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James Cameron Wants Linda Hamilton To Be A 60-Year-Old Action Heroine
By Falyn Page
Is Linda Hamilton the solution to breaking down age and gender barriers in the action-movie genre?
Linda Hamilton will return as Sarah Connor for the sixth installment in the "Terminator" franchise.
According to an exclusive from The Hollywood Reporter, James Cameron dropped the news at a private event. He touted the "seasoned warrior's" return and noted her importance to "gender and action stars everywhere back then."
But even though Cameron said that, he did recently catch some flak from director Patty Jenkins when he said her flick "Wonder Woman" objectified women.
Related Story Theater Chain Criticized For Women-Only 'Wonder Woman' Screenings
And now, some people are asking if Cameron can "re-invent the action heroine" as a 60-year-old.
After all, Cameron doesn't seem to have a problem trotting out 70-year-old Arnold Schwarzenegger for another go.
The new "Terminator" doesn't have a release date just yet. But sometime after 2019 might be a good guess. That's when Cameron gets his rights back to the franchise.
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Home > Sandro Botticelli > Fortitude c. 1470
Fortitude c. 1470
Sandro BotticelliItem # 107276
Madonna and Child with an Angel c. 1470
Madonna and Child and Two Angels c. 1470
Madonna and Child with an Angel (detail) c. 1470
Madonna and Child with Six Saints (Sant'Ambrogio Altarpiece) c. 1470
Adoration of the Magi (detail) 1470-75
Allegory of Abundance 1480-85
The Birth of Venus (detail 1) c. 1485
Miracle of St Eligius 1490-92
The Madonna And Child With The Infant Saint John The Baptist
Adoration of the Magi 1481-82
Paradise, Canto VI 1490s
Portrait of a Man with a Medal of Cosimo the Elder c. 1474
Three Miracles of St Zenobius 1500-05
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NOVELTIES + NONSENSE
/ world war z
originally featured on
www.maketheswitch.com.au
Finally, a zombie film to take your mum to. World War Z is concerned with the titular Z’s in name only: a wannabe blockbuster cut more from the cloth of Independence Day than George A. Romero’s brain-munching brethren. Bunking almost every element of a conventional zombie picture, World War Z aspires to be a thinking-man’s thriller – bombastic, brutal, and bloodless – but is ultimately as brainless as its eponymous boogiemen.
We open early morning, downtown Philadelphia. Gerry Lane (Brad Pitt), a former U.N. investigator, sits in traffic with his wife and two daughters, on their way for an overdue family holiday. His hopes of a relaxing sabbatical, however, are put on hold with the sudden outbreak of a violent zombie apocalypse. Without further hyperbole, Gerry and his family are flung into a wild flight for survival. As cities across the United States are torn apart, their only hope lies with Gerry’s former employer (Fana Mokoena), who agrees to harbor Gerry’s family on the U.N. flotilla in exchange for Gerry’s expertise. Together with a hot-shot young scientist and a small team of crack SEALs, Gerry must embark on a suicidal search for the origins of the deadly pandemic, and in doing so, discover mankind’s only hope of survival…
Plagued by development problems and last-minute re-shoots, World War Z emerges as surprisingly lucid end-of-the-world thriller. Unremarkable in most regards, it’s competent in its aims and broad in its appeal. Making the shambling horrors of Warm Bodies seem positively stomach-churning, the focus here is very much on ridiculous non-stop action and special FX set-pieces in the grand, sweeping scale favored by Roland Emmerich, circa 1999. While it styles itself on meatier fare such as Children of Men and War of the Worlds, there’s more than a touch of Godzilla to some of its more turgid flourishes (the scrambling floods of writing CGI corpses among them).
Rather ironically, the film’s fierce insistence on mass-market appeal all but robs its primary threat – the zombies – of any real bite. Director Marc Forster (Quantum of Solace, rivaling Die Another Day as the least effective of the Bond canon) goes out of his way to ensure his flesh-eaters are as bloodless as possible: they snarl and scream, hurtle themselves against doorways and windows, and leap out of shadows for a satisfying jolt, but do seemingly little else. Gunfights are strictly of the ‘bang-bang, you’re dead’ variety, and almost every instance of possible viscera is presented deliberately off-screen. While off-screen violence can often be employed for horrific effect, the intention here seems blatantly self-censoring. This is a zombie film bled of its blood and guts, and it’s a curious (if cynical) artistic proposition.
Undead purists will debate whether the film’s monsters actually meet the criteria for such a lofty and venerated title, but the emphasis here is strictly on thrills rather than chills. World War Z would function just as well if its chief concern was, say, alien invaders, or giant sentient ants. The “zombies” here are merely a stand-in for the peril that inhibits the procedural mystery at its heart. That mystery sees Pitt’s increasingly death-defying investigator scramble from one exotic location to another – a frantic, unnecessarily episodic chase that resembles nothing so much as a series of linear video-game levels.
Ultimately, the film’s decision to embrace scale and spectacle over characters and meaningful narrative robs it of any real tension. The zombies may as well be angry marathon runners for all the visceral threat they present, and the film’s rules and logic regarding them balks against any kind of casual scrutiny. Only a small-scale sequence late in the final act offers anything in the way of genuine suspense, adhering (finally) to the conventions of good zombie cinema for maximum impact.
Still, World War Z is an undemanding diversion. It’s not often a zombie apocalypse ends on what could be called a heart-warning note, nor does it do so with such a careful and considered mass-market agenda. World War Z won’t set the world on fire, but its own burning world is a mindless, engaging, and occasionally spectacular place to lose your brain.
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Home > Other Collections - Collections
Pair of Elizabethan gauntlet mittens at Dunham Massey
Marquetry panel from the Cabinet in the Brown Drawing Room at Blickling Hall
Replicas of finds from the Sutton Hoo Saxon burial site - richly decorated Anglo-Saxon helmet of war
Cannon balls, lead shot and medieval arrow found at Corfe Castle Estate
The painted plaster goat by J.M.Rysbrack
The black silk damask robe used by Disraeli as Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Bartolozzi Room at Hughenden Manor, Buckinghamshire, home of prime minister Benjamin Disraeli between 1848 and 1881
Coloured shield of the royal coat of arms of Henry VIII on the wall of Dragon, at Snowshill Manor
Detail of pianola rolls in box, in the Drawing Room at Sunnycroft
Close view of a carving of a cherub, part of the Chales Wade collection at Snowshill Manor, Gloucestershire
Detail of a steel Indo-Persian helmet with chain mail and a nasal guard, part of the Charles Wade collection, in Seraphim at Snowshill Manor, Gloucestershire
Glass eyes and tools for their manufacture in the 1870s house at the Birmingham Back to Backs
Close view of an eighteenth century Chelsea Pompadour vase in the Picture Room at Upton House
782 images in total
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1250 Broadway, 27th Floor New York, NY 10001 Home Contact Us
GATEWAY PLAZA CLASS ACTION PRESSES FORWARD
Gateway Plaza residents seeking class action status in lawsuit vs. LeFrak
Christian Brazil Bautista
Residents of Battery Park City rental complex Gateway Plaza are seeking class action status in a lawsuit against the LeFrak Organization.
New York Supreme Court Judge Melissa Crane will hear arguments on a motion for class certification on December 7. The action covers residents from the six buildings in the complex, with the addresses 345, 355, 365, 375, 385 and 395 South End Avenue, who have lived in the properties since April 1, 2008. The buildings contain more than 1,700 apartments and over 4,000 tenants. Prices for units in the complex start at $2,825 per month for a studio, according to the property’s website.
The lawsuit, which was originally filed in 2014, alleged that LeFrak leased homes that had defective windows and insulation, leading to extreme temperatures inside the apartments during the winter and summer. Conditions are said to be so bad that icicles have formed inside the apartments. Tenants say that LeFrak has failed to address structural defects at the property for more than a decade.
“Plaintiff’s counsel are looking forward to the opportunity to put all of the facts before the court. Gateway Plaza tenants have been made to suffer for years and it is time for the landlord, the LeFrak Organization, and its partners from the Fisher and Olnick Organizations, to be held accountable,” said Lucas Ferrara, who is part of a team that is serving as counsel for the proposed tenant class.
Marina Towers, the LeFrak Organization subsidiary named in the lawsuit, denied the claims, disparaging the assertions of lead plaintiff Maureen Koetz. “Marina Towers categorically rejects the allegations of Maureen Koetz, the person who is bringing this lawsuit. Marina Towers has sought to be a good landlord, and has spent millions on upgrades and improvements to Gateway Plaza. Marina Towers believes that the Court will dismiss the claims of Koetz, who is not even a tenant of Gateway Plaza, having left months ago. Marina Towers also believes the Court will refuse the attempts of Koetz’s lawyers to make this meritless lawsuit a class action.”
The residents are seeking structural repairs for the Gateway Plaza complex, along with rent deductions and refunds for tenant and former tenants. During the December hearing, the court will also hear arguments on LeFrak’s motion to file an amended motion to dismiss the lawsuit. A Supreme Court Judge earlier denied a motion to dismiss the case.
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Fifty Shades Of Grey star Jamie Dornan on receiving terrifying fan mail
26 Nov, 2020 06:18 PM 2 minutes to read
A fan has accused married actor Jamie Dornan of fathering a child with his co-star Dakota Johnson. Photo / Getty Images
BANG! Showbiz
Jamie Dornan received "freaky" fan mail in lockdown.
The 'Fifty Shades of Grey' star was sent a bizarre collage of photos of himself as a child.
Speaking to Variety magazine about the bizarre fan mail, he shared: "Someone saying that it was my kid, and my wife should know that I have this kid whose seven-years-old. I think they were trying to say that the kid was mine and Dakota Johnson's, and we'd had this baby while we made the first 'Fifty Shades' movie. It piqued our interest, let's say. It was a bit freaky."
Meanwhile, Jamie previously insisted he will "appreciate" the small things more when the coronavirus pandemic is over and is looking forward to doing all the things he has missed.
Taking to Instagram, he shared: "When this is all over I'll appreciate these things more ... People who work in the health sector. In fact, ALL people.
"Hugging my friends. Playing gold. Sun. Watching golf. Wind. Watching rugby. Rain. Watching football. Snow. A good wine list. The ocean. Travel. Work. Guinness on Draft. Restaurants. Pubs. Shops. The cinema. Live music. Life. (sic)"
A post shared by Jamie Dornan (@jamiedornan)
Jamie had previously opened up about his mental health, admitting he suffered with depression after four of his friends died a year after his mother passed away.
He shared: "Yeah my mum died when I was 16 that was obviously a life-altering, insane, horrendous thing to happen. Then four of my mates killed themselves in a car crash when I was 17."
"I had a very rough couple of years that I guess I'm still dealing with both of [those] things today, every day. But I guess they were very acute still then, and I drank a lot of everything but I had this summer where I'd go out a lot, drink, not really achieve anything."
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Home Arts & Entertainment Scorpions headline at rain-hit Ramblin’ Man Fair
Scorpions headline at rain-hit Ramblin’ Man Fair
By Helen Westby & Mott the Dog
WET WET WET! This is what greeted us on arrival Friday afternoon. Not the band I hasten to say, but the incessant rain which had continued to fall for 24 hours. Dishevelled and a little disheartened by the long drive, and lack of signage en route to the site, we were all tired and fed up by the time we finally reached the Ramblin’ Man Fair, being held at Mote Park in Maidstone, