. 4 SOUTH CAROLINA 72, No. 5 FLORIDA STATE 64
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Mikiah Herbert Harrigan scored 20 points, Alexis Jennings added 16 and fourth-seeded South Carolina beat No. 5 seed Florida 72-64 on Sunday to advance to the women's NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 for the sixth straight season.
Te'a Cooper added 13 points and Tyasha Harris had 11 for South Carolina, which won despite being outrebounded 50-33 and allowing Florida State to grab 27 offensive rebounds.
It's the third time in the past five seasons the Gamecocks have eliminated the Seminoles from the NCAA Tournament, beating them in the Elite Eight in 2015 and 2017.
Nicki Ekhomu scored 19 points and Kiah Gilespie had 15 points and 18 rebounds for Florida State (24-9).
PORTLAND REGION
No. 1 MISSISSIPPI STATE 85, No. 9 CLEMSON 61
STARKVILLE, Miss. (AP) — Teaira McCowan had 30 points, 11 rebounds and six blocks to help Mississippi State roll to a win over Clemson.
Anriel Howard added 21 points for Mississippi State (32-2), which has won 10 straight games in a streak that's lasted more than a month. The Bulldogs were in control throughout Sunday night, jumping out to a 23-10 lead by the end of the first quarter.
McCowan made 14 of 17 shots, repeatedly getting good position close to the rim for easy buckets. Howard shot 6 of 12 from the field and grabbed 14 rebounds. Jordan Danberry added 18 points.
Clemson (20-13) briefly rallied in the third quarter, pulling within 59-46 on Danielle Edwards' 3-pointer late in the third quarter. But the Bulldogs scored the last three points of the third quarter and slowly rebuilt the big lead.
Edwards and Simone Westbrook both scored 14 points for Clemson.
No. 2 OREGON 91, No. 10 INDIANA 68
EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — Sabrina Ionescu had 29 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds for her 18th career triple double and Oregon beat Indiana to advance to the Sweet 16.
Ionescu is the NCAA's career triple-double leader among men and women. She's had eight this season alone. She reached it on Sunday with just over 2 minutes left when she corralled a rebound on her own missed shot.
With speculation that she may turn pro at the end of this season, it may have been Ionescu's final career game at Matthew Knight Arena. But it certainly won't be her last game in Oregon: With the win the Ducks (31-4) advanced to face the winner of Monday's game between South Dakota State and Syracuse next weekend at Portland's Moda Center.
Satou Sabally added 19 points and eight rebounds for the Ducks, who are headed to the round of 16 for the third straight season. Oregon led by as many as 23 points.
Ali Patberg had 16 points and Jaelynn Penn added 15 for the Hoosiers, who were hurt in the third quarter when Bendu Yeaney was injured and left the game.
No. 5 ARIZONA STATE 57, No. 4 MIAMI 55
CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) — Robbi Ryan's free throws with 5.0 seconds left off a Hurricanes turnover put Arizona State ahead to stay, and the Sun Devils ousted Miami.
Arizona State (22-10) was down by as many as eight in the second half, and survived a game where it shot 35 percent. Jamie Ruden came off the bench to score a team-best 10 for the Sun Devils.
Laura Cornelius scored 15 for Miami (25-9), which was looking for its first Sweet 16 berth since 1992. Mykea Gray added 13 for Miami and Beatrice Mompremier grabbed 22 rebounds for the Hurricanes — who have never won two games in the same NCAA Tournament.
Both teams saw late chances slip away.
Arizona State had two shots for the lead — one a 3-pointer by Ryan, the other a putback try by Sophia Elenga — miss, and Miami grabbed the rebound of the second of those with 10.2 seconds remaining. But the Hurricanes turned it over on the inbounds pass, and Ryan wound up making a pair of free throws that proved to be the deciding points.
Miami's last chance went to senior Emese Hof, who got a good look and had her final attempt from the right block bounce off the rim as time expired.
