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ABOUT RUSSIA / NATIONS / DARGINS
The Dargins
The Dargins live in Dagestan, Stavropolsky Krai, the Republic of Kalmykia.
Neighboring ethnic groups are the Tabasarans, the Aguls, the Laks, the Avars and the Kumuks.
Language: Dargin (3 independent, mutually unintelligible dialects), belongs to Nakhsko-dagestanian group
Religion: Sunni-Muslims, some shia-muslim communities also.
The Dargins are considered to be an indigenous people of the Caucasus, that lived relatively isolated from foreign influence until the beginning of the great Arab conquests in the 8th c., when they were exposed to Islam for the first time. From the 14th c., they were controlled politically by the Kaytaks, who are now considered a sub-group of Dargins.
Although introduced to Islam in the 8th c., the Dargins remained primarily animist until the15th c., when Muslim influence became stronger, with Persian traders coming in from the south, and the Golden Horde increasingly pressing from the north. In the 16th c., the Ottoman Turks occupied the area, and also helped to consolidate Islam. By the 19th c., all but a few of the Dargins had been converted to Islam.
Fundamentalist Muslim tendencies are strong among the Dargins, together with a profound anti-Russian sentiment.
Just after the Bolshevik revolution, the government in Moscow established the Mountain Autonomous Republic, with Arabic as official language. Dargins and other peoples rebelled, and in 1921, the Dagestan autonomous soviet republic was established, including the Dargin population. Soviet policy towards this region was cruel and extremely unstable in the 1920s, with incidences of purges against Muslim leaders, changes in official language and a general "divide-and-rule"-approach. Things became more stable after 1928, when Dargin, Avar, Lezgin and Azerbaijani were all made official languages. However, gradually, Russian language was imposed in schools and administrations.
The Dargins resisted russification by simply refusing to participate in programs to relocate them out of the highlands and into lowland towns and collective farms. Thus, the majority of the Dargins still maintain a traditional lifestyle.
After 1991, in the wake of the collapse of the Soviet Union, anti-Russian secessionist nationalism is gaining strength among the Dargins.
For the most part, the relations between the various ethnic groups of Dagestan are remarkably less competitive than those of the titular nationalities in the other North Caucasian republics. This may change if nationalism, as expressed in the concept of the national state, gains more currency among the larger national groups, such as the Dargins.
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Rule Of Law As The Refuge Of Scoundrels By Ogaga Ifowodo
I welcome the controversy over President Buhari’s explanation of the re-arrest and continued detention of Colonel Sambo Dasuki (retd), President Jonathan’s political ATM-machine who went by the formal title of National Security Adviser (NSA). If nothing else, it offers us the opportunity to ensure that the hallowed concept of the rule of law will not become the refuge of scoundrels, of treasury looters whose kleptomania has the nation reeling from the mortal blows of grinding poverty, gross underdevelopment, and threats to its corporate integrity.
by Ogaga Ifowodo Jan 13, 2016
I welcome the controversy over President Buhari’s explanation of the re-arrest and continued detention of Colonel Sambo Dasuki (retd), President Jonathan’s political ATM-machine who went by the formal title of National Security Adviser (NSA).
Ogaga Ifowodo
If nothing else, it offers us the opportunity to ensure that the hallowed concept of the rule of law will not become the refuge of scoundrels, of treasury looters whose kleptomania has the nation reeling from the mortal blows of grinding poverty, gross underdevelopment, and threats to its corporate integrity. The President raised hackles when he said that Dasuki and Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the separatist Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), have not been released, despite subsisting court orders granting them bail, given “the kinds of atrocities” they have “committed against the country, if they are given the opportunity, they will jump bail.”
We know a bit now about these atrocities and the president, speaking with specific reference to Dasuki, mentioned how former president Goodluck Jonathan simply “wrote to the governor of Central Bank and said ‘give N40 billion to so, so and so.’” For his part, Kanu, also a British citizen, is charged with a treasonable felony, worsening his case by allegedly entering Nigeria without using either of his passports and bringing in equipment with which he set up Radio Biafra. “There is a treasonable felony suit against him,” said the President.
The controversy that trailed the president’s explanation also presents us a moment to understand the meaning of bail, even if atavistic fears and the yet-to-cool emotions of the general elections tend to thwart sober reflection. Given the regrettable human rights record of his first tenure as military head-of-state, Mr. Buhari was never going to get the benefit of the doubt on the finer points of democracy. In the midst of the name-calling he has inadvertently invited, this time, some have counselled that he leave the task of explaining the legal implications of policies and actions to his Attorney-General. Or, I should add, the Vice-President, a senior advocate to boot.
So what is bail? Simply, security or an undertaking that a person arrested or imprisoned shall, if released, appear for his or her trial. The crucial element, then, is certainty that the accused shall not flee and evade justice. Once this condition is reasonably assured, the weight of the alleged crime becomes irrelevant, except in the setting of bail conditions. But will Dasuki and Kanu actually flee if released on bail? Going by the weight of their alleged crime(s) alone, it is a probability, especially as neither has convincingly denied committing the crimes alleged beyond the formality of a “Not guilty” plea, which means only that the prosecution should “prove the case as charged.” Indeed, Dasuki’s defence so far is, in essence, is that he was merely obeying orders. Kanu justifies his actions under the constitutional and universal right to self-determination, up to and including secession.
What then is the government to do? The option of re-arresting and re-arraigning accused persons already admitted to bail is untenable as it fosters the perception of disregard for the rule of law. True, an accused is granted bail in respect of a specific offence or set of offences and can be validly rearrested for a fresh infraction. And that should not be deemed a violation of the old bail, the accused having enjoyed liberty, however briefly, between the moment of stepping out of jail and of the second arrest. But what if Dasuki were to secure bail again upon re-arraignment (as to be expected), would the government arrest him once again upon yet another charge?
Not without ridiculing itself and further perpetuating a needless public relations problem. And giving potent ammunition to the powerful class of social vultures who have every reason to fear Buhari’s avowed anti-corruption war. This clique which has been eating the country alive through massive and systemic corruption is currently trying to deafen us with their strident cry of RULE OF LAW! Without any sense of shame, hypocrisy being their defining characteristic, they wield “rule of law” as a sword and a shield at the same time. They have set their personal rights and liberty above the rights and liberties of their fellow citizens whom they pauperise and enslave through their greed; above the prosperity and peaceful perpetuation of the nation as a whole.
Yet, Dasuki and Kanu must be released forthwith on the bail terms set by the courts. One of the terms, I believe, requires Dasuki to surrender his passport to the court pending the determination of his case. Kanu must also surrender his Nigerian passport and Queen Elizabeth II must be alerted to the alleged treasonable acts of her subject against his country of birth. There can be no question, in my view, of Dasuki travelling abroad for medical treatment. He must, however, be allowed access to the best medical services WITHIN the country that the mind-boggling misappropriation and embezzlement of public funds by him and his ilk have made possible. The overwhelming majority of his dispossessed fellow citizens do not go to Europe, America or elsewhere to cure their many afflictions. So abject, in fact, are they that a good many of them have turned their pastors and imams into doctors, faith healers, or miracle workers, and churches and mosques have become their hospitals.
Dasuki and Kanu should be released because the eyes of the world are on them. Even if they were inclined to jump bail, they might run far but they would never be able to hide. Besides, the onus is on them to prove that they are not guilty as charged; that they are otherwise good citizens who would not flee the country and scorn the opportunity of restoring their substantially sullied reputations. But if need be, the government can seek a variation of the bail conditions to include the compulsory wearing of an electronic tracking device. At any rate, it is the duty of the police, the State Security Services and all of the other security agencies to ensure that the accused persons stay in the country to stand their trial. Let’s have done with needless distractions from the gargantuan effort to salvage our sinking nation.
CRIME Continuous Detention Of El-Zakzaky, Dasuki Is An Act Of Treason, HURIWA Tells Buhari
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Rick Dees Brings His Syndication To Benztown
By Lance Venta On Aug 14, 2018
Benztown has announced it will assume production duties for Dees Entertainment programming.
Among the shows included in the deal are The Rick Dees Weekly Top 40 Countdown, Countdown Of The 90’s, Countdown Of The 80’s and Dees 2K, and The Daily Dees Show. Dees also operates the “Rick Dees Hit Music” app.
Dees Entertainment and Benztown, a leading international radio imaging, production library, programming, jingles and voiceover services company, announce that they have entered into an agreement whereby Benztown will provide Dees Entertainment with production services for its portfolio of programs hosted by award-winning entertainer Rick Dees.
Under the terms of the agreement, Benztown will produce Dees Entertainment shows including The Rick Dees Weekly Top 40 Countdown, the longest continuously running Hit Music Countdown in the world, its expanded editions Countdown Of The 90’s, Countdown Of The 80’s and Dees 2K, plus The Daily Dees Show. These shows are heard by an ever-expanding audience of more than 70 million people around the world on terrestrial radio stations and on the 5-star rated brand extension music app, Rick Dees Hit Music. Rick Dees Hit Music streams millions of songs for free for its users who build their own streaming music channels, plus host those channels using their own voice.
“Benztown is a perfect production partner for our shows and other entertainment offerings,” raved Rick Dees, CEO of Dees Entertainment. “Dave ‘Chachi’ Denes is the consummate professional and audio production superstar. I was impressed in our first meeting when he said, ‘In 15 minutes I can save you 15% or more on your auto insurance.’”
Dave “Chachi” Denes, Benztown President, shared: “In a lot of ways, there would be no Benztown without Rick Dees and Dan Kieley, the father of Dees Entertainment’s SVP of Programming, Joe Kieley. They brought me to L.A. to work in radio and – the rest is history. It is very gratifying to come full circle with Rick. I’m incredibly excited about our new partnership.”
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AuthorSarah Dillon
Author Archive: Sarah Dillon
Hera Lindsay Bird — Hera Lindsay Bird
by Sarah Dillon
I know that everybody’s already read Hera Lindsay Bird You have scrutinised the poems……………….and the poet But it’s late on a Monday and my flatmate is the books editor and I’m Doing her a solid. The thing with Hera’s poetry is………………………………….. It’s ineffable……………………………………….. “It’s like the World of Wearable Art.” There’s a reason she’s […]
Through Twitter, word-on-the-street, and a suitably mysterious Facebook private message, I found myself packed into Unity Books on a Tuesday evening like the proverbial sardine in a tin. For what? I don’t know exactly. As a Twitter acquaintance will later quip, Nicky Hager is one of only a handful of New Zealand writers who could […]
#52 Films by Women
This is not a bandwagon. I don’t think that men shouldn’t direct films. I don’t think they direct ‘bad’ films. I do think they direct most films—and I do question why. Last year, a blogger I follow semi-obsessively (she works for Rotten Tomatoes, okay—it’s the dream) undertook a challenge in which she watched and reviewed […]
★★★★½ This isn’t a review: I’m too emotionally involved. Here’s the thing about this film. I thought it was going to be a safe watch. I mean, Nancy Meyers, right? She wrote The Holiday, which I unashamedly pronounce my all-time favourite good-bad Christmas film. It started with a male voice-over, and that’s what I was […]
★★★★ Amidst the glut of contemporary Hollywood films employing excess and stylishness to produce spectacle—and, all importantly, box office dollars—lies J.C. Chandor’s A Most Violent Year, a thoughtful return to simple storytelling and minimalist aesthetic. It’s slick and stylised, with a muted colour palette and precise clean cinematography, and comes off as a carefully considered […]
Gemma Bovery
½ (have half a star for trying, Fontaine) During this film, baker and all-round creepy guy Martin Joubert (Fabrice Luchini) classes Gustave Flaubert’s original novel, Madame Bovary, as “a mundane story told by a genius”. I’m not sure, then, what the rationale behind director Anne Fontaine trying to retell the same story with a contemporary filmic […]
Dior And I
★★★★ Parisienne icon; fashion house; luxury goods company; and one of the world-renowned labels that’s spurred countless Chinatown spinoffs—now, it’s director Frédéric Tcheng’s latest in a line-up of documentary homages to beloved fashion figures. Tcheng’s previous work on Valentino and Vreeland has been well regarded, and Dior and I is no exception to the rule, […]
X + Y
★★★ I hate math. One of the best things about this film is that it’s not really about math. X + Y tells the story of Nathan (Asa Butterfield), a young boy with autism and synaesthesia who loses his father in a traumatic car crash, and, as the title suggests, is extraordinarily gifted at mathematics. […]
★★★ It’s easy to see why Sony Pictures scooped up Alice from the Toronto Film Festival. There are two key reasons: their names are Julianne Moore and Alec Baldwin, and they propel along a simple, snappy, and surprisingly un-soppy film about illness, family, and (of course) love. Moore plays Alice Howland, a linguistics professor diagnosed […]
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Week starting Sep 23, 2012
68.50 0.00 13.00 0.50 82.00
Green Crocs 4 Miles: 82.00
Day of rest. No regular church today again, we had the Brigham City Temple dedication broadcast. Then I took the little kids to the Provo Temple grounds later in the evening so they could have some temple experience as well.
Mon, Sep 24, 2012
A.M. Total of 12. Benjamin did 7, Jenny and Julia 3, Joseph 2, Jacob 1. I did a pickup for 0.5 in 2:34.
P.M. 0.5 with William.
Tue, Sep 25, 2012
A.M. Kids did not run in anticipation of the cross-country race tonight except Benjamin who ran 3 miles. I did a 6 mile tempo run out and back on my usual Provo Canyon course. I felt like I usually do in such workouts, but I think finally have found the right words to describe it. I felt like a captive bird that has never been free but yet somehow knows freedom and yearns for it. More than that. It is more than just I wish I could be free. The bird knows that it does belong in that cage. I would compare it to a feeling I had while living in the Soviet Union. I had never been free, but somehow I knew the leash was too short and I should not have been on it. Most of my friends did not seem to be aware of the leash, and if they were they did not seem to mind. At least perhaps they thought that it was not practical to think about breaking away from the leash because it was next to impossible.
Now it seems I am going through this theme again trying to break away or break through what is impossible to break through - defective vertebrae. With every step it screams at me. No, there is no physical pain. But it is like a broken musical instrument. If I could just believe this instrument is not a musical instrument and was never supposed to be one I would treat it like the noise of a car engine - it is OK that it is not musical because it was never supposed to be. But something deep inside is telling me I am not dealing with some odd noisy mechanism, but a musical instrument of fine work that is out of tune due to a relatively small but difficult to fix problem.
So I spent 34 minutes 29.4 seconds fighting the trap today. Better said, shaking my fist at it and keeping the body and the spirit from giving up the fight. Mile splits: first three uphill 5:49, 5:58, 6:09 (17:55), then turnaround and then downhill 5:37, 5:34, 5:23 (16:34).
P.M. Cross-country race for kids at Kiwani's park. The distance was 4 K. Benjamin won in 14:54 with his patented long kick. The race turned tactical. Benjamin was running with Casey Clinger, Grant Gardner, and another kid, I think his name was Madison, at a pedestrian pace for the first 1.5 miles which they covered in around 9:22. Then Benjamin and Casey turned up the heat, which dropped Madison. With more heat Grant dropped back. And once Benjamin turned it on he was left alone and ended up beating Casey by 5 seconds. After the 6:15 pedestrian jog for the first 1.5 his last mile was 5:32.
Joseph ran a solid race winning the Sub-Bantams in 19:01. Jacob was second in the Sub-Bantams with 20:35. Both of them did better than in the last two races. We took the spikes off Joseph's shoes, and Jacob ran in Crocs. For Jacob I think it was a very solid time. This is 8:17 per mile average on grass with hills over the longest distance he's ever run, and he just recently turned 6.
Jenny struggled today and finished 4th in the Midget girls with 21:08. Julia also struggled with 21:44, but other Bantam girls struggled more so she ended up winning her division.
I ran 0.5 with William later in the evening.
Wed, Sep 26, 2012
A.M. Total of 12. Ran with the kids. Benjamin did 7, Jenny, Joseph and Julia 2, Jacob 1.
Thu, Sep 27, 2012
A.M. Total of 12. Ran with the kids. Benjamin did 7, Jenny and Julia 3, Joseph 2, Jacob 1.
Fri, Sep 28, 2012
A.M. Benjamin and Julia were at gradma's house and ran 7 and 3 miles respectively. I ran 3 with Jenny, 2 of which were with Joseph, and 1 with Jacob. Then I ran 9 more - total of 12. About 3.3 miles into it I saw a guy in military uniform, and I knew that ROTC was doing a 2 mile time trial. I did not know how far the cadets were. All of a sudden I had a compelling thought that I should run faster, so I sped up to sub-6:00 pace. I did a mile in 5:56 and was past my turnaround and still had not met anybody. I jogged a bit further, and then saw the cadets. I paced the first one for the last 1.5 miles. His name was Tyler. He told me his goal was under 13:00, but he was able to run much better - 11:38.
A.M. 20 miles total. 8 mile warm-up, then did 3x2 with 1 mile recovery jog down the Provo Canyon. The first one was from Vivian Park to the waterfall. This was was the hardest because the first half of it is flat and it is at 5200 feet. The split was 10:41 or close - the marker was actually missing, but I saw the split with 300 to go and am estimating. Then I jogged a mile backwards and ran from the middle of the woods to a little bit past Nunn's park in 10:33.3. The last one was from the waterfall to a little bit past the tunnel, and it was the fastest because I increased the effort knowing there was nothing left except the jog back home. I was also being spurred by the runners in some race (5 K I assume) that provided a constant stream of nice easy to reach goals. The time was 10:31.7. It was the hardest interval, though, not just because it was the last and the fastest, but also because it started getting warmer.
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Cost per Watt Reduced on Solar Thermal Installations
Dallas, TX—October 17, 2011— Sopogy® the world leader in micro concentrated solar power (MicroCSP) technologies, launches SopoHelios™, its next generation, parabolic solar collector today at the Solar Power International Conference in Dallas, Texas.
SopoHelios features Sopogy’s patented, award-winning MicroCSP technology. MicroCSP uses mirrors and optics to intensify the heat energy from the sun creating thermal energy. Thermal energy is the fuel for clean, renewable power generation, air conditioning, and process heat.
The new collector is designed for “high heat” temperatures ranging between 50-326 degrees C or 122-620 degrees F which directly address power generation, solar thermal air conditioning and solar process heat applications. The collector spanning 7.61 meters squared or 82 square feet, reduces the number of collectors required to power a solar electric power field by 33%.
“Requiring fewer collectors reduces engineering and construction costs and speeds up solar field assembly” said Darren T. Kimura, President and CEO of Sopogy, Inc. “SopoHelios maximizes the efficiency for our solar thermal systems and significantly improves the system paybacks,” he added.
Tested in the hot, lava field deserts of Kona for strength, torsion and durability, SopoHelios features a light-weight core, solar tracking, all-weather stow mode, ease of assembly, low maintenance and the capability to enable local manufacturing.
SopoHelios collectors are scheduled for installation in Kalaeloa Solar One, a five megawatt power plant 15 miles from urban Honolulu. Kalaeloa Solar One will also feature Sopogy’s proprietary thermal heat storage system. Storage stabilizes production when cloudy and prolongs energy production after sunset.
Founded in Hawaii, Sopogy has deployed MicroCSP systems around the world, including Hawaii, California, Texas, Florida, Mexico and Abu Dhabi, with projects underway in Hawaii, Florida, Arizona, Japan, Jordan and Papua New Guinea. Please visit www.sopogy.org for more information.
SopoHelios MicroCSP Collector by Sopogy
Tsurumi Hamasu, PR Specialist
Sopogy, Inc.
thamasu@sopogy.org
]]> /blog/2011/10/17/sopogy%c2%ae-launches-next-generation-of-concentrating-solar-thermal-collector/feed/ 0 Wall Street Journal “Hawaii the Alternative State” /blog/2008/06/30/wall-street-journal-alternative-state/ /blog/2008/06/30/wall-street-journal-alternative-state/#comments Mon, 30 Jun 2008 22:01:50 +0000 admin /blog/2008/06/30/wall-street-journal-alternative-state/
Hawaii has become an incubator for all sorts of renewable-energy projects
By JIM CARLTON
June 30, 2008; Page R12
HONOLULU — A state better known for sun and fun is quietly morphing into one of the world’s leading incubators of alternative energy.
Royal Dutch Shell PLC is heading up a test venture in Hawaii to turn oil-rich algae into fuel. If the process is found commercially viable, the Anglo-Dutch conglomerate could build algae-processing plants elsewhere.
Ever-Green Energy LLC of St. Paul, Minn., plans to build a plant in Honolulu that uses seawater to cool office buildings; if successful, the project will be expanded to other states. A start-up company, meanwhile, is deploying miniature solar-thermal collectors on Oahu to help generate more power for the local electricity grid. This set-up, too, if successful, will be reproduced elsewhere.
The reason for all the interest: location, location, location.
“Hawaii is the only place in the world where you have access to every form of renewable energy, and you are on the dollar and the U.S. legal system,” says Joelle Simonpietri, a former venture capitalist who now heads an algae-to-fuel firm called Kuehnle AgroSystems Inc.
Hawaii is trying to convert to clean energy as fast as it can. Petroleum imports make up about 80% of the energy supply for Hawaii’s main utility, leaving the state among those hardest hit by the run-up in oil prices. Electricity rates have gone through the roof. The average residential rate on Oahu, where most of Hawaii’s 1.2 million residents live, had doubled to 25.50 cents a kilowatt hour — the highest in the U.S. — from 12.74 cents in 1999, according to Hawaiian Electric Co., the state’s major utility.
So, in January, Gov. Linda Lingle announced plans under a state-federal partnership for Hawaii to derive 70% of its energy from renewable sources by 2030 — one of the most ambitious targets in the world.
The state has gotten a head start toward this goal in some places. On Maui, for example, wind farms power 11,000 homes, or about 10% of that island’s energy, while on the Big Island, which is Hawaii itself, geothermal power from volcanic vents accounts for about a fifth of the energy there.
And on Oahu, Hawaiian Electric is building a new power plant that will generate 110 megawatts — enough power for about 30,000 homes — and will run completely on biodiesel fuel. The $160 million plant, expected to open next year, will initially get its fuel from imported palm oil.
“Everything is possible as oil prices rise,” says Henry Montgomery, chief executive of MontPac Outsourcing, a finance and accounting consultancy in Honolulu.
Not all the technologies are problem free. Environmentalists want to make sure, for example, that Hawaiian Electric doesn’t import any of its palm oil from endangered rainforests in Asia. Utility officials say that their palm oil will come from sustainable sources, and that over time the plant will rely more on crops grown in Hawaii.
There’s also a question of whether the sources of energy can overcome technical hurdles, among other challenges.
Gov. Lingle, for her part, says Hawaii is counting on a multitude of the clean-energy technologies to succeed — not any particular one. “If our experience with petroleum has taught us anything, it is not to get reliant on any one source of energy,” the governor said in a recent interview at her state capital office, where, moments earlier, the power went down due to a temporary malfunction.
Here is a sampling of what’s going on in Hawaii:
One of Hawaii’s most abundant resources is its sunshine. But like many places, solar power used to cost so much more than conventional power it largely wasn’t economical — until oil prices got so high.
Now, several solar companies in Hawaii are trying to cash in on the boom in clean-energy demand. Hoku Scientific Inc. until last year specialized in making fuel cells. Now the Honolulu company makes silicon for photovoltaic solar cells at a factory in Idaho, while in Hawaii it installs solar panels for mostly corporate customers including the Bank of Hawaii and Hawaiian Electric. “Obviously, with the high electric rates, Hawaii is a great place to sell alternative energy,” says Darryl Nakamoto, Hoku’s chief financial officer.
Another company, Sopogy Inc., is augmenting local power with solar-thermal energy, a technology that uses mirrors and lenses to concentrate the sun’s rays on fluids, creating steam that turns turbines to generate electricity. Spun off last year from a technology company called Energy Industries, Sopogy has created a miniature version of the giant solar collectors found in places like the California desert. “Micro” collectors weigh about 100 pounds, measure 12 feet by five feet, and can be deployed on building rooftops, Sopogy officials say. Also, unlike many technologies that tap the sun, Sopogy has designed its system so it can store solar energy, the company says.
Last year, Sopogy got $10 million in state revenue bonds to set up a one-megawatt demonstration farm on Hawaii. In May, the state Legislature approved $35 million in bonds to help Sopogy build a solar plant on Oahu that will generate 10 megawatts, or enough power for about 3,000 homes, for Hawaiian Electric. Privately held Sopogy has raised more than $10 million in other money as well, including from Kolohala Ventures, a Honolulu venture-capital firm.
If successful, Sopogy hopes to expand its micro solar plants around the world. “We want to see our revenues at $1 billion in five years,” says Darren Kimura, president and chief executive of Sopogy, and founder of Energy Industries.
One of the holy grails in alternative energy is a system that can extrude oil from algae on a grand, and economical, scale. Scientists say oil represents as much as half the body weight of algae, compared with about 20% for corn, one of the most widely used biofuel crops. Algae also grows as much as 10 times faster than corn, and can be processed for oil without disrupting food supplies.
RENEWABLE SOURCES A seawater cooling project for downtown Honolulu would be similar to an Enwave Energy project in Toronto (top left); Ormat Technologies’ geothermal plant in Puna (top right); Darren Kimura, president and CEO of Sopogy, a solar-thermal energy firm; and a diagram of a deep-water cooling system.
However, the technical challenges have proven large in the past. For example, studies have shown algae strains that can produce the most energy often need to be starved of nutrients, which stunts their growth. Indeed, some previous efforts in the U.S. and Japan over the past 30 years have been dropped, in part, because costs were exorbitant.
But now that oil is so high, several companies are turning to algae again. One of the more closely watched is Cellana, a Shell-led venture with a University of Hawaii spin-off, HR Biopetroleum. The companies announced in November 2007 that the venture would build a pilot facility on the Big Island’s Kona coast. Since then, researchers have been busy planting various strains of algae in test tubes that sit in the warm sea water on the Kona coast. One of the tasks facing them is to find algae that both contains the highest amounts of oil and can grow in warm water. “We’re in the process of whittling down the top super bugs from hundreds to 10,” says Susan Brown, a University of Hawaii researcher who collects specimens for the project on scuba dives around local waters.
One of the simplest clean-energy concepts is to take cool water from the ocean or a lake and use it to help air-condition buildings in nearby cities. The technique has been used in places like Amsterdam and Toronto, with significant power savings.
But piping water to where it needs to go requires more capital investment than many places were willing to make when oil was cheaper. Until recent years, there were also limitations on how deep pipes could be put to suck up the colder water.
In 2003, David Rezachek — a former manager of Hawaii’s alternative energy program — held a workshop in Honolulu to revive local interest in seawater air-conditioning. Even then, Hawaii’s electric rates were the highest in the country. “I said, ‘It’s time to quit talking about it, let’s do this thing,’” Mr. Rezachek recalls.
He helped get Ever-Green Energy — then called Market Street Energy — to set up a subsidiary called Honolulu Seawater Air Conditioning. The company invested about $3.5 million in the venture, while $10.8 million has been raised from mainland and Hawaiian investors, including Kolohala Ventures, says Mr. Rezachek, associate development director for Honolulu Seawater. The state Legislature has also authorized $100 million in tax-exempt revenue bonds for a seawater cooling project.
The venture proposed in late 2003 a seawater cooling project be built for downtown Honolulu. Although ocean temperatures on the beaches around Oahu hover in the mid 70s, they drop to 45 degrees at 1,600 feet deep a few miles offshore. So Honolulu Seawater proposed to run a pipe from 1,600 feet deep to a cooling plant onshore, four miles away. The cold seawater would pass through a heat exchanger where it would cool fresh water from separate pipes used to chill nearby office towers downtown.
Designed to cool 12.5 million square feet of office space — or the equivalent of almost five Empire State Buildings — the Honolulu system is projected to save as much as 15 megawatts of conventional power, while at the same time cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 84,000 tons a year. The venture expects to secure permitting by early next year, and be in operation in 2010 at a cost of about $165 million.
Few places in the world have as much geothermal energy potential as Hawaii’s Big Island, where the Kilauea volcano has been erupting since 1983. As long ago as 1881, Hawaiian King David Kalakaua met with inventor Thomas Edison to discuss harnessing the power of Hawaii’s volcanoes.
In the 1970s, a public-private partnership dug the first geothermal well in Puna on the windy east side of the island. Over time, enough hot water and steam was taken out of the ground to fuel a 30-megawatt power plant. The plant, owned by Reno, Nev.-based Ormat Technologies Inc., provides power to about 10,000 homes, or 18% of the Big Island’s total supply, according to Hawaiian Electric.
Conceivably, the Kilauea volcano could provide enough power to meet all of Hawaii’s needs, state utility officials say. But there are several limitations. One is the Big Island’s isolation from the other Hawaiian islands. For example, the ocean is so deep between it and the next closest island, Maui, that officials in the state abandoned a past plan to try and lay an underwater cable between the islands to transfer the geothermal energy.
Another issue: opposition to significant expansion of geothermal by some native Hawaiians, on grounds the volcano is sacred, says Robert Alm, a spokesman for Hawaiian Electric.
–Mr. Carlton is a staff reporter in the San Francisco bureau of The Wall Street Journal.
Write to Jim Carlton at jim.carlton@wsj.com
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The Southland Institute
(for critical, durational, and
typographic post-studio practices)
currently under construction
SI at LACC
outer schools
Southland Institute Public Events
Otis MFA GD Art Book Fair
Saturday, July 6 and Sunday, July 7 2019 at Otis College of Art and Design
9045 Lincoln Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90045
Aurora Tang: Revisiting Charles Jencks' Daydream Houses of Los Angeles
Tuesday, June 25, 2019 at the MAK Center for Art and Architecture, 7:30pm
In the 1970s, architectural historian and cultural theorist Charles Jencks began photographing the exaggerated houses that he encountered driving around Los Angeles, including in West Hollywood. At a time when residential architecture in America was becoming increasingly standardized, he called attention to these fantasy houses that had been modified or built to exude personal character and variation.
Daydream Houses of Los Angeles, published by Rizzoli in 1978, includes Jencks' snapshots of about 60 of these expressive and excessive houses, paired with witty captions and oftentimes an address, so readers could embark on their own house tours.
In this illustrated presentation, a collaboration with the Southland Institute, Aurora Tang will discuss her ongoing rephotography project revisiting Daydream Houses of Los Angeles, considering the informal photograph, the enthusiast, the tour, the changing appearance of our city's residential neighborhoods, and the significance of Jencks' book today, over 40 years after its release.
Aurora Tang is a curator and researcher based in Los Angeles. Since 2009 she has been a program manager at the Center for Land Use Interpretation. From 2011-2015 she was managing director of High Desert Test Sites. She has taught at Otis College of Art and Design, and is a founding board member of Common Field.
Discussions in Exhibitions:
Maryam Jafri: I Drank the Kool-Aid But I Didn't Inhale
Sunday, May 26, 12pm at ICA LA
Maryam Jafri: I Drank the Kool-Aid But I Didn't Inhale, Product Recall: An Index of Innovation (2014-15) tracks the failed, the faltered, and the forgotten of American consumerism's yesteryear gambits of branded and boxed ambition. These reacquisitions, through a reckoning of pointed display, now critically incite a concomitant call and response of the whats, the hows, and the whys of this curious lot while accompanying provenance lay bare procedural narratives of the whens, the wheres, and the who's to aid in our discursive corroboration.
Maryam Jafri website
Positions #3(video interview)
Niloufar Emamifar: The Architecture of the Unremarkable
Friday, May 24, 2019 at the MAK Center for Art and Architecture, 7:30pm
The Architecture of the Unremarkable is a study of the contradictory ways in which space is constituted by the reciprocal materialization of the law. It aims to question how the spatialization of legal loopholes, as the infinite generator of interpretive arguments, may be used to destabilize the governed structure and resist institutionalization. The lecture focuses on Emamifar's collaboration with WORKNOT!, a collective of artists and architects dedicated to the representation of life and work of today's cognitarians. Their project, MOSHA (Framing The Common) centers on the study of the shared space in modern apartment buildings in Iran and the legal regulation of such common spaces.
Niloufar Emamifar is an artist currently living and working in Los Angeles. She received her BFA in Interior Architecture from Soore School of Architecture, Tehran, Iran and her MFA in Studio Art from the University of California, Irvine, CA. She has participated in exhibitions at SculptureCenter, Essex Street Gallery, Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibition, Venice Biennale of Architecture and Human Resources Los Angeles. Her research and practice explores the interrelations between social and physical space in order to ask questions regarding urban interstices, the territorialisation of the city and lawscape.
Dina Abdulkarim: All the Trees and I was Still Bowling Alone
Tuesday, April 30, 2019 at the MAK Center for Art and Architecture, 7:30pm
H o m e t o w n C e l e b r a t i o n
Acrylic, wallpaper, gift-wrapping paper, collage, and colored pencils on paper
6 ft x 7.5 ft
Drawing on her training in architecture and planning to explore the themes of home, citizenship, and identity exchange that she presents in her work, Dina Abdulkarim discusses the visual and cultural influences that have shaped her appreciation of patterns and the institution of their collective meaning. She describes how, through distinct architecture and specific interiors, the use of patterns, materials and textures form the shared social aesthetics of the very personal space of the home. She also speaks about how the experience of living and studying city planning and urban design in the U.S. altered her concept of home and added a new set of patterns and meanings to it. In her large-scale paintings, Abdulkarim overlaps different geometries of arabesque motifs and aerial views of suburban communities and different materials to represent the cultural, spiritual, and everyday realities of the places that represent home, which go beyond the simple distinction of the East and the West, are complex, organic, and constantly at influx.
Dina Abdulkarim is a Middle Eastern-born, American artist. She received her training in architecture, urban design, and planning. She then attended CalArts where she completed her MFA in 2015. In addition to running her studio in Pasadena, Dina is a faculty of urban and regional planning at Cal Poly University, Pomona.
Michael Rakowitz: Dispute Between the Tamarisk and the Date Palm
Saturday, April 27, 2019 at REDCAT, 2pm
Discussions in Exhibitions pursues a common ground within Michael Rakowitz: Dispute Between the Tamarisk and the Date Palm.
The Tamarisk opened his mouth and spoke. He addressed the Date Palm: "My body ...... the bodies of the gods. (The reference is to statues of tamarisk wood.) You grow your fruits but someone places them before me like a maid approaching her mistress. You do not provide the measuring vessels. You are ...... minor crops, but I ....... Your attendants ...... before me for you." In his anger the Date Palm answered him. He addressed his brother the Tamarisk: "You say: "If people build daises for me and beautify them too, they certainly do not swear by the gods before clay (?)." -- You may be the body of the gods in their shrines and people may name with a good name the daises of the gods, but it is silver that can pride itself as the overlay of the gods. ......, describe your beauty!" -The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature
Michael Rakowitz website
"I stand in solidarity with the staff and say no": Michael Rakowitz on why he turned down the Whitney Biennial, The Art Newspaper
Rising from the ruins (video interview)
Backstroke of the West (video interview)
Non-Terminal Education and Post-Linear Curricula:
Rethinking Structures of Higher Education in (Graphic) Design
a conversation with Adam Feldmeth, Jessica Wexler, Joe Potts, Lauren Williams, Masood Kamandy, Nicole Killian, Ramon Tejada, and Yasmin Khan-Gibson
April 12, 2019 at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA, part of Printed Matter's LA Art Book Fair 2019 Classroom programming.
Traditional structures and hierarchies by which design educators have framed and understood culture and the academy are of diminishing relevance in an evolving cultural context characterized by rapid evolution, simultaneity, erosion of expertise and disciplinarity, and spiraling debt. As other disciplines develop new models to describe and prescribe the evolution of their practices, how can design educators (and administrators) articulate new structures that frame our understanding of our practices and the contexts in which they unfold? Exploring and proposing alternate structures for higher education, with attention to the connections between curricular, pedagogical, and economic concerns, Workshop Project and the Southland Institute have been examining different ways that interwebbed institutions create networked landscapes of pedagogical heterodoxy, to be navigated over the course of a lifelong education. Presented by The Southland Institute and Workshop Project.
David Weldzius: Bethlehem No More
April 5, 2019 at Los Angeles Contermporary Archive (LACA), Ground floor courtyard.
Untitled (Parking lot and ironworks, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania),
June 2017. Digital scan from 4 × 5 in. negative. Courtesy of the artist.
Details from: A Graveyard and Steel Mill in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, November 1935.
Walker Evans (left image courtesy of the Museum of Modern Art,
right image courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art).
Two days before the November 2016 election, David Weldzius drove to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania to restage Walker Evans's photographs taken there in November 1935. From Evans' perspective of the giant blast furnaces from atop St. Michael's Cemetery, Weldzius could not locate the Sands Casino Resort, an $800 million project built on Bethlehem Steel's former oar yard in 2007. Over the course of the next several months, Weldzius would return to Bethlehem regularly. His research and photography were soon published into an essay, "Slouching Towards Bethlehem: Four Meditations on the Old and New Spirits of Capitalism" by XTRA in 2018. Borrowing his lecture title from a Luis Rodriguez poem which underscores the consequences of Bethlehem Steel's closure in South Los Angeles, Weldzius intends to synthesize the narratives of steel production in the Rust Belt and the American Southwest.
co-sponsored by X-TRA.
How to Take / Make Good Pictures, in Zoe Leonard: Survey
Sunday, March 17 at 2pm at the Geffen Contemporary at MOCA
Included in the survey of Zoe Leonard's works is an arrangement which has variously been credited in title as "How To Take Good Pictures" and "How To Make Good Pictures" in the different iterations during its ongoing presentation under conditions of display. This example, consisting of a consecutive row of book stacks of varying heights, draws from a "How to-" guide first published by Kodak in 1911 with continued publication annually throughout the 20th century.
The arrangement orients a number of probable inquiries not limited to: the use value of a photography manual over successive decades in print; the evolution of cover design over the better part of a century; the implicit and explicit circumstances of brand-sponsored advertisement as the center of something categorically instructional; and most curiously the subtle yet significant shift between the action of making and that of taking when it comes to photographic production which is reflected in the decision to replace the former with the latter somewhere down the line. Rather than give attention to the broader exhibition, this event is particular in the concerted attention it gives to a specific example.
Wang Xu: Garden of Seasons
Saturday, March 9 at 12:30pm at the Vincent Price Art Museum and Cascades Park, Monterey Park, CA
Discussions in Exhibitions opens a discussion on the day the exhibition Wang Xu: Garden of Seasons closes. The contents and levels of negotiation cited here--municipal, sculptural, iconographical, locational and temporal--encourage sifting through the dynamics of a project simultaneously static and non-static, unrealized and re-conceived, negatively in-situ and ostensibly displaced from multiple sites.
This discussion will begin at "Cascades Park" (also known as "Heritage Falls Park") 1.5 miles north of the museum on Atlantic Blvd at 12:30pm followed by the brief commute down the road to reconvene at the museum exhibit around 1pm.
I Wish to Communicate with You: Corita Kent and Matt Keegan
Saturday, February 23 at 3:00pm at Potts, 2130 Valley Blvd. Alhambra, CA 91803
Discussions in Exhibitions convenes within I Wish to Communicate with You: Corita Kent & Matt Keegan for a communal consideration of the aesthetic ABC's of communication brought on by this call and response unfolding around the architectural edges of shared space.
From the press release:
Corita Kent (1912 - 1986) was an educator, nun, activist, and artist working primarily in serigraphy. She produced her International Signal Code Alphabet series during the summer of 1968 in Cape Cod, while on sabbatical from teaching at Immaculate Heart College in Los Angeles. In the same year, Sister Corita would decide to leave the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, the religious order she had entered more than three decades before, for a secular life. Based on the International Code of Signals, the system of maritime signal flags used to communicate between ships, Corita overlaid imagery and letterforms from eighteenth-century illustration and antiquarian books atop the twenty-six flag designs -- corresponding to A-Z -- creating intricate, polychromatic compositions. Incorporating passages from sources such as Leonard Cohen, Winnie the Pooh, and the Book of Revelation, and brimming with homophones and varieties of word play, Corita's take on the alphabet illustrates the artist's idiosyncratic relationship to language and her interest in mass communication and popular ideals.
Matt Keegan (b. 1976) is an interdisciplinary artist based in Brooklyn, New York. His varied artistic output often explores the possibilities of language as form. Created in response to Corita's signal code alphabet, Keegan's Cutouts (c is for Corita) is a series of twenty-six paper cut-outs that playfully tease out the aesthetic dimensions of linguistic signs and systems. Folding and cutting sheets of silkscreened paper into abstract geometric permutations, the works evoke Rorschach-like shapes and interpretations.
Bowes Line, Glassworks, and Making the Tyne Documentaries. A selection of films by Amber collective. presented by the Southland Institute and Fiona Connor
Ruberta Avenue, Glendale, CA
A screening of three films by Amber, a film and photography collective that came together in the UK in 1968, moving to Newcastle-Upon-Tyne the following year with a commitment to documenting cultural, political and economic changes in the region. Films shown were digital copies of Bowes Line (1975), Glassworks (1977), and Making the Tyne Documentaries (2007).
Adrian Piper: Concepts and Intuitions, 1965-2016
Saturday, December 15 at 11am at the Hammer Museum
Discussions in Exhibitions meets within "Adrian Piper: Concepts and Intuitions, 1965-2016" to broaden the potential for reflexive dialogue occurring throughout the rooms of the exhibition in negotiating the space between our varied concepts and intuitions of it as a public. In addition to the robust educational programming that has accompanied this retrospective in the way of symposium, panel discussion, numerous artist-led interpretative talks, and curatorial walkthroughs, Saturday, December 15 affords an occasion to hear Adrian through listening to each other.
Janna Ireland: Looking, Past and Through: Paul R. Williams, West Hollywood, and the Spotless Mirror
December 13, 2018 at the MAK Center for Art and Architecture
Photographer Janna Ireland, in collaboration with the Southland Institute, discussed intersections of photography, architecture, motherhood, race, domesticity, portraiture, class, and documentation in four bodies of work about Greater Los Angeles.
Ireland's interest in architecture began with West Hollywood (2012), a series of black and white photographs capturing pockets of stillness and isolation amidst the buzz of the city. Two years ago, Ireland began researching and photographing the buildings of Paul R. Williams, the legendary Angeleno architect who, over the course of a 50-year career, designed more than 2000 buildings. These photographs, part of an ongoing project, were exhibited last winter at Woodbury University’s Hollywood gallery in There Is Only One Paul R. Williams, curated by Andrea Dietz and Audrey Landreth and organized by the Julius Shulman Institute.
In The Spotless Mirror, and her most recent body of work, Milk and Honey, Ireland explores gendered spaces, domesticity, isolation, black identity, and the performance of femininity in a house in the San Fernando Valley. The photographs embody an intermingling of reality and fantasy, place and image, interior and exterior.
Janna Ireland was born in Philadelphia, but has chosen Los Angeles as her home. She holds an MFA the from UCLA Department of Art and a BFA from the Department of Photography and Imaging at NYU. She currently teaches photography at Pasadena City College. Ireland is the 2013 recipient of the Snider Prize, presented by the Museum of Contemporary Photography, Columbia College Chicago. In 2018/Earlier this year, she was named a Cultural Trailblazer by the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs. Her work has been shown in solo exhibitions in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Chicago, and in group exhibitions across the United States and internationally. She has been published in Aperture, Art Papers, Vice, and The Los Angeles Times.
Cf. Cameron Rowland / John Knight
Sunday, November 25 at 2pm at MOCA Grand Avenue (upper plaza and exterior stairwell landing)
A publicly motivated occasion to gather between Cameron Rowland's "2015 MOCA Real Estate Acquisition" (2018) and John Knight's "The Artist's Museum: MMX, a work in situ, The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles (MOCA), October 2010" (2010) to comparatively discuss these two works as respective examples of interrogative response to invitations from this institution. Each utilizes nuanced signage located adjacent and external to the main entrance raising manifold inquests in the process. The discussion, facilitated by Adam Feldmeth, is independent of internal museum programming.
Rowland's addendum to the donors plaque, an exterior inclusion to his current show D37, is installed on the mid-landing of the staircase leading to the lower plaza and lobby while Knight's engraved contribution to the 2010 group exhibition, The Artist's Museum, and since then an acquisition of the permanent collection, continues to adorn the granite-clad column immediately across from the street-level ticket office.
A pamphlet accompanying D37 is available as a pdf on the MOCA website here.
Silas Munro: W.E.B. DuBois's Data Portraits: Visualizing Black America
Friday, June 8, 2018 at Los Angeles Contermporary Archive (LACA)
W. E. B. Du Bois was a prolific author, renowned sociologist, fierce civil rights advocate, co-founder of the NAACP, and a historian of black lives. He was also a pioneer of data visualization. Working with ink, gouache, graphite, and photographic prints, Du Bois and his student and alumni collaborators at Atlanta University generated crisp, dynamic, and modern graphics as a form of infographic activism. 63 brightly colored broadsheets were exhibited in Paris and made 20 years before the founding of the Bauhaus. These visualizations offer a prototype of design practices now vital in our contemporary world—of design for social innovation, data visualization in service to social justice, and the decolonization of pedagogy.
Munro's design work and writings have been published in many forms at home and abroad. As an educator, he focuses on expanded design studies. He has been a critic and lecturer at many internationally ranked art and design programs including CalArts, Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA), NC State, RISD, and the Yale School of Art. Munro serves as Assistant Professor in Communication Arts and MFA in Graphic Design at Otis College of Art and Design, and Advisor and Chair Emeritus in the MFA Program in Graphic Design at Vermont College of Fine Arts. He holds a Master of Fine Arts from California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Rhode Island School of Design (RISD).
Suggested Southland Area Events
A selection of Los Angeles area events selected and recommended by the Southland Institute
to submit something for inclusion, or if you find anything here that you would like removed or recategorized, please don't hesitate to contact us.
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Abrams, Floyd
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4135/9781604265774.n6
Vile, J., Hudson, D. L. & Schultz, D. (2009). Abrams, floyd. In Encyclopedia of the First Amendment (pp. 51-51). Washington, DC: CQ Press doi: 10.4135/9781604265774.n6
Vile, John, David L. Hudson and David Schultz. "Abrams, Floyd." In Encyclopedia of the First Amendment, edited by John VileDavid L. Hudson and David Schultz, 51. Washington, DC: CQ Press, 2009. doi: 10.4135/9781604265774.n6.
Vile, J, Hudson, D L & Schultz, D 2009, 'Abrams, floyd', in Vile, J, Hudson, DL & Schultz, D (eds), Encyclopedia of the first amendment, CQ Press, Washington, DC, pp. 51, viewed 18 July 2019, doi: 10.4135/9781604265774.n6.
Vile, John, et al. "Abrams, Floyd." Encyclopedia of the First Amendment. Eds. Washington: CQ Press, 2009. 51. SAGE Knowledge. Web. 18 Jul. 2019, doi: 10.4135/9781604265774.n6.
Floyd Abrams (1936– ) is a well-known and widely respected First Amendment lawyer. Born in Queens, New York, Abrams graduated from Cornell University in 1956 and in 1960 from Yale Law School.
Abrams worked from 1961 to 1963 as a legal researcher and clerk for ...
election commission,
Federal Election Commission,
law schools,
Nebraska,
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SATELLITE IMAGES SHOW RUSSIA DEPLOYING S-400 MISSILES IN CRIMEA
December 3, 2018 in News by Slad
Satellite images from Sunday obtained by Fox News confirms that Russia has deployed an S-400 surface-to-air missile battery at Dzhankoy airbase in Crimea, roughly 19 miles from the Russia-Ukraine border. The photos confirm Russia’s planned deployment which we reported on Wednesday.
The images show a bare ground followed by construction – before the recent escalation between Russia and Ukraine. (ImageSat International via Fox News)
The intelligence report by ImageSat International indicates that the infrastructure for the S-400 battery was prepared in recent months, a long time before last weekend’s naval encounters that sparked new tension between Russia and Ukraine.
The images showed a bare ground in April 2018, and construction by November 10 – two weeks before the recent escalation. –Fox News
The new S-400 surface-to-air missile battery was discovered in the Dzhankoy airbase in Crimea, almost 19 miles from the Russia-Ukrainian border. (ImageSat International via Fox News)
The S-400’s eight launchers can be seen in four groups located in the southwest region of the airbase, while two radar systems are deployed in two nearby vehicles – one of which is suspected to be carrying S-400 missiles.
Days after Russia captured several Ukrainian naval vessels along with 24 sailors, Moscow announced the deployment of the S-400 system, escalating the conflict in the region. Ukraine, which is now in a state of martial law over what President Petro Poroshenko calls the “threat of a full-scale war with Russia,” says that “the number of [Russian] units that have been deployed along our border has grown dramatically.”
Though likely the plans were already in motion, the timing of the S-400 deployment announcement is designed to send a strong message to the West, which is also building up its forces as both the UK and US are reportedly injecting more military hardware and troops into Ukraine.
The infrastructure for the S-400 battery was prepared in recent months, a long time before the incident that sparked the new tension between Russia and Ukraine. (ImageSat International via Fox News)
The S-400 mobile missile system has an effective range of nearly 250 miles and is intended to bring down a variety of aerial threats – “from aircraft to cruise and ballistic missiles,” according to Fox.
The system made its debut in 2007, succeeding the S-200 and S-300 batteries. According to CNBC, “the Russian-made S-400 is capable of engaging a wider array of targets, at longer ranges and against multiple threats simultaneously,” vs. US-made systems.
In terms of capability, one source noted that while there is no perfect weapon, the S-400 eclipses even THAAD, America’s missile defense crown jewel.
When asked why nations seek to buy the S-400 instead of America’s Patriot or THAAD systems, one of the people with knowledge of the intelligence report explained that foreign militaries aren’t willing to stick with the cumbersome process of buying weapons from the U.S. government. –CNBC
S-400 anti-missile defense system, via TASS
During this weekend’s G20 meeting in Buenos Aires, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that it was “too early” to release the Ukrainian sailors, saying that it was necessary to hold the sailors captive while a legal case was constructed that would show that the three Ukrainian naval vessels were in violation of Russian territorial waters – and that the ship’s logs would reveal their attempt to cross the Kerch strait from the Black Sea into the Sea of Azov, which is enclosed by Russia, the Crimean peninsula and mainland Ukraine.
When asked if the Kremlin might be willing to exchange the sailors for Russians detained by Ukraine, Putin replied: “We are not considering a swap and Ukraine did not raise this issue, and it’s too early to talk about that. They are still being investigated. We need to establish the fact that this was a provocation by the Ukrainian government and we need to put all these things on paper.”
Putin also suggested that the incident was part of a wider pattern of provocation by Kiev.
“The current Ukrainian leadership is not interested in resolving this at all,” said the Russian leader. “As long as they stay in power, war will continue. Why? Because when you have provocations, such hostilities like what just happened in the Black Sea … you can always use war to justify your economic failures.”
Thursday, November 29, 2018 – These Countries Are Quickly and Quietly Dumping the Dollar
Over the past few months, there has been a steady uptick in the number of countries dumping significant portions of their dollar holdings. This is causing many people to worry whether or not the US economy is in for a massive shock sooner, later, or somewhere in between.
Friday, October 19, 2018 – Russian S-300s Supplied to Syria Were ‘Modernized’ – Reports
Moscow has delivered advanced S-300 air defense missiles to Syria to protect the country’s troops deployed in the war-torn Arab country in the wake of last month’s downing of a Russian reconnaissance plane during an Israeli airstrike in Latakia. The three battalion sets of S-300PM-2 air defense missile handed over to Syria by Russia are more advanced compared to their conventional counterparts, the newspaper Izvestiya wrote, citing Defense Ministry sources in Moscow.
Monday, October 8, 2018 – ‘We’re independent’: India defies US sanctions over billion-worth S-400 deal with Russia
India’s not cowed by US threats of sanctions for buying Russia’s S-400 missile systems, as it follows an “independent policy,” an army chief said, adding that his country had to think of what is “strategically important.” General Bipin Rawat implied that his country is no vassal state, and it has every right to go ahead with a $5.4 billion purchase of five surface-to-air missile systems from Russia.
Saturday, September 22, 2018 – China Threatens US With “Consequences” If It Does Not “Immediately” Revoke Sanctions Over Russian Weapons Deal
Just hours after Beijing called off trade talks with the US in the biggest escalation of the trade feud between the two nations, the war of words between China and the US ratcheted up on Saturday, when Beijing lashed out again at Washington, saying that China’s decision to buy fighter jets and missile systems from Russia is “a normal act of cooperation between sovereign countries” and the United States has “no right to interfere”, defense ministry spokesman Wu Qian said on Saturday.
Sunday, September 2, 2018 – Erdogan Vows To Abandon Dollar, “Doesn’t Need Permission” To Buy Russian Missiles
Another day, another angry rant by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan aimed at the US, who on Sunday vowed Ankara would abandon the dollar in transactions with Russia and other countries, accusing the US of behaving like “wild wolves.” “America behaves like wild wolves. Don’t believe them,” Erdogan told a business forum during the Turkey-Kyrgyzstan Business Forum in Kyrgyzstan, according to AFP.
Friday, August 24, 2018 – Weaponizing The US Dollar Is Accelerating Global De-Dollarization
Donald Trump has in just over two years abandoned the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), ditched the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), withdrawn the US from the Paris climate agreement, and unilaterally removed American participation in the Iranian nuclear agreement known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
Tags: Russia, S400 missiles, Ukraine, War
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Video on Deadly Cluster Bomb Legacy in Laos Wins CNN Award
An original video news report on the devastating impact of cluster bombs in Lao PDR won the first-ever CNN iReport Community Choice Award, CNN announced on 15 March 2011.
The Cluster Munition Coalition (CMC) worked with reporter Samantha Bolton and independent video production team CoJo Productions to release the video, “Clearing cluster bombs on the Ho Chi Minh Trail,” from Lao PDR during during the historic First Meeting of States Parties to the Convention on Cluster Munitions in November 2010.
The short video focuses on the decades-old cluster bomb problem in Lao PDR and documents the work being done today by civil society and governments to tackle the humanitarian problems caused by unexploded cluster bombs in affected countries around the world.
“To shoot this video, demining professionals walked us through forests infested with cluster bombs, where we saw how children playing and farmers ploughing still risk being blown up long after the Vietnam War ended,” said Bolton. “Getting the most votes to win the CNN iReport award shows just how many people and organisations care about eradicating cluster bombs in affected countries like Laos, and how good they are at mobilising. Great work everyone!”
The CNN iReport Community Choice award called on viewers to vote for the video they thought embodied the best of CNN iReport in 2010. Competition was stiff, with 30 nominees across six categories.
CNN award winning video "Clearing cluster bombs on the Ho Chi Minh Trail"
The 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions comprehensively bans the use, production, stockpiling and transfer of cluster munitions, sets strict deadlines for clearance of contaminated land and destruction of stockpiles of the weapon, and includes groundbreaking provisions for assistance to victims and affected communities. A total of 108 countries have signed the treaty, which entered into force as binding international law on 1 August 2010.
Lao PDR hosted the Convention’s First Meeting of States Parties from 9-12 November 2010. This meeting was a defining moment in the life of the Convention, bringing together for the first time States Parties to the treaty, UN agencies, international organisations, civil society, and cluster bomb survivors. States shared progress and drew up an ambitious 66-point action plan to accelerate implementation of their treaty obligations. As the most heavily cluster-bombed country in the world, Lao PDR was a highly appropriate venue for this meeting.
Known locally as “bombies,” an estimated 80 million unexploded cluster submunitions remain in Lao PDR nearly four decades after armed conflict ended. Government surveys have recorded more than 50,000 civilian casualties caused by cluster bombs, landmines and other unexploded ordnance since 1964, and widespread contamination by explosive remnants of war hinders development. Holding such a meeting in an affected country helps to remind government officials and other participants why the treaty exists and why it must be implemented.
The Convention’s Second Meeting of States Parties will take place in Lebanon, another heavily affected country, in September 2011.
The CMC calls on all countries – especially affected countries and former users and producers of cluster munitions – to join the Convention and work to implement its provisions.
See here more information on the CNN iReport awards
Behind the cluster bomb story
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Home » Industry Moves »
Creatives’ salaries rising
More than three-quarters of creative industry folks are optimistic about their future, according to this survey by the RGD and Creative Niche.
By Megan Haynes
A Creative Earners survey found that salaries for creative communication professionals are rising across Canada, despite continued economic pressures.
Produced by the Association of Registered Graphic Designers and creative staffing firm Creative Niche, the survey polled 2,890 people across different creative specialties, including graphic design shops, ad agencies and media buying firms.
As of 2013, art directors take home a median national salary of $60,500, topping out in the GTA at $65,000, while the Prairie provinces round out the bottom end at $41,000. Creative directors make a median of $78,000, with a high of $83,500 (GTA) and a low of $57,000 (central Ontario, excluding the GTA). Copywriters make a median of $55,000, with a high of $62,000 (Alberta) and a low of $47,000 (B.C.). Account managers bring in a median of $65,000 (topping out at $80,000 in Eastern Ontario), while marketing managers bring in a median of $60,000 (with Quebecers paid the most at $80,000).
Data wasn’t broken out for average salary increases at agencies, but graphic designers saw an average climb to $55,000, up from $50,000 in 2008, while online specialists’ salaries grew to $64,500, from $52,500 in 2008.
Only 29% of respondents said they were paid overtime. The most likely candidates to be paid overtime were intermediate and senior graphic designers (at 36% and 35%), while the least likely were ADs (12%), CDs (11%) copywriters (10%) and owners (5%).
Of the employers who filled out the survey, 63% said they plan to hire full-time staff within the next 12 months, while only 3% said they plan to cut staff.
A clear majority (79%) of people in the industry are optimistic about the profession’s future, while only 5% have a negative view.
Download the full report here.
Association of registered graphic designers, Creative Niche, salaries
LiveWell Marketing names new VP
PepsiCo Foods appoints new president in Canada
Clearmotive expands Toronto office
Huge builds senior ranks to lead ‘transformative’ work
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标准图书馆 > 资源分类 > EN > EN > BS EN 12120-2012
BSI Standards Publication BS EN 12120:2012 Chemicals used for treatment of water intended for human consumption — Sodium hydrogen sulfiteBS EN 12120:2012 BRITISH STANDARD National foreword This British Standard is the UK implementation of EN 12120:2012. It supersedes BS EN 12120:2005 which is withdrawn. The UK participation in its preparation was entrusted to Technical Committee CII/59, Chemicals for drinking water treatment. A list of organizations represented on this committee can be obtained on request to its secretary. This publication does not purport to include all the necessary provisions of a contract. Users are responsible for its correct application. © The British Standards Institution 2013. Published by BSI Standards Limited 2013 ISBN 978 0 580 77779 0 ICS 71.100.80 Compliance with a British Standard cannot confer immunity from legal obligations. This British Standard was published under the authority of the Standards Policy and Strategy Committee on 28 February 2013. Amendments issued since publication Date T e x t a f f e c t e dBS EN 12120:2012EUROPEAN STANDARD NORME EUROPÉENNE EUROPÄISCHE NORM EN 12120 November 2012 ICS 71.100.80 Supersedes EN 12120:2005 English Version Chemicals used for treatment of water intended for human consumption - Sodium hydrogen sulfite Produits chimiques utilisés pour le traitement de l eau destinée à la consommation humaine - Hydrogénosulfite de sodium Produkte zur Aufbereitung von Wasser für den menschlichen Gebrauch - Natriumhydrogensulfit This European Standard was approved by CEN on 23 September 2012. CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN member. This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre has the same status as the official versions. CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and United Kingdom. EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG Management Centre: Avenue Marnix 17, B-1000 Brussels © 2012 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CEN national Members. Ref. No. EN 12120:2012: EBS EN 12120:2012 EN 12120:2012 (E) 2 Contents Page Foreword 3 Introduction . 4 1 Scope 5 2 Normative references 5 3 Description . 5 4 Purity criteria 7 5 Test methods 8 6 Labelling — Transportation — Storage . 15 Annex A (informative) General information on sodium hydrogen sulfite . 17 Bibliography 19 BS EN 12120:2012 EN 12120:2012 (E) 3 Foreword This document (EN 12120:2012) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 164 “Water supply”, the secretariat of which is held by AFNOR. This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by May 2013, and conflicting national standards shall be withdrawn at the latest by May 2013. Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent rights. CEN [and/or CENELEC] shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights. This document supersedes EN 12120:2005. The significant technical differences between this edition and EN 12120:2005 are as follows: Modification of 6.2 on labelling, deletion of the reference to EU Directive 80/778/EEC of 15 July 1980 in order to take account of the latest Directive in force. According to the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organisations of the following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom. BS EN 12120:2012 EN 12120:2012 (E) 4 Introduction In respect of potential adverse effects on the quality of water intended for human consumption caused by the product covered by this European Standard: a) this European Standard provides no information as to whether the product may be used without restriction in any of the Member States of the EU or EFTA; b) it should be noted that, while awaiting the adoption of verifiable European criteria, existing national regulations concerning the use and/or the characteristics of this product remain in force. NOTE Conformity with this European Standard does not confer or imply acceptance or approval of the product in any of the Member States of the EU or EFTA. The use of the product covered by this European Standard is subject to regulation or control by National Authorities. BS EN 12120:2012 EN 12120:2012 (E) 5 1 Scope This European Standard is applicable to sodium hydrogen sulfite used for treatment of water intended for human consumption. It describes the characteristics of sodium hydrogen sulfite and specifies the requirements and the corresponding test methods for sodium hydrogen sulfite. It gives information on its use in water treatment. 2 Normative references The following documents, in whole or in part, are normatively referenced in this document and are indispensable for its application. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies. EN ISO 3696, Water for analytical laboratory use — Specification and test methods (ISO 3696) ISO 418, Photography — Processing chemicals — Specifications for anhydrous sodium sulfite ISO 3165, Sampling of chemical products for industrial use — Safety in sampling ISO 5993, Sodium hydroxide for industrial use — Determination of mercury content — Flameless atomic absorption spectrometric method ISO 6206, Chemical products for industrial use — Sampling — Vocabulary ISO 6353-1, Reagents for chemical analysis — Part 1: General test methods ISO 9297, Water quality — Determination of chloride — Silver nitrate titration with chromate indicator (Mohr s method) ISO 22743, Water quality — Determination of sulphates — Method by continuous flow analysis (CFA) 3 Description 3.1 Identification 3.1.1 Chemical name Sodium hydrogen sulfite. 3.1.2 Synonym or commons name Sodium bisulfite. 3.1.3 Relative molecular mass 104,6. 3.1.4 Empirical formula NaHSO 3 . BS EN 12120:2012 EN 12120:2012 (E) 6 3.1.5 Chemical formula NaHSO 3 .3.1.6 CAS-Registry Number 1)7631-90-5. 3.1.7 EINECS reference 2)231-548-0. 3.2 Commercial form The product is an aqueous solution with an usual concentration of approximately a mass fraction of 40 % NaHSO 3 . This corresponds to 520 g NaHSO 3per litre. 3.3 Physical properties 3.3.1 Appearance and odour The product is a yellowish liquid with a slight odour of sulfur dioxide. 3.3.2 Density The density of the product is 1,3 g/ml to 1,5 g/ml at 20 °C. 3.3.3 Solubility (in water) The product is miscible with water. 3.3.4 Vapour pressure The vapour pressure of a solution of mass fraction of 40 % NaHSO 3 is 4 kPa3) at 20 °C. 3.3.5 Boiling point at 100 kPa 3)The product decomposes at 100 °C. 3.3.6 Crystallisation point A solution of mass fraction of 40 % NaHSO 3crystallises at 2 °C. 3.3.7 Specific heat The specific heat of the product is 3,15 kJ/(kg K). 1) Chemical Abstracts Service Registry Number. 2) European Inventory of Existing Commercial Chemical Substances. 3)100 kPa = 1 bar. BS EN 12120:2012 EN 12120:2012 (E) 7 3.3.8 Viscosity dynamic The viscosity of a solution of mass fraction of 40 % NaHSO 3is 4 mPa.s at 25 °C. 3.3.9 Critical temperature Not applicable. 3.3.10 Critical pressure Not applicable. 3.3.11 Physical hardness Not applicable. 3.4 Chemical properties The solution is weakly acid. The pH value of a commercial solution of mass fraction of 40 % is between 4,5 and 5,0. NaHSO 3exists in solution only; if the solution is evaporated the salt which is formed is sodium disulfite. At elevated temperatures ( 100°C) sulfur dioxide is generated. Sodium hydrogen sulfite reacts violently with oxidising agents; e.g. with sodium hypochlorite or hydrogen peroxide. 4 Purity criteria 4.1 General This European Standard specifies the minimum purity requirements for sodium hydrogen sulfite used for the treatment of water intended for human consumption. Limits are given for impurities commonly present in the product. Depending on the raw material and the manufacturing process other impurities may be present and, if so, this shall be notified to the user and when necessary to relevant authorities. Users of this product should check the national regulations in order to clarify whether it is of appropriate purity for treatment of water intended for human consumption, taking into account raw water quality, required dosage, contents of other impurities and additives used in the products not stated in this product standard. Limits have been given for impurities and chemical parameters where these are likely to be present in significant quantities from the current production process and raw materials. If the production process or raw materials leads to significant quantities of impurities, by-products or additives being present, this shall be notified to the user. 4.2 Composition of commercial product The commercial product has a concentration of NaHSO 3of approximately 520 g/l, which relates to a content of mass fraction of 40 % NaHSO 3 , corresponding to a mass fraction of 25 % SO 2 . The concentration of sodium hydrogen sulfite shall be within ± 5 % of the manufacturer s declared value. BS EN 12120:2012 EN 12120:2012 (E) 8 4.3 Impurities and main by-products The sum of the content of sodium sulfate and sodium chloride shall not exceed a mass fraction of 5 % of the commercial product, i.e. solution of mass fraction of 40 % NaHSO 3 . 4.4 Chemical parameters The product shall conform to the requirements specified in Table 1. Table 1 — Chemical parameters Parameter Limit mg/kg of commercial product (mass fraction of 40 % NaHSO 3 ) Antimony (Sb) max 1 Arsenic (As) max 1 Cadmium (Cd) max 1 Chromium (Cr) max 1 Lead (Pb) max 5 Mercury (Hg) max 1 Nickel (Ni) max 1 Selenium (Se) max 1 NOTE Other chemical parameters and indicator parameters are not relevant in sodium hydrogen sulfite because the raw materials used in the manufacturing process are free of them. For parametric values of sodium hydrogen sulfite on trace metal content in drinking water, see [1]. 5 Test methods 5.1 Sampling 5.1.1 General Observe the general recommendations of ISO 3165 and take account of ISO 6206. 5.1.2 Sampling from drums and bottles 5.1.2.1 General 5.1.2.1.1 Mix the contents of each container to be sampled by shaking the container, by rolling it or by rocking it from side to side, taking care not to damage the container or spill any of the liquid. 5.1.2.1.2 If the design of the container is such (for example, a narrow-necked bottle) that it is impracticable to use a sampling implement, take a sample by pouring after the contents have been thoroughly mixed. Otherwise, proceed as described in 5.1.2.1.3. BS EN 12120:2012 EN 12120:2012 (E) 9 5.1.2.1.3 Examine the surface of the liquid. If there are signs of surface contamination, take samples from the surface as described in 5.1.2.2. Otherwise, take samples as described in 5.1.2.3. 5.1.2.2 Surface sampling Take a sample using a suitable ladle. Lower the ladle into the liquid until the rim is just below the surface, so that the surface layer runs into it. Withdraw the ladle just before it fills completely and allow any liquid adhering to the ladle to drain off. If necessary, repeat this operation so that, when the other selected containers have been sampled in a similar manner, the total volume of sample required for subsequent analysis is obtained. 5.1.2.3 Bottom sampling Take a sample using an open sampling tube, or a bottom-valve sampling tube, suited to the size of container and the viscosity of the liquid. When using an open sampling tube, close it at the top and then lower the bottom end to the bottom of the container. Open the tube and move it rapidly so that the bottom of the tube traverses the bottom of the container before the tube is filled. Close the tube, withdraw it from the container and allow any liquid adhering to the outside of the tube to drain off. When using a bottom-valve sampling tube, close the valve before lowering the tube into the container and then proceed in a similar manner to that when using an open sampling tube. 5.1.3 Sampling from tanks and tankers From each access point, take samples as follows: a) from the surface of the liquid, using a ladle as described in 5.1.2.2; b) from the bottom of the tank or tanker, using a sampling tube as described in 5.1.2.3 or using a specially designed bottom-sampling apparatus; c) from one or more positions, depending on the overall depth, between the bottom and the surface using a weighted sampling can. 5.2 Analyses 5.2.1 General All reagents shall be of a recognised analytical grade and the water used shall conform to the grade 3 specified in EN ISO 3696. 5.2.2 Main product 5.2.2.1 General The sodium hydrogen sulfite content shall be determined by the method for sodium sulfite described in ISO 418. NOTE Both methods, direct titration and back titration, can be used. BS EN 12120:2012 EN 12120:2012 (E) 10 5.2.2.2 Back titration method 5.2.2.2.1 Principle Sodium hydrogen sulfite is oxidised with a fixed volume of iodine. The excess of added iodine is titrated with sodium thiosulfate. The determination includes other sulfites in addition to NaHSO 3 . 5.2.2.2.2 Calculation The sodium hydrogen sulfite content C 1 , expressed as a mass fraction in %, is given by the following formula: m c V c C )) 2 ( ) 3 50 (( 2 , 5 1 × − × = (1) where c 3is the actual concentration, in moles per litre, of the iodine solution; c 2is the actual concentration, in moles per litre, of the sodium thiosulfate solution; V is the volume, in millilitres, of the sodium thiosulfate solution used for the titration; 5,2 is a conversion factor for the mass of sodium hydrogen sulfite equivalent to 1 mole of iodine (i.e. 52,0) x the conversion fact
BSEN12120 2012
本文标题：BS EN 12120-2012
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Begbie: A psychopath in plain sight
November 12, 2018 Sammy Andie Bennett Leave a comment
The common view of a psychopath is that of a serial killer; a person who kills in high numbers over a long period of time and lacks remorse for their violent crimes. An incomprehensible threat to society and everyday life; a charming, intelligent but lethal monster in human form. This may be true for some psychopaths, however, psychopathy is not typically classified as a compulsion to kill; not all psychopaths are murderers. Mainstream film production has focused on the serial killer psychopath, portraying an image of pure evil unable to fight their addiction to murder; enforcing the moral code, the difference between good and evil, onto the audience. This loyalty to the stereotypical presentation of the psychopath has made it near impossible to reference psychopathy without the image of murder infecting the discourse. Due to this, there are very limited examples of psychopaths in mainstream cinema that are not serial killers, or murderers at the very least, however, one rebellious Brit Pop film of the 1990’s infiltrated a non-murderous psychopath into its narrative; Francis Begbie in Danny Boyle’s TRAINSPOTTING.
In 1996, the British film scene saw an invasion of a likeable group of heroin addicts and violent thugs who injected (excuse the pun) a new lease of life into the classic film industry. This group were the stars of Boyle’s adaptation of Irvine Welsh’s novel, TRAINSPOTTING, who would go on to return in 2017 sequel T2: TRAINSPOTTING. The original film depicts the life of Renton, Sick Boy, Spud, Tommy and Begbie as each of them goes through varying difficulties, from addiction to life as a fugitive. The dark topics and themes covered in the narrative are presented intelligently and humorously with an energetic feel that does not match the desperate situations the protagonists often find themselves in. Heroin addiction and its effect on the group’s lives is of particular prominence in the film, however, it is worth focusing on the presentation of the psychopathic and violent tendencies of Begbie. His character presents an interesting opportunity for the analysis of psychopathy in everyday life. Begbie is an incredibly violent, narcissistic, yet charming individual who manages to escape judgement from his society. Begbie can be confirmed with this diagnosis by analysing scenes in which his psychopathic nature is revealed. The influence of his surroundings is also clear, as the society portrayed, in both the novel and the film, was one which ‘cast an angry backward glance at the social exclusion, stagnation and decay that characterised great swathes of Thatcher’s divided Britain’. In other words, a discussion of the nature versus nurture debate is prominent in any serious analysis of a psychopath and, therefore, must be referred to in relation to Begbie.
Begbie is introduced to the audience as he slide tackles, and presumably injures, an opposition player during a football match. Following which he laughs and then proceeds to yell obscenities at his own goalkeeper, Spud. Quite the entrance. Shortly after, whilst the group of friends are drinking in a bar, Begbie humours them with a tale to further propagate his image as the talented, real ‘hard man’. The story goes that whilst he was ‘givin’ the boy here [Tommy] a tannin’ of a lifetime’ at a game of a pool, a fellow ‘hard man’ entered the bar. According to Begbie, he managed to scare off this man and won the game of pool. Through his saturated use of curse words, overtly aggressive persona and narcissistic retelling of this supposed incident during a game of pool, he creates an image of himself as a man not to be crossed. Begbie’s story of glory is revealed to be completely untrue as Tommy refutes this wild tale during a conversation with Renton. This conversation reveals that Begbie lost his temper and attacked a young boy sitting in the bar, accusing this anonymous character of distracting him during the pool game.
Through Tommy’s flashback, the audience can see how uncontrollable and terrifying Begbie really is as he wields a blade, not only at the victim but also at Tommy. In the dimly lit and quiet bar scene, Begbie appears animalistic and volatile. His face rippled with anger and his crouched posture as he turns violently towards his own friend exposes his uncontrollable predator-like instincts. This display, however violent, does not appear to be out of place. There is no effort to dismiss Begbie or question his actions.
His compulsion to act violently when his ego is threatened displays his inability to act calmly. He has no reason to attack the young boy but he feels he has to as a way to protect his image. He uses his violence to better himself, to prove himself as a ‘hard man’, as someone not to be crossed. He pushes this image of himself but his insecurity creates a great deal of self-distress when this image is threatened; this self-distress resulted in his violent outburst. His actions reveal his impulsivity, poor behavioural controls and irresponsibility. His re-envisioning of the events displays his ‘grandiose sense of self-worth’ and an inability to accept responsibility for his actions. His labelling of his own person influences his actions; if he had not seen himself as a ‘hard man’, his violent outbursts may not have occurred because he would not have been trying to protect an image. These characteristics are fundamental in the diagnosis of a psychopath and therefore this sequence in the film alone could confirm Begbie’s condemnation to that label. The events during the game of pool and Begbie’s reimagined view of them does not further the plot of the film and instead serves to characterise Begbie, to aid the audience in their realisation that this self-confessed ‘hard man’ is not as simple a character as the first introductions may have suggested.
Immediately after this sequence, another side to Begbie’s psychopathic nature is portrayed. He throws his pint glass over the bannister of a busy bar which results in a woman being severely injured. He runs down to the scene of his crime exclaiming that nobody can leave the premises until they find out who was the culprit of this unmotivated assault. A large fight amongst the majority of customers in the bar ensues due to Begbie, who is in the middle of the violence. After he was finished with his drink and his story, he needed violent ‘stimulation’. This scene acts to confirm his tendencies but also his addiction to violence; as Renton describes it, ‘he just did people. That’s what he got off on. His own sensory addiction.’ His friends are aware of his need for violence and that such acts give him positive emotions. His behaviours are not unnoticed by those around him but they are not condemned either.
Begbie’s surroundings permit his behaviour to continue and they do not require him to conform to social norms; unlike the majority of psychopaths that are often required to blend in with mainstream society. The dive bars, the drug addicted and poverty-stricken environment Begbie inhabits has normalised violence and instead of condemning it, expects it. This film is not a critique of the people but instead of the governance that has allowed this to take place; a society where young men can be addicted to heroin, where AIDS can spread like wildfire, where a violent psychopath can act out whenever he feels like it and where a baby can die while the people taking care of it are too deep into their addiction to realise their responsibility. The sad state of affairs in this society is homely to a psychopath like Begbie; there are no repercussions of his actions and he does not have to control his volatile nature because no one around him cares enough.
The true level of Begbie’s violent psychopathy is eventually revealed near the end of the film but the lead up to this final outburst is of equal importance. Renton manages to escape his life in Edinburgh and start a career for himself in London. This escape is ruined by the arrival of Begbie who is on the run after an armed robbery with a replica gun. Begbie uses his aura as the ‘hard man’ to intimidate Renton into allowing him to live in his home and provide for him. Renton never explicitly states that he is fearful of Begbie but the way he allows him to infiltrate his home and disrespect his private space clearly highlights the level of dominance Begbie has created. Begbie displays a manipulative side of himself which is often considered a trademark of a psychopath, using others for their own personal gain. In this case, Begbie is using Renton for shelter.
Living together does not appear to damage their friendship, however, this quickly changes after an incident on a night out. Begbie mistakenly assumed the sex of a fellow clubber and engaged in an intimate moment in the front seat of a car. When he discovered that his new acquaintance had male genitalia, Begbie ran from the car and took his frustrations out on a wall and revealed the fragility of his masculinity and of his persona. Begbie confided in Renton about the incident which resulted in Renton mocking him. Begbie’s insecurity about the legitimacy of his self-identity as the ‘hard man’ sees Renton’s mocking as a threat. This threat to his self-identity, again, incites a violent response. Begbie pushed Renton against the wall by his neck and threatened him with a blade. Through this, he maintains the image he defines himself through; this preoccupation with himself, his narcissism, is his motivation. This does not, however, justify his violence, it simply creates a further context outwith the unmotivated compulsion, which Begbie also displays.
Self-distress is a major force for Begbie and the clearest moment of this in the narrative is the final dramatic crescendo of the film where Begbie attacks a man in a bar for causing him to pour some beer onto his suit. He insults the physical appearance of the man and before Spud could warn the unsuspecting victim not to respond to Begbie’s disrespectful insult, the audience is already anticipating violence. Begbie smashes a pint glass onto the man’s face and proceeds to violently kick the victim before utilising his blade. Unfortunately, while Spud tries to stop Begbie, he is injured by the weapon, angering Begbie further.
Begbie, with blood splattered over his face and a blade in his hand, becomes truly terrifying, not only to the strangers in the bar but also to his friends and the audience. In this scene, he is presented as a violent psychopath with no hope of being anything but that. Begbie’s actions influence Renton to run away with the money from their drug deal and leave his friends and the life he knows. Outside of their homely drug dens and bars, Begbie’s psychopathic nature is out of place and terrifying. As his friends come out of their addictions, Begbie is still trapped in his own. The group may be able to leave their normal surroundings but Begbie cannot if he has any hope of remaining unnoticed. Begbie’s nature has psychopathy ingrained into its fibres but his nurture, his surroundings, allow him to act on his impulses; outside of this society which has nurtured him, which has accommodated his violent behaviour, he is an outsider.
Begbie is a psychopath. He is impulsive, violent, irresponsible, narcissistic, manipulative and is devoid of any remorse for his actions. He uses his surroundings to feed his impulses and does not care who is harmed; women, men and friends are not distinct categories. Begbie’s focus is on himself and preserving his self-image of the ‘hard man’, as a dominating man who should be respected. Any threat to this self-image is easily diminished through violence and intimidation. Any remaining likeability of Begbie is destroyed in the final bar scene and the audience, and his friends, can see the full picture; he is a self-obsessed violent man and any redeeming qualities he may have are unimportant when considering the level of brutality he is capable of.
TRAINSPOTTING is not a film about heroin addicts. TRAINSPOTTING is a film about poverty, choices and identity. The film does not critique its characters, instead, it critiques the society they inhabit. The focus may be on Renton but Begbie provides much of the material for the film’s critique through his actions and characterisation. A society which allows Begbie to exist is one which must be more brutal and manic than he is. Begbie can blend in with his surroundings despite his obvious psychopathy; he does not hide who he is or what he is capable of. If he wants to start a large brawl in a bar, he can. If he wants to attack people, he can. If he wants to rob a jewellery shop, he can. Begbie can violently exist in this society without any major consequences or judgment. ‘Choose life. Choose a job. Choose a career. Choose a family.’ But why would Begbie want to do a thing like that?
Additional reference: Petrie, D. “TRAINSPOTTING, the Film.” Edinburgh Companions to Scottish Literature: The Edinburgh Companion to Irvine Welsh. Ed. Berthold Schoene. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2010.
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Wide-Eyed Wonder: A Review of Tomorrowland
June 1, 2015 by Tee Morris 5 Comments
When Walt Disney Studios revealed that coming to theatres this summer was a movie called Tomorrowland, a feeling of dread (equaled only by my level of anticipation) welled inside of me. Tomorrowland—the park, not the movie—was a place that, even in my teenaged visits to Walt Disney World, I would hold my breath, make a wish, and lose myself in science fiction come to life. Tomorrowland was not just a special place, it was sacred. I remember visiting Walt Disney World when Space Mountain was under construction. (I’m old. Shut up.) I remember when their first spaceflight simulation “A Voyage to the Moon” convinced me had launched from Orlando and were en route to Tranquility Sea. Yes, I know—Walt Disney World is an amusement park. An expensive amusement park. Walt Disney World, I’ve always believed, has been less about the rides and more about the experience; and for me, nowhere else in the park embodied that more than Tomorrowland.
Now, it was a movie with George Clooney at the helm. And all I could think about was The Haunted Mansion.
Oh. Crap.
Tomorrowland opens with George Clooney’s Frank Walker, attempting to record what appears to be a video journal, but off-camera he is constantly interrupted by Britt Robertson’s Casey Newton, a self-proclaimed voice of optimism. Through the false starts and interruptions, we discover that Frank—as a young boy—made an impression at the 1964 World’s Fair on a young prodigy, Athena, who recruited him to become part of an exclusive think tank known simply as Tomorrowland. Fast forward decades later and we dive into Casey’s story, a story of frustration that NASA is no longer reaching for the stars, where world politics and environmental changes are painting a bleak picture of what is to come, and her question of “What can we do to fix it?” remains unanswered. Still, Casey refuses to give up, and it is her unbreakable spirit that catches someone’s attention: a young prodigy named Athena.
The plot of Tomorrowland is hard to describe. It doesn’t happen so much as it unfolds around you, beginning with Frank’s story, then jumping to Casey’s point of view, and finally bringing these two together in a fantastic adventure to change the future and save the world; but while Tomorrowland appears on the surface a Campbellean “Chosen One” hero’s journey, there is a lot more happening here. From a visual perspective, Tomorrowland delivers a lot of awe and wonder in that classic Disney style, and manages to touch on three different styles of punk:
Steampunk (The Eiffel Tower)
Dieselpunk (Frank’s Electrolux Prototype Jetpack)
Atompunk (Tomorrowland)
Never did any of these instances feel forced or contrived. In fact, Tomorrowland brilliantly reveals how steampunk eventually evolves into atompunk. The science fiction writer in me just relished that.
There are themes of lost innocence, skepticism, and apathy interwoven with the power of curiosity, optimism and determination. There is also a touch of darkness in Tomorrowland, something unexpected from what Disney himself created—a breathtaking vision of the future. The darkness, while prevalent, never overpowers; but like a minor key in music sets a sinister backdrop in the film. Governor Nix, explaining his frustration with the modern world, states:
“You’ve got simultaneous epidemics of obesity and starvation, explain that one. Bees and butterflies start to disappear, the glaciers melt, the algae blooms. All around you the coal mine canaries are dropping dead and you won’t take the hint! In every moment there’s a possibility of a better future, but you people won’t believe it. And because you won’t believe it you won’t do what is necessary to make it a reality.”
Tomorrowland refuses to sugar-coat its sometimes-inconvenient messages without mercilessly beating you over the head with it. Amid some of the hiccups in the plot, this is not only refreshing, but welcomed.
What I can say won me over completely with Tomorrowland was its wide-eyed sense of wonder. This movie was far from the epic awesome of Avengers: Age of Ultron and nowhere near the overwhelming insanity of Mad Max: Fury Road, but that doesn’t mean that Tomorrowland was not a wonderful experience. How can I describe what I was feeling at the end of it?
The last time I felt this good, it was after seeing another Disney movie for the first time.
I found myself caught by surprise at the end of the film when I felt a tightness in my throat and tears in my eyes. I wondered for a moment, Athena’s words of “Dreamers need to stick together…” echoing in my mind, how long it had been since I felt this way? In growing older, in becoming a parent, had I forgotten to dream? Had I lost a bit of that curious, creative spirit I knew when I was younger?
Then I remembered something: I write steampunk. I had released a book with my beautiful wife, Pip, this past March; and only a few weeks ago, she picked up an award for the previous book in our series. We’re currently writing another steampunk adventure while brainstorming others.
Because dreamers need to stick together.
Tomorrowland made me feel like I was visiting Walt Disney World for the first time, crossing the threshold to a world where nothing was impossible. It is a movie for the dreamers, for the optimists who look at each day as an opportunity to reach for the future, for those who refuse to give up. Perhaps it is flawed in places, but it makes up for shortcomings in its heart. It also assures the dreamers that giving up is not an option. It never was to begin with.
As the credits rolled, our daughter turned to us and said,“I want to see it again.”
Me too, Bear. Me too.
Filed Under: Geek Chic, Rants, Opinions, and Overall Observations, Steampunk, Technology Tagged With: atompunk, Avengers, Britt Robertson, dieselpunk, dreamers, environment, future, Futurism, George Clooney, heartfelt, jetpacks, Mad Max, movie review, movies, NASA, optimism, review, Steampunk, The Rocketeer, Tomorrowland, Walt Disney, Walt Disney Studios, Walt Disney World
Paul K. Ellis says
It’s the jetpacks, isn’t it? They get me every time.
Tee Morris says
I may or may not have a thing for jetpacks…
No, I may.
billdavisjr says
Tim McGee on the show NCIS would love Tomorrowland. Because jetpacks!
I loved, loved, loved Tomorrowland too, and felt the much the same way you did at the end. SO flashing back to my childhood and discovering SF and reading and science and….yeah. Awesome.
I’ve been seeing a lot of bad review of the movie online (IMDB etc). And a spattering of “Did you folks giving the bad reviews even watch the same movie I did” reviews in among them. I’m agree with the latter. What has happened to moviegoers?
Everyone should take their kids or young relatives to see this! (STEM, anyone?)
I haven’t met your daughter, but I can tell from her reaction to Tomorrowland that you posted that she is awsome too. Though I already knew that from your other posts about her in the past. You guys raised her right!
Got me a Tomorrowland pin just the other day. Got a couple more on order (there are at least two styles in the movie, possibly three, interestingly.) I’m looking forward to seeing the movie again too. Wearing the pin. 😉
We dreamers DO need to stick together!
An Open Letter to Star Wars: A Spoiler-Free Reaction to The Force Awakens | TeeMorris.com says:
[…] holding my breath. I don’t know for how long, but I exhaled and that was when I started to cry. This was the second time this year that I felt this way, the other time ironically on account of a D… You had come back. After all these years, you reached out to me and said “Hey, Tee, remember […]
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Next Visit
Welcome to the website of The Arts Society Solihull
(Registered Charity No. 1133670)
The Arts Society Solihull has as its lecture base the Library Theatre situated within the Solihull Arts Complex, now renamed “The Core Theatre”, adjacent to the excellent Touchwood shopping and entertainment centre, one of the premier retail venues in the Midlands area.
The Society is a registered charity and constituent member of The Arts Society, previously known as (and still trading as) The National Association of Decorative and Fine Arts Societies (NADFAS). The society exists to promote an interest in fine and decorative arts. It arranges lectures and visits, including tours to places of relevant interest, and study days.
Membership is open to all adults subject to the capacity of the Library Theatre. Membership subscription is £45 per annum (July to June), its first rise in nine years. Prospective members may join at any stage during the year and there is no joining fee. Meetings commence at 11:00 am, usually (but not exclusively) on the first Wednesday of each month except August and December.
Members may bring a guest to a lecture by arrangement with the Guest Secretary at least 24 hours before the meeting. There is no fixed fee for guests but a donation to the Society (suggested £5) would be appreciated and may be given to the Guest Secretary on the morning of the lecture. The same person may not attend as a guest more than twice in any one lecture season, although many of our guests go on to join the society.
The Society provides and supports volunteers in The Arts Society Church Recording and Heritage Volunteering schemes and offers financial support to schools and youth organisations in areas of the arts which might struggle to find sponsorship for their activities elsewhere.
NADFAS has now been renamed "The Arts Society" from 17th May 2017. At the society AGM on 4th October Solihull DFAS members voted on a new society name. We are now to be known as "The Arts Society Solihull" in line with the national rebranding protocol. All cheques for subscription or events payments should now be made payable to The Arts Society Solihull.
Note that we now have a new URL, http://theartssocietysolihull.org.uk
Please give some feedback on the last lecture by clicking here
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Sexual assault rife on Broad Street
Each year, dozens of sexual assaults are committed along Broad Street. A Slice investigation has revealed that last year 32 sexual assaults took place on the road, with 36 occurring in 2014.
The road, famous for its large collection of cheap, high capacity clubs, is visited by 8 million people annually. However, despite West Midlands Police’s high-visibility patrols, plus the presence of charity and community volunteers at peak party times, sexual assaults have been committed at more than a fortnightly rate. According to sexual harassment campaigners ‘Hollaback‘, only 15% of those who fall victim to sexual violence choose to report the incident to the police. The true scale of the problem is therefore likely to be much worse than the statistics suggest.
Number of sexual assaults on Broad Street
West Midlands Police told The Slice: “Whilst one offence is too many, these figures are clearly extremely low given the sheer number of people visiting the area…Birmingham city centre is a safe, positive and vibrant place.”
This is in stark contrast to controversial comments previously made by Yardley MP Jess Phillips who drew comparisons between the behaviour of some of Birmingham’s clubbers and the Cologne sex attackers. Speaking on the BBC’s Question Time she said: “There is violence against women and girls that you are describing, a very similar situation to what happened in Cologne could be described on Broad Street in Birmingham every week where women are baited and heckled.”
The scale of the problem in Birmingham is clearly smaller than it was in Cologne, where more than 800 women were targeted on a single night. However, statistics such as these do highlight the persistent threat that women face on Broad Street. Given that this year the number of prosecutions brought for sexual offences in England and Wales has already risen to its highest level ever, with a 22.5% rise on last year, it seems that Birmingham’s party goers and the authorities need to be more vigilant than ever.
Speaking exclusively to The Slice, campaigning group ‘Hollaback’ were unequivocal in how they thought the problem should be tackled. “Women – and most survivors of sexual violence on nights out are women – don’t need any more advice on how to protect themselves on nights out. We’ve been told how to dress, how much to drink, how to walk home in groups in order to avoid being raped since we were teenagers and this only serves to shift blame onto victims.”
They urged every venue in the area to get in touch with ‘Good Night Out‘, an international campaign that works with venues to help tackle harassment on nights out. The Slice has forwarded this information to all of Broad Street’s clubs.
Whilst the vast majority of victims of sexual crimes are female, it is important to note that approximately 15% are male.
Birmingham has previously hosted ‘Reclaim the Night’ events, which see women and men march together through city centres in a show of strength against those who can make the area unsafe, and every week volunteers help work to make Broad Street a safe place to enjoy a night out. However, there clearly is a lot left to be done to ensure that no one is in fear of being targeted whilst out in Birmingham city centre.
by Tom Horton 0 0
Could public ownership be the answer for Birmingham’s overpriced buses?
by Becky Morton 0 0
A third of Birmingham grammar school places go to children outside the city
Exclusive: A third of operations cancelled at Birmingham’s QE hospital
Birmingham conference launches groundbreaking global health research
by Becky Morton an... 0 0
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DVLA must be proactive about roadworthiness of school buses
The District Chief Executive (DCE) of Atwima Kwanwoma in the Ashanti Region, Nana Okyere Tawiah Antwi, has ordered that no rickety vehicle should serve as a school bus in his district, effective next month when schools re-open.
The DCE’s concern stems from the fact that road safety, which has implications on public health, human resources and national development, is a priority of the country’s development agenda and must be sustained in whatever way possible.
Last Tuesday, while meeting with proprietors of private schools in the district, the DCE bemoaned that most of the school buses were in bad conditions, and ordered that all such vehicles would have to be brought to the District Assembly for inspection by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA).
He warned the proprietors of private schools to put their rickety school buses in order before schools resume in January. Those which cannot meet this requirement would be sanctioned, and barred from being used to carry the children.
The meeting was a function of the DCE’s previous experience, when he once came across school children in a broken down school bus around 7pm, and wondered if the proprietor cared about the safety of the kids.
In most cases, vehicles called buses and used to convey children to and from schools, are nothing but deathtraps, and the least said about them, the better.
It would, therefore, not be out of place if the DCE’s directive is implemented fully to the letter, and have tyres, batteries and electrical fittings of such buses inspected and certificated during the exercise, in an effort to ensure the safety of school children.
The good news is that Nana Okyere Tawiah Antwi wants this exercise to be sustained, and indicated that the inspection of school buses in this district by the DVLA would be carried out every three months.
Just as the Chairman of the Private Schools Association in the district, Mr. Alexander Adu Berko, commended the DCE for initiating the move, The Chronicle cannot, but commend the DCE, as a politician, for this one big and bold step in prevailing on the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority to go into action.
Other metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies (MMDAs) could emulate the shining of example Nana Okyere Tawiah Antwi, and complement the efforts of the DVLA and the Ghana National Road Safety Commission (GNRSC) to ensure the safety of all on the roads.
We see the directive as timely and want to stress that it is about time proprietors of schools do not take the safety of school children for granted, at the expense of parents whose toil butters their (proprietors) bread.
The fact is, there is the need to develop the mental attitude and harness all available resources and the will power to reduce and prevent road accidents, thereby contributing positively to a safe, accessible and reliable transportation system for all categories of road users, including school children.
In this regard, the DVLA, established in 1999 by an Act of Parliament (Act 569), should see to it that regulations and several provisions in the Act are complied with by vehicle owners, including proprietors of schools and motorists, to improve service delivery, and by extension road safety.
We also want to encourage the DVLA and GNRSC to go beyond school buses and inspect the road worthiness of all vehicles in whichever exercise they may deem appropriate.
Enact new act to enable us bite -GIS
The December 27 Referendum: A Peaceful and Civilised Decision for a Perpetual Entity
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Published on The Examiner (http://theexaminer.com)
Home > Features > Chad Cooper's archive > Thinking about gettin’ you home
Thinking about gettin’ you home
Submitted by Chad Cooper [1] on March 9, 2011 - 3:34pm
young.jpg [2]
Many musicians have had songs hit No. 1 on their respected music charts, but there aren’t many that can claim that they’ve had three consecutive No. 1 singles, especially in country music.
Chris Young can.
From Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Young watched “Gettin’ You Home (The Black Dress Song),” “The Man I Want to Be” and “Voices” climb the country charts to the top spot and all were off his sophomore album The Man I Want to Be.
What makes it more special is the fact “Voices” was a re-release and with that single becoming No. 1, it marked the first time in 25 years since a song had been re-released by a country music artist and went No. 1. The last was 25 years ago when “On the Other Hand” was a chart-topper for Randy Travis.
The first No. 1, “Gettin’ You Home (The Black Dress Song),” is now a staple in dance halls across the country. It has basically replaced Brooks and Dunn’s “Neon Moon” as one of the most requested songs in country nightclubs.
Young auditioned for the reality show Nashville Star in 2006 and went on to win it and receive a recording contract with RCA Nashville and has since recorded two albums, the first being self-titled and a third, Neon, will be released this summer.
He’s been nominated for a Grammy, two Academy of Country Music awards and won the Nationwide Is On Your Side Award at last year’s Country Music Association Show.With all this success, it’s hard to imagine that Young is just 25 years old.
Young spoke with The Examiner during a touring stint with Rascal Flatts to promote his show March 10 at the Texas Longhorn Club in nearby Vinton, La.
How elated were you about the achievement of those singles?
It’s really been an exciting time. Not in my wildest dreams did I think I would have back-to-back-to-back No. 1 songs. When you make a record, something you always shoot for is a No. 1 single, but to have three off one record is a dream come true.
The third song was a re-release, which was the first single off the second record. Why was that particular song sent back to radio?
It was the label that decided to do it. After the first two No. 1 songs, we were looking at what single to put out next and we had a lot of people from the radio industry tell us that the song got lost in the shuffle. The fans really liked it so they decided to put it back out. It was really special because it had been 25 years since a re-release went No. 1. Being able to make history like that made the three consecutive No. 1 singles extra special.
The last artist to do so was Randy Travis and isn’t he one of your favorites?
His song ‘Diggin’ Up Bones’ was the first song I learned all the words too.
Was there a particular moment that you decided this was going to be your career path?
Everyone always asked that question and I have no idea what to tell them. I wasn’t one of those kids that did voice lessons at three years old. My parents didn’t realize I could sing because I never shut up. Then they realized it in there somewhere that I could sing. The first time I played on stage with a band was probably the first time I thought this is what I wanted to do. The more I did it the more progressive I got with the idea to really pursue it. Then I learned how to play instruments and write songs. I think It worked out pretty well.
You won the reality show ‘Nashville Star.’ There usually comes a stigma with winninga music reality show.
A show like that can get you a record deal, but after you sign is when the work really begins. I put out two records and it was almost four years before I had my first hit, and it came off my second album. Shows like that are great, especially that one, because it has a good track record. Look what happened with Miranda Lambert and myself. It can be done, it’s just a matter of what you do after you get your shot.
A new record is on the horizon. Any added pressure going into this one due to the success of your last album?
I didn’t feel any added pressure. You know what’s weird is, most people feel pressure about the sophomore, or second record, and I actually broke through with that album so I never really faced those questions. Going into this third one, it’s a mix of what I thought did really well on the last record and figuring out where I can stretch as a song writer. We used the same producer, James Stroud. We just put out our first single, ‘Tomorrow.’ We released it to iTunes exclusively before it went to radio and it sold over 30,000 copies and that was a great feeling. It’s really my first new music in nearly three years, so I am excited about that more than anything.
Any noticeable differences?
We didn’t change my vocals. The sound you hear on the second record with the vocals is the same you will here on this one. There are some mixing differences. The stuff that everyone liked about the second record is here on this new one.
How much songwriting did you contribute to the album?
I kind of make it a point to seek out others. I don’t know if it will ever come to a point where as I wrote or co-wrote an entire record. Nashville is such a huge songwriting town, so I always have been able to find good songs, which of course I would love to have written myself. With that being said, I did co-write half the songs on the new album but there are songs on the album that I didn’t write, yet fell in love with.
Aaron Lewis of Staind has done a solo project that is country themed. How did you get involved?
They brought me in to sing some harmonies on the song ‘Country Boy.’ Aaron is making a really cool project and I was able to hook up with him through my producer, James Stroud.
Being on the road is constant in the music industry. Do you ever feel like you need a break?
This is something I love do. I’m almost more comfortable on my bus than my house. It’s really easy because I have a great crew, plus you get to work with really great musicians, whether it be with Rascal Flatts or Alan Jackson. When I am home not playing, I am still working on songs and wishing I were playing.
Chris Young will perform at the Texas Longhorn Club in Vinton on March 10 with doors opening at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20. For more information call (337) 589-5647.
Artist Interviews [3]
Source URL: http://theexaminer.com/features/artist-interviews/thinking-about-gettin%E2%80%99-you-home
[1] http://theexaminer.com/users/chad-cooper
[2] http://theexaminer.com/sites/default/files/blog/young.jpg
[3] http://theexaminer.com/features/artist-interviews
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PARSHAS BECHUKOSAI 5779
PARSHAS BEHAR 5779
PARSHAS EMOR/ LAG BAOMER 5779
PARSHAS KEDOSHIM 5779
PARSHAS ACHREI MOS 5779
Rabbi Returns $98k He Found in Desk Bought on Craigslist
A Connecticut rabbi who bought a used desk on Craigslist for $150 discovered that it wouldn't fit through the door into his study. As he took the desk apart to get it inside, a bag containing $98,000 fell out.
Noah Muroff's windfall did not last long. The next day, with his four kids along, he took the money back to the desk's original owner.
The woman "was totally speechless" when she got a call from Muroff at 11:30 p.m. that night to let her know what they had found.
"She was so shocked and touched that anyone would call," he said. "She said, 'You could have kept the money, and nobody would have ever known.'"
Muroff, of New Haven, Conn., bought a desk for his study on Craigslist for $150 and went with his wife to pick up the piece of furniture from the owner's house, he told ABCNews.com.
He loaded the desk into his minivan, but found it was too large to fit through the room's doorway. So the couple took the desk apart to get it inside.
When they removed the two filing cabinets from the desk, they found a plastic shopping bag between its drawers that appeared to have money inside, he said. Upon counting up the bills, the contents totaled $98,000.
"If we didn't take those drawers out, we never found have found it," he said.
Muroff, a rabbi who teaches ninth grade at Yeshiva of New Haven, said he and his wife immediately felt that they had an obligation to return the money to the desk's original owner.
"We both agreed that this is not our money," he said. "If God wants us to have $98,000, he'll make sure to give it to us in some other way."….
The next day, Muroff met with the desk's seller to bring her the missing fortune. He also brought his four young children along to teach them a lesson about "honesty and doing that which is right," he said.
Muroff said he and his wife agreed it was best not to take a reward for the good deed, but the woman presented them with a gift bag anyway.
Inside, she wrote a note and gave them back the original $150 they spent on the desk.
"I do not think there are too many people in this world that would have done what you did by calling me. I do like to believe that there are still good people left in this crazy world we live in. You certainly are one of them," the woman wrote. "I cannot thank you enough for your honesty and integrity."
The Torah commands us to be holy.[1] It relates to a Jew’s obligation to live his life in a manner that causes other people to love G-d.[2]
Being holy entails not only constantly striving to improve one’s connection with G-d, but also to be a person who thinks and cares about others, not to live selfishly, and to think about the perspective and plight of others.
Ramban understands that the directive to be holy means that one should not be a repulsive or gluttonous person. One can keep all the laws of the Torah and yet be vulgar and crass. The mitzva of being holy obligates a person to be pleasant and dignified, an example of morality and sterling character.
“When you will sacrifice a Shelmamim (peace) offering to Hashem, sacrifice it so that it will be accepted. It shall be eaten on the day you sacrifice it and the next day, but what is left over on the third day shall be burned in fire… And when you will reap the harvest of your land, do not reap all the corners of your field… to the poor and the convert you shall leave them, I am Hashem, your G-d.”[3]
What is the connection between the laws of separating the obligatory gifts for the poor and the previous discussion of the proper procedure to offer a korban? In fact, the Torah seems to stress the connection by introducing the laws of the obligatory gifts with the conjunctive “and” as if it’s connected with the previous laws?
Birchas Ish explains with a parable:
There was a world-class chef who had a reputation for his exquisite delicacies and magnificent culinary creations. People would travel great distances to taste his food, and the chef’s reputation spread far and wide.
One day the chef decided that he could do even better if he moved from his small village to the capital. However, the law of the land was that before one could move to the capital, he had to obtain permission from the king. The chef wrote a letter to the king requesting the honor of catering a royal banquet for the king in the palace. He reasoned that if he impressed the king with his talents, the king would be more than happy to allow him to move to the capital.
As soon as permission was granted, the chef diligently set to work in the palace kitchen. Delectable smells began wafting from the kitchen, and soon the feast was the talk of the palace. The king himself commented that he had never experienced such wonderful smells.
The day of the party arrived, and the elite members of the government and the king’s family filled the royal banquet hall. The tables were magnificently set, and everything looked perfect. The trumpet blared and the king himself entered the room and took his place at the head of the table. The chef emerged from the kitchen and personally brought out the first dish. As he removed the cover, the most wonderful smell filled the room, and everyone raised themselves up slightly to get a glimpse of the perfect and beautiful appetizer. But to the chef’s shock the king looked displeased. The king apologized and told the chef that he had lost his appetite. The chef smiled meekly and reassured his majesty that there would be plenty of other dishes that the king was sure to enjoy. But it was not to be. Despite the beauty and perfection of each dish, as each appetizer and entrée were brought before him the king looked paler. When he tried to sample a small amount of the food he began to gag. When the chef began to call for a doctor, the king waved him off.
The king turned to the chef and asked him if he knew of a certain individual from his hometown. The chef replied that he did. The king then continued, “You should know that that individual is my son. I was forced to send my son away from the palace so that he could learn the ways of the world and fend for himself. I sent him to a distant province where he would not be able to rely on me and would have to make it on his own. But things were very hard for him and he often went hungry. He would often write to me about how hard things were for him. He also told me that in his village there was a world-renowned chef from whom he would often ask for some scraps of food from his lavish feasts and ostentatious parties. But the chef paid no attention to him, and he and his family continued starving.”
The king continued, “Now I realize that you are the chef my son spoke of. Do you think I can enjoy the distinctive aromas and palatable dishes you prepared when I know how much pain they have caused my son, his wife, and my grandchildren? Can I enjoy foods from someone who had the ability to help my family but chose to turn a blind eye from his pain? If you really wish to serve and honor me, I would rather you take all the foods you have prepared and bring them to my son and his family so they can enjoy them.”
The Torah instructs the person offering his korbon that he ensures that it is being offered in a manner that will help him find favor in the eyes of Hashem. That includes that it be offered with proper intent and that he eats it within the allotted time. But then the Torah adds another point: If one wants his korban to find favor in the eyes of G-d, he should ensure that he is properly adhering to the laws of the gifts of the poor. If a person is not doing so, then G-d views it in the same manner as the king in the previous parable: “How can I enjoy the beautiful korban you have brought Me, when My children are starving and you aren’t caring for them?”
It is in order to impress this message that after stating the laws of offering a korban, the Torah continues “And when you reap the harvest”, reminding us to make sure to leave behind the gifts of the poor. What kind of korbon is it if the person bringing it didn’t care for those needy and less fortunate?!
When we think of holiness, perhaps our first thoughts turn to long prayers and engagement in Torah study. But to achieve holiness one also must elevate his interpersonal relationships. He must strive to live beyond himself, and to be a person who sanctifies G-d’s Name by the way he lives his life.
“And when you will reap the harvest of your land”
“Be holy”
Rabbi Dani Staum, LMSW
Rebbe/Guidance Counselor – Heichal HaTorah
Sign up to receive Stam Torah via email each week at:
http://www.stamtorah.info
http://torah.stamtorah.info/view/mosaic
[1] Vayikra 19:2 “Speak to the whole assembly of B’nai Yisroel and say to them: You shall be holy, for I, Hashem, your G-d, am holy.”
[2] Yoma 86a
[3] Vayikra 19:5-10
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These are the countries with the best Internet connections in the world
If the Internet is important to you, you may need to reconsider where you live based on the results of a new report from the International Telecommunication Union, which has revealed the countries with the best Internet connections in the world.
According to the study, which took into account Internet speed and the percentage of people who have access to a connection, we all need to move to South Korea if we want to be better connected – it just topped the list for the second time in a row. Other developed countries, however, didn’t fare as well as you might expect.
The US, for example, is 15th on the list, behind the UK, Australia, and Japan. Although to be fair, it was an improvement on its position of 16th in the last report, which came out in 2010.
Meanwhile, China placed an underwhelming 82nd, falling behind Mauritius, Brazil, and Dominica.
What’s interesting is that the report didn’t just look at Internet speed, which is obviously an important factor when it comes to connection, but also took into account the volume of people with Internet subscription, and the percentage of households with a computer. Because there’s no point having lightning fast download speeds if hardly anyone in the country can access them.
After taking into account these factors, the researchers gave each country a score out of 10, with South Korea topping the list with an impressive 8.93 (an increase from 8.64 in 2010).
Coming a close second was Denmark, with a score of 8.88, and Iceland, on 8.86. Impressively, the United Kingdom came in fourth, beating out countries such as Sweden and the Netherlands.
You can see the top 25 spots on the list below, and head over to the International Telecommunication Union to see the full report.
And just in case you were wondering which countries to avoid, Chad had the worse Internet connection, with a score of just 1.17. In fact, Sub-Saharan African countries took out the 23 bottom spots on the list, which isn’t entirely surprising given previous instability in parts of the region.
But ambitious thinkers such as Mark Zuckerberg and the Google and Microsoft teams are working on changing this divide, and are busily investigating ways they can connect the entire world with Internet, regardless of where someone lives.
That means that a whole new generation of people would have access to news, knowledge, and new friends online, which is pretty exciting to think about.
Let’s hope in another five years some of these projects come to fruition, and we see a lot of higher numbers on this list. And who knows, by that point we might all be using Li-Fi instead.
Mad Scientist: 6 Scientists Who Were Dismissed As Crazy, Only To Be Proven Right Years Later
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Youngest Person To Be Diagnosed With Breast Cancer Is 8-Year-Old Chrissy Turner: Here’s Her Story
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Winter Invite
Gauchos Back In The Pool Facing Cal St. Monterey Bay, No. 4 Cal
Kelly Murphy (Photo by Jeff Liang)
Monday Mar. 25, 2019 at 4:00 p.m.
Cal St. Monterey Bay (7-10) vs. No. 9 UC Santa Barbara (16-5)
at CSUMB Aquatic Center (Otter Tank) in Seaside, Calif.
Tuesday, Mar. 26, 2019 at 2:00 p.m.
No. 4 Cal vs. No. 9 UC Santa Barbara (16-5)
at Spieker Aquatics Complex in Berkeley, Calif.
*Exhibition
Gauchos Rally, Stun Anteaters in Big West Opener
No. 9 UC Santa Barbara took down No. 10 UC Irvine for the first time in three tries in both teams' Big West opener on Mar. 9 in Santa Barbara, as the Gauchos erased a 3-0 first half deficit to defeat the Anteaters, 6-5. Junior goalkeeper Kenzi Snyder had one of her best performances to date, stifling 13 shots to keep UCSB in the game en route to winning her first career Big West Player of the Week award. Kate Pipkin and Sarah Snyder led the Gaucho offense with two goals each.
Offensive Leaders
Junior utility Sarah Snyder has been UCSB's most consistent offensive player this season, totaling team-highs in goals (49), points (52), shooting percentage (.590), and drawn exclusions (25). She is one of two Gauchos to be named Big West Player of the Week this year, having earned the honor following the first weekend of the season. Right behind her on the statsheet is senior utility Kate Pipkin with 45 points. Pipkin's 27 goals are the third-most on the team, while her 18 assists are tied for first with senior Sarah Kreiser. Also carrying a significant share of offensive responsibilities is attacker Amanda Legaspi, who has totaled 41 points. The freshman out of La Verne, Calif. has been an offensive force, sitting right behind Snyder for team-highs in goals (33), shooting percentage (.516) and drawn exclusions (17). She is the only other Gaucho to have crossed the 30-goal mark so far this season.
Defensive Leaders
Goalkeepers Becca Buck and Kenzi Snyder have split time at goalkeeper for the second straight year, and have done a solid job defending the cage, holding opposing teams to seven goals or fewer in 16 of 21 games, including one shutout. Snyder has tallied 108 saves, posting an 11-5 record. She has recorded a season-high 13 saves twice, including her outstanding performance in the win over UCI which resulted in her first Big West Player of the Week honor. Buck meanwhile has a perfect 5-0 mark thus far and 72 saves.
Along with being the Gauchos' top sprinter, attacker Mollie Simmons has also been active on defense, leading the Gauchos with 24 steals to this point. Seniors Sarah Kreiser (18) and Kate Pipkin (16) come in second and third on the team in steals. Kreiser also leads the team with 13 field blocks, three more than any other Gaucho.
Gauchos Historic Start
UCSB has racked up 16 wins through its first 21 games, something the program has not done since at least 1996. That can be attributed to a hot start out of the gates which saw the Gauchos post a 9-1 record through their first 10 games. Santa Barbara's dominant opening weekend resulted in its first 4-0 start since 2013. There have been only four other times in the last 24 years that UCSB has started with a 4-0 record.
Ranked Opposition
The reason for Santa Barbara's historic rate of winning is the fact that the Gauchos have risen to the challenge against top-ranked teams this year. The Gauchos are currently 12-5 against ranked opponents and 4-4 against teams which entered the matchup with a higher ranking. So far, the Gauchos have earned "upset" wins against Indiana, Wagner, Arizona State and UC Irvine.
After starting the year with a No. 17 preseason ranking in the CWPA national polls, UCSB jumped to No. 10 through just one week of play, the second-largest jump of any team in the country. The Gauchos currently stand at No. 9 entering Big West play, but have seen as high as a No. 7 ranking this season, their highest since May of 2016.
Six Straight
The Gauchos opened the month of February by winning its first six games, awarding them their first six-game win streak since the start of the 2013 season. It was just the sixth time UCSB went on a run of six straight wins since 1996.
We're Shooting First
UCSB has been nearly unbeatable in sprints this year, thanks in large part to sophomore Mollie Simmons. The former Orange Lutheran High School standout has gone won 69 sprints this year, while losing just five.
No-Goal Zone
UCSB's 14-0 shutout win over Iona on Feb. 3 was the Gauchos' first shutout of the season and their third in the last two years. Prior to 2018, UCSB hadn't recorded a shutout victory since Feb. 15, 2003 in a 10-0 win over George Washington.
Snyder Named First Big West Player of the Week
Following a standout opening weekend performance in which she scored at least two goals in all five appearances, junior utility Sarah Snyder was named the first Big West Player of the Week of the 2019 season in late January. The Gauchos' leading scorer from last year, Snyder picked up right where she left off, finishing with team-highs of 14 goals and nine drawn exclusions while leading the Gauchos to a 4-1 record at the UCSB Winter Invite. She put together back-to-back four-goal, one-assist efforts, helping UCSB to convincing wins over Indiana and Wagner, teams which held higher preseason rankings than the Gauchos. For the second straight year, a Gaucho kicked off the Big West PoW awards with a win following the Winter Invite, as Snyder followed in the footsteps of current teammate and senior captain Sarah Kreiser.
Trust The Process: Shannon Moran
We sat down before the start of the season with senior Shannon Moran to talk about her experiences with water polo, community service, and her role as a leader being one of the team's three co-captains in 2019. Read the feature story and watch the interview by clicking here.
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Top 5 attractions to visit in Hanoi
Ho Chi Minh Complex
President Ho Chi Minh was born in May, 19th 1890 in Nghe An province and passed away on September, 2nd 1969 in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. He was recognized by UNESCO as the one who “devoted his whole life to the national liberation of the Vietnamese people…”. In honor of the President’s gratitude, the Government had the Hochiminh Complex established inside capital Hanoi after he was gone. Built in Ngoc Ha village, Ba Dinh district, Hanoi city, Hochiminh complex consists of Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, Ba Dinh square, Presidential Palace, Uncle Ho’s House on stilt, One pillar pagoda and Ho Chi Minh Museum.
The Temple of Literature
About 2km west of Hoan Kiem Lake, the Temple of Literature is a rare example of well-preserved traditional Vietnamese architecture. The temple complex, consisting of five courtyards, is extensive and well kept, and makes a welcome retreat from the frenetic streets of Hanoi.
The Temple of Literature (Van Mieu), dedicated to Confucius, was founded in 1070 by Emperor Ly Thanh Tong. In 1076, Vietnam’s first university was established here to educate Vietnam’s administrative and warriors class. Parts of the university date from this earlier time period although the large complex has undergone many changes over the centuries. But recent archaeological study indicates that the architecture of this site belongs primarily to the Ly (1010-1225) and Tran (1225-1400) Dynasties. The complex is in a tranquil park-like site in the heart of central Hanoi. The progression is essentially axial from the entrance gate to the central temple sanctuary.
Museum of Ethnology
The Vietnam Museum of Ethnology (Vietnamese: Bảo tàng Dân tộc học Việt Nam) is a museum in Hanoi, Vietnam, which focuses on the 54 officially recognized ethnic groups in Vietnam. It is located on a 3.27-acre (13,200 m2) property in the Cầu Giấy District, about 8 km from the city center. It is widely considered to be the finest modern museum in Vietnam and a tourist attraction in Hanoi.
The proposal for the museum was officially approved on December 14, 1987. Construction lasted from 1987 to 1995, and it was opened to the public on November 12, 1997.
The exhibition building was designed by the architect Hà Đức Lịnh, a member of the Tày ethnic group, in the shape of a Dong Son drum, and the interior architecture was designed by the French architect Véronique Dollfus.
Opening hours is 8:30am to 5:30pm Tuesday to Sunday
Ngoc Son Temple and Hoan Kiem Lake
Hoan Kiem Lake was already considered the most beautiful lake in Hanoi when Ngoc Son Temple was built on an island in the 19th century. Initially, the temple was called Ngoc Son Pagoda and was later renamed Ngoc Son Temple, since temples are dedicated to saints.
Perhaps the most visited temple in Hanoi, Ngoc Son Temple sits pretty on a delightful little island in the northern part of Hoan Kiem Lake. An elegant scarlet bridge, known as Huc (Rising Sun) Bridge, constructed in classical Vietnamese style and lined with flags, connects the island to the lakeshore. Surrounded by water and shaded by trees, this small temple is dedicated to General Tran Hung Dao, who defeated the Mongols in the 13th century, La To, the patron saint of physicians, and the scholar Van Xuong. Inside you’ll find some fine ceramics, a gong or two, some ancient bells and a glass case containing a stuffed lake turtle, which is said to have weighed a hefty 250kg
Tran Quoc Pagoda
Tran Quoc Pagoda is located beside the dazzling West Lake, on Thanh Nien Road, Hanoi. Particularly, it is seated on an island linked by a bridge to the causeway between the two most romantic lakes of Hanoi: West Lake and Truc Bach Lake (They are two famous Lake in Hanoi).
Tran Quoc Pagoda is regarded as the most ancient pagoda in Hanoi with its history line of more than 1,500 years.
Located on a small penisula on the East side of West Lake, Tran Quoc Pagoda is regarded as the most ancient pagoda in Hanoi with its history line of more than 1,500 years. The architecture of this Buddhist center is a subtle combination between the solemn and beautiful landscape on the peaceful and quiet ambiance of West Lake’s surface. Thanks to these historical and architectural values, Tran Quoc Pagoda attracts many tourists to pay a visit, both inside and outside of Vietnam.
Merry Christmas from Vietnam Typical Tours
Strengthen Viet Nam tourism promotion
Top 5 things must try in Mui Ne Vietnam
Festival in the Clouds 2012
Vietnam debuts stamps featuring new UNESCO heritage site
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#514: Tobii Recommends Explicit Consent for Recording Eye Tracking Data
http://voicesofvr.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Voices-of-VR-514-Johan-Hellqvist.mp3
The eye tracking company Tobii had some VR demos that they were showing on the GDC Expo Hall floor as well as within Valve’s booth. They were primarily focusing on the new user interaction paradigms that are made available by using eye gazing to select specific objects, direct action, but also locomotion determined by eye gaze. I had a chance to catch up with Johan Hellqvist, VP products and integrations at Tobii, where we discussed some of the eye tracking applications being demoed. We also had a deeper discussion about what type of eye tracking data should be recorded and the consent that application developers should secure before capturing and storing it.
One potential application that Hellqvist suggested was amplifying someone’s eye dilation in a social VR context as a way of broadcasting engagement and interest. He said that there isn’t explicit science to connect dilation with someone’s feelings, but this example brought up an interesting point about what type of data from an eye tracker should or should not be shared or recorded.
Hellqvist says that from Tobii’s perspective that application developers should get explicit consent about any type of eye tracking data that they want to capture and store. He says, “From Tobii’s side, we should be really, really cautious about using eye tracking data to spread around. We separate using eye tracking data for interaction… it’s important for the user to know that’s just being consumed in the device and it’s not being sent [and stored]. But if they want to send it, then there should be user acceptance.”
Hellqvist says our eye gaze is semi-conscious data that we have limited control over, and that this is something that will ultimately be up to each application developer as to what to do with that data. Tobii has a separate part of their business that does market research with eye tracking data, but he cautions that using eye tracking within consumer applications is a completely different context than market research that should require explicit consent.
Hellqvist says, “It’s important to realize that when you do consumer equipment and consumer programs that the consumer knows that his or her gaze information is kept under control. So we really want from Tobii’s side, if you use the gaze for interaction then you don’t need the user’s approval, but then it needs to be kept on the device so it’s not getting sent away. But it should be possible that if the user wants to use their data for more things, then that’s something that Tobii is working on in parallel.”
Tobii will be actively working with the OpenXR standardization initiative to see if it makes sense to put some of these user consent flags within the OpenXR API. In talking with other representatives from OpenXR about privacy I got the sense that the OpenXR APIs will be a lot lower level than these types of application-specific requirements. So we’ll have to wait for OpenXR’s next update in the next 6-12 months as to whether or not Tobii was able to formalize any type of privacy protocols and controls within the OpenXR standard.
Overall, Tobii’s and SMI VR demos that I saw at GDC proved to me that there are a lot of really compelling social presence, user interface, and rendering applications of eye tracking. However, there are still a lot of open questions around the intimate data that will be available to application developers and the privacy and consent protocols that will inform users and provide them with some level of transparency and control. It’s an important topic, and I’m glad that Tobii is leading an effort to bring some more awareness to this issue within the OpenXR standardization process.
Support Voices of VR
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Trustee, Trustee Area C
Bella Vista Elementary School District
Cascade Union Elementary School District
Pacheco Union Elementary School District
Cottonwood Water District
Fall River Mills Fire Protection District
Shasta - Tehama - Trinity Joint Community College District
Shasta Union High School District
Pacheco Union Elementary School DistrictCandidate for Governing Board Member
Brandon Wegner
Nonprofit Corporation President
Stop forcing teachers to pay for supplies.
Create a computer science club.
Create a grant committee to raise more money for the district.
Profession:Nonprofit Corporation President
Sergeant, United States Army (2006–2015)
Lynbrook High School — High School Diploma (2003)
National President, Drunk Driving Prevention Program (2011–current)
Vice Commander, Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter 2001 (2016–current)
Mr. Wegner served for 9 years in the United States Army, is a Purple Heart recipient, serves as Vice Commander for the Redding Chapter of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, and serves as the National President of the Drunk Driving Prevention Program.
Mr. Wegner enlisted in the Army in Sep 2006 and served until Oct 2015 when he was honorably discharged. Mr. Wegner served in the Military Police Corps. While serving on active duty in the Army Mr. Wegner deployed to Iraq for 15 months and to Afghanistan for 12 months. While on a dismounted patrol in Afghanistan Mr. Wegner’s unit came under fire from Taliban forces. Mr. Wegner returned fire until he was wounded by a Rocket Propelled Grenade. Mr. Wegner is a Purple Heart recipient.
Mr. Wegner is currently serving as the Vice Commander for the Redding Chapter of the Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH). Mr. Wegner help’s veterans in need through the MOPH. www.purpleheartchapter2001.org
After returning from his first deployment Mr. Wegner noticed that many of his fellow service members were getting arrested for driving under the influence. Mr. Wegner did not want to see his battle buddies survive deployment only to die or kill anyone due to drinking and driving. In 2011 Mr. Wegner created a free designated driver service called the Drunk Driving Prevention Program. The DDPP drives people and their car’s home for free. While the program was created for soldiers anyone can use the free service. The DDPP currently has chapters that provide free rides every weekend at 8 chapters in 7 states. The DDPP has chapters at Ft. Riley KS, Ft. Drum NY, Ft. Stewart GA, Ft. Bliss TX, Ft. Leonard Wood MO, Ft. Leavenworth KS, Schofield Barracks HI, and in Redding CA. The DDPP has provided thousands of free rides and has had over 800 people serve as volunteer drivers since 2011. Mr. Wegner has been serving as the programs National President since the programs creation. Unlike many nonprofits that pay their CEO’s a high salary Mr. Wegner runs the program on a completely volunteer basis and refuses to accept a salary. www.ddpp.us
Due to his injuries in Afghanistan Mr. Wegner is no longer physically capable of serving in law enforcement. Mr. Wegner decided to pursue a new career in technology industry. Mr. Wegner is currently using his GI Bill to finish his bachelor’s degree in Information Technology Management before starting his Master’s Degree in Computer Science.
If elected Mr. Wegner will work towards ensuring that more grant money comes into the district, that a computer science club is created, and that teachers don’t have to pay for supplies.
Mr. Wegner is a lifelong republican and has strong conservative values. Mr. Wegner’s political philosophy is that your money is your money. The government already takes too much of our hard earned dollars through taxes. Mr. Wegner does not believe in additional taxes. Mr. Wegner feels that the tax dollars that you already spend should be put to good use. Even with that being said Mr. Wegner is still a strong supporter of education and wants to ensure our students have the best supplies, teachers, and opportunities. Mr. Wegner’s experience in the nonprofit sector has taught him that this is possible without raising taxes by working with businesses. Most major businesses provide grants to charities and schools. Mr. Wegner wants to put together a volunteer grant committee of teachers that are interested in helping to benefit the district. Mr. Wegner wants to take advantage of as many grant opportunities as possible to bring in money to the district without raising taxes.
Mr. Wegner knows that technology is an important part of our children’s future. Mr. Wegner wants to create a computer science club for Pacheco Jr. High students. The club would be free to join and offered after school twice a week. Mr. Wegner wants to run the club using a free curriculum created by Google called Computer Science First https://www.cs-first.com/en/home. Mr. Wegner would be willing to run the Computer Science club along with the assistance of 2 teachers.
Teachers should never have to pay for supplies out of their own pocket. We don’t make airline pilots pay for fuel and we don’t make soldiers pay for bullets. Why should teacher’s haves to pay for supplies? Mr. Wegner wants to raise money through grants, private donations from local businesses, and work with charities that specifically raise money for teacher’s supplies. This will ensure that not even a dime of our teacher’s salary has to go towards supplies.
A vote for Brandon Wegner is a vote for a bright future for our students.
Email - brandon.wegner@ddpp.us
Shelly Johnson
Megan Frost
George H. Wold, II
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Ventura County Board of Education
Las Virgenes Unified School District
Ventura County Community College District
Ventura Unified School District
Oxnard School District
Moorpark Unified School District
Ojai Unified School District
Santa Paula Unified School District
Oxnard Union High School District
Pleasant Valley Elementary School District
Rio School District
Somis Union School District
Cuyama Joint Unified School District
Conejo Valley Unified School District
Fillmore Unified School District
City of Port Hueneme
City of Moorpark
City of Ojai
City of Simi Valley
City of Oxnard
City of Camarillo
City of Fillmore
City of Santa Paula
City of Thousand Oaks
City of San Buenaventura
Bell Canyon Community Services District
Channel Islands Beach Community Services District
Oxnard Harbor District
Conejo Recreation and Park District
Pleasant Valley Recreation and Park District
Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District
Camrosa Water District
Casitas Municipal Water District Division 4
Allan Hancock Joint Community College District
Measure Y2018
Mesa Union Elementary School District
Lieutenant Governor — State of California
Next in line: Becomes Governor if the elected Governor leaves office. Has a tie-breaking vote in the State Senate. Serves on boards and commissions.
Who are the California lieutenant governor candidates on the November ballot? — November 2, 2018 San Diego Union-Tribune
Lieutenant governors don't have much to do. These California candidates could try to change that. — October 25, 2018 Los Angeles Times
Lt. Governor: Eleni Kounalakis (D) vs. Ed Hernandez (D) — October 23, 2018 CBS Sacramento
Lieutenant governor candidate Eleni Kounalakis on the issues — October 22, 2018 San Diego Union-Tribune
Lieutenant governor candidate Ed Hernandez on the issues — October 22, 2018 San Diego Union-Tribune
Eleni Kounalakis, Ed Hernandez compete as final candidates to replace Gavin Newsom as lieutenant governor — October 17, 2018 Daily Californian
3 things to know about California’s race for lieutenant governor — October 9, 2018 Sacramento Bee
California lieutenant governor candidates pledge to work to lower college costs — October 3, 2018 EdSource
Interview with Lieutenant Governor Candidate Ed Hernandez
Interview with Lieutenant Governor Candidate Eleni Kounalakis
Eleni Kounalakis
I will advance policies to build more affordable housing,...
I will work tirelessly to lower the cost of a UC and...
I’ll fight any expansion of offshore oil drilling...
U.S. Senator Kamala HarrisPresident Barack ObamaCalifornia National Organization for WomenSacramento BeeCalifornia League of Conservation VotersNARAL Pro-Choice CaliforniaEquality CaliforniaEMILY's ListCalifornia Federation of TeachersCalifornia State University Employees UnionSan José Mercury-NewsThe Orange County RegisterU.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (ret.)U.S. Congressman Adam SchiffDemocratic Leader Nancy PelosiU.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein
Ed Hernandez
State Senator/Businessman
Education: I’m deeply committed to debt-free college...
Healthcare: As an Optometrist, I've seen the devastation...
Immigration: I will work to ensure that California...
California Nurses AssociationPlanned Parenthood Affiliates of CaliforniaCalifornia Labor FederationLos Angeles TimesCalifornia Federation of TeachersCalifornia Teachers AssociationSan Francisco ChronicleState Building & Construction Trades Council of CaliforniaSEIU CaliforniaU.S. Congresswoman Norma TorresU.S. Congresswoman Judy ChuU.S. Congresswoman Grace NapolitanoU.S. Congressman Ted LieuU.S. Congressman Salud CarbajalU.S. Congressman Juan VargasU.S. Congressman Alan LowenthalLabor Leader Dolores HuertaU.S. Congresswoman Karen BassCalifornia Democratic Party First Vice Chair Alex RookerCalifornia Democratic Party Chair Eric C. BaumanLos Angeles County Supervisor and U.S. Congresswoman Janice HahnU.S. Congressman Lou CorreaU.S. Congressman Jimmy GomezU.S. Congressman Mark DeSaulnierCalifornia Attorney General Xavier BecerraCalifornia State Controller Betty YeeCalifornia Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom TorlaksonState Senate President pro Tempore Kevin de LeónState Senate President pro Tempore and past Assembly Speaker Toni AtkinsState Assembly Speaker Anthony RendonSacramento Mayor and past State Senate President Pro-Tem Darrell SteinbergLong Beach Mayor Robert GarciaLos Angeles County Supervisor and past U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis
Businesswoman/Economic Advisor
I will advance policies to build more affordable housing, reform healthcare, and prepare California’s economy for the 21st Century as the chair of the Commission for Economic Development.
I will work tirelessly to lower the cost of a UC and CSU education as a member of those important boards.
I’ll fight any expansion of offshore oil drilling as a member of the State Lands Commission.
Profession:Businesswoman
U.S. Ambassador to Hungary, United States Department of State — Appointed position (2010–2013)
Eleni Kounalakis is a California businesswoman, a Democratic Party activist, a wife and the mother of two teenage sons, and the former U.S. Ambassador to Hungary under President Barack Obama. Eleni was raised the proud daughter of an immigrant, who started out as a farmworker, and a school teacher. She deeply believes in the values of hard work, education and political activism.
In 1992, Eleni started her career as a staff member of the California Democratic Party in Sacramento and worked in the historic election which elected two women to the U.S. Senate and turned California blue.
After the election, Eleni joined her family business, AKT Development, one of California’s most respected housing development firms. Over the next 18 years, Eleni worked her way up from project manager to president. Her work building master planned communities and delivering housing for middle-class families in the Sacramento region earned her recognition as one of Sacramento’s most prominent businesswomen.
In 2010, Eleni was appointed by President Barack Obama as the U.S. Ambassador to Hungary and served side-by-side President Obama and Secretary Hillary Clinton promoting democracy. She is the author of the highly acclaimed book, Madam Ambassador, Three Years of Diplomacy, Dinner Parties and Democracy in Budapest, published in 2015 by The New Press.
Ambassador Kounalakis continued to work as a democratic activist, working on the campaigns of countless progressive candidates and initiatives. Passionate about early childhood development, she served on California’s First 5 Commission and the California Blue Ribbon Commission on Autism. She was appointed by Mayor Ed Lee to the San Francisco Port Commission, and currently chairs the California Advisory Council for International Trade and Investment.
Eleni Kounalakis graduated from Dartmouth College in 1989, and earned her MBA from
UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business in 1992. She also holds an Honorary Doctorate of
Laws from the American College of Greece. She lives in San Francisco with her husband, veteran journalist Markos Kounalakis, and their two sons, Neo and Eon.
California National Organization for Women
NARAL Pro-Choice California
U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (ret.)
U.S. Congressman Adam Schiff
Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi
Employees of Eleni Kounalakis, Economic Advisor
Employees of AKT Development
Employees of ValueAct Capital
GR Trucking and employees
Eleni Kounalakis for Lieutenant Governor
— October 26, 2018 Eleni Kounalakis for Lieutenant Governor 2018
Eleni Kounalakis is running for Lieutenant Governor to build a better, stronger California. As Lieutenant Governor, she'll oppose all tuition increases, fight expanded offshore oil drilling, create more affordable housing, and work to ensure our economy works better for every Californian.
Eleni is endorsed by President Barack Obama, Senator Kamala Harris, California Federation of Teachers, CA League of Conservation Voters, EMILY's List, NARAL Pro-Choice California, National Union of Healthcare Workers and so many more.
Learn more at: www.EleniForCA.com
California's Coasts Are Not For Sale
Eleni Kounalakis will stand up to the Trump Administration to stop the expansion of offshore oil drilling as a sitting member of the State Lands Commission. As California's Lieutenant Governor, Eleni will protect our air, water, and coastline for future generations.
Learn more about her campaign at: www.EleniForCA.com
Senator Kamala Harris: Vote Eleni for Lt. Governor
Senator Kamala Harris is behind this campaign 100% because she knows Eleni will work hard for all California families.
Learn more at www.EleniForCA.com
“Eleni Kounalakis has always fought for California values and the California Dream at home and serving our country abroad.
Eleni is a powerful and courageous advocate for immigrants, economic innovation, and access to quality health care for every Californian.
And I know Eleni will work to hold perpetrators of sexual misconduct accountable so every woman is safe from harassment in the workplace. Vote Eleni Kounalakis for Lt. Governor. It’s about time.”
- U.S. Senator Kamala Harris
Website: eleniforca.com
Email - info@eleniforca.com
Education: I’m deeply committed to debt-free college for all students. I am an advocate for reinvesting in our K-12 public schools, community colleges, public universities, and our vocational/ career tech programs.
Healthcare: As an Optometrist, I've seen the devastation a lack of access to healthcare has on our communities. I've been a champion for expanding access to quality, affordable healthcare, and I will continue fighting for universal healthcare.
Immigration: I will work to ensure that California embraces policies that protect local and state agencies, including law enforcement, from becoming de facto immigration agents for the federal government. I fully support the reinstatement of DACA.
Profession:State Senator/Businessman
State Senator, California State Senate (2010–current)
Optometrist, Self (1987–current)
State Senator, California State Senate — Elected position (2010–current)
California State Assembly Member, California State Assembly (2006–2010)
State Assembly Member, California State Assembly — Elected position (2006–2010)
President, California State Board of Optometry — Appointed position (2003–2006)
Indiana University — Doctor of Optometry Degree, Optometry (1986)
California State University Fullerton — Bachelor of Science, Biology (1982)
Rio Hondo College — General Education, General Education (1979)
Mt. San Antonio College — General Education, General Education (1977)
Bassett High School — High School Diploma, General (1975)
State Building & Construction Trades Council of California
Elected Officials (24)
U.S. Congresswoman Norma Torres
U.S. Congresswoman Judy Chu
U.S. Congresswoman Grace Napolitano
U.S. Congressman Ted Lieu
U.S. Congressman Salud Carbajal
U.S. Congressman Juan Vargas
U.S. Congressman Alan Lowenthal
Labor Leader Dolores Huerta
U.S. Congresswoman Karen Bass
California Democratic Party First Vice Chair Alex Rooker
California Democratic Party Chair Eric C. Bauman
Los Angeles County Supervisor and U.S. Congresswoman Janice Hahn
U.S. Congressman Lou Correa
U.S. Congressman Jimmy Gomez
U.S. Congressman Mark DeSaulnier
California Attorney General Xavier Becerra
California State Controller Betty Yee
California Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson
State Senate President pro Tempore Kevin de León
State Senate President pro Tempore and past Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins
State Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon
Sacramento Mayor and past State Senate President Pro-Tem Darrell Steinberg
Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia
Los Angeles County Supervisor and past U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis
The Lieutenant Governor sits on the UC Board of Regents and the CSU Board of Trustees. What are your ideas for the future of higher education in California public universities and colleges?
Answer from Ed Hernandez:
California’s standards of educational excellence have long set us apart and above. However, in recent years rising tuition and increased student debt have led many prospective students and young people to become disillusioned with the appeal of a higher education. In order to secure our developmental future and continued tradition of success and excellence, California must make our educational system more accountable and accessible to students. We have to ensure our educational standards of excellence don't slip. Recently, I authored SCA 14, a proposed Constitutional Amendment that would limit the budgetary autonomy of the Board of Regents and enact changes to the Board to make it more accountable to the students. But beyond the changes made to the Board of Regents, the State of California also needs to provide more funding to our UC and CSU systems so that we can return to the dream of truly affordable higher education set forth in the California Master Plan for Higher Education. In addition, I proudly supported Assemblymember Santiago's California College Promise, which passed last fall and made the first year of community college free to all qualified Californians. This is a major victory for California's students, but we must continue to protect those that are still facing crippling student debt.
California has some of the richest people in the country and some of the poorest. What would you do to reduce income inequality in California?
During my time in the State Legislature, I have worked to address income inequality and improve opportunities for economic mobility by making a quality education more accessible to all young people. In addition, I have championed investments in workforce development and job-training as well as vocational and career technical programs that help level the field. Another step to combat income inequality and rebuild our middle class is closing antiquated tax loopholes that benefit corporations and the wealthy. As Lieutenant Governor, I will advocate for a fairer, more progressive tax code to help mend the wealth-gap.
Currently there isn't enough money in the state retirement system to pay for all the benefits promised to government workers. What would you do as Governor to address the state’s unfunded pension liability?
We owe it to our public employees and to the people’s faith in government to keep the promises we make and guarantee defined benefit retirement plans. Defined contribution plans would be a betrayal of the promise we’ve made to California’s workers that they retire with a livable pension and I will fight passionately against such a change.
In addition, I proudly supported SB 1234 which launched the California Secure Choice Retirement Savings Program, now known as CalSavers, the most significant expansion of retirement security since we passed Social Security. CalSavers is a voluntary savings plan for private sector California workers that will incur no cost or liability to taxpayers or employers. As Lieutenant Governor, I will work to protect defined benefit pension plans for public employees and continue working with my colleagues in the State Legislature to identify creative strategies to help guarantee a dignified retirement for all working Californians.
There is a shortage of affordable housing in California. How would you approach addressing California’s housing crisis? Please include specific proposals.
California is facing an extreme affordable housing crisis and I support efforts to fund statewide affordable housing initiatives and will advocate for affordable housing ordinances to create desperately needed low-income housing for seniors, families, the mentally ill, and the disabled. Additionally, I support earmarked funds for LGBT affirmative housing. We should continue to pass legislation to combat gender identity discrimination in housing, education, and employment. As Lieutenant Governor, I’ll urge cities throughout the state to enhance their use of inclusionary zoning by mandating that developers make a percentage of their units below market rate value. In the State Legislature, I have consistently voted for affordable housing initiatives and I supported Senate Bill 2, the Building Homes and Jobs Act, which will build safe and affordable apartments and single-family homes while creating 29,000 jobs for every $500 million invested in affordable housing. Also, I was proud to support Senate Bill 35, which streamlined the zoning process for affordable housing, reducing the red tape that interferes with that process. Ultimately, I believe we need to lower the cost of housing and increase the number of units so people are not completely priced out of the area they work in, or worse still, left homeless.
According to a ""Civility In America” survey, 75% of Americans believe that the U.S. has a major civility problem. If you are elected what will do to address this?
Our nation is experiencing unprecedented division and political unrest. But with the enormous societal and economic hardships we are grappling with today, we need to be able to talk to one another and come up with solutions to the challenges we all collectively face.
As a statewide leader, I will work to lead by example and create a culture of inclusivity and respect. I believe I have a unique ability to appeal to both the progressive wing of the Democratic Party and moderate voters due to my record of creating positive change for Californians and listening to all sides of an issue. If elected as Lieutenant Governor, I will use the bully pulpit of this office to advocate for people over party. I will work with all stakeholders in the community to launch public education campaigns and hold community events that promote togetherness and creative problem solving, regardless of political views.
In addition, I will protect every Californian’s freedom of speech, hold those guilty of hate crimes responsible, and invest in education. A good education gives young people critical thinking skills that allow them to make responsible decisions and open their minds to new cultures and ideas.
Employees of Ridge Eye Care
Laborers Pacific Southwest Regional Organizing Coalition
Southern California District Council of Laborers
UA Local 467 Plumbers, Steamfitters, and Refrigeration Fitters
UA Local Union 250
United Domestic Workers of America
Vision of Progress
— May 25, 2018 Ed Hernandez for Lieutenant Governor
Proven Progressive
Life or Death
A Record of Progress
A California Story
Website: edhernandez4ca.com
Email - info@edhernandez4ca.com
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Anaheim Union High School District
North Orange County Community College District
Rancho Santiago Community College District
South Orange County Community College District
Coast Community College District
Tustin Unified School District
Santa Ana Unified School District
Fullerton Joint Union High School District
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City Council, Division 3
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Council Member, Ward 1
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Mesa Water District Division 3
Orange County Water District
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Yorba Linda Water District
Municipal Water District of Orange County
Buena Park Library District
Moulton-Niguel Water District
Measure J Local zoning, land use and development
Measure K Local zoning, land use and development
Measure M Rezoning
Measure P Local Sales Tax
Measure Q Local Advisory Vote
Measure S Local Term Limits
Measure T Local Chart Amendments
Measure U Local Sales Tax
Measure W A Measure to Change the Hotel Tax
Measure X Local Sales Tax
Measure Y Local Marijuana
Measure Z Local Charter Amendments
Measure AA Local elections and campaigns
Measure BB Local Sales Tax
Measure CC Local Hotel Tax
Measure H Local Term Limits
Measure I Local School Bonds
Treasurer — State of California
The state's banker: Manages the state's investments and assets. Coordinates the sale of state bonds.
Interview with State Treasurer Candidate Fiona Ma
Interview with State Treasurer Candidate Greg Conlon
Fiona Ma
CPA / State Board of Equalization...
Manage/safeguard our state's assets by investing wisely...
Promote good corporate governance models and hold...
Continue to aggressively combat the Underground Economy...
U.S. Senator Kamala HarrisCalifornia State Treasurer John ChiangU.S. Senator Dianne FeinsteinSacramento BeeSan Francisco ChronicleSEIU CaliforniaCalifornia Professional FirefightersCalifornia Democratic PartyCalifornia State University Employees UnionCalifornia Federation of TeachersCalifornia League of Conservation VotersSan José Mercury-NewsLos Angeles TimesCalifornia Small Business AssociationEquality CaliforniaPlanned Parenthood Affiliates of CaliforniaCalifornia Teachers AssociationCalifornia Nurses Association
Greg Conlon
Businessman CPA Veteran
Reform Public Pension Unfunded Liabilities of over...
Improve the State's Credit Rating from fourth to last...
Work to eliminae the $800 minimum State income tax...
California Republican PartyState Senator John MoorlachChairman of Stanislaus County Board of Supervisiors--Jim DeMartiniSue Caro-Vice President of the California Republican Partty for the San Francisco Bay AreaSan Mateo County Republican Central CommitteeSan Joaquin County Republican Central Commitee
CPA/Taxpayer Representative
Manage/safeguard our state's assets by investing wisely in sound investments vehicles with full transparency and accountability.
Promote good corporate governance models and hold corporations accountable for their actions and don't gouge/take advantage of people to meet their bottom lines or to make excessive profits.
Continue to aggressively combat the Underground Economy to ensure everyone pays their fair share of taxes to fulfill our commitment to our retirees & provide quality/accessible education, healthcare, affordable housing to all.
Profession:CPA / State Board of Equalization Member-District
Member - District 2, California State Board of Equalization — Elected position (2014–current)
Majority Whip & Speaker Pro Tempore, California State Assembly - District 12 — Elected position (2006–2012)
Member - District 4 (Sunset District), San Francisco Board of Supervisors — Elected position (2002–2006)
Advisory Board Member, California Earthquake Authority — Appointed position (2002–2006)
Commissioner - Alternate Member, San Francisco Assessment Appeals Board — Appointed position (1994–1998)
Pepperdine University — Masters in Business Administration (M.B.A.), Finance (2000)
Golden Gate University — Master of Science (M.S.), Taxation (1993)
Rochester Institute of Technology — Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Accounting (1988)
Immediate Past President / Board Member, California Women Lead (2010–current)
Honorary Chair, San Francisco Hep B Free - Bay Area (2007–current)
Honorary National Co Chair / Honorary California Chair / Honorary SF Chair, New Leaders Council (2003–current)
Aspen-Rodel Fellow - Class of 2009, Aspen Institute (2009–current)
Executive Board Member / Delegate, CA Democratic Party (1995–current)
Here is the excerpt from my SF Chronicle endorsement: https://www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/editorials/article/Chronicle-Recommends-Fiona-Ma-for-state-treasurer-12870656.php
Fiona Ma isn’t promising to do for the State Treasurer’s Office what she helped do for her current post. That would mean all but eliminating it.
Since joining the Board of Equalization, Ma has seen the dysfunctional state tax panel reduced to a shadow of itself. And she says she would support a constitutional change to abolish it altogether.
In backing the reforms that brought the board to the brink of oblivion, the 52-year-old San Francisco Democrat showed a sense of responsibility to taxpayers that would suit the job she’s seeking. Along with her background in finance and politics, it makes her the best candidate to succeed State Treasurer John Chiang, who is running for governor.
A certified public accountant with master’s degrees in taxation and business administration, Ma worked for then-state Sen. John Burton before being elected to San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors. She went on to serve three terms in the state Assembly, where she championed legislation to ban potentially toxic chemicals from children’s products.
Elected to the Board of Equalization in 2014, Ma joined State Controller Betty Yee, an ex-officio member, in questioning the board’s mismanagement of funds and staff. She called for audits and ultimately Gov. Jerry Brown’s intervention, which led to legislation that shifted most of the board’s powers and staff to the governor.
Ma seems equipped to take more principled stands if, for example, California’s next governor lacks Brown’s penchant for fiscal responsibility.
California State Treasurer John Chiang
California Professional Firefighters
California Small Business Association
Employees of Advanced Nutrients
Employees of Oakmont Senior Living
Nevada 1.51%
Fiona Ma, CPA
California Statewide Candidate Statement
State Treasurer: June 5, 2018
CPA/Taxpayers Representative
My name is Fiona Ma. I have been a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) since 1992. I stand for greater transparency, checks & balances and accountability. That’s why I led the major overhaul to restore trust in the State Board of Equalization. I have balanced budgets at the local level, at the state level during the Great Recession, and have overseen the collection of $60 billion in state revenues. As a CPA with experience in tax law and in balancing budgets I am qualified to serve as State Treasurer from Day 1 and will be able to manage California’s investments with full accountability and transparency. I will create a robust first-time homebuyer program to make housing more accessible to all Californians. I will work to alleviate high student loan debt. I was born with a preexisting health condition and personally understand the urgent need for quality, accessible and affordable healthcare. Because my husband is a firefighter I know first-hand how important it is to invest in our first responders. As State Treasurer, I will oversee investments in affordable housing, infrastructure, schools, hospitals, environmental protection and transportation. Most importantly I will continue to safeguard our tax dollars, invest wisely to ensure positive returns and make sure government works with accountability and transparency. I’m proud to have the support of U.S. Senator Kamala Harris, California Teachers Association, California Professional Firefighters and California Small Business Association. I would be honored to have your vote. Thank you for your consideration. To learn more, visit www.FionaMa.com.
Every Voice Matters: It Could Have Been Me or My Mother or My Grandmother.
My last two bills signed by Gov Brown were the most heart wrenching and difficult ones I sponsored but today 100+ women are free. https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/every-voice-matters-domestic-violence-prevention_us_59cecec6e4b034ae778d4a8a
“He was my knight in shining armor…He was the most excitement I ever had in my life…And it all started with a slap and being thrown across the room like I was nobody…All I wanted to do was to protect myself and it cost me life in prison.” I heard the screams, pictured the horror, and felt the terror these women experienced as I watched their stories unfold in the Sin by Silence documentary by Olivia Klaus; a passionate movie describing the plight of incarcerated battered women throughout California. Brenda Clubine, who starred in the movie and was the survivor that created the support group for the women in jail, and producer Olivia Klaus approached me about her plight and of the others still in jail. They introduced the documentary that started me down the road towards justice for these women. This was not an episode of “Law and Order: Special Victims Unit” or “Big Little Lies,” these stories are horrifyingly true and these women survived being battered and abused, only to be put into prison for defending themselves. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, 32.9% of women and 27.3% of men in California experience intimate partner physical violence, intimate partner sexual violence and/or intimate partner stalking in their lifetimes. The emotional journey I experienced while watching the “Sin by Silence” documentary inspired me to help other survivors by introducing AB 593 and AB 1593, my “Sin by Silence” bills. At the time, I was the Chair of the Select Committee to End Domestic Violence and the first Asian-American woman Assembly Speaker pro Tempore in California history, so I was in a position where I could be a voice through legislation to try to help these domestic violence survivors. AB 593 allows victims of domestic violence, whose expert testimony was limited at their trial court proceedings, to re-file for a writ of habeas corpus to allow this expert testimony to weigh in on their defense. It also gave survivors more time to receive legal representation. AB 1593 allows survivors who have suffered Intimate Partner Battering (IPB) a chance to present their evidence in an effective way during the parole process by giving great weight to any information or evidence that proves the prisoner experienced IPB and its effects at the time the crime was committed, and that the information that is submitted to the Legislature is specific and detailed.
Ultimately, I spent most of 2011 and 2012 fighting for the rights of these survivors. I attended emotional, heart-wrenching parole hearings; I hosted informational hearings to understand the issues and challenges faced by domestic violence survivors, and I spoke to the women and heard their stories first-hand. On this five year anniversary of the bills’ passage into law, I’m proud to say two other states, Oregon and New York, are focusing on similar legislation. I remember Glenda Virgil who, in 2013, was the first woman from the film to be released as a result of my bills. I was able to give a voice to the voiceless and give these women a fighting chance for justice. It was the right thing to do.
SIN BY SILENCE August 21, 2012 - Board Member Fiona Ma, then Assembly Speaker Pro Tempore, with Brenda Clubine and other supporters of the “Sin by Silence” legislation.
nfortunately, not everyone is a survivor. Each year, my office hosts a Silent Witness display as part of the Silent Witness National Initiative, to remember the victims that lost their lives at the hands of domestic violence. These displays remind us of the sobering statistics that, according to the National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV), nearly one-third of all women murdered in the United States in recent years were murdered by a current or former intimate partner. In 2010, 1,017 women – more than three a day – were killed by their intimate partners. Every year when I see these displays, I am reminded of Claire Tempongko who was brutally murdered in front of her two young children by an ex-boyfriend who had been arrested on five prior felony counts, but was nonetheless released. I remember when I was on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and I vigorously led the effort to finish the Justice Information Tracking System (JUSTIS) to connect the different San Francisco law enforcement agencies so information could be shared to document the pattern of abuses.
A survivor’s safety and well-being is most at risk during episodes of violence, and when attempting to leave an abuser. Domestic violence shelters are a key part of safety planning to prepare ahead of time and to be as protected as possible once that decision is made to escape an abusive relationship. During my six year tenure in the Legislature, I heard several stories about how California domestic violence shelters were forced to turn away women and children due to a lack of funding. In 2013, NNEDV conducted a 24-hour survey of domestic violence programs across the nation and reported that 66,581 adults and children had found refuge and assistance; however an additional 9,641 requests for services were unanswered because of a lack of resources. Each one of those unmet requests is another lost opportunity to break the cycle of violence. Last year, Governor Brown signed AB 1399 (Baker), which created a checkoff box on California personal income tax return forms to allow Californians to donate to the newly created Domestic Violence Victims Fund. Domestic violence shelters will be able to apply for a grant from the new fund, administered by the California Office of Emergency Services, to help provide critical assistance to victims. From January to August of 2017, the fund had more than $130,000 in contributions.
October 17, 2016 – Executive Director of the San Francisco Domestic Violence Consortium Beverly Upton, members of the Filipina women’s Network, San Francisco Supervisor Katy Tang, Board Member Fiona Ma, Assemblymember David Chiu, and community activist Debra Walker stand with the Silent Witness display.
We have to continue to speak out. Raise awareness. Break the cycle of silence. On October 4th, I’m hosting an event in San Francisco to help Willpowered Woman, a nonprofit that assists women affected by intimate partner abuse, and also educates students about prevention. Speaking with me is Crystal Wheeler, Executive Director of Every 9 Seconds, a nonprofit organization for abused women, founded by her former cellmate and fellow survivor, Brenda Clubine. Crystal was choked, beaten, tormented, and isolated by a violent husband who forced her to quit her job as a training law enforcement officer. One night she fatally fought back, which lead to her serving 22 years in prison, simply for defending herself. After spending time in prison, Crystal was aided by my “Sin by Silence” bills, allowing her to finally get the justice she deserved.
Every voice matters. Shout out into the silence and make your voice heard. Shows like “Big Little Lies” and “Law and Order: Special Victims Unit” help bring awareness into the public eye, but you can help too. October is “Domestic Violence Awareness Month” and you can make a difference. Donate to, or volunteer at a domestic violence shelter. Help a survivor. Wear purple to raise awareness for domestic violence prevention. Help turn California purple and break the cycle of silence. The chance you offer a survivor might be their last.
A vital resource for someone experiencing domestic violence is the National Domestic Violence Hotline. Highly trained advocates are available 24/7 to talk confidentially at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).
#CATurnsPurple #DVAM2017 #SinBySilence #PreventDomesticViolence
Golden Gate University: Profiles in Prominence 2010: FIONA MA, THE DUTIFUL DAUGHTER
This story was written by Tasia Neeve, Director of Marketing and Communications at Golden Gate University on May 24, 2010. This article has been edited to meet the 2,000 word limit.
Born in New York in 1966 Fiona Ma and spent much of her life before politics as a self-proclaimed “dutiful daughter” in a Chinese American household.
Growing up, she was a tomboy, interested in sports, Girl Scouts and academics. Fiona was concurrently captain of the basketball, volleyball, tennis and softball teams in high-school while maintaining straight A’s. After speaking with her, even briefly, you get the impression that she doesn’t like to lose at anything–and rarely does.
A product of New York public schools, she attended Baker Elementary and Great Neck North Middle and High schools. Education was highly prized in the Ma household. “Dad always told us school is the number-one equalizer; knowledge is the gateway to success and with proper preparation and diligence, the sky is only the stepping stone,” she recalls. As a result the family is highly accomplished academically. “It’s true that education is the one thing no one can take away.”
Her father was a mechanical engineer with a bachelor’s degree from Canada, a master’s degree from National College, London, England and a PhD. From the University of Glasgow, Scotland. After entering the business world in New York, he realized that he needed more knowledge in running successful business enterprises, so when Fiona was six year old, he went back to Columbia University and earned a MBA. He is a licensed Professional Engineer by trade.
He founded or co-founded six companies and holds four patents on mechanical devices in solid waste compaction. He was President and Chairman of the Board of a public company and later specialized in construction claims and litigation before his recent retirement.
Her mother had both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in fine arts education from the City University in New York City and taught art at a public high school for 20 years before moving the family to San Francisco to be closer to her parents.
When counseling his children on their education and eventual careers, Fiona’s father encouraged an “honorable” profession–one that fit “the LEAD” (Doctor, Engineer, Accountant, Lawyer). Ever the dutiful daughter, Fiona received a bachelor’s degree in accounting at Rochester Institute of Technology with a listing in the Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges in 1988 honoring the nation’s most noteworthy graduates of high learning, a master’s degree in taxation from Golden Gate University, a MBA from Pepperdine University and her CPA license to practice. Her younger brother Mike says that Fiona’s role in the family is as a “trailblazer” who always leads by example.
In 1993 she was at Ernst and Young–one of the “big six” accounting firms at the time–and while she hadn’t yet hit the glass ceiling, she saw it looming. There were no female partners and few female managers. She decided it probably wasn’t going to be a good place to seek her future and decided to leave.
She and an associate started their own accounting practice. A scary prospect for some, but Fiona was influenced by her father’s entrepreneurial spirit and her parents’ encouragement growing up to “go for it” no matter what. In 1994 she was elected president of the Asian Business Association and found herself at San Francisco City Hall and at the state capitol in Sacramento lobbying for business issues that affected women and minorities.
Had she always dreamed of being a politician? Not even close. “I was exposed to the political process about once a year when my dad forced us to watch the presidential State of the Union address. I thought it was so boring!”
As a result of her work on behalf of the Small Business Association, she was elected in 1995 as a delegate to the White House Conference on Small Business under President Bill Clinton. As her interaction with Washington, D.C. and lawmakers increased at a national level, she began to believe in the importance of government and its ability to create positive change. Fiona’s advocacy work in that role helped lead to socially responsible contracting for minorities and women in San Francisco. She saw firsthand how, through politics, she could make a contribution to the community and help people. She was hooked.
Fiona also applied for and was appointed by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors to the Assessment Appeals Board and began to understand what she had to offer the world of politics.
That year Fiona embarked on her public-service career as a part-time district representative for then-State Senator John Burton. When considering the job, she found herself again pulled between duty and aspiration: to continue to please her parents or to follow what her heart had begun to tell her was a life-long passion–her calling. After some negotiation with her parents, who most certainly had not dreamed of having their first-born daughter become an American politician, a compromise was struck. She would continue to practice as a CPA and work part-time for Senator Burton. For the next seven years she served on the senator’s staff about two-and-a-half days a week. Her task was to help constituents with Medi-Cal, Workers’ Compensation, Unemployment Insurance, Franchise and Employment Development Department taxes, and professional licensing. A funny thing happened during her “part-time” work though, and she found herself spending virtually all her free time campaigning, researching and otherwise working in politics.
It was time to enter the political arena as a career; and at thirty-four, her parents were ready to let her go. In 2002 Fiona Ma was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, and from 2002 to 2006 represented District 4, which encompasses the Central Sunset, Outer Sunset, Parkside, Outer Parkside and Pine Lake Park. “My parents always said ‘go ahead, give it a try’ about everything while we were growing up and then made us feel good about the attempt, regardless of the outcome. Entering politics full-time wasn’t scary for me. Failure never occurred to me. I’m sure that was an advantage.”
Starting with her small-business advocacy and continuing in her service on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, a pattern of giving voice to those without, creating equality where none exists, improving the human condition, and standing up for what she believes to be right, emerged in the politics of Fiona Ma. As a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors her major legislative push was to shut down massage parlors that were involved in illegal trafficking of immigrants for purposes of prostitution. Following the passage of Proposition 209, which barred public institutions from considering sex, race or ethnicity, she led the effort to create San Francisco’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program, which enables small businesses to more easily participate in public-works projects. As a direct result of her work, the San Francisco Public Transportation Authority now states: “The Authority and its employees shall not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, or disability in the award and performance of Authority contracts.” This measure broadens the scope of inclusion, leveling an important playing field for small businesses in San Francisco.
What Fiona considers one of her most important legislative wins–something she hopes will become part of her lifetime legacy–is helping to protect the nation’s toddlers from toxic toys. The years-long effort, which culminated in federal law enacted in 2009, bans phthalates, which are known to be harmful to human health. It started with Fiona Ma in San Francisco City Hall.
She watched as a member of the California State Assembly tried, and failed, to pass a bill that would have prevented these chemicals from being used in the state. Fiona explains that she knew the San Francisco Board of Supervisors with their guideline to err on the conservative side where detriment to human health is concerned, would have no problem passing what was an obviously needed piece of legislation. She decided to start at the local level and then to use that as leverage, putting pressure on the statehouse. Ordinance Number 060107 amended the San Francisco Health Code to “prohibit the manufacture, sale, or distribution in commerce of any toy or child-care article that is intended for use by a child under three years of age if it contains bisphenol-A or other specified chemicals, and to require manufacturers to use the least toxic alternative to those substances.” As Fiona had predicted, the ordinance passed the San Francisco Board of Supervisors easily. The next step would be at the statewide level. As it happened, Fiona Ma would be the one to shepherd it through.
In November 2006, Fiona got elected to the California State Assembly District 12, which includes San Francisco, Daly City, Colma and Broadmoor—some 420,000 constituents. She was appointed the Majority Whip, making her responsible for marshalling votes to ensure the passage of crucial legislation to improve public education, expand healthcare access and protect the environment.
During her first year in office she introduced what came to be known as the “Rubber Duck” bill, so named because the phthalates are often used in the manufacture of soft plastic toys and other baby products such as bath books, rubber ducks, and baby teethers. AB 1108 virtually mirrored the San Francisco ordinance she’d sponsored four years earlier. At the time she said, “California continues to lead the nation in protecting children from dangerous chemicals and in safeguarding our environment. AB 1108 sends a clear message to the Consumer Product Safety Commission that if the administration won’t act, states will.” Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed the bill into law in October 2007; it took effect on January 1, 2009. Other states followed suit, and act, the administration ultimately did.
In March 2008, Fiona Ma’s bill was used as a model in federal legislation when California Senator Dianne Feinstein wrapped a ban on phthalates into the U.S. Senate version of a Consumer Product Safety Commission bill that Congress passed in February 2009 and which went into effect the following August. As Fiona observes, “Banning phthalates across the whole country and helping keep kids healthy. That’s pretty good work, right?”
And that brings us to number three on her “legacy list.” At the age of twenty-two, Ma learned she has hepatitis B (HBV), a virus that causes 80 percent of all liver cancer if left untreated and one that shows no symptoms until it’s almost too late. Almost 1.4 million Americans are infected with HBV, and more than half are Asian/Pacific Islander Americans. An estimated one in ten is chronically infected with the virus. Like most Asian Americans, Ma contracted the disease from her mother at birth via perinatal exposure. San Francisco has the highest rate of liver cancer in the nation because of its high Asian population, and HBV-related liver cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among API men living in California. In true Fiona fashion, she decided to tackle the issue head-on and call as much attention to it as possible—a big jolt to a community that had attached such stigma to the illness it was considered best to keep it quiet.
As the “poster child” in the fight against hepatitis B, Ma serves as unofficial chairperson for San Francisco Hep B Free– the largest, most intensive healthcare campaign for APIs in the U.S. and one that is looked upon as a model for the nation in eliminating HBV. "How amazing would it be to help eradicate a disease?” she asks. Amazing indeed.
Fiona loves what she does–and for the foreseeable future she wants to keep on doing it. Oh, and her advice? “Don’t waste time being something someone else wants you to be–listen to your heart.” The duty is necessary, the passion wins.
I'm Fiona Ma...CPA for Treasurer
— May 25, 2018 Fiona Ma for Treasurer 2018
Fiona Ma CPA, Running for CA State Treasurer: Goes beyond dollars and cents...it's the people who count; will ensure the budget is balanced and accountable so we can invest in the people of CA.
Fiona Ma, CPA for CA State Treasurer
— May 25, 2018 Fiona Ma for State Treasurer 2018
Why Fiona Ma, CPA is running for State Treasurer and what she wants to accomplish.
Website: fionama.com
Email - fiona@fionama.com
Businessman/CPA
Reform Public Pension Unfunded Liabilities of over $300 billion by starting a new Defined Benefit Pension plan for new employees only.
Improve the State's Credit Rating from fourth to last to an acceptable rating of AA or above by addressing the unfunded pension liabilities problem.
Work to eliminae the $800 minimum State income tax to help start-up companies get on their feet.
Profession:Businessman CPA Veteran
Business Consultant, Self-employed (2001–current)
Of-Counsel Attorney, Mark C. Watson, P. C. Law Firm (2017–current)
Chairman, Finance Committee of the City of Atherton — Appointed position (2010–2014)
President or Commissioner, California Public Utilities Commission — Appointed position (1993–1999)
Commissioner, California Transportation Commission — Appointed position (1995–1998)
President of the California Public Utilities Commission, California Publice Utilities Commission — Appointed position (1995–1997)
Partner, International Public Accounting of Arthur Andersen & Co. (1959–1991)
Partner, Arthur Andersen & Co (1959–1991)
Captain and Air Force Pilot, U S Air Force (1956–1959)
University of Utah, Business and Accounting Degree and University of San Francisco Law School J D Degree — B A Degree in Business/ Accounting at U of Utah 1955, Law Degree at U of San Francisco Law School 2000., Public Accounting resulting in my CPA, Certified Publice Accounting certificate (2000)
University of Utah — The University of Utan Degree had a major in Business and Accounting (1955)
Chairman and Treasurer, California Industry Education Counsel (1988–current)
Board of Directors and Treasurer, Self Help for the Elderly Social Service Agency (1988–2000)
As a businessman and CPA Conlon has the necessary experience and qualifications to keep this state's finances viable to prevent the state from going broke. He worked for 30 years for a top-ranked international public accounting firm. As a partner in the firm he dealt with Fortune 500 clients learning the financial lessons that only experience can provide: determining smart investments, evaluating financial risk and understanding the financial process of issuing financial bonds and other instruments. He was appointed to the California Public Utilities Commission where he served as Commissioner for six years, including two years as President. At the CPUC he evaluated the capital structure of regulated utility companies, which again provided him with excellent knowledge of financial risk. Governor Pete Wilson also appointed him to the California Transportation Commission where he served for three years. He holds a business degree from the University of Utah, an Executive Training Certificate from U C Berkeley School of Business and a law degree from the University of San Francisco. His background supports his “voice of experience” motto.
California Republican Party
State Senator John Moorlach
Chairman of Stanislaus County Board of Supervisiors--Jim DeMartini
Sue Caro-Vice President of the California Republican Partty for the San Francisco Bay Area
San Mateo County Republican Central Committee
San Joaquin County Republican Central Commitee
Employees of Jelly Belly Candy Company
Employees of O'brien Homes
Voxara
Employees of Craig Robinson Realty
Conlon’s experience as a businessman and CPA helped form his conservative political philosophy. He believes in operating within a balanced budget and not taking undue risk that could jeopardize the State's Bond and Credit Rating. California’s credit rating of fourth from last in the nation is a disgrace to one of our country’s wealthiest states and the fifth largest economy in the world. His political philosophy would not put up with the $300 billion of unfunded pension liability the State has today from its public employees’ and public teachers’ pension plans. Without correcting this serious financial situation, the state's economy will slowly decline to a catastrophic level. Conlon believes the State needs a conservative Treasurer with enough tested experience to monitor and control the level of spending that will keep our State on solid financial footing. He believes his fiscally conservative philosophy will have a positive impact on California’s economic vitality and long-term viability and improve the State's credit rating.
Is The U C System on a Crash Course Financially?
Is The U C System on a Crash Course Financially? Greg Conlon gives ideas for a solution to fiancial problems.
Presented by Greg Conlon former Candidate for California State Treasurer
Before the Kiwanis Club of Menlo Park on August 2, 2016”
Let me start this discussion at 50,000 feet with the question, “What are the most important sectors of California from both a political and economic basis?” I believe there are several such sectors:
First, is the agriculture industry which is the top exporter of agriculture products in the world.
Second, is the entertainment industry which is also the top such industry in the nation and the world.
Third, is the Hi-tech industry which is known to us as Silicon Valley, which is the greatest economic engine in the State and probably the Nation. Without Silicon Valley’s economic success California would be like the country of Greece. One of the candidates in the U S Senate debate indicated the number of jobs added in the last 20 years in the Los Angeles Basin was close to zero.
Fourth, is the public Higher Education System in the State, which is second to no other state or for that matter probably to no other nation. The University of California System, known to us as the U C System, along with the California State Universities known as the CSU System, combined represent this Higher Education System in California.
I could talk about how each of these industries are faring in our economy but I believe the four mentioned above are the most important industries and I consider the crown jewels of the State. But there are also the tourism and the aerospace industry which round out most of the State’s economy. I am only going to discuss the blight of the UC System and the Cal. State Universities known as the CSU System as one of the crown jewels of the State.
This subject is becoming more and more popular as you read the daily newspapers. It came to my attention during my campaign for the June 7th 2016 Primary Election for U S Senate. Probably the most startling fact that got my attention was that the U C System was being forced because of insufficient funding by the State of California in its annual budget to admit more out-of-state students. This is because the non-resident students pay approximately three times what the in-state residents pay, $12,240 compared to $37,000 a year, for tuition alone. According to a recent study by the League of Women Voters of California, the State has decreased the level of funding from the General Fund each year from approximately 18% in 2000 to about 11% or 12% this year. This is a one-third reduction in the level of funding.
The actual number of out-of-state or out-of-country non-residents is approximately 18,000 in academic year 2014-15. According to a recent audit by the California State Auditor Report this increase in non-resident student tuition generated over $700 million, a growth of $400 million from fiscal year 2010-11. To give you a perspective of total costs of the UC System the total employee salaries for the same 2014-15 fiscal year was $13.0 billion.
Based on information in a recent study by the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) the expenditures in the last 10 years for higher education, both UC System and CSU System, has fallen 9 percent from 18 to 11% of state total general fund expenditures. Meanwhile general fund expenditures for corrections and rehabilitation have increased 26%, with California spending more on corrections and rehabilitation than it does on its public universities (UC and CSU combined). It should be noted according to the State Auditor’s Report that prison population increased by 1% while UC and CSU enrollment increase by 13 percent.
Getting back to the overall subject of the financial decline of the Universities overall: we need to be sure our best and brightest students in California have every opportunity to succeed in these schools and be able to grow our State into a leadership position in the nation and in the world.
Are we giving our best and brightest resident students the opportunity to learn at California’s best public university systems?
The answer is NO because there are over 18,000 non-resident students, from both out of state and out of the nation, being admitted to the two university systems to provide for the higher tuition. The tuition is three times higher, again $12,242 versus $37,000 tuition per year per student. We are in effect selling one of the great crown jewels of the State to the non-residents because we believe, the State government believes, we can’t afford to support the two higher education systems in the state—UC and CSU.
What about the other public schools in the State?
At the same time, we are taking care of the K-14 schools, including the community colleges, with about 40% of the state general fund expenditures guaranteed under Proposition 98 passed several years ago. Prop 98 provided an increase of $3.9 billion last year to support the K-14 schools over the prior year, while UC and CSU each received about a $25 million increase in comparison. This leads to no other conclusion by me than that we are not adequately funding these university systems and there are allegations that the non-resident students who are being admitted are not as well qualified academically as the resident students who are not being admitted. The recently issued California State Auditor’s Report goes into this allegation in depth.
What has been done recently by the State legislature to address these issues?
Assemblyman Kevin McCarty, from the Sacramento area, in the most recent legislative session sponsored Assembly Bill AB1711 that attempted to address the underfunding of the higher education universities. This bill originally had established a cap on the number of non-resident students allowed to be admitted to the UC System. I believe it was 15% each year. It passed the Assembly Education and Appropriations Committee and passed the Assembly without any negative votes.
It then was taken to the California Senate Education Committee where it was modified and a hearing was held on the merits of the bill. It was modified to remove any cap on the number of non-residents to be admitted each year and only required that the number of non-residents admitted had to have academic qualifications equal to the median level of the top half of the resident students who admitted in the same year.
Because I felt passionately about this issue I recently testified before the California Senate Education Committee as a private citizen to support AB 1711. As I just discussed the original bill attempted to put a specific cap on the number of non-resident students who could attend the UC System schools. It was modified in the Senate to only specify that the non-resident student applicants had to have academic scores at least equal to the median scores of the top half of the resident students applying.
In my testimony that I submitted in the AB 1711 hearings, I included two recommendations.
1. I recommend that the members of the legislature that support AB 1711 consider an amendment to the bill that would provide an automatic increase in state appropriations to the UC System Universities. This increase should be proportionate to the required percentage increase under Proposition 98 each year for K-12 and Community Colleges.
2. I recommend that in order for the UC System to receive the increased appropriations, it would have to adjust its operating expenses downward by one half of the increase in appropriations required in the first amendment above for at least the first three years to get the UC System’s financial condition on a sound basis.
After lengthy hearings on the Bill that included my testimony, which I also submitted to each member of the Committee, the Bill AB1711 was defeated by a vote of 4 to 3.
But it should be noted that earlier in the Annual Budget Act there was wording requiring the Universities to increase the number of resident students in the upcoming academic year and asking the U C System to establish a cap on admission of non-resident students. Recent Press Releases indicated that the U C System is going to admit 1,000 more resident students this forthcoming year than the previous year. Time will tell whether the UC System establishes a cap.
What are the Options that I believe should be considered in the future to address this issue?
The American Dream of excellent higher education for the best and brightest of our California high school students advancing to California’s public higher education universities must be improved. This is necessary to provide the graduate students from the universities to fill the more sophisticated jobs of the future. We need diversity in the universities to enrich the education environment of the students attending the schools. But we do not want to sell the opportunity of the resident students to attend these higher education universities to raise enough funds from the non-resident students to pay for the total cost of providing the education at these universities. The State of California needs to step up and increase the funding of the resident students’ education and provide for a larger number of resident students to attend the UC System and CSU System.
Following are the three alternative solutions I believe the State should consider:
First, the most logical would be to increase the appropriations from the General Fund back to the 18% it was 10 years ago compared to the 11% today. As I mentioned earlier there has been about a 13% increase in the number of students overall in the last 10 years per the State Auditor’s Report with a decrease in funding of 9%. This compares to corrections and rehabilitation funding that had an increase in appropriations of 26% but an increase in prisoners of only 1%, again per the Auditor’s Report.
Second, have the Legislature or a group of citizens put forth a new Proposition similar to Proposition 98, which provides 40% of the General Fund to K-14 grades. This new proposed proposition, call it a new Proposition 98, would provide an adequate amount of funds by increasing the funding from 11% to 15% or 18% of General Fund Expenditures that it once was 10 years ago.
Three, have the legislature or a group of citizens put forth a new proposition that would expand the scope of the original Proposition 98, in force today, to include both the UC and CSU schools as well as the K-14 grades it covers today.
Summary Comments:
Another alternative solution could be a cap on the number of non-resident students. This would only help the admission of resident students if funds were provided to make up for the loss of tuition from decreasing the number of non-resident students NOT admitted.
Obviously this is a very difficult challenge for the State and the Universities to solve. One of the Legislative Offices suggested I meet with the President of the
U C System, Janet Napolitano, to discuss my ideas and see if there is anything I could do to help pursue any of the proposed possible solutions I discussed and get her input on the solutions she is pursuing. I would also appreciate any input from people in the audience for me to consider.
Greg Conlon - Helping Start Ups
— November 1, 2018 DW & Associataes
Greg Conlon talks about how we can help Starts ups by getting rid of the $800.00 tax on them.
Greg Conlon - Reduce Californias Unfunded Pension Liabilites and Increase our Credit Ratings
— November 1, 2018 DW & Associates
Greg Conlon talks about how we can reduce California's Unfunded Pension Liabilites and increase our Credit Rating.
Greg Conlon - Finacial Experience and Expertise
Greg Conlon talks about his finacial expereice and expertise and why he is the person for the job of State Treasurer.
Greg Conlon 30 second commercail English
— November 1, 2018 DW & Assocites
Greg Conlon talks about the problems California is facing and how his experience is needed to create solutions that work.
Greg Conlon 30 second Ad Spanish
Greg Conlon outlines major issues California is facing and his solutions for the problems.
Website: gregconlon.com
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The Bluetones: You Will Be Missed
The news has started circling around that one of my favourite bands, The Bluetones, are splitting up at the end of the year. It's a strange thing to know that a band which is such a big part of my life won't be around any more. No band is forever and music seems to be a constant rollercoaster of love for musicians but of all the bands I've loved and lost, this will forever be the most significant.
But how did we get here? Why are they so important to me and why are they hanging up their boots? Well, to tell that tale I have to go back to the 90s and the first cassette tape I ever bought for myself.
I must have been around 15 years old and sitting in my parent's living room at about 3am. At that time the television channel Sky One would play music videos through the wee hours of the night. This was called Long Play and they would often have themed 30 minutes of videos at different times. One week they had "Long Play loves The Bluetones" and played five of their videos in a row. This was my first real experience with the band's music. I had previously heard the song "Slight Return" and "If..." but paid no real attention. However, that night, I had one of those moments.
Everything clicked. The moody guitar, the choir boy vocals, the dark lyrics and the chimpanzees performing the song. I had heard Sleazy Bed Track and my life would never be the same again.
In truth, it's not just this song that interested me in the band. It's hard to describe why certain musicians manage to connect with you. Sometimes it's the lyrics. They can echo something in your own life and you get a shared moment with whoever wrote the song. In the case of "Sleazy Bed Track" it was almost an exact description of a relationship I was having at the time with a, let's say, troubled young woman. I know it sounds incredibly corny but when someone writes a song that manages to describe a feeling or an experience you've had, it's a special thing. Especially when you're a soft teenager, like I was (am).
Later, the song "If..." would do the same all over again.
The lyrics, the meta relationship of the line "it's all that I can do to sing these stupid songs to you..." and who doesn't love a good Na Na Na during times like these? Brilliant.
Of course, I wanted to see the band play live. They didn't play Ireland very often so the first chance I got was years later at the Irish musical festival called Witnness. It was a 2 day festival but the only band I cared about seeing were The Bluetones. I had waited a long time for this. I had images in my head of crowd surfing to this:
So, the morning they were due to be on, I ran down to the main stage and waited. About six acts were due to play before The 'Tones were scheduled to be on stage. But, if I wanted a good spot I needed to sit through them.
And then... it was time. I couldn't stand still. I chanted. I told everyone who would listen how great it would be. I clapped. I waited. Nothing. They never came out. Apparently they had missed their ferry over and arrived too late to set up on time. I didn't get the see them and I was crushed.
I've always said that musical relationships can sometimes be stronger than romantic ones. That some girl might hurt or leave me but that album will always be there. So considering myself and The Bluetones had been dating for a few years at this point, I took being stood up quite badly. As a result, years later when I found an email address for the lead singer Mark Morriss I took the opportunity to write a strongly worded email explaining my disappointment.
Surprisingly I got a reply, and an apology, explaining their problem that morning and stating that he was hoping to play in Ireland sometime soon. Of course, "soon" turned out to be a long time later but at the time I was touched that he actually bothered to write back at all.
I was in college and I had begun to become obsessed with another love of mine, Edgar Wright. Spaced was a TV show which had just as big an impact on my life as the 'Tones themselves. And while watching the show on an almost endless loop during my long nights avoiding work, what do I find? Of course, those bloody Bluetones were mates of his and featured not only in the soundtrack but in the background of a couple of episodes! In fact, the guys were such pals that Edgar only went and directed a video for them. The excellent "After Hours".
Finally, on the 27th September 2006 they would play a gig in Dublin. At this point I was a fan for 8 long years. I had obsessed over them relentlessly. I had upgraded albums from cassette to CD and forced copies onto disinterested friends. I bought tickets for myself and my understanding girlfriend. I was giddy as a schoolgirl.
It turns out I wasn't the only one. Myself and the other Irish members of the Blue Army bought every item of merchandise available on the stand before they ever got to the stage. A feat the band were quite impressed with. There was something electric in the air that night. The excitement in the crowd was palpable and you could tell the band were genuinely surprised by the reaction they got.
Here's some live stuff to give you an impression.
But you know, with a drunker crowd. And without the weird interview bit at the end.
Around now, I had become quite at home on the internet and decided to give the forum on their website a try. It was full of sarcastic, evil people with dark humour and sick minds. Obviously I loved it. Over time I managed to make great friends with some of the people there and count them amongst my nearest and dearest. Because of this I've ended up going to countless gigs with them and have had some embarrassing encounters.
I was thrown onstage during one 'Tones gig, against my will I might add. The awkward moment of "oh shit, I need to get down from here somehow" and the band looking at me like I had two heads was one I won't forget soon. Apparently, Adam Devlin the guitarist later referred to me as the most reluctant stage diver he had ever seen.
I also managed to make a tit of myself during one of Mark's solo shows. I'm a sing-a-long crowd participant and usually there is no problem as the music drowns me out. However, on this night I was in some sort of acoustic amplifier spot in the room and apparently everyone could hear me loud and clear... Including Mark himself. It resulted in much verbal lambastic (all in good fun... I hope) and a laugh from my 'Tones forum friends.
I was attempting the back-up parts to this song:
As you can imagine, I was horrified to be told how out of tune I was. But the several drinks I had meant that I couldn't help myself.
There are more stories like this and hundreds more I'm sure my friends would tell you.
I guess, what I'm trying to say is; I meant it when I said the relationships you form with bands are sometimes stronger than the romantic ones in life and when that relationship ends, it hurts just as much. I'll be there for their last gig this September, probably with a wreath but also with all the friends I've made because of the music. I'm gonna miss the band but I'll always have the memories. Thanks for them.
Play us out fellas...
Jo March 29, 2011 at 3:08 PM
That's not a rant, it's beautiful. I might try and write my own, when I stop crying that is.
Aaron March 29, 2011 at 4:00 PM
I'd like to read that Jo, everyone has a unique perspective on music and bands so it'd be interesting to see how your connection.
Baj March 30, 2011 at 12:34 AM
I'm genuinely touched. I've been a fan of the tones since I was told to "listen to this" by an old friend ("this" was a much copied tape of 'are you blue...'). Funny how a band is the background to so much of your life. The bluetones will always play in my memory of my first love, my leaving uni, even my first child. Heck, I even played bluetonic at my first gig. Years on, and having seen them on the last tour, there was only one song I was going to play at my first ever solo "gig", bluetonic again. I've even recorded sleazy bed track recently.
Tones, part of me dies with the band and I'm typing this with a tear in my eye. As Neil young would put "gone, but not forgotten"
Jo March 30, 2011 at 10:54 AM
Have done...first ever blog...may well be the last!!
http://johob.blogspot.com/
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L’Orignal Marina Abadin B&B
The L’Orignal Marina
L’Orignal Marina is midway between Ottawa and Montreal and a full service Marina
The L’Orignal Marina is located along the shores of the Ottawa River.
L’Orignal Marina is located between Ottawa and Montreal and offers 47 docking places.
You have the full service of a marina with washrooms and showers, pumping station, gasoline station, and even night security surveillance. Our L’Orignal Marina is accessible right in the core of the lovely and quiet village of L’Orignal. It just takes 2 minutes by car and 10 minutes to walk to get to the marina from the Abadin B&B.
69 Wharf Street
L’Orignal, ON K0B 1K0
(613) 675-2637 (in season)
(613) 678-3601 (off season)
The L’Orignal Marina, on the Ottawa River, midway between Ottawa and Montreal, situated at latitude 45 37.27 N and longitude 74 41.32 W.
The L’Orignal Marina opens on Victoria Day in May weekend and closes on Thanksgiving weekend in October. Dockage at the L’Orignal Marina can be offered on a seasonal, monthly, weekly and daily basis. There are 47 seasonal docks and 12 transient slips available for rent. Some seasonal docks have access to water and electricity.
At the L’Orignal Marina attendants are on duty on weekends in May, June, September and October as well as full time during July and August to assist boaters and security is on site during the night. There is a large, clean comfort station available to boaters which includes free washroom and shower facilities. Gas, ice and water are for sale and pumpouts are available free with the purchase of $100.00 of gas.
The boat launch is available on a pay per use or seasonal basis.
Inquire/Book
Abadin B&B between Montreal and Ottawa
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The Past is Never
by Tiffany Quay Tyson
Overview: Siblings Bert, Willet, and Pansy know better than to go swimming at the old rock quarry. According to their father, it's the devil's place, a place that's been cursed and forgotten. But Mississippi Delta summer days are scorching hot and they can't resist cooling off in the dark, bottomless water. Until the day six-year-old Pansy disappears. Not drowned, not lost . . . simply gone.
After years with no sign, no hope of ever finding Pansy alive, Bert and Willet have tried to move on. But as surely as their mother died of a broken heart, they can't let go. So when clues surface drawing them to the remote tip of Florida, they drop everything and drive south. Deep in the murky depths of the Florida Everglades they may find the answer to Pansy's mysterious disappearance . . . but truth, like the past, is sometimes better left where it lies.
Perfect for fans of Flannery O'Connor and Dorothy Allison, The Past Is Never is an atmospheric, haunting story of myths, legends, and the good and evil we carry in our hearts.
Karena Hanane (05/21/19): Siblings Bert, Willet, and Pansy know better than to go swimming at the old rock quarry. According to their father, it's the devil's place, a place that's been cursed and forgotten. But Mississippi Delta summer days are scorching hot and they can't resist cooling off in the dark, bottomless water. Until the day six-year-old Pansy disappears. Not drowned, not lost . . . simply gone.
After years with no sign, no hope of ever finding Pansy alive, Bert and Willet have tried to move on.
Rating: ***
Deanna Boe (05/12/19): This was an extremely difficult book to follow. It jumped back and forth between the family characters: the very past, middle past and present. The storyline was somewhat weird. In short, can you tell I really didn’t like it? Parts of it seemed redundant, other parts seemed interesting, but then bingo the storyline was off on another strange tactic. The main theme is the fact that a brother and sister were told to watch their youngest sibling who was six. They were teen-agers. Their mother had lots of mental problems so they liked to get away when they could. Even though they were forbidden to go to the quarry at any time, and definitely not to swim, like all kids they did what they were told not to do. All of a sudden the older two were hungry and decided to go pick berries to eat. Because the six-year old was a great swimmer, loved to float forever it seemed on her back, they left her by herself. You know immediately that something is going to happen to her, I mean, wouldn’t that be obvious. Now the mother really has a breakdown. The father was gone on his usual jaunt around the U.S. passing off fake money that their father and uncle created. Naturally the whole area is drawn into the search for their sister, but she is not found. The rest of the book dwells on all that is done to find her, all that happened in the families past, and how the father was never found until the end, and even then many don’t feel it was him. The book has possibilities, just not the way it was put together.
Rating: **+
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HOME / Europe / Federal-republic-of-germany / Museumsinsel (Museum Island), Berlin
Museum Island (German: Museumsinsel) is the name of the northern half of an island in the Spree river in the central Mitte district of Berlin, Germany, the site of the old city of Cölln. It is so called for the complex of five internationally significant museums, all part of the Berlin State Museums, that occupy the island’s northern part:
The Altes Museum (Old Museum) completed on the orders of Karl Friedrich Schinkel in 1830.
The Neues Museum (New Museum) finished in 1859 according to plans by Friedrich August Stüler, a student of Schinkel. Destroyed in World War II, it was rebuilt under the direction of David Chipperfield for the Egyptian Museum of Berlin and re-opened in 2009.
The Alte Nationalgalerie (Old National Gallery) completed in 1876, also according to designs by Friedrich August Stüler, to host a collection of 19th-century art donated by banker Joachim H. W. Wagener
The Bode Museum on the island’s northern tip, opened in 1904 and then called Kaiser-Friedrich-Museum. It exhibits the sculpture collections and late Antique and Byzantine art.
The Pergamon Museum, the final museum of the complex, constructed in 1930. It contains multiple reconstructed immense and historically significant buildings such as the Pergamon Altar and the Ishtar Gate of Babylon.
In 1999, the museum complex was added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.
Museum Island (German: Museumsinsel) is the name of the northern half of an island in the Spree river in the central Mitte district of Berlin, Germany, the site of the old city of Cölln.
Historic Site of Lyons
Frontiers of the Roman Empire
Ferrara, City of the Renaissance, and its Po Delta
Our Lady of Ljeviš
Cathedral of Notre-Dame, Former Abbey of Saint-Remi and Palace of Tau, Reims
L’viv – the Ensemble of the Historic Centre
The Four Lifts on the Canal du Centre and their Environs, La Louvière and Le Roeulx (Hainault)
Gough and Inaccessible Islands
Mines of Rammelsberg, Historic Town of Goslar and Upper Harz Water Management System
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WRE Development Ltd.
Apartment Living
In love with a city! Calgary!
Calgary certainly has earned its place in the sun. It’s a great city that has much to offer its residents and has rapidly grown from a small city to a hub of activity. There are a number of things that set Calgary apart, offering an exceptional quality of life and making it an easy choice to call home.
Nature as a neighbour
While the beautiful Bow River runs right through it, cleaving north from south, some of Canada’s most majestic landscape surrounds Calgary. Fresh air and greener pastures are a rare find in any urban area, but Calgary keeps nature accessible to its inhabitants. Whether it’s camping at Mount Kidd, ski weekends at Sunshine or a simple stroll along the Bow, the options are all easily accessible and offer much to enjoy – in all seasons.
Financially sound
While Alberta has no sales tax – bumping up the affordability of living in Alberta – Calgary has an enormous number of corporations headquartered here, offering an impressive selection of job opportunities. The variety of industries flourishing in the city has given rise to great prospects. The unemployment rate for Calgary in the summer of 2012 is sitting at 4.9 per cent, well below the national average of 7.3 per cent, and far better than other major centres such as Vancouver at 6.4 per cent, Montreal at 8.9 per cent, Ottawa at 6.1 per cent and Toronto at 8.6 per cent. The Conference Board of Canada pegged Calgary to be among the top four cities in Canada for economic growth in 2012. Calgary also claims the most millionaires per capita in Canada.
A major hub
Whether it’s business or pleasure, there are a lot of people coming and going from Calgary annually. Canada’s fourth-busiest airport, in 2012 Calgary International Airport (YYC) had 13.6 million passengers come through. This doesn’t account for the massive number of people visiting by land who travel by train and automobile through the majestic Rockies on their way to Calgary.
A well-planned city
You can’t argue that Calgary is one city that city planners got right. Its simplicity and straightforward layout makes it easy to travel and easy to access every area. There’s no focal point of gridlock and no area that has grown uncomfortably beyond its infrastructure.
Designed on a grid and broken down into directional quadrants North East (NE) North West (NW) South East (SE) and South West (SW), numbered streets and avenues make it easy to navigate and difficult to get lost. Streets always run north/south and avenues always run east/west. At the axis, where the numbering originates, are Centre Street and Centre Avenue – navigational ground zero.
The architecture
Yes, winters are cold. That’s why the +15 is so great. Designed in the 60s, Calgary’s core was well planned, the ingenious idea of Harold Hanon. Business carries on with walk-overs, called +15s, connecting buildings. There are currently 59 walkways. Just look up – about 15 feet up – and you’ll see them when you wander around anywhere from 9th St. SW to 3rd St. SE, starting at about 2nd Ave. SW/SE and ending right around the railway at 9th Ave. SW/SE
200 - 28 Queen Elizabeth Way
R3L 2R1
© Copyright 2018 WRE Development Ltd. | Privacy Policy
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U.S. Olympic Committee Announces 2012 U.S. Paralympic Team
Team USA to compete Aug. 29-Sept. 9 in London
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The United States Olympic Committee today announced the 2012 U.S. Paralympic Team that will compete in the upcoming London 2012 Paralympic Games, Aug. 29-Sept. 9. The 227-member team, which includes six guides for visually impaired athletes, is comprised of 133 men and 94 women.
"When the 2012 London Olympic Games come to a close on Sunday, the eyes of the world will turn to the Paralympic Games and the more than 4,000 athletes competing. Each of the 227 Americans named to the 2012 U.S. Paralympic Team today are ready to captivate the world, on and off the field of play, just as our Olympians have," USOC Chief Executive Officer Scott Blackmun said. "Our Paralympians embody what it means to be an American. They will compete with the pride and honor that is inherent in representing the United States of America, inspiring Americans young and old with their stories of triumph."
American athletes will compete in 19 sports contested throughout the 11 days of competition. The sports are archery, boccia, cycling, equestrian, goalball, judo, powerlifting, rowing, sailing, shooting, sitting volleyball, soccer seven-a-side, swimming, table tennis, track and field, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair fencing, wheelchair rugby and wheelchair tennis. At the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games, Team USA claimed a total of 99 medals, finishing third overall.
Among the members of the 2012 U.S. Paralympic Team are 19 athletes who won multiple medals at the last Games including swimmer Jessica Long (Baltimore, Md.), who co-led the U.S. Paralympic Team with six medals in Beijing, and wheelchair racer Jessica Galli (Hillsborough Township, N.J.), who captured five medals. Long claimed four of her career seven gold medals in 2008 while Galli claimed the women's 400-meter (T53) title.
The team also includes 20 U.S. military veterans and active duty service members, some of whom were wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan. Navy Lieutenant Bradley Snyder, who lost his vision in September 2011 while serving in Afghanistan, is among the American athletes with military ties. Snyder is slated to compete in swimming on the one year anniversary of his injury.
The London 2012 Paralympic Games will be the largest edition of the Games yet, with an estimated 4,200 participating athletes, up from the 3,951 who competed in Beijing. Athletes from 165 countries will participate in London, which is representation from 19 more nations than in Beijing.
The 2012 U.S. Paralympic Team roster may still be adjusted due to injury, illness or exceptional circumstances up to the technical meetings for each sport. For the 2012 U.S. Paralympic Rowing Team roster click here.
Journalists interested in receiving Team USA updates from the London 2012 Paralympic Games can sign-up for the media distribution list by clicking here. Partners and supporters can sign-up for the distribution list by clicking here.
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Boeing F/A-18 Hornet Anatomy Of The FA-18 Hornet Fighter Attack Airplane
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Boeing FA-18 Hornet Anatomy of the FA-18 Hornet Fighter Attack Airplane Subscribe to US Today! The McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) F/A-18 Hornet is a twin-eng...
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On runway 24 of U.S. Naval Air Station, Patuxent River, Maryland, a part of Boeing Harpoon missile history was recently witnessed when four of the proven Har...
Daniel Ricciardo Faces Off Against An F/A-18 Hornet
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US Navy VFA-147 Boeing Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet [206] Full Afterburner Takeoff
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Boeing F/A-18E Super Hornet 'VX-9 Vampires' Taxi And Takeoff
Tower advised to the pilots... "Speed restrictions cancelled". LOVE IT.
Boeing - F/A-18E/F Super Hornet Fighters On USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) [720p]
Navy personnel aboard the USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) work around the clock to ensure the carrier is capable of doing its most important job: protecting th...
F/A-18 Super Hornet Carrier Flight (2012)
Courtesy Video Defense Media Activity - Navy Produced by Petty Officer 2nd Class James Evans. Lt. Michael Loringer, assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron 22, p...
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Boeing - Advanced Super Hornet Stealth Fighter Makes Its Debut Flight [720p]
ST. LOUIS, Aug. 28, 2013 -- During three weeks of flight testing the Advanced Super Hornet, Boeing [NYSE: BA] and partner Northrop Grumman demonstrated that ...
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Call for Entries - Google Works
GoggleWorks Center for the Arts is pleased to announce an open call to all professional artists, age 18 and up, who design and produce their own work, to show in our 11th Annual Juried Exhibition. Open to all media, this exhibition aims to curate a selection of exemplary contemporary work from artists around the country. On view from April 29- June 4, 2017, the exhibition will be supplemented with a published catalog which includes color images of included work, along with artists' statements, jurors statement and bio.
Meet the Juror / Lisa Tremper Hanover
Lisa Tremper Hanover was named Director & CEO of the James A. Michener Art Museum in March 2012 after a successful tenure as Director of the Philip and Muriel Berman Museum of Art at Ursinus College. While at the Berman, she coordinated and supervised the establishment of the first museum program on the Ursinus campus, organized over 300 exhibitions and attendant programming, expanded the permanent collection to over 4,000 works of art, and raised the profile of the institution to a national level. Successful endowment and capital campaigns resulted in a dramatic expansion with one of the only visible storage galleries in an academic museum in the country. The Berman Museum achieved accreditation status with the American Alliance of Museums in December 2004.
As leader of the Michener Art Museum program, Hanover has overseen the transformation of the physical facility with new façade landscaping, revitalization of permanent collection galleries, refreshed curatorial efforts, a celebration of the Museum's 25th Anniversary of operation, and negotiated for the highly successful exhibition From Philadelphia to Monaco: Grace Kelly - Beyond the Icon presented in 2013-2014 to over 100,000 visitors. The Michener was accredited by the American Alliance of Museums in 2001 and achieved subsequent reaccreditation in 2016.. A leader in the museum field, Hanover has conducted numerous Museum Assessment Program reviews and served on AAM Accreditation teams.
In addition to presenting at numerous regional and national conferences, Hanover has served as President of the Association of Academic Museums & Galleries, Pennsylvania Federation of Museums & Historical Organizations, and presented over 250 public lectures to professional organizations. Hanover has juried over 85 art exhibitions and public art commissions and served on the Board of Directors of the Wayne Art Center, The Baum School of Art, and the Wood Turning Center of Philadelphia.
midnight, February 28, 2017 - all entries due
April 29 - June 4, 2017 - exhibition dates
5:30-7:30pm, April 28, 2017 - opening reception
Eligibility:
Open to all professional artist, ages 18 and up, who design and produce their own work. Work must have been created within the last three years and may not have been previously shown at GoggleWorks Center for the Arts. All work MUST BE FOR SALE. All media welcomed; video artists must supply their own equipment.
There is a $35 application fee per submission. Submissions may include up to three artworks. All submissions must be entered via our online submission form. Entrants must create a Submittable username and password, then log in to complete their submission. Applicants are allowed to submit up to three artworks. Images must be in .jpg format - max. 1500x1500 pixels, at 300dpi. Video submissions must be uploaded as MP4. All applicants must submit a 75-100 word artist statement. Please note that entries will be disqualified for failure to follow the submission guidelines/instructions.
Link to Application
About GoggleWorks Center for the Arts:
Located in the former Willson Goggle Factory building, GoggleWorks is the largest arts center of its kind in the country. The five-story, 145,000-square-foot complex features six large teaching studios in ceramics, hot and warm glass, metalsmithing, photography, and woodworking; 35 juried studios for artists and makers working in a variety of mediums; and dozens of music, arts, and other cultural organizations.The complex also includes several major exhibition galleries, a 131-seat film theatre, a cafe and STORE featuring the work of over 200 artists from GoggleWorks and beyond. GoggleWorks is open to the public daily from 9am-9pm. Admission and parking are always free. Learn more at goggleworks.org.
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Volume 10, Issue 3, Fall 1992
Bracken Cave: A Priceless Resource
BCI acquires site of the world's largest bat colony. . .
Bracken Cave in central Texas is summer home to some 20 million Mexican free-tailed bats (Tadarida brasiliensis). Located less than 20 miles from downtown San Antonio, the cave has come under increasing threat of urbanization. This June, after several years of negotiations and the assistance of many, Bat Conservation International succeeded in completing the purchase of this critical site with funds granted by the Ewing Halsell Foundation. Until a comprehensive management plan is completed, visitation to the cave is strictly limited.
The bats of Bracken Cave comprise the largest known bat maternity colony in the world, producing millions of young each year. In March and April, expectant females return to Bracken after overwintering in Mexico. Most males roost elsewhere in smaller groups. In the latter part of June, females give birth to a single pup, nearly doubling the cave's population.
As the bats give birth, cave walls become densely packed with naked pups, clustering tightly at up to 500 per square foot. Babies roost separately from their mothers. Before leaving her infant in the nursery with the other pups, each mother spends up to an hour getting acquainted with her baby's scent and vocalizations. When she returns, she accomplishes a remarkable feat: she finds her own young among the millions of others vocalizing and straining for attention. She nurses her baby at least twice a day.
After four to five weeks, youngsters begin learning to fly under the most difficult of conditions. If all goes well on its first flight, a young bat drops into complete darkness, flies at a speed of at least 20 feet per second, and turns an almost complete somersault with millimeter precision to land on the cave wall just seconds after taking off. It must also avoid several collisions a second with thousands of other young fliers testing their skills, while at the same time relying on a sonar system that is itself being tested for the first time.
Collisions with other bats or cave walls can be fatal. An emergency landing is certain death; the floor is teaming with millions of carnivorous dermestid beetles that can reduce a young bat to a cleaned skeleton within a few minutes. Fatalities are high, and at least half won't survive their first year. Between the perils of the first few weeks of life combined with mortality during migration, the population of Bracken Cave remains relatively stable in the absence of human disturbance.
By late July, young bats are ready to test their flight skills outside the cave, joining their mothers to feed on insects. Although they are weaned soon after, their initial energy demands are high, forcing nursing mothers to consume more than their body weight in insects each night. To find sufficient food, the bats often emerge up to three hours before sundown, creating one of the most spectacular sights in all nature, an event spanning several hours.
At first only a few circle the cave entrance, signaling that the emergence is about to begin. They are soon joined by multitudes, swirling clockwise to gain altitude in a spectacle often likened to a living tornado funnel. The soft sound of thousands of beating wings fills the air and cools the hot summer evening. As the bats rise above the mouth of the cave, they form massive, undulating columns that can be seen for miles. Flocks may climb to nearly 10,000 feet, apparently catching tail winds to speed them to distant feeding grounds. Each night these bats cover thousands of square miles over surrounding towns and farms, consuming some 20 tons of insects.
Sometime in fall, usually with the first major cold front to arrive in central Texas, the massive colony of Bracken Cave migrates south into Mexico where the bats will spend the winter, remaining active. Free-tails are among the few North American species that do not hibernate. With their long, narrow wings, these bats are especially adapted to fast flight and are capable of long migrations, sometimes as much as 1,100 miles. Catching high tail winds, they may attain speeds up to 60 miles an hour.
In Mexico, Bracken's bats and the millions of others that join them from throughout the Southwest are increasingly vulnerable. Recent surveys conducted by BCI and Mexican biologists revealed that half of the caves surveyed had declined by more than 95 percent [BATS, Summer 1991]. Mexican farmers, believing that they are killing vampire bats, burn tires or other debris in cave entrances, killing millions of bats.
Efforts are underway to ensure safety of these bats that migrate between our borders. One of the first steps is education. BCI's recently completed Spanish-language audiovisual program, "Los Murcielagos de America Latina," is being distributed to learning centers throughout Latin America. In addition, BCI has produced a Spanish-language brochure describing the difference between beneficial bats and vampires, and describing methods to control them without harm to other bats (see related article, page 18).
Mexican free-tailed bats are still among the most abundant of our Southwestern species, but even they have declined in many places where they formerly were common [BATS, September 1986]. We must work hard to prevent them from joining the nearly 40 percent of American bat species either on the endangered list or proposed for it.
The bats of Bracken Cave are a national resource to treasure, and BCI is very proud of this ambitious acquisition. With good stewardship, we can ensure that it will be protected now and far into the future.
Above: The emergence of millions of bats from Bracken Cave is one of nature's most spectacular sights.
The Bracken Cave bat colony covers thousands of square miles over surrounding towns and farmland, consuming up to a half million pounds of insects in a single summer night.
Adventures in Photographing Bats
In Progress: A New Book About Bats
Venezuela's Bats: A CASE FOR CONSERVATION
Bats in Magic, Potions, and Medicinal Preparations
THE PAUL WINTER CONSORT
WANTEDPROFESSIONAL VIDEO PHOTOGRAPHER
BCI Co-sponsors International Symposium on Desert Succulents
Protection for Critical Bat Caves in New Mexico
Educational Materials Produced for Latin America
BCI's Second Bat Tour to Costa Rica a Success
NPCA Promotes Bat Conservation
"The Secret World of Bats" Airs
New BCI Board Members
Heading south for the winter
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Glenn Wilkins - Wednesday, January 09, 2019
Gogo Shares Do Just That on Raised Guidance
Gogo Inc. (NASDAQ:GOGO) shares climbed toward the end of trading on Wednesday, after the company raised FY18 guidance and announced successful modifications to protect against contamination of its de-icing fluid.
The Chicago-based company, priding itself on being the leading global provider of broadband connectivity products and services for aviation, today announced that as of the end of 2018, modifications to protect against de-icing fluid contamination on its 2Ku North American aircraft have achieved positive results.
As a result of the success of the de-icing modifications, Gogo did not incur certain forecasted costs associated with further de-icing efforts in Q4 2018, and is raising its Adjusted EBITDA guidance to the high end of its previously announced range of $45 million to $60 million for the year 2018.
As of December 31, 2018, Gogo had experienced no incidents of 2Ku system degradation on aircraft with Gogo's recent de-icing modifications.
Based on Federal Aviation Administration data listing airports that have experienced de-icing activity, Gogo estimates that in 2018, aircraft with Gogo de-icing modifications flew more than 5,000 flights that had been de-iced.
A news release out Wednesday reported Gogo's de-icing modifications had been installed on more than 675 aircraft, representing almost 97% of the installed North American fleet. While the vast majority of global de-icing activities occur in North America, Gogo will modify existing 2Ku installations on international aircraft as part of each airline's maintenance program.
Shares hiked 46 cents, or 15.1%, to $3.56.
ZoomAway Going Places on Deal with Tech Firm
PPG Gains on Q2 Numbers
MS Ekes up on Earnings Beat
Brand Innovation is the Key to Becoming a Leader in the Cannabis-Infused Beverage Industry
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You are here > Home > 新闻动态 > 简讯快报 > Focus on the Regulation on Domain Names.
12-09-2011 » Focus on the Regulation on Domain Names.
The introduction of the new French legal regime for domain names provided for by the Law of March 22, 2011, was partially postponed up until the adoption of its related Decree (see our Flash News of April 2011). The said Decree was expected on July 1st but was finally published only on August 3, 2011. By a press release of the same day, the AFNIC - the present .fr and .re registration Office - declared that it would proceed with the examination of the 6158 pending applications received since July 1st, 2011, in order to examine them as of August 29.
The provisions of the law, which were deferred up until the publication of the Decree, were those relating to the designation of the registration Office, the modalities of designation of the intermediate registration Offices between the applicant and the Office, but also and foremost the definition of the notions of “lack of legitimate interest to act (locus standi)” and of “mala fide use”, on which the registration Office can base its refusal of registration or renewal of a domain name, either because it infringes Intellectual Property or personality Rights, or because it is identical or related to the name of the French Republic, a “collectivité territorial” (i.e. a local authority such as a city or a county), an institution or a local or national public service (2° and 3° of Art. L.45-2).
Both notions are now defined in Article R.20-44-43 of the Decree. In fact, the draftsmen chose to refer to the legitimate interest to act (locus standi), rather than referring to the lack thereof, nevertheless providing a non-exhaustive list of examples of cases where locus standi exist. The legitimate interest to act (locus standi) therefore is “notably (…) the fact for the applicant or the domain name owner (i) to use this domain name or an identical or related name, in view of offering goods or services, or to be able to prove the preparations therefor, (ii) to be known under a name identical or related to that domain name, even in the absence of rights over that name, (iii) to make a non-commercial use of the domain name or of a related name without the will to deceive the consumer or to cause detriment to the repute of a name on which a right is recognized or established.”
As concerns the notion of lack of bona fide, it includes “notably (…) the fact (i) to have obtained or applied for the registration of that name mainly in view of selling it, renting it or transferring it, by whichever mean, to a public service structure, or to a local authority, or to the owner of an identical or related name on which a right is recognized, and not to effectively use it, (ii) to have obtained or applied for the registration of a domain name mainly in order to cause detriment to the repute of the owner of a legitimate interest or of a right recognized over that name or on a related name, or of a product or service related to that name by the consumer, (iii) to have obtained or applied for the registration of a domain name mainly in order to benefit from the renown of the owner of a legitimate interest or of a right recognized over that name or a related name, or of that of a product or service related to that name, by creating confusion in the mind of the consumer.”
It is now up to the Office to define more precisely one and the other of these notions.
It is remarkable that neither the Law nor the Decree refers to the criteria of existence of prior rights or likelihood of confusion or to similarity between goods or services, but it must there again be stressed that the Law did not provide any definition of the legal nature of the domain name and, thus, of the relationship that it must have with other distinctive signs. Therefore, although good faith is ineffective as a defence as regards counterfeiting, that criterion seems essential in the process of granting domain names in France.
The AFNIC remains competent for first level Domain names, at least until a Regulation from the Ministre chargé des communications électroniques (Minister in charge of electronic communications) is adopted after public consultation. It is not excluded that different Offices will be designated for the French overseas department and territories extensions.
The Domain Names Dispute Resolutions procedures which have been suspended since April 15, 2011, for the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center, and since May 15, 2011, for the AFNIC (PREDEC) continue to be suspended. Although the designation of one or several competent Offices should only be a question of weeks, the discussions in connexion with these procedures could still last for several months.
As a result, for the time being, litigation related to deleting or transferring a .fr or .re domain name (Art. L.45-6) can only be lodged: with the Arbitration and Mediation Center of Paris (if the adverse party consents), or before the Courts (without such consent).
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Pioneer Elite BDP-HD1 Blu-Ray & DVD Player
Category Tags: Blu Ray, DVD players, Pioneer, Pioneer Elite
Sugg. Retail: $1500
Distributor: Pioneer Electronics of Canada,
300 Allstate Parkway, Markham,
Ontario, Canada, L3R 0P2
(905) 479-4411 FAX 946-7427
It seems Blu-Ray and HD-DVD are fighting their marginal little format war in a dusty corner of some video arcade, Blu-Ray quite literally, as its main growth is in game consoles. Pioneer’s Elite division, arguably designer and manufacturer of the most consistently outstanding players of video discs in general, and DVDs specifically in recent history, has embraced the Blu-Ray format with this machine. That embrace surely won’t smother the format, I think, and will tend to give it more credibility than any Playstation and all its meaningless HD graphic violence and destruction could.
But before getting into the politics of Blu-Ray (and I might even not bother), a quick look at the format’s technology is probably worthwhile. The dedicated site, www.blu-ray.com/info offers this introduction: “The format was developed to enable recording, rewriting and playback of high-definition video (HD), as well as storing large amounts of data. The format offers more than five times the storage capacity of traditional DVDs and can hold up to 25GB on a single-layer disc and 50GB on a dual-layer disc.”
“While current optical disc technologies such as DVD, DVD±R, DVD±RW, and DVD-RAM rely on a red laser to read and write data, the new format uses a blue-violet laser instead, hence the name Blu-ray. Despite the different type of lasers used, Blu-Ray products can easily be made backwards compatible with CDs and DVDs through the use of a BD/DVD/CD compatible optical pickup unit. The benefit of using a blue-violet laser (405nm) is that it has a shorter wavelength than a red laser (650nm), which makes it possible to focus the laser spot with even greater precision. This allows data to be packed more tightly and stored in less space, so it’s possible to fit more data on the disc even though it’s the same size as a CD/DVD. This together with the change of numerical aperture to 0.85 is what enables Blu-Ray Discs to hold 25GB/50GB.”
I’ve decided not to get into the rival format, HD-DVD, since this format war is already being decided by the emergence of players that handle both. In the case of audio optical formats, this has resulted in the virtual disappearance of DVD-A, and the dominance, albeit in a modest way, of SACD. I suspect that the same will follow for the video HD formats, and that Blu-Ray probably has the logistics and legs (software support and catalogue growth) to prevail. Enough said.
Blu-Ray players are, by virtue of the amount of information they must process in real time, very much like computers, and some of the same traits, starting with boot lag. The BDP-HD1 takes more than a minute to show any signs of life, and another, it seems, to actually ready itself to open its drawer in order to play a disc. I guess it’s a good time to read the notes on the back of the disc’s box.
After that it’s pretty much like any DVD player, though a little slower and clunkier when accessing chapters and other shuttle and play options. However, one lack is evident for those who like to combine music and video playback: the BDP-HD1 does not play CDs! I’m sure this will change in coming generations, especially in so-called “universal” players like those now common for the high resolution audio formats. And you have to expect that like newer computers with much faster operating speeds and more RAM, that the players will gain speed and lose their relative awkwardness of operation.
Looking at this particular model, we see a very attractive piano-black case, with a flip-down panel hiding most of the controls, the disc tray above it at left, and the LED display at right. The BDP-HD-1’s remote control isn’t the same monolithic black in styling, silver in background, with mostly grey-brown buttons, but 4 near top labelled and coloured Blue, Red, Green, and Yellow. In a couple of months of using this machine, I have never pressed any of these. Hhmmm..
Underneath are numeric buttons and a few others I’ll get to, with cursor array below. Next down are the transport function ones, with rudimentary TV Control buttons at bottom. This is not an especially intimidating remote, and is ergonomically excellent, as long as there’s a little light, since it doesn’t glow in the dark…ever.
I’ll say more about ergonomics and operation after I get to the main question, which is, first, does this thing give you a better picture with Blu-Ray discs, and, second, what kind of picture do you get with regular DVDs? Though both answers are a simple and emphatic YES, there are caveats and corollaries, but I’ll get to these, too, later. First let’s talk about sheer Blu Heaven on the screen.
The BDP-HD1 came with just a Pioneer demo sampler, so I went out and “blu” a hundred bucks or so on movies. These included A View From Space, an attempt to marry NASA footage and Classical music in various audio/video combinations; Talladega Nights, the only movie about NASCAR racing that’s even dumber than the sport itself; The Devil Wears Prada, in which Meryl Streep tries to outdo Jack Nicholson in chewing the scenery (scenery which is considerable, female- and fashion-wise); and The Departed, where Jack Nicholson himself proves that he is truly historically unsurpassed in this morbidly fascinating talent of set swallowing once again, here as a priapic mobster who makes cops Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, and Mark Wahlberg seem like meddlesome children in his sordid universe of debauchery and crime, especially at making them turn into serial killers of each other (I have to think that he brought along his script of The Witches Of Eastwick to help him again achieve his own Devil-ish dominance of the screen once again). Director Martin Scorcese, however, will have to answer for this film’s unrelenting terminal violence.
Please believe me, I did not plan all this thematically, but did let it unfold on my aging (but still better than plasma) 64″Pioneer Elite PRO-710HD set over a number of afternoons and evenings. And I have to say that A View From Space did not really prepare me for this further selection of world views, so to speak.
A View From Space (WEA/Concert Hot Spot 00107) provides just over an hour of folotage from the Shuttle in HD, starting outside the spacecraft at launch in a long telephoto sequence which ends with the booster rockets detaching and falling away, a rare shot taken with a very steady tripod or other long-distance camera tracking device (Surely not by hand or even Steadicam!).
The music is composed of 8 different hour-long classical music soundtracks, 1, 3, and 7 mixed composers, and the others highlighting excerpts of works by Beethoven, Mozart, Vivaldi, Bach, and Tchaikovsky, in that order. The sound is in Dolby Digital Plus, which means you get some unnatural musical contributions from the rear, which successfully convinced me to turn down the surround. The performances are unattributed, pleasantly anonymous sounding with workmanlike playing, making me think of such ensembles as the Bruno Sculptors Guildhall Players, or the Acapulco Marijuana Workers Mariachi Orchestra, or the more famous Academy of St. Peter-in-the-Woods. I could go on like this, but my point is that the performances are pleasantly innocuous, and occasionally appropriate to the visuals. These pictures are lovely, and worth having as continuous widescreen wallpaper, and it’s nice to be able to vary the background music. All in all, an orbital experience for all of us who will never be Marc Garneau, right at home on our wall-mounted flat screens, with some better class Muzak to exercise the almost invisible Bozo (did I spell that right?) surround audio system. Not you, you say? Oh well…
The Depahted, set and shot in Boston, explores the many layers of police corruption “theah”, with appropriate accents, has a cinema verite feel to it, with quite vivid colour, and looks pretty good in terms of detail and shadings. A particular strength of Blu-Ray is its palette, with richer, more saturated and variegated colours. It’s certainly evident here, though found in even more vivid terms in Talladega and Prada, which are both brightly hued fantasies. And because I’m trying to review the player, not the films, I’ll note that watching them was very enjoyable for just the visual and sonic aspects, and the cumulative effect was very much like doing the same on the HD movie channels. I’ll conclude about these by saying that “The Legend of Ricky Bobby” (its subtitle) is a definite one-watch, while Prada was for me a true half-watch when I became tired of Meryl Streep’s prancing fashion diva-doyen-devil…a little too much like Jeanne Beker, I thought, which, of course sent the shivers down my arm that activated the Eject button.
But back to the real subject at hand. The BDP-HD1 is a great player of these new discs (it does not play HD-DVD, nor, I found computer-made MPEG discs like my OPPO does), and its performance with regular DVDs may actually be its strongest selling point, though perhaps not at the original $1500 price. Now, I’m used to upsampled video from the OPPO 970HD and other players, and my reference, the limited edition Pioneer Elite DV-AX10 outputs a 540p signal that the PRO-710HD line doubles to 1080i, which is pretty hard to beat, and hasn’t been bested by any other player yet, including the best previous Elite models. Well, this one does it, or at least matches the AX10 through our component video hookup, at least with commercial anamorphic DVDs.
Then, when I started to watch my quite large collection of IMAX DVDs, most non-anamorphic, with the squarer screen shape, I noticed that resolution was not quite up to the standards I’d become used to. Doing a direct comparison with a couple, Into The Deep, and Super Speedway, I found that while the BDP-HD1 looked very good, the picture with the DV-AX10 had a little more snap and detail, especially in ZOOM mode on the PRO-710 with these discs. I should also note that the Blu-Ray player in combination with its sibling display locked it into FULL, so manual aspect ratio changes were not possible in our component video setup.
And here I’ll insert a minor digression. Much as been said about the ever evolving HDMI connection system, which certainly has its digital virtues, especially with long cable hookups like those encountered with front projectors. But in my experience it has not proved inherently superior in picture quality to component or good RGB in most situations, and I have not been encouraged to use it, especially in circumstances where I am feeding inferior display devices. Certainly with fixed-pixel displays it can be an advantage in maintaining the resolution relationships (or altering them without analog conversion or loss) by means of the purely digital chain. But with a CRT-based system like mine, I suspect that analog component or RGB video is in no way inferior at 1080i. And in spite of some of the enthusiastic comments you may read elsewhere about the amazing look of 1080p plasma or LCD sets, unless they are in sizes above 60″, the improvement in true resolution will be almost impossible to see, especially on such fixed-pixel displays. To sum up, I expect to graduate at the “p”HD level with a front projector one of these days, but they’ll have to come down further in price, which, given current trends, will be quite soon. Maybe then I’ll get a little more excited about 1080p from Blu-Ray.
Oh, and one final note: Those coloured buttons on the remote allow chapter access and negotiation of BD-R discs, that is, Blu-Ray ROM. Haven’t seen one of those yet!
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KURO Plasmas & Blu-ray from Pioneer
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Prochoice Catholic Policy Makers in the News
In recent weeks, there has been much discussion about Catholic teachings on abortion and the responsibility of Catholics in public life to their constituents. There is a concerted effort by some conservative Catholic bishops and the Pro-Life Activities Office of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and several conservative Catholic organizations to 1) present the erroneous idea that there is a monolithic worldview of what Catholics think about abortion and 2) overstate the reality of the importance of abortion in the upcoming election.
Catholic teachings on abortion are far more nuanced than the monolithic teachings as represented by the bishops. Several articles are repeating this monolithic worldview as fact and presenting abortion as a divisive, and deciding, issue in the upcoming election. Independent polling, however, has shown this to simply not be true.
The US bishops and conservative Catholics provide one opinion and one side of the story. However, they do not reflect the fullness of Catholic teaching on abortion; nor do they represent what Catholics actually believe.
Abortion and Moral Decision-Making
Church teachings on moral decision-making and abortion are complex. In Catholic theology there is room for the acceptance of policies that favor access to the full range of reproductive health options, including contraception and abortion.
At the heart of church teachings on moral matters is a deep regard for an individual’s conscience. TheCatechism states that “a human being must always obey the certain judgment of his conscience.” [1] The church takes conscience so seriously that Richard McBrien, in his essential study Catholicism, explained that even in cases of a conflict with the moral teachings of the church, Catholics “not only may but must follow the dictates of conscience rather than the teachings of the Church.” [2]
Casual disagreement is not sufficient grounds for ignoring moral teachings. Catholics are obliged to know and consider thoughtfully Catholic teaching. Catholics believe that “the Church…is a major resource of…moral direction and leadership. It is the product of centuries of experience, crossing cultural, national, and continental lines.” [3] But in the end, a well-formed conscience reigns.
Catholic Teachings on Abortion Have Changed over Time
Although the Catholic hierarchy says that the prohibition on abortion is both “unchanged” and “unchangeable,” this does not comport with the actual history of abortion teaching, and dissent, within the church. While members of the Catholic hierarchy oppose abortion, their reasons for doing so and their subsequent teachings have varied over time.
It is disingenuous, for example, for the USCCB to claim that the Didache (an early Christian document) reveals continuity in church teaching. The Didache was lost for more than a millennium and only rediscovered in the late 19th century. In the interim, many different positions on abortion emerged, were discarded, re-adopted and rejected again. In fact, through most of history the church did not pay much attention to abortion except as a sexual issue. The early prohibition of abortion was not based on concern about the fetus but on a view that only people who engage in forbidden sexual activity would attempt abortion.
Many church officials and antichoice Catholics argue that the fetus is a person from the moment of conception. However, in its last statement on abortion, the 1974 Declaration on Procured Abortion, the Vatican acknowledged that it does not know when the fetus becomes a person: “There is not a unanimous tradition on this point and authors are as yet in disagreement.” [4] This disagreement has a long history; neither St. Augustine nor St. Thomas Aquinas, two of the most important theologians in the Catholic tradition, considered the fetus in the early stages of pregnancy to be a person.
Catholics can and do support public policies that acknowledge the moral agency of women, respect developing life, and appreciate the Catholic tradition while honoring the views of other faith groups. Many of these Catholics support a woman’s right to choose an abortion.
Abortion Is Not an Infallible Teaching
The popular notion that whatever the pope says on a serious topic is infallible is an exaggeration of the principle of infallibility. While some ultra-conservative groups claim that the teaching on abortion is infallible, it does not in fact meet the definition of an infallible teaching. Since the doctrine of papal infallibility was first declared in 1870, only three teachings have been declared infallible: the Immaculate Conception of Mary; the Assumption of Mary; and the declaration on infallibility itself.
Before the encyclical Evangelium Vitae (The Gospel of Life) was published in 1995, there was speculation that Pope John Paul II would assert the infallibility of the teaching on abortion. Then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, the Vatican’s chief doctrinal officer and now-Pope Benedict XVI, explained that the word infallible was rejected because while the teaching on abortion is authoritative and deserves obedience, the encyclical stopped short of the “formality of dogmatization.” [5]
Lay Catholics Have a Role in the Establishment of Church Law
The teaching authority of the church is not based solely on statements of the hierarchy; it also includes the scholarly efforts of theologians and the lived experience of Catholic people. “Since the Church is a living body,” the Vatican declared in the 1971 Communio Et Progressio, “she needs public opinion in order to sustain a giving and taking between her members. Without this, she cannot advance in thought and action.” [6]
There is a diversity of opinion among leading theologians on the Vatican’s teaching on abortion. As long ago as 1973, noted Catholic theologian Charles Curran wrote in the Jurist that “there is a sizable and growing number of Catholic theologians who do disagree with some aspects of the officially proposed Catholic teaching that direct abortion from the time of conception is always wrong.” [7]
The importance of lay Catholics’ experience in the establishment of church law is recognized through the concept of reception. Like the concept of the primacy of conscience, the principle of reception does not mean that Catholic law is to be taken lightly or rejected without thoughtful and prudent consideration. James Coriden, a canon lawyer, writes, “Reception is not a demonstration of popular sovereignty or an outcropping of populist democracy. It is a legitimate participation by the people in their own governance.” [8]
Many of the hierarchy’s teachings on reproductive health and rights have not been received by the faithful.Rather, Catholics all over the world have soundly rejected the Vatican’s ban on contraception and in many countries only a minority of Catholics agree with church leaders on abortion. According to a major poll of likey Catholic voters recently conducted by the prominent DC polling firm Belden Russonello & Stewart, the majority—whether they are Democrat, Republican or Independent—strongly agree that Catholics are not obligated to heed the bishops’ recommendations. In fact, 69% of Catholics do not feel obligated to vote against candidates who support abortion. An even larger majority (75%) disapproves of denying communion to Catholics who support legal abortion. [9]
Church teachings, tradition and core Catholic tenets—including the primacy of conscience, the role of the faithful in defining legitimate laws and norms, and support for the separation of church and state—leave room for supporting a more liberal position on abortion. The church has acknowledged that it does not know when the fetus becomes a person and has never declared its position on abortion to be infallible. Catholics can, in good conscience, support access to abortion and affirm that abortion can be a moral choice.
Catholics in public life must protect the freedoms of all Americans, from every faith group and no faith group, and must let their conscience and constituents guide them in making decisions that are best for all Americans.
For more information, please do not hesitate to call at (202) 986-6093. You can also find more information about prochoice Catholics at www.CatholicsForChoice.org and www.CatholicsInPublicLife.org.
[1] Catechism of the Catholic Church (Ignatius Press, 1994), p. 438.
[2] Richard P. McBrien, Catholicism: New Edition, (HarperCollins, 1994), p. 973.
[3] McBrien, p. 974.
[4] Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, “Declaration on Procured Abortion,” 18 November 1974.
[5] “Pope stepped back from making encyclical statements infallible,” National Catholic Reporter, 7 April 1995.
[6] Roman Pastoral Instruction, “Communio Et Progressio,” 1971.
[7] Charles Curran, “Abortion: Law and Morality in Contemporary Catholic Theology,” Jurist, 1973.
[8] James A. Coriden, “The Canonical Doctrine of Reception,” Jurist, 1990.
[9] Belden Russonello & Stewart, “Secular and Security-Minded: The Catholic Vote in Summer 2008,” Catholics for Choice, July 2008.
Catholics for Choice shapes and advances sexual and reproductive ethics that are based on justice, reflect a commitment to women's well-being and respect and affirm the capacity of women and men to make moral decisions about their lives.
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Theology / Christology
The Imitation of Christ
Amazon.com Price: $8.77 (as of 18/07/2019 19:56 PST- Details) & FREE Shipping.
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For Kindle E-Books: Click on Country Above to Purchase.
Categories: Books, Catholicism, Christian Books and Bibles, Christology, Featured, Paperback Book, Religion and Spirituality, Theology Tag: Thomas à Kempis
THOMAS À KEMPIS
Publisher: Available in Kindle E-Book:
ISBN-13: 978-1-78379-038-8
The Imitation of Christ is a cherished treasure of the Christian world and is the most widely read devotional work next to the Bible. Except the Bible no book has been translated into more languages than the Imitation of Christ. It was first composed in Latin ca.1418-1427. This is a handbook for spiritual life. The text is divided into four books, which provide detailed spiritual instructions: “Helpful Counsels of the Spiritual Life”, “Directives for the Interior Life”, “On Interior Consolation” and “On the Blessed Sacrament”. The approach taken in the Imitation is characterized by its emphasis on the interior life and withdrawal from the world. The book places a high level of emphasis on the devotion to the Eucharist as key element of spiritual life.
This great book was written by a Roman Catholic monk. “Written”, perhaps, is not the proper word. It would be more appropriate to say that each letter of the book is marked deep with the heart’s blood of the great soul who had renounced all for his love of Christ. That great soul whose words, living and burning, have cast the sort of spell for the last four hundred years over the hearts of myriads of women and men; whose influence today remains as strong as ever and is destined to endure for all time to come; before whose genius and spiritual effort, hundreds of crowned have bent down in reverence; and before whose matchless purity the jarring sects of Christendom, whose name is legion, have sunk their differences of centuries in common veneration to a common principle—that great soul, unusual to say, has not thought fit to put his name to a book such as this. Posterity, on the other hand, has guessed that the writer was Thomas à Kempis, a Roman Catholic monk. How far the guess is true is known only to God. But be he who he may, that he deserves the world’s adoration is a truth that may be gainsaid by none.
Thomas Haemmerlein, often referred to as Thomas à Kempis, from his native town of Kempen, near the Rhine, about forty miles north of Cologne. Haemmerlein, who was born in 1379 or 1380, was a member of the order of the Brothers of Common Life, and spent the last seventy years of his life at Mount St. Agnes, a monastery of Augustinian canons in the diocese of Utrecht. Here he died on July 26, 1471, after a humdrum life spent in copying manuscripts, reading, and composing, and in the peaceful routine of monastic piety.
PUBLISHER: CATHOLIC WAY PUBLISHING
Aloysius Croft, Translator, Harold Bolton, Translator, Catholic Way Publishing, Producer
800, hundredths-inches, 500, hundredths-inches, 45, Hundredths Pounds, 52, hundredths-inches
Catholic Way Publishing
Kindle E-Book
Amazon.com Price: $0.99 (as of 18/07/2019 19:56 PST- Details)
The Catholic Collection: 734 Catholic Essays and Novels on Authentic Catholic Teaching
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The Holy Rosary through the Visions of Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich Amazon.com Price: $9.99 (as of 18/07/2019 19:56 PST- Details) & FREE Shipping.
The Saint Francis de Sales Collection [15 Books] Amazon.com Price: $1.99 (as of 18/07/2019 19:56 PST- Details)
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The Great Classics and Fiction Collection: 100 Authors, 220 Books, 10 Million Words Amazon.com Price: $2.99 (as of 18/07/2019 19:56 PST- Details)
The Mystical City of God, Volume II "The Incarnation": The Divine History and Life of the Virgin Mother of God (Volumes 1 to 4 Book 2) Amazon.com Price: $0.99 (as of 18/07/2019 19:56 PST- Details)
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The Lives of the Saints: Complete Edition Amazon.com Price: $1.99 (as of 18/07/2019 19:56 PST- Details)
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The Mystical City of God, Volume I "The Conception": The Divine History and Life of the Virgin Mother of God (Volumes 1 to 4) (Volume 1) Amazon.com Price: $16.52 (as of 18/07/2019 19:56 PST- Details) & FREE Shipping.
The Complete Ante-Nicene & Nicene and Post-Nicene Church Fathers Collection: 3 Series, 37 Volumes, 65 Authors, 1,000 Books, 18,000 Chapters, 16 Million Words Amazon.com Price: $2.99 (as of 18/07/2019 19:56 PST- Details)
The Catholic Controversy Amazon.com Price: $0.99 (as of 18/07/2019 19:56 PST- Details)
The Mystical City of God, Volume I "The Conception": The Divine History and Life of the Virgin Mother of God (Volumes 1 to 4) Amazon.com Price: $0.99 (as of 18/07/2019 19:56 PST- Details)
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Nature and Grace: Selections from the Summa Theologica of Thomas Aquinas Amazon.com Price: $14.92 (as of 18/07/2019 19:56 PST- Details) & FREE Shipping.
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The Topfield TFR 2400 Masterpiece is a PVR (Personal Video Recorder) which can record up to 4 channels simultaneously, while allowing you to watch any one of them, or a recorded program on the hard drive. It is superior to other models as it also has video inputs, which mean you can connect analog sources to it and record them. Other features such as IceTV, Flickr and YouTube are available when you connect the...
Laptops and hand held devices
Lithium batteries back up power stations
Nov 4th
Posted by admin in Devices
Batteries are critical to the development of portable (electrical) devices. And lithium-ion batteries have been up there in driving the portability revolution. Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries hold more charge in a lighter package (as lithium is the lightest metal – hydrogen is not a metal) and have dramatically improved the performance of phones to small electric aircraft. But they do have one drawback – they charge and discharge too rapidly (and the resultant heat can damage the battery or cause a fire). So they need constant monitoring and control by a built-in electronic circuit to avoid this problem.
Construction and operation
The basic More >
One of the early attractions that gained public attention was an electrically illuminated bridge over the river Seine during the 1900 World Fair in Paris.
The use of electricity may go back much further. While constructing a new railway in 1936 near Baghdad, workers uncovered what appeared to be a prehistoric battery. The discovery was known as the Parthian Battery and was believed to be 2000 years old, dating back to the Parthian period.
The battery consisted of a clay jar filled with a vinegar solution. An iron rod surrounded by a copper cylinder penetrated into the liquid and produced 1.1 to More >
Evidence was discovered that Apple was interested in the name “iSlate, prior to settling on “iPad”.
A search in the Canadian trademark database reveals that Apple’s dummy corporation Slate Computing, LLC applied for a trademark for “iPad” under the categories of handheld mobile digital electronic devices with a broad range of applications. This application was filed in July 2009 — much more recently than the original iSlate trademarks which date back to 2006-2007. Slate Computing, LLC did not apply for a similar trademark in the U.S. due to the fact that Fujitsu appears to control the U.S. trademark as it relates More >
The avocado has the most calories of any fruit.
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FeaturedWVU FootballWVU Sports
Shelton Gibson (1) had eight touchdowns and 951 yards as a junior in 2016.
(Photo Credit: Kelsie LeRose,BGS)
MORGANTOWN, W.Va.–When Shelton Gibson went to the NFL Combine in Indianapolis last month, some incidents went unexpected for the former West Virginia University standout. He posted a 4.5 clocking in the 40-yard dash, which was shocking considering he was one of the fastest wide receivers to ever wear the old gold and blue.
“A lot of teams were telling me they were glad I posted a 4.5,” Gibson said. And I was like ‘why?’ And they were like if anyone thinks you run a 4.5 they’re crazy. We’ll get you.”
Despite running a 4.5, the Cleveland, Ohio native was believed to have run a much faster time. However, he didn’t let that deter him from chasing his aspirations.
“If everybody came up to me and said I ran 4.5, I could of let that got to me and I could of had a bad Combine but I still went out there and competed at a high level right after the 40,” he said. “That was the biggest thing.”
After all, Gibson is flat out fast.
Shelton Gibson (1) ran a 4.39 in the 40-yard dash during WVU’s Pro Day on March 31, 2017.
(Photo Credit: Kelsie LeRose, BGS)
“When that ball in the air, their is nobody faster than me on the field,” he said. “That’s just how I look at it, I am fast with pads on.”
On the Mountaineers’ Pro Day, the 5-foot-11, 191-pound wide out was able to redeem himself with a 4.39 40-yard dash.
“I just feel like I came out here and competed at a high level which I wanted to do and just really wanted my 40 better,” Gibson said. “I feel like I did.”
Now, he is ready to move on and illustrate to the NFL that he is their man. While Gibson is a nimble threat down the field, he isn’t one-dimensional.
Even though, Gibson chose to leave WVU after his junior year, he won’t be thwarted if he isn’t a top pick in the NFL Draft.
“I understand that I’m coming out and it was a big thing and everything like that but I feel like I can go up there and do what I can if I put my mind to it,” he said. “That’s how I look at it. I don’t care about projections. I don’t care what round I go in. Once you get up there that’s what you will be, what you show in practice.”
Shelton Gibson (1) ran the fastest 60-yard shuttle time in combine history, nearly a half-second faster than Stanford’s Christian McCaffrey.
For Gibson, the decision to leave came shortly after the Russell Athletic Bowl following a meeting with the coaching staff. It wasn’t about money but chasing a dream.
“Honestly it’s just a blessing. If I go free agency, what’s the biggest thing, the money I don’t care about the money,” he said. “It’s still a dream. A lot of people do it for the money. I don’t care. I can sit here and tell you that and you can believe me or can’t but this is what I want to do. I started football in ninth grade and ever since then I’ve been loving it. Coming out here every day and competing is the biggest thing I do.”
While he will miss his teammates and playing for the Mountaineers, Gibson is ready to move forward.
“Of course I miss it every time I come up here and I see them practicing and I know I could have been on the team but my ultimate dream is to play in the NFL so that’s where I want to be,” he said.
Cover Photo Credit: Jeff Ruff, BGS
Previous PostWVU drops series opener to No. 23 Oklahoma State
Next PostWVU rallies to defeat No. 23 Oklahoma State in extra innings
big 12, ncaa, nfl, PRO Day, shelton gibson, west virginia mountaineers, west virginia university, wvu, wvu football
WVU rallies to defeat No. 23 Oklahoma State in extra innings
WVU drops series opener to No. 23 Oklahoma State
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Top 12 Myths about Linux
The Top 12 Myths About Linux
Myth 1: Linux is too difficult for ordinary people to use.
Myth 2: Linux is insecure.
Myth 3: It is not worth learning Linux because most companies use Windows.
Myth 4: Businesses can't make money from Linux because it is free.
Myth 5: Linux is a type of software piracy because it was copied from other operating systems.
Myth 6: Free software is a kind of socialism and it destroys intellectual property.
Myth 7: Linux has few application programs.
Myth 8: Linux has poor support because there is no single company behind it.
Myth 9: Linux is obsolete.
Myth 10: Linux cannot survive because it is too fragmented.
Myth 11: Linux cannot compete in quality.
Myth 12: Linux has a higher TCO than Microsoft Windows.
Myth 1: Linux is too difficult for ordinary people to use because it uses only text and requires programming.
The truth: Although Linux was originally designed for those with computer expertise, the situation has changed dramatically in the past several years. Today it has a highly intuitive GUI (graphical user interface) similar to those on the Macintosh and Microsoft Windows and it is as easy to use as those operating systems. No knowledge of programming is required. This ease of use is evidenced by the fact that more and more people, including elementary school students and others with no previous computer experience, are starting to use it every day. Moreover, once people become familiar with Linux, they rarely want to revert to their previous operating system.
In some ways Linux is actually easier to use than Microsoft Windows. This is in large part because it is little affected by viruses and other malicious code, and system crashes are rare.
Myth 2: Linux is less secure than Microsoft Windows because the source code is available to anybody.
The truth: Actually, Linux is far more secure (i.e., resistant to viruses, worms and other types of malicious code) than Microsoft Windows. And this is, in large part, a result of the fact that the source code (i.e., the version as originally written by humans using a programming language) is freely available. By allowing everyone access to the source code, programmers and security experts all over the world are able to frequently inspect it to find possible security holes, and patches for any holes are then created as quickly as possible (often within hours).
Myth 3: It is not worth bothering to learn Linux because most companies use Microsoft Windows and thus a knowledge of Windows is desired for most jobs.
The truth: It is true that most companies still use the various Microsoft Windows operating systems. However, it is also true that Linux is being used by more and more businesses, government agencies and other organizations. In fact, the main thing that it preventing its use from growing even faster is the shortage of people who are trained in setting it up and administering it (e.g., system engineers and administrators). Moreover, people with Linux skills typically get paid substantially more than people with Windows skills.
Myth 4: Linux cannot have much of a future because it is free and thus there is no way for businesses to make money from it.
The truth: This is one of those arguments that sounds good superficially but which is not borne out by the evidence. The reality is that not only are more and more businesses and other organizations finding out that Linux can help reduce the costs of using computers, but also that more and more companies are likewise discovering that Linux can also be a great way to make money. For example, Linux is often bundled together with other software, hardware and consulting services. The most outstanding example is that of IBM, which has invested more than one billion dollars in Linux and is already making substantial profits from it.
Myth 5: Linux and other free software is a type of software piracy because much of it was copied from other operating systems.
The truth: Linux contains all original source code and definitely does not represent any kind of software piracy. Rather it is the other way around: much of the most popular commercial software is based on software that was originally developed at the public expense, including at universities such as the University of California at Berkeley (UCB).
Myth 6: Linux and other free software are a kind of socialism and they destroy the free market and intellectual property.
The truth: No, quite the opposite. Free software helps prevent software monopolies, which destroy the free market and result in high prices and shoddy quality. It does this by fostering competition among products and companies based on quality, features and service. Free software, which is also called open source software, is software that is free both in a monetary sense (i.e., it can be obtained by anyone at no cost) and with regard to use (i.e., it is permitted to be used by anyone for any purpose, including modifying, copying and distributing). Interestingly, some of the harshest critics of free software actually incorporate it into some of their products.
Myth 7: There are few application programs available for Linux.
The truth: Actually, there thousands of application programs already available for Linux and the number continues to increase. Also, the quality of these applications is typically as good as, and often better than, their commercial counterparts, and most of them are free. Moreover, some of these applications are so popular that versions have been developed for use on Microsoft Windows and other operating systems. For examples, see Best Open Source Applications for Microsoft Windows.
Myth 8: Linux has poor support because there is no single company behind it, but rather just a bunch of hackers and amateurs.
The truth: Quite the opposite: Linux has excellent support, often much better and faster than that for commercial software. There is a great deal of information available on the Internet and questions posted to newsgroups are typically answered within a few hours. Moreover, this support is free and there are no costly service contracts required. Commercial support is also available, if desired, from major computer companies such as Red Hat, Novell, IBM and HP. Also to kept in mind is the fact than many users find that less support is required than for other operating systems because Linux has relatively few bugs (i.e., errors in the way it was written) and is highly resistant to viruses and other malicious code.
Myth 9: Linux is obsolete because it is mainly just a clone of an operating system that was developed more than 30 years ago.
The truth: It is true that Linux is based on UNIX, which was developed in 1969. However, UNIX and its descendants (referred to as Unix-like operating systems) are regarded by many computer experts as the best (e.g., the most robust and the most flexible) operating systems ever developed. They have survived more than 30 years of rigorous testing and incremental improvement by the world's foremost computer scientists, whereas other operating systems do not survive for more than a few years, usually because of some combination of technical inferiority and planned obsolescence.
Myth 10: Linux will have a hard time surviving in the long run because it has become fragmented into too many different versions.
The truth: It is a fact that there are numerous distributions (i.e., versions) of Linux that have been developed by various companies, organizations and individuals. However, there is little true fragmentation of Linux into incompatible systems, in large part because all of these versions use the same basic kernels, commands and application programs. Rather, Linux is just an extremely flexible operating system that can be configured as desired by vendors and users according to the intended applications, users' preferences, etc. In fact, the various Microsoft Windows operating systems (e.g., Windows 95, ME, NT, CE, 2000, XP and Longhorn), although they superficially resemble each other, are more fragmented than Linux. Moreover, each of these systems is fragmented into various versions and then further changed by various service packs (i.e., patches which are supplied to users to correct various bugs and security holes).
Myth 11: Linux and other free software cannot compete with commercial software in terms of quality because it is developed by an assorted collection of hackers and amateurs rather than the professional programmers employed by large corporations.
The truth: Almost all software, including that at large corporations, is created at least in part by people who might have beards and look slightly unconventional. However, Linux and other free software has been created and refined by some of the most talented programmers in the world. Moreover, programmers from the of the largest corporations, including IBM and HP, have, and continue to, contribute to it. For more information, see Incentives to Develop Free Software.
Myth 12: Linux is free at the start, but the total cost of ownership (TCO) is higher than for Microsoft Windows. This has been demonstrated by various studies.
The truth: A major reason (but not the only one) for Linux's rapid growth around the world is that its TCO is substantially lower than that for commercial software. This has been demonstrated time and time again. Reasons that it is lower include not only (1) the fact that it is free but also that (2) it is more reliable and robust (i.e., rarely crashes or causes data loss), (3) support can be very inexpensive (although costly service contracts are available), (4) it can operate on older hardware and reduce the need for buying new hardware, (5) there are no forced upgrades and (6) no tedious and costly license compliance monitoring is required. The only studies that show that Linux's TCO is higher are those sponsored by Microsoft.
A major reason provided for the supposedly higher TCO of Linux is that Linux system administrators are more expensive to hire than persons with expertise in Microsoft products. Although this is generally true, it overlooks the fact that Linux systems administrators are usually much more productive because there are relatively few viruses to deal with, security patches to install, system crashes to cope with and licensing issues to contend with.
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Police Blotter for the week of May 22
05/22/2017 02:07PM ● By J. Chambless
SUSPECT FLEES POLICE
On March 13, Pennsylvania State Police Avondale pursued a vehicle driven by Krystal Renee Chiveral, 33, of Elkton, Md., in connection with a retail theft. Chiveral refused to stop for police and a pursuit continued through Oxford Borough until it reached the Maryland state line. Charges of fleeing and eluding have been filed.
'SECRET SHOPPER' SCAM
In February, a 49-year-old Lincoln University man was the victim of an email scam. The email asked him to be a secret shopper for Walmart. He was mailed a check, which he cashed, and wired the money as part of the “Secret Shopper” agreement. The check bounced and the victim lost approximately $2,000, according to a report from Pennsylvania State Police Avondale. Anyone with information relating to this case, or similar cases, is asked to call Trooper Ryan Ard at 610-268-2022.
COPPER WIRE THEFT
On April 21, Chad Kenneth Williams, 38, of Conowingo, Md., stole coper wire from American Quality Electric in Lincoln University and sold it at a scrapyard. The wire was valued at $315.35. Theft charges have been filed, according to Pennsylvania State Police Avondale.
TOOLS STOLEN FROM SCHOOL
On May 15, Pennsylvania State Police Avondale responded to the Pennock's Bridge Technical College in Penn Township to investigate the theft of hand tools that had been removed from the school and hidden in a vehicle. Theft charges are pending.
TEEN FOUND WITH DRUGS
A 15-year-old boy at the Avon Grove Charter School was found to have marijuana and tobacco products on March 7, according to Pennsylvania State Police Avondale. The items were found by school personnel, and the boy was brought to the police station to be interviewed and processed.
GROCERIES STOLEN
On April 29, Pennsylvania State Police Avondale arrested Michelle Lynn Price and Roger Lee Pierce, both of Nottingham, after they removed a shopping cart full of perishables from the Oxford Walmart without paying. They were charged with retail theft.
ASSAULT CHARGES
On April 14 at 10 p.m., Sean Michael Carter, 39, was charged with assault by Pennsylvania State Police Avondale after he broke a car window and struck a 34-year-old Quarryville woman in the face, causing injury, at the McDonald's in Penn Township.
On April 23, the Southern Chester County Regional Police Department charged Spencer P. Papi, 24, of Kennett Square, with simple assault and harassment. According to police, at 11:24 p.m., police were dispatched to the 300 block of Newark Road for an assault that had occurred a short time before in the 300 block of Harvest Lane in New Garden Township. The female victim reported that, during an argument, she had been struck multiple times by Papi with a closed fist. Police said that her injuries corroborated her allegation.
On May 13, Pennsylvania State Police Avondale charged Jesse Lee Boyd, 26, of Oxford with simple assault after he struck an unidentified woman in the head and pushed her down the stairs.
DUI CRASH
On the morning of March 30, police responding to an auto accident at East Baltimore Pike and Baker Station Road in London Grove Township found an overturned dump truck. The driver, an unidentified 44-year-old Kennett Square man, was laying about 100 feet from the crash. He was arrested for DUI, according to Pennsylvania State Police Avondale.
DUI STOP LEADS TO ICE INVESTIGATION
On Feb. 21 at 2:23 a.m., Pennsylvania State Police Avondale stopped a vehicle being driven by Pedro Zavala-Mendez, 40, of Mexico, on Gap Newport Pike in London Grove Township. He was charged with DUI. Police also learned he was under investigation for entering the United States illegally. Charges have been filed, and ICE is investigating.
LOWE'S SCAMMED
On May 2, two men entered the Lowe's store in London Grove Township and committed a fraudulent return of merchandise for $309.08, according to Pennsylvania State Police Avondale. They left in a gray Chevrolet Impala or similar vehicle. The scam is believed to be linked to a theft ring targeting Lowe's stores in Pennsylvania and Delaware. Charges have been filed against Shamar Allah El-Shabazz, 52, of Wilmington, Del. Police are seeking another man in connection with this case.
HOUSE HIT WITH EGGS
On April 9, a home at 306 Manor Drive in East Marlborough Township was pelted with 24 eggs, according to Pennsylvania State Police Avondale. There are no suspects at this time.
ATTEMPTED BURGLARY
On May 4, someone tried to get into the rear of a home at 403 Southbank Rd., London Britain Township, by pushing their way through the rear door. Dogs inside the home may have deterred the would-be burglars. Pennsylvania State Police Avondale later learned that two men, ages 18 to 22, were seen walking in the victim's driveway and entering the backyard. Minutes later, they were seen leaving. Anyone with information is asked to call police at 610-268-2022.
WHEELS STOLEN FROM VEHICLE
On Jan. 15, a disabled vehicle at 190 Cemetery Road had its wheels and tires stolen, according to Pennsylvania State Police Avondale. The car window was broken and the inside had been searched, but nothing inside appeared to have been stolen.
MOTOR STOLEN
Sometime between Oct. 1 and May 12, a barn on Windy Hill Road in New London was entered and an electric trolling motor valued at $400 was stolen, according to Pennsylvania State Police Avondale.
TEEN CHARGED WITH THEFT
On April 26, a 17-year-old from Oxford was charged with theft after a cell phone was reported missing from a classroom at Oxford Area High School. The phone was found hidden in the ceiling of the men's bathroom. The teen confessed and charges were filed, according to Pennsylvania State Police Avondale.
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Tag Archives: myths
World Sword Swallower’s Day Press Release
Posted on February 11, 2012 by Mr. Crispy
Download the official release here: World_SwordSwallowersDay2012
# # FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE # #
Contact: Charles Knight AKA Mr. Crispy
mrcrispy@mrcrispyentertainment.com
President Proclaims Sword Swallower’s Day
Sword Swallowers celebrate by swallowing together at Ripley’s Believe It or Not locations worldwide!
MUNCIE, IN (SSAI) – On February 25th, Sword Swallowers around the world will celebrate World Sword Swallower’s Day by doing what they do best — Swallowing swords!
Sword Swallowers Association International (SSAI) President Dan Meyer announced the 6th annual World Sword Swallower’s Day to raise awareness of sword swallowers around the world. Founded by SSAI and co-sponsored by Ripley’s Believe It or Not, World Sword Swallower’s Day is set for February 25th in conjunction with February as National Swallowing Disorders Month.
In celebration of World Sword Swallower’s Day, more than20 sword swallowers are expected to “drop swords” at Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditoriums worldwide on Saturday, February 25th at 2:25pm.
“We sword swallowers have been risking our lives to perform sword swallowing for over 4000 years,” explains Meyer. “But many people either don’t believe it’s real, or they think the art has died out.”
“We established World Sword Swallower’s Day to promote this ancient art still carried on by a few dozen surviving practitioners, to raise awareness of the medical contributions sword swallowers have made in the fields of medicine and science, to honor veteran performers, and to raise funds for esophageal cancer research and the Injured Sword Swallower’s Relief Fund.” Meyer explains. “Most of all, we do it to correct myths and educate the public and medical professionals by doing demonstrations for the public and media around the world.”
“Many of us have been performing for years, and we love our work,” explains Meyer, a multiple Ripley’s Believe It or Not and Guinness World Record holder who performs around the world. “World Sword Swallower’s Day is a great opportunity for us to show the public what we really do!”
“Most people don’t realize the contributions sword swallowers have made to medical science over the past 150 years.” Meyer explains. In 1868, a sword swallower was used by Dr. Adolf Kussmaul in Freiburg Germany to develop the first rigid endoscopy. In 1906 a sword swallower underwent the first esophageal electrocardiogram in Wales. Other sword swallowers have been prodded and examined by doctors and medical institutes without recognition over the past 150 years. “We want to change all that. That’s why we observe World Sword Swallower’s Day.” Meyer explains.
In 2006, the British Medical Journal published the first international medical study of the art entitled “Sword Swallowing and its side effects”. Co-authored by Meyer and Dr. Brian Witcombe, the two-year research study was historic as being the first serious medical research in the 4000 year history of sword swallowing. The study won its authors the 2007 Ig Nobel Prize in Medicine at Harvard University.
Why is Ripley co-sponsoring it? “Because it’s great entertainment!” said Tim O’Brien, VP of Communications for Ripley Entertainment Inc. “Sword swallowers and Ripley go way back to the very first Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditorium set up at the Chicago World’s Fair in 1933. There, three performers, two of whom were ladies, mesmerized the huge crowds. Ripley’s has been home to sword swallowers around the world ever since.”
On February 25th, sword swallowers will perform around the world at Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditoriums including London, New York City, Hollywood, Orlando, St. Augustine, Panama City, Branson, MO, and Gatlinburg, TN. “Most of us usually perform alone,” Meyer says. “World Sword Swallower’s Day gives us all a chance to work together to be part of something bigger.”
Tulsan Charles Knight, known to fans as Mr. Crispy, will load up his circus family to entertain patrons at Branson’s Ripley’s Believe it or not for an afternoon of laughs and wonders culminating in exhibition of sword swallowing including his signature modern light sword. Joining Mr. Crispy will be Tulsa’s favorite Anti-Folk singer Acoustic Ross and the newest member of the carnival, alternative model Vanessa Von Thun.
“It’s a huge honor for us to carry on the tradition of sword swallowers who have performed at Ripley’s Believe It or Not! museums over the years.” Meyer explains. “In light of this, SSAI is extending an open invitation to all sword swallowers around the world to contact us and join us in swallowing swords at Ripley’s Believe It or Not museums and other locations on the 25th!” Performances are scheduled to take place on 2/25/12 at 2:25:12 pm local time.
AboutSword Swallowing
The art of sword swallowing began over 4000 years ago in India, and requires the practitioner to use mind-over-matter techniques to control the body and repress natural reflexes to insert solid steel blades from 15 to 25 inches down the esophagus and into the stomach. With the demise of the circus sideshow over the past 50 years, there are less than a few dozen full-time
professional sword swallowers actively performing around the world today.
AboutThe Crispy Family Carnival
Founded in 2002, the Crispy Family Carnival is currently in its tenth year of providing jaw dropping family entertainment. The Crispy Family Carnival is an authentic troupe of Sideshow performers preserving those traditional acts that were kicked out of the American circus during the era of political correctness. The difference between a magician and a sideshow performer is that a magician relies on tricks while a Sideshow performer relies on his or her own strength, endurance, and downright insanity to perform body bending acts, guaranteed to shock and enliven. Their lighthearted approach to the macabre has made audiences across the nation gasp with horror and squeal with delight.
About theSword Swallowers AssociationInternational
The SwordSwallowers Association International, founded in 2001 to preserve the art of sword swallowing, is comprised of sword swallowers from around the world, and maintains a site with general information on sword swallowing for the general public at www.swordswallow.com.
AboutRipley Entertainment
Ripley Entertainment Inc. (www.ripleys.com), keepers of the venerable Ripley’s Believe It or Not! brand, is a global leader in location-based entertainment, entertaining more than 13 million annually at its 80-plus attractions in 11 countries. In addition to its 32 Believe It or Not! Odditoriums, the Orlando based company has publishing, licensing and broadcast divisions, best-selling books and the popular syndicated cartoon strip, Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, that runs daily in 42 countries. Ripley Entertainment is a Jim Pattison Company, the third-largest privately held company in Canada.
LOCAL SWORD SWALLOWERS AVAILABLE for interviews, comments, and medical demonstrations. To schedule a sword swallower for events in your area on February 25, or for more information on WorldSwordSwallower’sDay, please contact us.
# # # END # # #
MediaContacts:
Charles Knight
(918) 446-0019 – Office
(918) 587-5702 – Cell
www.crispyfamily.com
www.mrcrispyentertainment.com
Sword Swallowers Association Int‘l
Halfdan@aol.com www.swordswallow.org(SSAI)
www.swordswallow.com (General Info)
Tim O’Brien
VP Communications
Ripley Entertainment Inc.
obrien@ripleys.com
Posted in Press Releases | Tagged aka mr, ancient art, cancer research, cele, charles knight, demonstrations, guinness world, immediate release, medical professionals, myths, owers, ripley s believe it or not, ssai, swallowing disorders, swallowing swords, sword swallower, sword swallowers, tions, veteran performers, world sword | Leave a reply
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By Shane Stokes May 31, 2010 9:10pm
Updated: May 31, 2010 10:14pm
UCI welcomes Valverde decision, says justice has been done
McQuaid wants to look forward, not back
UCI President Pat McQuaid
(Gregor Brown)
Four years after vowing that the riders involved in Operación Puerto would be brought to justice, UCI president Pat McQuaid has finally seen Alejandro Valverde incur a worldwide ban for doping.
Valverde suspended for two years world-wide, keeps results
Valverde to fight suspension
Gutiérrez responds to Valverde ban
Delgado on the defensive over Valverde
UCI denies reports of Valverde deal
Future looks bleak for Caisse d'Epargne
On Monday, the Spaniard was deemed guilty of a doping offence by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and was handed a two year suspension.
McQuaid has long stated that he believes Valverde was indeed linked to the controversial doctor Eufemiano Fuentes and now, after many efforts to push the case forward, he has got the result that he felt is right.
"We are pleased it is over and done with," McQuaid told Cyclingnews this evening. "We have always felt that he was involved in Puerto and CAS has now shown that to be correct. We are pleased this is behind us. The guy has used and abused the system for the past four years and were glad now that CAS has defended both the UCI and WADA's position on this."
However, while celebrating this victory, McQuaid indicated that he wanted to move on from the subject which has plagued the UCI since 2007.
"Let's move forward. As president of the UCI, I prefer to look forward to the cycling of today and the cycling of tomorrow, rather than the cycling of yesterday and years gone by. And that includes Floyd Landis and what have you."
The CAS ruling determined that while Valverde was involved in doping prior to the Operación Puerto raids in May 2006, that there was no evidence that he has doped in the years since. As a result of that, it rejected the push by WADA and the UCI to have all his results since Puerto crossed off.
Valverde will lose some prize money and points, but these will only pertain to races held this year.
Cyclingnews asked McQuaid if he could understand the reasoning behind that aspect of the CAS decision.
"I can see the logic of it," he conceded. "He rode those races, he was tested many times. He was in the bio passport and there are no indications that he had been doping over the past couple of years.
"He was certainly involved in Puerto and that has come back to haunt him. That is a message for any cyclist today - if he decides to get involved in a doping programme, that it may eventually come back to haunt him. There is no statute of limitations in relation to that, so it is a good lesson from that point of view.
"This is something that Valverde got involved with before 2006 and has now eventually caught up with him. From the point of view of natural justice, that is a good thing."
CAS bans Spaniard until January 1, 2012
Caisse d'Epargne team calls Spaniard's behaviour "irreproachable"
Countryman defends Caisse d'Epargne teammate
Former Tour champion laments decision to ban countryman
Ban for doping confirmed until December 2011
No new sponsor found for 2011
Alejandro Valverde Belmonte
Caisse d'Epargne
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Al Qaeda Accused of Using Male Rape to Recruit Suicide Bombers
By Carol Forsloff Jul 1, 2009 in World
According to Algerian militant Abu Bacir El Assimi, Islamic terrorists rape young men as a means of recruitment for suicide bombings. Rape creates a social stigma and fear, according to reports, that leave Muslims prepared to die.
The Sun quotes Algerian militant Abu Baçir El Assimi as saying,
"The sexual act on young recruits aged between 16 to 19 was a means to urge them to commit suicide operations."
Both rape and homosexual acts under Sharia law are punishable by death.
News sources say an autopsy revealed a suspected terrorist bomber killed during an attempted terrorist attack on a security installation in Algeria may have been raped. The report presents the autopsy as finding: "a large tear in the anus of the terrorist, which confirms the sexual abuse. In addition, semen analysis is underway to determine the perpetrator.” The victim of the alleged abuse was 22 years old who was said to have joined a terrorist group in March 2008.
If reports are true about sexual coercion of males or male rape being used to recruit young men to die in acts of terrorism, the concerns about how men are treated after male rape indicate the level of shame and indignities suffered. It was reported in Dubai in 2007 a very young French boy, Alex, age 15, who was kidnapped and sexually assaulted.
The victim immediately reported the crime, but reports say the police doctor “seemed" intent on proving there was no rape, just a consensual sexual act between three men and a 15 year-old gay boy. "
The report goes on to say "Homosexuality is against the law in the UAE, where anyone found guilty of sodomy faces years in jail.... the French consul, was so worried a case was being built against Alex as an illegal homosexual he advised the boy and his mother to flee Dubai before he was arrested. " In this case someone claiming male rape was threatened with punishment, showing how harsh rape victims are treated.
USC University Professor Stanley Harris MD writes in his treatise Military Male Rape, Homophobia, and Gay History that “during the past 3500 years, the traumatic rape of Judaeo-Christian military men by their enemies may have contributed to the development of cultural homophobia.” Rape, according to this author, was done as a way of punishment, torture, coercion and a host of indignities that brought about an abhorrence and fear of homosexuality. So not only Islam has had strong aversion to homosexuality and has perpetrated violence against gays, according to Harris.
Not all leaders and their followers of Islam believe homosexuality should be treated negatively. Imam Muhsin Hendricks maintains contemporary Muslim scholars should revisit the Quran and the teachings and laws of Islam and examine the context in which the texts were written, He declares the “prophet Muhammad never dealt with homosexuality in a direct way. Neither did he call for the punishment or persecution of homosexuals.”
Male rape, which in Dubai has been treated only as homosexuality and not accorded the fact it can be non consensual, remains a topic seldom discussed in either the Islamic or Western world to the same extent female rape is reviewed in the news. One reporter/professor examines the phenomenon in the United States, underlining the statistics of male rape to be 3% according to crime reports and yet the belief among many is male rape occurs predominantly among homosexuals. For that reason it often goes unreported or unpunished.
Male terrorists drafted into suicide bombing by rape reveals the fear some feel about homosexuality and male rape, according to the Sun article. Education and reason, in both Islamic and the Judaeo-Christian communities, as Harris and Hendricks underline, may make a difference in how people view male rape and homosexuality. In that way terrorists could lose rape as an effective weapon against young men in recruitment, if indeed that’s what they do.
More about Homosexuality, Rape, Terrorists
More news from Show all 7
homosexuality rape terrorists
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Home Business PPC to securitise 1.5 bln in arrears to raise 300 mln in extra liquidity
PPC to securitise 1.5 bln in arrears to raise 300 mln in extra liquidity
Posted about 2 months ago | 0 comment
The Public Power Corporation (PPC), Greece’s main electricity utility, intends to immediately proceed with the securitisation of arrears amounting to 1.5 billion euros in order to generate more than 300 million euros in liquidity and better manage debts to the company.
PPC Chairman and CEO Manolis Panagiotakis, speaking on Monday, said that the company intends to set up two special-purpose-vehicle (SPV) companies for this purpose, to which it will transfer two categories of arrears based on the length of the delay in payment, with the first getting debts up to 60 days in arrears and the second those that are more than 90 days in arrears.
According to PPC executives, these debts will act as the basis for the issue of a bonds (possibly of three-year duration) from which PPC hopes to raise between 20-25 pct of the estimated value of the arrears, which in this case will exceed 300 million euros.
The plan also provides for active management of the arrears portfolio with the hiring of a consultant that will undertake to collect the debts. The PPC has already taken steps in this direction by hiring the company Qualco to implement solutions for improving revenue collection.
According to sources, the sums from the collection of arrears will be used to cover the interest and the principal on the bonds. Alternatively, to the degree that some arrears are collected, a solution may be adopted where some of the arrears that are not included in the initial phases are transferred to the SPVs.
The amount of arrears owed to PPC in 2018 was 2.433 billion euros, down from 2.536 billion euros in 2017, according to a briefing given by PPC staff to analysts during a presentation of the previous year’s results. A reduction of 250 million euros came from the collection of debts from active clients while arrears owed by former clients (companies that have ceased operating, holiday homes where the power has been cut and consumers that have transferred to other suppliers) increased by 157 million euros.
Talking to the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (ANA) on Monday, Panagiotakis said that action to reduce arrears was among those planned to boost PPC’s liquidity and return to profitability in the current year. Others include the abolition of costs for covering the deficit of the special account for renewable energy sources, reducing the amount of PPC’s lignite-coal and hydroelectric production that is sold through auctions and revenue from the sale of lignite-coal plants at Megalopolis and Florina.
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The Brevet – Be Your Man
Southern California quartet The Brevet will be releasing their second EP following their debut full-length album, Battle of the Heart, in 2013. That first album earned the band some well-deserved success and recognition – including several TV and film soundtrack placements – and have been working on it’s follow-up, American Novel, in the interim.
First came the release of the EP, American Novel: Ch. 1, in 2014, to be followed later this summer by Embers: Ch. 2 – due out August 5th – the first track, “Be Your Man”, you can listen to below.
The new song fits firmly with The Brevet’s Americana roots, which are only amplified by the crowd-sourced material for the accompanying video. In it you get a glimpse of the energy and personalities of frontman Aric Chase Damm and the rest of his bandmates on stage as well as their interaction with the audience.
All of “Be Your Man” video was either shot by us or by fans during our most recent run of the east coast.. It’s really cool to have these clips of the song come in. Hopefully it says we have some great people and fans in our life! – Aric Chase Damm, Lead Vocals/Guitar
The song’s elegant vocals mix perfectly with the combination of acoustic and electric instruments. Check it out, and the band’s upcoming tour dates, below.
Upcoming Tour Dates:
July 22 – Fullerton, CA @ Slidebar
August 13 – Bethlehem, PA @ Musikfest 2016
August 20 – Torrey, UT @ Goosenecks
Emo At Heart
3 years ago in Music / Videos by Emo At Heart
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England Euro 2016 Betting
Posted on Tuesday, June 7th, 2016 at 10.18.
The strength of England’s squad would suggest that they have the ability to go a long way in the competition, and although the standard of football hasn’t been spectacular, their recent form has been impressive. Roy Hodgson has seen his side win 17 of their last 21 games, losing only two, including victories over both Germany and France, the two favourites heading into the Championship. England also won all ten of their qualifying games, the only team to achieve such a feat, whilst scoring 31 goals and conceding just three in the process.
The Three Lions won all three of their tournament build-up friendlies, earning victories over Turkey, Australia and Portugal. All three performances showed signs of promise, however England lacked a real cutting edge and Hodgson’s best formation is still unclear.
Likely team to face Russia on June 11:
Hart, Walker, Smalling, Cahill, Rose, Dier, Henderson, Lallana, Rooney, Alli, Kane
With Russia, Wales and Slovakia making up the rest of Group B, England should easily make it through to the first knockout round, hopefully as group winners. Topping the group would mean England would most likely face a team who qualified as one of the best third-placed finishers, but with a potential quarter final meeting with Portugal or Italy, England will struggle to make it to the last four.
Back England to be eliminated at the quarter final stage at 9/4.
Top Goalscorer: Harry Kane 15/8
After yet another superb season at Tottenham, Harry Kane heads into the Euros as England’s first choice centre forward. He scored 28 goals in all competitions for Spurs, and currently has five goals in 12 appearances for England. After the decision to play two strikers against Portugal didn’t pay off, Hodgson may well revert back to his original formation of 4-2-3-1, with Harry Kane starting as the lone striker.
Despite coming in a friendly, Harry Kane’s fine solo goal against Germany back in March proved that the 22-year-old has the composure and talent to outplay even the strongest of opposition, and England will require his precise finishing to give them a good chance of progressing in the competition.
You can back Harry Kane to be England’s top goalscorer at the Euros at 15/8.
Group B: Winners 5/6
England will feature in one of the easier groups at the tournament in France where they face Russia, Wales and Slovakia. Given the local rivalry between England and Wales that should naturally be their toughest game, however England have won their last four matches against the Welsh, and I’m backing England to win the game.
Back England to beat Wales at 8/13.
England have won their previous three meetings with Slovakia, scoring eight goals and conceding only two in the process. This game falls as their final group match, and although qualification may well have already been confirmed, England should ease to victory.
Back England to beat Slovakia at 13/20.
England’s toughest test will be against Russia in their opening game of the competition on June 11. The Russians have scored in their last nine international fixtures, and their 2-1 win over England back in 2007 was partly responsible for England’s failure to reach the finals in 2008. Roy Hodgson’s men will be wary of the threat Russia pose, and I’m backing England to draw their opening game.
Back England to draw with Russia at 23/10.
Betting on the Euros will be exciting for those who are used to having to settle for playing pokies at Pokies Paradise during the Summer whilst the football season is on a break. This year however there is no need to settle for pokies as there is plenty of elite football action to enjoy.
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ESO — Reaching New Heights in Astronomy
Science Users Information > Publications > The Messenger
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Messenger No. 172 (June 2018)
« Back to The Messenger home
Telescopes and Instrumentation
2-7 (PDF)
M. Romaniello et al.
Enhanced Data Discovery Services for the ESO Science Archive
10.18727/0722-6691/5073
ADS BibCode:
2018Msngr.172....2R
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Romaniello, M.; Zampieri, S.; Delmotte, N.; Forchì, V.; Hainaut, O.; Micol, A.; Retzlaff, J.; Vera, I.; Fourniol, N.; Khan, M.A.; Lange, U.; Sisodia, D.; Stellert, M.; Stoehr, F.; Arnaboldi, M.; Spiniello, C.; Mascetti, L.; Sterzik, M.F.
AA(ESO) AB(ESO) AC(ESO) AD(ESO) AE(ESO) AF(ESO) AG(ESO) AH(ESO) AI(ESO) AJ(ESO) AK(ESO) AL(Pactum Limited, London, UK) AM(TEKOM Industrielle Systemtechnik GmbH, Gautin, Germany) AN(ESO) AO(ESO) AP(ESO; INAF–Osservatorio Astronomico di Capodimonte, Naples, Italy) AQ(Terma GmbH, Darmstadt, Germany) AR(ESO)
The archive of the La Silla Paranal Observatory is a powerful scientific resource for the ESO astronomical community. It stores both the raw data generated by all ESO instruments and selected processed data. We present new capabilities and user services that have recently been developed in order to enhance data discovery and usage in the face of the increasing volume and complexity of the archive holdings. Future plans to extend the new services to processed data from the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) are also discussed.
Arnaboldi, M. & Retzlaff, J. 2011, The Messenger, 146, 45; Arnaboldi, M. et al. 2014, The Messenger, 156, 24; Boch, T. & Fernique, P. 2014, ADASS XII, ed. Manset, N. & Forshay, P., ASP Conf. Series, 485, 277; Bonnarel, F. et al. 2000, A&AS, 143, 33; Dowler, P., Rixon, G. & Tody, D. 2010, IVOA Recommendation; Dowler, P. et al. 2015, IVOA Recommendation Louys, M. et al. 2017, IVOA Recommendation; Pirenne, B. et al. 1998, The Messenger, 93, 20; Romaniello, M. et al. 2016, The Messenger, 163, 5; Stoehr, F. et al. 2017, The Messenger, 167, 2; Tody, D. et al. 2012, IVOA Recommendation
8-12 (PDF)
B. Leibundgut et al.
HAWK-I/GRAAL Science Verification
2018Msngr.172....8L
Leibundgut, B.; Hibon, P.; Kuntschner, H.; Opitom, C.; Paufique, J.; Petr-Gotzens, M.; Siebenmorgen, R.; Valenti, E.; Zanella, A.
AA(ESO) AB(ESO) AC(ESO) AD(ESO) AE(ESO) AF(ESO) AG(ESO) AH(ESO) AI(ESO)
Science Verification observations with the High Acuity Wide field K-band Imager (HAWK-I) instrument enhanced by the ground-layer adaptive optics module (GRAAL) were obtained during 4.5 nights from 2 to 6 January 2018. Fourteen projects were selected from a total of 19 submitted proposals. The total time scheduled for these 14 projects was 35.5 hours, which represents a slight oversubscription for the four allocated summer nights. The seven top- ranked projects were completed, three more programmes received some data, one was observed outside the requested constraints, and three projects were not started. The Science Verification nights were affected by various technical problems, mostly unrelated to GRAAL, which resulted in a total loss of 10 hours. Half a night was allocated on 6 January to compensate for some of the lost time. The atmospheric conditions were rather variable with occasionally excellent natural seeing (0.3 arcseconds). The ground layer turbulence fraction varied from 40% to 85% during these nights. The best performance in terms of improved image quality was observed when the ground layer fraction was above 70%, as expected for the system. The image quality in the K filter ranged between 0.2 arcseconds (in excellent conditions) to about 0.5 arcseconds (with mediocre seeing, > 0.8 arcseconds), and a small fraction of ground-layer turbulence. The delivered image quality was very stable, but in some cases an asymmetric point spread function was observed.
Berton, M. et al. 2018, The Astronomer’s Telegram, 11160; Cioni, M.-R. et al. 2011, A&A, 527, A116; Dalessandro, E. et al. 2018, MNRAS, 474, 2277; Fukui, Y. et al. 2016, ApJ, 820, 26; Husemann, B. et al. 2018, A&A, accepted, arXiv:1805.09845; Kankare, E. et al. 2018, The Astronomer’s Telegram, 11156; Mucciarelli, A. et al. 2012, ApJL, 746, 19; Muzic, K. et al. 2017, MNRAS, 471, 3699
Astronomical Science
14-17 (PDF)
Z. Zhang et al.
ALMA Constrains the Stellar Initial Mass Function of Dusty Starburst Galaxies
2018Msngr.172...14Z
Zhang, Z.-Y.; Romano, D.; Ivison, R.J.; Papadopoulos, P.P.; Matteucci, F.
AA(Institute for Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Royal Observatory Edinburgh, UK; ESO) AB(INAF–Osservatorio di Astrofisica e Scienza dello Spazio di Bologna, Italy) AC(ESO; Institute for Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Royal Observatory Edinburgh, UK) AD(Department of Physics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece; Research Center for Astronomy, Academy of Athens, Greece) AE(Department of Physics, University of Trieste, Italy; INAF–Osservatorio Astronomico di Trieste, Italy; INFN, Sezione di Trieste, Italy)
The stellar initial mass function (IMF) is fundamental to all measurements of cosmic star formation, which involves an extrapolation from rare, massive stars (M∗ > 8 M⊙) to the full stellar mass spectrum. Classical determinations of a galaxy’s IMF are limited to ultraviolet, optical and near-infrared wavelengths, and these cannot be adopted for dust- obscured galaxies with intense, ongoing star formation, even in the local Universe. The unprecedented sensi- tivity of the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) allows us to detect weak emission from 13CO and C18O isotopologues, which offer a sensitive, relatively dust-free, probe of the IMF. Globally low 13CO/C18O ratios for all our targets — dusty starburst galaxies at redshifts ~ 2–3 — alongside a detailed chemical evolution model imply that stars formed in extreme starburst environments are significantly biased towards massive stars compared to ordinary star-forming spiral galaxies. We have combined information from the coldest interstellar medium (at tens of Kelvins) with the physics of nucleosynthesis in hot stars (at tens of millions of Kelvins), to delineate the formation and evolution of galaxies. This opens up a new window to probe the stellar IMF of galaxies with ALMA and it challenges our understanding of fundamental parameters governing galaxy formation and evolution, such as star formation rates, and the timescales for gas depletion and dust formation.
Ballero, S. K. et al. 2007, A&A, 467, 123; Bastian, N., Covey, K. R. & Meyer, M. R. 2010, ARA&A, 48, 339; Chiappini, C. et al. 2008, A&A, 479, L9; Danielson, A. L. R. et al. 2013, MNRAS, 436, 2793; Henkel, C. et al. 2014, A&A, 565, A3; Ivison, R. J. et al. 1998, MNRAS, 298, 583; Jiménez-Donaire, M. J. et al. 2017, ApJL, 836, L29; Kobayashi, C., Karakas, A. I. & Umeda, H. 2011, MNRAS, 414, 3231; Kroupa, P. 2001, MNRAS, 322, 231; Matteucci, F. 1994, A&A, 288, 57; Renzini, A. & Voli, M. 1981, A&A, 94, 175; Romano, D. et al. 2017, MNRAS, 470, 401; Salpeter, E. E. 1955, ApJ, 121, 161; Sliwa, K. et al. 2017, ApJL, 840, L11; Timmes, F. X., Woosley, S. E. & Weaver, T. A. 1995, ApJS, 98, 617; Tinsley, B. M. 1980, Fundamentals of Cosmic Physics, 5, 287; Zhang, Z.-Y. et al. 2018, Nature, DOI: 10.1038/s41586- 018-0196-x
F.R. Ferraro et al.
MIKiS: the ESO-VLT Multi-Instrument Kinematic Survey of Galactic Globular Clusters
2018Msngr.172...18F
Ferraro, F.R.; Mucciarelli, A.; Lanzoni, B.; Pallanca, C.; Origlia, L.; Lapenna, E.; Dalessandro, E.; Valenti, E.; Beccari, G.; Bellazzini, M.; Vesperini, E.; Varri, A.L.; Sollima, A.
AA(Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia, Università degli Studi di Bologna, Italy; INAF–Osservatorio di Astrofisica e Scienza dello Spazio di Bologna, Italy) AB(Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia, Università degli Studi di Bologna, Italy; INAF–Osservatorio di Astrofisica e Scienza dello Spazio di Bologna, Italy) AC(Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia, Università degli Studi di Bologna, Italy; INAF–Osservatorio di Astrofisica e Scienza dello Spazio di Bologna, Italy) AD(Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia, Università degli Studi di Bologna, Italy; INAF–Osservatorio di Astrofisica e Scienza dello Spazio di Bologna, Italy) AE(INAF–Osservatorio di Astrofisica e Scienza dello Spazio di Bologna, Italy) AF(Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia, Università degli Studi di Bologna, Italy; INAF–Osservatorio di Astrofisica e Scienza dello Spazio di Bologna, Italy) AG(INAF–Osservatorio di Astrofisica e Scienza dello Spazio di Bologna, Italy) AH(ESO) AI(ESO) AJ(INAF–Osservatorio di Astrofisica e Scienza dello Spazio di Bologna, Italy) AK(Department of Astronomy, Indiana University, Bloomington, USA) AL(Institute for Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Royal Observatory, UK) AM(INAF–Osservatorio di Astrofisica e Scienza dello Spazio di Bologna, Italy)
Globular clusters are collisional systems, where stars of different masses orbit and mutually interact. They are the best “natural laboratories” in the Universe for studying multi-body dynamics and their (reciprocal) effects on stellar evolution. Although these objects have been studied since the very beginning of modern astrophysics, little is known observationally about their internal kinematics, thus preventing a complete understanding of their dynamical state, and of their formation and evolutionary history. We present the first results from the Very Large Telescope (VLT) Multi- Instrument Kinematic Survey of Galactic globular clusters (MIKiS), which is specifically designed to provide line-of-sight velocities of hundreds of individual stars over the entire radial extension of a selected sample of clusters. The survey allows the first kinematical exploration of the innermost regions of high-density globular clusters. When combined with proper motion measurements, it will provide the full 3D view in velocity-space for each system. Long- running open issues, such as the accurate shapes of the velocity dispersion profiles, the existence of systemic rotation and orbital anisotropy (and thus the level of relaxation), and the controversial presence of intermediate-mass black holes in star clusters can finally be addressed, impacting our understanding of the formation and evolutionary processes of globular clusters and their interactions with the Galactic tidal field.
Bellini, A. et al. 2014, ApJ, 797, 115; Carballo-Bello, J. A. et al. 2012, MNRAS, 419, 14; Carretta, E. et al. 2009, A&A, 505, 117; Chen, C. W. & Chen, W. P. 2010, ApJ, 721, 1790; Dubath, P. et al. 1997, A&A, 324, 505; Ferraro, F. R. et al. 2018, ApJ, 860, 50; Harris, W. E. 1996, AJ, 112, 1487; Kamann, S. et al. 2018, MNRAS, 473, 5591; King, I. R. 1966, AJ, 71, 64; Lane, R. R. et al. 2010, MNRAS, 406, 2732; Lanzoni, B. et al. 2013, ApJ, 769, 107; Lanzoni, B. et al. 2018a, ApJ, in press, arXiv:1804.10509; Lanzoni, B. et al. 2018b, ApJ, submitted Lapenna, E. et al. 2015, ApJ, 798, 23; Lutzgendorf, N. et al. 2011, A&A, 533, A36; Piotto, G. et al. 2015, AJ, 149, 91; Tiongco, M. A. et al. 2016, MNRAS, 461, 402; Tiongco, M. A. et al. 2017, MNRAS, 469, 683; Tiongco, M. A. et al. 2018, MNRAS, 475, L86; Watkins, L. L. et al. 2015, ApJ, 803, 29
C. Paladini et al.
Constraining Convection in Evolved Stars with the VLTI
2018Msngr.172...24P
Paladini, C.; Baron, F.; Jorissen, A.; Le Bouquin, J.-B.; Freytag, B.; Van Eck, S.; Wittkowski, M.; Hron, J.; Chiavassa, A.; Berger, J.-P.; Siopis, C.; Mayer, A.; Sadowski, G.; Kravchenko, K.; Shetye, S.; Kerschbaum, F.; Kluska, J.; Ramstedt, S.
AA(ESO) AB(Department of Physics and Astronomy, Georgia State University, USA) AC(Institut d’Astronomie et d’Astrophysique, Université libre de Bruxelles, Belgium) AD(Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, IPAG, France) AE(Department of Physics and Astronomy, Uppsala University, Sweden) AF(Institut d’Astronomie et d’Astrophysique, Université libre de Bruxelles, Belgium) AG(ESO) AH(Department of Astrophysics, University of Vienna, Austria) AI(Université Côte d’Azur, Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur, CNRS, Lagrange, Nice, France) AJ(Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, IPAG, France) AK(Institut d’Astronomie et d’Astrophysique, Université libre de Bruxelles, Belgium) AL(Department of Astrophysics, University of Vienna, Austria) AM(Institut d’Astronomie et d’Astrophysique, Université libre de Bruxelles, Belgium) AN(Institut d’Astronomie et d’Astrophysique, Université libre de Bruxelles, Belgium) AO(Institut d’Astronomie et d’Astrophysique, Université libre de Bruxelles, Belgium) AP(Department of Astrophysics, University of Vienna, Austria) AQ(Institute of Astronomy, KU Leuven, Belgium) AR(Department of Physics and Astronomy, Uppsala University, Sweden)
We used the Precision Integrated-Optics Near-infrared Imaging ExpeRiment (PIONIER) at the Very Large Telescope Interferometer (VLTI) to image the stellar surface of the S-type Asymptotic Giant Branch (AGB) star π1 Gruis. The angular resolution of two milliarcseconds allowed us to observe the surface of this giant star in unprecedented detail. At the observed wavelength the stellar disc appears circular and dust-free. Moreover, the disc is characterised by a few bubbles of a convective nature. We determine the contrast, and the characteristic horizontal length-scale of the convective granules. The latter is determined, for the first time, directly from the image, without involving the usual geometric modelling that has been used in the literature. The measurements fall along empirical scaling relations between stellar parameters and convective sizes, which are determined on the basis of three-dimensional stellar convection models. Our results open up a new era for the characterisation of stellar convection in stars other than the Sun.
Arroyo-Torres, B. et al. 2015, A&A, 575, A50; Baron, F. et al. 2010, SPIE, 7734, 77342I; Cruzalebes, P. et al. 2015, A&A, 446, 3277; Eisenhauer, F. et al. 2011, The Messenger, 143, 16; Freytag, B. et al. 1997, Science with the VLT Interferometer, in Proceedings of the ESO workshop, (Berlin, New York: Springer), 316; Haubois, X. et al. 2009, A&A, 508, 923; Le Bouquin, J.-B. et al. 2011, A&A, 535, A67; Mayer, A. et al. 2014, A&A, 570, A113; Montarges, M. et al. 2016, A&A, 588, A130; Montarges, M. et al. 2017, A&A, 605, 108; Paladini, C. et al. 2018, Nature, 533, 310; Ragland, S. et al. 2006, ApJ, 652, 650; Schwarzschild, M. 1975, ApJ, 195, 137; Thiébaut, É. 2008, SPIE, 7013, 70131I; Tremblay, P.-E. et al. 2013, A&A, 557, A7; Trampedach, R. et al. 2013, AJ, 769, A18; Van Eck, S. et al. 2017, A&A, 601, A10; Wittkowski, M. et al. 2017, A&A, 601, 3; Young, J. S. et al. 2000, MNRAS, 315, 635; van Belle, G. T. et al. 2013, ApJ, 775, 45
C. Ginski et al.
A Planet with a Disc? A Surprising Detection in Polarised Light with VLT/SPHERE
2018Msngr.172...27G
Ginski, C.; van Holstein, R.; Juhász, A.; Benisty, M.; Schmidt, T.; Chauvin, G.; de Boer, J.; Wilby, M.; Manara, C.F.; Delorme, P.; Ménard, F.; Muro-Arena, G.; Pinilla, P.; Birnstiel, T.; Flock, M.; Keller, C.; Kenworthy, M.; Milli, J.; Olofsson, J.; Pérez, L.; Snik, F.; Vogt, N.
AA(Sterrewacht Leiden, the Netherlands; Anton Pannekoek Institute for Astronomy, University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands) AB(Sterrewacht Leiden, the Netherlands) AC(Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge, UK) AD(Université de Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, IPAG, France; Unidad Mixta Internacional Franco-Chilena de Astronomía, CNRS/INSU UMI 3386 and Departamento de Astronomía, Santiago, Chile) AE(LESIA, Observatoire de Paris, PSL Research University, CNRS, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Université Paris 06, Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, France) AF(Université de Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, IPAG, France; Unidad Mixta Internacional Franco-Chilena de Astronomía, CNRS/INSU UMI 3386 and Departamento de Astronomía, Santiago, Chile) AG(Sterrewacht Leiden, the Netherlands) AH(Sterrewacht Leiden, the Netherlands) AI(ESO) AJ(Université de Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, IPAG, France) AK(Université de Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, IPAG, France) AL(Anton Pannekoek Institute for Astronomy, University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands) AM(Department of Astronomy, Steward Observatory, The University of Arizona, Tucson, USA) AN(University Observatory Munich, Faculty of Physics, Ludwig-Maximilians- University, Munich, Germany) AO(Max-Planck-Institut für Astronomie, Heidelberg, Germany) AP(Sterrewacht Leiden, the Netherlands) AQ(Sterrewacht Leiden, the Netherlands) AR(ESO) AS(Instituto de Física y Astronomía, Universidad de Valparaíso, Chile; Núcleo Milenio Formación Planetaria – NPF, Universidad de Valparaíso, Chile) AT(Departamento de Astronomía, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile) AU(Sterrewacht Leiden, the Netherlands) AV(Instituto de Física y Astronomía, Universidad de Valparaíso, Chile)
With the Spectro-Polarimetric High- contrast Exoplanet REsearch (SPHERE) instrument at ESO’s Very Large Telescope (VLT) we can study the linear polarisation of directly detected planets and brown dwarfs, to learn about their atmospheres and immediate environments. We summarise here the recent discovery of a low-mass companion in polarised light by Ginski et al. (2018). The object shows an extreme degree of polarisation, indicating the presence of a circumplanetary disc.
Bate, M. R. 2012, MNRAS, 419, 3115; Beuzit, J.-L. et al. 2008, SPIE, 7014, 18; Espaillat, C. et al. 2007, ApJ, 664, L111; Ginski, C. et al. 2018, A&A, submitted; Helling, C. et al. 2008, ApJ, 675, L105; van Holstein, R. G. et al. 2017, SPIE, 10400, 15; Lenzen, R. et al. 2003, SPIE, 4841, 944; Stolker, T. et al. 2017, A&A, 607, 42
Astronomical News
B. Leibundgut, F. Patat
Report on the ESO Workshop "Planning ESO Observations of Future Gravitational Wave Events"
2018Msngr.172...33L
Leibundgut, B.; Patat, F.
AA(ESO) AB(ESO)
Understanding the nature and results of black hole and neutron star mergers has become a hot topic in astrophysics. The combination of gravitational wave and electromagnetic observations of GW170817/GRB 170817A has triggered new and exciting science projects. The timeline for observations of gravitational wave events lies between seconds and days, and coordinated observations of electromagnetic radiation are critical when probing the nature of these events. The great success of the observations of GW170817/GRB 170817A from more than 50 observatories has highlighted the importance of coordination between different instruments and facilities. This two-day workshop focused on what has been learned from ESO observations of GW170817/GRB 170817A, and discussed strategies for coordinating observations of future events.
M. Wittkowski, L. Humphreys
Report on the ESO Workshop "Imaging of Stellar Surfaces"
2018Msngr.172...35W
Wittkowski, M.; Humphreys, L.
There have recently been tremendous advances in observational techniques enabling the resolution of the surfaces of stars other than the Sun. Current VLTI instruments, SPHERE on the VLT, and ALMA, as well as other interferometric facilities, have recently succeeded in resolving stellar surfaces. The workshop aimed to bring together observers specialising in different techniques and wavelength regimes, and theoreticians working on stellar atmospheres and stellar structure. We aimed to organise a focused workshop with ample time devoted to the discussion of recent images of stellar surfaces and their extended atmospheres out to a few stellar radii, as well as observational strategies and the relevant underlying physical processes. The workshop was the first to be held in the seminar room of the new ESO Supernova Planetarium & Visitor Centre, and it was also the first workshop for which the new code of conduct for ESO workshops & conferences was in place
Hanbury Brown, R. & Twiss, R. Q. 1956, Nature, 178, 1046; O’Gorman, E. et al. 2017, A&A, 602, L10; Ohnaka, K. et al. 2017, Nature, 548, 310; Paladini, C. et al. 2018, Nature, 553, 310; Roettenbacher, R. et al. 2016, Nature, 533, 217
A. Bianco et al.
Report on the Workshop "Dispersing Elements for Astronomy: New Trends and Possibilities"
2018Msngr.172...40B
Bianco, A.; Bernstein, R.; de Ugarte Postigo, A.; Garzon, F.; Holland, W.; Manescau, A.; Navarro, R.; Riva, M.
AA(INAF–Osservatorio Astronomico di Brera, Merate, Italy) AB(Carnegie Observatories, Pasadena, USA) AC(Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía (IAA-CSIC), Granada, Spain; Dark Cosmology Centre, Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, Denmark) AD(Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias, Tenerife, Spain) AE(UK Astronomy Technology Centre, Royal Observatory, Edinburgh, UK) AF(ESO) AG(NOVA Optical Infrared Instrumentation Group, ASTRON, the Netherlands) AH(INAF–Osservatorio Astronomico di Brera, Merate, Italy)
Astronomical spectrographs play an important role in addressing some of the biggest challenges in modern astronomy. One of the most critical components of any spectrograph is its dispersing element, since it determines the resolution and dispersion of the spectrograph, and is typically one of the least efficient optical components of the instrument. The aim of this workshop was to bring together researchers and engineers involved in the design, development and construction of spectroscopic instrumentation, with companies and institutes that produce dispersing elements and associated optical components. The forum provided the opportunity to discuss the scientific needs of future instruments, and to address the technological challenges that will allow the development of new types of dispersing elements in the coming years.
C. De Breuck et al.
Report on the ESO–Radionet Workshop "Submillimetre Single-dish Data Reduction and Array Combination Techniques"
De Breuck, C.; Teuben, P.; Stanke, T.
AA(ESO) AB(University of Maryland, USA) AC(ESO)
Single-dish submillimetre facilities provide an essential complement to the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) interferometry data, but require a set of special observing techniques and data reduction software that are different from those applied to radio and millimetre facilities. As there has not been a dedicated workshop to inform the ESO user community about these specific aspects, we decided to organise such a workshop, with the generous financial support of Radionet which made the workshop possible.
Pety, J. 2005, SF2A-2005, ed. Casoli, F. et al., EdP-Sciences, Conference Series, 721; Roussel, H. 2013, PASP, 125, 1126; Schuller, F. 2012, SPIE, 8452, 84521T
H.M.J. Boffin, M. Rejkuba
Report on the ESO Workshop "La Silla Paranal Users Workshop"
Boffin, H.M.J.; Rejkuba, M.
In March, ESO organised the La Silla Paranal Users Workshop, providing current and future users of its observatories with an overview of the available instruments, as well as the most commonly used tools and processes at ESO, from proposal submission to data reduction and data archive. One full day of the event was dedicated to hands- on data reduction tutorials and one-to-one sessions between participants and ESO staff to work jointly on the issues brought up by the participants. The workshop attracted about 50 on-site participants as well as a dozen remote attendees, mostly from Australia.
F. Selman et al.
Report on the ESO–NEON Observing School at La Silla Observatory
2018Msngr.172...46S
Selman, F.; Melo, C.; Beccari, G.; Boffin, H.M.J.; Ivanov, V.; Sani, E.; Schmidtobreick, L.; Dennefeld, M.; Korhonen, H.
AA(ESO) AB(ESO) AC(ESO) AD(ESO) AE(ESO) AF(ESO) AG(ESO) AH(Institut d’Astrophysique de Paris (IAP), France) AI(Dark Cosmology Centre, Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, Denmark)
During the two weeks between 19 February and 2 March 2018, the Office for Science at Vitacura and the La Silla Observatory were the hosts of the second ESO/NEON (Network of European Observatories in the North) La Silla Observing School. Thanks to the generous funding from ESO, the Optical Infrared Coordination Network for Astronomy (OPTICON), and the La Silla Observatory, a group of 20 students, consisting of mostly PhD but also some advanced MSc students, from different parts of the world, were guided by five ESO tutors. The students prepared and carried out complex observations, reduced and analysed the data, and finally presented the results to the ESO scientific community at Vitacura. In addition to learning about the observing techniques that were used during the school, the students also attended several lectures covering the current and future capabilities of the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), the telescopes at Paranal, and the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT), as well as talks on what makes a good scientific presentation, time management, effective proposal writing, and career choices.
Dias, B. et al. 2018, arXiv:1803.05124
C. Opitom et al.
Fellows at ESO
2018Msngr.172...50E
Opitom, C.; Harrison, C.; Querejeta, M.
AA(ESO) AB(ESO) AC(ESO)
M. Cullum
Raymond Wilson, 1928–2018
2018Msngr.172...53C
Cullum, M.
AA(ESO)
Personnel Movements
Last Update: 05.04.18 © ESO
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A lost girl's diary: The hidden anguish of Alexandra Valoras
How Jessica Alba Built A $1 Billion Company, And $200 Million Fortune, Selling Parents Peace Of Mind
In Celebrity HealthStyles & Causes
Photo credit:Forbes
What started out as one mother's quest to find non-toxic cleaning products and diapers has turned into a billion dollar business empire. Of course, it probably helped that the mom was a well-known actress, Jessica Alba, who was determined, passionate and fortunate enough to meet the right business partners to back her in this joint venture.
In a Forbes magazine interview with Clare O.Connor, Alba tells how it all began in 2008 with her baby shower. Afterwards, she washed the onesies she received as gifts in baby detergent. When she later broke out in hives, that brought back childhood memories of dealing with allergies and asthma.
Alba says she began researching the ingredients in detergents and other products: “I was like, ‘How can this be safe for babies, if I’m having this type of reaction?'” She didn’t want her baby to be exposed to formaldehyde, flame retardants, petrochemicals and the like.
The Honest Company began with diapers and branched out to a wide variety of consumer products–120 so far– all guaranteed to be free of chemicals and toxins. It went from an on-line business to selling at stores like Buy-Buy Baby, Nordstrom, Whole Foods and even Target.
Alba has gone to Washington DC to lobby for changes in the 1976 Toxic Substance Control Act. Far more substances are banned in Europe than here in the U.S. As Alba is quoted as saying: “Enough people have to get sick or die from a certain ingredient or chemical before it’s pulled from the marketplace.”
The sci-fi TV series Dark Angel may have launched her acting career, but Alba is also now identified with the continuing role shes played in developing Honest Company into a brand synonymous with safety. With the business currewntly valued at 1 billion dollars, that certainly indicates its been well received and reviewed by consumers.
Good for You, Jessica Alba!
Forbes, 5/27/15
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South Carolina pulls away from Paladins
South Carolina scored in six different innings Tuesday, including four times in the eighth, to pull away for a 10-2 win over Furman at Fluor Field. The result makes for a split in the season series as the Paladins won in Columbia earlier this season.
Junior third baseman Jake Crawford, who's been a key member of Furman's bullpen in April, got the start Tuesday. He tossed four solid innings, but the Paladins trailed 2-0 going to the bottom of the fourth.
Ben Anderson became Furman's first baserunner of the night when he led off the fourth with a walk. With one out, Brandon Elmy swung down and golfed a single the opposite way for the Paladins' first hit and Anderson came home to cut the lead to 2-1. Jabari Richards hit a run-scoring double off the Green Monster with two outs to tie the game.
The 25th-ranked Gamecocks (24-17) responded with runs in each of the next four innings. After Furman's Trent Alley retired the first two batters in the top of the fifth, USC had a single, stolen base and double to take the lead for good.
Jonah Bride had four hits and Carlos Cortes had four RBIs to lead the Gamecocks. USC's Carmen Mlodzinski (2-4) gave up two runs on three hits in seven innings for the win. He had three walks and seven strikeouts.
Elmy led Furman with two of the Paladins' five hits.
Furman (19-22) returns to action this weekend with a Southern Conference series at rival The Citadel. The three-game series begins Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.
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Tagged with: Boston
Patriots' Day Recap: Boston Cocktails
I did promise to put up these recipes, didn't I? Well, I'm a man of my word. Enjoy the two most Bostonian of all Boston cocktails!
Ward Eight
2 oz. Rye Whiskey
3/4 oz. Lemon Juice
3/4 oz. Orange Juice
Grenadine to Taste
Shake, strain, and serve up. Garnish with a tiny Massachusetts flag stuck through a maraschino cherry, if you can find such a thing.
1 1/2 oz. Dark Rum
1/2 oz. Orange Liqueur
1/2 oz. Apricot Liqueur
1/2 oz. Lime Juice
Shake, strain, and serve up. Garnish with a lime wheel, a lime wedge, or nothing at all (there's quite a bit of lime in there already).
These drinks are "Bostonian" in very different ways - though both, in my view, have a better claim to that title than the I-guess-technically-it-counts Boston Sour, Boston Sidecar, and so on. I've not been able to find any information on the pedigree of those old drinks to bear out the choice of namesake. These two, on the other hand...
The Ward Eight has been around for more than a hundred years, and was probably invented at Locke-Ober. There is some disagreement on whether or not to include the orange juice, and on whether or not to add seltzer on top. There is some speculation that its alleged date of invention was too early for grenadine to have been readily available; there is counter-speculation that the scarcity of the signature ingredient was precisely what made the drink so special when it was first concocted. There is the awkward fact that the man in whose honor the cocktail was invented, and after whose ward it was named, tried and failed to get people to call it something else for years afterwards.
In short, there is a lot of mystery surrounding this drink. But that's as it should be. Old drinks, if they're good, tend to acquire myths. If you're interested in a deeper dive into the history, I highly recommend Stephanie Schorrow's (extensive) treatment in Drinking Boston.
For our purposes, what matters most is that the Ward Eight has stood unchallenged as Boston's emissary to the cocktail-drinkers of the world for something on the order of a century. It's definitely ours, and it's what we're best known for. My preferred recipe matches this one from David Wondrich, but particularly in light of the drink's muddled history, you should feel quite free to play around with the proportions.
As for the Periodista, its history is in many ways quite the opposite. It's a young recipe, celebrating its twenty-first birthday this year (presumably by ordering a few rounds of itself). We know that it was invented at Chez Henri in Cambridge. It's a local drink, ubiquitous in greater Boston but unknown to the rest of the world. Our delicious little secret.
There's a lot more to the story, but I won't spoil the fun here. Devin Hahn, the man who first figured out where this drink came from, has written a gorgeous narrative of his journey to the truth in twenty-three parts. You can binge your way through it in an hour or two; if you're even slightly considering that, I promise you it's worth it. The story begins here.
My sincerest thanks to everyone who came to the Patriots' Day party for an in-person lesson on these drinks! Stay tuned for more announcements of public events! (And one other major announcement coming soon - mysterious, eh?)
Written by Brian On May 9, 2016 In Past Events Tagged Rum (Dark), Cointreau, Apricot Liqueur, Whiskey (Rye), Boston, History
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Yavne
Aviva Bouchenino
During December 2001 and January 2002 a salvage excavation was conducted northwest of Tel Yavne (Permit No. A-3561*; map ref. NIG 17611–20/64185–96; OIG 12611–20/14185–96) after L. Zak discerned ancient remains during the paving of Independence Boulevard. The excavation, on behalf of the Antiquities Authority and funded by the municipality of Yavne, was directed by A. Bouchenino, with the assistance of I. Rahamim (administration), A. Hajian (surveying and drafting), T. Sagiv (photography), M. Shuiskaya-Arnov (pottery drawing) and N. Zak (drafting and plans). M. Avissar extended valuable assistance in dating the pottery.
Five squares were opened (A–E; Figs. 1, 2).
Square E was the northernmost square, revealing sections of two perpendicular walls that formed two rooms, close to surface. The north–south wall (W1; width 0.5 m) extended over a distance of c. 4.5 m and the east–west wall (W2; width 0.6 m)––over a distance of c. 1.5 m. Both walls, built of different-sized fieldstones, with no bonding material, were preserved a single course high (0.15 m).
Square D. A cist tomb (T1; length c. 2 m, width c. 0.7 m; Fig. 3), built entirely of dressed kurkar slabs and completely preserved, was found. The east–west oriented tomb was dug into hamra soil that yielded Byzantine-period pottery, including fragments of bowls (Fig. 4:1), cooking pots (Fig. 4:2), mortaria (Fig. 4:3), pithoi (Fig. 4:4), ribbed jars (Fig. 4:5) and jugs (Fig. 4:8). The tomb, which was not opened in the excavation, seems to postdate this period; its direction and shape indicate that it was perhaps part of a modern Muslim cemetery.
Square C. A wall (W3; width 0.50 m, preserved height 0.15 m) oriented east–west was exposed just below surface for a length of 2.75 m. Its method of construction and state of preservation were similar to the wall segments in Square E. The three wall segments should probably be ascribed to the buildings of the Arab village Yibna that existed until 1948.
An unguentarium dating to the Early Roman period (Fig. 4:9) was discovered in the debris of Square C.
Square B. Remains of another tomb, which included the northwestern corner and a section of a cist tomb’s bottom (T2) that was mostly destroyed, were exposed. The tomb was built of kurkar slabs. This tomb may have belonged to the cemetery from the Late Bronze Age and Iron Age II that was partially excavated by R. Kletter (HA-ESI 116: 45*–46*).
Square A. A refuse pit dating to the Byzantine period, which contained numerous fragments of baggy-shaped jars and ‘Gaza’ jars (Fig. 4:6, 7), as well as several cooking pots and bowls, was found. These finds, along with a bottle from the Roman period and perhaps the cist tomb in Square D, indicate that part of the Arab village at Yibna also extended on top of the cemetery and refuse pits from the Byzantine period to the foot of the tell.
1. Location map.
3. Square D, cist tomb (T1), looking southwest.
4. Pottery.
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Advance in CAR T-cell therapy eliminates severe side effects
in: Cancer,DNA,Medical Breakthrough,Science & Technology News
Scanning electron micrograph of a human T lymphocyte (also called a T cell) from the immune system of a healthy donor. Credit: NIAID
An advance in the breakthrough cancer treatment known as CAR T-cell therapy appears to eliminate its severe side effects, making the treatment safer and potentially available in outpatient settings, a new USC study shows.
“This is a major improvement,” said Si-Yi Chen of the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, professor in the Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, and senior author of the study appearing online April 22 in Nature Medicine. “We’ve made a new CAR molecule that’s just as efficient at killing cancer cells, but it works more slowly and with less toxicity.”
This improved version of CAR T therapy produced no serious side effects in 25 patients who had lymphoma that recurred after previous treatments. Although the study was designed to look at safety, not effectiveness, six out of 11 participants receiving a commonly used dose went into complete remission.
CAR T therapy involves harvesting immune cells called T cells from a patient’s blood and then modifying them in the lab to produce special structures called chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) on their surface. The altered T cells are reinfused into the patient, where the cells’ new receptors enable them to recognize and latch onto cancer cells, killing them.
Approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration less than two years ago, CAR T is a literal lifesaver for some people with leukemia and lymphoma, bringing lasting remissions to those on the brink of death. The downside is that the treatment often causes severe side effects—some of them life-threatening—which must be managed by experienced specialists.
These side effects occur when CAR T cells rapidly proliferate and release a flood of substances called cytokines. Severe cytokine release syndrome can lead to life-threatening multi-organ damage and brain swelling. In this revised version, researchers tweaked the sequence and shape of the CAR molecules. As a result, the CAR T cells kill cancer cells but produce fewer cytokines and proliferate more slowly, giving the patient’s body more time to clear cytokines in the blood.
“The improved CAR T cells proliferated and differentiated into memory cells in the patients, thus producing a potent and long-lasting anti-tumor effect without causing toxicities,” Chen said. “Toxicities are currently the biggest barrier to the use of CAR T-cell therapy. My hope is that this safer version of CAR T cell therapy could someday be administered to patients in outpatient settings.”
Chen’s next step is to perform a multicenter phase II to test safety and effectiveness in a larger group of patients.
Via MedicalExpress.com
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Ma’Ayn Johnson, Expert in Public Service & Community
March 6, 2015 June 29, 2018 ilf@ileader.org 0 Comments
2004 ILF Fellow Ma’Ayn Johnson is a senior planner for Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG), where she has specialized in housing and land use policy issues since 2006. Prior to her ILF Fellowship with the Office of the Secretary at the U.S. Department of Transportation, she interned for several government agencies, including the Federal Highway Administration and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Office in Washington, D.C. She graduated with an M.A.in Urban Planning from the University of California, Los Angeles and a B.A. in Legal Studies from the University of California, Berkeley. Her current work includes analyzing policies with a focus on affordable housing, sustainability, and environmental justice.
In her community, Ma’Ayn currently serves on the City of Fullerton Planning Commission and recently served as Chair in 2014. Between 2011 and 2013, Ma’Ayn served as the Chair of the City’s Transportation and Circulation Commission. She has also been recently appointed to the Orange County Housing and Community Commission as an at-large member. She is an active member of the Woman’s Club of Fullerton, where she volunteers for local fundraising projects, and Temple Beth Emet in Anaheim, where she serves as an at-large member of the congregation’s Women’s League Board.
We spent some time catching up with Ma’Ayn, who had also spoken at ILF’s November 8th press event, hosted by ILF Orange County Advisor Anila Ali.
Why did you decide to apply for and participate in the ILF Fellowship?
“I had completed a couple of internships already with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) in Atlanta and Washington, D.C. under a different program. I was also one of the very few graduate students in the ILF program.
“Additionally, my mom passed away when I was younger. I’m half Asian and my mom came from Taiwan, so it was a way to connect with my Asian side while also interning with the government.”
How has the ILF Fellowship influenced your career path and professional goals?
“It inspired me to want to work for the government. Forty years ago when they told college graduates to consider a career in government, a large percentage replied ‘yes.’ Nowadays, the statistics are dismal. It inspired me because the government—especially for my career [urban planning]—is always planning for the future. It affects how people live, get to work, what kinds of jobs are near where they live. The government helps develop policies with our elected officials and input from stakeholders and the public. It’s very engaging to work with what’s going on the ground now and 50 to 100 years from now.”
A large part of Ma’Ayn’s work involves working with elected officials to develop policies relating to housing and land use. Here, Ma’Ayn gives a presentation to elected officials at a public workshop on planning for affordable housing in Southern California.
How did ILF help you practice your leadership skills?
“In urban planning, we plan for all sorts of different groups; there is no “one size fits all” approach. Even within the Asian American community, there are different needs. Within my work—which includes affordable housing and environmental justice—not only do we have a strong outreach program to minority communities to ensure that they have participation opportunities, but we also look at the impact of programs on minorities. We work with elected officials and stakeholders to identify the impact how to mitigate that in the programs. It requires us to get to know the communities we serve—including Asian communities. It helps with us with planning and adjusting public policy by looking at different approaches for different groups.”
Did you face any challenges during your fellowship?
“Keeping in touch with other Fellows was pretty tough. I was a graduate student so I was in a slightly different demographic than the others. I also started when the program itself was fairly new, so it was different. I think that, because of my prior internships with the government, it wasn’t new to me—which was an advantage. I didn’t find anything challenging in terms of difficulties, but it was different: different office, different program, and working with different people. It was very rewarding.”
Why is political participation important?
“Elected officials are people just like us and most are pretty approachable and care about what we think. We support them, and they represent us in their legislative body. They really do listen to us, but we need to have the appropriate channel—e.g. protests, voting, letter-writing campaigns, actual scheduled meetings with staff members—not just as individuals, but as a community. We should be participating in the democratic process, since it has implications later on. Political participation is really important in a democracy.”
Ma’Ayn (bottom left) was recognized for her planning expertise and involvement with the Urban Land Institute (ULI) with the Emergent Leader Award in planning in 2013. ULI is a non-profit organization that aims to educate and provide resources on land use development.
How to increase or education political participation – what is most important for us to do?
“We can encourage our family to participate respectfully. We’re not rocking the boat; we’re here to represent our family and community. The younger generation is more inclined to be more politically involved, as it affects other parts of our community. We can start by sharing what’s in our community and home—that it’s really important to participate.”
You are a member of the Woman’s Club of Fullerton, which is doing local fundraising project. What or who is the fundraising project for?
“We find a wide range of nonprofit groups—dubbed ‘charity of the year’—and we vote on one that we want to select for that year. We host different fundraisers, and all proceeds go directly to the charity at the end of the year. Sometimes we’ll have ‘adopted family’ programs to assist that family, so we would have an event for that. Past organizations include a transitional women’s shelter (for women who have been in abusive homes) and interfaith centers that help people get back on their feet. We try to aim for local organizations, rather than large ones that already have resources.
As an active member of the Woman’s Club of Fullerton (WCOF), Ma’Ayn (middle) is involved in many community-based activities. Founded in 1902, the WCOF is a non-profit organization that promotes volunteerism in the community and fundraises for local charities. Most recently, Ma’Ayn served on the Board (pictured) as Membership Chair.
Where do you see yourself in the next 2 to 5 years?
“I see myself potentially running for City Council within the next few years. My current job involves working with elected officials. I feel like that there’s so much millennials can do. A lot of the policies need to be updated. Demographics are changing—the number of young people and those who are 65+ is increasing. We need to retain younger people by developing job policies and housing policies that meet the growing demand of younger and older people. Running for City Council with that vision will help shape Southern California in the future.”
What advice would you give to incoming Fellows?.
Ma’Ayn made a testimonial how the ILF fellowship program has impacted her life and career in front of more than 300 Asian busienss and community leaders at the ILF LA Chapter fundraising luncheon on March 7, 2015.
“Never be afraid to ask questions, especially if you’re an intern. That’s the best time to ask questions! There’s no such thing as a ‘stupid question.’
“Never stop learning. You can always learn something new every day.
“Networking! You can sit at the desk from 9 to 5 and call it a day, but you can also expand on that and increase your networking skills and opportunities. In Taiwanese culture, it’s all about getting to know people; it helps with community outreach and engagement. How can you help other people? How can they help you? It’s all about the networks. As an intern, it’s a great time to practice because you’re a novice and just starting out your career—you will definitely have a leg up in the future.”
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ILF Chairman Dr. Hsu’s Generous Gifts for High School Education Appreciated →
Alumnus Karim Farishta Received Truman Fellowship
May 13, 2016 ilf@ileader.org 0
An Opportunity of a Lifetime: White House Internship Program
April 3, 2016 ilf@ileader.org 0
Alum Ben Chou Featured in World Journal : A Chinese American in Politics
August 16, 2016 ilf@ileader.org 0
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Presidential Proclamation on Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
April 30, 2019 May 11, 2019 ilf@ileader.org
Sent on April 30, 2019 by the White House Office of the Press Secretary
The contributions of Americans of Asian and Pacific Islander descent are firmly woven into the diverse fabric of our Nation. During Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we celebrate the remarkable accomplishments of Americans of Asian and Pacific Islander heritage that have enriched our great country and helped define our history. These Americans bolster our economy as entrepreneurs, business owners, and employees who initiate and expand opportunities for their families, communities, and country. Their languages, art, cuisine, and other cultural elements have enriched the American experience, and many have fearlessly answered the call of duty to defend our freedom as members of our Armed Forces.
Japanese American Ellison Onizuka embodied the pioneering spirit of America. Colonel Onizuka served as a flight test engineer and pilot in the United States Air Force, and in 1978, he was chosen for the NASA astronaut program. His first mission took place aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery, where he completed 74 hours in space and 48 orbits around the Earth –becoming the first Asian American to enter space. Tragically, his next assignment was as a crewmember onboard the Space Shuttle Challenger. He, along with six other brave Americans, perished in the horrific accident that ended the mission. Colonel Onizuka was posthumously awarded the Congressional Space Medal of Honor for his achievements and sacrifice for our country.
The son of Chinese immigrants, Hiram Fong was yet another of the many great Americans of Asian and Pacific Islander descent who have made profound contributions to the American enterprise. As a military veteran, lawyer, and businessman from Hawaii, he was the first ever American of Asian ancestry elected to the United States Senate. His legacy of public service and entrepreneurship continues to be an encouragement for others to achieve the American Dream.
This month, we honor the more than 20 million Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who call America home, and we express our sincere gratitude to all those who are selflessly serving in the Armed Forces. We recognize the achievements of Americans of Asian American and Pacific Islander heritage in education, business, science, the arts, government, and the Armed Forces, which have strengthened our Nation. We celebrate their story as a unique part of the American story.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 2019 as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. The Congress, by Public Law 102-450, as amended, has also designated the month of May each year as “Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month.” I encourage all Americans to learn more about those of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander heritage and to observe this month with appropriate programs and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirtieth day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand nineteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-third.
-DONALD J. TRUMP
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Presidential Message on the 150th Anniversary of the Completion of the Transcontinental Railroad →
ILF is pleased to announce 2018 Gala singer: Mary Millben
July 12, 2018 ilf@ileader.org 0
Spring 2018 White House Internship Application Now Open
August 4, 2017 ilf@ileader.org 0
ILF Celebrates 2015 Achievements of DC Advisors
December 17, 2015 ilf@ileader.org 0
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[Hill] Sunday School Lessons
By Rev. Rob Hill Wednesday, June 1, 2011 3:30 p.m. CDT
When the Clarion-Ledger reported April 21 that several area religious leaders converged on the state capitol to speak out against the death penalty, I broke my rule and opened the comments where readers can respond anonymously. I wasn't surprised to discover that most of the comments were negative, but one comment disturbed me more than others.
The reader argued that "ministers should confine themselves to matters of the spirit. ... It kind of makes me ashamed to call myself a Methodist when my church leaders are acting way outside their area of profession and use my tithes to pay for it."
I am certainly not ashamed that this reader is a "Methodist," but I am ashamed that in the all the years he has been a Methodist, he somehow got the impression that spirituality and issues of human justice are somehow mutually exclusive.
I suspect he views religion and faith solely as a tool by which we gain access to heaven. He understands that the main function of clergy, particularly in the Christian tradition, is to tend to the souls of people lest any be lost and miss the rewards of the afterlife.
While I do not disagree, it is impossible to read the Bible without encountering its call to care for the welfare of the world.
The story of Zacchaeus, the "wee little man" in Luke's gospel (chapter 19:1-9), is often told as a children's story. However, when you consider the kind of person he was in relation to his community, there is nothing childish about it. A tax collector for the Romans, he was reviled by people from whom he collected, often defrauding and swindling them in the process. His name translates as "pure and righteous" but it had become a sneer on the lips of his people.
A powerful turnaround occurred when he encountered Jesus, or rather, Jesus encountered him. Looking up at the little man perched in a tree, he said, "Zacchaeus, come down, for I'm going to your house today." At Jesus' recognition and gracious acceptance, Zacchaeus comes down from his tree and proclaims: "Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount."
Only after Zacchaeus' pledge to share his wealth does Jesus say, "Today salvation has come to this house."
With all that we know about Jesus and his talk of good news to the poor, how can Christians reconcile ourselves to a society that practices voracious consumption and a system of wealth built on the backs of the poor and vulnerable?
Jesus says that the peacemakers are the children of God, but how do we Christians reconcile ourselves to a culture that overwhelmingly blesses the war makers? We live in a land where murder is illegal, but that is exactly what we do to those who murder. We know well the commandment, "Thou shalt not kill," so how do we reconcile ourselves to living in a country that utilizes the death penalty to "solve" the problem of killing?
The answer is that we cannot reconcile ourselves to any of these things. When government policies and practices of this nation or any nation are in direct conflict with the gospel, it is our obligation to stand up and say so. We must demand and work for a world that is more peaceful, more just and more equitable.
Back in 1954, a middle-aged housewife and recent law school graduate from Atlanta, Ga., decided to enter the race for Georgia's governor. Grace Thomas ran as the only woman in a field of nine candidates, and she was the only one to embrace Brown vs. Board of Education, the Supreme Court's controversial decision to integrate the public schools. Needless to say, she ran dead last.
In 1962, she ran again. This time the Civil Rights Movement was in full bloom, and when Grace Thomas spoke of racial harmony and progress, she received death threats.
Rev. Tom Long tells about the day Thomas gave a campaign speech in the little town of Louisville, Ga. The centerpiece in Louisville is an old slave market where human beings were bought and sold. She decided to give her speech under the canopy of that slave market. She addressed a gaggle of farmers and merchants, and she pointed at the slave market and said: "This, thank God, has passed and the new has come. It's time for Georgians to join hands, all races together."
Somebody in the crowd shouted at her, "Are you a communist?"
"No!" she said.
"Well, where did you get those goldarned ideas?"
She thought about it for a second. She then pointed at the steeple of the First Baptist Church, and she said, "I got 'em over there in Sunday school!"
When I consider all that I learned in Sunday school, there's no way I can be quiet.
Rev. Rob Hill is the pastor of Broadmeadow United Methodist Church in Jackson where he has served since June 2005. A native of Forest, he earned his bachelor's degree from Mississippi State University in 1997 and a master's degree in divinity from Duke University in 2002.
I am moved by this article. Thanks Rev. Hill for the contribution. I just might visit your church. :-)
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Rwth Ashton
CJ Rhodes
Relationships, Not Gates
[Hill] Healing Words
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ExclusiveEntertainment
Cadillac, Jaeger-LeCoultre and UK Film Host Smashing Oscar Parties
Si Si Penaloza
On Thursday night, Cadillac hosted a smashing Oscar week kick off with star power to spare. The brand’s annual cocktail party to celebrate the Academy Awards has become a hot ticket, held at Hollywood’s iconic Chateau Marmont. The exclusive venue takeover brought together some of the industry’s top insiders in addition to Oscar nominees Roger Ross Williams and Julie Goldman (Best Documentary Feature – Life, Animated) along with Naomi Watts, Zoe Saldana, Chrissy Metz, Christoph Waltz, Patricia Arquette, Jessica Paré, Michelle Dockery, Matthew Morrison, Leonardo Nam, Abigail Spencer, Joel McHale, Rachel Griffiths, Milana Vayntraub, Perrey Reeves, Mamie Gummer and Angela Sarafyan.
Naomi Watts and Christoph Waltz caught up over cocktails on the patio, amicably trading recent travel stories. Matthew Morrison praised La La Land and gave a little shout out to Glee for having a positive impact on what we’re seeing on the big screen. Zoe Saldana was best dressed by far in a sculpted white cocktail dress, out enjoying date night with husband Marco Perego. The busy mom talked about how they are planning to stay up a little later than usual to watch the Oscars; she explained they’re usually worn down after dinner with a full house of children.
Cadillac was a sponsor of the Oscars for the fourth consecutive year and unveiled four new ad spots during the Academy Awards telecast. The spots continue to evolve the brand’s “Dare Greatly” platform and showcase new vehicles, advanced technology and future design concepts.
The Film Is GREAT party is an annual soiree held over Oscars weekend each year to celebrate British talent in the film industry. Emile Sherman and Iain Canning, the men behind Oscar-nominated “Lion” enjoy greeting industry insiders and fans of the film, along with Joanna Johnston, nominated for her work on the costume design for “Allied” with Brad Pitt, and Anna Pinnock, who is hoping to nab an award for her work on “Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them”. Among the guests was the U.K. ambassador Kim Darroch who tweeted that British-made films took 25% of the global box office since 2015.
The lively reception at Fig and Olive offered Jessie J as a headliner performance. As she belted out “Bang Bang” the crowd went wild, singing along with the plucky pop star. Cat Deeley, Criminal Minds actress Aisha Tyler, and 24’s David Harewood, were in high spirits and ready to rock along to a blues take on “Price Tag”. The bash featured food by Gordon Ramsay, including mini lamb shepherd’s pies, giant prawns, steak tartare, as well as blueberry meringue and moist mini brownies cleverly skewered on a cocktail stick.
The early social highlight in the week revolved around the golden age of Hollywood. Swiss luxury watch maker Jaeger-LeCoultre teamed up with creative brand consultancy Finch & Partners to premiere “The Art of Behind the Scenes” photo exhibition in Los Angeles. Held at the KP Projects Art Gallery, the show offers an intimate, voyeuristic view behind the cameras of some of the most iconic movies. Curated by Finch & Partners, “The Art of Behind the Scenes” goes back to the 2015 Cannes Film Festival, where it debuted at the Charles Finch Filmmakers Dinner and Awards at the Hotel du Cap. The pictures arrived in Los Angeles with a benefit reception on February 21st, whose guest roster included Paul Haggis, Brett Ratner, Matthew Modine and Julia Sands.
Think Brigitte Bardot playing solitaire and smoking a cigarette while shooting Viva Maria to Audrey Hepburn unwinding on the set of Two For the Road. There is another compelling, more recent capture of Quentin Tarantino, John Travolta and Uma Thurman frolicking together during Pulp Fiction, and a divine portrait of David Bowie taken on the set of The Man Who Fell To Earth. Celebrating the ties of Hollywood filmmaking and photography, many of the photographs have never seen before.
With 14 nominations and 6 wins, “La La Land” swept the 89th Annual Academy Awards. For his Best Director Oscar, Damien Chazelle sported his pink gold Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Grande Ultra Thin Small Second. Jaeger-LeCoultre’s long-standing involvement in the world of movies encourages the appreciation and preservation of film; indeed the watchmaker has forged close ties with the best artistic film festivals around the world – from Venice to Shanghai. All prints of “The Art of Behind the Scenes” are available for sale both online and in the gallery. A percentage of the proceeds goes to Ghetto Film School, which annually educates and engages over 1500 aspiring filmmakers free of charge.
Si Si Penaloza's first brush with unbridled luxury came when she was 18 months old, when she toddled from the lobby of Hôtel Ritz Paris into the adjacent Bar Hemingway – only to be busted 15 minutes later. After cutting her teeth as a curator, arts editor and cultural critic, she fell down the rabbit hole of luxury travel. A natural born flâneur, she thrives as a professional lounger – jetting to the world’s top destinations to review hotels and spas for top international outlets. Amid bouts of horizontal hedonism, she’s not immune to the lure of stunt journalism – interviewing Brad Pitt, George Clooney and the cast of Ocean's Thirteen in Cannes, reporting from Prince Harry’s Diamond Jubilee Tour of the Caribbean or racing the Top Gear team through the vineyards of Stellenbosch. She’s also been known to trek the Himalayas in seersucker pajamas, track baby kiwi birds at Cape Kidnappers, observe octopus at 80 feet below in Curaçao and frolic with frisky penguins on Cape Town's Boulder Beach. For editorial consideration please contact [email protected](dot)com.
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Newer PostAndrogen Receptors
Older PostTitus Talks
Group Recovery: Carbophobia
Articles, Cade Thomas
by Cade Thomas
In the mid 2000’s, many tragic things happened. Children were kidnapped, dogs were murdered, families were torn apart and terrorism was rampant. Shockingly, every single horrible event was caused directly by the disgusting and vile force known as carbohydrates. While women cried and disaster swept the human race, carbohydrates laughed in the face of mankind. How did one macronutrient become so horrendously evil? The world may never know, but dammit we fought back.
Mainstream dieting fads are cyclical in nature, and bodybuilding diets share that tendency (although we are always ahead of the curve). We are going to focus on the low-to-zero carb diets that swarmed bodybuilding roughly a decade ago. It has always been common for competitors to lower carbohydrate totals as the weeks go by in relation to their upcoming contest. In the simplest and most basic terms, calories have to be lowered for fat loss to occur, and keeping protein intake high is a safe bet to ensure muscle retention. This leaves us with the 2 stepchild micro nutrients, carbohydrates and fat.
Bodybuilders in the 90’s generally relied on lean meats and carbs for dieting purposes. As the diet progressed, more and more starchy carbs would be exchanged for fiberous ones from vegetables. Somehow, someway, things changed to a point where it seemed that most people forgot that any bodybuilder ever got ripped eating orange roughy and jasmine rice. One copy and pasted diet spread through the online bodybuilding world like wildfire.. one that still haunts our industry. You know the one….2 scoops whey, natural peanut butter….etc etc. The most basic and parroted diet of all time…the “Palumbo Diet”. Now, this article is not about Dave Palumbo or his nutrition advice, as he is a great mind in our industry and isn’t personally responsible for how ridiculous this whole scenario became. This movement of carb free dieting became so wide spread that people were ripped apart for claiming they could possibly improve body composition while ingestion anything resembling a carb. Carbs became only for the “metabolically gifted” and anyone who had ever even see a love handle was commanded to steer clear.
Personally, I have no idea how it reached such extreme levels. I found myself repeatedly forcing myself into very low carb diets even though the results sucked and I progressed much quicker eating meats and rice as a base with a balance of vegetables and fatty meats. Now, I am in no way stating that low-to-no carb diets have no place and won’t be effective for some people, or even many people. There are some people who really are carb sensitive and carbs force them to store more fat than they should. And even for someone like myself who generally is opposed to this dieting method, short phases of zero carbs can help get some fat off quickly and restore insulin sensitivity for future phases. But as a general long term approach or idealogy? I feel it was grossly over used in this period. So please consider that the majority of this article is referencing the people who feared carbs due to them being told they should and not the people who experimented and learned that it was a necessity to limit intake.
Many people even tried to use this “ketogenic” (I use quotations as a true ketogenic diet is much higher in dietary fat than the keto diet bodybuilders claim to use) in off season plan. My brain still spins at some of the AAS cycles I have read that people planned to put on tons of size…yet they wouldn’t touch an oz of sweet potato. The amount of drugs wasted due to the absence of a macronutrient so beneficial to building muscle is pretty sad in retrospect.
We are just now seeing the shift back to a sane approach to bodybuilding diets. What’s rather comical is that diet coaches and prep gurus who generally use moderate to high amounts of carbohydrates in their diets are considered cutting edge and against the grain (sorry, bad pun). How come the athletes eating them aren’t becoming obese and turning into human marshmallows? If you could go back a few years the “law” would have doomed them to a life of moo-moo clad diabetes.
I personally hope we don’t see any fads swing our entire sub culture too far one way or the other again anytime soon. Many have succeeded in the past doing things their way so for a new methodology to come that claims the old proven methods don’t work is illogical. Carbohydrates might not “build muscle” themselves but they certainly help your body build muscle. Sometimes we get too lost in minor details we lose sight of the basics. Moderation might be the enemy of a successful bodybuilder, but it definitely provides a smarter starting point.
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Chair DeFazio Statement from Hearing on “Aligning Federal Surface Transportation Policy to Meet 21st Century Needs”
3/13/2019 The following are opening remarks, as prepared for delivery, from Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) during today's hearing titled: "Aligning Federal Surface Transportation Policy to Meet 21st Century Needs." Thank you, Chair Norton and Ranking Member Davis, for holding this hearing. Without question, the most imperative work this Subcommittee will undertake in the 116th Congress is crafting a surface transportation authorization bill.
Hearing Focuses on Importance of Developing Technologies to America’s Future Aviation System
3/12/2019 The Subcommittee on Aviation explored what the Nation's aviation system and infrastructure may look like 30 years into the future. Witnesses representing NASA, aviation and technology companies, and pilots highlighted the need for the United States to remain competitive globally in aviation by ensuring an environment that allows for development
Lawmakers discuss need for infrastructure funding
3/6/2019 House Bill 517, would generate money for the state to spend on failing roads and bridges by adding 10 cents per gallon to the state’s gas tax and other fuels, as well as expand some fees on electric vehicles, car registration renewals, and specialty license plates. It is estimated the bill would generate $460 million per year in road fund revenue for the state. Read more about the bill here.
Will there be a market for the coming explosion of electric cars?
2/19/2019 EVs will become as cheap to own as gas-powered vehicles in 2022, even with no tax breaks or subsidies. But can we count on car buyers make the rational choice?
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[event] EIFF names jury for Michael Powell Award
The Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) has revealed the jury members for its most prestigious prize, the Michael Powell Award for the best British feature film...
Scottish actor Kevin McKidd and film critic and historian Derek Malcolm will join Makhmalbaf in deciding the outcome of the prize.
A recognised star of Iranian New Wave cinema, Makhmalbaf enjoyed considerable success at the Cannes Film Festival with all three of her first feature films.
McKidd is a familiar face to Edinburgh audiences, thanks to his breakout role in Danny Boyle’sTrainspotting, and appearances in hit TV shows Rome and Grey’s Anatomy. He also lent his vocal talents to Disney-Pixar’s Brave, which was the closing film at last year’s EIFF.
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941: Bereshis
943: Lech-Lecha
944: Vayera
945: Chayei Sara
947: Vayetzei
949: Vayeshev
950: Miketz
November 10, 2006 - 19 Cheshvan, 5767
The Comforts of Home | Living with the Rebbe | A Slice of Life | What's New
The Rebbe Writes | Customs | A Word from the Director | Thoughts that Count
The Comforts of Home
Ah, the comforts of home. They haven't changed much, if at all, since the last time you were there. The same couch in the den, perfect for falling asleep while reading. Hmm, the kitchen table is still there - complete with the fork lines you scraped into it once.
There are new photo on the mantel, your youngest cousins/nephews/nieces, etc.
Check out the refrigerator, of course, and the pantry. Yup, everything's there that you expect to see (and eat!).
Of course, your bedroom's a little different. It's been used by siblings, children of siblings, and guests while you've been away at school or, if older, away raising your own family.
Still, it's easy to slip into old habits, old comfort zones. Mom still tells you not open the refrigerator and just stand there. Maybe by now you've learned not to do it, but she still tells you.
The kitchen smells of your mom's cooking and there's nothing like that smell in the world. And your dad's handiwork still suffuses the house.
What happens when you come home after an absence - and the longer the absence, perhaps, the more striking the realization - is that you become again what you were, but without the conflicts that got you there. The childhood fights become memories to laugh about. The unfairness of your mom's rules - no computer until homework is done, no phone until the dirty laundry is off the floor - become the challenges against which you measured and trained yourself.
When you come home after an absence, you become truly two in one - who you are and who you were. Simultaneously. And that simultaneity transforms the past, elevates the negatives into benefits, and sanctifies all the positives.
Coming home unifies us - with ourselves, our past and purpose, our family and interactions.
This is the concept of teshuva - returning. A universal theme of Judaism is teshuva - returning - bring home with us all the experiences, all the joys and triumphs, yes, but also all the disappointments, failures and tragedies - bringing them, making them part of home.
Admittedly, teshuva is a paradoxical concept. The Sages tell us that teshuva can change reality: if a completely wicked man declares to a woman, "you are engaged to me on condition that I am a complete tzaddik, completely righteous," and the woman agrees to the engagement, provided the condition is fulfilled, they are engaged - for with one thought of teshuva a person can totally transform himself. Indeed, through teshuva sins transform to merits.
To understand this, to "wrap our minds around the concept," requires study of Chasidic philosophy. And to feel, to integrate into one's self, the teshuva transformation, may require intense effort, self-examination, discipline, etc. To know the feel of teshuva as we know the feel of our hand, can we achieve this? Or, do we have the will to strive to achieve it?
But coming home we can understand. Coming home and freeing ourselves, with the advantages of childhood and the privileges of adulthood, that we gather within ourselves.
That teshuva is all about coming home to the comforts of home we can handle.
And thus, immediate coming home, better, in the words of the previous Rebbe: Immediate teshuva, immediate Redemption.
This week's Torah portion, Vayeira, relates that Abraham established an inn for guests, and there he "called upon the name of 'kail olam,' the eternal G-d." Our Sages interpret this phrase to imply that Abraham was not satisfied merely to call to G-d himself, but that he taught others too to proclaim G-dliness.
What did he do? He established his tent at a crossroads in the desert and generously provided food and drink to wayfarers. After they completed their meal, he asked them to: "Bless the One who provided you with food and drink."
When the guests began to bless Abraham, he told them: "Was it I who provided you with food? Bless He who spoke and brought the world into being." By providing people with their physical needs, he made them conscious of the spiritual reality.
The Hebrew term kail olam has also attracted the attention of the commentaries. Translated here as "the eternal G-d," it can also mean "G-d of the world," or more literally "G-d, world." "G-d of the world" would imply that G-d and the world are two distinct entities, the former paying homage to the latter, while the more literal meaning is deeper, namely that G-d and the world are indistinguishable; everything is an expression of G-dliness. This is the intent of the phrase "G-d is one" that we recite in the Shema prayer: not only is there only one G-d, but everything in the world is at one with Him.
This is not only an abstract concept. It affects a person's fundamental approach to his life. When he sees G-d as "G-d of the world," he understands that he has obligations to Him. After all, if G-d is the Ruler of the world, a person has to pay his dues.
But that - he thinks - is all he is obligated to do. In the rest of his affairs, his life is his own. It's like paying taxes. You have to give the government a percentage of your income, but afterwards, you can spend the remainder of your money however you like. Similarly, in a spiritual sense, such a person recognizes that he owes something to G-d, but his life is primarily his own; he can do with it whatever he wants.
When we appreciate the world as one with G-d, by contrast, our entire relationship with Him changes. Religion is not merely going to the synagogue or carrying out a certain body of laws, but an all-encompassing experience, affecting every element of our lives.
Every situation in which we are found, every person whom we meet gives us an opportunity to advance in our knowledge of G-d and our connection to Him.
This is the heritage that Abraham gave to his descendants - to spread the awareness that we are living in His world, that our lives are not intended merely to provide ourselves with a little bit of enjoyment and satisfaction, but are instead mediums to make His presence known to others.
From Keeping In Touch by Rabbi Eli Touger, adapted from the works of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, published by Sichos in English.
Thoughts on the Marriage of My Youngest by Rabbi Eli Hecht
I am at the Los Angeles airport waiting for my plane to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It's a time of joy and happiness for my family. My youngest son, Yosef Yitzchok, called Yossi, is getting married. I consider my mixed feelings. On one hand it is a blessing to see your youngest child married. Nowadays this is no small feat. On the other hand, you "lose" your youngest child.
Yossi is the youngest of six children. Having a family with six children was a statement for me. My family was to symbolically replace, in a small way, the monumental loss of 6 million Jewish brothers and sisters who were cruelly killed and methodically destroyed by the Nazis during World War II.
The loss of so many Jewish children left a large vacuum in the heart of the Jewish nation. I know that each remaining family had the responsibility, or rather the obligation, to have as many children as possible.
So at the birth of each child I felt a sense of victory over tyranny and that we were contributing to the rebuilding of the Jewish nation.
What words of wisdom can I impart to my son upon his embarking on marriage? For that matter, can soft lofty and important ideas be expressed in mere words? What do I say to my Yossi as he leaves the insular community of yeshiva life and transitions into the greater world that will be full of opportunities as well as challenges?
Yossi, I remember your birth and choosing your name. In Jewish tradition there is a fine custom to name a child after a saintly person. If a child is born in the week of a saintly man's birthday or happy event then we take this as an opportune time to name the child after that righteous person.
Yossi, my son, you are named after the previous Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Schneersohn (1880-1950). The previous Rebbe kept the spiritual lives of millions of European Russian Jews alive. He single-handedly fought for religious tolerance and freedom of religion in what was once the U.S.S.R. For 30 years he was known as the great hero of rabbinic Jewish leadership. He kept Jewish schools alive and financially stable during those impossible, turbulent times.
During World War II the previous Rebbe came to America and revitalized American Jewry. This he did for the last ten years of his life. His legacy was carried forward by his son-in-law, the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the leader of the largest Chassidic movement world-wide. The Rebbe created thousands of Chabad schools, synagogues, centers, "Chabad Houses," and Jewish communities all over the world.
I was sent by the Rebbe to help create a Chabad community in Southern California just around the time that you were born.
Usually a Jewish name is given at the brit - circumcision - ceremony. But you were a very small baby and we had to wait for the brit to be performed. During that time you were called "baby Hecht" as, in keeping with tradition, we would only name you at the brit.
Oh how we prayed for you to grow and be healthy. Imagine having a baby with no name. Your brothers and sister did not know what to call you. Finally the day came and the doctor said; "Yes, baby Hecht is ready." Your brit was celebrated amidst great festivity and the highlight was when we gave you the name Yosef Yitzchok after the Lubavitcher Rabbi.
Now, it is after your wedding. So many proud Jewish people gathered in Milwaukee to celebrate with you and your bride, Yehudis. Your grandfather, grandmother, uncles, aunts, your brothers and sister with their families and friends, all gathered to rejoice with you upon your marriage. They came from around the world to be with you.
Yossi, remenber that you are a fifth generation Jewish-American born son. Carry the name Yossi with pride and with the knowlege that together with the honor comes the responsibility of keeping the Jewish nation alive and well.
Yes my boy, this is your time in the sunshine. Live up to your namesake; take in the enjoyment, love and happiness. Keep those links of family strong and true.
Last but not least I too need to remember that at this venture I am getting a new daughter and not losing a son. Mazel Tov-good luck for a long and happy journey.
Rabbi Hecht is vice-president of the Rabbinical Alliance of America and past-president of the Rabbinical Council of California. He is the director of Chabad of South Bay in Lomita, California.
The Place That I Love
For young children, the excitement of doing mitzvot lurks around the nearest corner and goes along from room to room! The Place That I Love, the newest release from HaChai Publishing, written by R.G. Cohen, details which mitzvot are connected to each part of a Jewish home....Torah learning in the study, having guests in the bedroom, the joy of a warm family Shabbat meal in the dining room, keeping kosher in the kitchen, Beautiful illustrations by Alexander Levitas bring each scene to life, as a young boy guides the reader through the place that he loves best... his Jewish home; a place that G-d and the entire family are proud of.
Overcoming Folly
This comprehensive treatise is written in the spirit and style of traditional ethical Torah teachings, that touches upon the various challenges one experiences when faced with the reality of material existence - obstacles that stand in the way of achieving true spiritual heights. Written by the fifth Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Shalom DovBer Schneersohn, in response to the challenges of secularism and non-Jewish ideologies that faced Russian Jewry at that time, Overcoming Folly - Kuntres Umaayan examines the age-old battle - man against his own evil inclination. Translated by Rabbi Zalman Posner, published by Kehot Publications.
From a letter of the Rebbe written in 1975
Greeting and Blessing:
This is to acknowledge with thanks receipt of your letter of Jan. 27th, following the pleasure of our personal meeting and conversation in connection with the distinguished delegation from your city and state on the occasion of our 25th Anniversary.
I appreciate the promptness with which you so thoughtfully conveyed to me the good news about your action immediately upon your return, in regard to the projected Lubavitcher center in Ann Arbor. This truly reflects the great principle of our Sages, which is also the foundation of our religion and way of life, "The essential thing is the deed."
May G-d grant that these, your efforts, as well as those that will follow, and hopefully in a growing measure, will be successful and always carried out with the enthusiasm and alacrity. Time is particularly of the essence in the area of education, as I had occasion to point out. For when one embarks upon ambitious educational programs, involving financial problems, it is clear that the financial difficulty can be overcome in due course, while if one were to curtail an educational activity, or even to delay it, the loss may be irretrievable. A Jewish child who is deprived of the proper Torah Chinuch [education] not only suffers an immediate loss, but he, or she, may fall under undesirable influences from which it might later be difficult to extricate him or her.
May G-d grant that each and every one of us should continue the sacred work and institutions which are conducted in the spirit of my father-in-law of saintly memory, whose 25th Yahrzeit Anniversary we have just observed. And may each and all of us, in the midst of all our people, continue from strength to strength, with inspiration and gladness of heart.
With personal regards, and with blessing,
22nd of Mar Cheshvan, 5720 [1959]
This is to acknowledge receipt of your two letters dated the 10th and 12th of November.
I was very gratified to read about the progress which you have been making in business, and may G-d grant that you continue to enjoy a growing success from G-d's "full, open, holy and ample Hand," and that you and your family use the earnings in good health, on matters of Torah and Mitzvoth [commandments], and the like.
I was especially gratified to read also about your interest in the communal affairs and the Zechus Horabim [the merit of the many] will surely stand you in good stead to succeed. All the more so as we have entered a new year, and one that marks the 200th Anniversary of the Histalkus [passing] of the Baal Shem Tov. It is well known and recorded that the Baal Shem Tov emerged among the hidden Tzaddikim with the plan of helping the Jews materially, which will also help them spiritually, as a matter of course. My father-in-law of saintly memory expressed it in this way, "When G d will give Jews what they need (materially), they will show what they can do (spiritually)."
May G-d grant that this auspicious year will see increased efforts on the part of everyone of us towards the realization of the "Dissemination of the Fountains," and thereby hasten the True and Complete Redemption through the righteous Moshiach.
Hoping to hear good news from you about your communal as well as personal affairs, and that you and your wife have much Yiddish Nachas [Jewish pleasure] from your children,
What is the significance of the Ner Tamid - the Eternal Light - found in many synagogues?
The Ner Tamid is symbolic of the western-most light of seven-branched menora used during Temple times. This light constantly remained lit, though the other lights were cleaned and relit, their wicks and oil changed, every day. The western light (and today the Ner Tamid) was a reminder of G-d's everlasting presence.
On this Shabbat, the 20th of Cheshvan, we mark the birthday of Rabbi Sholom Ber of Lubavitch, (known as the Rebbe Rashab), the fifth Chabad Rebbe.
Rabbi Sholom Ber was a great tzadik and a person of tremendous insight. This can be illustrated by the following incident.
Rabbi Sholom Ber founded, in 1897, the Tomchei Temimim Yeshiva in the city of Lubavitch. The Rebbe Rashab was an honorary member of the council which was formed to help establish the new government's policy toward the Jews after the deposition of the Czar. In 1918 he traveled to Petersburg to participate in a council meeting. At one of the stops on the journey, he sent his attendant to buy a newspaper. Returning with the newspaper, the attendant read to the Rebbe Rashab: "The Communists have taken over, and the council has been abolished."
The Rebbe Rashab responded, "We must now establish yeshivos in every city. I do not see their [the Communists'] end, but ultimately, their end too, will come..."
In the (former) Soviet Union, as the Communist arm stretched forth with ever increasing strength, the yeshivos went underground. Today, there are hundreds of people living all over the world who were educated in those underground yeshivos. In the last few years, yeshivos have been started in 11 cities including Tbilisi, Moscow, Minsk, Dnepropetrovsk, Kishinev, and Kharkov.
Dozens of Tomchei Temimim Yeshivos continue to educate young Jews in Canada, Australia, Israel, Venezuela, and throughout the United States.
How visionary were the Rebbe Rashab's words concerning the ultimate demise of Communism.
For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him (Gen. 18:19)
Rashi comments that the phrase "for I know him" implies love and affection for Abraham. G-d loved Abraham because He knew that Abraham would teach his children to follow in his footsteps. As great and impressive as Abraham's worship of G-d was, more worthy of merit was the fact that he could be counted on to instruct others.
(Hayom Yom)
To do righteousness and justice (Gen. 18:19)
When G-d bestows wealth and abundance on a Jew, he must honestly judge himself and ask: "Am I really worthy of all this goodness? What have I done to deserve these blessings?" When a person is thus honest with himself, it will cause him to realize that the sharing of his wealth with those less fortunate is truly tzedaka--righteousness.
(Sefer HaMaamarim)
G-d rained upon Sodom and Gomora brimstone and fire...(Gen. 19:24)
At the present time Sodom is in its ruined state. However, when Moshiach comes and evil will be completely removed from the earth, Sodom will return to its original state of blessing and beauty, as it says, (Ezek. 16) "And I will return the captivity of Sodom."
(Sefer HaParshiot)
In 5665 (1905), when war broke out between Russia and Japan, all Russian males below the age of 50 were commanded to report to their local draft boards. Many Jews did whatever they could to escape the draft, for in those years it was impossible to serve in the anti-semitic Russian Army and live as a mitzva-observant Jew. Of course, a significant number were unable to avoid being drafted, despite their mighty efforts. One of these was Mendel Dovid Gurevich, a teacher in the city of Valitch and already the father of a large family.
Mendel Dovid was a chassid of the Rebbe Rashab (Rabbi Sholom Ber, the fifth Rebbe) of Lubavitch, so as soon as he received his draft notice, he hurried off to speak with the Rebbe. He told him of the disastrous event, the extreme difficulties it would cause his family, and how distressed they all were at the evil that had befallen them. The Rebbe blessed him and said, "G-d Al-mighty will redeem you from their hands."
But Mendel Dovid's agitated heart felt no relief from the Rebbe's words. "Rebbe, a blessing is not enough for me; I need a promise!" he pleaded.
The Rebbe looked at him intensely, and then replied, "A promise I don't have for you but a blessing I do," and he repeated his original words. Mendel Dovid refused to be discouraged and again requested an explicit promise, but the Rebbe merely repeated the same words for a third time.
Mendel Dovid took his leave of the Rebbe and returned home. He strengthened himself and his faith in the Rebbe's blessing, and tried to be optimistic about the future. Nevertheless, he felt he had no choice but to make his own plans for when he would have to appear at the draft board.
The dreaded day arrived. Mendel Dovid reported to the draft center. Thousands of new soldiers converged there with him. They passed through a series of medical tests and other examinations, under the supervision of officers who would determine who would be shipped off to battle and who would be assigned non life-threatening duties at the home front.
All Mendel Dovid's attempts to gain an exemption were fruitless. Indeed, he was even found fit to be sent to a battle regiment. His only hope was the blessing of the Rebbe Rashab, even though it was impossible to imagine how it could possibly be fulfilled at this point. What would happen to his family? What would become of him? It seemed he needed a miracle.
At the conclusion of all the tests and classification procedures, all the draftees were assembled for their first military inspection. The officer in charge was a General Kazaroff. With a fiery speech, he attempted to enthuse his new troops about the great merit that had fortunately come to them: to be privileged to defend with their lives their dear, beloved mother country.
When he finished speaking, the draftees turned to go to their respective ways. The general indicated to them that they should remain where they were for just a few more moments. He strode into his headquarters, and then quickly emerged. They could see that he was holding a piece of paper. The general glanced at the note. "Who is Gurevich Mendel?" he called out.
Mendel Dovid began to tremble uncontrollably from fright. He took a moment to try to figure out what could possibly be the reason that the general was singling him out in front of thousands of soldiers, but couldn't think of anything. He doubted if it could be good. Hesitatingly, he stepped forward and presented himself. The general merely glanced in his direction and said, "You are discharged. You may go home." He turned on his heels and left, leaving a stunned but ecstatic Jew momentarily frozen in place.
After a few moments, Mendel Dovid was able to accept that it wasn't a wistful dream. It really was true! He was free! "I believed in the Rebbe's blessing," he said to himself as he joyfully set out for Valitch, "but I never imagined it could come true so quickly or in such an extraordinary fashion."
The following Shabbat Menachem Dovid sponsored a large kiddush at the Chabad shul. He told them the whole story: how the Rebbe had repeated his blessing three times in identical wording, and the wondrous manner in which he had obtained his speedy release. Everyone listened in rapt attention and sincerely shared in the joy of his deliverance.
Then, one of the chassidim rose, and offered to shed light on how the Rebbe's blessing had become enclosed in this particular natural-seeming guise. "This General Kazaroff," he began, "used to live in our city. The rented apartment he dwelled in was owned by a Jew. A few months ago his landlord passed away. The heirs made clear their intention to raise the rent. Kazaroff very much wanted to continue living there, but not to pay any additional money. He approached the heirs and proposed that if they agreed to not increase his rent, he would repay them in a different way. In the upcoming large draft, he would exercise his powers as a general to obtain the release of a Valitch Jewish soldier.
"His new landlords accepted this unusual offer, and Kazaroff continued to live in the apartment for the same sum. About a month ago, however, he moved out. Since war had erupted, he was forced to leave Valitch and relocate nearer to the front. In the meantime, he was appointed the general in charge of the draft, and it seems he didn't forget his promise. He must have perused the draft list for a Jewish-sounding name from Valitch, and the first one he came across was that of our friend, Menachem Dovid Gurevitch."
Translated and freely adapted by Yrachmiel Tilles from Sichat HaShavua for www.AscentOfSafed.com. Yrachmiel Tilles is a founder of Ascent in Tzfas and director of www.KabbalaOnline.org
"In the time to come... the Jewish people will say [to our patriarch Yitzchak (Isaac)]: 'For you are our father.' " (Isaiah 63:16) The name Yitzchak implies laughter, and hence, delight. In the time to come, when all the sparks of Divinity embedded in the material universe will have been uncovered and elevated, G-d's delight at the completion of this task will become manifest.
(Torah Or, Vayeitzei, p. 21c)
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Jurisdiction of Courts under the Guardians & Wards Act and Recognition of Foreign Judgments : The Law
Justice TS Thakur
The Supreme Court in Ruchi Majoo v Sanjeev Majoo had the occasion to the deal with the provisions of the Guardian and Wards Act, 1890 regarding jurisdiction and recognition and enforcement of foreign orders/judgments. While examining the judicial pronouncements on the subject Justice T.S. Thakur has held as under;
Section 9 of the Guardian and Wards Act, 1890 makes a specific provision as regards the jurisdiction of the Court to entertain a claim for grant of custody of a minor. While sub- Section (1) of Section 9 identifies the court competent to pass an order for the custody of the persons of the minor, sub-sections (2) & (3) thereof deal with courts that can be approached for guardianship of the property owned by the minor. Section 9(1) alone is, therefore, relevant for our purpose. It says :
"9. Court having jurisdiction to entertain application - (1) If the application is with respect to the guardianship of the person of the minor, it shall be made to the District Court having Jurisdiction in the place where the minor ordinarily resides." It is evident from a bare reading of the above that the solitary test for determining the jurisdiction of the court under Section 9 of the Act is the `ordinary residence' of the minor. The expression used is "Where the minor ordinarily resides". Now whether the minor is ordinarily residing at a given place is primarily a question of intention which in turn is a question of fact. It may at best be a mixed question of law and fact, but unless the jurisdictional facts are admitted it can never be a pure question of law, capable of being answered without an enquiry into the factual aspects of the controversy. The factual aspects relevant to the question of jurisdiction are not admitted in the instant case. There are serious disputes on those aspects to which we shall presently refer. We may before doing so examine the true purpose of the expression `ordinarily resident' appearing in Section 9(1) (supra). This expression has been used in different contexts and statutes and has often come up for interpretation. Since liberal interpretation is the first and the foremost rule of interpretation it would be useful to understand the literal meaning of the two words that comprise the expression. The word `ordinary' has been defined by the Black's Law Dictionary as follows: "Ordinary (Adj.) :Regular; usual; normal; common; often recurring; according to established order; settled; customary; reasonable; not characterized by peculiar or unusual circumstances; belonging to, exercised by, or characteristic of, the normal or average individual." The word `reside' has been explained similarly as under:
"Reside: live, dwell, abide, sojourn, stay, remain, lodge. (Western- Knapp Engineering Co. V. Gillbank, C.C.A. Cal., 129 F2d 135, 136.) To settle oneself or a thing in a place, to be stationed, to remain or stay, to dwell permanently or continuously, to have a settled abode for a time, to have one's residence or domicile; specifically, to be in residence, to have an abiding place, to be present as an element, to inhere as quality, to be vested as a right. (State ex rel. Bowden v. Jensen Mo., 359 S.W.2d 343, 349.)"
In Websters dictionary also the word `reside' finds a similar meaning, which may be gainfully extracted: "1. To dwell for a considerable time; to make one's home; live. 2. To exist as an attribute or quality with in. 3. To be vested: with in"
In Mrs. Annie Besant v. Narayaniah AIR 1914 PC 41 the infants had been residing in the district of Chingleput in the Madras Presidency. They were given in custody of Mrs. Annie Besant for the purpose of education and were getting their education in England at the University of Oxford. A case was, however, filed in the district Court of Chingleput for the custody where according to the plaintiff the minors had permanently resided. Repeating the plea that the Chingleput Court was competent to entertain the application their Lordships of the Privy Council observed: "The district court in which the suit was instituted had no jurisdiction over the infants except such jurisdiction as was conferred by the Guardians and Wards Act 1890. By the ninth Section of that Act the jurisdiction of the court is confined to infants ordinarily residing in the district.
It is in their Lordship's opinion impossible to hold that the infants who had months previously left India with a view to being educated in England and going to University had acquired their ordinary residence in the district of Chingleput."
In Mst. Jagir Kaur and Anr. v. Jaswant Singh AIR 1963 SC 1521, this Court was dealing with a case under Section 488 Cr.P.C. and the question of jurisdiction of the Court to entertain a petition for maintenance. The Court noticed a near unanimity of opinion as to what is meant by the use of the word "resides" appearing in the provision and held that "resides" implied something more than a flying visit to, or casual stay at a particular place. The legal position was summed up in the following words: ".......Having regard to the object sought to be achieved, the meaning implicit in the words used, and the construction placed by decided cases there on, we would define the word "resides" thus: a person resides in a place if he through choice makes it his abode permanently or even temporarily; whether a person has chosen to make a particular place his abode depends upon the facts of each case....."
In Kuldip Nayar & Ors. v. Union of India & Ors. 2006 (7) SCC 1, the expression "ordinary residence" as used in the Representation of People Act, 1950 fell for interpretation. This Court observed:
"243. Lexicon refers to Cicutti v. Suffolk County Council (1980) 3 All ER 689 to denote that the word "ordinarily" is primarily directed not to duration but to purpose. In this sense the question is not so much where the person is to be found "ordinarily", in the sense of usually or habitually and with some degree of continuity, but whether the quality of residence is "ordinary" and general, rather than merely for some special or limited purpose.
244. The words "ordinarily" and "resident" have been used together in other statutory provisions as well and as per Law Lexicon they have been construed as not to require that the person should be one who is always resident or carries on business in the particular place.
245. The expression coined by joining the two words has to be interpreted with reference to the point of time requisite for the purposes of the provision, in the case of Section 20 of the RP Act, 1950 it being the date on which a person seeks to be registered as an elector in a particular constituency.
246. Thus, residence is a concept that may also be transitory. Even when qualified by the word "ordinarily" the word "resident" would not result in a construction having the effect of a requirement of the person using a particular place for dwelling always or on permanent uninterrupted basis. Thus understood, even the requirement of a person being "ordinarily resident" at a particular place is incapable of ensuring nexus between him and the place in question."
Reference may be made to Bhagyalakshmi and Anr. v. K.N. Narayana Rao AIR 1983 Mad 9, Aparna Banerjee v. Tapan Banerjee AIR 1986 P&H 113, Ram Sarup v. Chimman Lal and Ors. AIR 1952 All 79, Smt. Vimla Devi v. Smt. Maya Devi & Ors. AIR 1981 Raj. 211, and in re: Dr. Giovanni Marco Muzzu and etc. etc. AIR 1983 Bom. 242, in which the High Courts have dealt with the meaning and purport of the expressions like `ordinary resident' and `ordinarily resides' and taken the view that the question whether one is ordinarily residing at a given place depends so much on the intention to make that place ones ordinary abode.
Recognition of Foreign Orders and Decrees
Recognition of decrees and orders passed by foreign courts remains an eternal dilemma in as much as whenever called upon to do so, Courts in this country are bound to determine the validity of such decrees and orders keeping in view the provisions of Section 13 of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1908 as amended by the Amendment Act of 1999 and 2002. The duty of a Court exercising its Parens Patraie jurisdiction as in cases involving custody of minor children is all the more onerous. Welfare of the minor in such cases being the paramount consideration; the court has to approach the issue regarding the validity and enforcement of a foreign decree or order carefully. Simply because a foreign court has taken a particular view on any aspect concerning the welfare of the minor is not enough for the courts in this country to shut out an independent consideration of the matter. Objectivity and not abject surrender is the mantra in such cases. That does not, however, mean that the order passed by a foreign court is not even a factor to be kept in view. But it is one thing to consider the foreign judgment to be conclusive and another to treat it as a factor or consideration that would go into the making of a final decision. Judicial pronouncements on the subject are not on virgin ground. A long line of decisions of the court has settled the approach to be adopted in such matters. The plentitude of pronouncements also leaves cleavage in the opinions on certain aspects that need to be settled authoritatively in an appropriate case.
A survey of law on the subject would, in that view, be necessary and can start with a reference to the decision of this Court in Smt. Satya V. Shri Teja Singh, (1975) 1 SCC
120. That was a case in which the validity of a decree for divorce obtained by the husband from a Court in the State of Naveda (USA) fell for examination. This Court held that the answer to the question depended upon the Rules of private International Law. Since no system of Private International Law existed that could claim universal recognition, the Indian Courts had to decide the issue regarding the validity of the decree in accordance with the Indian law. Rules of Private International Law followed by other countries could not be adopted mechanically, especially when principles underlying such rules varied greatly and were moulded by the distinctive social, political and economic conditions obtaining in different countries. This Court also traced the development of law in America and England and concluded that while British Parliament had found a solution to the vexed questions of recognition of decrees granted by foreign courts by enacting "The recognition of Divorces and Legal Separations Act, 1971" our Parliament had yet to do so. In the facts and circumstances of that case the Court held that the husband was not domiciled in Naveda and that his brief stay in that State did not confer any jurisdiction upon the Naveda Court to grant a decree dissolving the marriage, he being no more than a bird of passage who had resorted to the proceedings there solely to find jurisdiction and obtain a decree for divorce by misrepresenting the facts as regards his domicile in that State. This Court while refusing to recognize the decree observed:
"True that the concept of domicile is not uniform throughout the world and just as long residence does not by itself establish domicile, a brief residence may not negative it. But residence for a particular purpose falls to answer the qualitative test for, the purpose being accomplished the residence would cease. The residence must answer "a qualitative as well as a quantitative test", that is, the two elements of factum et animus must concur. The respondent went to Naveda forum-hunting, found a convenient jurisdiction which would easily purvey a divorce to him and left it even before the ink on his domiciliary assertion was dry. Thus the decree of the Naveda Court lacks jurisdiction. It can receive no recognition in our courts."
(emphasis ours)
In Dhanwanti Joshi v. Madhav Unde 1998(1) SCC 112, one of the questions that fell for consideration was whether the bringing away of a child to India by his mother contrary to an order of US Court would have any bearing on the decision of the Courts in India while deciding about the custody and the welfare of the child. Relying upon McKee v. KcKee, 1951 AC 352: 1951(1) All ER 942 and J v. C 1970 AC 668:1969(1) All ER 788, this Court held that it was the duty of the Courts in the country to which a child is removed to consider the question of custody, having regard to the welfare of the child. In doing so, the order passed by the foreign court would yield to the welfare of the child and that Comity of Courts simply demanded consideration of any such order issued by foreign courts and not necessarily their enforcement. This court further held that the conduct of a summary or elaborate inquiry on the question of custody by the Court in the country to which the child has been removed will depend upon the facts and circumstance of each case. For instance summary jurisdiction is exercised only if the court to which the child had been removed is moved promptly and quickly, for in that event, the Judge may well be persuaded to hold that it would be better for the child that the merits of the case are investigated in a court in his native country, on the expectation that an early decision in the native country would be in the interests of the child before the child could develop roots in the country to which he had been removed. So also the conduct of an elaborate inquiry may depend upon the time that had elapsed between the removal of the child and the institution of the proceedings for custody. This would mean that longer the time gap, the lesser the inclination of the Court to go for a summary inquiry. The court rejected the prayer for returning the child to the country from where he had been removed and observed:
"31. The facts of the case are that when the respondent moved the courts in India and in the proceedings of 1986 for habeas corpus and under Guardians and Wards Act, the courts in India thought it best in the interests of the child to allow it to continue with the mother in India, and those orders have also become final. The Indian courts in 1993 or 1997, when the child had lived with his mother for nearly 12 years, or more, would not exercise a summary jurisdiction to return the child to USA on the ground that its removal from USA in 1984 was contrary to orders of US courts." We must at this stage refer to two other decisions of this Court, reliance upon which was placed by the learned counsel for the parties. In Sarita Sharma v. Sushil Sharma (2000) 3 SCC 14 this Court was dealing with an appeal arising out of a habeas corpus petition filed before the High Court of Delhi in respect of two minor children aged 3 years and 7 years respectively. It was alleged that the children were in illegal custody of Sarita Sharma their mother. The High Court had allowed the petition and directed the mother to restore the custody of the children to Sushil Sharma who was in turn permitted to take the children to U.S.A. without any hindrance. One of the contentions that was urged before this Court was that the removal of children from U.S.A. to India was against the orders passed by the American Court, which orders had granted to the father the custody of the minor children. Allowing the appeal and setting aside the judgment of the High Court, this Court held that the order passed by the U.S. courts constituted but one of the factors which could not override the consideration of welfare of the minor children. Considering the fact that the husband was staying with his mother aged about 80 years and that there was no one else in the family to lookafter the children, this Court held that it was not in the interest of the children to be put in the custody of the father who was addicted to excessive alcohol. Even this case arose out of a writ petition and not a petition under the Guardians and Wards Act.
In V. Ravi Chandran (Dr.) (2) v. Union of India and Ors. (2010) 1 SCC 174 also this Court was dealing with a habeas corpus petition filed directly before it under Article 32 of the Constitution. This Court held that while dealing with a case of custody of children removed by a parent from one country to another in contravention of the orders of the court where the parties had set up their matrimonial home, the court in the country to which the child has been removed must first consider whether the court could conduct an elaborate enquiry on the question of custody or deal with the matter summarily and order the parent to return the custody of the child to the country from which he/she was removed, leaving all aspects relating to child's welfare to be investigated by Court in his own country. This Court held that in case an elaborate enquiry was considered appropriate, the order passed by a foreign court may be given due weight depending upon the circumstances of each case in which such an order had been passed. Having said so, this Court directed the child to be sent back to U.S. and issued incidental directions in that regard.
In Shilpa Aggarwal (Ms.) v. Aviral Mittal & Anr. (2010) 1 SCC 591 this Court followed the same line of reasoning. That was also a case arising out of a habeas corpus petition before the High Court of Delhi filed by the father of the child. The High Court had directed the return of the child to England to join the proceedings before the courts of England and Wales failing which the child had to be handed over to the petitioner-father to be taken to England as a measure of interim custody leaving it for the court in that country to determine which parent would be best suited to have the custody of the child. That direction was upheld by this Court with the observation that since the question as to what is in the interest of the minor had to be considered by the court in U.K. in terms of the order passed by the High Court directing return of the child to the jurisdiction of the said court did not call for any interference.
We do not propose to burden this judgment by referring to a long line of other decisions which have been delivered on the subject, for they do not in our opinion state the law differently from what has been stated in the decisions already referred to by us. What, however, needs to be stated for the sake of a clear understanding of the legal position is that the cases to which we have drawn attention, as indeed any other case raising the question of jurisdiction of the court to determine mutual rights and obligation of the parties, including the question whether a court otherwise competent to entertain the proceedings concerning the custody of the minor, ought to hold a summary or a detailed enquiry into the matter and whether it ought to decline jurisdiction on the principle of comity of nations or the test of the closest contact evolved by this Court in Smt. Surinder Kaur Sandhu v. Harbax Singh Sandhu and Anr. (1984) 3 SCC 698 have arisen either out of writ proceedings filed by the aggrieved party in the High Court or this Court or out of proceedings under the Guardian & Wards Act. Decisions rendered by this Court in Mrs. Elizabeth Dinshaw v. Arvand M. Dinshaw and Anr. (1987) 1 SCC 42, Sarita Sharma's case (supra), V. Ravi Chandran's case (supra), Shilpa Aggarwal's case (supra) arose out of proceedings in the nature of habeas corpus. The rest had their origin in custody proceedings launched under the Guardian & Wards Act. Proceedings in the nature of Habeas Corpus are summary in nature, where the legality of the detention of the alleged detenue is examined on the basis of affidavits placed by the parties. Even so, nothing prevents the High Court from embarking upon a detailed enquiry in cases where the welfare of a minor is in question, which is the paramount consideration for the Court while exercising its parens patriae jurisdiction. A High Court may, therefore, invoke its extra ordinary jurisdiction to determine the validity of the detention, in cases that fall within its jurisdiction and may also issue orders as to custody of the minor depending upon how the court views the rival claims, if any, to such custody. The Court may also direct repatriation of the minor child for the country from where he/she may have been removed by a parent or other person; as was directed by this Court in Ravi Chandran's & Shilpa Agarwal's cases (supra) or refuse to do so as was the position in Sarita Sharma's case (supra). What is important is that so long as the alleged detenue is within the jurisdiction of the High Court no question of its competence to pass appropriate orders arises. The writ court's jurisdiction to make appropriate orders regarding custody arises no sooner it is found that the alleged detenue is within its territorial jurisdiction.
In cases arising out of proceedings under the Guardian & Wards Act, the jurisdiction of the Court is determined by whether the minor ordinarily resides within the area on which the Court exercises such jurisdiction. There is thus a significant difference between the jurisdictional facts relevant to the exercise of powers by a writ court on the one hand and a court under the Guardian & Wards Act on the other. Having said that we must make it clear that no matter a Court is exercising powers under the Guardian & Wards Act it can choose to hold a summary enquiry into the matter and pass appropriate orders provided it is otherwise competent to entertain a petition for custody of the minor under Section 9(1) of the Act. This is clear from the decision of this Court in Dhanwanti Joshi v. Madhav Unde(1998) 1 SCC 112, which arose out of proceedings under the Guardian & Wards Act. The following passage is in this regard apposite:
"We may here state that this Court in Elizabeth Dinshaw v. Arvand M. Dinshaw (1987) 1 SCC 42 while dealing with a child removed by the father from USA contrary to the custody orders of the US Court directed that the child be sent back to USA to the mother not only because of the principle of comity but also because, on facts, -- which were independently considered -- it was in the interests of the child to be sent back to the native State. There the removal of the child by the father and the mother's application in India 46 were within six months. In that context, this Court referred to H. (infants), Re (1966) 1 ALL ER 886 which case, as pointed out by us above has been explained in L. Re (1974) 1 All ER 913, CA as a case where the Court thought it fit to exercise its summary jurisdiction in the interests of the child. Be that as it may, the general principles laid down in McKee v. McKee (1951) 1 All ER 942 and J v. C (1969) 1 All ER 788 and the distinction between summary and elaborate inquiries as stated in L. (infants), Re (1974) 1 All ER 913, CA are today well settled in UK, Canada, Australia and the USA. The same principles apply in our country. Therefore nothing precludes the Indian courts from considering the question on merits, having regard to the delay from 1984 -- even assuming that the earlier orders passed in India do not operate as constructive res judicata."
It does not require much persuasion for us to hold that the issue whether the Court should hold a summary or a detailed enquiry would arise only if the Court finds that it has the jurisdiction to entertain the matter. If the answer to the question touching jurisdiction is in the negative the logical result has to be an order of dismissal of the proceedings or return of the application for presentation before the Court competent to entertain the same. A Court that has no jurisdiction to entertain a petition for custody cannot pass any order or issue any direction for the return of the child to the country from where he has been removed, no matter such removal is found to be in violation of an order issued by a Court in that country. The party aggrieved of such removal, may seek any other remedy legally open to it. But no redress to such a party will be permissible before the Court who finds that it has no jurisdiction to entertain the proceedings.
Posted by The Legal Blog at 5:04 PM
Category Family Law, Legal Concepts
Given that with this judgment citizenship of the child is not a factor, if a child custody case is delayed due to the legal process for over 5 years and the left-behind parent is left high and dry as he has no material to fight the case of merits as events subsequent to the abduction are also pleaded, what is the course of action left for the left-behind parents? Justice has to be equitable. How do you address such an imbalance between the parties?
vishal January 25, 2012 at 1:38 PM
I find that lwas are being tweaked to favour only MOThers AS IF fATHERS ARE TOTALLY INCAPABLE
long island divorce lawyer March 9, 2012 at 8:09 AM
Divorce and other family matters really give stress to both parties. In getting a custody for a minor, a court always favors the party that can provide the best interest of the child.
Anne March 29, 2012 at 8:52 AM
I agree with the last comment. If the judge finds out that the mother or the father is more capable of giving the best to the children, then the sole custody will be given either to the mother or the father. However, in some case, abductions happen. A parent who does not have any custody tries to abduct his/her children. This kind of act is punishable by law. las vegas divorce lawyers
family lawyers perth April 10, 2012 at 11:00 AM
Legal custody is one of the most difficult parts in family law. It is in the hands of the judge on whether a single custody is to be given or an equal custody for both parents. It is imperative to get and hire lawyers who have expertise in handling family matters.
can't blame every advocate -- tons of advocates with deep knowledge of subject exist
In Indian Judiciary, I have seen from my own case & then from others' cases, that only a Mother or a deceased mother's wishes only can play a custody of a Real FATHER. How can it be possible ?! Where are the Human Rights' Activists ? Is Father, in Hindu Law, not Everything so far as each & every matter of a minor Son or minor Daughter's concern is there. But, now in a Test-tube Baby Era, a mother & her parents, her Brother/s , sister/s ( married or unmarried ) also tell her that this is/these are your own Son/s or/and daughter/s. Laws are of us, your husband can not do anything with us, if we keep Permanent Custody with us. In Educated & Wealthy Families , this happens 90%. Court also sees a minor's Wishes/paramount Interests. But a well Educated Father serving in Punjab National Bank & a mother serving in Dist. Panchayat service & staying seperately from Husband's Parents since marriage, what right with maternal uncle or maternal aunt or NANA has got right to do with permanent Custody.? Actually, there must not be a single LAW or Rule for Monors whose father/mother is alive, court has nothing to do with anything . When a minor requires huge money for his/her better Education , does a court pays Maney from court's own pocket ? It orders only to pay from a FATHER's pocket. If court has so much sympathy than all below poverty line & whose Farher & Mother are no more , courts of India must adopt each & every child & maintain them from their own pocket.
With all dur respect, In Indian Judiciary, I have seen from my own case & then from others' cases, that only a Mother or a deceased mother's wishes only can play a custody of a minor & not a Real FATHER. How can it be possible ?! Where are the Human Rights' Activists ? Is Father, in Hindu Law, not Everything so far as each & every matter of a minor Son or minor Daughter's concern is there. But, now in a Test-tube Baby Era, a mother & her parents, her Brother/s , sister/s ( married or unmarried ) also tell her ( a mother ) that this is/these are your own Son/s or/and daughter/s. Indian Laws are of us, your husband can not do anything with us, if we keep Permanent Custody of your minor son/daughter with us. In Educated & Wealthy Families , this happens 90%. Court also sees a minor's Wishes/paramount Interests. But a well Educated Father serving in Punjab National Bank & a mother serving in Dist. Panchayat service & staying seperately from Husband's Parents since marriage, what right with maternal uncle or maternal aunt or NANA/NANI has got right to do with permanent Custody of their sister/daughter's minor son/s & daughter/s ????? Actually, there must not be a single LAW or Rule for Minors whose father/mother is alive, court has nothing to do with anything . When a minor requires huge money for his/her better Education , does a court pays Many from court's own pocket ? It orders only to pay from a FATHER's pocket. If court has so much sympathy than all below poverty line & whose Farher & Mother are no more , courts of India must adopt each & every child & maintain them from their own pocket. Welfare is a very very very LARGE Word & meaning. It can not be measured by a Judge of anybody's own minor son/daughter. Even an Animal bites a man , if that man/person is taking away it's kids from it's custody. Say for an Example : A Female Dog with 3-5 minor Dogs.
With all due Respect, I'll always ask or talk in a layman's manner. Because, most of Indian Public are semi-literate/illiterate & so far legal terms,meanings, judgments' meanings are concerned, always a prudent Lawyer can not speak or he/she will speak either way. So, let me ask a very very very simple situation, that a minor born & brought up at place A upto Age of 3 & a hallf years old. Than he was put in a Boarding/Hostel by both his parents for his further Education , he studied their for five years continuously. Now parents started demanding his son back to their own custody. The Ractor of Hostel/Boarding was issueless & he developed so much intimacy during a span of 5 years with minor, now the Hostel Ractor denied to return back Custody. Now ( except High Court & Supreme Court ) so far as jurisdiction is concerned, under which place's jurisdiction a custody proceeding of court lies ? I am not concerned with any matter of RIGHT of custody , simple ( in a layman's speech ) whether A's jurisdiction or B's jurisdiction ? Assuming that both A & B are in different states of India. Please don't give Indian Court's Judgment for illustration. Simple very very very simple Answer I want for understanding of Indian Layman.
At point A
Neethu Kush February 23, 2016 at 1:41 PM
Will I get Sole guardian for my child who is 4 years old? I have applied GWC in Bangalore family court. In my case my marital life was only for couple of months. When I was in advance pregnency we got seperated. The paternity of the child is disputed in the divorce petition. He never came to see my child till now and never involved in any welfare of the child. The decree of divorce obtained in 2014 saying that marriage is dissolved. But the custody of child is missing in the order. So I filed seperate case GWC in Bangalore family court. My ex is married to someone and leading his own life. Till now he haven't taken care of welfare of mine and child. Now I got the opportunity to travel abroad. I want to take my child to overseas. So I need Child custody. I already taken her to abroad by taking affidavit from ex saying that he dont have any objection to provide sole guardianship to me.Now I am back to india and continuing case GWC in Bangalore to get court order. Now my ex is playing game, putting objection,not attending mediation,and court proceedings. He just want to drag the proceedings so that I can miss the opportunities. Kindly help me what will be the result in my case. He is completely uninvolved father.
Neethu
Great post today. An interesting read for any person who would agree with your views. Long may these posts continue. family court
I got separated from my wife last year due to her extra marital affairs. I am staying in karnataka with my kids (Including Minor) from last one year. My wife has filed DV case and prayed kids custody in Delhi court. Will Section 9 of the Guardian and Wards Act would be relevant here and help me to file dismissal case in Delhi or transfer the case in Karnataka?
JITENDER DALAL March 1, 2018 at 11:40 AM
Yes, you can filed objections in Delhi court.
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Burgundy Park resident Dick Lentz holds a binder showing some of the research that was needed to create a Public Improvement District.
Photo by Mary Wolbach Lopert
spotlight featured
The Burgundy Park PID
By Mary Wolbach Lopert Editorial@lhvc.com
The following is part of an ongoing series dealing with road conditions in Gunbarrel and Niwot. The Courier previously has covered what types of road problems are currently being fixed. The following article covers how the Burgundy Park subdivision created a PID to fix and maintain its roads.
While everybody talks about the poor conditions of subdivision roads, there is one small community that has done something about it. In 2017, the Burgundy Park subdivision in Niwot formed a Public Improvement District (PID) to address the deteriorating roads.
PIDs are created to help finance community infrastructure, such as roads, parks and other amenities. While new developments frequently sell bonds to finance these improvements, with property owners paying back those bonds through assessments, the Burgundy Park PID was created in partnership with Boulder County where the county acted as the bank.
The Back Story
In 1995, the then Boulder County Commissioners and Planning Commission changed the Comprehensive Plan policy with respect to roads in unincorporated Boulder County, essentially declaring that the county would no longer rebuild rural subdivision roads that the county had accepted from the developer. As reported in the Courier’s May 1 issue, county road crews will do some maintenance, such as filling potholes and sealing cracks, but short of being a highly dangerous road, the county will not repair roadbed issues.
The county’s change in policy has been unsuccessfully challenged in court, and all appeals have been turned down. What the county did do initially, was to create a $1 million incentive fund as a way to share the cost of fixing deteriorating rural subdivision roads. That fund was short-lived.
According to former NCA president Dick Piland, who spearheaded the effort to reverse the county’s ruling on road repair, “The county withdrew [the incentive fund] … and the reason they give is that FEMA has not reimbursed them for the road repairs [the county] made after the September 2013 floods. Something like $35 million is what the county thinks FEMA owes them.”
The Burgundy Park PID: The devil is in the details
Dick Lentz, long-time resident of Burgundy Park, was instrumental in working out the details of a remarkable PID. Lentz said, after the failed court challenges, in 2016 the county proposed a Willing Partner Arrangement where “the county would pay for 30 percent of the reconstruction of your roads if you’ll join us in a partnership.”
Creating a PID involved months of research. Starting in 2017, Lentz said he, Lance Carlson and HOA president Steve Ekman looked into other PIDs as well as the legal aspects for regulations that affect the formations of PIDs in Colorado, so that they could create a petition for a PID for Burgundy Park.
To create a petition for the county, there were numerous meetings with other Burgundy Park homeowners to get their input and concerns. “We took every one of their issues and went back to the county and said the homeowners would like ‘this’ or, they like ‘that.’ We found that the county was very agreeable to tweak this petition before it ever got on the ballot,” Lentz said.
One of the issues Burgundy Park residents were concerned about was making sure that once passed, taxes for the PID would not go up. There is a provision in the PID, which states that taxes will go down if the cost of the work is below the estimate.
Another stipulation was to make it very clear that the residents would not be charged for routine maintenance, but only for an additional overlay.
Once the homeowners were in agreement, a petition was created that went to the county to have the county’s legal team review it. Boulder County then put out a resolution. Lentz said they were very careful and made sure that the wording of the county’s resolution matched that of the original petition and any tweaking the county might have done would be dealt with.
As an example of the tweaking, Lentz said, “Because of Tabor [the county] had put a provision that said taxes may be reduced. We said, ‘No.’ Our understanding is [taxes] will be reduced and it’s permanent, which is a pretty significant difference, because they wanted the ability to raise it back up. They took that back out.”
What’s the upshot?
Lentz said the PID “is an agreement between us and the county and it restricts them. It gives us a service, but it restricts what they can do. They can’t raise our taxes. They can’t charge us beyond a certain amount. They have to do the work within a certain time frame.”
As for approving the PID, out of the approximately 110 residents in the subdivision, Lentz said 72 voted and out of that number, 80 percent approved it.
In addition, Lentz said that the residents agreed to postpone the repairs from 2018 to 2019, because the county was going to be repaving Niwot Road. Burgundy Park would profit from what Lentz describes as a bulk discount.
“To do the road independently,” Lentz said, “would have been very expensive. They said they’re doing Niwot Road and they’ll swing by … and do your roads while we’re doing Niwot Road.”
In an email dated June 19, Lentz writes that the projected cost for the project is estimated at $1,082,000 and has resulted in a tax increase of $120 per year per $100,00 of property value for each home in the subdivision..
Ultimately, Lentz feels the subdivision got “a pretty good deal.” Homes are being assessed between $200 to $900 dollars per year for the roads, depending on the value of the home. Having the county do the repairs piggybacked onto the Niwot Road repaving “probably saved us hundreds of thousands of dollars,” he said.
In the end, Lentz said, “Although I don’t believe that forming a PID is the only solution for addressing the problems with our subdivision roads, it is one of the options available. But if we are going to have a reasoned discussion about all of our options, it would be best if it started with an accurate representation of them.”
The following link to the Burgundy Park HOA home page provides information for other subdivisions considering implementing a Public Improvement District. https://burgundyparkhoa.wordpress.com/pid-proposal-faq/
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Pitcher Chris Rodriguez on the mound for the Boulder Collegians in their 11-6 win over the Colorado Sox on Saturday, July 6.
Photo by Jocelyn Rowley
Third baseman Kix Ferrel makes a dive for a ground ball in the Boulder Collegians 11-6 win over the Colorado Sox on Saturday, July 6.
Boulder Collegians pitcher Chris Rodriguez waits for the umpire’s call on a play at home plate against the Colorado Sox on Saturday, July 6.
Former Niwot pitcher Caleb Martinez is playing collegiate ball for the Northwest Nazarene Nighthawks.
By Jocelyn Rowley Editorial@lhvc.com
It’s been a whirlwind year for former Niwot pitcher Caleb Martinez, so when he was offered the chance to return to the friendly confines of Scott Carpenter Park and the Boulder Collegians for summer baseball, the right-hander didn’t have to think very hard about it.
“I played for the younger BoCo team when I was 16, and that was really fun and a good level of competition to be at,” Martinez said after a recent appearance on the mound for the Collegians, Boulder’s collegiate league team featuring players from NCAA programs across the country. “Now I play for the upper level Collegians, and this team is great. I’ve known Matt [Jensen] for a while, and it’s a great group of guys and a great group of coaches. For the most part, it just like a normal summer team to me—we travel around, there're doubleheaders all the time, there're 100-degree games, and a lot of rain outs.”
Martinez is enjoying the comforts of home after a freshman year that ended in a different place than it started. Last fall, he enrolled in the University of Sioux Falls in South Dakota and started working out with the baseball team. By the end of the semester, however, he decided to take his talents to Northwest Nazarene University (Nampa, Idaho) and compete for the Division II Nighthawks.
“It is a higher level and there is definitely a higher expectation for how you play, compared to high school,” he said of the collegiate level competition. “But I’m very happy where I’m at and I’m really pleased with where I’m going baseball-wise. A lot of upperclassmen graduated this year, so the coaches are asking the underclassmen to step up a little bit more, and I’m in that group, so I’m going to continue to get better, continue to get stronger, and hopefully do the best that I can for the team.”
After a bit of a rough start, Martinez is enjoying success with the Collegians this summer, especially since the last week of June. In eight appearances, he’s amassed a 2-1 record, and allowed 15 total runs on 26 hits. He also made an appearance in the Rocky Mountain Collegiate Baseball League all-star game on June 26.
Martinez’s success on the mound isn’t a surprise to Collegians general manager and former Niwot assistant coach Matt Jensen. Jensen recruited Martinez to his youth club program and has followed his career closely ever since.
“It warms my heart to see a guy like Caleb—who a lot of people wrote off and who maybe doesn’t have overpowering stuff and throw 90 miles an hour—be able to go out there and compete because of the individual that he is. It goes to show you that substance outweighs talent any day.”
Jensen said that recruiting local players like Martinez is a top priority for the Collegians, who are now in their seventh season since Jensen resurrected the team back in 2013. Former Niwot standouts Bryan Meek (‘14) and Connor Messinger (’11) both played for the 2015 squad, and Connor’s brother Skye Messinger (‘17), now with the University of Kansas, was an infielder for the club two years ago. Boulder businessman Bauldie Moschetti owned and managed an earlier iteration of the club between 1964 and 1980, and more than 100 players from that squad went on to play in the major leagues, including Joe Carter and Tony Gwynn.
“I know how important it is to offer local guys an opportunity to play at a very high level, because I was one of those guys. I grew up playing right here on this field. I’ve told guys from the very beginning that I will take them if they reach out to me.”
The Collegians are currently 17-14 on the year, but sit in third place in the RMCBL standings, behind the Colorado Sox and Fort Collins Foxes. According to Jensen, the season has been a “bit of a roller coaster,” with pitching proving to be especially challenging, Martinez notwithstanding.
“That’s kind of the way it is almost every year. You find out who your players are who are dedicated and committed to being here. Everybody says that on day one, but it’s the guys who are here on the last day, that get the most out of the summer.”
Martinez definitely plans to be one of those guys. He and the team are heading out for a road-trip to Kansas and then will wrap up the season at home on July 17. If the Collegians qualify for postseason play, that will begin on July 22. Until then, Martinez plans to keep working hard and remains grateful for the opportunity for one more chance to play before a hometown crowd.
“It’s definitely been an experience. I had some mechanical issues at the beginning of the season, but I think I’ve worked through that, and personally I feel like I’ve been pitching a lot better. I think I’m on an upward trajectory.”
Student-Athlete of the Week: Caleb Martinez
You wouldn’t know it from his win-loss record, but right-handed pitcher Caleb Martinez had an impressive 2018. In 10 appearances for Niwot, th…
Baseball: Martinez goes the distance against first-place Longmont
Baseball: Martinez throws complete game in 4-2 win over Thompson Valley
Boulder Collegians
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Plants, Gardens, Musings and More
Life in Plants
Winter Mood
This post should come with a warning perhaps: It is a deeply personal piece and will have little to do with plants. And while I usually try to write positively, or at least give my posts a positive spin to make them a little uplifting, I’m not sure I’ll manage this time.
As I write, the sun shines from a clear blue sky, the birds tweet like mad, it’s warm enough to sit short-sleeved on the roof terrace, the forecast having promised temperatures of up to 18 degrees Celsius: everything screams SPRING. Yet it is only mid-February, today is the last day of school before the winter break and children here would normally expect (or at least hope for) frost and snow. Indeed, there are bits left over from a snow storm less than two weeks ago that was heavy enough to ground planes for a day at our local airport. It’s truly weird – and so are my feelings about it. On the one hand I long for nothing more than the return of the sun, warmer days, flowers and green, the return of life. On the other I don’t feel ready for it just yet. It just doesn’t feel appropriate – and that, for me, is only in a very small way linked to the time of year.
There was an early bee humming next to me, gathering nectar in the collapsed and shrivelled Helleborus niger flowers growing in some of my pots. No idea why they have collapsed; maybe for a lack of water at some point – or perhaps because of too much moisture when the frost hit? In any case, they are a very sorry sight indeed and I took pity on the bee. Yet it would accept neither the tulip flowers in a vase, nor the highly fragrant white flowers of the Sarcoccoca confusa which I brought from its winter quarters in order to offer the poor insect something fresh! It much preferred the Helleborus. The bee on the dead flowers seems an apt metaphor for my own situation. This winter has been horrible, and I’m not talking about the weather.
Several personal crises have converged over the past months, some long-running, some more recent. The move back to Germany last summer has contributed, not least as I’ve lost not only my own beloved garden but also immediate access to Kew, always a source of comfort, and the network of people and friends for everyday moral support I had in London. You know, the heart-to-heart over a shared coffee, the chat with other mums in the playground whilst the children are running around… The situation with Brexit hasn't helped either. At the end of 2018, I mentally hit rock bottom.
The cat in the bag, the tree in the net...
While usually I’m a sucker for Christmas, this – last – year for various reasons I was dreading it. To the point of not really wanting or caring to have a Christmas tree. For the first time ever in my life I felt that indeed this was just grooming and dressing a dead horse. It did not seem to represent the anticipation, the joy of Christmas with its lights but something dead: dolled up, but still dead and sad. In the end, however, the children and I went out to buy one. Poignantly perhaps, when we got to the yard where over the last few weeks I had seen the Christmas tree sale, everything was dark and deserted.
Now, unlike in Britain many people in Germany will not put up the tree before actual Christmas, with Christmas Eve morning being the time to decorate it as this is the big and main day for us. So a week before that did not really seem too late to be buying a tree. Yet when I asked the lady at the till in the small petrol station nextdoor, she confirmed that indeed the sale here was over for this year. However, there were a few left-over trees the seller had left, readily netted for transport, leaning against the wall of the yard with bits of paper attached that told the suggested price people should pay for them and leave with her at the petrol station, for the seller to collect later. She assured me that the trees, grown regionally, were usually well-shaped and since I didn’t have much of an option (i.e. no car and no other point of sale anywhere nearby – this was just a tram stop from our place) we bought the cat in the bag, or more precisely the Christmas tree in the net.
Unlike other years, it was not a Nordmann fir (Abies nordmanniana) but a Blue Spruce (Picea pungens) and as I was lugging the 2.50 m tree home – the kids helping to carry it at the sawn-off end and the tip – it felt more like I was hugging a cactus, the needles sharp and stiff like a hedgehog’s spines. We got it home and upstairs and put it outside on the roof terrace of our flat for the remaining days. I didn’t see it as an omen but neither did it lift the mood when three days later in high winds and torrential rain the tree was toppled and fell – without much damage – despite being sheltered in the roof’s recess and screwed tight into the tree stand.
Not in Christmas spirits...
On the night of December 23rd, as I was wrapping presents, I got a phone call from my sister telling me that Dad had been brought into hospital the night before. Again. Dad has been in and out of hospital since June on an almost fortnightly basis, his health not having been great for years but steeply declining throughout 2018. Despite the move back to Germany (a decision that had been taken before this decline started), I still live more than 400 kilometres away from my parents and when I had last seen them in mid-October I had been shocked: there was definitely no longer any chance pretending that Dad would ever get “well” again, i.e. a fairly fit almost-octogenarian. It wasn’t so much that he had a terminal illness but several age-related conditions, among them a heart capacity of only 25 per cent, and regular shortness of breath, including choking fits that doctors struggled to find a cause for.
I could tell that the latest incident had been pretty bad, not least because my sister talked about it with such deliberate calm – meant to be reassuring but I can read between the lines. Precisely how bad I would only discover a few days later though. I found myself in a deep conflict: on the one hand I wanted to come straight away to be with my dad. On the other, I had my own children who looked forward to Christmas, not to mention some ill-health myself which eventually saw me spend the afternoon of Christmas Eve at A & E to be prescribed antibiotics, so I felt physically rotten on top of everything. Mum and my sister both said there was nothing I could do at the moment and that it made little sense for me to come straight away, especially with the extra risk of infecting already severely weakened Dad. He was stable, they said, but very tired and even had sent the two of them away during visiting hour in order to be able to get some rest.
In case you are wondering now: unlike for most Brits, Christmas does not self-evidently mean a big family gathering for us, even though we are very close. For various reasons, one being the very small flat my parents live in, another my dad’s health that prevented him from a 13hour journey with multiple changes between trains, plane and busses to our home in London, the last few Christmases we had spent separately, preferring to visit at other times of year.
On moving back to Germany I had looked forward to welcoming my parents to our new home which wasn’t just more spacious but a fairly straight-forward train ride away. Alas, that was not to be anymore. Even before the latest hospital admission there was little hope he’d ever come to see our place in person, certainly not in winter. Thus, when my own little family gathered under the Christmas tree this time, I sadly reflected on that missed opportunity in all our lives. And still I had no real idea how bad things were – or rather: how different to previous hospital admissions.
Coming home...
Then on the 27th – totally unexpected not just to my family but to some extent even to doctors – my dad was deemed well enough to be discharged home the following day. On learning that, I packed a few things and took the train. We originally had planned to visit after New Year, the children and I, when their father would be back in London, but now plans of course had changed.
My sister picked me up at the train station and filled me in on the details they so far had kept from me. Namely, that on the 22nd my mum and sister had seriously feared Dad was to die before emergency crews would reach them. And then, once he was safely in hospital and mum and sis had been told they could go home, just a few hours later they were called back in as doctors thought Dad would soon take his last breath. They had then frantically consulted the train timetable, found there was no chance I’d make it there that night and therefore had decided against calling me at that very moment. As it turned out, Dad was not in quite such a bad state yet, the alarm was called off just two hours later, and by the time my sister had called me the following day he was not well but at least stable. Hearing all that I was doubly grateful I’d taken the train now…
Arriving at my parents’ home, I found Dad in his bed, exhausted and clearly very poorly but with a happy smile to see me. The following days were an emotional rollercoaster, to say the least, as things looked a bit better one moment only for the next to seem as if he wouldn’t make it through the night.
On the day after my arrival he felt well enough to get dressed and sit in the living room, enjoying once more the sight of a Christmas tree and the two of us quietly sharing happy memories as it had been me and him who usually dressed – and later as painstakingly undressed – the Christmas tree when I was a child. It had been the same decoration then as it was now: simple red baubles, still reminiscent of the red apples they originally symbolized, electric candles rather than fairy lights, handmade straw stars. The only difference was the lack of tinsel now. Back in the day we had tinsel made of lead foil which was hung strand by strand on the branches until the whole tree looked like it was covered in a veil of silver. It had to be taken down in the same laborious way, too: gathered over one hand or arm and eventually tied at both ends of the bunch with a thread of wool, to safely be kept until next Christmas.
Dad also asked me to read him the words of a song he had sung every Christmas Eve with his parents and siblings when he was a boy himself, telling me that each year all their neighbours would listen too as his father had a celebrated voice and my dad was accompanying the family on the piano. I felt it to be a very special moment although I don’t think my reading did it justice.
Memories shared...
The next two days Dad was entirely bed-bound. He said he wanted to make it into the next year, not sounding confident that he would. Pain and panic attacks during the choking fits that had plagued him for months had left him wishing for a quick and quiet death – he’d confessed to me a few times before: “If there was a button I could push to end this all, I definitely would” – yet human nature clings to life and the unknown scares us.
As he lay there, he had a good view of and much enjoyed the Malvaviscus arboreus in flower on the window sill. It’s a plant he loved, draping even the spent blooms over foliage indoor plants below, so as to savour their bright red a little longer. Dad said he didn’t remember it ever to flower so profusely before. I was glad I could remind him that the plant came from a cutting I had taken a good fifteen years ago on a joint holiday to Madeira – meaning more happy memories to share.
On New Year’s Eve he wanted to rest at night but asked us to come just before the clock would strike Twelve. We did. My mum, sister and I with a glass of Sekt (German version of Champagne), a glass of homemade elderflower lemonade for my dad. And still he couldn’t take more than a sip before he started to retch again as he had done for much of the previous days. So the four of us sat there, quietly in the dark, one of us either side of him to help him sit upright in bed, watching what fireworks we could see through the window (crazy numbers of private fireworks blasted in the sky being the German way to welcome in the new year).
I don’t know how my dad felt about it – on one level he was clearly glad he had made it, against his fear and a doctor’s prediction, into the new year and seemed to enjoy the spectacle. On the other hand he must have known it was to be his last. Despite irrational hopes – hope is the last thing that dies, they say – deep down we all knew. So sadness and a heavy heart dominated even though we tried to hide it. “Next stage goal is your 80th birthday!” I said, trying to sound cheerful. But I guess he already knew he wasn’t going to make it that far.
Still, the milestone of making it into the new year must have given him a boost for on New Year’s Day he got up and dressed again and even had lunch with us – a tiny portion only, but it was real food rather than the somewhat slimy soup made of flour which had been the only thing he’d occasionally kept down during the last few days.
It didn’t last long though. And when I had to say Good-bye and leave the next day, it was total agony as I felt very strongly that it might be our final farewell.
It was. The next time I saw him, he was already dead. He had died a few minutes before I reached him.
Snowdrops give comfort while Sansevieria meets antipathy
Still, after much suffering throughout January we were extremely grateful that the strong painkillers and sedatives which he had been given after a day of choking fits that came every three minutes meant he died peacefully in the end, something we had hardly dared to hope anymore. I also drew a strange, if tiny, sense of comfort from detecting the first snowdrops in bloom as I arrived: at least he didn’t die in the depth and gloom of midwinter! Nature was no longer “all dead” but showed the first visible signs of its “resurrection”. Surely that was an omen?
I know this is mean of me, but I have to admit that the sight of a Sansevieria trifasciata 'Hahnii' on the other hand repulsed me. It had been a gift to my Dad when he had passed his PhD exam, well before I was born thus I have known it all my life. The idea, however, that this plant which I've never liked since it had never seemed truly alive, never had changed in any visible way, would survive him was simply too much.
However, the most poignant thing to me was the following: Dad’s biggest favourite among the house plants was a Hibiscus schizopetalus, grown with tender loving care from another cutting I had given them years ago. He adored its intricate flowers, marvelled at their lace-like delicacy and shape. Unlike my own though, my parents’ plant sadly flowered very rarely indeed. I suspect it was down to a lack of nutrients in the small pot it had to be confined to and perhaps the pruning, too – both due to the limited space available and yet a desire on my parents’ part to keep this particular favourite.
During Dad’s last few weeks, as he was entirely bed-bound, my mum told him that a bud had formed on their plant and he asked her to take a picture when it would flower and show it to him. When the bud eventually did open, my sister lugged the pot from the living room to his bed instead so he could see the real thing. But, she told me, she wasn’t sure he actually still noticed it.
My own plant meanwhile had fared really badly in December and then again around the end of January: suddenly dropping great numbers of leaves without apparent cause, whole branches dying whilst others remained fairly unscathed. I had – and have – no explanation for it, but was alarmed and very concerned. It seems even stranger then that after months, perhaps even two years with no flower my parents’ Hibiscus schizopetalus by contrast bore another bud. Hibiscus blooms last only one day: the second bud flowered the day my dad died... It was Candlemas, once considered the last day of the Christmas season.
Enjoying Nature's bounty
These days, I fall far short of my aim of posting at fortnightly intervals and realize I have so for quite some time. But I make no apologies. Usually, I have more than enough ideas of what I could write about – but not enough time and/or am not in the state of mind (i.e. mood) to sit down and put thoughts and feelings into a publishable form. After all, this blog is not a commercial enterprise and if life gets in the way for whatever reason then I won’t write. Far better to not stress and obsess about frequency but stick with it in general, even in periods of drought, I think.
Outside, the autumn rains have come and ended, for nature at least, the long drought of the summer. Over the past weeks and months I’ve explored the surroundings of our new home a bit and kept my senses open especially to anything plant-related that would link me with the previous chapter, that would provide a sense of continuity and comfort. Like the seasons turning.
The comparatively small "thing" of the summer heat relenting and leaves changing colour as autumn took hold has been more comforting and reassuring for me than what you’d usually experience and notice when busy in the well-oiled routine of the everyday. Like Christmas, say, that – if you love the tradition – reassuringly comes again and is performed largely to the same rituals and customs every year, providing a sense of stability in a world that seems ever more unstable.
But while customs change and Christmas is not celebrated and loved by everyone, depending very much on your own memories of Christmases past (and, of course, your religion), the seasons’ turning is something that hasn’t changed in millennia and is much less fraught with associations. It is steady indeed and brings perspective to much of what is going on elsewhere. Nothing new or original about this insight, of course, but something we occasionally may need reminding of.
Apart from those general musings, it’s been a particular joy to observe at close quarters the huge beech tree in the yard. Though it has long been my favourite tree species, I’ve never before had such a prime position and view into its crown as I have now, curtesy of the roof terrace and half of the flat’s windows. It has been fascinating to sit there on still late-summer days and hear a constant sound of soft crackling, pop after pop after pop, of the husks cracking open as they ripened and dried.
Quite a few of the seeds, the beechnuts, fell out with a “Plop!” back then already, but most waited until a few weeks later when the first strong gusts of wind shook the branches. Then it became a shower of missiles raining down so hard you instinctively took shelter. Less so on the roof terrace, but certainly when down in the yard. The roof of the carport was a noisy shelter though, the small but solid nuts capable of a drumming far beyond what you’d expect from something that small. Also, I was surprised how loud a bird trying to crack them open could be – it positively sounded as if a person stomped atop the carport’s roof.
The beech nuts and their husks literally covered everything below the tree. I’d never seen such dense carpet before. As acorns likewise were especially abundant this year I figure it must have been what is called a Mastjahr in German – a “fattening year”, the word stemming from a time when villagers would herd their livestock, especially pigs, to the trees so they would feed on the bounty and fatten well. I briefly wondered if the nuts and husks would make a good mulch in my pots over the winter, but of course thousands of beech seedlings would appear come spring and create a problem – especially for someone who is loath to killing a healthy young plant, even if in the wrong spot.
Instead, my little one and I spent a few hours picking tubs full of beech nuts – ostensibly to feed the birds in winter, but I’m not sure the birds really will be the beneficiaries: not only are there still thousands and thousands of nuts on the ground, even after the caretaker has raked most of the leaves and husks away, more importantly, we also love eating them. While tiresome (and back-hurting) to gather and somewhat time-consuming to shell, they are delicious. They have a true nutty, slightly astringent flavour and I actually prefer them to many other nuts.
Bilberries or whortleberries (Vaccinium myrtillus), too, are tiresome to pick in the wild and yet there are so many recipes to put them to good use – why, I wondered, did I not know a single one involving beech nuts? Then I vaguely remembered reading they contain high levels of cyanide thus prohibiting consumption in quantities. A little research confirmed they do indeed contain cyanide and other toxins – although I also read these can effectively be dealt with by either roasting the beechnuts or scalding or blanching them with boiling water. Still, as an occasional snack of a few even raw beechnuts are unlikely to do harm: I think the birds won’t see many of the ones we gathered.
Speaking of birds, I observed no fewer than 9 species regularly in the tree so far: chaffinches, of course, their common German name Buchfink (beech finch) clearly indicating the birds’ preference for this species. Woodpecker, nuthatch, treecreeper and jay did not surprise me either. But I hadn’t known how keen tits – great tits, blue tits, long-tailed tits – were on the nuts. Or was it just insects they were after? No, it certainly didn’t look like that. Likewise the doves. And there I was, thinking they’d only go for soft or grain-like fodder! While not totally unexpected, it certainly is eye-opening to have such close view into a mature tree at crown level.
Obviously, this is the poisonous fly agaric (Amanita muscaria)...
… but they look so much more attractive than the ones we picked!
Aside from the beechnuts, there were other attempts at harvesting nature’s bounty – and not the most obvious kind from orchard or veg plot. For instance, we did go foraging for fungi and found a few. They were of an inferior kind only, nothing to boast about and certainly not on a par with the basket full of big lucious ceps (Boletus edulis) a gentleman we encountered in the forest had gathered.
As every forager of fungi would be, he was evasive about the exact whereabouts of his find but polite enough to not just tell that this year, because of the extremely dry conditions, your best bet was in some lower-lying, moister areas such as the banks of ditches, brooks and ponds – this much I had figured out myself – but, as we were new to the area, to point some out. My little one, who up until this encounter had wanted to return home, was electrified and wouldn’t stop pleading until we turned 180 degree on the spot and walked back, in pursuit of those porcini. Surprise, surprise - we didn’t find any, but, as mentioned above, enough “lesser” edible fungi to make a good meal. I guess we’ll just have to explore and get to know the forest better in the years to come – something I certainly look forward to.
Less expected were the finds on the banks of the big river running through the city, just a few minutes’ walk from our flat: We encountered a great number of tomato plants, all self-seeded and romping happily among the pebbles, with many flower trusses and small green fruit. I can only guess they stem from tomatoes that originally either went overboard from the boats cruising the river or were picnic-leftovers on the banks which the waters have dispersed and then, year by year, seem to have expanded and naturalized.
Recently, with the temperatures dropping, we picked a bag full of the biggest fruit. They were still green but we didn’t want to take chances, hoping instead they’ll continue to ripen at home if put in a bag or tin with a few ripe apples. (The latter releasing the gas Ethylene, which apparently aids the ripening of fruit but is also responsible for cut flowers going over faster which is why you shouldn’t put fruit bowls in the vicinity of flowers – or so I’ve read). It's looking promising so far.
Even more surprising was the water melon we encountered on the river banks: it’s not as if melons are common even in gardens around here. But there it was, surely self-seeded like the tomatoes, with a fruit the size of a fist or small cantaloupe. Once discovered, the little one guarded it as jealously as a hen its eggs. He took up his post next to the plant and wouldn’t budge or leave when another family settled two metres away, blissfully unaware of the treasure. My suggestion to let them in on the secret and in return request they don’t harm the plant or damage the melon was frowned upon, even though the two children sure didn’t look like wanton destroyers and our chances of a melon harvest were next to zilch anyway. For even in the unlikely case of no-one else discovering it, plant and fruit would either freeze to death before ripe or the rising water levels of the river once the rain returned would submerge it. The little one was having none of it – not that afternoon at least.
Sure enough, when we returned last week after a while away, the river had taken it. In fact, there was nothing left of the plant – only pebbles where it had grown. Though not a tidal river, the current must have been strong enough to dig it out and sweep it away. We had better luck when chancing upon the ripe fruit of Cornelian cherries (Prunus mas) – they were at their dark-red, delicious best, juicy and sweet, and only the lack of a kitchen so far (more precisely a stove) to turn the bounty into jam, jelly or anything else held us back from gathering serious amounts. Next year though…
About the Author,
Born and raised in East Berlin, Germany. Has moved a few miles west since, to East London. Gardening since childhood, though first attempts were in what should properly be described a sandpit (yes, Brandenburg’s soil is that poor). After 15 years of indoor-only gardening has upgraded via a small roof terrace to a patio plot crammed with pots. Keeps dreaming about a big garden, possibly with a bit of woodland, a traditional orchard and a walled garden plus a greenhouse or two. Unlikely to happen in this lifetime - but hey, you can always dream.
Plants In Art And Crafts
Science And Stuff
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Linda Orlans
Linda Orlans Appointed to State Building Authority Board of Trustees
ORLANS GROUP FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE CHAIR LINDA M. ORLANS APPOINTED TO STATE BUILDING AUTHORITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES
TROY, Mich., November 20, 2015- Linda M. Orlans, Founder and Executive Chair of Orlans Group, a real estate services group that has served its clients and community with distinction for more than 15 years, has been appointed to the State Building Authority (SBA) Board of Trustees by Gov. Rick Snyder.
The purpose of the State Building Authority is to acquire, construct, furnish, equip, renovate, buildings and equipment for the use of the State, including public universities and community colleges. It is governed by a 5-member Board of Trustees appointed by the governor, with advice and consent of the Senate. The SBA is authorized to issue and sell bonds and notes for acquisition and construction of facilities and State equipment in an aggregate principal amount outstanding not to exceed $2.7 billion. Orlans will serve a four-year term as part of the Board of Trustees.
A lifelong Michigan resident, Orlans is a practicing attorney, lean law advocate and entrepreneur. She serves as the founder and executive chair of Orlans Group, which is comprised of Orlans Associates, P.C., Orlans Moran, PLLC., Atlantic Law Group, LLC., eTitle Agency, Inc., eAMC Agency, eVantage Services and Towne Auction. Orlans Group develops creative solutions for real property transactions for sophisticated clients in 28 states and employs more than 500 professionals.
A graduate of Wayne State University and Michigan State University College of Law, Orlans was awarded the MSU Hon. George Bashara Jr. Distinguished Alumni Award in 2011. Orlans currently serves in leadership roles for a number of organizations, including Beaumont Hospital’s First Word Society, Detroit Institute of Arts, Michigan Opera Theatre, The Heat and Warmth Fund and Beyond Basics She is also the Chair of the Board of Trustees for The Michigan State University College of Law.
For more information about Linda M. Orlans and her business and philanthropic accomplishments, visit www.lindaorlans.com
About Orlans Group
The Orlans Group applies lean process methodology and smart technology to legal processes and real estate services for more accurate, faster and less expensive services. Orlans Group provides intelligence and analytics for critical business decisions from land research to document creation and review for processes that are seamless and transparent.
Posted in Latest News
Orlans Leadership Celebrates MSU College of Law Plaza Dedication »
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Lawrence Ponoroff Named Dean of MSU College of Law March 2, 2016
Beyond Basics Coat Drive December 9, 2015
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Local Youth
Creating ideas and images of a future career is easily one of the most exciting thoughts in a child’s life. However, setting goals, mapping out the path and beginning the journey to that career is not always easy as some basic resources are not widely accessible. Every child deserves the chance to realize his or [...]
Homes 4 Wounded Heroes
Michigan based Orlans Associates, P.C. and eTitle, has partnered with The Military Warriors Support Foundation and its principal partners to provide mortgage-free homes to the nation’s wounded veterans. Orlans is a long supporter of this program through its membership in The National Firm, LLC, a consortium of law firms that serves as the advisor between [...]
When a community is moving forward and taking steps to rebuild, restore, and grow, it is important to help preserve its history and culture while still embracing the new. Keeping the arts and culture of a community in tact takes the support of a group of dedicated citizens and community leaders working towards the same [...]
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Copyright © Linda Orlans. All Rights Reserved.
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Search Results: 'theologies'
5,925 results for "theologies"
Demonology and Theology By C. Matthew McMahon & Nathaniel Holmes
Nathaniel Holmes (or Homes) (1599–1678) was an English puritan, covenanter and prolific Calvinistic writer. He is described as a Puritan writer of great ability, and a scholar. C. Matthew... More > McMahon is a theologian and founder of A Puritan's Mind. The following treatise covers demonology, a study of the devices and black arts of Satan. The study launches with 1 Timothy 4:1, “...giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.” The treatise investigates the occult and the black arts in two ways: 1.Generally, considering them in their causes and means; and, 2. Specially, looking at particular arts pertaining to the operation of strange things like charms, luck, witchcraft, divination by familiar spirits, casting lots, necromancy and astrology (the section on astrology is astoundingly exhaustive and helpful). This work is not a scan or facsimile, has been carefully transcribed by hand being made easy to read in modern English, and has an active table of contents for electronic versions.< Less
Nazarene Theology By James Trimm
A complete systematic theology for the restoration of the ancient sect of the Nazarenes, the original Jewish sect of followers of Yeshua ("Jesus") as the Messiah. Includes chapters on most... More > major areas of theology, and an appendix containing many ancient literary remains of Nazarene Judaism, such as the remains of an ancient Nazarene Commentary on Isaiah. P lus a newly added appendix on the Oral Law.< Less
Systematic Theology By Charles Hodge
Charles Hodge (December 27, 1797, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – June 19, 1878, Princeton, New Jersey) was the principal of Princeton Theological Seminary between 1851 and 1878. A Presbyterian... More > theologian, he was a leading exponent of historical Calvinism in America during the 19th century. He was deeply rooted in the Scottish philosophy of Common Sense Realism. He argued strongly that the authority of the Bible as the Word of God had to be understood literally. Many of his ideas were adopted in the 20th century by Fundamentalists and Evangelicals.< Less
On the Theological Virtues By St. Thomas Aquinas & Fathers Of The English Dominican Province
Saint Thomas Aquinas was the foremost classical proponent of natural theology, and the father of Thomism. His influence on Western thought is considerable, and much of modern philosophy was conceived... More > in development or refutation of his ideas, particularly in the areas of ethics, natural law, metaphysics, and political theory. Thomas is held in the Catholic Church to be the model teacher for those studying for the priesthood. The works for which he is best-known are the Summa theologiae and the Summa Contra Gentiles. As one of the 33 Doctors of the Church, he is considered the Church's greatest theologian and philosopher. Pope Benedict XV declared: "This (Dominican) Order ... acquired new luster when the Church declared the teaching of Thomas to be her own and that Doctor, honored with the special praises of the Pontiffs, the master and patron of Catholic schools.< Less
The Theology of Struggle By Hugh Harmon
In this book find out what struggle is to the believer, the dreamer, the constant aspirant and most importantly how God sees and uses struggle. Pastor Harmon encourages the reader to adopt a mindset... More > that embraces their limitations but trusts completely in the UNLIMITED GOD. He encourages the reader to cooperate with Him fully, so that they may take advantage of the greater possibilities.< Less
Contextualization of Theology By John A. Gration
This book is composed of edited lectures from Dr. Gration. This textbook is required reading in Module 4. Please purchase this book, either as a hard copy textbook or as an e-book download, as a... More > module 4 textbook. < Less
This book is composed of edited lectures from Dr. Gration. This textbook is required reading in Module 4. Please purchase this book, either as a hard copy textbook or as an e-book download, as a... More > module 4 textbook.< Less
Theological Clarity By Scott Thomas
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Women in the Viking age : death, life after death and burial customs
Dressed Viking woman at weaving – photo by Peter van der Sluijs
By Cristina Spatacean
Master’s Thesis, University of Oslo, 2006
Abstract: The focus of the present paper is on the Viking beliefs connected with death, life after death and burial customs in relation to women. It is neither a philological analysis of the written sources that we have at our disposal nor an archaeological analysis of the contemporary evidence. The paper is rather a mentality study of what people believed would happen to women after death.I start from a general presentation of death as understood during the Viking Age and then I continue by referring to the fate of women. I discuss such aspects as the possible death realms open to women after death, the existence and characteristics of the female revenants, the belief in rebirth, and the possibility of communicating with the dead. The last part of the thesis deals with the burial customs practiced in relation to the Viking women: the method of burial, the placement of grave goods, the significance of the ship burial, the raising of memorial stones etc. I finally come to the conclusion that even though women seem to have been quite important in the Viking Age, it is difficult to obtain a unitary picture of the Viking beliefs about death,life after death and burial customs regarding the Viking women.
Introduction: The following thesis is a mentality study focused on the Viking beliefs connected with death, life after death and burial customs in relation to women. My main interest is to find out if it is possible to get a unitary picture of beliefs concerned with the fate of the Viking women after death. The paper is divided into four chapters, the first one being meant as a theoretical background in which I present the previous research done in the field, the aim of the thesis, and the theories and methods that are going to be used. I also take into discussion the various types of sources that form the basis of my thesis and give a short presentation of the concept of Viking religion.
The second chapter is a general presentation of death as understood during the Viking Age. This part of my thesis is meant to explain how death was perceived by the Vikings; life did not end upon the physical death of a member of society but rather went on, either inside the grave or in one of the various death realms. I discuss such aspects as the grave, seen as residence of the dead, the characteristics of the various death realms, the belief in corporeal revenants, and the various customs practiced upon burial: treatment of the body, placement and orientation of the grave, the burial method etc. All these represent an introduction and a background for the analysis of the Viking beliefs in relation to women and their fate after death.
The third chapter starts with a discussion on the importance of women during the Viking Age. The purpose of such a discussion is to see if we should expect to find in the sources enough information regarding the fate of women after death. The whole chapter is focused on the evidence of the written sources concerning the possible death realms open to women after death, the existence of female revenants, the belief in rebirth, and the possibility of communicating with the dead.
The last chapter deals with burial customs as mirrored in the written sources and supplemented by the contemporary material evidence. I start by explaining what burial customs and rituals are, and then I discuss the information found in the sources about the various methods of burial practiced in relation to women, the placement of grave goods, the significance of the ship burial, the raising of memorial stones etc. I also talk about the evidence of the Oseberg burial and interpret it in the context of a story about death, life after death and burial customs. Last but not least, I sum up the information obtained and present it in the form of conclusions.
Click here to read this thesis from the University of Oslo
See also: Viking Women in the Isle of Man
See also: On the Trail of Viking Women
TagsMedieval Women • Norse • Vikings
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1200 FAs Gather in Orlando
Reported by Neil Anderson, Managing Editor
Nearly 1,200 financial advisors and 1,000 of their allies are gathering in Florida this week.
Solon �Bud� Person
Federated Investors, Inc.
Tomorrow morning BNY Mellon's Pershing team will kick off their 18th annual INSITE conference. For the second year in a row, the conference is being held at the Hyatt Regency Orlando. By Pershing's current count, 2,264 people (including 1,199 FAs) will attend the conference.
Featured speakers slated to appear at the conference include: George Blankenship, an alumnus of Apple, GAP, and Tesla; Neil Blumenthal, co-founder and co-CEO of Warby Parker; Donna Brazile, vice chair of voter registration and participation for the Democratic National Committee; Amy Cuddy, social psychologist and associate professor at Harvard Business School; Pimm Fox, co-host of Bloomberg Radio's "Taking Stock"; Kathleen Hays, co-host of Bloomberg Radio's "Taking Stock"; Lauren Bush Lauren, founder and CEO of FEED Projects; Julia Louis-Dreyfus, comedic actress and star of the TV shows Seinfeld and Veep (pinch-hitting for Charlie Rose, who can't make it); Jill Morgenthaler, retired U.S. Army colonel; Dana Perino, co-host of Fox News Channel's "The Five" and former White House Press Secretary; Bud Person, executive vice president of Federated Investors [profile]; and Jay Wright, head coach for Villanova's 2016 national champion men's basketball team.
The list of speakers also features a host of Pershing and BNY Mellon top brass, including: Charles Cardona, CEO of BNY Mellon Cash Investment Strategies and president of the Dreyfus Corporation [profile]; Jim Crowley, chief relationship officer of Pershing; Ron DeCicco, chairman of Pershing; Lisa Dolly, CEO of Pershing; Lori Hardwick, chief operating officer of Pershing; Suresh Kumar, senior executive vice president and chief information officer for BNY Mellon; Ram Nagappan, chief information officer for Pershing; Joan Schwartz, chief legal officer at Pershing; Brian Shea, vice chairman of BNY Mellon and CEO of BNY Mellon Investment Services; Tom Sholes, managing director of Pershing; and Mark Tibergien, CEO of Pershing Advisor Solutions.
Sessions will begin tomorrow morning and wrap up Thursday morning. On Wednesday night, the attendees will head to Pointe Orlando for the INSITE block party, which will spread across three venues: B.B. King's Blues Club, the Lafayette Music Room, and Taverna Opa.
Big sponsors of INSITE 2016 include: Bloomberg Radio, BNY Mellon and Dreyfus, Federated, First Trust [profile], Gotham Funds [profile], Northern Lights Distributors, and Vestorly. Pershing's three charity partners for the conference are the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF), the Camaraderie Foundation, and FEED.
The conference will be switching coasts next year. Word is that the 2017 conference will be held in San Diego.
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Eric Bolling: Brown U Student Who Opposes ROTC Is America Hating 'Jerk'
Posted by Priscilla -24.80pc on February 11, 2015 · Flag
Funny, Fox & Friends is constantly whining about free speech hating campus liberals who seek to exclude opposing views. Yet, on yesterday's Fox & Friends, the curvy couch cretins attacked a Brown U. student who had the audacity to write an anti-ROTC article in the campus newspaper.
In keeping with their right wing audience's fear and loathing of education, Fox News loves to bash the Ivy League schools which are seen as elite bastions of communist indoctrination. So it wasn't surprising to see the Fox pals launch go into outrage mode over an article, in the Brown Daily Herald, in which the author criticizes ROTC.
Steve Doocy, WHO NEVER SERVED, introduced the topic - part of the patented "Trouble with Schools" - by reading a segment from an article in the Brown Daily Herald. Cuing up the nice, patriotic death threats, he cited the name of the author. The banner set the propaganda message: "Punch at Patriotism, Brown University Student Calls for Outlawing ROTC" - a somewhat deceptive message in that the student isn't calling for a universal prohibition but only for Brown.
After reading the anti-military segments deemed most likely to get yer dander up, Doocy "explained" it for us: "Essentially, he's saying we're special, we're smart, don't fall for it, don't join the military." Doocy is obviously providing an interpretation which corresponds to the Ivy-students-are-unpatriotic-elitist meme. But the theme of the actual article reflects the author's own anti-military position and his disappointment that so few Brown students share what was once a tradition of anti-war activism.
Eric Bolling, WHO NEVER SERVED, reminded the author that the only reason that he is allowed to write this column is "because of a strong military defense." He continued to bray about how "if it weren't for them, you might not be allowed to say that." As the banner read "Armed Services Fight, Makhlouf, We Will Not Support US Agression," Bolling bloviated about how the author wouldn't be able to make anti-military comments in Syria, Iran and (lest you forget who the real enemy is) Muslim extremist areas. Bolling then thanked God for ROTC and the military which is "willing to risk their lives" so that "you can be such a jerk and say things like that."
Elisabeth Hasselbeck WHO NEVER SERVED (neither did her football player husband) chimed in that the student has a right to say that; but it is a right given to him by the military. Bolling remarked "the military protects that."
Doocy reminded us about how John Kerry "stepped in it" when he said that those who don't go to college, end up in Iraq and "this is the same thing, don't go into the military...we're special." While this is the Fox take away, it's not the theme of the article which Doocy either didn't read or is deliberately misrepresenting. But then the Foxies appear to have taken all their material from the right wing Campus Reform, a favorite Fox group, which actively ferrets out evil, liberal bias on campuses.
Funny, when Fox & Friends wants to praise conservative students for their bold stance against the godless, secular agenda, they interview them on TV. Somehow, I don't think this student will make an appearance cuz it's just so much better to attack somebody who isn't there to defend themselves. But the Fox friends love America so it's all good...
Thx4 Fish commented 2015-02-11 17:17:32 -0500 · Flag
Our military protect us in many important ways to be sure, but it’s hard to see a direct connection in which the military protects individual liberties such as the first amendment. It is more accurate to see the protections of free speech coming from those who actually engage in free speech which challenges the status quo, such as protestors who stand up to our own government and other entitities, at risk of their own lives and freedom. Ironically freedom of speech is not an absolute right of those currently serving in the military.
NewsHounds posted about Eric Bolling: Brown U Student Who Opposes ROTC Is America Hating 'Jerk' on NewsHounds' Facebook page 2015-02-11 16:00:38 -0500
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Institution: University of Northern Colorado
Position: Assistant Professor of Music Theory
The University of Northern Colorado is searching for an innovative pedagogue to serve as an Assistant Professor of Music Theory for the 2019-2020 academic year beginning August 19, 2019.
Master of Music degree required.
Experience as a teacher at the collegiate level and ABD or terminal degree preferred.
The successful candidate will serve undergraduate theory students as a creative educator, with an emphasis in music theory and aural skills instruction. A collaborative spirit is expected and additional duties may be possible based on the strengths and interests of the candidate and needs of the School of Music.
Salary Range: Salary is commensurate with qualifications and experience.
Review of applications begins immediately and continues until filled. Qualified candidates complete and submit online to the PVA Hiring Pool at https://careers.unco.edu/postings/2636 the following materials: online application form, cover letter, curriculum vitae, and contact information for three professional references.
Address the cover to the attention of Carissa Reddick, Interim Associate Director School of Music. Please contact Monica Coverdale at monica.coverdale@unco.edu, with questions regarding applying to this position.
Salary is commensurate with qualifications and experience. Benefits available include health, dental, life and long-term disability insurance, as well as a selection of several defined contribution retirement programs. Dependents and spouses of UNC Employees who are employed as 0.5 FTE or above are entitled to and eligible for Dependent Tuition Grants. These tuition grants will cover in-state tuition charges. Further requirements may exist. Other benefits may be available based on position.
The College of Performing and Visual Arts is committed to enhancing the diversity of its faculty and staff and encourages applications from women, people of color, members of the LBGT community, people with disabilities, and veterans. We are learning and growing together to create an inclusive campus community, particularly in the classroom and workplace. The University of Northern Colorado is an equal opportunity/affirmative action/Title IX employer.
Satisfactory completion of a background check, educational check, and authorization to work in the United States is required after a conditional offer of employment has been made. The successful candidate must submit original transcripts within one (1) month of hire.
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The Penwith Papers
Pushing Boundaries: Beating the Bounds of the Borough of Penzance
Parishes in previous centuries were jealous of their boundaries, for good financial – and perhaps also territorial and tribal - reasons. At regular intervals, parties of parishioners would check the boundary stones to ensure that they were where they should be.
On Rogation Days or Gang Days, which were the three days before Ascension Day (which would always fall on a Thursday), the fields with the growing crops were blessed. At the same time the boundary stones would be ceremonially visited. But the beating of bounds for the Borough of Penzance was a slightly different affair. It was a civic and not an ecclesiastical occasion, and vegetation would not have received blessing. Nevertheless, the celebration of boundary stones was a feature common to both types of ceremony, and there were – and in most cases still are –boundary stones for the original (1614) and extended (1934) boroughs.
The bound-beating visits took a form that might raise eyebrows today. In order to ensure that the rising generation knew exactly where the stones were, a young boy would be bumped against them - or even beaten with the hazel rods more commonly used to strike at the stones. Boundaries could be a contentious issue between parishes; disputes could result in violence, and on these “gang days” gang warfare might ensue – despite the restraining presence of the clergy.
It was in 1614 that James I had granted a Charter to Penzance giving it the rights of a borough with a Mayor, Corporation, aldermen and councillors. The town was in the parish of Madron, but now its civic administration was separated from that of the parish, although Madron still retained its ecclesiastical rights within the town with a chapel of ease on the site of the present St. Mary's Church in Chapel Street. The boundaries of the borough did not follow roads and streams, but were fixed as a circle radiating half a mile from the Greenmarket, at the bottom of Causeway Head. An ancient cross stood there, and this marked the centre of the circle. The cross itself now stands by the entrance to Penlee House.
It is not known how the boundaries were marked in 1614, but in 1687 four boundary stones were ordered. Two of these can still be seen, bearing the letter ‘P’ and the date 1687. These are at Chyandour, just by the Royale Court, and at Chapel St. Clare, at the entrance to the Cricket Ground and opposite the Fire Station. The first of these was designated in 2012 with a Grade II listing, by reason of “Intactness: it is a good example of a C17 borough boundary stone; Historic Interest: it illustrates the establishment of local government in this part of Cornwall; Group Value: it has strong group value with the other surviving boundary stone”. A third stone was at Alverton, opposite Ivy Lane, but this was replaced in 1865. A fourth, at Wherrytown, was lost: perhaps someone should have been keeping an eye on the pile-driving operations during the great supermarket construction of 2017.
Blight at the Boundaries: 1854
In a painting now in the care of Penlee House Museum, Penzance, the teenage John Blight captured the Beating of the Bounds (as the painting is titled) of 1854 – although the painting was previously dated to 1853, when no such ceremony took place. Blight shows the ceremony taking place at the stone at Alverton, which might have been one of the original stones of 1687 as the press reported simply that “the bound stone was visited.” A large number of people and a profusion of red banners appear in Blight's painting. The press report maintains that the ceremony was being re-instituted after a gap of twenty years, but offers no information about the custom before 1834. The Mayor, Samuel Higgs, is seen in the painting addressing the crowd.
Beating the Borough Bounds, J.T. Blight, 1854 (courtesy of Penlee House Gallery and Museum)
The 1854 ceremony was disassociated from its religious origins. It did not take place on any of the Rogation Days, as these would have been in the Spring, but on Monday 1st October. The Cornish Telegraph reflected current concerns when it represented the origin of the custom as one which “according to some antique verses, originated in a Popish observance”. Four years previously, the Catholic hierarchy had been restored in England – giving rise to such disquiet in some quarters that an effigy of the new Cardinal Wiseman had been burnt in effigy. In 1854, Charles Kingsley’s anti-Catholic novel Hypatia was newly published, and It is probably for this reason that “the presence of the Church was dispensed with” at Penzance on this occasion. At the dinner held afterwards the incumbent of St. Mary's sent his apology for his absence, claiming a previous engagement. Whether that was for the dinner or the day's events is not clear.
Much of what happened in 1854 followed an established pattern, which would in turn be repeated at subsequent beatings. The Guildhall – where the civic party met at 11.00 am – was then part of the Market House, as the Public Buildings (popularly known now as St. John's Hall) would not be built until 1867. At noon the procession proceeded, accompanied by music and banners, to the Market Cross a short distance away at the bottom of Causewayhead. The party included the Mayor, aldermen and councillors; there is no mention of a chaplain or any clergy. The Mace Bearers wore their ancient robes - “civic paraphernalia”. The Town Crier gave notice at the Cross of the coming event. The Mayor stood on the Cross and proclaimed the importance of where he was standing as the centre of the Borough. Pennies were “liberally distributed” to the populace. It is not stated on this occasion that the pennies were minted in the year of the ceremony, but on subsequent occasions new pennies were distributed.
From the Market Cross the procession moved on towards the west, stopping en route for a meal at the Mayor's residence , which happened to be close by. Having lunched, the civic party moved on to the Alverton stone - and the ceremony captured in Blight's painting. Young boys were there and they may have been struck on their backs as “an incentive to memory.”
At this time – long before the building of the Polwithen Estate - the route to Chapel St. Clare lay across country and involved a strenuous route “over fields, through highways and byeways, surmounting hedges” until the dignitaries reached the northern boundary stone where the second beating took place. This was followed by a similar ceremony at Chyandour. Close at hand was the residence of R.F. Bolitho and further refreshments were deemed to be in order, with a cold collation (or buffet) prepared for the party before they took to the sea in order to mark the most southerly point of the circle radiating from the Market Cross, which lay between the Battery Rocks and Wherrytown.
The string of pilot boats going out to the boundary were “gaily decorated”, and hundreds watched from the shore. It was very much a festive occasion and some unofficial entertainment was provided by three “adventurous but expert swimmers” on the boat marking the exact boundary spot, and who “on approach of the show leapt into the sea, dolphin like to accompany it”. These leaped into the sea and followed the boats, and “created much amusement”, giving a wonderful display as they dived for coins: a variant on the customary coin distribution.
Returning to land, the party disembarked at the “Preventive” (Coastguard) Station, Wherrytown, at four o'clock. By this time, hundreds of people had gathered to watch as a boundary stone now lost – perhaps the 1687 original – was marked. Such exertions merited further refreshments, so after the civic party crossed the Mennaye Fields they were hospitably received by T.Darke Esq at his residence, “The Orchard” (now the YMCA’s “International House”). They had been out and about for five hours, and it was time for tea.
But the celebrations were not quite over. The evening brought yet another opportunity to gratify appetite and slake thirst, in the shape of a dinner at 6.30 pm in the Union Hotel, attended by many distinguished guests from Penzance and its neighbourhood. There were numerous speeches, (including news of the Allied victory in what would be later acknowledged as the first battle of the Crimean War, the Battle of Alma, over a week earlier on the 20th September). “Today they had been renewing the bounds” said Colonel Scobell of the county magistrates, “and, if not previously acquainted with it, now well knew what Penzance was”. The importance of the West Cornwall Railway was acknowledged. And it was reported that Mr Carne, making his apologies for not being able to attend, had suggested a toast that “having met to-day to renew the bounds of Penzance, may the prosperity of Penzance know no bounds.”
No doubt the civic party thought they’d earned their dinner that evening. But their task – hedges, byeways and maritime element notwithstanding - had been simple compared to the equivalent ceremony that would be held after the expansion of the Borough boundary in 1934. That story, and more from the 20th century, will be told in Pushing Boundaries: Beating the Bounds of the Borough of Penzance - Part 2.
Cornish Telegraph 4th October1854 page 2
Historic England listing of the Chyandour boundary stone accessed 16 7 2017
Anti-Catholicism in the United Kingdom, Wikipedia;
Battle of the Alma, Wikipedia accessed 16 7 2017
Citation for Market Cross Photograph:
“Removal of Market Cross from Market House,” Morrab Library Photographic Archive, accessed July 22, 2017, http://photoarchive.morrablibrary.org.uk/items/show/7093.
The Penwith Papers:
Homing in on Pigeons: Culver houses or Cornish Dovecotes (February 2019) John Davidson: Penzance Poet in Residence, 1907-1909 (December 2018) The Wreck of the North Britain (October 2018) Early Aviation in West Cornwall (August 2018) Newlyn Tidal Observatory (April 2018) The Mystery of the Burning Ship (February 2018) No Better Than She Ought To Be? Cases from the Penzance Preventive and Rescue Society Records 1907 - 1935 (January 2018) St Michael's Mount in the Wars of the Roses (November 2017) Penzance: Beating the Bounds of the Extended Borough of 1934 (September 2017) Pushing Boundaries: Beating the Bounds of the Borough of Penzance (August 2017) Election Fever Pt. 2: St Ives, New Constituencies, New Voters ...... and New Problems in 1885 (July 2017) Election Fever Part 1: The Parliamentary Borough of St Ives, 1880-1881 (May 2017) James Warren of St Just in Penwith, 1798-1842: Wrestler and Rescuer (April 2017) Penzance Sanitary Conditions in 1849 (March 2017) Hounding the Wrong Dog (February 2017) Bal Maidens at Work 1857 (January 2017) Christmas Cheer, 1878 (December 2016) Morvah - which St Bridget? (November 2016) Oh Temperance - Oh Mores (October 2016) Scientific Sunbathing at Polgigga (August 2016)
February 2019 December 2018 October 2018 August 2018 April 2018 February 2018 January 2018 November 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 August 2016
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USCIS Seeks Public Comments on Proposed Rule Impacting Certain Pending Immigrant Investor (EB-5) Applications
WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) seeks public comments on a proposed rule published in the Federal Register today that would enable USCIS to process certain applications approved between 1995 and 1998 by immigrant investors under the fifth preference employment-based immigrant visa classification, also known as EB-5.
The proposed rule would implement provisions of the 21st Century Department of Justice Appropriations Authorization Act. These provisions apply to a group of immigrant investors who had a Form I-526, Immigrant Petition by Alien Entrepreneur, approved between Jan. 1, 1995, and Aug. 31, 1998.
Specifically, the rule would enable USCIS to process cases for approximately 580 principal immigrant investors and their dependents whose Forms I-526 were approved during the period described above and who, prior to Nov. 2, 2002, sought to:
* Register for permanent residence or adjust their status (using Form I-485); or
* Remove conditions on permanent residence obtained as an alien entrepreneur (using Form I-829).
The processes outlined in the proposed rule would provide an additional two-year period for most of these immigrant investors to meet the EB-5 investment and job-creation requirements. This rule would not impact any other applications or petitions filed under the EB-5 program.
EB-5 visas are available to immigrants seeking to enter the United States to invest capital in a commercial enterprise that will create at least 10 full-time jobs for qualifying U.S. workers.
The public has 60 days—from Sept. 28 to Nov. 28, 2011—to submit comments on this proposal, which is available for review at www.regulations.gov.
For more information on USCIS and its programs, please visit www.uscis.gov
Labels: Immigration, US visas
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Pope Francis welcomes two catechumens at the Easter vigil Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica last year. (Franco Origlia/Getty Images)
Coming Home at Easter — It’s Not Just for Catholics
Since 2008 through to 2014, Catholic Come Home's media evangelization campaigns have inspired a flood of converts on their journey into the Church.
CHARLOTTE HAYS
WARWICK, R.I. — When Lydia Clark, the 22-year-old daughter of a Presbyterian minister, was confirmed during the Easter vigil at Sts. Rose and Clement Church in Warwick, R.I., last year, she was only one of many non-Catholics who have “come home” at least in part because of contact with the Catholics Come Home organization.
Indeed, although the name Catholics Come Home might sound as if the organization focuses solely on former Catholics, that — as Clark’s story indicates — is not the case.
“The Holy Spirit is using Catholics Come Home to lead home converts, atheists and agnostics, as well as reverts,” said Tom Peterson, a former ad executive, who founded the organization after an intense spiritual experience on a men’s retreat in 1997.
It is not surprising that an organization founded by an ad man has become known nationally for its high-quality “evangomerials,” including the dazzlingly filmed “Epic” that highlights the Catholic Church’s contributions to civilization. “Our bailiwick is TV, radio and the Internet,” Peterson said. “We go out with TV and reach people where they are.”
Peterson estimates that Catholics Come Home evangelization campaigns, which are usually conducted at the invitation of a diocese, have reached 250 million viewers during four national and 37 regional media campaigns since 2008.
Based on the findings of more than a dozen dioceses that have done statistical research on the effects of Catholics Come Home, Peterson said, the estimate is that half a million people have come into the Church through the encouragement of its evangelization.
Sometimes, the connection is startlingly clear. Daniel Bui, 27, who teaches history at a charter school in Houston, grew up as an evangelical Christian, but he became disillusioned by the disunity in his parents’ church. Still, he attended a Baptist church in Austin as a University of Texas student. But when he came to Washington to intern at the Family Research Council, he was grappling with what to believe. Catholic interns showed him “Epic,” and the impact on him was deep.
“The Catholics Come Home ad awakened in me an emotional and spiritual connection with the Catholic Church,” he said, “so I came to understand the Church in personal terms, instead of just as a historical artifact.” He came into the Church in 2009.
Another person reached by Catholics Come Home was Harrison Garlick, 28, a law student at the University of Tulsa in Oklahoma. “I was raised Methodist and charismatic. My first experience of the Catholic Church was when I was at Oral Roberts University,” Garlick recalled.
He was studying theology and history when he ran into the “Epic” ad, which made a deep impression.
“My studies on the early Church Fathers revealed to me an ancient Church that was faithful to the apostles and philosophically consistent, and it was the CCH ‘Epic’ commercial that first revealed to me the vitality of that ancient Church in the modern world,” he said.
Still not Catholic, Harrison went to Ave Maria University in Florida after Oral Roberts for a master’s degree in theology. His girlfriend, who is now his wife, read up on the ethical teachings of the Church while he immersed himself in theology. About halfway through his studies at Ave Maria, they began RCIA together. They have since been received into the Church.
Like Garlick, Lydia Clark came upon Catholics Come Home during a period of intense thought about religious issues. The minister’s daughter was a student at Gordon College, a liberal arts college in Massachusetts rooted in evangelical Christianity. She was taking a course that touched on St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas but did not go into depth on much between the Council of Nicaea in 325 A.D. (which mainline Protestant churches accept) and the time of the Reformation more than 1,000 years later. “Okay, I’m wondering what happened in all these other years,” she recalled.
Clark began exploring online and found Catholics Come Home.
She found the CCH material “welcoming and friendly, and that made me feel better.”
Clark’s boyfriend, whom she plans to marry this summer, was baptized a Catholic but had become a Protestant. Nevertheless, they began to go to Mass.
“I had never been to Mass before, and that was really scary for me,” she recalled. “When I read that the Eucharist is the summit of the Mass, it made me realize how Christ-centric the Mass is. While we were still on the fence, we went to talk to Father [Edward] Wilson, the pastor of Sts. Rose and Clement [in Warwick, R.I.], and he was so nice and welcoming and answered all our questions.”
“When we started RCIA, we were really nervous and didn’t know anybody. But we realized that they really cared about us. Our journey was mostly doctrinal, but the welcoming ads and welcoming people made us really want to come into the Church.”
She did not tell her father she was attending Mass, but he guessed and volunteered that he would not be upset if she became a Catholic. “I was like, ‘Okay, you just saved me a very awkward conversation,’” she said. He was present when she was confirmed at the Easter vigil last year.
There is also a coming-home ripple effect.
Mary Bane had “spent 15 years visiting other churches,” but when she heard the Catholics Come Home ad that features famed football coach Lou Holtz, she knew it was time. “When he said, ‘We’re saving a seat for you,’ I knew I could go back to the Church,” she said. She was excited for her three teenage sons’ confirmation at this year’s Easter vigil at St. Agnes Catholic Church in Atlantic Highlands, N.J. “My husband and I are just so happy to be back,” she said.
Shirley Hill, who had also left the Catholic Church, decided to take the step after seeing material from Catholics Come Home. “It opened my eyes,” she said. “Before seeing it, I maybe thought I needed to go back to Church, but I’ll tell you the truth: I was afraid. But Catholics Come Home helped me get past my fears and guilt and do it,” she said. Her husband, Tom, who was brought up a Protestant, held back, but he eventually signed up for RCIA and became Catholic last Easter.
Tom Hill, 66, liked his RCIA classes at St. Joseph’s Church in Farmington, Mo., so much that he hammered out a deal with the pastor: He offered to help with meals for the class if he could sit in on RCIA a second year. He did — and became the sponsor of a young man who was riding his motorcycle past the church one day and saw a sign urging people to consider Catholicism.
Madge Winch, who also attends St. Joseph in Farmington, was like Shirley Hill, a fallen-away Catholic wishing to return. “When I kept hearing the Catholics Come Home ads, I realized that I could get squared away and come back,” she said. She attended Mass on Saturday evenings, but quit asking her husband, a Baptist, to go.
“One afternoon, he said, ‘Are you going to church?’ I said I was, and he said, ‘Well, I’m coming with you.’ I stopped in my tracks,” she recalled. Gene Winch came into the Catholic Church last Easter.
“It’s a miracle, really and truly, for Gene Winch, who was a hard-shelled Baptist, to go to the Catholic Church and be so proud to be Catholic,” she said.
‘A Providential Invitation’
All of this is gratifying for Peterson, but he counsels that the numbers are not the whole story: “The Good Shepherd says for us to do this even if we are doing it for one person. It is the work of the Holy Spirit, and we do it because it is the right thing to do.”
One strong supporter of Catholics Come Home is Bishop Michael Sheridan of Colorado Spring, Colo., who recently said that “it seems clear to me that the Catholics Come Home campaign has played a significant part in what is proving to be a record number of people preparing to enter the Catholic Church at Easter.”
Said Bishop Sheridan, “The beautifully done Catholics Come Home ads have been a providential invitation to the discipleship that Pope Francis has been so forcefully calling the world to embrace.”
Charlotte Hays writes from Washington.
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Home » Articles » Close To Home
Have you ever heard of mitochondrial disease?
By Gabrielle Mileti Posted in Westchester
Have you ever heard of mitochondrial disease? Neither did I. That was until my son Joey was diagnosed with a form of this disease when he was just 2½ years old. At that initial meeting with Joey’s neurologist in 2006, my husband and I were told, “Your son has mitochondrial disease and only has roughly three to six months to live.” Those words will ring in my head forever.
Tiny organelles found in almost every cell in the body, mitochondria are known as the powerhouse of the cell. When an individual is diagnosed with mitochondrial disease, the cell fails to produce enough energy for the cell to function. When the cell does not function properly, it causes cell injury that leads to cell death. When multiple organ cells die, organ failure can result. Thus the disease is so deadly.
About one in 4,000 children develop this condition by the age of 10. As the spectrum of the variances of this disease is wide, the symptoms are too. Often times, kids affected display poor growth, loss of muscle coordination, neurological problems and seizures, visual and/or hearing problems, gastrointestinal disorders and learning disabilities, as well as heart, liver and kidney disease. There are many forms and a number of modes of inheritance of mitochondrial disease. There may be one individual in a family who has it, or many individuals may be affected over a number of generations.
Joey was diagnosed with a serious form of the disease caused by a mutation that had yet to be detected in any patient before December 2006. This has resulted in severe difficulties with Joey’s motor function, including walking and coordination. While there is no approved treatment for the disease, Joey is currently on a cocktail of vitamins to try to improve the function of the mitochondria and slow the progression of the disease.
Though the disease seems to come out in childhood, links between mitochondrial disease and other diseases in adults are being seen. With these connections to conditions such as type 2 diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, stroke and heart disease, we are hopeful to begin to attract more attention and funding to mitochondrial disease.
After Joey’s diagnosis, we quickly realized that little research was being done in the field of mitochondrial medicine, and there was a lack of funding from government programs and private institutions. As a result, we decided to start our own organization to support ongoing research. With six rolls of stamps, 300 letters and a handful of friends and family volunteering to stuff envelopes, the inaugural fundraiser was underway. Since that first event in August 2008, The JDM Fund for Mitochondrial Research, named for Joseph Difolco Mileti and located at 1333A North Ave., #611, New Rochelle, has raised more than a quarter of a million dollars in less than three years.
While there are many great minds working to combat mitochondrial disease, funding is virtually nonexistent. Grant money from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) awarded to researchers seeking a cure is miniscule compared to funding for other childhood diseases. Funding from private sources is even worse simply for the fact that there is a lack of awareness.
Our mission is to raise awareness about mitochondrial disease and to support research centers across the United States in their efforts to find a treatment or cure. One hundred percent of the funds donated goes directly to the top researchers in the field.
Now at age 7, Joey continues to beat the odds, but struggles daily in the fight for his life. Knowing that we are on the cusp of finding a treatment is the fuel we need to keep our charity thriving. Not only is our mission potentially going to save our son, it may also save thousands of innocent children and adults.
Posted in Westchester Tagged with Childhood, Disabilities, Health, Mitochondrial Disease, Organization, Treatment
About the author Gabrielle Mileti
Read more from this author »
A co-founder and chair of The JDM Fund for Mitochondrial Research since 2007, Gabrielle Mileti is a wife and mom to Joey and Marco. The former publishing executive became a health advocate after learning about her son’s medical condition. She is also a member of the parent board at Blythedale Children’s Hospital.
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Parma Summer School
A “NO FEES” SCHOOL FOR YOUNG SCIENTISTS
Home / Thomas Hartung
MD, Professor at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and University of Costanza
thartun1@jhu.edu
Thomas Hartung, MD PhD, is the Doerenkamp-Zbinden-Chair for Evidence-based Toxicology with a joint appointment for Molecular Microbiology and Immunology at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore. He holds a joint appointment as Professor for Pharmacology and Toxicology at University of Konstanz, Germany; he also is Director of Centers for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT, http://caat.jhsph.edu) of both universities with the portal AltWeb (http://altweb.jhsph.edu).
CAAT hosts the secretariat of the Evidence-based Toxicology Collaboration (http://www.ebtox.org), the Good Read-Across Practice Collaboration, the Good Cell Culture Practice Collaboration, the Green Toxicology Collaboration and the Industry Refinement Working Group. As PI, he heads the Human Toxome project (http://humantoxome.com) funded as an NIH Transformative Research Grant.
He is the former Head of the European Commission’s Center for the Validation of Alternative Methods (ECVAM), Ispra, Italy, and has authored more than 500 scientific publications.
@2017 Pietro Cozzini
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Home News Heritage Bank partners Oyo State on N50bn Healthcare Endowment Fund
Heritage Bank partners Oyo State on N50bn Healthcare Endowment Fund
L-R: Ifie Sekibo, MD/CEO of Heritage Bank Plc; Dr. Pual Apolo, Chief Launcher to the Fund and Governor of Oyo State, Sen. Abiola Ajimobi
As part of its corporate social responsibility, Heritage Bank Plc has partnered Oyo State Government in transforming the healthcare sector through the N50billion Healthcare Endowment Fund, so as to make healthcare delivery affordable and accessible to all.
The MD/CEO of the bank, Mr. Ifie Sekibo at the flag-off of the endowment fund for restoration and transformation of Government Hospitals and Health Centres in Oyo State, said as part of support Heritage bank would adopt a health and maternity centre at the State Teaching Hospital, thereby expanding its capacity from 45 to 60 beds.
He also stated that apart from the existing structure that Heritage Bank would improve on, it would furnish the adopted hospital unit with necessary equipment required for efficient healthcare delivery to the people.
According to him, for every business relationship to be meaningful, it must be mutually beneficial to the parties involved; otherwise such partnerships would not last.
On this realization, Sekibo said Heritage Bank would support the State in its bid to renovate the facilities available in all the health institutions in Oyo state. He said, over the years, Oyo State has been one of the key customers of Heritage Bank; hence the need for the support for the State now that it wants to add value to all its health institutions.
His words: “At Heritage Bank, we believe in this project and that is why we have come to associate with it even from inception. No doubt, the motive behind it is laudable and, on completion it would make resourceful to the health of the citizens as well as other residents of the Oyo State.”
Earlier speaking at the occasion, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, the State Governor, who commended Heritage for their continuous support said the proceeds from the Endowment Fund would be used to further boost the healthcare delivery in the State.
His words: “Today marks a turning point in the history of healthcare delivery in Oyo State. Preservation of healthcare is a duty of everybody – the government and the governed. Our duty as a government is not only to preserve the healthcare infrastructure available but to also improve on and expand the existing facilities. Through doing this, the sector would be able to effectively meet the demand of the day.”
The governor mandated that the healthcare scheme is accessible by all, even as he noted that every residents, including parents of pupil in public schools before their wards can be admitted and civil servants must register with the sum of N650 being part of their contribution.
The governor noted that to some people, the Pacesetter State may appear too ambitious with the Endowment Fund. However, he explained that Oyo State is ambitious because it has what it takes a state to be the medical hub of the whole nation.
However, Governor Ajimobi stated that the state have evolved to a level that individuals and corporate entities will give back to the public sector part of what the public sector has given to us.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Azeez Adeduntan, in a welcome address, stated that the fund would be used to renovate the 57 general hospitals and 622 health centres. Apart from this, he noted that the fund would be used to buy drugs, employ more health workers and build more hospitals.
L-R: Ifie Sekibo, MD/CEO of Heritage Bank Plc; Leke Ogungbe, Deputy Chief of Staff, representing the Governor of Kwara State, Abudulfatah Ahmed; Chief Medical Director, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Prof. Temitope Alonge; Chief Launcher to the Fund, Dr. Pual Apolo and Governor of Oyo State, Sen. Abiola Ajimobi
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Home » FEATURE STORY, NASCAR
TV Numbers For Daytona 500 Rise Slightly
John Sturbin | Senior Writer, RacinToday.com Tuesday, February 28 2017
Driver Kurt Busch celebrates his first Daytona 500 victory. He called the win ‘surreal’. (RacinToday/HHP photo by Ashley R Dickerson)
Kurt Busch’s last-lap pass to victory in NASCAR’s 59th annual Daytona 500 capped a lengthy, crash-marred Sunday afternoon of racing around the high-banked/2.5-mile Daytona International Speedway, with 23.3-million viewers tuning in for all or part of the FOX network telecast.
An average audience of 12-million watched the race across the FOX network, FOX Deportes and FOX Sports GO platforms. The 2017 season-opener marked the debut of NASCAR’s three-stage format under banner of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.
“It’s surreal,” Busch said Monday during the annual Champion’s Breakfast in the Speedway’s Bill France Room. “Wins are hard to come by…but to win the Daytona 500, it’s hard to put into words. It’s beyond belief, really.
“As a kid you watch this race on TV and you live the experiences with the drivers who win the race or lose the race. And after racing in this race for 16 years (myself) now and having it go 16 different ways, when you win it, it erases all those memories. And now you have this permanent memory of being able to drive into Victory Lane with the winning car.”
Busch’s 29th career Cup victory was scored in the No. 41 Haas Automation/Monster Energy Ford Fusion fielded by Stewart-Haas Racing, the organization’s first race with Ford Motor Company following an offseason switch from Chevrolet Racing.
The race averaged 11.922-million viewers on FOX, up five percent over 2016’s average audience of 11.357-million, and peaking at 14.031-million viewers from 6:15-6:30 p.m. (EST). The race scored a 6.6/15 HH (household) rating, which was flat overall compared to the 2016 edition but still delivered positive gains across key male and adult demographics. For instance, viewership was up by nine percent over last year among men aged 18-49, with a household increase from 3.4 to 3.7 percent.
As such, “The Great American Race” ranked as the highest-rated/most-watched sports event of the weekend and the highest-rated/most-watched sports event since the NFL’s Super Bowl on FOX on Feb. 5. Despite questions created by NASCAR’s new three-stage format and scoring system, the Daytona 500 continues as the No. 1 motorsports event on television.
The top-five viewership markets were led by Greensboro, N.C., at 17.5/31, followed by Greenville, S.C. (16.5/28), Indianapolis (14.4/26), Knoxville, Tenn. (12.7/22) and Jacksonville, Fla. (12.4/22). Markets experiencing the largest year-over-year increases included Austin, Texas (plus-111 percent), San Diego (plus-74 percent), Oklahoma City, Okla. (plus-49 percent) and Norfolk, Va. (plus-47 percent). Sunday’s race also saw significant gains in some of America’s biggest markets, including Chicago (plus-18 percent), Philadelphia (plus-32 percent), Washington, D.C. (plus-18 percent) and Atlanta (plus-20 percent).
Additionally, the Daytona 500 was the second-most talked-about event on social media Sunday, trailing only the Academy Awards, with 443,000 people posting about the race on Twitter or Facebook. Two million people posted or engaged socially regarding the race.
Busch was 0-for-15 in the Daytona 500 entering SpeedWeeks 2017, although the native of Las Vegas also had three Daytona 500 runnerup finishes (2003, ’05, ’08) to his credit. Busch, who has experienced a number of career controversies since his Cup championship season in 2004 for Roush Fenway Racing and Ford, has found his niche with the team co-owned by retired three-time Cup champion Tony Stewart and businessman/racer Gene Haas.
“I’m a survivor,” said Busch, who joined SHR for the 2014 season. “I feel like I’ve pulled the sword from the stone. We’ve conquered Daytona.” The race produced eight caution flags for 40 laps and 37 lead changes among 18 drivers _ the last involving Busch’s pass of Kyle Larson’s No. 42 Target Chevrolet SS on the 200th and final lap.
During the breakfast meeting, DIS President Chip Wile presented championship jackets to Busch, SHR co-owner Haas and crew chief Tony Gibson, a Daytona Beach native; a Rolex Cosmograph Daytona watch to Busch; the Harley J. Earl Daytona 500 championship trophy to Haas; and the Cannonball Baker champion crew chief trophy to Gibson. In addition, Wile and Busch unveiled the logo for the 60th annual Daytona 500 on Feb. 18, 2018.
Another Daytona 500 tradition continued as the new champion’s car began its one-year showcasing in the DIS Ticket and Tours Building residence. Yearly, the winning car is brought in directly from Gatorade Victory Lane. The goal is to allow fans to see the car in all its race-mode authenticity; Busch’s car features all its dents, dings, tire rubs, scrapes and duct tape. The display also includes a huge chunk of infield sod on the car’s hood, which flew up and landed there during Busch’s post-race donut celebration in the grass.
Following photos of Busch and the entire Stewart-Haas team with the No. 41, the new champion placed one foot and both hands in cement, then carefully signed his name on the square that will be added to the Daytona 500 Champion’s Walk of Fame outside the Ticket and Tours Building.
Busch left for New York City after the breakfast for two days of media activity that included stops at FOX News, Race Hub on FOX, NASCAR America on NBC and ESPN’s SportsCenter on Monday and Live! With Kelly, SiriusXM and Game Set Max on FOX on Tuesday. The media tour will continue in Atlanta on Thursday with stops at The Weather Channel and CNN Headline News.
FOX Sports’ coverage of the series continues this weekend at the 1.5-mile Atlanta Motor Speedway. Live race coverage on FOX is set for 2:30 p.m. (EST) with pre-race coverage beginning at 2 p.m. on FOX NASCAR Sunday.
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Archive for the ‘levelling’
Cataclysm launch and the selfishness of levelling…
December 08, 2010 By: Ladan Category: Cataclysm, level 85, levelling
So the results are in and a whopping 64% of you had plans to stay up all night or day and push the levelling. I wonder how many actually made it through–some of you may still be going strong! A smaller number (18%) intended to go through the levelling content as quickly as possible, but were not planning to burn the midnight oil. And a much smaller percentage (3%) were waiting to see how things were before committing to a specific plan, while 15% were not planning to change any approach to playing in relation to the new expansion. I suppose this might also mean that some respondents have not actually purchased the new game software yet.
But at the end of the day, we’re a community that gets excited about new content and, if at all possible, likes to dive right into it the second it’s available. For some of those on the EU servers, that meant a challenging hour or so trying to get past the login servers (while we cursed the lucky ones who seemed to get in at the first try!) before the mad rush for Vashjir or Hyjal began. And what a strange rush it is. I’ve decided that the levelling up process, especially when you’re going from one level cap to another (such as level 80 to 85), is viewed by a lot of raiders as a nuisance to be endured in order to get to the “better” game content. I also think it’s a time when raiders can exhibit behaviour that appears more selfish and self-oriented than usual. Especially when you consider their approach to raid participation.
We camp out for certain mobs, we ninja kills or items, we race to grab a herb or mining spot… We rarely talk to the people we’re running into in the game and we view each other as a problem, getting in the way of our personal goals. It’s a bit like a huge traffic jam on a motorway somewhere. We’d be home by now if not for the other damn cars.
Does that make the levelling up process essentially selfish? I suppose in a way it has to be selfish–after all, if you’re in an elite or hard core raiding guild, you’ve probably been given a deadline by which to be ready for raiding (in some cases, the deadline might be “yesterday”). That often means being focused and moving quickly to get ready to go. But does it have to be selfish? That is a more difficult question to answer as I suppose it comes down to how we view people in an online environment, particularly when they appear to be a hindrance. Even I, who prides herself on being friendly and helpful in game environments, will sometimes find myself groaning internally when I see a long-ish queue at a respawning boss.
Due to unavoidable circumstances in the past, I’ve never been able to experience the mad rush of launch night. So I was always a bit green with envy when people were racing around a new area that I hadn’t even been able to enter yet. I decided I’d give it a go this time. I cleared my schedule. I got the digital download. I even had stash available (lots of fruit, nuts, and a bit of nougat and chocolate!) and some good tunes queued up. But I was a bit of a fail. See, I actually like to explore and experience new content. I blame this on my background playing a MUD. In a MUD the atmosphere and setting is essential; it tells the story and gives you your framework. I also blame it on my own geographical nature. I like to know where I am and where I’m going and part of that, for me, is acquiring a familiarity with place. Launch night is not the time to aimlessly wander through a new area, smelling the roses. That’s probably going to get you killed (if you’re on a PVP server) or at least trampled on. And never mind enjoying the view. Aside from a few sweeping vistas and an overwhelmingly big tree, I still don’t quite know what’s in Hyjal…. And actually reading a quest before starting it? Forget it!
I also wonder if I’ve managed to transfer my tendency to sometimes feel a bit overwhelmed by crowds in real life to the game. It’s just too many people all crowded into one place. You can’t even see the quest giver!
Now it’s not to say that I don’t love the zooming around that one can do while working on quests and there is something so delicious about watching your XP bar fill up quickly. And I also love doing dungeons with guildmates. But I just couldn’t move as fast as my guildmates and with some of them already at 85 or almost there, I’m only in the middle of level 82. I reckon it’ll be at least the weekend before I get to 85. But I’m ok with that. At the end of the day the game is a game and has to suit each player who plays it. And Blizzard has always been adept at making it more accommodating and appealing to a wide audience–you only have to check out the new entry level areas in the game to see that. As a friend recently told me, he’s finally really enjoying levelling up a character again.
But in the case of the raider, since the primary focus is on the raiding content, levelling continues to be a challenge where we have to take off our “team player” hat that we use while raiding with our guildmates and put on the “power leveller” hat to slog through the quests and dungeons to get to the level cap asap. And some of us have managed to get around the questing grind to get to the level cap, as our controversial “first to the level cap” celebrity Athene (now Forscience) keeps showing or as our elite or hard core guilds often do by churning through dungeons as their levelling up plat du jour.
The fact that we can now get to the next level cap in a matter of hours. So even you (or Blizzard does it) exclude Forscience and his controversially viewed levelling approach, the first player to level 85 was Owld who got there at 7.34 am EU game time, according to wowprogress.com. This almost seems to suggest the irrelevance of levelling up. It’s become “too easy” some might say.
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Neijiang OverviewMore+
Located in the southeast of Sichuan Basin and the middle section of lower reaches of Tuojiang River, Neijiang was once founded as a county called Hanan or Zhongjiang during the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220), which has a history of over 2000 years. Neijiang Prefecture was founded in 1950, and was rebuilt as a province-governed city in 1985. In 1998, Neijiang was divided into Neijiang city and Ziyang area under the approval of the State Council. The city now consists of Shizhong District, Dongxing District, Longchang City, Zizhong County, Weiyuan County, Neijiang Economic Development Zone and Neijiang Hi-Tech Industrial Park, which includes 107 townships, 1649 administrative villages, 14 street offices and 334 communities with a total population of 4.2 million. GDP of Neijiang reached nearly 130 billion yuan in 2016, making it one of the largest economic centers in Sichuan. Neijiang, with a long history of sugar refinery, had a high production of sugar which accounted for about 50 percent of the whole country when the planned economy prevailed. Therefore, it’s also renowned as the “ Sweet City”.
Administrative Division Arrangement
Traffic location
Meteorology and Hydrology
copyright ? 2003——2017 www.qsta7658.cn all rights reserved
Organizer: Neijiang City People's Government Contractors: Neijiang City e-government office
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Home > Student Life @ SMU > FAQ
When was SMU established?
SMU was established when the Minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr Blade Nzimande in terms of section 20 of the Higher Education Act 1997 (Act 101 of 1997) promulgated the Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) in the SA Government Gazette no: 37658 of 16 May 2014.
The promulgation followed the announcement made in 2011, by Minister Nzimande, when he announced his intention to separate the Medunsa Campus, from the University of Limpopo. The minister’s intention was based on the findings and recommendations of the task team that was established and led by Prof Malegapuru Makgoba, former Vice-Chancellor of University of Kwa-Zulu Natal (UKZN) and Dr Max Price, the Vice-Chancellor of University of Cape Town (UCT).
When did SMU open its doors?
The university opened its doors in January 2015 after the Mendunsa Campus was uncoupled from the University of Limpopo and incorporated into SMU
Where is SMU located?
SMU is located at Ga-Rankuwa Township (next to Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital).
25.37.8 South, 28.1.22 East
What courses are offered by SMU?
SMU focuses on health and allied health sciences courses as part of government grand plan to expand access to education and training opportunities for the youth, by increasing the number of young people in education, employment and training.
How to apply to study at SMU?
Visit : www.smu.ac.za and go to prospective students.
Who is Sefako Makgatho?
The late Sefako Makgato whom the university is named after, is a highly acclaimed politician, journalist, educationist and theologian who struggle for South Africa that is legitimate, non-exploitative and democratic.
Student Support Referral Unit
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Home Shaw Laureates 2008 Astronomy Autobiography
Autobiography of Reinhard Genzel
I was born near Frankfurt, Germany in 1952 where I also attended the first school years. I went to high school in Freiburg at a ‘humanistic gymnasium', featuring 9 years of Latin and Greek. Perhaps as a result I have enjoyed a lifetime interest in history and archaeology. My father was a well-known experimental solid-state physicist and I learned most of my early physics from him. I will always treasure how he showed me (age 16) how to build a pretty good spectrometer from its basic optical components. These early experiences instilled in me the desire to become an experimental physicist. To maintain balance in my life I spent a lot of my time doing intense sports. To this day I am proud of having been one of Germany's best young javelin throwers, as well as being on my school's handball team. I even made it into the national German, junior track and field team training for the 1972 Munich Olympics. I still feel compelled to do some daily workout activity and I regularly go on mountain hikes.
Following the general physics education at the Universities in Freiburg and Bonn (1970-1974), I began my astronomy career as a thesis student at the then newly founded Max-Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy (MPIfR) in Bonn (under Peter Mezger). At that time the MPIfR started to put into operation the 100m telescope in Effelsberg, a fantastic opportunity for a young student. I was particularly fascinated by the emerging field of molecular spectroscopy. Working in close collaboration with Dennis Downes, my PhD thesis work (1976-78) was on the phenomenon of interstellar water vapour masers, which then led seamlessly to postdoctoral work at the Harvard-Smithsonian Centre for Astrophysics (with James Moran). In 1980 I was offered the unique opportunity to change fields and join the group of Charles Townes at the University of California, Berkeley (UCB). Townes, Nobel Laureate for the invention of the Maser and Laser, and his group were carrying out ground-breaking experimental astrophysics work in the infrared, which fascinated me enormously. Life in the next six years at Berkeley was intense and exciting. I was trying to combine physics teaching (as associate professor in physics), with research in infrared spectroscopy, developing new instruments, working with my first graduate students, hunting for grants and finding time for the family.
At that time, my family was also developing. In 1976, I married Orsolya Boroviczény. She had studied medicine in Germany and then carried out her paediatrics residency in Boston and Oakland. Our older daughter, Daria, was born in Boston in 1979 and the younger one, Lisa, in Berkeley in 1983. California and Berkeley became more than a temporary residence. Even after returning to Germany in 1987 the family considered Berkeley our real home; that sentiment being an important factor in my taking on a commitment as part-time professor in the UCB Physics department in 1999.
In 1986 I became a director at the Max-Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics (MPE) in Garching, near Munich. At the time, I was quite unsure whether returning to Germany was the best choice. Berkeley was wonderful, Europe looked pretty un-dynamic. However, I never regretted it. The older I get the more I am grateful to the Max-Planck Society (MPG) for providing such an absolutely wonderful opportunity to pursue basic research at a top level with so few strings attached. Outside the MPG, our research programme in the last twenty years, including the work for which I am being honoured by the Shaw Prize, would not have been possible.
My interest in the question of whether the Galactic nucleus harbours a black hole goes back to the Berkeley period. Townes and his group (including myself) had concluded from the motions of interstellar gas in the vicinity of the compact central radio source SgrA* that there was a non-stellar central mass concentration of about four million solar masses, most likely in the form of a massive black hole. Few others were persuaded by the evidence, however.
At MPE we made the quest for the black hole in the Galactic Center one of our central research themes, others being studies of active galactic nuclei and of the evolution of galaxies in the early Universe. To exclude other possible explanations of the mass concentration we needed to make dynamical measurements much closer to SgrA*. For this purpose, we developed a series of ever more powerful instruments exploiting high resolution imaging and spectroscopy in the near-infrared, including the novel technique of adaptive optics. We used these instruments for increasingly more precise observations of the motions of stars in the vicinity of SgrA*, initially (starting 1991) at the 3.5m New Technology Telescope and since 2002, at the 8m Very Large Telescope (VLT) of the European Southern Observatory (ESO). The excellent collaboration with ESO was one of the cornerstones for our success, for which I am very grateful. ESO and the VLT are an exemplary success story of European cooperation. Another key element was the ingenuity, dedication and outstanding capabilities of the members of our entire MPE team. I would like to mention especially Andreas Eckart, Frank Eisenhauer, Dieter Lutz, Albrecht Poglitsch and Linda Tacconi.
From the stellar dynamics evidence, in conjunction with very long baseline radio interferometry observations of SgrA* by Mark Reid and others, we can now conclude, after almost twenty years of research, that the central mass of four million solar masses must indeed be a massive black hole, beyond any reasonable doubt. A second team led by Andrea Ghez at UCLA carried out similar observations with the Keck telescope on Mauna Kea and independently came to exactly the same conclusions. Nature was good to us and our perseverance paid off! Considering the Galactic Center a laboratory for studying phenomena that are occurring also in most other galactic nuclei, this result takes on a broader relevance. It is now widely believed that the dark mass concentrations found in many galaxies, including the spectacular quasars, probably are all massive black holes accreting gas in various amounts. The formation and evolution of massive black holes and of their host galaxies appear to be intimately connected. Their symbiotic relationship started when the Universe was less than 1 billion years old.
It has been a privilege for me to be able to actively contribute in a little way to this remarkable and completely unexpected story. It has been (and continues to be) a lot of fun!
9 September 2008, Hong Kong
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Board index General Discussion and ExchangeGeneral Discussion
Trumpublicons: Foreign Influence/Grifting in '16 US Election
Re: Trumpublicons: Foreign Influence/Grifting in '16 US Elec
by BenDhyan » Tue Feb 12, 2019 7:02 pm
MSNBC Reporting Senate Democrats Agree No Russian Collusion….
Ben D
BenDhyan
by seemslikeadream » Tue Feb 12, 2019 7:08 pm
emptywheel
Folks: BOTH HPSCI and SSCI have been conducting inadequate Russia investigations up to this point. Yes, HPSCI will likely change that. But thus far we don't have an adequate Congressional investigation, period.
ON SSCI’S INVESTIGATION: MANAFORT “CONSPIRED” WHETHER OR NOT TRUMP ALSO “COLLUDED”
February 12, 2019/50 Comments/in 2016 Presidential Election, Mueller Probe /by emptywheel
I’d like to point out something about this NBC report headlined, “Senate has uncovered no direct evidence of conspiracy between Trump campaign and Russia,” but instead showing,
investigators disagree along party lines when it comes to the implications of a pattern of contacts they have documented between Trump associates and Russians — contacts that occurred before, during and after Russian intelligence operatives were seeking to help Donald Trump by leaking hacked Democratic emails and attacking his opponent, Hillary Clinton, on social media.
I sometimes beat up on Ken Dilanian and I don’t mean to do so here. Putting the headline and lead aside, his report shows the disagreement here, and he even references Mark Warner’s recent focus on Paul Manafort’s sharing of polling data with Konstantin Kilimnik (though it’s not clear he asked Richard Burr about the report).
After it recently emerged that Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort shared campaign polling data with a man the FBI says is linked to Russian intelligence, Warner called that the most persuasive evidence yet of coordination.
“This appears as the closest we’ve seen yet to real, live, actual collusion,” he said on CNN.
No evidence has emerged, however, linking the transfer of polling data to Trump.
Natasha Bertrand says the report soft-pedals the Democrats’ belief.
Senate Intelligence Committee aide tells me, re: NBC story, that right now there is “a common set of facts” that the panel is working with, “and a disagreement about what those facts mean.” They add: “We are closer to the end than the beginning, but we’re not wrapping up.”
But I think something else is going on, in addition to any downplaying Democrats’ views.
It’s that the report shifts back and forth between “conspiracy” and “collusion.”
After two years and 200 interviews, the Senate Intelligence Committee is approaching the end of its investigation into the 2016 election, having uncovered no direct evidence of a conspiracy between the Trump campaign and Russia, according to both Democrats and Republicans on the committee.
“If we write a report based upon the facts that we have, then we don’t have anything that would suggest there was collusion by the Trump campaign and Russia,” said Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, in an interview with CBS News last week.
“We were never going find a contract signed in blood saying, ‘Hey Vlad, we’re going to collude,'” one Democratic aide said.
House Republicans announced last year they had found no evidence of collusion, but their report came under immediate criticism as a highly partisan product that excluded Democrats.
“Senator Richard Burr, The Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, just announced that after almost two years, more than two hundred interviews, and thousands of documents, they have found NO COLLUSION BETWEEN TRUMP AND RUSSIA!” Trump tweeted Sunday. “Is anybody really surprised by this?”
“This [sharing polling data] appears as the closest we’ve seen yet to real, live, actual collusion,” he said on CNN.
The final Senate report may not reach a conclusion on whether the contacts added up to collusion or coordination with Russia, Burr said.
Democrats told NBC News that’s a distinct possibility.
“What I’m telling you is that I’m going to present, as best we can, the facts to you and to the American people,” Burr told CBS. “And you’ll have to draw your own conclusion as to whether you think that, by whatever definition, that’s collusion.”
The story promises to talk about conspiracy, but then ends up talking about “collusion,” going so far as quoting Burr saying you need to draw your own conclusion about what you think the definition of “collusion” is.
That’s an important distinction, especially in a report that talks about Paul Manafort, not least because Manafort has already pled guilty to conspiring with Konstantin Kilimnik, albeit for covering up crimes in 2018 rather than committing them in 2016.
And while Burr complains we can’t know his or any of the other flunkies’ motives, Andrew Weissmann made it clear that Manafort told the grand jury he didn’t have just one motive when he handed highly detailed, recent polling data to Konstantin Kilimnik to be handed over to his Ukrainian and Russian paymasters.
And I think that in the grand jury, Mr. Manafort said that from his perspective, [sharing polling data] which he admitted at that point was with — he understood that it was going to be given by [redacted] to the [redacted] and to Mr. redacted 9 character name], both. That from his perspective, it was — there was no downside — I’m paraphrasing — it was sort of a win-win. That there was nothing — there was no negatives.
My answer, with respect to the Court’s question about what it is — what the defendant’s intent was in terms of what he thought [redacted] I was just trying to answer that question, even though that’s not one of the bases for saying there was a lie here. And so I was just trying to answer that question. And what I meant by his statement that there’s no downside, is that can you imagine multiple reasons for [redacted]. And I think the only downside —
THE COURT: You meant no downside to him?
MR. WEISSMANN: Yes.
THE COURT: You weren’t suggesting that there was nothing — there’s no scenario under which this could be a bad thing?
MR. WEISSMANN: Oh, sorry. Yes. I meant there was no downside — Mr. Manafort had said there was no downside to Mr. Manafort doing it.
MR. WEISSMANN: And meaning all of this is a benefit. The negative, as I said, was it coming out that he did this.
This August 2, 2016 data hand-off occurred in the specific context of Manafort trying to get whole on his $20 million debt to Oleg Deripaska. The data was also going to some Ukrainian oligarchs that Manafort expected to pay him $2.4 million in November 2016. And all that’s aside from whether Manafort expected the Russians to do anything with the data that might help Trump.
He was badly underwater, and — according to his grand jury testimony, at least as described by Weissmann — he clandestinely handed off recent detailed polling data to a guy connected to the agency that was still hacking Hillary Clinton, to be shared with a bunch of oligarchs who could help him reverse his financial fortunes.
It seems there’s a conspiracy there one way another. Either Manafort effectively stole Trump’s campaign data and traded it to foreigners for monetary gain. And/or Manafort handed over that data expecting that the campaign would get a thing of value from the foreigners he was sharing it with.
Richard Burr would seem to argue that’s not “collusion” unless Trump knew about it (whether he did is one of the questions Mueller posed to Trump).
But it is a conspiracy, an agreement with Konstantin Kilimnik to commit one or more crimes, right there in the middle of the election season. Whether Mueller will charge it or do something else with it remains to be seen. But it is fairly clearly a conspiracy, down to the clandestine arrivals and departures from the dark cigar lounge.
Ultimately, Burr’s retreat to that word “collusion” is a tell. Because, given the public facts in this case, Republicans should be outraged that Trump’s campaign manager was so disloyal he shared highly sensitive data with potentially malign actors. Republicans should be outraged that Trump’s campaign manager was putting his own financial imperatives ahead of sound campaign practice.
But they’re not. For some reason, Republicans are not squawking about the explanation for this data hand-off that would suggest the campaign didn’t expect to benefit.
https://www.emptywheel.net/2019/02/12/o ... -colluded/
@emptywheel
Follow Follow @emptywheel
Mueller: Trump's campaign manager shared highly detailed polling data w/a GRU asset at a meeting where he discussed sanctions relief.
Aaron, Glenn, & their minions: Hey look at what Richard Burr says!!!
For those of you repeating NYT's errors in my TL, claiming Manafort shared public polling data: Here's Manafort's OWN lawyer saying sharing the data couldn't have benefitted Manafort bc it was so complex.
SethAbramson
When you read that a Congressional committee hasn't yet found "direct evidence" of something, understand that *all they're saying from an evidentiary standpoint* is that no one has *confessed* yet nor has any *explicit contract* been found—neither of which things anyone expected.
1/ Any attorney—rather than a journalist pretending to know what the legal terms they're using mean—will tell you that substantial evidence of collusion has been found and the only question is what the standard of proof is to be set at and if you think that standard has been met.
2/ When GOP Senate Intel chair Richard Burr was asked that question, he said Americans would have to read the report the Senate eventually creates—
likely a long time from now—and will then have to decide for themselves whether it's collusion. That's what he actually said to CBS.
3/ What journalists like @KenDilanianNBC did—instead of explaining how evidence works, and what Burr's words meant—was take a quote in which Burr was saying there'd been no confession or explicit contracts found yet, even though that's *self-evident, predictable, and irrelevant*.
4/ If you or I were in Ken's shoes—and we were writing about the most important story of our times—and we were using legal terms we didn't understand, we'd make sure we explained to readers *exactly what we were saying and what we weren't*. Unfortunately, that's not media today.
5/ No attorney with criminal law experience came into the Trump-Russia probe believing one of the conspirators would confess to Congress or that an explicit contract would be found. That absurd standard was set by non-attorney Trump supporters and was then *adopted by the media*.
6/ There may be confessions in the Russia probe before it's over, but they will come *via Mueller's charges/deals*, not Congress—and no explicit contract for a conspiracy like this would ever be created, let alone found. We knew all this two years ago. The media pretended not to.
7/ What was expected was that by interviewing witnesses the Senate would find *evidence* of collusion that could be put to a criminal or political jury. And Burr confirmed *that is what happened*. But because the media had misinformed the public about evidence, it misreported it.
8/ The journalists who misreported what Burr said to CBS and what it meant and how evidence works and the fact that most American criminal trials are in fact dominated by circumstantial or indirect evidence should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves. Rest assured, they are *not*.
9/ As an attorney, I'm ashamed that this has happened to us: that apparently no combination of attorneys and journalists was willing or able to explain at a time of national emergency even the most basic functioning of our justice system, though it was vitally important to do so.
10/ I can only hope that people reading this thread will share it as widely as possible so that the spread of disinformation about evidence and our criminal justice system being perpetuated by folks like @KenDilanianNBC can be mitigated slightly on this one social media platform.
11/ The percent of U.S. criminal cases in which one finds a contract agreeing to commit a crime is *virtually zero*. Confessions are *common*—and are *exactly* what Mueller has been getting, behind closed doors, from people like Flynn, Gates, Papadopoulos, Nader, and many others.
12/ The case for a conspiracy between members of the Trump campaign and Kremlin agents has been made right in front of our faces every week for 2 years. Meanwhile, the media and Trump supporters have made up a fake justice system with fake rules and are assessing Mueller by that.
13/ If you sense I'm angry at people like @KenDilanianNBC, it's because he's paid a healthy salary to misinform you on things he doesn't understand and can't explain while I'm taking time away from my career to fix the mistakes he should be ashamed of but isn't. I *resent that*.
14/ I also know that Ken being bad at his job immediately goes viral on social media when the way in which he's bad at his job fits into exactly the false narrative that Trump supporters desperately want to hear and that the media knows will get it viewers. *That* makes me angry.
15/ And when I take the time to carefully point out to folks like Ken what it is they don't understand and what it is they need to correct and instead of doing so they accuse an officer of the court—which is what a lawyer is—of ulterior motives, that makes me *goddamned furious*.
SUMMARY/ Fix your sh*t, media. You're getting paid *more* than well enough to do your job without getting constantly corrected by experts in the areas you're attempting to cover. But the only *inexcusable offense* is not listening to those experts when they point out your errors.
NOTE/ If you want to know what question a responsible media would've asked Burr, it's this: "Has the Senate found inculpatory evidence of any crime with an implicitly collusive component, as attorneys define 'inculpatory evidence'?" Burr's answer would have been a *definite yes*.
NOTE2/ The media would then have written stories explaining to Americans that "inculpatory evidence" is evidence that tends to point *toward* the guilt of a defendant—and collusive intent can be implied in many criminal acts in whose statutes the term "collusion" nowhere appears.
NOTE3/ For instance, if at an international conference Putin has a private conversation with you you don't immediately tell media about, in which he tells you to tell the media your son spoke with Kremlin agents about "adoptions," and the next day you write a statement...
NOTE4/ ...saying exactly that, you might be guilty of witness tampering or obstruction or hindering prosecution or aiding and abetting but *none of those statutes* would have the words "conspiracy" or "collusion" in them, though that's what any layperson would say you were doing.
NOTE5/ I don't mean to say there are no journalists doing extraordinary work—there are. But it's harder than it should to be find one who is consistently exacting in how they talk about criminal cases, and some—like Ken—are downright irresponsible. Try to find the good ones. /end
https://twitter.com/sethabramson/status ... 66176?s=21
Helen Christophi
Today: I'll be covering a hearing on whether Russian national Yevgeniy Nikulin is competent to stand trial on charges he hacked LinkedIn. Twist here is he's apparently "of great interest" in DOJ's probe into 2016 election meddling.
The hearing is already over. Nikulin’s attorney asked Judge Alsup to delay the competency exam bc Nikulin wasn’t in court. No explanation was given why, but apparently Nikulin has in the past refused to show up to court dates. Competency exam is now March 5. I’ll have coverage.
https://twitter.com/helenchristophi/sta ... 1805623296
Jailed Russian of Interest in U.S. Election Probe, Official Says
Kartikay MehrotraAugust 24, 2018, 5:16 PM CDT
A Russian charged with hacking LinkedIn is of great interest in a U.S. probe of election meddling, according to a Justice Department official, even as his own lawyers complain he hasn’t cooperated with them since landing in a California jail in March.
The mystery around Yevgeniy Nikulin deepened Friday when a federal judge asked why his lawyers, who want him evaluated for possible mental illness, chose a San Francisco psychiatrist with a troubled past at California’s medical board.
And Nikulin’s defense team -- led by a New York-based attorney seasoned in representing Russians and Eastern Europeans charged with serious crimes in the U.S. -- says Russian officials have shown unusually strong interest in his case, arranging at least once to visit him in jail when the attorneys weren’t present.
The lead attorney, Arkady Bukh, said he remains concerned, maybe ”paranoid,” over Nikulin’s safety after a former Russian spy and his daughter were poisoned earlier this year in England with a nerve agent.
“They are very active, by far more active than any other case," Bukh said of Russian embassy officials. “Now it’s less frequent, but earlier in the case they were calling almost every day. I have no duties to them. They’re not my client.”
Bukh said Nikulin probably didn’t cooperate when officials from the Russian consulate visited him at Santa Rita Jail in Dublin, California, about 40 miles (64 kilometers) east of San Francisco. Representatives of the Russian Embassy in Washington didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
Nikulin is accused by the U.S. of hacking LinkedIn and Dropbox in 2012, one of the largest data breaches in the country’s history when some 117 million login codes were stolen. His extradition to the U.S. from the Czech Republic in March heightened diplomatic tensions with Russia, which has been accused by American intelligence officials of hacking the Democratic National Committee’s email server while interfering in the 2016 presidential election.
Moscow had a dueling request with Prague officials to extradite Nikulin to Russia, which said when he was first arrested in 2016 that the U.S. was “hunting for Russian citizens across the world.”
U.S. Sanctions Russians Charged by Mueller for Election Meddling
Prosecutors are as eager to find out what, if anything, Nikulin knows about election meddling as they are to get to the bottom of the LinkedIn and Dropbox hacks, said the U.S. Justice Department official, who declined to be identified without authorization to discuss the case.
Federal marshals said that when Nikulin first arrived in San Francisco he physically confronted guards and tried to escape from custody -- and he was shackled for his next court appearance.
‘Starts Laughing’
Ever since, his attorneys have said, he’s been unwilling to work with them. Valery Nechay, a lawyer helping Bukh, said Nikulin often “just stares off blankly or starts laughing at very serious moments.”
The lawyers won court approval this month, with no objections from prosecutors, for a psychological evaluation of Nikulin to determine whether he’s mentally incompetent to assist in his own defense.
But two days after the defense lawyers submitted the name of their chosen psychiatrist, Alexander Grinberg, U.S. District Judge William Alsup ordered Bukh and prosecutors to provide him with more information on Grinberg’s “probationary status with the California Medical Board arising out of complaints of unprofessional conduct and gross negligence.” The judge set an Aug. 27 deadline for both sides to comment.
Bukh said he’s not aware of the complaints against Grinberg, who has a 2-star rating on Yelp and a 4.5-star rating on healthgrades.com. Grinberg, whose voicemail has greetings in English and Russian, didn’t immediately respond to a phone call seeking comment.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles ... n-meddling
Swiss Mystery Company Is at the Heart of a Mueller Puzzle
You’ve never heard of Zurich-based Salix Services AG. But Robert Mueller’s team has.
02.12.19 4:57 AM ET
A little-known company located in Switzerland has come under scrutiny by the Special Counsel’s Office for its connection to Psy Group, the firm that created a social-media manipulation plan to help Donald Trump win the 2016 election. That’s according to three sources with knowledge of the office’s questioning, and documents obtained by The Daily Beast.
Former employees of Psy Group said the FBI interviewed them in 2017 and asked detailed questions about the firm’s business and ownership structure. These same sources told The Daily Beast that while working at Psy, which is now defunct, they operated under the understanding that Joel Zamel, an Australian with links to Israeli intelligence, ultimately owned the firm. But the financial structure of Psy Group was much more complicated, they said, and included offshore entities registered in the British Virgin Islands.
At the end of that chain of opaque offshore entities sits a Zurich-based financial-services group known as Salix Services AG, according to interviews with former Psy Group employees and two other individuals with insight into the firm’s ownership. And financial documents appear to show a relationship between Salix, named after the Latin word for a willow tree, and at least one of the companies that owned Psy Group.
Robert Mueller’s team has eyed Salix as part of his wide-ranging probe into foreign meddling in the 2016 presidential election. Details about Psy Group’s financials and its ties to Salix could shed new light on a pair of mysteries that could be key to this part of the special counsel’s probe: Why did international business and influence-peddler George Nader pay Zamel $2 million after the election? And where did all that money go?
On its blander-than-bland website, Salix offers few clues about its operations. (“Like the Willow, at Salix our roots as well are deep and run wide through a network of clients, professional intermediaries, financial institutions and family offices,” the site reads.) And the company did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Zamel’s lawyer declined to comment. The Special Counsel’s Office declined to comment.
For more than a year, Psy Group and its owner, Zamel, have flown somewhat under the radar, despite the questions they’ve faced about their efforts to use online propaganda to help Trump with the presidency.
The New York Times was the first to detail Psy Group’s plan. And on Monday, The New Yorker published a detailed story about the firm and its operations, calling it a “Private Mossad for Hire.” But Zamel’s involvement in any plan to help Trump win through an online propaganda campaign has remained somewhat elusive. Former Psy Group employees previously told The Daily Beast that they believed Zamel could have carried out a plan separate from the one they pitched to Trumpworld in 2016.
In August 2016, Zamel met with former Blackwater founder Erik Prince, Donald Trump Jr., and Nader to discuss ideas that could potentially help Trump win the election. During that meeting, as first reported by the Times and later confirmed by The Daily Beast, Nader told the room that the crown princes of both Saudi Arabia and the UAE were eager to help Trump win the election.
Zamel, through his lawyer, has previously denied pitching an official plan for the campaign or working with campaign members. Two other sources close to the Trump team said they did not believe Zamel, or Psy Group, carried out an official cybercampaign. But according to The New Yorker, Zamel told Nader after the election, “Here’s the work that we did to help get Trump elected.”
Nader’s payment of $2 million after the election went through to Zamel. Exactly what for—that’s unknown. The ultimate beneficiary could offer clues.
Lawyers for Zamel—a self-styled Mark Zuckerberg of the national-security world—have previously refused to say how much of a stake he held in Psy Group and therefore how much controlling power he had over the company. But records obtained by The Daily Beast show Zamel is a director of the company that owns Psy.
Furthermore, documents reviewed by The Daily Beast and interviews with individuals familiar with Psy Group’s financial structure lay bare a complex web of companies with connections to Zamel that point to Salix.
“It’s how Joel holds his shares,” one former Psy Group employee told The Daily Beast. “They set up trusts and provide nominee services to… shield beneficial owners from their holdings. It’s completely legal.”
Psy Group, registered as Invop in Israel, has its ownership obscured by a series of offshore companies. In June 2018, after the company’s name surfaced in the Mueller investigation, employees asked an Israeli court to liquidate the company and financial records revealed that all of Psy Group’s shares were owned by a Cyprus-registered company known as IOCO Limited. Former Psy Group employees also told The Daily Beast that IOCO was “just another name for Psy.”
Since its creation in 2014, IOCO’s shares have been owned by a handful of companies registered to post-office boxes in the British Virgin Islands. Bank records show that ownership of IOCO changed hands on a roughly annual basis through a rotating cast of anonymous offshore companies.
There are few hints about who owns the handful of companies that hold IOCO’s shares, but at least one of the companies listed as a former IOCO owner has links back to Salix.
Leaked documents from the Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca show that a company named Cornell Enterprises SA was at one point a shareholder of Prime Nominees Limited, IOCO’s sole shareholder from late 2015 through mid-2016. Salix is listed in the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists’ Panama Papers as an intermediary of Cornell, and Cornell shared an address with Salix in Zurich, Switzerland.
Protexer Limited, another former owner of IOCO, is listed as a subsidiary of the Trident Trust Company (Cyprus) Ltd., which currently serves as a secretary on the board of IOCO.
IOCO appears to have fallen on hard times itself. In December, the company announced a voluntary liquidation by its creditors scheduled for January 2019.
Meanwhile, former Psy Group employees believe they’ve been “cleared” by law enforcement in the U.S., they told the Daily Beast, and do not expect to face more questioning. Zamel appears to still be operating his other major global consulting firm, Wikistrat, which holds contracts with the U.S. government.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/swiss-mys ... es&via=rss
Thread by @dcpoll: "AUG 2016: After meeting with Oleg Deripaska in Moscow, GRU-trained Konstantin Kilimnik flew to NY on the oligarch’s private jet and met with […]
AUG 2016: After meeting with Oleg Deripaska in Moscow, GRU-trained Konstantin Kilimnik flew to NY on the oligarch’s private jet and met with Trump campaign chair Paul Manafort to discuss giving Deripaska private campaign briefings.
bit.ly/2JQItXH
Soon after Konstantin Kilimnik flew to NY on Oleg Deripaska's private jet to meet with Trump campaign chair Paul Manafort, Deripaska secretly met with Russia's deputy prime minister Prikhodko & briefed him on how to "solve the issue with America."
https://twitter.com/dcpoll/status/961697625648062464
SEP 2016: FBI agents made a surprise visit to the NY home of Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska and questioned him about whether his former business partner, Paul Manafort, had served as a link to the Kremlin during his time as Trump’s campaign chair.
https://twitter.com/dcpoll/status/1035988651262586881
Though Konstantin Kilimnik fled to Russia from Ukraine [after Ukraine's PM met with Trump], Mueller is investigating the GRU-trained operative with help from 3 of Kilimnik's associates who have all flipped: Paul Manafort, Rick Gates, & Sam Patten.
ICYMI, AUG 2018: Kilimnik's US business partner Sam Patten [who played a central role in "Cambridge Analytica's ruthless bid to sway the vote in Nigeria"] was indicted by DC federal prosecutors [after a referral by Mueller] & agreed to cooperate.
JUN 2017: After White House talks [set up by Cohen] between Trump & Ukrainian Pres Poroshenko, Ukraine killed 4 investigations into Manafort & allowed his GRU-trained business partner, Konstantin Kilimnik, to flee to Russia, out of Mueller's reach.
Summer 2016 is Ground Zero for #MuellerTime: Israel/UAE/Russia
August 2, 2016 Manafort meets with Kilimnik in Kushner's building to discuss DNC hack
August. 3, 2016: Prince, Zamel and Nader update Trump Jr on trickster plan called "Project Rome"
by seemslikeadream » Wed Feb 13, 2019 6:25 pm
Who is Richard Burr, Really? Why the public can’t trust his voice in the Russia probe
On the same day that Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) officially joined the Trump campaign as a senior national security advisor, the U.S. intelligence community released a statement that the Kremlin was trying to interfere in the election. But the Senator already knew those facts, and much more. Burr had been fully briefed in secret by the U.S. intelligence community a few weeks earlier. Senior U.S. officials told Burr that Russia’s interference was designed to support Donald Trump’s electoral chances. Burr decided to team up with the Trump campaign anyway, and hitch his own electoral fate in North Carolina to Trump’s political fortunes.
More than two years later, Burr now leads the Senate’s flagship investigation into whether fellow members of the Trump campaign colluded with Russia’s efforts. As the chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Burr’s work with Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) on the investigation is heading toward its final stage. The committee is expected to issue its major findings in the coming months.
Burr has received remarkably favorable press coverage for his stewardship of the investigation. Many mainstream commentators have heralded his committee as a bipartisan effort to follow the facts and tell the American public what it finds. Closer observation, however, raises serious questions whether that’s how this chapter in the 2016 election saga will end.
What’s largely escaped scrutiny is the case of Burr’s own words and deeds during the 2016 campaign. It was impossible to put the pieces together back then. We now have a much clearer picture due to news reports, court filings by the special counsel, and congressional testimony by former administration officials. We have learned a lot about what Russia was doing, what the U.S. intelligence community knew, and what Burr was told. The picture that emerges is neither favorable for Burr personally, nor for what truths Americans can expect to receive from his stewardship of the committee in the months ahead.
Richard Burr and the 2016 presidential election
It’s a remarkable feat that Burr has held the position of overseeing the Senate’s Russia investigation given what was known at the time he assumed the role. It was well understood that Burr did not remain on the sidelines during the 2016 presidential election. As chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Burr was a major catch for the Trump campaign when he joined as senior national security advisor on Oct. 7, 2016.
In a race for his own reelection at the time, Burr also tied himself closely to Trump. When the Access Hollywood tapes broke, by happenstance on the same day that Burr joined the campaign, many Republicans took it as an opportunity to flee Trump. Burr instead embraced the beleaguered candidate and said that Trump had sufficiently apologized. Burr brushed off any criticisms of his closeness to Trump in the ensuing weeks. At his own campaign rally in Gastonia, North Carolina in late October, Burr told the crowd, “There’s not a separation between me and Donald Trump.”
With these facts alone, Burr might have been compelled to recuse himself from overseeing any Russia investigation if he had taken a position in the administration. Fellow traveler Jeff Sessions found himself barred from overseeing the Russia investigation as Attorney General due to his own participation in the campaign’s national security group. Department of Justice regulations state that no employee can be involved in an investigation if he or she had a “political relationship” with an organization that’s “substantially involved in the conduct that is the subject of the investigation,” which the regulations go on to specify includes a “close identification with … a campaign organization, arising from service as a principal adviser.”
While Sessions’ hands were tied, Burr’s hands in the Senate were free. Burr’s control over the investigation would be decided essentially by his own conscience and Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s discretion.
Burr gets read into intelligence on Russia’s efforts to help Trump
When Burr assumed the lead of the Russia investigation, it was not widely known that there was something entirely unique about his role on the Trump campaign. Unlike any of the other senior advisers who joined the campaign, when Burr signed up, he was privy to the U.S. intelligence community’s findings that Russian President Vladimir Putin was engaged in an effort to interfere in the election in support of Trump.
Since January 2015, Burr had been a member of the Gang of Eight—a group that consists of the majority and minority leaders of the Senate and House and top Republicans and Democrats on the Senate and House intelligence committees. The U.S. intelligence community is able to share the nation’s most sensitive secrets with this small group without anyone else outside the administration knowing.
As far back as summer 2015, the U.S. intelligence community reportedly informed the Gang of Eight that Russia’s intelligence agencies were engaged in a hacking operation against the Democratic National Committee (DNC). That was many months before the DNC was aware of the breach, and months before the FBI reached out to the DNC to inform the organization.
In July 2016, when Trump called on “Russia, if you’re listening” to hack Hillary Clinton’s emails, several Republican leaders directly and indirectly criticized him. A spokesperson for House Speaker Paul Ryan, a Republican member of the Gang of Eight, said, “Russia is a global menace led by a devious thug. Putin should stay out of this election.”
Senator Burr’s office, however, appeared to deflect attention away from Russia. A spokeswoman for Burr told Politico,“Burr has said for ‘some time that foreign adversaries are intent on gaining unauthorized access into our country’s government and private networks to access sensitive data.’” Politico noted that instead of talking about Trump’s statement, Burr’s spokeswoman “mostly focused on the FBI investigation of the recent hacking attack on the Democratic National Committee’s email servers,” telling the news outlet that “’public discussion about attribution … are premature, at best.’”
By that point, however, not only did Burr know that the intelligence community had attributed the DNC hack to Russia, but the U.S. intelligence agencies even knew in summer 2015 the specific unit and agents within Russia’s intelligence services who performed the hacking. Among other specific data, Dutch intelligence agencies had for months reportedly accessed security cameras in the hackers’ Moscow offices and handed that information over to their American counterparts.
As the U.S. presidential campaign headed into the general elections, the U.S. intelligence community gained a more comprehensive view of the Kremlin’s actions and intentions. Increasingly concerned by what they saw, senior U.S. intelligence officials updated the small group of congressional leaders.
From Aug. 11 to Sept. 6, 2016, the C.I.A. organized “a series of urgent, individual briefings for [the] eight top members of Congress.” The C.I.A. informed Burr and the others that the U.S. intelligence community had discovered the Kremlin was working to help elect Trump and that “unnamed advisers to Mr. Trump might be working with the Russians.”
With this information in hand, Burr decided not only to join the Trump campaign and tie his political fate to Trump. Burr also took the now difficult-to-explain step of publicly repudiating suggestions that the Russians were acting in support of Trump. In an Oct. 3, 2016 interview, Burr said, “I have yet to see anything that would lead me to believe” Russia was interfering to benefit Trump. It was also a notable exception to Burr’s reputation for avoiding speaking with the press.
Most important, we now know that what Burr said in the interview was inconsistent with what the C.I.A had told him. Former C.I.A. Director John Brennan would later testify before Congress that he had kept Burr and the others in the Gang of Eight fully informed.
“The full details of what we knew at the time was shared only with these members of Congress,” Brennan said. “The substance of those briefings was entirely consistent with the main judgments contained in the January classified and unclassified assessments—namely, that Russia’s goals were to undermine public faith in the U.S. democratic process, denigrate Secretary Clinton and harm her electability and potential presidency, and help President Trump’s election chances.”
In summer 2016, U.S. intelligence agencies were also tracking an additional threat from Russia, this one directed against the voting systems of different states. Again, Burr made public statements that were at odds with what he had been told by the U.S. intelligence community. In his Oct. 3 interview with Foreign Policy, the news organization wrote that “Burr said ‘actual manipulation of the vote can’t happen’ because the DHS has assured lawmakers that no U.S. ballot machines are connected to the internet.” (Foreign Policy also noted the discrepancy between Burr’s statement and the New York Times reporting days later that DHS was actively trying to protect states’ online voting systems against cyber threats.)
What’s worse, we now know that DHS and the intelligence agencies secretly briefed Burr the previous month about their grave concerns of Russian threats to state voting systems. In early September 2016, President Obama had dispatched three senior U.S. officials including DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson, Homeland Security Adviser Lisa Monaco, and FBI Director James Comey to brief the “Gang of Twelve,” a group that includes the Gang of Eight plus the chairs and ranking members of the committees on homeland security.
The White House wanted the congressional leaders to agree to “a bipartisan statement urging state and local officials to take federal help in protecting their voting-registration and balloting machines from Russian cyber-intrusions,” the Washington Post reported. McConnell nixed the idea and remained steadfast despite Paul Ryan’s effort to persuade the Senate Majority Leader to change his mind.
Yet even McConnell’s stance—declining to issue a joint public statement—was far shy of Burr’s tack of making public statements inconsistent with the intelligence information.
Over the course of September, other members of the Gang of Twelve publicly referred, in broad terms, to what they had been told in the intelligence briefings. Burr then cast doubt on their presentation of the facts.
On Sept 9, in a move perceived to break with Trump, Speaker Ryan called Putin an “aggressor,” and said, “It certainly appears that he is conducting state-sponsored cyberattacks on what appears to be our political system.”
On Sept. 14, Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Tex.), the chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security, told CNN: “I have been briefed at a very high-level classified briefing on these Russian allegations. They are very disturbing. The idea of a foreign power, particular one like Russia, a foreign adversary, attempting to mess with our elections — and Director Comey basically told us that the motivation was to undermine the integrity of the American political electoral process.”
The following week, the ranking member of Burr’s committee, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and her counterpart on the House Intelligence Committee, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), issued a statement saying, “Based on briefings we have received, we have concluded that the Russian intelligence agencies are making a serious and concerted effort to influence the U.S. election.”
Burr’s reaction? Like his spokeswoman’s statement that summer, he deflected attention away from Russia. He said that his fellow congressional members’ warnings were “probably incorrect,” and that “they give the impression there’s one cyber-problem in the world: Russia and the elections, and that’s a huge understatement.” It is not clear specifically which of his congressional colleagues’ warnings Burr was referencing at the time.
The Oct. 7 U.S. Intelligence Community Statement
Burr had a new choice to make once the U.S. intelligence community released its Oct. 7 statement, which came four days after his interview with Foreign Policy. Most chilling were the first two sentences of the three-paragraph statement by Director of National Intelligence James Clapper and Homeland Security Secretary Johnson:
The U.S. Intelligence Community (USIC) is confident that the Russian Government directed the recent compromises of e-mails from US persons and institutions, including from US political organizations. The recent disclosures of alleged hacked e-mails on sites like … WikiLeaks … are consistent with the methods and motivations of Russian-directed efforts.
Burr would later act like those sentences did not exist. It was a head-turning moment in a nationally-televised debate for the North Carolina Senate seat.
Prior to his debate, Burr was hemmed in by Trump’s statements attempting to contradict the intelligence community. Two days after the Clapper-Johnson statement, Trump said in a Sunday night presidential debate against Hillary Clinton, “She doesn’t know if it’s the Russians doing the hacking. Maybe there is no hacking. But they always blame Russia.”
Politico published a roundup of Republicans repudiating Trump on this issue, noting that Burr issued a “brief statement” deferring to the intelligence community’s release, stating: “I believe it sufficiently covers what we believe to be the case at this time.” Burr’s statement was non-specific. He would be given an opportunity to clarify in the next few days.
That Wednesday night, Burr faced off against his opponent.
The moment came when the debate moderator, ABC’s Jonathan Karl, asked Burr point blank whether he chose to believe President Trump or the U.S. intelligence community. Burr first appeared to stand behind the administration’s statement but wasn’t specific. Karl followed up, and Burr stammered. In a meandering answer, he said, “It’s not limited to [Russia]. It’s Iran, it’s North Korea, it’s China.” Burr also said he doubted Karl’s sources.
After a commercial break, Karl made more explicit that his source was the Clapper-Johnson statement and read the first line of the statement verbatim. Burr replied, “I don’t think that really had anything to do with the e-mails or the political parties,” and added “I’m not sure that the reports that you read are from official sources.” Karl was exasperated. “Ok, uh, it was a joint statement from the Director of National Intelligence and the intelligence community. Let’s move on to the next question.” (It’s worth watching the 7 minutes in full.)
The media was perplexed. Politico reported the next morning under the sub-heading, “Burr All Over the Place on Hacks.” The Washington Post summarized the exchange saying, “Burr appeared unaware of or unwilling to acknowledge Clapper’s statement and dodged when pressed on the issue.”
‘History has its eyes on you’: Chairing the Senate’s Russia Investigation
When Burr, as a member of the House of Representatives, ran for the Senate in 2004, there was a historical significance to his race that was not lost on the candidate. North Carolina’s congressman was the 12th cousin of Aaron Burr, the man who had killed Alexander Hamilton and stood trial for treason for a plot to take military control over American territory. Aaron Burr’s stain on American history was likely part of the reason it took nearly 200 years before a Burr returned to Congress. Richard Burr had accomplished that feat in 1994 as part of the so-called Newt Gingrich Revolution.
Ten years later, he was aiming to become the first Burr to win a Senate seat since Aaron Burr represented the state of New York.
Richard Burr’s family expressed pride in their connection to the nation’s third Vice President. His father had served as the president of the Aaron Burr Association in the late 1970s. In 2004, the National Review asked Congressman Burr whether he was proud of his tie to Aaron Burr. “Yes, I am,” Burr replied, “though history has proved to shine a different light on him, because of the treasonous acts.” He was reflective, and sounded conflicted.
After the 2016 election returned Burr to the Senate, he found himself with the historically significant role of chairing the investigation into whether the President of the United States and members of his campaign helped Russia interfere in the 2016 election. Warner, for his part, remarked that the investigation “may very well be the most important thing I do in my public life.” Freed of the pressures of the election season, the question would become how Burr would run the investigation.
Over the past two years, the Senate Intelligence Committee has produced reports in a bipartisan fashion that contrast sharply with all other congressional investigations into Russian election interference to date. One report found that Russian government operatives “conducted an unprecedented, coordinated cyber campaign against state election infrastructure” during the presidential election. Another report confirmed the findings of the intelligence community that Russia had interfered in the election in support of Trump.
Given what Burr had said in 2016, these fully bipartisan reports were even more significant than many realized. That said, the overwhelming evidence in support of the reports’ findings appeared to offer no alternative for a reasonable decision-maker.
What has been alarming to close observers is a series of decision points in the course of the Russia investigation, most especially on the question of collusion, that bring Burr’s impartiality into doubt.
Here are 10 data points to consider:
1. Burr tried to kill the collusion inquiry from the start.
Burr announced that the committee would exclude possible collusion from the scope of the investigation, a move he made with no advance notice to Ranking Member Warner.
2. Burr reversed under pressure.
Burr reportedly backed down only after Democrats threatened to boycott the investigation if the question of collusion was not included as a topic.
3. Caught in the act — working secretly on behalf of the White House.
The Washington Post revealed that the White House secretly enlisted House Intelligence Committee chair Devin Nunes and Burr to reach out to news organizations to challenge the New York Times’ reporting on contacts between the Trump campaign and Russians. The Post notably wrote, “Unlike the others, Nunes spoke on the record.” That was better than what Burr had done. (Also of note, CNN and Reuters independently confirmed the New York Times’ reporting.)
Burr’s conduct was criticized by both Democrats and Republicans in the Senate. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said Burr had been put “on notice,” and that Burr’s conduct “certainly gives the appearance, if not the reality, of a lack of impartiality.” Warner said he had “grave concerns” about Burr’s conduct. Republican Senators Susan Collins (R-Me.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), both members of the intelligence committee, also issued critical statements.
4. Credit where credit is not due.
Burr has been credited with not appearing at functions with President Trump and limiting any trips to the White House, but he took this step only after being chastened by the Post report on his and Nunes’ conduct.
5. A painfully slow start. No subpoenas and lack of requests for evidence.
In April 2017, Michael Isikoff reported, “The committee has yet to issue a single subpoena for documents or interview any key witnesses who are central… It also hasn’t requested potentially crucial evidence — such as the emails, memos and phone records of the Trump campaign — in part because the panel’s chairman, Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., has so far failed to respond to requests from the panel’s Democrats to sign letters doing so, the sources said.”
6. Understaffed.
“The [Senate Intelligence Committee] investigation does not have a single staffer dedicated to it full-time, and those staff members working on it part-time do not have significant investigative experience,” the Daily Beast reported in April 2017. In a Feb. 2019 interview, Burr defended never hiring outside full-time professional investigators. Outside investigators, he said, “would’ve never had access to some of the documents that we were able to access from the intelligence community.” But it’s unclear why the committee could not use outside professional investigators or attorneys who have the required security clearances.
7. Statement on assessing the success of Russian interference.
In a widely watched November 2017 hearing, Burr used his opening remarks to claim that Russian influence operations could not be shown to have affected the election, and that a contrary view was biased. Burr said: “I want to use this forum to push back on some narratives that have sprung up around the subject. A lot of folks, including many in the media, have tried to reduce this entire conversation to one premise; foreign actors conducted a surgical, executed covert operation to help elect a United States president. I’m here to tell you this story does not simplify that easily.”
Burr continued, “What we cannot do … is calculate the impact that foreign meddling had on this election. It’s human nature to make the complex manageable and determine things that fit your conclusions. That’s bias.”
8. Encouraging Trump’s attempts to discredit former senior intelligence officials.
When President Trump decided to revoke the security clearances of former senior intelligence officials, Burr quickly and strongly supported the president. (Notably, Burr issued a statement saying a New York Times op-ed that John Brennan wrote justified the President’s revoking the former CIA Director’s clearances. This was unusual reasoning since Brennan wrote the op-ed following the President’s deciding to revoke Brennan’s clearances.)
9. Vetoing public hearings.
Burr categorically rejects any public hearings with Trump campaign associates, despite Warner’s requests and despite the fact that the committee has held several public hearings, including on Russia’s manipulation of social media platforms.
10. Defying his own rules on speaking to the press about the committee’s work.
Burr has now repeatedly told media outlets that he has seen no evidence of collusion. The first occasion was in an Associated Press interview in September 2018. In the same article, the Associated Press reported that Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.)“says Burr started every meeting at the beginning of the probe by asking senators not to talk to the media ‘until we get additional facts and we put things out together.’” In 2014, Burr said, “I personally don’t believe that anything that goes on in the intelligence committee should ever be discussed publicly.”
With months still to go in the committee’s investigation, Burr has recently made headlines in claiming that he has seen no “hard evidence” or “factual evidence” of collusion. Yet, he also seems to acknowledge that reasonable minds on the committee may well consider the facts do amount to evidence of collusion.
Burr’s conduct during the 2016 campaign, however, haunt his words today. What stands out most of all is Burr’s statement in the Oct. 3, 2016 interview that he had “yet to see anything that would lead me to believe” Russia was interfering to benefit Trump—when that’s exactly what he was seeing in highly classified intelligence briefings at the time. That was no stray statement either. Burr’s spokeswoman’s July 2016 statement that “public discussion about attribution” of the DNC hack was “premature,” along with Burr’s troubling Senate debate performance are additional reminders of how Burr has previously characterized intelligence information for the American public.
The true character and public understanding of Senator Richard Burr will be tested in the months ahead. Then history will be left to judge.
https://www.justsecurity.org/62573/rich ... integrate/
by seemslikeadream » Fri Feb 15, 2019 12:37 pm
Andrew McCabe, Paul Manafort and Mueller’s theory: A criminal conspiracy implicating the president?
FBI Director Robert Mueller testifies during a House Appropriations Committee hearing on the FBI Budget, on Capitol Hill on March 19, 2013 in Washington, D.C. (UPI/Kevin Dietsch via Creative Commons)
Valentine’s Day 2019 was a day to remember. Americans woke up to news about Andrew McCabe, the former acting director of the FBI, and his new book that outlines the wild days in May of 2017 when members of the Justice Department allegedly considered invoking the 25th Amendment to remove President Trump from office. By that night we had word that Trump would go through with his threat to declare a national emergency so he can circumvent the will of Congress and order the construction of his border wall.
This article was originally published at Salon
Just to add to the general chaos, in between breaking news stories, legal and national security experts were still poring over earlier news from the Paul Manafort case that had everyone who is following the Russia scandal closely just a little breathless. A federal judge has affirmed that the president’s former campaign chairman lied to special counsel Robert Mueller’s team about damning evidence that we can infer may implicate Donald Trump.
House Intelligence Committee chair Adam Schiff, D-Calif., explained it this way on MSNBC:
It appears the judge has largely agreed with what the special counsel argued and that not only did [Manafort] lie, but the motivation here is that if he told the truth about his relationship with someone with Russian Intelligence while he was the campaign chairman that would be so damaging to Trump that it would negate his chance of a pardon.
I have never subscribed to the theory that the president is a wily operator who’s always strategizing ways to distract the media and the public from bad news about him. Trump has a strong feral survival instinct, so he’s always bobbing and weaving, but I doubt he makes these choices consciously. In this case, however, he seems a bit too eager to draw attention to the McCabe story considering how damning it actually is.
Perhaps Trump really was upset. But it’s also the case that he knew upon waking up Thursday morning that he had just lost the biggest legislative fight of his presidency. He staged the longest government shutdown in American history and wound up getting less than he would have gotten had he taken the border funding deal Congress agreed to in December. He also undoubtedly realized that in order to save face even a little, he would have to declare the national emergency and create a rift among his allies in Congress, possibly changing the dynamic still more.
As Salon’s Amanda Marcotte pointed out on Thursday, Trump had already been in the unusual position of having to court his usually slavering media supporters to get them to accept the inevitable. McCabe’s book probably seemed like the best option among all the bad news cascading down on him in this very bad week.
Needless to say, Trump’s defenders on Fox News and elsewhere in the right-wing media find McCabe’s revelations to be convincing evidence of an attempted “deep state” coup. But coming on the heels of this news about the Manafort case and the accumulated evidence of the last three years, it was a reminder to the rest of us of that crazy period around the Comey firing, when Trump had the Russian foreign minister and ambassador up to the Oval Office the very next day and told them this:
“I just fired the head of the F.B.I. He was crazy, a real nut job,” Mr. Trump said, according to the document, which was read to The New York Times by an American official. “I faced great pressure because of Russia. That’s taken off.”
Mr. Trump added, “I’m not under investigation.”
Imagine how that must have looked to law enforcement and intelligence officials at the time. And consider that they also knew that Trump shared “code-word information” with his visitors, one of the highest classification levels used by American spy agencies. One official characterized this giveaway as “more information to the Russian ambassador than we have shared with our own allies.”
McCabe made more news in an excerpt from a CBS interview to air this weekend by saying that he not only opened a counterintelligence investigation at the FBI, as reported earlier, but also opened an obstruction of justice investigation around the same time, based upon Trump’s behavior and his insistence that the Justice Department was to do his bidding. McCabe appears to have been right to do so.
One of the president’s most fervent defenders inadvertently made this point very clear in a tweet on Thursday:
All those firings had to do with the Russia investigation.
Former U.S. attorney and deputy assistant attorney general Harry Litman said on MSNBC, “Is it a slow-motion Saturday night massacre? That’s what they were worried about at the time. In some ways, it’s worse. It is as McCabe says, a fall-off in standards of presidential accountability such as they’ve never had before.”
It should be noted that there’s always some concern about powerful federal law enforcement agencies investigating a president, whether for the purpose of blackmail, as under longtime FBI head J. Edgar Hoover, or because of political bias against his policies. But if anything, the law enforcement and intelligence communities in Washington tend to be conservative Republicans. So it would be distinctly odd if they decided to go after a Republican administration right out of the gate for political purposes, even if they thought the president was a nut or a fool. They would most likely trust that the party and the bureaucracy would assert itself.
In this case, with the evidence people at the FBI and Justice Department had of Russian interference, along with the bizarre behavior of the president and his campaign officials, law enforcement took some protective action. Some of it was reckless and got them into trouble. But it’s not hard to understand why they went there.
We’ve now had a federal judge in the Manafort case affirm what appears to be a central piece of Robert Mueller’s larger theory, which may implicate the president in a criminal conspiracy. We earlier saw another federal judge look at the evidence in the Michael Flynn case and get so agitated he accidentally threw out the word “treason.” And as of Thursday evening, the United States has a new attorney general, William Barr.
We don’t know yet whether Barr’s years in private life were spent being brainwashed by right-wing media (and there is some evidence that they were) but at one time he was seen as a man who cared about the Department of Justice and saw himself as a patriot. He too will probably see all the evidence in the Mueller probe as early as Friday. Much depends upon whether this lifelong Republican lawyer has the same reaction to that evidence as all these other conservative cops, G-men, spies, federal prosecutors and federal judges have had over the past couple of years.
https://www.rawstory.com/2019/02/andrew ... ssion=true
by seemslikeadream » Fri Feb 15, 2019 9:32 pm
Olga Lautman
Since Guccifer/Stone/WikiLeaks are in the indictments can we finally get an answer to why Kushner’s Observer news outlet received exclusive Guccifer leaks during campaign
Also why Kushner still has security clearance
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Remember when Guccifer 2.0 leaks were fed through Kushners Observer during summer and fall 2016
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https://mobile.twitter.com/olgaNYC1211/ ... 8329710593
Brad Heath
Mueller's office says in a new court filing that investigators executed search warrants on accounts used to "facilitate the transfer of stolen documents for release" and several included communications with Roger Stone.
Mueller's office says the charges against Roger Stone "are part of the same alleged criminal event or transaction" as the ones it filed against Russian intelligence officers for hacking Democratic political organizations.
https://twitter.com/bradheath/status/10 ... 3952496640
Special counsel prosecutors say they have communications of Stone with WikiLeaks
Washington (CNN)Prosecutors said for the first time that they have evidence of Roger Stone communicating with WikiLeaks, according to a new court filing from special counsel prosecutors.
During its investigation of the Russian hack of the Democrats, "the government obtained and executed dozens of search warrants on various accounts used to facilitate the transfer of stolen documents for release, as well as to discuss the timing and promotion of their release," the prosecutors wrote Friday to a federal judge.
"Several of those search warrants were executed on accounts that contained Stone's communications with Guccifer 2.0 and with Organization 1," which is WikiLeaks.
Previously, the prosecutors had only outlined how Stone attempted to get in touch with WikiLeaks' Julian Assange through intermediaries. Stone sought to learn about what the hackers had stolen from the Democratic Party and how he hoped for its release so it could help Donald Trump's campaign, prosecutors have said.
The new filing provided no further details on what was contained in the communications.
There is one known exchange of messages between WikiLeaks and Stone. In February 2018, the Atlantic reported the Stone exchanged direct messages via Twitter with the WikiLeaks account in which Stone was asked to stop associating himself with the site. Both denied they were in contact about the release of Clinton emails.
The prosecutors have not yet explained in full the extent to which Stone actually reached WikiLeaks or Assange, or levied public charges against them for their role in the distribution of the hacked data.
Friday's filing is the strongest detail yet provided by the prosecutors that Stone and WikiLeaks were in touch.
Prosecutors stated that in obtaining the accounts, they found communications between Stone and WikiLeaks, which is only described as Organization 1, as well as Guccifer 2.0 which is the alias used by Russian intelligence to disseminate the documents.
Stone and his legal team will have access to these search warrants as they review evidence in the case to prepare for his trial. He has pleaded not guilty to charges of witness tampering, obstruction of justice and lying.
Case will not be reassigned
Judge Amy Berman Jackson on Friday denied Stone's attempt to get a new judge in his case, by alleging that his charges are unrelated to a case about the Russian hack of the Democrats. Prosecutors say they are indeed related, partly because they both hinge on some of the same search warrants.
Gag order
Jackson also placed a gag order on Stone and attorneys involved in his criminal case, though Stone's ability to speak publicly isn't completely restricted.
Lawyers "for the parties and the witnesses must refrain from making statements to the media or in public settings that pose a substantial likelihood of material prejudice to this case," Jackson wrote.
They, their clients and even Stone are also not allowed to speak in and around the courthouse.
https://www.cnn.com/2019/02/15/politics ... index.html
This is the filing I've been waiting for today. The SCO says evidence in Roger Stone's case was found in accounts that were searched for the GRU case, in which 11 Russian military officers were charged with a conspiracy to interfere in the election.
In other words, following the evidence from the Russian side of the investigation led the Special Counsel's Office to Roger Stone. Consider the implications of that.
For another, it includes the first SCO confirmation of @NatashaBertrand's report that Stone communicated directly with Assange. It also firmly ties Stone to paragraph 44 of the Netyshko indictment, which quoted his DMs with Guccifer 2.0 but didn't name him.
https://twitter.com/nycsouthpaw/status/ ... 6222486528
ROGER STONE AND THE DOZENS OF SEARCH WARRANTS ON ACCOUNTS USED TO FACILITATE THE TRANSFER AND PROMOTION OF STOLEN DEMOCRATIC EMAILS
February 15, 2019/7 Comments/in 2016 Presidential Election, Mueller Probe /by empty wheel
In response to Roger Stone’s bid to get a new judge, the government has submitted a filing explaining why his case is related to the GRU indictment. It explains that Stone’s alleged false statements pertained to an investigation into links between the Russians who stole Democratic emails, entities who dumped them, and US persons like Stone:
The defendant’s false statements did not arise in a vacuum: they were made in the course of an investigation into possible links between Russian individuals (including the Netyksho defendants), individuals associated with the dumping of materials (including Organization 1), and U.S. persons (including the defendant).
More interestingly, it makes clear that Stone’s communications “with Guccifer 2.0 and with Organization 1” were found in some of the accounts used to transfer and promote the stolen emails.
In the course of investigating that activity, the government obtained and executed dozens of search warrants on various accounts used to facilitate the transfer of stolen documents for release, as well as to discuss the timing and promotion of their release. Several of those search warrants were executed on accounts that contained Stone’s communications with Guccifer 2.0 and with Organization 1.
To be clear: We know that Stone had (innocuous) DMs with both Guccifer 2.0 and WikiLeaks. So this passage is not necessarily saying anything new. But given that Stone’s indictment obscures precisely who his and Jerome Corsi’s go-between with WikiLeaks is, it suggests there may be more direct Stone communications of interest.
Stone will get a sealed description of what those warrants are and — eventually — get the warrants themselves in discovery.
The relevant search warrants, which are being produced to the defendant in discovery in this case, are discussed further in a sealed addendum to this filing.
Meanwhile, Amy Berman Jackson has issued a very limited gag in Stone’s case, prohibiting lawyers from material comments on the case, but gagging Stone only at the courthouse. That said, her gag includes lawyers for witnesses, which would seem to include Jerome Corsi lawyer Larry Klayman.
Counsel for the parties and the witnesses must refrain from making statements to the media or in public settings that pose a substantial likelihood of material prejudice to this case
ABJ does give Stone the following warnings to shut up, however.
This order should not be interpreted as modifying or superseding the condition of the defendant’s release that absolutely prohibits him from communicating with any witness in the case, either directly or indirectly. Nor does this order permit the defendant to intimidate or threaten any witness, or to engage or attempt to engage in any conduct in violation of 18 U.S.C. §1512.
Finally, while it is not up to the Court to advise the defendant as to whether a succession of public statements would be in his best interest at this time, it notes that one factor that will be considered in the evaluation of any future request for relief based on pretrial publicity will be the extent to which the publicity was engendered by the defendant himself.
So the biggest news here might be that Larry Klayman has to shut up.
https://www.emptywheel.net/2019/02/15/r ... ic-emails/
Prosecutor’s say former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort should spend between 19 and 24 years in federal prison.
Today, Trump's campaign chairman, Paul Manafort was recommended for 19-24 years in prison. Then we learned that Trump's longest-servin' advisor, Roger Stone, has been in direct contact with WikiLeaks.
Mike Pence went out of his way to endorse the Paul Manafort Super PAC in question, according to Talking Points Memo.
Manafort-Linked PAC Failed To Report $1 Million And The FEC Wants To Know Why
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/muckraker ... o-know-why
and..........
Trump's Lawyers May Have Provided False Info on Hush Payments, Says Rep. Elijah Cummings
A key House Democrat suggested that lawyers for President Donald Trump and the White House may have provided false information to a government ethics office about his involvement in hush payments during the 2016 campaign by women alleging affairs with him.
House Oversight Chairman Elijah Cummings wrote Friday in a letter to the White House that internal notes taken by Office of Government Ethics officials indicate that some of Trump’s lawyers gave them “evolving stories” about the payments and money that Trump owed to his lawyer and fixer, Michael Cohen, for making them.
Cohen, who is headed to prison in part for his role in these payments, said in his guilty plea that he acted “in coordination with” and “at the direction of” the president. Cohen also said this was for the purpose of influencing the 2016 election.
“It now appears that President Trump’s other attorneys—at the White House and in private practice—may have provided false information about these payments to federal officials,” Cummings, a Maryland Democrat, said in the letter addressed to new White House Counsel Pat Cipollone.
“This raises significant questions about why some of the president’s closest advisers made these false claims and the extent to which they were acting at the direction of, or in coordination with, the president,” he said.
The letter also details that the president filed a financial disclosure statement with the ethics office covering the period from January 2016 through April 15, 2017 making no mention of any liability to Cohen.
Cummings said notes from ethics office officials say that from March 22 to April 26, 2018, Trump’s personal lawyer Sheri Dillon was telling them that Trump never owed any money to Cohen in 2016 and 2017.
http://fortune.com/2019/02/15/trump-coh ... -cummings/
by seemslikeadream » Mon Feb 18, 2019 9:46 am
Trump’s Top Targets in the Russia Probe Are Experts in Organized Crime
Some of President Trump’s favorite targets in the Russia probe have spent their careers in the Justice Department and the FBI investigating organized crime and money laundering, particularly as they pertain to Russia.
Natasha Bertrand is a staff writer at The Atlantic, where she covers national security and the intelligence community.
Bruce Ohr. Lisa Page. Andrew Weissmann. Andrew McCabe. President Donald Trump has relentlessly attacked these FBI and Justice Department officials as dishonest “Democrats” engaged in a partisan “witch hunt” led by the special counsel determined to tie his campaign to Russia. But Trump’s attacks have also served to highlight another thread among these officials and others who have investigated his campaign: their extensive experience in probing money laundering and organized crime, particularly as they pertain to Russia.
As Trump praised and defended Russian President Vladimir Putin along the campaign trail, financial analysts and money-laundering experts questioned whether the real-estate mogul had any financial incentives—including business ties or outstanding debt—to seek better relations with Moscow. Robert Mueller, the special counsel appointed in May 2017 to investigate a potential conspiracy between the Trump campaign and Moscow to defeat Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election, assembled a team with revealing expertise in fraud, racketeering, money laundering, and other financial crimes.
Trump’s latest obsession is with Bruce Ohr, a career Justice Department official who spent years investigating Russian organized crime and corruption—an expertise he shared with another Trump target named Christopher Steele, the former British intelligence operative who provided valuable intelligence on Russia to the State Department and the FBI’s Eurasian Organized Crime Task Force prior to authoring the Trump-Russia dossier in 2016. Ohr and Steele met in 2007, according to The New York Times, and stayed in touch as a result of their shared interests and mutual respect. Trump has tweeted about Ohr nearly a dozen times this month alone, complaining about his relationship with Steele and Ohr’s wife’s past work for Fusion GPS—the opposition-research firm that hired Steele in 2016 to research Trump’s Russia ties.
“How the hell is Bruce Ohr still employed at the Justice Department?” Trump wrote on Thursday. “Disgraceful! Witch Hunt!”
Trump’s fixation with seeing Ohr ousted from the Justice Department could be perceived as yet another attempt to undermine the credibility of the people who have investigated him. It could also be interpreted as an attack on someone with deep knowledge of the shady characters Trump and his cohort have been linked to, including Semion Mogilevich, the Russian mob boss, and Oleg Deripaska, a Russian aluminum magnate close to Putin who did business with Trump’s former campaign chairman Paul Manafort. (Incidentally, another Manafort associate, the Ukrainian billionaire Dmitry Firtash, admitted that he only managed to be in business because Mogilevich allowed him to be, according to a leaked 2008 State Department cable.) Ohr was involved in banning Deripaska from the U.S. in 2006, due to his alleged ties to organized crime and fear that he would try to launder money into American real estate. Nearly a decade later, Ohr and the FBI sought Deripaska’s help in taking down overseas criminal syndicates.
And then there’s Andy McCabe, the former deputy director of the FBI who spent more than a decade investigating Russian organized crime and served as a supervisory special agent of a task force that scrutinized Eurasian crime syndicates. McCabe is a 21-year FBI veteran who handled aspects of the Russia investigation until Mueller was appointed last May, an appointment McCabe says he pushed for. He was fired in March, just two days short of being eligible to receive his pension and other benefits from the bureau. The official reason was that he had lacked candor when describing his interactions with the press to the Office of the Inspector General. But Trump and his allies’ relentless attacks on McCabe on Twitter and cable news made it difficult for many to believe that Attorney General Jeff Sessions’s decision to fire him was completely devoid of political considerations.
One member of Mueller’s team, meanwhile, has provoked more ire from the president’s allies than others: Andrew Weissmann, a seasoned prosecutor who oversaw cases against high-ranking organized criminals on Wall Street in the early 1990s and, later, against 30 people implicated in the Enron fraud scandal. Trump has also villainized the former Mueller team member Lisa Page, a trial attorney in the Justice Department’s organized-crime section whose cases centered on international organized crime and money laundering. She has been targeted by the president and his allies for mocking Trump in text messages she exchanged with Peter Strzok, a Russian counterintelligence expert in the FBI, during a period in which both briefly worked on the Mueller investigation. Strzok was fired earlier this month for writing similarly caustic messages. Trump says the texts showed outrageous bias and has cited them as evidence that Mueller is out to get him.
Mueller’s probe is first and foremost a counterintelligence investigation, and Trump famously declared last year that any examination of his personal finances would cross a “red line.” But Russia’s criminal syndicates have become increasingly intertwined with its intelligence services, blurring the line between Mafia dons and spies. (As the Russia expert Mark Galeotti wrote in his book The Vory: Russia’s Super Mafia, Putin’s Kremlin has consolidated power by “not simply taming, but absorbing, the underworld.”)
The president has denied having any business ties to Russia, and his dream of building a Trump Tower Moscow never materialized. But his links to Russian oligarchs and mobsters from the former Soviet Union have been documented: Millions of dollars from the former Soviet Union flowed into Trump’s developments and casinos throughout the 1990s, as the journalist Craig Unger has chronicled, as oligarchs looked for a place to hide their money in the West. The Trump Taj Mahal casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey, was once known as a hot spot for Brooklyn mobsters associated with the Russian Mafia, and quickly became the “favorite East Coast destination” of the top Russian mob boss Vyacheslav Ivankov, according to the 2000 book Red Mafiya: How the Russian Mob Has Invaded America. It was also repeatedly cited by the Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network for having inadequate money-laundering controls.
By the early 2000s, a third of the buyers of Trump Tower’s most expensive condos were Russia-linked shell companies or individuals from the former Soviet Union—including Eduard Nektalov, a mob-connected diamond dealer from Uzbekistan, and David Bogatin, a Russian-émigré mobster who specialized in bootlegging gasoline. Bogatin’s brother was involved in an elaborate stock fraud with the top Russian mob boss Mogilevich, who himself is allied with Alimzhan Tokhtakhounov—another Russian mob leader who ran an entire gambling and money-laundering network out of Unit 63A in Trump Tower, just three floors below Trump’s own residence.(Tokhtakhounov was a VIP attendee at Trump’s Miss Universe pageant in Moscow just seven months after the gambling ring was busted by the FBI.) Trump’s own sons have boasted of the Trump Organization’s dependence on Russian money. “Russians make up a pretty disproportionate cross-section of a lot of our assets,” Donald Trump Jr. said in 2008. “We don’t rely on American banks,” Eric Trump reportedly told a golfing buddy in 2014. “We have all the funding we need out of Russia.”
Trump’s longtime personal lawyer, Michael Cohen—who pleaded guilty last week to tax fraud and campaign-finance violations, in which he implicated the president—once bragged that he was part of the Russian mob, according to The Wall Street Journal. Cohen’s uncle, with whom he was close, owned a Brooklyn catering hall called El Caribe, in which Cohen had a stake—a hall that “for decades was the scene of mob weddings and Christmas parties,” the Times reported, and housed the offices of “two of New York’s most notorious Russian mobsters.”
It is ironic, then, that Trump’s attacks have shone a bright light on the experts inside and outside the government who have been investigating him—individuals who share a deep expertise in organized crime, money laundering, fraud, and racketeering. Even Glenn Simpson, the co-founder of Fusion GPS, spent years as an investigative reporter at The Wall Street Journal digging into Russian organized crime. In a hearing before the House Intelligence Committee last year, Simpson explained that “real-estate deals” were a common Russian method of hiding and moving money. Asked whether Fusion had found “evidence” of corruption and illicit finance related to the purchase of Trump properties, Simpson replied that his firm had seen “patterns of buying and selling that we thought were suggestive of money laundering,” including “fast-turnover deals and deals where there seemed to have been efforts to disguise the identity of the buyer.”
It’s not just Trump Tower or Trump Taj Mahal. NBC News reported in November that Trump’s Panama hotel had organized-crime ties, and a Russian state-owned bank under U.S. sanctions, whose CEO met with Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, in December 2016, helped finance the construction of the president’s 65-story Trump International Hotel and Tower in Toronto.
“The Russian Mafia is essentially under the dominion of the Russian government and Russian intelligence services,” Simpson said in his congressional testimony. But Trump, continuing on the curious theme of defending Moscow while throwing U.S. intelligence officials under the bus, has, conveniently for Putin, persisted in making a spectacle of some of the Kremlin’s biggest adversaries in the U.S. government.
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/ar ... me/569056/
Explosive UK Parliamentary Report Exposes the Molten Core of the Trump, Brexit, Russia Scandal
Peter Jukes 18th February 2019 Brexit Referendum, Brexit Referendum, Fact, Mueller, Russian Influence Operations, Tech, Untold
The House of Commons’ Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee’s final report on Disinformation and “Fake News” reveals new evidence and calls for new investigations into dark data, dark money and Russian influence in British elections.
The day after Carole Cadwalladr in the Observer revealed Special Counsel Robert Mueller has subpoenaed Brittany Kaiser, director of the now-defunct data company Cambridge Analytica who worked on Nigel Farage’s Leave EU campaign, this landmark parliamentary report provides yet more evidence that the Trump Campaign, the EU referendum and Russian interference are all closely linked.
“It is now blindingly obvious that we need a criminal investigation – equivalent to the US’ Mueller inquiry”
David Lammy MP
The report also reveals that the National Crime Agency, currently investigating potential illegal foreign funding of major Leave EU donor Arron Banks, has also been asked to look at potential collusion with Russia over data, following evidence submitted to it by the Information Commissioner’s office.
These revelations follow an exclusive report by the Byline Times last week that multiple investigations by the Metropolitan Police, into up to 14 political figures involved in potential election crimes, are currently stalled.
The report will intensify pressure on Prime Minister Theresa May to launch a full public inquiry into both dark money and dark data in British elections.
Labour MP David Lammy told the Byline Times that “the scale and depth of malicious disinformation and foreign interference this report uncovers demands an urgent response from the Prime Minister on behalf of the British Government”.
“It is now blindingly obvious that we need a criminal investigation – equivalent to the US’ Mueller inquiry – to investigate any possible links between the 2016 Leave campaign, Donald Trump’s campaign team and Russia,” Lammy said.
Russian Influence Operations
The DCMS committee, chaired by conservative MP Damian Collins, has been sitting for two years and has provided the most comprehensive account so far of the impact of Russia’s hybrid warfare on Western democracies and its interaction with the populist movements associated with the Brexit vote in 2016 and the election of Donald Trump six months later.
The July report was more popular in Moscow than in London.
It’s obviously of some concern to the Kremlin. According to the report published today, nearly two-thirds of the views of the interim report, published online last July, were from foreign IP addresses. (The average for most parliamentary publications is only a fifth.) Over half of these foreign views were from Russia. The July report was more popular in Moscow than in London.
Source: Web and Publications Unit, House of Commons
Though the portrayal of Facebook as “digital gangsters” will dominate domestic headlines because of its owner Mark Zuckerberg’s failure to answer the DCMS committee’s many questions, buried in the hundred-page report are more details of malign Russian activity in UK politics.
Had Russia paid for a social media campaign of this scale the committee estimates it would have cost between £1.4 and 4.14 million.
In June last year, the committee quizzed Leave EU founder Arron Banks about the many contacts Leave EU had with Russian officials in the lead-up to the EU Referendum. Today, it provides more detail of the extent of Kremlin intervention.
The committee estimates that the state-controlled channels RT and Sputnik’s pro-Leave websites garnered 134 million potential impressions, nearly five times the reach of the two domestic campaigns combined. (Vote Leave with 33 million impressions and Leave EU with 11 million). Had Russia paid for a social media campaign of this scale the committee estimates it would have cost between £1.4 and 4.14 million.
Moreover, the report reveals how the Internet Research Agency, a Kremlin-backed Petersburg-based troll farm indicted for election interference in the US, was simultaneously intervening in British politics, with a marked emphasis on stirring up Islamophobia and racial hatred. It “tried to fuel social divisions, including religious tensions, in the aftermath of the Westminster, Manchester, London Bridge and Finsbury Park terror attacks”, according to the parliamentary report.
The Kremlin’s attempts to intervene continue. Last October, Twitter closed down 3,613 new Internet Research Agency accounts. A brief analysis of the data reveals these accounts tweeted about Brexit 1,525 times.
But it’s the connection between Russian interference and both UK and US actors which leads the committee to make a stark demand for a full inquiry into the use of dark money and dark data.
Dark Data, Dark Tech
At the heart of both Mueller’s inquiry in the US and the DCMS Committee’s two-year-long investigation in the UK has been the role of Cambridge Analytica, the data company founded by the military contractor, SCL Ltd, and Trump backers Robert Mercer and Steve Bannon.
In 2016, the company boasted about being the key factor in both Britain’s shock vote to leave the EU and Donald Trump’s surprise victory in the presidential campaign.
The report’s findings about the official Vote Leave campaign… suggest even more collusion – both with foreign actors and between the two campaigns.
Since that initial euphoria, and once the Mueller investigation into Russian interference began, the role of Cambridge Analytica in Brexit has been played down. Even though its vice president, Steve Bannon, is a close friend of Nigel Farage, and a director Brittany Kaiser was present at the launch of Farage’s Leave EU campaign in November 2015, Arron Banks – who bankrolled the campaign – has denied ever using the company’s services.
Invoices obtained by Byline and the Observer revealed at least £40,000 of preparatory work was done by the data firm for Banks in early 2016.
But it’s the DCMS report’s findings about the official Vote Leave campaign, fronted by senior conservatives Boris Johnson and Michael Gove, which suggest even more collusion – both with foreign actors and between the two campaigns.
It’s in the shared used of data, voter profiles and targeting strategies that a deeper coordination and joint purpose can be found between the Brexit- backing organisations and the Trump campaign.
At the centre of the allegations is the role of AIQ, a small data company in Canada, which ended up being the main beneficiary the official Vote Leave campaigns spending during the EU Referendum. Chris Wylie, the former Cambridge Analytica head of research, claims AIQ was an offshoot of the same UK firm SCL Elections, which would mean both Leave campaigns effectively shared the same online operation.
Though AIQ has denied any formal connection with Cambridge Analytica the committee notes strange anomalies – such as SCL Elections being listed as the contact for at least one AIQ Facebook ad account. It also records the testimony of Jeff Silvester, CEO of AIQ, that roughly 80% of his company’s revenue came from SCL from 2013 until mid-2015.
AIQ worked for a host of Brexit-supporting organisations including the official campaign Vote Leave. Veterans for Britain spent £100,000 on their online ads, BeLeave £625,000 and DUP Vote to Leave £32,000. According to Jeff Silvester, these organisations approached him independently of each other.
The majority of the adverts – 2,529 out of a total of 2,823 AIQ created – were on behalf of Vote Leave which spent just under £3m with the company, mostly in the last few days of the referendum.
However, it’s in the shared used of data, voter profiles and targeting strategies, that a deeper co-ordination and joint purpose can be found
between the Brexit-backing organisations and the Trump campaign.
The DataBase of Truth and Digital Weapons
The source of the DCMS Committee’s explosive findings about AIQ mainly come from Chris Vickery, director of Cyber Risk Research at Upguard who published four papers that explained connections between AIQ, Cambridge Analytica, and SCL, and AIQ’s work during the UK Referendum based on data he had found on an insecure AIQ website. He handed over 20,000 folders and 113,000 files to the committee which suggest a common data set – the DataBase of Truth – shared between employees of the three companies, and also used by Donald Trump’s campaign.
Source: Chris Vickery
Vickery’s evidence has since been handed to the Information Commissioner’s Office, which has confirmed AIQ has access to the personal data of UK voters “which they should not continue to hold”. The AIQ database was also shared with a Ukrainian oligarch planning to run for president this year on a more pro-Putin, anti-NATO platform.
Also exposed in the new report is more forensic traces suggesting how Cambridge Analytica worked in close concert with the news website Breitbart.
Previous evidence has shown that the data firm had unique reselling rights to Breitbart’s data, but a newly discovered executable “config” file suggests the coordination of targeting data and news stories was automated by AIQ.
Hedge fund billionaire Robert Mercer funded both Cambridge Analytica and Breitbart. Steve Bannon was vice president of the former and executive chairman of the latter before becoming heading Trump’s campaign and entering the White House as his Chief Strategist.
Bannon has described Breitbart as “the platform of the alt-right” and characterised the website as his “weapons”. Since Cambridge Analytica’s special targeting software was classified by the UK Government as a “weapons grade” technology (the Ministry of Defence “had to be told if it was going to be deployed in another country”) the military imagery may not be a metaphor.
Trump’s former National Security Adviser, General Michael Flynn, awaiting sentencing for various counts of lying to the FBI, was also a consultant to Cambridge Analytica during the Trump campaign. In a speech days after Trump’s win he described the surprise victory as an “insurgency… irregular warfare at it’s finest” run by “an army of digital soldiers”.
Calls for a Full Investigation and New Laws to Protect from Foreign Interference
The report includes a startling update from the National Crime Agency. The NCA revealed late last year that it had launched an investigation into the source of £8m of funds which Arron Banks poured into Nigel Farage’s Leave EU campaign, after a referral from the Electoral Commission that had concluded the money did not come from a permissible UK donor.
But, now it appears it’s not just dark money which is the focus of the NCA investigation. The parliamentary report examines evidence that Russia had access to the Cambridge Analytica database, itself compiled through the hacking of between 50 to 170 million Facebook users, and reveals this has been referred to the NCA by the Information Commissioner Elisabeth Denham.
(Byline Times has asked the NCA whether Russian interference now forms part of its probe and is awaiting a reply.)
The report will also be of interest to the Mueller inquiry and various US congressional investigations into Russian interference in the US, and the many overlaps with UK politics.
The indictment of Trump campaigner Roger Stone revealed his connections with Nigel Farage and his friend Ted Malloch. Dianne Feinstein’s Senate investigation recently subpoenaed Frank Mermoud, an associate of jailed campaigner Paul Manafort who recently signed up as a director of Arron Banks’ security company Precision Risk. Meanwhile, Trump’s inauguration committee, run by a business partner of Leave EU co-founder Richard Tice, is also subject to a new wide-ranging probe by federal prosecutors.
Many of the Mueller indictments flow from US laws about lobbyists registering as agents of foreign principals and political interests, and the DCMS Committee report concludes that Britain needs a “UK version of the US Foreign Agents and Registration Act (FARA)”.
But, the committee goes further, and suggests that Britain needs something like its own Mueller inquiry. The report concludes by calling for an “independent investigation into past elections” – including the 2014 Scottish Independence referendum, the Brexit vote and the 2017 general election – “to explore what actually happened with regard to foreign influence, disinformation, funding, voter manipulation, and the sharing of data, so that appropriate changes to the law can be made and lessons can be learnt for future elections and referenda”.
https://bylinetimes.com/2019/02/18/expl ... a-scandal/
by seemslikeadream » Tue Feb 19, 2019 7:33 am
Roger Stone’s attorneys have just submitted a court filing ...apologizing for his Instagram post today that targeted Judge Amy Berman Jackson.
The deleted photo that Roger Stone posted on IG of Judge Amy Berman Jackson with cross hairs next to her head was noticed by several notable law professors who commented he could be guilty of a felony, punishable with up to 10 years in prison
18 USC § 115: Whoever "threatens to assault, kidnap, or murder, a ... [US] judge ... with intent to impede, intimidate, or interfere with such official, judge ... while engaged in the performance of official duties ..." commits a felony.
Does this post from Roger Stone qualify?
Roger Stone now directly attacking the federal judge presiding over his case and posting a pic of her head beside crosshairs
original photo of the judge came from a site called cosmicconvergence. org, an anti-Semitic, New World Order conspiracy group.
No. You can't trigger recusal by being a douche to a judge.
B9D804B3-30C5-4780-8A7C-D3AEF98D9EF4.jpeg (105.15 KiB) Viewed 412 times
by seemslikeadream » Tue Feb 19, 2019 11:46 am
come to court Roger the judge Amy wants to talk to you on Thursday
I think that is an order she was using all capital letters
Roger Stone Has been arrested
viewtopic.php?f=8&t=41555&p=669350&hilit=Roger+stone#p669350
Things Getting Tough For Roger Stone?
By David Kurtz
Curious what criminal defense lawyer readers have to say about this: When a federal judge issues a show cause order that raises the possibility of revoking your client’s conditions of pre-trial release, do you prepare them for the chance they won’t come home after the show cause hearing?
Reckless Even by Roger Stone Standards
Never gratuitously annoy the person who is deciding how long you’ll spend in federal prison.
Attorney and former federal prosecutor
Roger Stone, the trash-talking, Richard Nixon–tattooed Donald Trump adviser recently indicted for lying to Congress and threatening a witness, had an eventful Presidents’ Day. In the space of time you or I might enjoy a leisurely brunch, Stone posted an online attack on United States District Judge Amy Berman Jackson, who is presiding in his case, then altered the post, deleted the post, offered a defense for the post, and finally had his lawyers file a “notice of apology” for the post in federal court. None of this is normal, not even in 2019.
This surreal chain of events began—as many do—on Stone’s Instagram page, where he has been relentlessly decrying his prosecution and soliciting defense funds. “Through legal trickery Deep State hitman Robert Mueller has guaranteed that my upcoming show trial is before Judge Amy Berman Jackson, an Obama appointed Judge who dismissed the Benghazi charges against Hillary Clinton and incarcerated Paul Manafort prior to his conviction for any crime,” Stone proclaimed. He added a picture of Jackson with a small symbol in the upper-left-hand corner—a cross in a circle, or, according to some, crosshairs.
Stone’s gripe is nonsense. Jackson caught Stone’s case because she was previously assigned a related case, an utterly routine practice in federal court. She revoked Paul Manafort’s bond and jailed him before trial because he tampered with witnesses, which will get you detained by any judge no matter who appointed her. Jackson didn’t “dismiss the Benghazi charges against Hillary Clinton,” because Clinton was never charged with a crime. Rather, she dismissed a civil lawsuit against Clinton on the rather mundane grounds that it was barred by the Federal Employees Liability Reform and Tort Compensation Act of 1988, which makes suing federal employees for things they did in the course of their job very difficult. Stone’s post was more of his customary legal fabulism.
Federal criminal defendants are not, as a rule, famed for self-control. But Stone’s attack on the judge presiding over his case is reckless even by his standards. Some have speculated that Stone, always fumbling for an angle, may have wanted to force Jackson to withdraw from the case. That won’t work. Federal courts have long held that a party can’t insult or antagonize a judge and then demand her recusal on the theory that the insults have biased her. That’s why President Trump couldn’t force United States District Judge Gonzalo Curiel off his case with his bigoted and boorish claims that Curiel’s ethnic background disqualified him from hearing the Trump University case. In fact, a party can’t even force a judge off a case by threatening her—and some have tried. The reason is obvious: If a litigant could force a judge to drop a case with deliberate misbehavior, then insults and threats would fly and dockets would descend into chaos.
Though foolhardy, Stone’s attack on Jackson is not, as some have suggested, a violation of Jackson’s recent gag order. Jackson ordered the lawyers in the case not to make statements “that pose a substantial likelihood of material prejudice to this case.” With respect to Stone and the witnesses in the case, Jackson only prohibited misbehavior on the courthouse steps and in the immediate vicinity—thus taking advantage of judges’ power to control their immediate surroundings to assure orderly litigation. Stone’s Instagram post doesn’t qualify.
Other critics quickly proclaimed that Stone had committed a criminal threat or unlawful incitement by posting the picture with a symbol they interpreted as crosshairs. That’s possible, but unlikely. Rhetoric like Stone’s is protected by the First Amendment unless it is designed, and likely, to cause imminent lawless action, such as a speaker urging a crowd to attack nearby protesters. Even if you take Stone’s Instagram post as an attempt to incite, it almost certainly doesn’t urge sufficiently immediate action.
Similarly, it’s questionable whether Stone’s post is a “true threat”—the sort of threat outside First Amendment protection. A true threat is a threat that a reasonable person would interpret as a sincere expression of intent to do harm, and that the speaker knew would be taken that way. Stone, who has a history of pushing questionable content from erratic sources, apparently cut and pasted the picture from a conspiracy website. This has led to trouble before, such as the time that Stone—accidentally, he says—republished a photo with swastikas. It would be difficult, given Stone’s established history of careening from one reckless utterance to another, to show that he meant this one as a sincere threat. “I’m sorry, Your Honor, but my client only intended to insult you and didn’t even notice the crosshairs” is not the defense I’d choose, but we go to court with the clients we have, not the clients we want.
Stone’s lawyers submitted a startlingly quick and unprecedented apology to the court, e-filing a statement that Stone “recognizes the impropriety” and attaching Stone’s dubious claim that he had “no intention of disrespecting the court.” The apology’s real message is from the lawyers: We’re sorry, Your Honor, that we can’t control our client. Will it be enough to spare Stone from consequences? Probably. Jackson has shown that, like many wise federal judges, she prefers to avoid drama and unnecessary confrontations. Stone has apologized and deleted the post, and any sanction against Stone would only feed into his thirst for spectacle.
Jackson won’t forget what happened, though, and one day she could be tasked with sentencing Stone. Never gratuitously annoy the person who is deciding how long you’ll spend in federal prison. I shouldn’t have to tell people these things, but here we are.
Rick Wilson
Which is to say Roger's going to obviously use chafing to call himself a political prisoner being tortured by the Deep State
We had to cut this for length, but McCabe told me that his guess is that the White House "immediately knew the steps I took after Jim got fired, and the cases I opened" because of Nunes. "When I was surprised to see Nunes at the briefing, I knew it would happen very quickly."
And here is what McCabe says about this in the book: "Now that the Gang of Eight was a crowd of two dozen in the room, I thought, the chance of this not getting back to the president was basically zero. Then Devin Nunes walked in, and the chance was less than zero."
https://twitter.com/NatashaBertrand/sta ... 8685501441
Stop pretending that Rep Devin Nunes is anything but one of Putin’s Russian Assets
1-He was with Traitor Flynn when he met with Turkish FM to plot kidnapping cleric Gulen
2- The midnight Uber ride to WH to give them classified House Intel nfo
3- Sabotaging #MuellerInvestigation
Flynn-backed plan to transfer nuclear tech to Saudis may have broken laws, say whistleblowers
Feb. 19, 2019, 10:02 AM CST
WASHINGTON — Whistleblowers from within President Donald Trump's National Security Council have told a congressional committee that efforts by former national security adviser Michael Flynn to transfer sensitive nuclear technology to Saudi Arabia may have violated the law, and investigators fear Trump is still considering it, according to a new report obtained by NBC News.
The House Oversight Committee has formally opened an investigation into the matter, releasing an interim staff report that adds new details to previous public accounts of how Flynn sought to push through the nuclear proposal on behalf of a group he had once advised. Tom Barrack, a prominent Trump backer with business ties to the Middle East, also became involved in the project, the report says.
Just days after Trump's inauguration, backers of the project sent documents to Flynn for Trump to approve, including a draft Cabinet memo stating that the president had appointed Barrack as a special representative to implement the plan and directing agencies to support Barrack's efforts, the report says.
Career national security officials objected to the plan, citing what they deemed Flynn's conflict of interest, and also that the proposal sought to bypass a policy review that is required whenever nuclear technology is transferred to another country, the report says.
The proposal, which involved enlisting the U.S. nuclear power industry to build nuclear plants across the Middle East, was backed by a group of retired generals who formed a firm called IP3. Flynn described himself in financial disclosure filings as an "advisor" to a subsidiary of IP3, IronBridge Group Inc., from June 2016 to December 2016 — at the same time he was serving as Trump's national security adviser during the presidential campaign and the presidential transition, the report says.
The report quotes one senior Trump official as saying that the proposal was "not a business plan," but rather "a scheme for these generals to make some money," and added, "OK, you know we cannot do this."
Click here to read the House Oversight Committee report.
"The whistleblowers who came forward have expressed significant concerns about the potential procedural and legal violations connected with rushing through a plan to transfer nuclear technology to Saudi Arabia," the report says.
"They have warned of conflicts of interest among top White House advisers that could implicate federal criminal statutes. They have also warned about a working environment inside the White House marked by chaos, dysfunction, and backbiting."
The Oversight Committee, led by Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., said its investigation of the plan "is particularly critical because the administration's efforts to transfer sensitive U.S. nuclear technology to Saudi Arabia appear to be ongoing."
On Feb. 12, the report notes, Trump met with nuclear power developers at the White House about sharing nuclear technology with countries in the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia. Next week Trump son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner is set to embark on a tour of Middle Eastern capitals — including Riyadh — to discuss the economic portion of the administration's Middle East peace plan.
"Experts worry that transferring sensitive U.S. nuclear technology could allow Saudi Arabia to produce nuclear weapons that contribute to the proliferation of nuclear arms throughout an already unstable Middle East," the report says.
Marshall Plan for the Middle East
The proposal, dubbed by its backers a "Middle East Marshall Plan," involved IP3 International, which is short for "International Peace Power & Prosperity." Among those involved with IP3, according to published reports, were Gens. Keith Alexander, Jack Keane and James Cartwright; former Middle East envoy Dennis Ross; George W. Bush homeland security adviser Fran Townsend; and Robert "Bud" McFarlane, who was one of Ronald Reagan's national security advisers. Keane was considered by Trump for secretary of defense.
The House oversight report says whistleblowers told the committee that one of Flynn's top aides, Derek Harvey — who was the senior director for Middle East and North African Affairs at the National Security Council from January to July 2017 — stated during the first week of the Trump administration that Flynn had already decided to adopt IP3's nuclear plan and develop "dozens of nuclear power plants."
Seven days after the inauguration — and two days before a scheduled call with King Salman of Saudi Arabia — Harvey met in his office at the White House with a group of retired generals who work for IP3, including its co-founders, Keane and McFarlane, the report says.
Immediately after the meeting, Harvey directed the NSC staff to add information about IP3's "plan for 40 nuclear power plants" to the briefing package for Trump's call with King Salman.
The report says career staff warned that any transfer of nuclear technology must comply with the Atomic Energy Act, and that the United States and Saudi Arabia would need to reach what is known as a "123 Agreement," which would lay out how Saudi Arabia should comply with nonproliferation requirements.
"Harvey reportedly ignored these warnings and insisted that the decision to transfer nuclear technology to Saudi Arabia had already been made," the report says.
Both career and political staff inside the White House agreed that Harvey's directive could violate the law, the report says.
According to whistleblowers, the National Security Council's ethics lawyer determined that Flynn's involvement could violate the criminal conflict of interest statute, the report says. As a result, NSC legal adviser John Eisenberg instructed NSC staff to cease all work on the plan.
But Harvey continued to pursue the matter, the report says, even after Flynn had been fired in February 2017 for lying to the FBI.
Harvey stated during a meeting on March 2, 2017: "I speak with Michael Flynn every night," the report says.
In mid-March 2017, deputy national security adviser K.T. McFarland reportedly stated during a meeting that Trump told Barrack that he could lead the implementation of the plan, the report says.
Harvey subsequently held a conference call with Barrack and Rick Gates, Trump's former deputy campaign manager and deputy chairman of the Inaugural Committee, who has pleaded guilty to crimes and is cooperating with special counsel Robert Mueller.
At the time, Gates had been hired by Barrack to manage the Washington office of Barrack's company. A career NSC staffer who joined the call later told colleagues that Harvey was trying to promote the IP3 plan "so that Jared Kushner can present it to the president for approval," the report says.
Flynn's replacement, H.R. McMaster, ultimately ordered the council to cease all work on the matter, the report says. He fired Harvey, who is now a minority staffer for the House Intelligence Committee.
Inaugural Committee chairman Tom Barrack speaks at at a pre-Inaugural "Make America Great Again! Welcome Celebration" at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington on Jan. 19, 2017.David J. Phillip / AP file
The report raises further questions about Flynn, who is awaiting sentencing as he cooperates with Mueller. It says Flynn failed to report in his security clearance renewal application a trip he took to Saudi Arabia in June 2015 on behalf of IP3 and its predecessor company. Although he reported a separate trip to Saudi Arabia in October 2015, Flynn omitted key details, the report says, including the identity of the client that financed the trip.
Flynn claimed he spoke at a conference during the trip, but none of his three speakers' bureaus had any involvement with the trip or knew of any conference there, the report says. Flynn told investigators that he stayed at the King Khaled International Hotel, but a U.S. consulate official could not identify any such hotel in Saudi Arabia, the report says.
Both Republicans and Democrats in Congress have expressed concerns about transferring nuclear technology to Saudi Arabia, the report notes.
In October, Republican Senators Marco Rubio, Todd Young, Cory Gardner, Rand Paul, and Dean Heller sent a letter to Trump urging him to "suspend talks related to a potential civil nuclear cooperation agreement between the United States and Saudi Arabia" due to "serious concerns about the transparency, accountability, and judgment of current decisionmakers in Saudi Arabia."
They said they were concerned that "the Saudi Government has refused, for many years, to consider any agreement that includes so-called 'Gold Standard' requirements against pursuing technologies to enrich uranium and reprocess plutonium-laden spent nuclear fuel."
The House Oversight Committee is sending requests for additional documents to the White House and the Departments of Commerce, Defense, Energy, State, and Treasury, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the CIA, and companies involved with this effort, including IP3, the Flynn Intel Group, ACU Strategies, and Colony NorthStar, the report says.
The committee is also seeking interviews with the key people involved with promoting this plan to the White House.
The White House, Harvey and an attorney for Flynn did not immediately respond to NBC News requests for comment.
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congre ... en-n973021
seemslikeadream » Wed Feb 13, 2019 10:22 am wrote:
Trump backer Tom Barrack defends Saudi Arabia
Real estate developer said that kingdom was misunderstood by the West
16:37 February 12, 2019
Ed Clowes, Staff Reporter
Dubai: America is in no moral position to criticise Saudi Arabia, according to financier and key Trump backer Tom Barrack.
Speaking on stage at the Milken Institute MENA Summit in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, Barrack was asked by CNN’s Becky Anderson about the reputational damage to Saudi Arabia over the Jamal Khashoggi killing.
In response, he joked: “As long as you don’t make me a guest at the Ritz.”
With regards to the murder of journalist Khashoggi, Barrack said that “whatever happened in Saudi Arabia, the atrocities in America are equal, or worse ...”
“The atrocities in any ... country are dictated by the rule of law,” he continued. “So for us to dictate what we think is the moral code there, when we have a young man and regime that is trying to push themselves into 2030, I think is a mistake.”
Barrack went on to launch a lengthy defence of Saudi Arabia, accusing Western countries of failing to understand the kingdom.
“The problem that has happened with the Khashoggi incident,” he said, “is the same problem with the West misunderstanding the east that has existed since Sykes-Picot.”
“So, the West is confused, it doesn’t understand the rule of law in the kingdom, it doesn’t understand what succession in the kingdom is, it doesn’t understand how there can be a dilemma with a population that has 60 per cent of people under the age of 20.”
He later added that the West had always been confused about the Middle East.
“The corrupt hand of the West has been the primary instigator in the kingdom, and in the resource curse across the region forever.”
Barrack then praised the strong leadership across the Arabian Gulf in the face of this perceived Western ineffectiveness, especially in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
“The leadership in the UAE is brilliant,” he said, adding: “The English manipulated the region for decades.”
The private equity investor also defended Saudi Arabia’s transformation, saying that “in a transition, bold action is required for bold places.”
Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Riyadh represented some of the “most organised leadership regimes” in the world, he added.
https://gulfnews.com/amp/business/trump ... ssion=true
Trump reportedly wanted top federal prosecutor in charge of probing Stormy Daniels hush money affair — even after the former Giuliani partner recused
President Donald Trump last year suggested to acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker that Geoffrey Berman, the U.S. Attorney in Manhattan, take charge of an ongoing criminal investigating into hush money payments made to Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal, The New York Times reports.
Berman had recused himself from case. Trump's former personal lawyer Michael Cohen pleaded guilty in the case.
The Times also reported that House Democrats are examing whether Whitaker committed perjury by telling a congressional committee this month that Trump never pressured him about various investigations.
Dan Mangan | @_DanMangan
Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker is sworn in to testify before a House Judiciary Committee hearing on oversight of the Justice Department on Capitol Hill in Washington, February 8, 2019.
President Donald Trump suggested last year that Geoffrey Berman, the U.S. Attorney in Manhattan, take charge of a criminal investigation into hush money payments made to two alleged sexual partners of Trump, despite the fact that the prosecutor was already recused from being involved in that case, a new report says.
The New York Times also reported Tuesday that House Democrats are examining whether former acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker perjured himself by telling a congressional committee this month that Trump never pressured him about various investigations — including the Manhattan federal probe into hush money payments.
The White House and the Justice Department had no immediate comment on the Times article, which was headlined, "Intimidation, Pressure and Humiliation: Inside Trump's Two-Year War on the Investigations Encircling Him."
Trump, in an Oval Office press event Tuesday, denied the anecdote about asking Whitaker if Berman could take over the hush money probe.
"No, not at all, I don't know who gave you that," Trump said. "That's more fake news."
Berman is a former legal partner of Rudy Giuliani, one of Trump's outside attorneys in the special counsel's Russia probe.
The wide-ranging article from the Times says that Trump spoke with Whitaker in late 2018 about the ongoing probe in Manhattan into claims that the president directed his former personal lawyer Michael Cohen to facilitate payments to two women shortly before the 2016 presidential election.
Cohen said last year that he paid porn star Stormy Daniels and had the publisher of the National Enquirer pay Playboy model Karen McDougal at Trump's behest to keep them quiet about their alleged sexual trysts with him a decade earlier. The intent, according to Cohen, was to keep the stories from affecting the outcome of the presidential election. Trump has denied Cohen's claims, and also denied having sex with either woman.
Cohen's confession came in connection with his guilty plea to violating campaign finance laws by facilitating the payments, which were not disclosed by the Trump campaign as a benefit to the campaign.
Cohen is set to begin serving a three-year prison term next month for those and other crimes.
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York, which is headquartered in Manhattan, has continued to investigate the payments. The case is considered to be a potential serious legal threat to Trump.
The Times, citing what it said are "several American officials," reported that in late 2018 called Whitaker and asked whether Berman could be put in charge of the probe.
According to the report, Whitaker had told some of his associates that part of his job was to "jump on a grenade" for Trump, but knew he could not put Berman in charge of the case because he was already was recused from the case.
Trump, the Times said, then "soured" on Whitaker, "and complained about his inability to pull levers at the Justice Department that could make the president's many legal problems go away."
The president told reporters on Tuesday that the idea he had soured on Whitaker also was not true.
He said he has a "very good" relationship with Whitaker, who remains in a top Justice Department counselor position after the confirmation last week of William Barr as attorney general.
Berman has not said why he was recused from the hush money case before FBI agents raided Cohen's office and residences in New York in April 2018. But recusals are routinely made by lawyers and judges to prevent a conflict of interest or even an appearance of a conflict of interest.
In the case of Cohen, Berman was recused by senior Justice Department officials.
Berman, besides being a former law partner of Giuliani's, was personally interviewed by Trump before the president put him in charge of the Manhattan U.S. Attorney's office.
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, the Democrat from New York who is now running for president, condemned Berman's appointment at the time. "Deeply disturbing considering the conflicts of interest inherent by his potential jurisdiction on matters that could affect the president personally," she said.
Because of Berman's recusal, the probe into Cohen, as well as the ongoing investigation of the hush money payments, has been headed by Berman's deputy, Robert Khuzami.
However, people familiar with the cases Berman has brought said that his offices investigation into the Trump Inaugural Commiteee is being pursued under his direction, according to NBC News.
The Manhattan federal probe is distinct from the ongoing federal investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, and possible collusion by the Trump campaign. Trump has denied any wrongdoing in all of the cases.
On Feb. 8, during testimony before the House Judiciary Committee, Whitaker had said, "At no time has the White House asked for nor have I provided any promises or commitments concerning the special counsel's investigation or any other investigation."
He added: "Since becoming acting attorney general I have run the Department of Justice with fidelity to the law and to the constitution."
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/02/19/trump-w ... probe.html
The Moscow Project
Trump reportedly tried to get a loyalist put in charge of the SDNY investigation into hush-money payments during the 2016 campaign, another sign that he considers himself above the law.
The man he asked to accomplish it: Acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker, who reportedly told associates his job was to "jump on a grenade" for the president.
Trump and his lawyers also reportedly secretly coordinated with Republican congressmen, including not just Devin Nunes but also Matt Gaetz and Jim Jordan, to publicly undermine the Russia investigation.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/19/us/p ... tions.html
BOMBSHELL: McCabe says FBI told GOP lawmakers in 2017 they were investigating Trump — and none objected
Acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe pictured on September 21, 2016 (FBI PHOTO)
Former deputy FBI Director Andrew McCabe on Tuesday dropped a major bombshell when he claimed that the FBI told a bipartisan group of lawmakers in 2017 that it had opened an investigation into President Donald Trump — and none of the Republicans in the group objected.
In an interview with NBC’s Savannah Guthrie, McCabe said that the FBI told the bipartisan “Gang of 8” members of Congress who receive regular briefings on classified information that the bureau was launching an investigation into Trump’s behavior after the firing of former FBI Director James Comey.
“No one objected,” McCabe said of the senators’ reactions. “Not on legal grounds, not on constitutional grounds, and not based on the facts.”
McCabe also told Guthrie that, in May 2017 when it began its investigation, the FBI believed that it “might be possible” that Trump was working directly for Russia.
“You have to ask yourself why any president of the United States might not want to get to the bottom of Russian interference in our election,” he said.
McCabe also told Guthrie that “we had information that led us to believe that there might be a threat to national security, in this case, that the president himself might, in fact, be a threat to United States’ national security.”
https://www.rawstory.com/2019/02/bombsh ... -objected/
by BenDhyan » Wed Feb 20, 2019 8:15 pm
Ominous...
Mueller report may be 'anti-climactic,' says ex-intelligence director
Former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper said Wednesday that he's far from sure that special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation will clear up questions about President Trump and Russia.
He said he was hopeful the Mueller probe will provide some answers, but warned it might not even draw a conclusion on whether there was collusion between the Trump campaign and Moscow.
“I think the hope is that the Mueller investigation will clear the air on this issue once and for all. I’m really not sure it will, and the investigation, when completed, could turn out to be quite anti-climactic and not draw a conclusion about that,” Clapper said Wednesday on CNN.
Clapper, a frequent critic of Trump's, said people in the intelligence community see a strange deference on the president's part toward Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“The strange thing I think that has bothered a lot of people both in and out of the intelligence community is this strange personal deference to Putin by the president. I’ve speculated in the past that the way Putin behaves is to treat President Trump as an asset,” Clapper said Wednesday.
He added that if Trump were indeed advancing Putin’s interests, he would more likely be doing so unwittingly.
https://thehill.com/policy/national-security/430720-former-director-of-national-intelligence-mueller-report-may-be-anti
Finally....
Justice Department preparing for Mueller report in coming days
Justice Department officials are preparing for the end of special counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s nearly two-year investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election and believe a confidential report could be issued in coming days, according to people familiar with the discussions.
The special counsel’s investigation has consumed Washington since it began in May 2017, and it increasingly appears to be nearing its end, which would send fresh shock waves through the political system. Mueller could deliver his report to Attorney General William P. Barr next week, according to a person familiar with the matter who, like others, spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive deliberations.
Regulations call for Mueller to submit to the attorney general a confidential explanation as to why he decided to charge certain individuals, as well as who else he investigated and why he decided not to charge those people. The regulations then call for the attorney general to report to Congress about the investigation.
[William P. Barr won’t promise to make Mueller report public]
An adviser to President Trump said there is palpable concern among the president’s inner circle that the report might contain information about Trump and his team that is politically damaging, but not criminal conduct.
Even before he was confirmed by the Senate, Barr h
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/justice-department-preparing-for-mueller-report-in-coming-days/2019/02/20/c472691c-354b-11e9-af5b-b51b7ff322e9_story.html?utm_term=.0cb6c76f04f9
by Grizzly » Wed Feb 20, 2019 8:51 pm
^^^ Years wasted on nothing. Theater... Happy?
If Barthes can forgive me, “What the public wants is the image of passion Justice, not passion Justice itself.”
The Democratic House holds hearings starts impeachment ......completely separate from Mueller report...... who knows if Barr will even allow it to be made public
The House was in republican coverup control for 2 years ...the investigations are just getting started
Then there is the separate SDNY investigation
There are multiple investigations besides MUELLER
if Barr doesn't make it public ....Congress will subpoena it....Court fight!
sorry Grizzly this ain't over by a long shot
Last edited by seemslikeadream on Thu Feb 21, 2019 10:50 am, edited 2 times in total.
The scope of the public Michael Cohen hearing before the House Oversight Committee set for a week from today.
https://oversight.house.gov/sites/democ ... 0Cohen.pdf
Michael Cohen will be testifying publicly before the House Oversight Committee next Wednesday, and privately before the House Intel Committee next Thursday. Both committees are controlled by the House Democrats. According to Andrew Desiderio of Politico, the agreed-upon topics for Cohen’s testimony
confirmation that Michael Cohen will be testifying about Donald Trump’s illegal payoffs to silence his mistresses during the 2016 election.
Cohen will also be testifying about Trump’s “compliance with tax laws.”
Michael Cohen has also agreed to publicly testify next week about Donald Trump’s “business practices” which could include all of his criminal real estate projects, and “potentially fraudulent or inappropriate practices by the “Trump Foundation.” In addition, Cohen will reveal the full extent of Trump’s efforts to illegally intimidate Cohen out of testifying
Reupping: We are getting a report that (unless there are further indictments coming) will lay out this on Friday.
QUESTIONS TO ASK BEFORE REPORTING A BREAKING MUELLER REPORT
Update: CNN is matching NBC’s reporting on this. It also backs its report with real details from their superb stakeout.
On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday last week, special counsel’s office employees carried boxes and pushed a cart full of files out of their office — an unusual move that could foreshadow a hand-off of legal work.
At the same time, the Mueller prosecutors’ workload appears to be dwindling. Four of Mueller’s 17 prosecutors have ended their tenures with the office, with most returning to other roles in the Justice Department.
And the grand jury that Mueller’s prosecutors used to return indictments of longtime Trump confidant Roger Stone, former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, and several Russians hasn’t apparently convened since January 24 the day it approved the criminal charges against Stone.
I take from that I’m wrong about Mueller waiting for the two appeals (he knows what he’ll get from them) before he delivers his verdict.
Pete Williams did the NBC circuit yesterday claiming that the Mueller report may be submitted to DOJ as soon as next week.
Pete Williams on MSNBC says the Mueller report may go to DOJ as early as next week
Because a lot of people have asked me about this and because Williams (and some other journalists) don’t appear to know enough about the Mueller investigation to ask the proper questions to assess that claim, I’d like to lay out a little logic and a few facts. It’s certainly possible that a Mueller report is coming next week — I’d argue that one is assuredly coming on Friday. But I doubt that means what Williams thinks it does.
THE CONCLUSORY REPORT IS NOT COMING NEXT WEEK
When most people think of “the Mueller report,” they mean this report, dictated by the Special Counsel regulations.
At the conclusion of the Special Counsel’s work, he or she shall provide the Attorney General with a confidential report explaining the prosecution or declination decisions reached by the Special Counsel.
When Mueller is done, he has to submit a confidential report to the Attorney General (who is now Mueller’s friend William Barr) telling him what he did and didn’t do. Given everything Barr said as part of his confirmation process, we’re unlikely to see this report.
To assess whether this report is what Pete Williams thinks is coming, we should assess whether public evidence is consistent with Mueller being done.
The answer to that is clearly no. He’s still chasing testimony from Roger Stone flunkie Andrew Miller and from some foreign owned corporation (and has been chasing that, in the case of Miller, since last May).
Given that Miller already interviewed with the FBI for two hours and the foreign company is, by dint of being foreign, a no-brainer target for NSA, it’s quite likely Mueller knows what he’s getting from both of these entities. He just needs Miller on the record, so he can’t change his story to protect Stone, and needs to parallel construct the information from the foreign company. So it’s possible that as soon as Mueller gets both of these things, he’ll finish up quickly (meaning The Report could be soon). But there is no way that’ll happen by next week, in part because whatever the DC Appeals Court says in the Andrew Miller case, the loser will appeal that decision.
So it’s virtually certain that The Report is not coming by next week.
A REPORT TALKING ABOUT “COLLUSION” IS COMING THIS WEEK
But maybe NBC’s sources are speaking metaphorically, and mean something else that isn’t the conclusory report but that will more closely resemble what everyone thinks of when they talk about The Report.
That’s likely to happen, but if it does, it’ll just be a partial report.
That’s because both Mueller and the defense have to submit a sentencing memo in Paul Manafort’s DC case Friday. As I noted back in November when Mueller’s prosecutors declared Manafort to have breached his plea agreement, this sentencing memo presents an opportunity for Mueller to “report” what they’ve found — at least with respect to all the criminal actions they know Manafort committed, including those he lied about while he was supposed to be cooperating — without anyone at DOJ or the White House suppressing the most damning bits. DOJ won’t be able to weigh in because a sentencing memo is not a major action requiring an urgent memo to the Attorney General. And the White House will get no advance warning because Big Dick Toilet Salesman Matt Whitaker is no longer in the reporting chain.
So, as noted, Mueller will have an opportunity to lay out:
The details of Manafort’s sleazy influence peddling, including his modus operandi of projecting his own client’s corruption onto his opponents
The fact that Manafort already pled guilty to conspiring with a suspected Russian intelligence asset
The details about how Manafort — ostensibly working for “free” — got paid in 2016, in part via kickbacks from a Super PAC that violated campaign finance law, possibly in part by Tom Barrack who was using Manafort and Trump as a loss-leader to Middle Eastern graft, and in part by deferred payments or debt relief from Russian-backed oligarchs
Manafort’s role and understanding of the June 9 meeting, which is a prelude of sorts to the August 2 one
The dates and substance of Manafort’s ongoing communications with suspected Russian intelligence asset Konstantin Kilimnik, including the reasons why Manafort shared highly detailed polling data on August 2, 2016 that he knew would be passed on to his paymasters who just happened to be (in the case of Oleg Deripaska) a central player in the election year operation
The ongoing efforts to win Russia relief from the American Ukrainian-related sanctions by pushing a “peace” plan that would effectively give Russia everything it wants
Manafort’s ongoing discussions with Trump and the Administration, up to and including discussions laying out how if Manafort remains silent about items two through six, Trump will pardon him
Because those items are all within the substance of the crimes Manafort pled guilty to or lied about during his failed cooperation, they’re all squarely within the legitimate content of a sentencing memo. And we should expect the sentencing memo in DC to be at least as detailed as the EDVA one; I expect it, like the EDVA one and like Manafort’s plea deal, will be accompanied by exhibits such as the EDVA one showing that Manafort had bank accounts to the tune of $25,704,669.72 for which suspected Russian intelligence asset Konstantin Kilimnik was listed as a beneficial owner in 2012. Heck, we might even get to see the polling data Manafort shared, knowing it was going to Russia, which was an exhibit to Manafort’s breach determination.
The only thing limiting how much detail we’ll get about these things (as well as about how Manafort served as a secret agent of Russian backed Ukrainian oligarchs for years) is the ongoing sensitivities of the material, whether because it’s grand jury testimony, SIGINT collection, or a secret Mueller intends to spring on other defendants down the road.
It’s the latter point that will be most telling. As I noted, thus far, the silences about Manafort’s cooperation are — amazingly — even more provocative than the snippets we learned via the breach determination. We’ll likely get a read on Friday whether Mueller has ongoing equities that would lead him to want to keep these details secret. And the only thing that would lead Mueller to keep details of the conspiracy secret is if he plans to charge it in an overarching conspiracy indictment.
We may also get information, however, that will make it far more difficult for Trump to pardon Manafort.
So, yeah, there’s a report coming out this week. But it’s not The Report.
ANY OVERARCHING CONSPIRACY INDICTMENT WILL NOT BE COMING THIS WEEK
It’s possible Mueller is close to charging an overarching conspiracy indictment, laying out how Trump and his spawn entered into a quid quo pro with various representatives of the Russian government, getting dirt on Hillary and either a Trump Tower or maybe a bailout for the very same building in which Manafort met with Konstantin Kilimnik on August 2, 2016. In exchange for all that, Trump agreed to — and took steps to deliver on, with some success in the case of election plot participant Deripaska — reversing the sanctions that were such a headache to Russia’s oligarchs.
Such an indictment, if Mueller ever charges it, will look like what Trump opponents would like The Report to look like. In addition to naming Don Jr and Jared Kushner and Trump Organization and a bunch of other sleazeballs, it would also describe the actions of Individual-1 in adequate detail to launch an impeachment proceeding.
But that indictment, if Mueller ever charges it, won’t be coming on Friday or Monday, as Williams predicts, because it likely requires whatever it is Mueller is trying to parallel construct from that foreign-owned company. And even if SCOTUS denies its appeal today, it’s unlikely that evidence will be in hand in time for a Friday indictment.
MUELLER COULD ENSURE A REPORT GETS DELIVERED TO JERRY NADLER NEXT WEEK … BUT THAT’S UNLIKELY
There’s one other possibility that would make Williams’ prediction true: if Mueller deliberately triggered the one other way to deliver a report, by asking to take an action William Barr is unlikely to approve, and if Mueller was willing to close up shop as a result, then a report would go to Congress and — if Barr thought it in the public interest — to the public.
Upon conclusion of the Special Counsels investigation, including, to the extent consistent with applicable law, a description and explanation of instances (if any) in which the Attorney General concluded that a proposed action by a Special Counsel was so inappropriate or unwarranted under established Departmental practices that it should not be pursued.
The Attorney General may determine that public release of these reports would be in the public interest, to the extent that release would comply with applicable legal restrictions.
The only thing that Mueller might try to do that Barr would not approve (though who knows? maybe what Mueller has is so egregious Barr will surprise us?) is to indict the President.
I think this is unlikely, for all the reasons the first possibility laid out here is unlikely: that is, Mueller is still waiting on two details he has been chasing for quite some time, and I doubt he’d be willing to forgo that evidence just to trigger a report. It’s also unlikely because Mueller is a DOJ guy, and he’s unlikely to ask to do what he knows OLC says he should not do.
Still, it’s hypothetically possible that Mueller believes Trump is such an egregious criminal and national security risk he needs to try to accelerate the process of holding him accountable by stopping his investigation early (perhaps having the DC AUSAs named on the Miller and Mystery Appellant challenges take over those pursuits) and asking to indict the President.
But if that’s what Williams is reporting, he sure as hell better get more clarity about that fact, because, boy would it be news.
All of which is the lesson of this post: If you’re being told — or telling others — that Mueller’s report is imminent, then you’re either being told very very big news, or bullshit. Do yourself and us a favor of learning the base level regulations to understand which it is.
As I disclosed last July, I provided information to the FBI on issues related to the Mueller investigation, so I’m going to include disclosure statements on Mueller investigation posts from here on out. I will include the disclosure whether or not the stuff I shared with the FBI pertains to the subject of the post.
https://www.emptywheel.net/2019/02/20/q ... er-report/
by seemslikeadream » Thu Feb 21, 2019 9:10 am
Mueller’s Report is 100% certain to leave 100% of America angry
trump won’t be arrested
He won’t be exonerated
It’ll blow our minds
But won’t bring closure
Assuming we even see it
But no matter how frustrated or sad or pissed or happy you get, remember:
It’s the beginning of his end
Seth Abramson
(THREAD) BREAKING: CNN says "AG Barr is preparing to announce as early as next week the completion of Mueller's Russia probe—with plans for Barr to submit to Congress soon after a summary of Mueller's confidential report." I unpack the news in this thread.
1/ The first important thing is to understand that—as NBC has done with a similar report over the last two days—CNN hedged its bets on its report in every way possible:
(a) Barr's actions are merely "preparations."
(b) CNN treats the news as merely an "indication" of the future.
(c) If true, it means Mueller's "nearly" done.
(d) "The precise timing of the announcement is subject to change."
(e) "The scope and contours of what Barr will send to Congress remain unclear."
(f) "Also unclear is how long it'll take Justice to prepare what it will submit."
3/ As someone who teaches journalism as well as legal advocacy, I'd say that's a heck of a lot of hedging. We got the same thing—admittedly on a more sparse report—from NBC's Pete Williams yesterday when he said "it's just our [NBC's] speculation" as to when Mueller will finish.
4/ A last hedge from CNN—and previously NBC—is that neither Justice nor Mueller will comment on these reports, and the sources are (of course) anonymous, so we have no idea how strong the sourcing is. The sources are at Justice—but whether they're in-the-know/biased we can't say.
5/ Some of CNN's report is rehashed—reading signs about Mueller possibly finishing up it's noted before (e.g., 4 of Mueller's 17 prosecutors being reassigned). CNN also says it saw "special counsel's office employees carry boxes and push a cart full of files out of their office."
6/ In making that second observation (about files leaving Mueller's office), CNN issued a *warning* about how we should understand what's happening—noting that the movement of files may signal a "hand-off" of certain cases (to other federal prosecutors) rather than their closure.
7/ This is why some inexact language being used by very good reporters at CNN should be checked, including one journalist who said (erroneously) that this report, if true, meant "the completion of the Russia investigation." If we know one thing, we know that that's not accurate.
8/ One reason many attorneys (me, Preet Bharara, and many others) saw Mueller delivering a report to DOJ this summer rather than this spring—keeping in mind that when *we* see it, and how much of it we see, is a different matter—is because certain things can't be wrapped up yet.
9/ Russian spy Maria Butina's boyfriend Paul Erickson was just charged, and we don't know what he'll reveal; Roger Stone was just charged, and we don't know what he'll reveal; Manafort may face new charges or may balk when he gets his sentence, so we don't know what he'll reveal.
10/ Mueller's office previously told Jerome Corsi it would indict him, and that still hasn't happened; Congress has sent transcripts to Mueller indicating felony perjury or lying to Congress by Erik Prince, Donald Trump Jr. and others, and those charges have not yet been brought.
11/ Mueller is still fighting with one individual and one corporation to compel grand jury testimony, and just extended his grand jury 6 months, so those matters must be litigated, as must outstanding subpoenas for document production—apparently internationally—that Mueller sent.
12/ Even taking all this—and more—into account, Mueller is entitled to issue a "final" report saying who he prosecuted, who he *plans to prosecute* or *is about to prosecute*, and who he chose not to prosecute (which could include the president, non-prosecuted due to DOJ regs).
13/ So a "final" report from Robert Mueller could be issued at the same time as any number of indictments are brought or pursued, with DOJ knowing that Mueller's office will have to supplement any "final" report with anything it learns from current or future indicted individuals.
14/ At the same time, as DOJ doesn't comment on ongoing investigations, any "hand-off" cases that go to other federal prosecutors (say at SDNY, EDVA or DC) will not necessarily be addressed in any "final" report, or, if mentioned, may appear partly or wholly redacted pre-release.
15/ What those who've been reporting that Mueller is close to issuing a final report have been saying is simply that: that he's close to issuing a "final report." That doesn't mean "the Russia investigation is complete" in anything like the way most people will hear that phrase.
16/ We also know that Robert Mueller may or may not close (or be involved with, or even know about) every *counterintelligence* case that may remain open about Trump and his campaign—possibly leading to new criminal cases down the line—as opposed to Mueller's *criminal* inquiry.
17/ Mueller's report, if indeed issued in March, could include information that leads to new counterintelligence investigations, new criminal investigations, new Congressional hearings that lead to new security concerns and new criminal referrals—we just have no idea whatsoever.
18/ We don't know if Mueller was forced to end his work by Barr; if Mueller chose not to indict certain Trump compatriots because they're cooperating witnesses in an impeachable-offense (collusion-related) allegation against Trump; if Mueller handed off explosive cases, or what.
19/ The upshot: lawyers and investigators (or, like me, lawyers and former investigators) have consistently said that *on the facts* Mueller can't be done with his work or even 3 months from done; CNN and MSNBC are reporting that *administratively* Mueller may be closing up shop.
20/ So if the reports are right, as @neal_katyal says we're only at the "end of the beginning," not the end of the end. And depending upon how and why we got here now, and what Mueller says in his report—or else sees redacted—we may well be at the beginning of a year of scandals.
21/ I'm only scratching the surface of this topic here. We still may have up to 20 sealed indictments per the DC docket (or none, or more) and even CNN notes that "even with signs of a wrap-up, the DC US Attorney's office has stepped in to work on cases that may continue longer."
22/ Just one probe *alone*—of Trump's inaugural committee—has many of the same witnesses as the Russia investigation "proper" (e.g., Barrack, Flynn, Gates, and more), so how and whether charges emanate from those cases will determine how much more such cases produce on collusion.
23/ Certainly, we know that people like Flynn and Gates have provided the feds with enormous cooperation with secret intel only they (or they and few people) have—and we've seen *no indictments* from that information, which means other shoes *have* to drop. That's how this works.
24/ So if you're seeing attorneys scrambling a bit here, it's because reporters have the easy job in this instance—simply saying whether they're hearing a report is coming—and attorneys the much harder job: to explain how that could be the case when it *factually* makes no sense.
25/ (And/or to explain how the news the reporters are reporting doesn't actually mean what some of the reporters are implying—as I've tried to do here by emphasizing how many different explosive directions this situation could go in over the next month, many harrowing for Trump.)
PS/ Those of us *also* in the midst of researching books are in a particularly fraught place—as we need to get our research done and *know* a book-length treatise is required to explain what's happened, but *also* know how bad the truth is and that therefore this isn't near over.
PS2/ For instance, I did a thread a week ago summarizing that we have *all ends* of an illegal "quid pro quo" of pre-election collusion involving the Trump campaign and an Israeli business intelligence operation that successfully sold Trump Jr. on a Saudi-funded disinfo campaign.
PS3/ So (taking that as just one example of many), I could take today's news as meaning that Trump Jr. will be charged with Lying to Congress by March and then leaned on for more info on Wikistrat/Psy-Group; that this is all part of the ongoing counterintel op; or something else.
PS4/ I can't give you an answer on where these clear lines of federal inquiry are going, and neither can anyone else—but I know they exist and I know they cannot and will not be blithely closed with a simple report in March. *Many* of these threads are *far* too explosive to end.
PS5/ For all we know, Robert Mueller will dump tons of raw intel into the laps of Congress and the CIA and tell them to investigate it all because he doesn't want to exceed his mandate. We just can't know now and *won't* know for many, many more months—and maybe not even in 2019.
NOTE/ Having said that, should Mueller give DOJ a report that Barr then publishes—redacted—suggesting no illegal pre-election conspiracy with foreign powers, I'll be happy to publish PROOF OF CONSPIRACY to show America what Barr would have had to redact to reach his "conclusion."
NOTE2/ I should've added that IF Barr prematurely shut down Mueller (as the spouse of Trump's Director of Strategic Communications somehow "knew" on Twitter)—but which I DON'T think is what this is—it goes without saying that protestors shutting down D.C. is the only option left.
https://twitter.com/SethAbramson/status ... 0025517057
Senate investigators pursue Moscow-based former Trump associate
Now Playing Senate intel eyes...
London and Moscow (CNN)Senate investigators want to question a Moscow-based American businessman with longstanding ties to President Donald Trump after witnesses told them he could shed light on the President's commercial and personal activities in Russia dating back to the 1990s, multiple sources have told CNN.
The Senate Intelligence Committee, which is probing allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 elections, has been keen to speak with David Geovanis for several months, the sources say.
Geovanis helped organize a 1996 trip to Moscow by Trump, who was in the early stages of pursuing what would become a long-held goal of building a Trump Tower in the Russian capital, according to multiple media reports at the time.
Years later, Geovanis worked for the Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska, whose ties to Trump's 2016 campaign chairman Paul Manafort have also been of interest to investigators.
Moscow-based businessman David Geovanis
Two witnesses who have given evidence to the Senate Intelligence Committee say they were asked about Geovanis' past relationship with the President during interviews last year. The interviews were conducted by staff working for both the Republican and Democratic sides of the committee, according to the sources, who wish to remain anonymous due to the confidential nature of the Senate inquiry.
This is the first time that Geovanis' name has been revealed in connection with the various investigations underway into Russian influence on US politics, which include a sweeping new House investigation into Trump's financial interests.
The Senate Intelligence Committee's interest in Geovanis indicates its investigation is delving further back into Trump's past in Russia than previously thought.
A businessman, three women and Joseph Stalin
One of the two witnesses says the committee has a photograph of a younger Geovanis apparently posing in a portrait with three partially clothed women. The portrait, once displayed in a Russian gallery under the title "The Capitalist," depicts the subjects in front of a picture of the former Soviet leader Joseph Stalin. It's not clear whether the portrait is a single photograph or a composite.
The witness told CNN that they were shown the photograph during questioning.
David Geovanis in a portrait with three unnamed women and a picture of Stalin. CNN has blurred the women's faces to protect their identity.
A third witness has alleged in written testimony, seen by CNN, that Geovanis may be valuable in the mystery of whether Russia has material on Trump that could be personally embarrassing to him.
Known by the nickname "Geo" to his friends, Geovanis was born in Brockton, Massachusetts, and is a graduate of Trump's alma mater, the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. After starting his career in finance, Geovanis went to Moscow to work for a Russian venture of a company called Brooke Group, which owned land earmarked for the site of a proposed Trump Tower. When Trump came to town to promote the project, sources say, it was Geovanis' job to show him around.
Also on the trip were Brooke Group's owners, the real estate moguls Bennett LeBow and Howard Lorber, who went on to become substantial donors to Trump's 2016 presidential campaign. Trump personally acknowledged the pair from the podium after he won the 2016 New York Republican primary.
An archive video report of Trump's 1996 Moscow trip emerged online in late January. The news report -- misidentified on YouTube as dating from 1995 -- shows Lorber, Lebow and Trump in discussion with Moscow's then deputy mayor, Vladimir Resin, and his staff, with Geovanis looking on from the background.
Blocked numbers and 'dirt' on Clinton
Lorber has already been linked to the Senate investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 elections. The New York Times named him earlier this month as one of the Trump family associates who spoke with Donald Trump Jr. from blocked numbers around the time of a highly scrutinized 2016 meeting at Trump Tower in New York.
That meeting was attended by top Trump campaign advisers --- Trump Jr., the President's son-in-law Jared Kushner, and Manafort -- and Russian lawyer Natalia Veselnitskya, who had promised dirt on Trump's election opponent, Hillary Clinton. Lorber has not responded to multiple calls for comment.
Donald Trump (seated, center) on his 1996 visit to Moscow. To his right are real estate moguls Bennett LeBow and Howard Lorber.
When contacted by CNN via telephone, Geovanis declined to comment on his relationship with the President or talk about the photograph said to be in the possession of the Senate Intelligence Committee. He would not disclose his location, although CNN was able to confirm he was in the Moscow area as recently as this month. Asked whether he had been approached by the committee and whether he was aware of its interest, Geovanis told CNN he had "no comment."
A spokeswoman for the Senate Intelligence Committee's Republican chairman, North Carolina Sen. Richard Burr, declined to comment on whether Geovanis was of interest to it. A spokeswoman for the committee's Democratic Vice Chair, Virginia Sen. Mark Warner, also declined to comment.
It's not known whether Geovanis is also of interest to the investigation into alleged Russian election meddling by special counsel Robert Mueller.
The President's legal team declined to comment on his relationship to Geovanis. A lawyer for the Trump Organization also declined to comment.
A tower that never got built
Geovanis was quoted by the Moscow Times in 1996 as saying officials were "very receptive" to the original Trump Tower project, but Trump's early designs on the Moscow skyline never got off the ground.
Discussions two decades later to build another Trump Tower in the Russian capital have been a focal point in the Mueller investigation.
Trump has often denied that his dealings with Russia continued into the 2016 campaign. Even in late 2018 Trump tweeted he "never met a single Russian official."
Trump (left) is accompanied in Moscow by the real estate mogul Bennett LeBow (second from left).
It is not clear what prompted the Senate Intelligence Committee's interest in Geovanis. But multiple sources familiar with its activities tell CNN their inquiries date back to spring last year when it sent him a letter requesting he give evidence. The sources say he has not yet done so but added that he had appointed US legal counsel.
Lebow and Lorber changed their company name from Brooke Group to Vector Group, a Nasdaq-listed cigarette and real estate company. Vector Group's top three shareholders include Renaissance Technologies, the hedge fund once run by Robert Mercer, the conservative donor who was once a patron of business and political ventures of Steve Bannon, Trump's former chief strategist.
A spokeswoman for Vector did not reply to CNN's emails requesting comment. A fax to BSL Capital, Lebow's family firm, went unanswered, despite an assistant confirming it had been received.
Geovanis, who married a Russian woman, obtained a Russian passport in 2014. He was last seen by family members in the US in early 2017 after the death of his mother.
He is not believed to have returned to the US since then, and his decision to remain in Moscow means US congressional investigators can't easily find out what he knows.
In 2017 Geovanis was reemployed by Lebow to set up the Russian arm of another venture, Somerset Coal International, an energy technology company which claims to "clean" coal by washing it at high pressure.
Among those approached by Geovanis for investment was Deripaska, the billionaire metals and mining magnate, for whom Geovanis worked in the mid-2000s, according to a person familiar with Somerset Coal's business plan, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Deripaska is so closely aligned with Russian President Vladimir Putin that the US sanctioned him and his companies in order to punish the Russian government for its activities around the 2016 election. The Trump administration lifted sanctions on three of those companies last month.
A spokesperson for Deripaska did not return CNN's requests for comment.
What’s The Story Behind The $125,000 Paul Manafort Lied To Mueller About?
It’s one of the stranger episodes in Paul Manafort’s bizarre journey from Trump campaign chairman to the inside of a jail cell.
Even the special counsel seems unsure what to make of a $125,000 payment that went towards paying down a debt of Manafort’s in the summer of 2017, while he was under investigation.
The payment went to reduce a debt that Manafort owed to an unnamed law firm, prosecutors say, and came at a crucial time in the investigation into Trump’s former campaign chair.
Made in June 2017, the cash transfer occurred one month after Mueller was appointed special counsel, and one month before FBI agents raided Manafort’s Alexandria apartment, seizing reams of evidence.
In an initial filing accusing Manafort of lying to the special counsel after agreeing to cooperate, prosecutors wrote that the $125,000 “came from another firm [Firm A], which performed work for an entity, Entity B,” adding that “Manafort has a long relationship with the heads of Firm A and Entity B.”
It appears that the payment was buried within a larger transaction between two entities tied to Manafort, though the details are fuzzy. The entities are not named in filings from prosecutors, but outside reporting helps to fill in the gaps to an extent.
The New York Times has identified Entity B as Rebuilding America Now PAC, which was closely tied to Manafort. It was founded in June 2016 and spent around $23 million in support of the Trump campaign during the 2016 election cycle.
The filing goes on to say that the unidentified “Firm A” signed a contract with the PAC in which it “was to receive a 6% commission on expenditures made to it” from the PAC. That 6 percent was then to be split between two people, according to a declaration from an FBI agent on the case. It’s not clear who those two people were.
The extent of Manafort’s involvement in the scheme is unclear. The transcript of a Feb. 4 hearing in his case shows a prosecutor stating that Manafort “was aware” of the payment scheme, while a judge later found that he had tried to build a false narrative to cover it up.
Prosecutors seem mystified by the payment and its relation to the commission arrangement, which the New York Times reported was suspected to be a kickback scheme involving the pro-Trump super PAC.
“This is definitely an educated guess,” said special counsel prosecutor Andrew Weissmann at Feb. 4 hearing, referring to prosecutor’s attempts at constructing a theory of the payment. “What was really going on was that Mr. Manafort was aware that there was a — to put it charitably, a REDACTED scheme.
Later filings have more details — those indications suggest that the second unnamed company was a firm with ties to Republican operatives, at least one of which had worked closely with Manafort in Ukraine.
A January 2019 declaration from FBI agent Jeffrey Weiland states that one of the firms gave the other “approximately $19 million for REDACTED.”
That $19 million figure provides a clue as to the identity of the redacted company that paid out the mysterious $125,000 to Manafort and received a 6 percent commission from Rebuilding America Now.
A review of Federal Election Commission filings for Rebuilding America Now shows that one company — Virginia-based ad buying firm Multi Media Services — received $18.98 million in payments from the PAC. Multi Media Services is a trade name for First Media Services Corporation.
The filings state that Manafort had a longstanding relationship with the principals of the company, and reporting shows that a top pollster for Trump’s 2016 campaign, Tony Fabrizio, has ties to the firm and to Manafort.
It’s not entirely clear whether Fabrizio had any role in the payment scheme, but he was reportedly interviewed by the special counsel about work he did with Manafort last year.
Virginia corporate records show that Fabrizio serves as an officer of First Media Services Corporation, and has done so since at least 2005. An LA Times story from 2011 states that Fabrizio “shares the second floor” of a quaint building in Alexandria’s old town with Multi Media Services. The story says that the company has “placed ads for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Republican National Committee.”
Fabrizio was reportedly interviewed by the special counsel in February 2018 regarding work he did with Paul Manafort in Ukraine.
He worked with Manafort in Ukraine in 2012 and 2013, and performed some of the first polls for Trump after Manafort joined the campaign in March 2016. CNN reported last month that Mueller asked him about “polling work for Manafort in Ukraine,” and that it was unclear what else was discussed at the interview.
Fabrizio did not reply to repeated requests for comment. Multi Media Services also did not reply to repeated requests for comment.
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/muckraker ... ller-about
Gaslit Nation with Andrea Chalupa and Sarah Kendzior
Transnational Emergency
https://gaslitnation.libsyn.com/transnational-emergency
A Nation, Shattered and Gaslit
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Genetic testing and pregnancy: A better way
By ROMAN JIMENEZ and SAMUEL H. WOOD, Special to the Daily Transcript
Related Special Reports
Who's Who in Tech & Biotech - 2010
Last week an article by The Associated Press that appeared in newspapers across the country caused concern in religious and ethical communities as prenatal genetic testing was linked to abortions as a means of selective breeding to remove unwanted traits from the population. The article cited an unsourced California study that concluded prenatal screening reduced by half the number of babies born with the severest form of cystic fibrosis because many parents chose abortion.
The article stated, "Births of babies with cystic fibrosis, Tay-Sachs and other less familiar disorders seem to have dropped since testing came into wider use, The Associated Press found from interviews with numerous geneticists and other experts and a review of the limited research available."
While it is easy to understand why health care providers might welcome a reduction in the number of patients they treat with serious genetic-based illnesses, no couple wants to be in the difficult position of choosing whether or not to terminate a pregnancy after they find that they are pregnant with a fetus with a serious genetic illness that will experience significant suffering and a shortened life if the pregnancy proceeds to a birth.
But there is another option. In most instances, the AP article was referring to the genetic testing of fluid collected during routine amniocentesis conducted as a part of an expectant woman's prenatal care during the 16th to 18th week of pregnancy.
There is another form of genetic testing available, just as reliable and just as thorough as an amniocentesis, but that occurs months earlier, even before the pregnancy begins, in an IVF laboratory -- one that is associated with far fewer ethical issues.
Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) is a technique in IVF where, prior to an embryo being transferred into an intended parent, its genetic health is analyzed by closely examining its chromosomes. Since most intended parents undergoing an IVF cycle have multiple embryos from which to choose, the purpose of PGD is to transfer only the ones that are chromosomally normal, or without recognizable genetic disorders.
The basic science of PGD
The following is the shortest biochemistry lesson in history.
Chromosomes are tiny threadlike structures composed of DNA and protein found in the nucleus of cells. They contain the genetic material (genes) that determine the individual characteristics of an organism and control body functions. Normal body cells of humans contain 46 chromosomes (22 matched pairs numbered: 1, 2, 3, 4 ... up to 22 and, one set of sex chromosomes, XX or XY). One set of chromosomes is received from the egg and the other from the sperm.
PGD is performed during the early stages of embryonic development, by carefully removing one of the cells found inside an embryo and examining the chromosomal material.
PGD for chromosomal abnormalities
Abnormalities in the number or structure of chromosomes are often present during embryonic development, which can translate to abnormalities in the individual. Having an extra or missing chromosome(s) (described as aneuploidy) or fragments of chromosomes in the wrong places, can have serious consequences, including the arrest of embryonic development and failure of implantation and pregnancy. If a pregnancy does occur, the rates of miscarriage are higher than the norm. If the baby makes it to term, the child will have a serious genetic abnormality that is probably life-threatening.
As women age, their eggs become more susceptible to chromosomal defects and aneuploidy rates increase, causing a lower overall pregnancy rate, more miscarriages and a greater rate of abnormalities in their offspring.
PGD for specific genetic disorders
PGD has also been successfully applied to testing for single-gene disorders in couples at risk of transmitting a genetic disease to their offspring. The range of inherited diseases for which PGD has been applied in the last decade has extended to more than 100 different conditions, with the most frequent ones being cystic fibrosis and hemoglobin disorders. Knowledge of the specific DNA sequence involved in the gene mutation is necessary; thus for each couple, preparatory work is required.
Who opts For PGD
1. Women over 35. As women age, egg quality often declines, increasing the risk of miscarriages and chromosomally abnormal embryos.
2. Couples who are chromosomally normal but have a history of unexplained, repeated miscarriages.
3. Couples who have had repeated, unexplained IVF failures.
4. Patients using a first-time egg donor or an egg donor that has a history of poor embryo quality.
5. Couples at risk of having a baby with a genetic disorder.
The Reproductive Sciences Center in La Jolla is the only fertility center in San Diego that has an in-house PGD facility. While it is a complex procedure, in the hands of experienced laboratory staff, it is safe, effective and a reliable way for intended parents to get some peace of mind.
Jimenez is director of corporate communications at Stemagen. Wood, M.D., Ph.D., is medical director at the Reproductive Sciences Center in La Jolla.
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by News Staff | Jul 17, 2019 | Features
Ready to Help in a Community Emergency
By Paula Lickfeldt
Five days a week, Monday through Friday you can find members of the Sun City Center Amateur Radio Club in their “club room,” which is in the hurricane resistant maintenance building. They will be there, operating around the clock, 24/7, during a disaster.
The SCC Amateur Radio Club has about 70 members that live in SCC, while the King’s Point club has about 80 members that live in KP. The two clubs are collaborative and actually share about 22 “Hams” that overlap and carry dual memberships. The club meets at 2 p.m. on the first Wednesday of the month in the Florida Room. Yearly dues are $15 per year. To the relief of many, knowledge of Morse Code is no longer a requirement for obtaining any of the three levels of FCC license available to amateur radio club members.
On Monday and Wednesday mornings, the club secretary, Judy Wozniak hosts a nationwide shortwave “net” call (which could be compared to a conference call for clarification). The purpose of these calls is to make sure that all of the equipment is working correctly and can connect to anywhere in the USA, or further. On Tuesday evening the club tests the VHF to make sure that the local radios in SCC are operating and can connect with each other. A small handheld VHF radio can be purchased for under $50.
On any weekday between 9 and 11, members of the club are available to talk with residents of the community. When you go to the club room you will find the gathered members discussing things like, “What will we do if…?” Dick Hillyer, president of the club, told me that the club has four goals: 1. Enjoyment of the hobby, 2. License training and presentations of interest, 3. Emergency Communications Assistance to the SCC community, and 4. Communication Assistance to support other SCC clubs and events.
The club has four different kinds of equipment; traditional short wave radios which can connect around the world, VHF and UHF which have a shorter range of up to thirty miles. Signal “Repeaters” two at each club, with antennas on towers and even atop Sun Towers as well as others linked around the East Bay, can connect to any amateur radio this side of Tampa Bay, from Punta Gorda, to Sebring, to Holiday. The repeater towers can be used to connect a computer to a ham radio which can send a digital packet message or document anywhere. This can be a very valuable tool for sending messages about missing people, people that are in a certain shelter, or a list of medicines or supplies that are needed by a hospital.
In the case of an emergency or disaster any resident can go to a neighbor’s home that has an orange paper with an old-fashioned telephone on it displayed in the window. This signifies a member of the Amateur Radio Club, who will be able to help get a message out to a distant family member. To further its goals, the club recognizes and appreciates those HOAs which make reasonable accommodations to their resident licensed radio members.
In July, VP Richard Wiczalkowski will be teaching a free FCC license class to any resident of SCC who is interested in getting started working with amateur radios. You can call the Amateur Radio Club to get the date, time and location of the class. www.sccarc.info
Members of the national Amateur Radio League (ARRL) say that “When All Else Fails, Amateur Radio Works” and the SCC and KP Amateur Radio Clubs are available to help.
Jul 17, 2019 | Features
SCC and KP Amateur Radio ClubsReady to Help in a Community EmergencyBy Paula Lickfeldt Five days a week, Monday through Friday you can find members of the Sun City Center Amateur Radio Club in their "club room," which is in the hurricane resistant...
Bob’s VetsA Breakfast Get Together for All Veterans, Their Spouses and Their FriendsBy Diane M. Loeffler Thursday mornings are special for veterans who are within driving distance of the Ruskin Bob Evans restaurant. A large area is set aside for veterans...
Jul 9, 2019 | Features
Veterans Pay Tribute to Departed Comrades By Frank Kepley, CAPT USN (Ret.), News Military Correspondent The Military Veterans Organization of Sun City Center sponsored a Memorial Day Tribute to deceased veterans on Monday Morning at 10 a.m. at the...
Celebrating Independence TogetherBy E. Adam Porter The first week in July, every year, my extended family gathers at the beach in my hometown for a weeklong reunion. It’s a wonderful, relaxing time of sharing life together, filled with the familiar aromas...
Jun 28, 2019 | Hot Off The Press, News
In this issue… SCC honors its veterans, especially those comrades we lost in the past year. We get to know Bob’s Vets, meet the Pickleball players who did SCC proud in international competition, and hang out with puffins in Newfoundland. Find...
Back 2 School Supply Drive The Boys and Girls Club needs your help! Supplies Needed Black pens, blue pens, red pens, blunt-tip scissors, bottled glue, glue sticks, colored pencils, disinfectant wipes, dry erase markers, erasers, hand sanitizer,...
A Breakfast Get Together for All Veterans, Their Spouses and Their Friends
By Diane M. Loeffler
Thursday mornings are special for veterans who are within driving distance of the Ruskin Bob Evans restaurant. A large area is set aside for veterans and their guests around 8:30 a.m. Just inside the entrance of the restaurant, you will see small statues that represent different branches of military service. Tell the host or hostess that you are here to eat breakfast with Bob’s Vets, and he or she will direct you to the area near the front window. Sit anywhere you want. You are welcome to join any table with an empty chair. Everyone is friendly and ready to hear your story and to share those.
Expect to be greeted by Steve Browning and Dean Johnson. Around 9 a.m. everyone stands for the Pledge of Allegiance. Somewhat later, you may be hearing some announcements about the new Veteran’s Clinic, the Mission Act for Veterans, an Honor Flight trip, or other useful information. Now and then there is a special speaker. Mostly, however, it is a low-key gathering of people who have a lot in common.
Steve Browning says, “When I see someone with a service hat, I talk to them and invite them to join us. Our group has no elections. We are just a social club, a breakfast club. Over 600 people have come to our breakfasts at one time or another. About once a month we pay for the breakfasts for our World War II Vets.” In addition to being active in Bob’s Vets, Browning is currently the Flotilla 75 Vice Commander of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary in Apollo Beach and Ruskin.
Terrell Dossey, “The Chief,” was in charge until he passed away in June of 2018. He said, “Everyone here has a story.” This is still true. Ask around, and you will hear amazing, touching and funny stories.
Cypress Creek resident, Dennis Brown, has been coming every Thursday since March. He says, “I keep coming back because of the guys who are here. I get to rub elbows with my buddies. We have the same interests.” Brown was an Army Aviation Huey Door Gunner. He says, “I helped deliver a baby on a helicopter once. I don’t know who was more scared, the lady or me.”
Ron Hubner wears a hat that reads, “Tin Can Navy.” When asked about it, Huber says he served on a destroyer, “They weren’t very well-constructed, so we called them tin cans. Tin Can sailors are a proud bunch. The ships are the smallest ones in the fleet, but they did the most damage and were to be feared. One funny thing is that the metal was so thin that the bombs would go right through and not detonate until after the bomb passed through the ship. I am sure that the bombers were scratching their heads and wondering why there was no explosion.” These days, Huber volunteers with a literary ministry called Parents and Children Advance Together.
Richard Mangels served as a plane captain with the Navy between 1956 and 1959. He was responsible for all the systems on the plane, making sure that the tires, oil and everything was in working order. Most veterans who served during this period didn’t receive educational benefits, but he did because his time on the USS Shangri-la included responding to a crisis situation.
This Bob’s Vets group meets at the Bob Evans Restaurant at 102 Commercial Center Drive in Ruskin. It is near I-75. If you are interested in learning more about Bob’s Vets or in attending a Bob’s Vets gathering in other locations, go to bobsvets.com.
IN THE PHOTO: Some of the regular attendees of the breakfasts purchase Bob’s Vets shirts. The shirts’ colors show the branch of the military they served in.
by News Staff | Jul 9, 2019 | Features
By Frank Kepley, CAPT USN (Ret.), News Military Correspondent
The Military Veterans Organization of Sun City Center sponsored a Memorial Day Tribute to deceased veterans on Monday Morning at 10 a.m. at the Kings Point Veterans Theater. The ceremony opened with a Grand Marshal Procession, led by the 2019 Grand Marshal, Sgt. James Glass, a Korean War veteran. The Cadence was played by drummer Danny Chavez from the Praise Band, United Methodist Church.
The Opening Ceremony and Posting of Colors was directed by Benny Blackshire USA (Ret), President of MOAA SCC Chapter and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office Honor Guard.
LTC Blackshire welcomed and introduced the Honored Guests and CAPT Harry Benter gave the Invocation. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Lt. Col. Gordon Bassett, USAF (Ret). The National Anthem was then led by James Feist, USAF (Vet).
The Honored Speaker, Colonel DJ Reyes, USA (Ret), was introduced by Maj. Jim Haney, USMC (Ret). COL. Reyes retired from the Army with over 33 years’ service. He earned his Bachelors, Masters, and Juris Doctor degrees from the University of Notre Dame, the US Naval War College, and Temple University School of Law.
As a community Advocate for Veterans issues at the local, state and national levels, DJ recently served as a DoD contractor in assisting Gulf Coast region veterans, Guard and Reserve with meaningful employment and useful Career Counseling. DJ continues his community service role as the Senior Military Advisor/Mentor to the 13th Judicial Circuit’s Veterans Treatment Court (VTC).
A tribute to the Grand Marshal was then given by Maj. Jim Haney, which was followed by a musical interlude and salute to the Armed Forces by the Trinity Baptist Church directed by Rev. James Feist.
A Roll Call of departed comrades accompanied by the Living Flag Tribute was given by Mrs. Rosemary Clifton, USN (Vet); Rev. Lt Col Sam Rorer, USAF (Ret); Mrs. Beverly Gaussiran USA (Vet); and Rev. LTC Julian Graham ISA (Ret).
Taps was then played by Rev. Feist and the Rendering Bell Honors carried out by CDR Ed Socha, USN (Ret), Pearl Harbor Survivor assisted by LTC Paul Wheat, USA (Ret). Amazing Grace was then played by the Bagpiper, Mr. Jason Marchand and the Colors were retired. A placing of the wreath, donated by the Sun City Center Funeral Home, was then placed by members of the Boy Scout Troop 661.
by Adam Porter | Jul 4, 2019 | Features
By E. Adam Porter
The first week in July, every year, my extended family gathers at the beach in my hometown for a weeklong reunion. It’s a wonderful, relaxing time of sharing life together, filled with the familiar aromas of salt air, sunscreen, and delicious grilled meat; of days spent building sandcastles with the little ones and being buried in the sand; of shared jokes and singing, of snorkeling, fishing, spectacular skimboarding wipeouts, walks on the beach, and magnificent sunsets.
We catch up with each other, talk about days gone by, and pass our collective wisdom along to the young ones. The kids giggle as we demonstrate the stingray shuffle, do their best to listen to our lectures about the dangers of riptides, and experience temporary hearing loss when reminded they need another application of sunblock. We collect shells and sand dollars, spot pods of dolphin, and experience the patience-testing chore of untangling an open reel.
Talking with my brothers and our friends, we recall when we were kids with sandy shorts and pruny fingers, begging for Just Five More Minutes swimming in the water or playing in the sand. Those days really don’t seem so long ago… until my niece runs by, chasing her two-year-old daughter. I glance at my brother, thinking: “Wasn’t that us, just yesterday?”
Mom sits under the umbrella and shares stories about the island the way it used to be. We all chime in, reminiscing about fishing off the city pier and stores with shell parking lots. About coquina concrete and small, single-story homes with jalousie windows. The soda bottle vending machine at the bike shop. Building crab traps in the yard, smoked mullet and fried grouper back when the fishing was really good. Sunday afternoons trading stories with the liveaboards at the marina and weekdays cruising the bay after school.
The nostalgia is hypnotic and cathartic, a welcome port in the storms of life, and an oral history of The Way We Were. As kids, we never realized we were collecting memories, but now we’re passing that torch to our children and grandchildren… or would, if we could get them out of the water (five more minutes, pleeeeeeeeezzz!).
During this week, on July 4th, my family comes together with everyone on the island and across the country to commemorate our Founding Fathers’ Declaration of Independence from tyranny. It is, for the kids and for me, one of the best days of Family Beach Week, every year.
The celebration begins with the annual Independence Day Parade, watching the Privateers cruise their benevolent pirate ship down the main drag, tossing beads and firing their water cannons. Far below, on the sidewalk, the kids — armed to the teeth with Super Soakers — give as good as they get.
Later that evening, thousands of tourists and locals line the strand to enjoy one of the most impressive fireworks displays anywhere. Seven miles of sky flowers paint the twilight with booming radiance from horizon to horizon. Beneath that technicolor sky, the kids laugh and dance and sing, waving sparklers to write their names on the night.
Once again, watching them takes me back. When I lean forward to offer a few terse warnings about firework safety, I hear echoes of my parents. And that gets me thinking about how time and circumstance transforms accident-prone children gleefully waving flaming sticks into parents who repeat cautionary tales before lighting similar sticks for their own kids.
Further up the beach, close to the water line, the older teens and twenty-somethings have their own lighters, as well as much larger and more dynamic flaming sticks. The older adults toss them a few cursory safety tips, which they largely ignore. They’ve heard it all before. Soon, though, someone hollers and comes running for some ice from the cooler. We old guys glance at each other and grin. Sometimes, singed fingers are the best way to reinforce the correlation of responsibility and freedom.
And, that gets me thinking about the birthright our Founding Fathers have passed down to us. Defending our Independence is a shared responsibility, a commission handed down by that first generation of Americans. The Founders declared that freedom is every human’s indisputable right. Then they risked everything to prove it, because maintaining freedom requires personal responsibility. Something I remind my boys at every opportunity. Independence is the right of every person, and it’s worth celebrating. It’s also worth defending… I’m glad we’re able to do both together.
Floating by Fabulous Chicago Buildings
Florida Aquarium Honors Our Military This Memorial Day
by News Staff | Jun 2, 2019 | Features
Dozens of staff children attended National Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day at South Bay Hospital recently. This annual event is an educational program in the United States and Canada where parents take their children to work with them for one day.
The children toured various departments in the hospital including Food & Nutrition, Laboratory, Materials Management, Plant Operations, Surgery, ED, Diagnostic Imaging, Outpatient Surgery, Pharmacy, Progressive Care Unit, Med/Surgery Unit, Telemetry Unit and Rehabilitation to learn about what their parents do every day in a healthcare environment.
Team members also helped lead them through some hands-on activities to focus their energy on learning tasks that help run a hospital and take care of patients. For more information about South Bay Hospital, please call 813-634-0496 or visit SouthBayHospital.com.
Your Hillsborough County Office of Neighborhood Relations is reaching out to SCC neighborhood residents to join the kick-off for residential solid waste customers in the unincorporated areas. Hillsborough County Solid Waste Management is hosting a meeting...
Puffins Amongst the SceneryBy Kai Rambow “Heading up to see the puffins, are you?” asked the construction worker. She continued with a strong Newfoundland accent, “I’ve lived all my 61 years in this bay area, never knew about the puffins. I kept...
by News Staff | May 23, 2019 | Features
This Memorial Day Weekend and every day, The Florida Aquarium remembers the fallen and thanks all military members and veterans for protecting and serving our country. Join them Memorial Day Weekend, Friday, May 24 – Monday, May 27, 2019, with amazing animals and plants that call the Aquarium home. The Aquarium is open every day: 9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
During this upcoming holiday weekend, all active duty, veteran, retired or drilling reservist or National Guardsman can receive two free* general admission tickets. Additional guests (up to four people) also can get an exclusive 50% off Aquarium general admission ticket. To receive this ticket promotion, a valid military ID must be presented at The Florida Aquarium ticket office. Tickets are not available for advance online purchase.
While at the Aquarium, go from tree level to sea level and see more than 14,000 animals, including native Florida birds and otters, to sharks, alligators, seahorses and more. You are sure to have a fantastic experience. Sights include a large simulated wetlands environment located under a tall glass atrium, shallow bays, and beaches, and a coral reef ecosystem encompassed in half a million gallons of natural seawater.
After exploring all the exhibits inside, come aboard the 72-foot Wild Dolphin Cruise catamaran for a 75-minute excursion around Tampa Bay for a chance to see wild dolphins and seabirds in their natural habitat. (Reservations and an additional charge are required for the Wild Dolphin Cruise.)
To learn more about Memorial Day at The Florida Aquarium and all of the upcoming events offered at The Florida Aquarium year-round, visit the website.
*Offer includes any active duty, veteran, retired or drilling reservist or National Guardsmen and must be redeemed with a valid military ID at The Florida Aquarium Ticket Office.
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Box Office Symbiote: Venom May Overtake Justice League and Logan
Despite a massive critical ravaging, Venom has proven to be a massive box office beast. The film continues to drum up huge numbers and remains the weekend champ after two weeks in cinemas. With foreign markets adding to the massive success for the film, it's now coming into focus that Venom will most likely have no problem beating the final tallies for the divisive Justice League and Hugh Jackman's final bow as Logan/Wolverine.
Currently, Venom has already crossed the $377 million marker, which already makes it the 16th highest earner of the year. Numerous sources are stating that it won't take much for the movie to minimally reach a goal of $550 million worldwide but will most likely be much higher. The film doesn't even open in China until November 9th. It's expected to do very well there too. Apparently, some analysts think its very attainable for it to speed past Logan's $619 million and Justice League's $657 million worldwide total. No one can see the future, but with only two weeks behind it and such a huge profit already, I don't think anyone would be shocked to see it dominate those previous comic book movie numbers.
Tags: box office news, movie news, news, sony, sony pictures, spider-man, the movie sleuth, tom hardy, venom at 10/16/2018
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Composition of New Zealand Workforces
Training Outcomes
Health, Safety & Wellbeing
Defining a workforce
Learn about the methodology we use to identify and define a workforce
The results in this report are not official statistics. They have been created for research purposes from the Integrated Data Infrastructure (IDI), managed by Statistics New Zealand.
The opinions, findings, recommendations, and conclusions expressed in this report are those of the author(s), not Statistics NZ.
Access to the anonymised data used in this study was provided by Statistics NZ under the security and confidentiality provisions of the Statistics Act 1975. Only people authorised by the Statistics Act 1975 are allowed to see data about a particular person, household, business, or organisation, and the results in this [report, paper] have been confidentialised to protect these groups from identification and to keep their data safe.
Careful consideration has been given to the privacy, security, and confidentiality issues associated with using administrative and survey data in the IDI. Further detail can be found in the Privacy impact assessment for the Integrated Data Infrastructure available from www.stats.govt.nz.
The results are based in part on tax data supplied by Inland Revenue to Statistics NZ under the Tax Administration Act 1994. This tax data must be used only for statistical purposes, and no individual information may be published or disclosed in any other form, or provided to Inland Revenue for administrative or regulatory purposes.
Any person who has had access to the unit record data has certified that they have been shown, have read, and have understood section 81 of the Tax Administration Act 1994, which relates to secrecy. Any discussion of data limitations or weaknesses is in the context of using the IDI for statistical purposes, and is not related to the data’s ability to support Inland Revenue’s core operational requirements.
The IDI contains information about the occupations of people in New Zealand from the census and IRD records. The census records information about each person’s occupation and the main industry of their employer as they report it at the time of census (March 2013). IRD records contain information about income received as wages or self-employment each month from 1999 to 2017. The industry of the business paying the income is recorded and we use this to determine which industry each person is working in.
The census allows us to determine both a person’s occupation and the industry they work in. We can use both pieces of information to create a definition of a workforce. The only census available in the IDI is the 2013 census so we only have access to this data at a single point in time. The IRD dataset allows us to track a workforce over time, however it does not give us any information on a person’s occupation, so our definition of a workforce is necessarily broader.
We have two pieces of data available in the census to classify people as workers in a trade sector: industry and occupation. For each sector we need a list of relevant industries and occupations as identified by ANZSIC and ANZSCO codes respectively. Each sector will then consist of various combinations of industry and occupation. The chart below shows how many workers have each combination of industry and occupation where either is relevant to a sector.
IRD data
We can also determine someone’s sector of employment from IRD records. This has the advantage of being trackable over time and providing detailed information about income. IRD records do not have any information about a person’s occupation, however. This limits us to defining a workforce based on their industry only. We can use income thresholds to select the less casual elements of a workforce. For example, we may include only those who earn more than $2500 per month in a sector.
For comparison with the census data, we calculate the size of the IRD-defined workforce for March 2013 (the month of the census). In the chart below we show how the workforce breaks down by income for income thresholds of $500 and $2500 per month. We do not use income thresholds for people earning income from self-employment as their income does not necessarily correlate with time spent working (e.g. they may make a loss).
Some sectors do not have any industries that accurately correspond to them, only occupations. These occupation-defined sectors cannot be tracked in the IRD data. These sectors will have no data when selected in the chart below.
Comparing census and IRD
We can see how closely the census and IRD definitions of a workforce align with each other by checking how much they overlap during the month of the census. The chart below shows the proportion of those classified by either definition who are classified by each definition. The donut charts show a breakdown of why people were not included in a particular definition.
The exact proportion differ between industries, but the main reason for not being included in a definition is that no record exists either in the census or IRD records. There may be no IRD record because a worker happened to not make any income in the month of the census but was working in the sector in earlier months. Those people who received income in March 2013 but did not appear in the census are more difficult to explain. They will be some combination of people who happened to go overseas during the census, those who did not fill out the census, and those whose census records have not been matched to their IRD records.
Census and IRD data give us two complementary ways to define a workforce. Occupation data in the census allows us to create a precise definition of a workforce which is useful, particularly when we are looking specifically at trade roles. IRD data allows us to track a workforce over time, though with less precision. We will use definitions based on both sets of data, choosing each where it is appropriate.
Related Sweet Analytics articles
Ethnicity and gender
Explore ethnicity and gender data for the trades workforce
Women in trades over time
Track the number and proportion of women in trade sectors over time
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taylornoakes.com
Featured Montreal articles
Back when we used to dream…
Contact & Published Work
Montréal: The Basics
Photographs I
Photographs II – Montreal, circa 1900
Photographs III – Quartier des Spectacles & Fur District, Montreal
Photographs IV – the Plateau Mont Royal
Photographs V – Jacques Cartier Bridge
Photographs VI – Occupy Montréal
Photographs VII – Saturday Morning in Old Griffintown
Commentary, Cultural commentary, Economic commentary, History and Culture, Kondiaronk - My Montréal Experience, Perspectives on the City, Political commentary, Worth reconsidering
In response to Maxwell Turner…
February 16, 2014 Taylor C. Noakes 1 Comment
I guess I’m late to the game on this one.
The rant entitled Montreal Sucks and Everyone Knows It by Maxwell Turner was published about a month ago on IXDaily and drove a lot of online commentary. I only just caught wind of it so I guess I’m not as branché as I thought I was. Oh well.
This clip, an interview with CTV’s Todd Van Der Heyden, does a decent enough job summarizing the author’s point of view, though he opens by denying that he thinks Montreal sucks per se (?) and then goes onto to reiterate the broad problems he identifies in the article. In essence he states that we happen to have a lot of problems in our city and that there’s room for improvement. He says we need to be critical of ourselves.
True. I don’t think anyone would deny any of that. But then again, many large cities have various problems that need to be addressed, and to each city a unique set of problems at that. He lists political corruption, economic decline, crumbling infrastructure and social unrest as among the city’s main problems and further argues a small town mentality, coupled with delusions of grandeur, only exacerbate these problems. I guess this is true as well, to a point. The problems mentioned are common and would similarly be exacerbated given the conditions the author mentioned. If anything, he makes me wonder what use it is pointing out broad social problems which are common amongst large metropolises in lieu of pointing out specific problems that could be addressed and fixed.
Unfortunately, when he does delve into the specifics he frequently confuses areas of municipal, provincial and federal jurisdiction.
Glass Supernova
Bridges, language laws, Bill 60, pastagate, the student protests etc etc – neither the city of Montreal nor the citizenry in general have anything to do with any of this.
Also, I’m not convinced we collectively suffer delusions of grandeur. If anything we suffer a kind of existential malaise, one exacerbated by deindustrialization (again, something common enough amongst large cities of the Great Lakes region) and our unique political geography at the crossroads of Canada. I think there are a lot of people who live here who are regularly inspired by this city and everything it has to offer. I know I am. Our history is rich, ironic, engaging, utterly fascinating regardless of your individual historical tastes. I think there’s a certain number of people who would like to know how and why we reached the dizzying heights of international prominence in our ‘heyday’ of the 1960s and 1970s, so that we might replicate it in the future. Again, I know I am.
But that said, as far as urban living is considered, I wouldn’t want to return to that period at all – it was an era in which Montreal’s architectural heritage was under constant threat from demolition. Downtown Montreal was being actively depopulated. The FLQ was bombing mailboxes and holding-up armouries and banks. Our crime rate, specifically our murder rate, was far higher than it is today. And say what you will of the Charbonneau Commission, back then we had the Cliche Commission and the Mob was busy putting up apartment towers with concrete purchased to build the Olympic Stadium nearly simultaneously. Urban life in Montreal has improved considerably since our ‘glory years’.
Small town mentality? Perhaps among some STM employees who happen to have grown up in small towns and reflect that mentality. But let’s be clear, Bill 60, and the abortive Bill 14, are legislative ‘solutions’ to problems that simply don’t actually exist. It’s Quebec politics when the separatists are in power. Perhaps if the author had lived here for longer than four years he’d be cognizant the PQ does not speak, nor represent, the interests of Montreal or its citizens.
There are a few specific factual problems with the article I’d like to address. This next part is directed at the article and author more specifically.
1. ‘Montreal is barely able to maintain Canada’s busiest domestic bridge’.
A bit of research would have revealed Montreal has no control over its bridges. Strictly speaking our bridges aren’t our bridges. They are operated by a crown corporation, a federal government agency. Even if the city of Montreal had managed to save up several billion dollars to build a replacement all by itself, we don’t have the political authority to do so. If you want to make an argument that Montreal ought to have jurisdiction over its bridges, that’s one thing (and I’m all ears), but are you actually telling me we suck because after eight years of Tory government we still don’t have a new bridge? It begs the question, would we suck less if we collectively fellated federal Tories by voting for them in order to encourage bridge building?
2. On sinkholes…
Montreal is a city built on a swampy, marshy island with many streams and rivers criss-crossing deep underground. We have all the naturally-occurring and man-made risk factors that lead to sinkholes, and they’re pretty much all in play at all times of the year. Ergo, it’s not exclusively a problem related to crumbling infrastructure. The mayor has pledged to completely renovate Ste-Catherine Street and replace the antique sewers and water mains in time for the city’s 375th anniversary, and further plans to turn the strip into a pedestrian zone. Pledging to dig up the streets and remove cars from our main commercial artery is as politically unsexy as it gets, and yet, this is precisely what Denis Coderre has pledged to do. Action is being taken.
The mayor’s plan, if executed properly, could significantly reduce some of the man-made risks to our roads, and redeveloping Ste-Catherine Street has the potential to save a lot on maintenance, not to mention revitalize the city’s iconic thoroughfare. Coderre took a calculated risk on this issue and I’m glad he did. Again, are we now responsible for the choice of our ancestors to build here? Is erosion caused by suckiness or does suckiness cause erosion?
Beaver Hall Hill on Muggy Summer Day
3. The guy who was crushed by the falling ton of steel.
This is called an accident. They happen. It wasn’t a city construction project, those weren’t city workers. It was an accident that’s being investigated by the provincial authorities who investigate workplace accidents. It’s extremely unfortunate, but this has nothing to do with the city. As far as I know the city has stipulated that scaffolding be erected around the base of construction projects once they begin building above ground, and this is specifically to prevent people from getting beaned/crushed by falling materiel, equipment etc. It just so happens that the work going on at that particular location was excavation, not above-ground construction. From the details available, it seems as though the man was walking near a construction site while the workers were maneuvering the plate into place.
My advice – don’t cross through construction sites, don’t walk under suspended sheets of steel, and keep your eyes up when walking around downtown. But you can’t use this as an example of inadequate infrastructure or the city’s apparent suckiness.
4. Paving the streets won’t prevent sinkholes.
Again, it’s erosion occurring underground. Paving, if anything, exacerbates the problem. You’re literally proposing we cover over our road problem and hope it goes away.
5. ‘Montreal’s two previous mayors were canned after blatantly admitting to kick-back allegations.’
Poor Laurent Blanchard, I didn’t know he admitted to kick-backs… Neither Applebaum nor Tremblay were canned, they resigned, and neither has admitted to receiving kickbacks. Only Applebaum has so far been charged with fraud.
Yes, we’ve had some shitty mayors lately and it’s unfortunate that voter turnout was only 43% in the last municipal election. Voter turnout is low everywhere and at all levels of politics (save, perhaps for the last provincial election) – generally speaking North Americans are at a low point in terms of civic engagement. But it’s a logical fallacy to deduce that all local politicians are corrupt because two mayors resigned under suspicion of corruption. That’s another point – nothing, so far, has been proven about either man. I’m willing to save judgement and give Denis Coderre a chance to prove me right not all politicians, or Montreal Mayors, are corrupt.
I think it’s disingenuous to mention political corruption without also mentioning a) the former political establishment was destroyed and replaced and b) the Charbonneau Commission is actively airing the dirty laundry of our former political establishment. A lot of careers are being destroyed right now, and the citizenry is benefitting in the long run. There’s simply never been a better time to build in this city – everyone’s under the microscope.
Fundamentally, I refuse to take any responsibility for this black eye – it belongs to the corrupt, not the people of this city, nor the city itself. I voted for Projet Montréal and encouraged others to do so as well, so I won’t take the blame or share in the blame for the crimes suspected to have been committed by the Bourque/Tremblay/Applebaum administrations.
LARPers in the Forest
6. On protests…
Yeah, it really sucks when a group of people use public demonstrations to encourage the discussion of important political issues. It’s not like we’ve been doing this for hundreds of years. The people really should limit their political engagement to blogging eh?
I find it interesting that you don’t recognize the city’s protest movement as a fundamentally good thing. Montreal didn’t dream up Bill 60, the Parti Québécois did. Montréal is rebelling against the proposed draconian legislation, and not just through public demonstrations, but through actions as well. Our city’s major institutions are, one by one, telling the provincial government where they can stick their plan to institutionalize racism and have further made it clear they will openly defy the legislation and use civil disobedience to further their cause.
This doesn’t suck. This is awesome. The people of this city are smart enough to recognize bad policy and are confident enough they make no bones about fighting it. Doing the right thing doesn’t suck.
Doing the right thing never sucks.
7. Some police occasionally act like pricks.
What else is new? I’d rather deal with Montreal police than NYPD or LAPD any day. The fact that our crime rate is at rock bottom tells me they must be doing something right and that our city has figured something out, something crucial. Twenty five years ago we were dealing with over a hundred murders a year. Our city used to have problems with terrorism, armed robbery sprees, serial arsonists, large-scale warfare between biker gangs that resulted in civilian casualties etc. Montreal is recognized today for it’s unbelievably low crime rate. Police aren’t entirely responsible for our drop in crime, but they have played a vitally important role. There are enough good cops in this city who do good work so I’m loathe to universally condemn them all. I’ve never felt unsafe in this city. I know I can go anywhere in complete and total security. Isn’t this worth anything to you? And let’s be really real here – Montreal police are pretty tolerant in some respects. Ever been to the Tam Tams?
As long as you’re not acting a fool as a white man you’re basically invisible to Montreal police. What happened during the Printemps Erable is simply another example of the provincial government fucking around where it didn’t belong. Yes, some Montreal cops acted like assholes when on riot duty. But I’ve been in enough marches and demonstrations I’ve seen the other side of things, like when Montreal police block traffic and actually support the public’s right to mobilize and demonstrate peacefully and keep them safe in the process.
8. On language laws…
Holy Christ I’m getting repetitive here. It’s a provincial clusterfuck responsibility, not a municipal one. The OQLF is particularly driven to see English eliminated from Montreal and so we have to deal with their BS, but it’s not the city nor the majority of citizens who approve of actions like this. Likely as a direct consequence of the OQLF’s involvement in ‘pastagate’ the proposed Bill 14 was completely scrapped. Oh, and the head of the OQLF who kicked off the whole ‘scandal’ was unceremoniously thrown under the bus by the PQ. From what I’ve heard the organization is going to focus on it’s online translation dictionary and stop taking calls from local lunatics who do much of the frontline ‘investigative’ work.
We can’t possibly suck because as a city our very existence, our continued success is a veritable thumb in the eye of the separatist movement. The language cops have a hard time justifying their existence in an era of austerity budgets, yet, for entirely provincial political reasons it is kept on life support and occasionally pops up in the papers. Of late, the OQLF has earned the scorn of Francophones, Allophones and Anglophones in our city and has only further served to demonstrate just how fundamentally different Montreal is from the PQ’s Saguenay-region perspective on cultural integration.
9. On neighbourhoods, urban identity and latent racism…
How is it problematic to be interested in which neighbourhood one happens to be from? Montreal’s neighbourhoods are iconic, unique, each with their own local attractions, histories and particular racial/cultural/social mixes. Neighbourhoods say something about the people who live there and vice versa. Neighbourhoods are points of social contact. Neighbourhood pride is a crucial driver of civic engagement. In sum, this city needs people to care about where they live and why they like living there. The Mile End is different from the Plateau, NDG is different from CDN, St-Henri different from HoMa. Each offers something unique, something special that can be appreciated in its own right. Together, the neighbourhoods form this dynamic, fascinating city.
I don’t consider any particular Montreal neighbourhood better or worse than any other, though there may be some gentle ribbing for those in the know. I have a feeling what you perceive as latent racism is really just how Montrealers gauge each other’s connection to and experience with the city. Again, this happens everywhere, especially in Toronto and New York.
It’s an urban thing…
I get from reading this that sports aren’t really your thing. They’re not really my thing either, so again, a bit of research next time. I don’t even know where to begin. We’re working off the premise that this city sucks and now you’re saying we suck because our sports teams apparently suck. I think we’ve now achieved a grade-school level of maturity in this apparently serious call to enhanced civic engagement.
You should know that the city of Montreal isn’t directly involved in the affairs of the Montreal Canadiens. Denis Coderre has no control over the draft pick. Mayors don’t buy Stanley Cup victories. Say what you will about how well the Habs are doing today, the Bell Centre is regularly sold out and happens to be the largest arena in the NHL.
The Habs are a more profitable franchise today than they were back when they won more regularly. As to the Expos, they’ve been gone for a decade, but existed for 35 years. Warren Cromartie has been busy lining up investors for the Montreal Baseball Project and the proposal is being examined by the Montreal Board of Trade.
If Cro is successful, it will in fact be the second successful relaunching of a pro sports franchise in our city in twenty years. Similarly, the Alouettes were out of the picture for about a decade, then re-launched (in a crumbling old stadium no less) and have since become one of the best franchises in the CFL.
And all that aside, you missed the fact that the Montreal Impact graduated into Major League Soccer two years ago and have an average attendance of 20,000 spectators, about the same as for any Habs game. Our city has three major sports facilities that regularly hold over 20,000 fans (each). Who cares if we’re not winning all the trophies all the time, pro sports have literally never been bigger in our city than they are right now.
It’s good business, it’s good for business.
11. “Almost any day of the week, you’ll see tourists and locals alike wearing Bruins or Leafs memorabilia being verbally harassed”
No. No this simply doesn’t happen. I’ve never, ever, seen anyone give somebody else shit for wearing Bruins or Leafs caps or jerseys, and I’ve lived here my entire life. This is bullshit. Montreal is not some kind of Roch Carrier impression of small-town Quebec life in the 1950s.
12. “I was on the metro the other day politely discussing school with friends when two elderly women began to make comments about the “stupid English that have infested [their] city” and how they “wish Québec would return to being exclusively for the French.”
What can I say, I’m beginning to suspect not everything you wrote can be taken at face value. Did this actually happen to you or is this something you heard happen, once, to someone, somewhere, and you simply decided to invent something for the purposes of good story telling? If it did happen to you, what can I say, sometimes old people aren’t bright but are vocal. Who gives a fuck what these two old bigots think? Fuck them and their ethno-nationalist ideals.
Racism is racism; it’s common amongst the delusional, the demented, the deranged, the geriatric and the profoundly ignorant. You’re living in the centre of a metropolis of over three and half million people – yes, you will occasionally encounter this kind of bullshit, especially in a public space. You had your revenge by telling them off in French, move on. It isn’t happening every day.
I get that your editor had already spun the article for you before you wrote it, as you allude to in the interview on CTV, but please, don’t tell me there aren’t racist old Cantonese-speaking Hong Kongers vocally complaining about ‘unclean Mandarin-speaking Mainlanders’.
Hate is pretty universal among the dumb, and with the exception of the Parti Québécois, generally the dumb never get to exercise much political power. You’re going to find loud-mouth assholes in subway systems worldwide complaining about god knows what and you’ll likely be bothered by it. This is why you have an iPod, remember?
13. “Nearly every day, I almost get tackled getting off the metro at Berri-UQAM. I was once pushed back onto the train and forced to ride to the next stop…”
I’m sorry you suck at riding the Métro. Keep your elbows up and don’t be afraid to kick a motherfucker in the shins next time. Seriously though, how can you possibly be having this much trouble using basic public transit? If you’re being jostled about and/or can’t seem to navigate egress I can only make a few recommendations.
First, Berri-UQAM is the single busiest station in the entire system, not only in terms of total passenger traffic, but transfers as well, so be ready for crowds. You can try getting up to leave before arriving at the station.
Second, if you’re planning on getting off a train, make like you look like you’re about to get off a train. Stand up straight, look up and keep your hands in front of you and don’t be afraid to make it clear you’re moving and that they need to get out of the way. You also have a mouth, which you can use to say ‘pardon’ nice and loud. Think of your mouth like how you might use a car horn when backing out onto a freeway…
Given that we’re now well past the 3,000 word mark I suppose I’ll conclude.
If you’re only going to look at the city in a decontextualized, overtly pessimistic light, then yes, we suck the big one.
Suffice it to say I disagree. I don’t think we suck. I think this a shock piece and the natural progression for blog posts once you’ve exhausted the whole ‘I was into it before you were’ schtick and the ‘best of this or that city’ lists that generally populate the blogosphere. I guess once something has been cool/desirable/interesting for long enough it basically becomes a race between hack j-school dropouts to be the first to declare it sucks.
So bold, so brave.
I guess it comforts me somewhat that despite all this city’s many problems (both homegrown and inflicted), true Montrealers know the city still offers far more than she demands in occasional emotional or existential taxation. It has stood and grown for nearly four centuries and we’re still evolving, often at the forefront of key social and political issues. We are the nation’s petrie dish, its incubator, its lynch-pin and focal point. This isn’t boasting or delusions of grandeur, just our history.
And the better we know where we’ve come from, and how we got here, the better we’ll be able to address the challenges of the future.
Ultimately, this city has a lot going for it, but what it could really use right now is a respite from people attempting to cash in on contrarianism masquerading as enlightened criticism.
Taylor out… {drops mic, exists stage left}
Criticism of MontrealIXDailyMaxwell TurnerMontreal Sucks and Everyone Knows It
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One thought on “In response to Maxwell Turner…”
Kevin Burton Smith says:
I’m even later getting to this than you, but after reading Maxwell Turner’s piece, I drew a picture of him in my mind. I clicked through to the CTV interview, and I was still shocked to realize how closely my imagined image of him matched reality. Young, thinks he’s hip, a carefully cultivated aura of “whatever”, full of self-congratulatory, penny-ante cynicism, trendy haircut, some sort of body piercing or tattoo (Ah! an earring!) and not someone who grew up in Montreal. Right on all counts.
And he’s from eastern Ontario? Sheesh! Where the seventies and eighties found a “white” flight of displaced, angry, Francophobic Montrealers resettling? I wonder where his parents came from (he’d be about the right age) and why he chose to move to Montreal? And why he’s still there? Maybe he had dreams bigger than Lancaster, Ontario…
You touched on many of the things I thought as I read his blog — like the oh-so-convenient (but hard to prove) convenient anecdotes that never quite ring true, the cherry-picking of calamities that are hardly unique to Montreal, and the bizarre impression that Montreal is some sort of PQ stronghold (has he read a newspaper in the four years he’s been in Montreal?).
Oh, he touched on many things Montrealers will agree with (I mean really — who’s FOR sinkholes?) but being young and basically passing through, he fails to take note of why Montreal doesn’t suck for so many of us. He simply hasn’t put the time in. Sure, I’m a reluctant ex-pat and may view things with too rosy a view, but Montreal still holds a huge place in my heart, despite all its flaws. Montreal holds no such place in this kid’s heart, so all he has left are the flaws, which allows him to indulge in the sort of facile cynicism that passes for wisdom in the young.
And Christ, he’s so young! Has that baby face ever lived in any large city before? (I’m not sure Lancaster or Cornwall qualify).
One thing’s certain: he doesn’t seem to know Montreal well enough to trash it so offhandedly (he’s no Richler, that’s for sure). But hey, it got him on television, which for a kid like him was probably a big dream come true. Too bad he couldn’t quite pull it off — frequently he had that Bambi in the headlights look, when he realized his backpedalling wasn’t working. (You could almost see “Hey, I’m a cold-eyed, hard-hitting social critic” fighting with “Hey! I’m on TV! I want people to like me!”).
Neither side won.
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bjørn and bred
And all of this really harkens back to my experience at [UC] Davis, where we learned what the rules are. If you know the rules, then you know how you can break them and what the consequences of that might be, both good and bad. I know that my prolonging the addition of sulfur [after secondary fermentation] is an unsafe winemaking practice. The wise move is to add the sulfur and button it up as soon as it's done, so you're immune from oxidation and microbial intervention. But once you add the sulfur, the evolution of the wine as a biochemical entity is done; you've stopped it at that point. Yet, as I mentioned, I want the diacetyl to assimilate into the wine, which though an unsafe practice, is one of many choices that I take in an effort to make better wine based on the knowledge that I've got.
Rearing Children, Raising Vines
NM: It's certainly an approach that spills over (pardon the pun) into your red winemaking, judging from their beguiling depth and alluring texture. These Pinots are downright sensational! What would you say has been significant in the process of crafting your Pinot Noir wines?
GB: I guess I have my understanding or assessment of what the vineyards are about, in terms of their aromatics, flavors, and textural qualities. And I would strive to support those significant, distinctive qualities as necessary without playing down any negative qualities. If, for example, I know that the Van der Kamp Pinot Noir from Sonoma Mountain is predisposed to meaty, smokey, foresty-floor qualities, then my barrel selection becomes very important so as to not overdo those qualities. I would reign back in on a particular barrel producer and/or toast level, in order to try to accentuate more of the fruit characteristics rather than those other qualities. To use an analogy, I feel there's a way that child-rearing has a lot to do with wines. The French don't really have a word for winemaking; they say 'elevage,' which is the same word they use for raising children. And I don't think that's coincidental! I, myself, have two boys who are 15 and 13 years old, and are very different from each other. They need to get consistent parenting from me as their father, and yet for either of them to thrive and blossom in their own way, they need different input, direction, and emphasis. So, I would say that I bring the same sort of awareness to my winemaking. I think that's most profound with the two Pinots, because quite literally the only difference between them is where they grow: they're both [clone] 777, both grown with a Vertical Shoot Positioning system, both farmed with the same loving care — and yet they couldn't be any more different! And that's a result of where they are, because once they come into the winery, they're getting the same 'parenting' — the cold soak is the same and they're undergoing more or less the same barrel program. But then there's a way in which they also have their own lives, their own identities — the peak fermentation temperature in the bin of one Pinot might be different from that of the other — and there's very little I can do about that. So, I think all that is something significant I've observed and has really helped to shape my approach in making these Pinots.
NM: Similarly, I think the challenge to a winemaker's work lies in striking a balance between deferring and intervening in the process of making wine. Which is where technical skill and artisanship come together. It's quite a balance — a dance, even.
"Even though I feel I have a terroir-driven, hands-off approach, it's still very subjective."
GB: Right. Again, it's that subjective quality. One thing I certainly enjoy and I think is significant to the brand, is the vineyard designation program. My philosophy is, I've found these great vineyards; let them speak — and not overwhelm them with too much oak or too many winemaking artifacts. So, I began each with a 50% new oak program, which I thought was enough to support the wines without overwhelming them, giving them a richness without camouflaging what's there. At the same time, I realize that there is a sense of subjectivity: one could say with the vineyard designate idea and a relative hands-off approach that we imprint the wines — all of us winemakers do in one way or another. But I'm involved. And the grower, too, is involved; does he have a philosophy of two tons to the acre or twelve? Choices like that are going to have a huge impact on the fundamental character of the wine. With my 50% new oak selection, I think that's a reasonable number to support and not overwhelm the wines. But another winemaker might say 70% or 30%. And so, even though I feel I have a terroir-driven, hands-off approach, it's still very subjective. I mean, after all, it's my definition of 'vineyard designation,' 'terroir,' and 'hands-off.' And ultimately, that's going to be a difficult concept to translate to the marketplace. The consumer is going to have to spend a little time to get that story from me, if s/he really wants to understand what it's about. But I think the reality is that the wine geeks are the only ones who are going to do that. In the end, I guess what it really comes down to is that I hope people will get what I'm trying to do! If they have any interest in learning more, I feel I have to take them there.
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Fixtures & Tables
Sweden end German hoodoo to set up semi-final clash with Netherlands
You are in FIFA Women's World Cup / Article
Paris: Stina Blackstenius scored the winner as Sweden came from behind to stun old rivals Germany on Saturday and set up a women's World Cup semi-final against the Netherlands, who reached the last four for the first time.
Sweden had not beaten Germany at a major women's tournament since the 1995 World Cup, failing to win any of their subsequent meetings at World Cups, European Championships and Olympics in almost quarter of a century.
That run included defeats in the 2003 World Cup final and the gold medal match at the 2016 Rio Olympics, but they gained revenge in Rennes, coming from behind to win their quarter-final 2-1.
Rapinoe steers USA into semi-finals
England cruise into semi-finals
Lina Magull had given Germany a 16th-minute lead with a fine finish from a Sara Daebritz assist, but the excellent Sofia Jakobsson equalised soon after on a hot evening in Brittany.
The winner arrived three minutes after half-time, with Blackstenius prodding home the rebound after Almuth Schult had saved a Fridolina Rolfo header.
Despite bringing on star player Dszenifer Marozsan, who had missed the previous three games with a broken toe, Germany remained blunt as the clock ticked down.
Blackstenius had scored Sweden's winner against Canada in the last round and also netted against the Germans in that Olympic final defeat in 2016.
"We have talked about the possibilities here for us to go far and win every game," said a bullish Sweden coach Peter Gerhardsson.
"There's not a single mitochondria in us that's content. We're going to go for it."
The Germans will now be deprived of the chance to defend their Olympic title, with defeat here meaning they fail to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Games. Sweden will join the Netherlands and Britain - who have qualified thanks to England's World Cup run - at the Games instead.
Sweden go on to a semi-final encounter with the Dutch in Lyon on Wednesday, and they will have a score to settle there too, having lost to the Netherlands at Euro 2017.
The 'Oranje' went on to win that tournament and have coped well in France with their status as reigning European champions.
On Saturday they sank Italy 2-0 in Valenciennes as headed goals from Vivianne Miedema and Stefanie van der Gragt in the second half taking them through to their first ever World Cup semi-final in just their second appearance at the tournament.
"I am very proud of the team. We have very good players. Since our victory at Euro 2017 we have gained a lot of confidence and we have improved enough to do well at this World Cup," said Dutch coach Sarina Wiegman. She said qualifying for the Olympics was "a dream come true".
Miedema's goal means the Arsenal striker - her country's record goal-scorer - now has 61 in 80 international matches.
Surprise quarter-finalists Italy wilted towards the finish on a hot day and their players were in tears at the end.
"We are really upset because we got this far and had the chance to qualify for the Olympics. That's what we dreamed of," said Barbara Bonansea.
"No-one expected all this from us so we can't be anything but happy."
Your #FIFAWWC semi-finals:
Tuesday#ENG vs #USA
Wednesday #NED vs #SWE
We'll see you in Lyon! #DareToShine pic.twitter.com/rb7XbR03CP
— FIFA Women's World Cup (@FIFAWWC) June 29, 2019
The tournament now switches for the closing stages to Lyon - home to Europe's top women's club side - with holders the United States and England facing off in the first semi-final on Tuesday.
Megan Rapinoe's double strike gave the USA a 2-1 win over France on Friday, ending the hosts' dream of winning the trophy on home soil.
England reached their second successive World Cup semi-final with a straightforward 3-0 win over Norway on Thursday.
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Disney to Donate Almost One Million Dollars Globally With "Disney Friends for Change Games," Premiering June 24 on Disney Channel and June 27 on Disney XD
Over 30 Disney stars from around the globe will compete in a series of fun physical challenges inspired by everyday "green" acts.
[via press release from Disney Channel]
CHANGING THE WORLD!
Bridgit Mendler ("Good Luck Charlie," "Lemonade Mouth") Performs New Disney's Friends for Change Anthem
Disney will donate nearly $1 million dollars globally through Disney's Friends for Change, its multiplatform pro-social initiative, and the new "Disney Friends for Change Games" that helps kids help the planet and their communities. Over 30 Disney Channel and Disney XD stars from around the globe will compete in "Disney Friends for Change Games," a series of fun physical challenges inspired by everyday "green" acts. Four teams will play on behalf of an environmental charity -- Fauna and Flora International, World Wildlife Fund, Ocean Conservancy and UNICEF. For five weeks beginning FRIDAY, JUNE 24, Disney Channel will present "Disney Friends for Change Games" in interstitials during its Friday, Saturday and Sunday primetime original series programming, and Disney XD will present a special episode from the games Monday nights beginning JUNE 27 (9:30 p.m., ET/PT). The Games will culminate with a special half-hour episode SUNDAY, JULY 31 on Disney Channel.
18-year-old actress and Hollywood Records recording artist Bridgit Mendler ("Good Luck Charlie," "Lemonade Mouth") co-wrote and performed the new Disney's Friends for Change anthem, "We Can Change The World," a buoyant pop/rock song to be released globally starting FRIDAY, JUNE 10. All proceeds from the song will go towards environmental charities through Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund.
As part of "Disney Friends for Change Games," Disney will make a $125,000 donation to each charity and the winning team's charity will receive an additional $100,000 donation from Disney. Beginning JUNE 10, kids and families worldwide are invited to visit Disney.com/projectgreen, and Friends for Change international sites to pledge actions they will take in to help the planet. To date, over four million pledges have been made by kids worldwide. Young planet crusaders can play online versions of the games that took place during "Disney Friends for Change Games" and donate their earned points to their favorite teams. The team with the most online points will be named the regional "Fan Favorite" team and awarded an additional $100,000 for their team's charity. Kids can also participate by creating a piece of online art for the Disney Friends for Change Games Group Wall at Disney.com/Create.
Tiffany Thornton ("So Random") and Jason Earles ("Kickin' It") host the telecasts. Maria Canals-Barrera ("Wizards of Waverly Place") joins them to provide players support.
The teams are:
Blue Team playing to benefit Ocean Conservancy
Captain: Debby Ryan ("Jessie"), Allisyn Ashley Arm ("So Random"), Olavo Cavalheiro (Disney Channel Brazil), Hutch Dano ("Zeke and Luther"), Roshon Fegan ("Shake It Up"), Doc Shaw ("Pair of Kings"), Stefanie Scott ("A.N.T. Farm") and Jake Short ("A.N.T. Farm").
Green Team playing to benefit Fauna and Flora International
Captain: Brandon Mychal Smith ("So Random"), Valeria Baroni (Disney Channel Argentina), Paula Dalli (Disney Channel Spain), Adam Hicks ("Zeke and Luther"), David Henrie ("Wizards of Waverly Place"), Sterling Knight ("So Random"), Ryan Ochoa ("Pair of Kings"), Eve Ottino (Disney Channel France) and Bella Thorne ("Shake It Up").
Yellow Team playing to benefit UNICEF
Captain: Bridgit Mendler ("Good Luck Charlie"), Jorge Blanco (Disney Channel Mexico), Valentina Colombo (Disney Channel Italy), Adam Irigoyen ("Shake It Up"), China Anne McClain ("A.N.T. Farm"), Sierra McCormick ("A.N.T. Farm"), Logan Miller ("I'm In The Band") and Gregg Sulkin ("Wizards of Waverly Place" and Disney Channel UK).
Red Team playing to benefit World Wildlife Fund
Captain: Mitchel Musso ("Pair of Kings"), Jake T. Austin ("Wizards of Waverly Place"), Doug Brochu ("So Random"), Kelsey Chow ("Pair of Kings"), Davis Cleveland ("Shake It Up"), Dean Delannoit (Disney Channel Holland and Belgium), Carlon Jeffrey ("A.N.T. Farm"), and Zendaya ("Shake It Up").
*Special guest Leo Howard ("Kickin' It") will also participate.
"Disney Friends for Change Games" are executive-produced by Art Spigel ("Disney Channel Games") and Hayma 'Screech' Washington ("Amazing Race") for Dario Productions, Inc., and filmed on location in Simi Valley, California. The production was eco-conscious to ensure best efforts were made to lighten impact on the environment.
Disney's Friends for Change is a multi-platform initiative that helps inspire kids and families to join together and make a positive impact on their world (and the people and animals that live there). Through PSAs on-air and online tool-kits, the program aims to provide useful information to help kids make small changes that add up to big differences. As part of the program, Disney donates $1 million dollars annually to fund projects all around the globe and has funded over 41 projects that help the planet ranging from educational & community programs to species & habitat protection. Friends for Change currently has over 4 million actions taking place from kids in 33 countries throughout Europe, Latin America, Japan, India and China. For more information, please visit http://disney.go.com/projectgreen.
Disney Channel is a 24-hour kid-driven, family inclusive television network that taps into the world of kids and families through original series and movies. Currently available on basic cable in over 99 million U.S. homes and to millions of other viewers on Disney Channels around the world, Disney Channel is part of the Disney/ABC Television Group.
[may 2011]
· AMAZING RACE, THE (CBS)
· ANT FARM (DISNEY)
· GOOD LUCK CHARLIE (DISNEY)
· I'M IN THE BAND (DISNEY XD)
· PAIR OF KINGS (DISNEY XD)
· SHAKE IT UP (DISNEY)
· SO RANDOM (DISNEY)
· WIZARDS OF WAVERLY PLACE (DISNEY)
· ZEKE & LUTHER (DISNEY XD)
The Wilderness Pushes the Brown Family to New Limits in All-New Season of Discovery Channel's "Alaskan Bush People" Premiering Sunday, August 4
After six months on the mountain, the Wolfpack has fully re-dedicated themselves to the goal of total self-sufficiency they began in Alaska.
"South Park" Season 23 to Premiere on Wednesday, September 25 at 10:00 P.M. ET/PT on Comedy Central
All-new episodes from season 23 will be available to stream in HD exclusively on South Park Studios and Hulu the day after they premiere.
Investigation Discovery Unveils Upcoming Original Digital Series Line-Up, With Seven All-New Series Releasing Across Multiple Digital Platforms
Never-before-seen offerings include both original series as well as digital short-form pieces made to accompany linear programs.
Video: Showtime(R) Documentary Films Announces Premiere Date and Debuts New Trailer for "Hitsville: The Making of Motown"
The remarkable story of the legendary Motown Records is told through new and exclusive interviews with the label's visionary founder, Berry Gordy, and many of its superstar artists and creative figures.
Documentary "Unmasking Jihadi John: Anatomy of a Terrorist," Debuts July 31 on HBO
The revealing documentary examines what propelled Mohammed Emwazi's journey down a violent path despite US and British authorities being aware of his extremism.
FOX Entertainment Acquires U.S. Rights to International Format "LEGO(R) Masters"
12 teams of two will compete against each other in ambitious brick-building challenges to be crowned the country's most talented amateur LEGO builders.
ABC's "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." to Conclude After Thrilling Seventh Season, Set to Air Summer 2020
"Agent Coulson is one of the most beloved cinematic heroes of our time, and we're so glad to have spent seven seasons with him and the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents as they saved the world from countless unimaginable big bads," said Karey Burke.
Spectrum Originals to Make All 164 Episodes of the Classic 1990s Sony Pictures Television Series "Mad About You" Available on August 1 in Advance of Limited Event Reunion Series This Holiday Season
Spectrum Originals reunites stars Paul Reiser and Emmy(R) Award winner Helen Hunt for a new limited series, debuting for the Holidays in late 2019.
"I Was Prey" Returns for an Exhilirating and Dramatic All-New Season This Summer
The all-new season premieres Wednesday, August 14 on Animal Planet.
Denise Richards Headlines "The Secret Lives of Cheerleaders" Kicking Off Lifetime's Cheer, Rally, Kill End-of-Summer Movie Line-Up This September, Starting on Labor Day
Four additional movies will air on back-to-back weekends as the dog days of summer wane.
"Fargo" - FX Announces Year Four Cast
Jack Huston, Jason Schwartzman, Ben Whishaw, Jessie Buckley, Salvatore Esposito, Andrew Bird, Jeremie Harris, Gaetano Bruno, Anji White, Francesco Acquaroli, E'myri Crutchfield and Amber Midthunder join the previously announced Chris Rock.
The Kennedy Center Announces Its Honorees for 2019
"The 42nd Annual Kennedy Center Honors" airs Sunday, December 15 on CBS.
Video: Netflix Debuts Official Trailer, Key Art, and Premiere Date for Riveting New Limited Series "Unbelievable"
When teenager Marie Adler (Kaitlyn Dever) files a police report claiming she's been sexually assaulted by an intruder in her home, the investigating detectives, as well as the people closest to her, come to doubt the truth of her story.
Erin Krakow and Ryan Paevey Celebrate Summer Fun When They Host "2019 Summer Nights Preview Special" Premiering July 28th, on Hallmark Channel
The special had been previously scheduled for this Saturday, July 20.
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Home Contributors Timothy Dyck
Timothy Dyck
Arts & Culture December 6, 2011
CD Review: Kate Bush, 50 Words for Snow
Kate Bush can do anything. For those unfamiliar, Bush made British music history by being the first female singer with a number one, self-authored hit…
Arts & Culture November 30, 2011
CD Review: The Decemberists, Long Love the King
Americana has been a constant muse for the Decemberists, conjuring images of a United States that might have once existed. For those who’ve enjoyed their…
Arts & Culture October 26, 2011
CD Review: Tom Waits, Bad as Me
Tom Waits is notorious for taking listeners to bizarre and gritty soundscapes. His musical prowess has been punctuated with sharp horn melodies, drunken carnival-esque sounds…
Movie review: The Ides of March
In politics, kindness can get you killed. The political arena is so full of ruthless handlers, advisors and media workers that it takes a certain…
Arts & Culture September 12, 2011
CD Review: Jeff Bridges, Jeff Bridges
Jeff Bridges has been many things over his long career and “professional musician” may just be another notch on his belt. Having been a dabbler…
Arts & Culture September 8, 2011
CD Review: Beirut, The Rip Tide
Music that makes me want to listen to it, that is how I would describe The Rip Tide, the new album from Beirut. As a…
Arts & Culture June 21, 2011
Terrence Malick’s fifth film, The Tree of Life, is a good film, but clarifying why can be an arduous task. Malick is known for creating…
Arts April 5, 2011
The end of film
One of the most dynamic and evolving mediums today is photography. What was once a scientific tool developed by chemists and the privileged rich is…
Arts March 8, 2011
Repurposed, rebooted, remade
Editor’s note: This is the second in a short series of essays on nostalgia in the arts. Not long ago, a film came out about…
On nostalgia in art
Editor’s Note: This is the first in a short series of essays about the role of nostalgia in art. It can be difficult to find…
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Donors giving more but needs are greater than ever
Otto Bakano/IRIN
Humanitarian funding reached a record US$22 billion in 2013, yet almost a third of needs remained unmet, according to data recently released by the UK-based think tank Global Humanitarian Assistance Programme’s Development Initiatives.
“[2013] was quite an extraordinary year and very different and very much in contrast to previous years,” said Daniel Coppard, director of research and analysis at Development Initiatives.
In response to the unprecedented levels of humanitarian need - particularly in light of three major crises in Syria, the Central African Republic (CAR) and the Philippines - both governments and private donors stepped up their response efforts in 2013 with unprecedented levels of funding.
“One certainly hopes that this response by the international community last year isn’t a one off and that it continues and is sustained in the coming years,” Coppard told IRIN.
Government donors, who accounted for around three-quarters of total aid in 2013, gave an estimated $16.4 billion, up by one quarter in 2012. Private donors, including individuals, trusts, foundations and corporations, increased their contributions by 35 percent, to around $5.6 billion.
While this increase is good news, Coppard said it still is not good enough.
“There’s no room for complacency because still over a third of [humanitarian] needs aren’t being met,” he said. “And with Syria, in particular, it’s quite clear that demands are set to rise both this year, 2014, and beyond.”
Syria’s 2014 humanitarian appeal is 26 percent funded, CAR’s is 37 percent funded while the Philippines appeals are 53 percent funded, according to OCHA’s financial tracking service.
The UN coordinated appeals, for example, totalled $13.2 billion in 2013. As of June 2014, appeals had already exceeded this, reaching $16.9 billion. Coppard said this figure is expected to rise even higher by the end of the year, and will likely stay at comparable levels in the next few years.
Cyprien Fabre, head of the West Africa regional support office for the European Commission’s Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO), said it is unrealistic to believe that all the needs everywhere will be covered by humanitarian funding if crises continue to multiply.
“The overall humanitarian community is really struggling in 2014 to fund all the action in relation with the humanitarian needs in West Africa,” he said. “Persistent and continually increasing food insecurity and malnutrition in the Sahel is challenged by large displacement-related needs, in Mali, Nigeria and CAR, and epidemics such as cholera and Ebola.”
Population growth alone will mean the number of food insecure and malnourished will grow across the region, year on year, say analysts.
While ECHO has once again secured large funds for West Africa - around 184.2 million euros ($250.6 million) so far this year - they are “reaching their limits” due to competing large-scale crises around the globe, such as South Sudan, Syria and now Iraq.
Coppard agreed that meeting ever-growing needs is not easy, but said that it is possible to fulfil those unmet demands, and one step forward is to provide donors with good evidence of needs.
“I think we need three things: First, improved assessments and understanding of how we measure needs and how we promote those needs. Second, we need increased participation from a variety of actors, and, finally, we need to hold all donors accountable to addressing these internationals challenges.”
He said it was also important to understand why different crises are being met to varying degrees.
In Mauritania, for example, 83 percent of funding needs were met in 2013, while only 36 percent of appeals were funded for Djibouti.
“It’s partly political,” Coppard said, explaining that donors often have preferred countries they choose to work in and preferred types of crises they choose to respond to. “And it’s also partly, again, an issue of information and the quantity of information of what the needs actually are.”
Slower response for chronic crises
The type of crisis or disaster also affects how much of the funding appeal is met and how quickly it is met.
Donors respond much more quickly to sudden onset disasters, such as hurricanes, than they do to complex or slow-onset crises, such as drought or conflict.
In CAR, for example, it took 10 months from the launch of the appeal to reach just 50 percent of total required funds. This is compared to the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, when donors fulfilled half the appeal after just one month.
While ongoing crises may sometimes have a lower proportion of their needs met, they do account for the majority of humanitarian assistance each year. In 2012, Development Initiatives found that around two-thirds of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development’s (OEDC) Development Assistance Committee’s (DAC) total funding went to ongoing crises.
In order to maximize the impact of all humanitarian aid, Coppard said it must be understood how the donor funds are used in conjunction with a country’s other resources. According to Development Initiatives, humanitarian assistance accounts for just about 1 percent of overall national and international resources that a country receives.
“So one really needs to conceptualize what role humanitarian assistance plays and to understand how that sits within a wider financial picture… because even though humanitarian assistance is a very small percentage [of total incoming resources], it clearly still plays a very important role.”
ECHO’s Fabre said that until funding needs can be met, it is important to focus on a strategy of resilience, particularly in the Sahel, where needs are only going to continue to increase.
“The resilience agenda is a way to bring back governments and their development partners into the driving seat, but with the most vulnerable population as a primary target,” he said. “Only this difference in focus will make possible that a country’s development… is translated into a better life for the population.”
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MAINE GOVERNOR SIGNS BILLS TO PROTECT HEALTH, REDUCE POLLUTION
(NRCM Press Release 5/29/03)
Maine Governor John Baldacci has signed three bills to protect public health and the environment from mercury and lead pollution. The three bills signed by the Governor include: LD 697, an Act to Require the Installation of Dental Amalgam Separator Systems in Dental Offices, that will remove 98% of the mercury in wastewater discharges that results from dental work on mercury fillings; LD 743, an Act to Develop a Plan for Cathode Ray Tube (CRTs) Disposal, that bans the disposal of CRTs from computer monitors and televisions in landfills and incinerators by January 1, 2006 and that requires a plan by January 30, 2004 to collect and recycle CRTs; and LD 1159, an Act to Reduce Mercury Use in Measuring Devices and Switches, that bans the sale of many mercury-containing products, such as mercury fever thermometers and residential mercury thermostats, by July 1, 2006 and requires a plan to improve collection and recycling of old mercury thermostats. Maine is one of the first four states in the country to require dentists to install separators to reduce mercury discharges into the sewer systems that empty into rivers and bays. The disposal of CRTs, which each contain four to eight pounds of lead, poses environmental health hazards. "Reducing mercury and lead in the environment will help prevent learning disabilities in our children," said Sandra Cort, immediate past president of the Learning Disabilities Association of Maine.
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The Beach Boys, Good Vibrations
Posted in The Beach Boys on August 24th, 2012 by Willie
“Good Vibrations” was never my favorite Beach Boys song. Its taken me years of casual indifference before I really warmed up to it, and it was only when I found the song’s proverbial sunny side. For years I was turned off by the songs aggressive psychedelic atmosphere. I was always slightly afraid of the dark and foreboding atmosphere going on, but one day I caught the song somewhere, and it just hit me. This is just a gentle song about falling in love, like practically every Beach Boys song. Brian Wilson’s innocent teenage heart, his best songwriting weapon, is in full effect here through a myriad of electro-theremins. “Good Vibrations” was set to be the dynamic first single of Smile, Brian Wilson’s answer to Sgt. Pepper. Unfortunately it would take Brian 40 years or so to finish Smile, a reflection of the intense pressure Brian subjected himself to in the 60s. Luckily Brian successfully over came his demons, came out of his shell, and received all the love he was deserved when his legacy got resurrected in the late 90s. Anyway, I think this is a good point to cap my two week odyssey into the sounds of Southern California, and begin the slow sad goodbye to the summer of love.
Tags: 60s pop, 60s rock, Al Jardine, brian wilson, Carl Wilson, Dennis Wilson, Good Vibrations, Mike Love, Pet Sounds, psychedelic pop, psychedelic rock, Rock and Roll, Smile, Smiley Smile, The Beach Boys, The Beach Boys Good Vibrations, The Beach Boys Perform Good Vibrations, willie simpson
The Beach Boys, God Only Knows
Posted in The Beach Boys on August 21st, 2012 by Willie
After accidentally realizing that he was a musical genius, Brian Wilson stepped up his efforts by the mid 60s. Looking for a more serious direction, he began collaborating with lyricist Tony Asher, who helped interpret Brian’s musical ideas into focused lyrical concepts. The increased level of lyrical and musical sophistication also stretched the limits of what was acceptable in pop music in 1966. There weren’t practically any pop songs from that era with “God” in the title, and putting that word in the title was the source of great anguish to Brian as he was convinced it would ruin the chances of the song being a hit. It was a hit in Europe, but only a minor success in America. The song was an even bigger hit with Wilson’s contemporaries. Paul McCartney has consistently rated “God Only Knows” as his favorite song ever, and it clearly influenced him to keep ramping up his sophisticated brand of mid 60s pop. The song’s success with McCartney might have actually ended up being a negative for Brian’s psyche. McCartney was already busy with Revolver, a masterpiece that would equal, if not surpass Pet Sounds, and nary a year later Paul and the Fabs came out with Sgt. Pepper. There was no way Brian could compete with that level of production, and the pressure to match the Beatles led to his famous nervous breakdown. It’s really too bad because when Brian wasn’t losing his mind, he was one of the greatest songwriters in American history. One last fun fact, its actually Carl Wilson singing the lead vocal on the track. Brian gave his brother the vocal because he liked Carl’s natural delivery on the song. Nice guy that Brian Wilson.
Tags: 60s pop, 60s rock, Al Jardine, brian wilson, Carl Wilson, Dennis Wilson, God Only Knows, Mike Love, Paul McCartney, Pet Sounds, Pop, psychedelic pop, psychedelic rock, Rock and Roll, The Beach Boys, The Beach Boys God Only Knows, The Beach Boys Perform God Only Knows, Tony Asher, willie simpson
The Making of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Posted in The Beatles, Youtube Favs on July 4th, 2011 by Willie
The best discoveries are the ones you make by accident. Just yesterday, my roommate keyed me into letmewatchthis.ch, one of those movie streaming websites of dubious legality. It’s a pretty cool site with a lot of variety of stuff, but new and old. On a lark, I typed in “Beatles” in the search box, and I found something I’ve NEVER seen before. It was a BBC documentary on the making of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band produced in 1992, on the 25th anniversary of its historic 1967 release. This documentary, presented below in 6 parts, excited the hell out of me because it featured insights and interviews, I’ve NEVER seen before, and as an obsessive Beatle fan, I’ve seen nearly EVERYTHING. You’ll see incredible interviews with Paul, George, Ringo, George Martin, and even Brian Wilson, which is interesting because this was the record that caused him to have a mental break down. This is fantastic, and well, worth diving into on your July 4th holiday. Enjoy.
Part 1 – The Beatles had conquered the world, said they were bigger than Jesus, and quit playing live. You get to see the shameful Beatle record burnings, the riot in the Philippines, and the murky underside of Beatlemania. Fun fact I NEVER knew, when George went to India after the Beatles quit touring, Paul actually went to Kenya! Not too many African influences on Sgt. Pepper though…Oh, you also learn how Paul forced the other Beatles to go to work on the new record which gave the other guys a lot of anxiety.
Part 2 – George Martin breaks down the complex insanely awesome production it took to make Strawberry Fields Forever. Plus you get to see the proper Englishman who played the French Horn solo on Penny Lane! Also, Paul gives insight into how he was burned by John when he suggested calling their songwriting team McCartney/Lennon. Hah!
Part 3 – The album concept emerges, the making of the Sgt. Pepper song, and the making of Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds. This documentary is awesome because its punctuated with George Martin and Paul McCartney in the studio playing keyboards and breaking down the music theory behind the songs. Genius stuff. Oh, and John accidentally takes LSD in the studio and nearly jumps off the roof of Abbey Road studios.
Part 4 – We get insight in the fierce yet productive songwriting competition between John and Paul. George Martin incorrectly gives Paul all the credit for “With A Little Help From My Friends,” while Ringo saves himself from getting pelted by tomatoes. Lastly, you get immortally indispensable insight into the creation of “Within You Without You.”
Part 5 – Paul McCartney admits that Pet Sounds is the biggest influence on Sgt. Pepper. Plus we see poor Brian Wilson admit to how Sgt. Pepper blew him away so much that it made him insane. Phil Collins stops by and talks about another room. Also, we get to see the mythic Cork Flakes commercial that inspired John Lennon’s “Good Morning.”
Part 6- We meet Peter Blake, the designer of the cover, we learn how “A Day in the Life” was constructed, and we see George Martin nearly break down observing its gorgeousness. Ringo attributes his great drumming to be surrounded by 3 frustrated drummers who could only play one style really well. Paul gets the last word talking about how critics predicted the demise of the Beatles, secretly knowing that he was sitting on the masterpiece that was Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.
Tags: 60s rock, Abbey Road, BBC, Beatles Documentary, brian wilson, British Television, George Harrison, George Martin, Good Morning, John Lennon, Kenya, letmewatchthis.ch, LSD, Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds, Paul McCartney, Penny Lane, Pet Sounds, Peter Blake, psychedelic music, psychedelic rock, Ringo Starr, Rock and Roll, Sgt. Pepper, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Strawberry Fields Forever, the BBC, The Beach Boys, the Beatles, The Making of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, The Philippines, willie simpson, Within You Without You
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Hall and Oates
Kids in the Hall
Live From Youtube!
Louie CK
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The Apples in Stereo
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Фото с голым и худыми девушками и девушкам и on The Beatles, All You Need is Love
Bennie Arseneau on Petula Clark, Downtown, A Sign of the Times
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Nov 3rd, 2015
Lots of New Photos From "Suicide Squad"
Trailer for "Dirty Grandpa" Comedy, with Robert De Niro and Zac Efron
Sandra Bullock to Star in Female Version of "Ocean's Eleven"
Trailer for Jared Hess' "Don Verdean" Comedy, with Sam Rockwell
"Indiana Jones" Producer Says Harrison Ford Will Not Be Recast
Trailer for Adam Sandler's "The Ridiculous 6" Comedy
"The Walking Dead" Fan Kills Friend Who Turned Into a Zombie
Another "Monopoly" Movie in the Works
"Jumanji" Remake Hires "Con Air" Writer
Disney's "Tower of Terror" Park Ride Movie Moving Forward
Johnny Depp and Edgar Wright Team for "Fortunately, the Milk"
Official "Jumper" Poster
Posted: November 2nd, 2007 by WorstPreviews.com Staff
Thanks to JoBlo, we now have the official poster for the upcoming "Jumper" film. It features Hayden Christensen on top of the Sphynx in Egypt. The tagline states: "Anywhere is possible."
In the film, Christensen is a teenager from an abusive household, who discovers he can teleport from one place to another. He uses this ability to search for the man he believes is responsible for the death of his mother, drawing the attention of the NSA, and another kid with the same power. For more on the movie, check out the trailer.
The film is directed by Doug Liman, the man behind such films as "Go" and "The Bourne Identity," and it is written by David S. Goyer, who has collaborated on screenplays for "Batman Begins," "Blade," and the upcoming "Magneto" film. At this point, it is scheduled to hit theaters on February 15th, 2008, the worst time for movies.
Click here to read our exclusive "Jumper" preview.
Click here to check out the poster
Source: JoBlo
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Paul Bettany Responds to Jason Statham's "Avengers" Insult
"The Flash" Movie Hires Director
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Review of "Reclaiming Our Children"
By Peter R. Breggin
Perseus Books, 2000
Review by Lara Winner on Oct 16th 2001
A long-time critic of mainstream psychiatry, and of the recent near-exclusive emphasis on the biological aspects of mental illness in particular, Peter Breggin makes sure his voice is among the many offering post-Columbine recommendations for the future of America's children by writing Reclaiming Our Children: A Healing Plan for a Nation in Crisis. Breggin is particularly disturbed by the focus and recommendations of the first-ever White House Conference on Mental Health, held two months after the Columbine shootings in June 1999. Featuring the biologically-oriented director of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), Steven Hyman, as well as laypersons such as Tipper Gore who agree with his views, the conference, says Breggin, was simply "a public relations event for biological psychiatry and especially for the use of psychiatric drugs to treat all the emotional and behavioral problems of our children-in effect, all of their individual suffering and all of their conflicts with adults."
The new initiatives announced at the conference--$61 million for the NIMH for clinical drug trials involving children as well as a new nationwide program to train schools and communities to identify and get mental health services to troubled children--are also criticized by Breggin as a thinly disguised bonanza for biopsychiatry, a gilt-edged invitation into a huge new market, as well as a renewed governmental blessing for the use of medicine to achieve social control. Continuing work he began in The War Against Children, which focused on federal efforts to isolate a "violence gene" in part by experimenting on inner-city children, and other books, Breggin argues in Reclaiming Our Children against biological reductionism and for a broader psychosocial approach to dealing with troubled and sometimes violent kids.
Instead of viewing violent children as themselves the problem, something he sees as roughly equivalent to blaming the victim, Breggin offers an alternative vision, one that considers the extreme violence of some American children as a cry for help for all of America's children. The Eric Harrises and Kip Kinkels, Breggin argues, are like the canaries in the mine, alerting us to how poor conditions are for all children trying to grow up in contemporary American society. The lure of biopsychiatry is that its emphasis is on individual defects, in this case defects in the child, not on parents who work ever-longer hours, get divorced, or fail to provide consistent discipline or societal-level stressors such as overcrowded schools that value quiet, calm children or racism and poverty or violent entertainment. Ours is a society that is geared toward the needs and pleasures of adults at the expense of our children, Breggin argues; it requires radical restructuring to become child-oriented and child-affirming.
On a more personal level, Breggin contends that his theory empowers parents; even if they are not the source of the problem (although Breggin characterizes many child-behavior problems as conflicts between children and well-meaning but problematic adults, he goes to great lengths to say that not all problems originate with parents), they are the most important part of the solution. Parents should look to make changes in themselves and their families rather than hand all responsibility for helping their children over to medical professionals and pills. This is not an easy solution or one that earns profits for the mental health establishment and drug companies, Breggin acknowledges; it is simply the most effective and ethical one.
The first few chapters of Reclaiming Our Children are devoted to analysis of the Columbine shootings and other school shootings in the year leading up to it in places like Oregon, Mississippi, and Kentucky, and a critical look at the federal government's response. Breggin points out that it has been confirmed that several of the child shooters, including Eric Harris, were already in the mental health system and on psychotropic medications at the time of their respective incidents; the medication status of the other shooters is unknown because their medical records are still sealed for privacy reasons. He notes that not one of the speakers at the White House Conference on Mental Health mentioned that the "identify-and-drug" strategy they were advocating was already at work (or not working, some might say) in several of the school shooting cases. Rather than continue with and expand the status quo, Breggin suggests a new approach. He lists a series of environmental stressors that he claims the biological approach completely ignores: lack of meaningful adult relationships, conflict and divorce between parents, physical and sexual abuse, death of a sibling, violent entertainment, abuse by peers, legal and illegal drugs, guns, and poverty, among others. Only by addressing some of these larger-scale issues, rather than just medicating individual children, Breggin argues, can we truly address the problem of the growing amount of violence perpetrated by children.
The second and perhaps best section of the book lays out Breggin's views on children and the problems they face growing up in modern society. He uses case studies from his own private practice to show how his methodology of convincing adults to change, not drugging children, has been effective in changing the so-called "problem child's" behavior, children biological psychiatry was convinced needed years of drug therapy. He devotes chapters to his concepts of "warrior children" and "critical intelligence." Children are often better at seeing injustice and hypocrisy than the adults around them, Breggin says, and they will sometimes fight to the self-destructive death rather than give in to such perceived injustices. Breggin's approach emphasizes the importance of respect between all parties in human relationships; he treats all parties as capable of rational dialogue, or in the case of very young children at least capable of responding to rationally devised behaviors. Philosophically, his views prioritize narrative, context, the interrelatedness of all humans and the importance of relationships over a reductionism of all mental problems and anguish to biochemical interactions and the fitting of behavior patterns into prefabricated diagnostic molds.
Breggin ends the book by identifying institutions and practices he believes are in need of reform and suggesting appropriate changes. He discusses the potential dangers of psychotropic drugs, including studies suggesting that 4-6% of children being treated with Prozac or similar drugs developed manic symptoms. (For more on this topic, see Breggin's Toxic Psychiatry.) Could some of these manias cross over into violence, the very violence the prescribing of the drugs was meant to prevent, Breggin asks? He cites some cases as examples, including one in which Prozac was blamed by the adult perpetrator's doctor in a mass shooting in 1989 in Kentucky that killed eight and injured twelve more. Breggin also points out that some medications are being routinely prescribed "off-label" to children; in other words, their safety and effectiveness have only been tested in adults.
Appropriately enough for a post-Columbine book, he also addresses contemporary schools and youth culture. He calls for an end to what he calls "school slavery"-hours of homework a night for children as young as second grade and a relentlessly competitive, test-driven environment-and school scapegoating, the adult-sanctioned (or at least tolerated) culture of jocks and nerds, teasing and humiliation that makes kids on the lower end of the social scale feel like they must fight back. He holds some schools, such as Thornton Friends in the Washington, D.C., suburbs, up as examples and distills thirteen principles of a good school, including small class and overall size, the embodiment and teaching of principles (religious or otherwise), emphasis on self-motivation over competition and test scores, and ensuring that every student has a meaningful relationship with at least one teacher. Breggin ends the book by suggesting similar ideals for the improvement of families.
While Breggin has long provided and continues to provide a valuable counterpoint to the drugs-and-biology emphasis of modern mental health research and treatment, he sometimes goes a bit overboard in his attempt to make a point and/or make his nearly lone voice heard. His credibility will suffer among many, for example, when he insists that no child should be given psychotropic drugs. Perhaps most, even the vast majority, can be treated without drugs, but to use universal terms like "all" and "none" is to invite trouble. At the same time, to suggest moving the focus of treatment away from medication is to call for bold changes in today's quick-fix obsessed, managed mental health care world. Also, Breggin occasionally tries to use the same types of evidence that he criticizes others for using. For example, he rejects as speculation the idea differences in brain scans are evidence of abnormal biology in the mentally ill because not enough is known about how the hundreds of chemicals in the brain interact. In the very next paragraph, however, he insists that it is not speculation but fact that psychotropic drugs cause biochemical imbalances by interfering with normal brain function. A hard argument to make, if Breggin is right in claiming that we don't know what "normal" is.
These criticisms are relatively minor, however. In Reclaiming Our Children, Peter Breggin marshals arguments he has been making for years in an attempt to oppose what he sees as a new threat to America's children in the form of the White House Conference on Mental Health. Like many others, he may have seen the post-Columbine mood of the nation as a rare opportunity for positive change, a chance to resist the growing medicalization of all of society's problems. He may have overestimated the moment; even stricter gun controls failed to pass in the wake of the school shootings. One doubts, however, that this will deter Breggin from continuing to fight the good fight for alternatives to individually-oriented, biochemically-based solutions to the social problems of violence and mental illness.
© 2001 Lara Winner
Lara Winner, M.A., is a doctoral candidate in philosophy with a concentration in medical ethics at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She is interested in mental health/mental health ethics both because it is a traditionally underserved area of medical ethics and because it can provide valuable insights into the interrelationship of mind, body, and spirit.
This review first appeared online Sept 1, 2001
<a href="//www.wyomentalhealth.org/poc/view_doc.php?type=book&id=751&cn=3">Reclaiming Our Children</a>
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