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Aggies to face UCSB in ESPN BracketBusters Game
Posted on January 30, 2012 by usustats
The Herald Journal broke news earlier today that the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos will be making their second trip to the Spectrum as a part of the ESPN BracketBusters event on February 18. The Gauchos played in Logan in the 2008 event. This isn’t the first repeat opponent for Utah State, who faced St. Mary’s in 2011 and 2009.
Here’s a list of all of the previous BracketBuster opponents:
2012: UCSB
2011: @ St. Mary’s
2010: Wichita State
2007: @ Oral Roberts
2006: Northwestern State
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The Spectrum vs. Cameron Indoor Stadium
The Dee Glen Smith Spectrum has always been considered one of the very best college basketball atmospheres in the country, but how does it compare to other renowned venues? A few weeks ago I wrote an article asking if the Utah State Student Section was #1 in the nation. We’ve heard coaches like Rick Majerus (St. Louis, and former Utah coach) and Greg Marshall compare us favorably to schools like Kentucky, Syracuse, Uconn, Indiana, and Duke, but was it all just lip service? How would I ever know unless I had first hand experience?
Living on the east coast has given me the opportunity to attend many sporting events that I otherwise would not have been able to attend. I’ve been to a couple George Mason games, a couple Georgetown games, and also a George Washington game. A couple of years ago I drove down to North Carolina to attend a rock concert, and took advantage of the opportunity to visit one of the meccas of college basketball, Cameron Indoor Stadium. Walking through the deserted Stadium I could sense the history and amazing atmosphere even with no fans present. This winter season I decided that my Christmas Present to myself would be another trip to Durham, North Carolina to attend a basketball game at Cameron Indoor.
Acquiring tickets is no easy task. Getting in the doors required use of StubHub and some serious cash, but it was well worth it. I attended the Duke vs. Virginia game on Jan 12, 2012 and wasn’t disappointed.
So how did the atmosphere compare to the Spectrum? Let’s break it down into several different areas:
Cameron Crazies
The thing that stood out to me most about the Cameron Crazies was coordination in their chants. Not so much just with everyone chanting in unison, but the fact that everyone is also doing hand motions or dancing in unison as well. This makes the chants seem much more united and look very cool from a distance. Even simple chants like “Let’s go DUKE!” involve a hand motion (fist-pump on DUKE) that seems to bring the crowd together and create a fun atmosphere. The crowd sang along to the pre-game music selections and even had coordinated dances to many of them. When Coach K walked in, everyone gave him the universal worshiping motion. All of the students in attendance were totally involved in all of the chants, dances, and hand motions from before the tip-off to the end of the game.
The HURD
Coordination is also a strength for The HURD, but in a different way. While the Crazies have the edge in hand motions, and traditional dances to their chants and songs, the HURD has the edge in overall fan coordination. The Refraction has played a major part in recent years in bringing everyone on the same page, but even after the Refraction crew hung up their sneakers, the HURD has shown an amazing ability to coordinate. After an infamous apology letter and rogue usher mix-up, the entire Utah State Student section remained silent for the first few minutes of a game against Denver earlier this year. It took the students no more than five minutes to spread the word through a stadium full of nearly 4,000 students, and not one of them made a peep until the token silence was over with. Was it a good idea? Maybe, maybe not, but the coordination was definitely there. The HURD is also famous for their “I Believe That We Will Win“, and “Winning Team, Losing Team” chants, as well as their hand motions on the rousing favorite “The Scotsman”.
Advantage: Slight edge to the Cameron Crazies.
The hand-motions on all their chants were just that cool. The Spectrum would look amazing if they could adopt this aspect, and it would keep the students more involved and united.
Intimidation Factor
Walking in to Cameron Indoor Stadium was a completely different atmosphere from what is felt as the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum. It was a FUN atmosphere. The students arrived early with faces painted, hair crazily styled, and dressed up in a wide array of crazy outfits. It was like a huge party between a group of tightly knitted friends. The crowd happily cheered on their players and coaches throughout the game, and made some pretty good noise when things were going right. There is the signature “spell casting” that is put on the opponents throughout the game. But this also seemed more like fun than intimidation to me.
The Dee Glen Smith Spectrum is a much more intimidating environment than the Cameron Indoor Stadium. It’s as simple as that. The first thing that the opposing team hears (or sees, in some special instances) is “Welcome to HELL!” before tip-off. And that’s exactly what they can expect the entire game. The Students come prepared with all sorts of ammunition to hurl at the opposing team. There have been multiple instances where opposing players have literally been brought to tears on the bench during the games from the relentless taunting and heckling shown to them. If you are an opponent with skeletons in the closet, fully expect to have them brought out into full view during the game. The HURD has contributed to some complete meltdowns of all-league players. The “Who’s Your Daddy” and “Ugly Duckling” chants to NBA-bound Coby Karl immediately come to mind, causing him to miss two straight potentially game clinching free-throws despite being one of the WAC leaders in free throw percentage (83.5%) that year.
The noise level in the Spectrum also definitely contributes to the intimidation factor, but we’ll get to that momentarily.
Advantage: The HURD, and it’s not even close.
If the Cameron Crazies are crazy, the HURD is flat out insane.
This was one of the things I was most curious about. The Wikipedia entry for Cameron Indoor Stadium boasts noise levels of 123.1 dB, similar to a power saw at 3′ or a jackhammer. Just how loud would it get in Cameron Indoor Arena? Luckily I was able to witness a good game pitting two Top-25 ACC opponents against each other in a game that was highly contested, and came down to the final shot. While I doubt that this game would compare to the Duke vs. UNC games, I think it’s pretty safe to say that it should have been one of the louder games at Cameron Indoor. The noise level was pretty tame for the first half of the game. There were a few peaks in the second half that got pretty spirited, but nothing even close to what I have heard in the Spectrum. Still it was probably the second loudest college basketball venue I have attended. One disappointing aspect of the noise at Cameron Indoor was the fake decibel meter that they showed from time to time on the scoreboard. I absolutely hate those things. It’s a video sequence showing a decibel meter going up higher and higher and finally topping out at insane levels. The Duke crowd got loud for it and then quieted down before the thing even topped out. It just kept going up and up despite relative silence in the crowd. That just insults a crowd’s intelligence in my opinion. I will say that the alumni section at Cameron Indoor puts the Utah State alumni section to shame. They were fairly loud and spirited and participated better than the Aggie alumni do.
The noise levels in the Spectrum are second to none. I have never heard anything as loud as the Chaz Spicer three-point game-winner over Utah in 2006.
The noise that ensued after that shot was so loud that my ear-drums actually gave out and the noise finally blended into an eerily silent white noise for a series of about 15 seconds. I’ve been to my fair share of rock concerts and other types of sporting events, and nothing has ever even come close to that kind of noise. Another extremely loud moment happened in 2009 in a game against the Nevada Wolfpack. Stavon Williams and Brady Jardine took over the game on a huge Utah State run as Mark Fox refused to call a timeout after stating in the pre-game that he didn’t believe The Spectrum crowd had an affect on the game. Can you hear us now Mark?
I truly believe that I have suffered permanent hearing loss from attending so many games in The Spectrum. I was happy to see that they are now distributing ear-plugs to the fans for the big games in the Spectrum. I’ve also heard that there have been talks of posting warning signs as you enter The Spectrum explaining the potentially damaging affects of the noise found therein. If The Spectrum Alumni could contribute as much as the Cameron Indoor alumni do, the Spectrum would be even better.
Advantage: The HURD.
The Spectrum: eardrums enter at their own risk.
Fun Factor
As mentioned above, the Cameron Crazies are definitely fun. If you want to party with your friends, dress up, and act crazy, Cameron Indoor is for you. The atmosphere was very upbeat. Lots of cheering for your team, and very little intimidation towards the opposing team. Apparently this is something that Coach K preaches to the crowd.
There are definitely plenty of fun times to be had at the Spectrum, but often times they are at the expense of the opposing player or coach. In 2007, the HURD found a suggestive image of a greased up New Mexico State coach Reggie Theus. When Reggie came to town he was met with hundreds of color posters, and a group of front row diehards even participated in a Reggie Theus lookalike contest. The HURD can laugh at themselves as well as their opponents, as can be seen by the Stew Morrill Lookalike contest that happened later that same year.
Advantage: Cameron Crazies.
The Cameron Crazies have been well known for their creativity. From “Speedo Guy“, to the “spell castings” and creative outfits. I saw a Storm Trooper, Banana Suit, full body spandex suits, and plenty of crazy wigs. What I most looked forward to were witty chants. In this aspect I was pretty disappointed. There were no spur of the moment witty chants at the game. My favorite chant was “Crazy Towel Guy” that they chanted during a timeout in the second half until this crazy guy in the alumni section stood up and waved his towel around. But apparently this was not a creative, spur-of-the moment chant, but a traditional chant done at every game. There were very few signs at the game despite it being nationally televised. The only sign that I saw directed at other players was something to the effect of: “Who are your players again?”. Not creative.
Creativity has been as strong suit for the Utah State student section since long before they were referred to as the HURD. From the toilet-paper throws, to the water bomb incident, to the many spontaneous chants, and Wild Bill antics. The Refraction helped coordinate some of this creativity throughout the years, but it seems that every game in the Spectrum (regardless of opponent) includes witty chants. Some of my favorites include “M.C. Hammer” (directed towards an opposing coach with particularly baggy pants), “Uncle Fester” (directed towards a big bruiser with a shaved head similar to the Addams Family character), “Waste of Tithing” (directed towards religious based in-state rival BYU), and “Stew Is Hotter” (directed at Reggie Theus while mocking his greased up shirtless modeling photos). The HURD always brings it with creative signs for televised games. Here’s a little taste from a 2009 game against BYU:
Student Section Layout / Size
The layout in Cameron Indoor is very unique. About 80% of the lower bowl (which consists of pull-out bleachers) is dedicated to student seating. The student section wraps around most of the arena, and the students seats are pretty close to the court. The court-side students are within reach of the players as they pass the ball in if they reach over press row. The students are fairly close behind the hoops as well, but there are 2-3 rows of alumni seats in front of them that provides somewhat of a buffer. The stadium was designed for a maximum of 1,100 students, but the students have been known to cram in upwards of 1,600 for high profile games.
The Dee Glen Smith Spectrum was built with the help of student fees, and has dedicated a large portion of its seats to students since it’s opening in 1970. The Spectrum holds around 4,000 students spanning close to half of the arena. The students sit behind the hoop on one side, and occupy most of the court-side seats opposite the team benches. The sheer number of students attending the games makes for a very intense and loud atmosphere. Like the Cameron Crazies, the HURD stands up the entire game, and the seats go right down to the court. The only difference is that there is no press row in front of the court-side seats, and the only thing between the Bull-Pen (Section F behind the hoop) and the court is a railing barrier. This helps the students have “friendly” conversations with opposing coaches, players, and referees.
Advantage: Push.
The Crazies have a very nice layout, giving the majority of the seats closest to the floor to the students. The HURD has the advantage in size with nearly 4 times as many student seats.
Walking into Cameron Indoor arena was like stepping back in time several decades. The stadium, built in 1940 doesn’t look like a basketball arena at all from the outside. Air conditioning wasn’t even installed until recent years. The concourse has amazing inlaid duke logos, trophy cases, huge posters, photos, and a nearly never-ending display of history and tradition. Looking into the rafters reveals an insane amount of championship banners, some of which are also seen in the concourse. There is also a sports hall of fame that can be accessed from the concourse level. The Cameron Crazies also populate Krzyzewskiville each year prior to the North Carolina game and other select “tenting” games.
The Dee Glen Smith Spectrum was built in 1970, and sports traditional 70’s style fall-colored seating. It has always had a great tradition of student and alumni support, but we here at USUStats.com believe that this has increased over the last decade or so. Many students wait in line for a minimum of 12 hours to obtain good seats to every game. The HURD has also instituted their own version of Krzyzewskiville in recent years before the in-state rivalry game against BYU.
Advantage: Cameron Crazies
There is some good basketball history at Utah State as can be seen in the trophy cases and hanging banners, but it does not quite live up to the achievements at Duke.
So, which environment is the best for college basketball games? I guess that depends on your preferences. If you value costumes, dancing, fun, and tradition, Cameron Indoor is the place for you. If you value creativity, coordination, intensity, intimidation, and sheer noise, the Spectrum is the place for you. Personally, I will take the Spectrum any day of the week. GO AGGIES!
Posted in General Posts | Tagged Cameron Crazies, Cameron Indoor Stadium, Dee Glen Smith Spectrum, Krzyzewskiville, Spectrum, The HURD | 7 Replies
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About United Way of Roanoke Valley
Mobilizing the Compassion of Our Community
United Way of Roanoke Valley has dedicated 94 years to improving lives in our community, proudly serving the citizens of Roanoke City, Roanoke County, Salem, Vinton, Botetourt, Craig, and Franklin County. In 2017 we joined forces with United Way of Franklin County to serve local families in a more efficient, coordinated way, bringing better access to services across the region. For more information about Franklin County, click here.
United Way creates lasting change by lifting individuals and families to a position of stability through collaborative solutions that address an entire family’s needs, solving problems that no one organization can solve alone. For a full list of programs that we fund, click here.
A New Vision For Our Community
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Over the past year, in collaboration with the greatest thought leaders of our community, we reviewed local data and conducted a “community listening tour” in which we tracked down hundreds of families’ stories to help shape our next course of action in elevating families to self-sufficiency. This approach will be facilitated through a cradle-to-career continuum of support that will help this generation break out of the cycle of generational poverty.
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Home » News » Columns » Scenarios with Obadiah Mailafia » Prophet T.B. Joshua, please don’t go!
Prophet T.B. Joshua, please don’t go!
On June 6, 2017 5:47 amIn Scenarios with Obadiah Mailafiaby Emmanuel Okogba
By Obadiah Mailafia
TEMITOPE Balogun Joshua of the Synagogue Church of All Nations, SCOAN, is undeniably a global brand. His Emmanuel TV is watched by millions across the world. Joshua recently made headlines when he announced his intention to immigrate to Israel, adding that his ministry is the “most persecuted in the whole world”. He had been on pilgrimage to Israel a few months earlier and met with the Mayor of Jerusalem and other prominent Israeli figures. It was after that visit that he threw his bombshell: “This is where my Father in Heaven came from – it’s non-negotiable”. We understand that authorities in Telaviv have already allocated land and facilities to him in an area not far from the Sea of Galilee.
I first met T. B. Joshua sometimes in the year 2008. A friend who happened to be a senator asked me to accompany him to see the Prophet. To be transparently honest, I was sceptical. I went more out of curiosity than anything else. I had watched his performance on Emmanuel TV and thought the whole thing was, at best hocus-pocus, or worse unbridled shamanism.
My evangelical upbringing steeped in Anglicanism was more philosophy and theology than spirituality, if I must come clean. I always thought miracles and prophecies ended with the Age of the Apostles. You can therefore imagine how awkward our encounter must have been. Temitope Joshua does not talk theology. He lives and breathes the Word. He is worth more than a thousand pontifical prelates.
During our first meeting, what struck me was his humility, which St. Augustine of Hippo declared humility to be “the mark of Christ”. Another great attribute of his is loving-kindness. He is a profoundly loving and compassionate man. He had sent a driver and police escort to bring us to Ikotun where we were put up in his residential accommodation and well taken care of. We never paid him anything. He never talks about money, in contrast to so many devourer pastors who think nothing of fleecing widows of their meagre savings. Instead, he gives generously to the poor. After Sunday service, he gave us yet another driver and police escort to take us back to Ikeja Airport.
One late afternoon I received a call from the Prophet saying hello and asking after my father. I replied that Daddy was doing spritely well. He asked me to extend his greetings and to let him know that “it is well”. When I called home I was told father had just collapsed and being rushed to the hospital. He survived it. He passed away five years later in December 2014, age one hundred.
A prophet is not without honour safe in his own country. Prophet T. B. Joshua has suffered more persecution than most. He was once handcuffed and jailed on false accusations of being a drug dealer. Mainstream churches look askance at him, if not with envy. Many hate him bitterly. Some say he is an agent of the devil; others, that he gets his powers from a snake. Boko Haram agents were intercepted on several different occasions with bombs as they attempted to gain entry into the Synagogue.
Things reached their high water mark with the collapse of one of his buildings in September 2014 in which 115 people died, most of them South Africans. An inquest followed. Recently I made it a point to speak to the structural engineer of that inquest, who happened to be a brilliant professor with a doctorate from Imperial College London. He mumbled something about the pillars being “inadequate”. I asked if the mystery plane that hovered over the building minutes before its collapse provided any clues and if he could explain why the building came down in the fractal shape of a controlled demolition. Silence.
Remarkably, he never joins issues with his persecutors and traducers. He only preaches love and forgiveness. And he has a special love for Muslims – even for the Boko Haram agents who came with intent to wipe him out. Six out of every 10 foreign tourists in our country are bound for SCOAN. It’s a major contribution to inward capital flows. And when he ventures out to such countries as Singapore, Indonesia, Australia, Colombia, Mexico and Peru he is received with the protocols reserved only for Visiting Heads of State. He has brought nothing but honour to our country.
To be fair, Nigeria has not been altogether ungracious to him. In 2008 late President Umaru Yar’Adua conferred on him the honour of Officer of the Federal Republic of (OFR); the pan-Yoruba media organisation Irohin-Odua voted him Yoruba Man of the Decade. He has also been listed among the 50 most influential people in Africa.
My studies in the philosophy of science have led me into the world of elementary particles, quantum gravity, parallel universes and black holes. Albert Einstein was wrong: God does play dice with the universe after all! The miracles performed by T. B. Joshua are too astonishing to be dismissed as mere gimmicks. Beelzebub cannot continue to cast out Beelzebub. It would be like squaring a cycle.
In a hundred years, future generations will be talking about the mighty deeds performed by this servant of the Lord. He has not only brought honour to our country; he has singlehandedly redeemed our image as a lawless, corrupt people.
Israel is a place of pilgrimage for Christians. But it is more anti-Christian than Christian. When the venerable Rabbi Yitzhak Kaduri left his posthumous testament in January 2006 in which he claimed he saw the Messiah and that his name is Yehoshua, it sent shockwaves throughout Israel. There is a growing number of Messianic Jews; but many complain of discrimination. I love Eretz Israel, but I would be sorry to see T. B. Joshua go. The Israelis, ever an astute people, will do all it takes to bring him to their country, knowing what an asset he would be. Their gain will be our loss.
Lagos APC: Unchanging Crisis
Adewole reads riot act on tobacco control
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Students at Virginia University of Lynchburg are encouraged to develop themselves to their fullest potential. In keeping with the philosophy of the University, the Admissions Committee gives regards to the following:
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Trump promotes environmental record despite rollbacks
President Donald Trump pauses as he speaks during an event about the environment in the East Room of the White House, Monday, July 8, 2019, in Washington. (Alex Brandon/Associated Press)
By Ellen Knickmeyer and Kevin Freking | AP
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump declared himself a champion of the environment Monday, working to boost his standing on climate change and pollution issues in advance of the 2020 election despite having launched some of the most sweeping rollbacks in air, water and other protections in decades.
“We have only one America. We have only one planet,” Trump said in a White House address that featured some of his most extensive remarks on the environment to date. Trump’s previous conservation statements have included campaigning to all but eliminate the Environmental Protection Agency and tweets that mocked climate change science. His administration has focused on propping up the lagging U.S. coal industry and expanding a boom in U.S. gas and oil.
“A strong economy is vital to maintaining a healthy environment,” Trump declared, saying he was balancing business-friendly oversight with public health and conservation protections.
Cabinet members stood and applauded the president’s remarks and then went to the East Room podium, one-by-one, to attest to his dedication to conservation. The president also brought to the stage a Florida bait and tackle shop owner, Bruce Hrobak, who praised what he said were the administration’s efforts against water-fouling algae before pumping his fist in the air and declaring, “Trump 2020.”
Former government regulators and environmental advocates said Trump’s promotion of its environmental record strained credulity, coming from an administration that has moved to weaken several landmark U.S. protections for air and water and roll back Obama-era efforts against climate change.
“Trump’s environmental record is such a toxic disaster it should be declared a Superfund site,” said Carol Browner, who led the Environmental Protection Agency during the Clinton administration.
The White House is recognizing that “the majority of folks in the country are now beginning to pay attention to climate issues and environmental issues,” said Mustafa Santiago Ali, a former longtime official in the Environmental Protection Agency’s office of environmental justice.
Administration officials are “trying to reframe the conversation to make people think they’ve done something to better protect them. And unfortunately they haven’t done a single thing,” Ali said. He pointed to EPA estimates that proposed rollbacks for fossil fuel emissions will cause thousands of additional deaths annually from air pollution.
In the view of a former senior EPA transportation engineer, Jeff Alson, the administration’s claims of environment leadership are “truly Orwellian.” Alson has accused the administration of fudging data to support easing vehicle mileage standards.
Polls show Americans increasingly identify the environment and climate change as priorities — although below other issues like the economy and health care. Environmental issues are a much bigger concern for Democrats than for Trump’s Republican base.
Trump said he was focused on “practical solutions” while many Democrats in Congress were supporting the plan to curb climate change called the Green New Deal. ”It’ll crush the dreams of the poorest Americans and disproportionately harm minority communities,” Trump said, providing no details. “I will not stand for it.”
As a candidate, Trump campaigned on a pledge to eradicate all but a “little bit” of the EPA. As president, he routinely has proposed cutting the agency’s budget by almost one-third. Both Democratic and Republican lawmakers have blocked the proposed cuts.
The administration has initiated dozens of regulatory changes, at times proposing cutting rules even more than regulated industries requested, as in the case of mileage standards.
The biggest changes include easing federal Clean Water Act protections for millions of miles of waterways and wetlands, a cut welcomed by developers and many farmers. Other changes would ease regulation and support the coal industry and oil and gas companies, sources of heat-trapping fossil fuel emissions and air pollutants.
Critics say other changes favor industry over science in environmental and public health protections.
Trump has pulled the United States out of the Paris climate accord and dismissed federal scientists’ warnings on climate change. In tweets, he has mockingly hoped for more global warming during winter cold snaps.
In comments before the speech, Mary Neumayr, chairwoman of the administration’s Council on Environmental Quality, and Andrew Wheeler, head of the Trump EPA, pointed to overall U.S. progress cleaning up the air and water since the 1970s, and said progress has continued under Trump.
Earlier this year, seven of the 10 surviving, Senate-confirmed heads of the EPA signed a letter urging lawmakers to step up oversight of the agency and make it focus on its mission of protecting public health and the environment.
In December, an Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll found Democrats driving an increase in the share of Americans who name the environment and climate change as an important issue for the government to work on in 2019. About 4 in 10 Democrats included the environment as a priority, compared with just 8% of Republicans. The share of Democrats naming the environment grew 11 percentage points, from 28% a year ago.
In January, 30% of all Americans expressed approval of the way Trump was handling climate change, while 68% disapproved, according to an AP-NORC poll. Just 8% of Democrats approved of Trump’s performance on climate change, compared with 67% of Republicans.
Trump’s speech came hours after a rainfall in the nation’s capital region that set records for the date, raised creeks as much as 11 feet and flooded the White House basement. The deluge highlighted the weather extremes of hurricanes, floods and wildfires that polls show are helping to fuel public concerns about climate change.
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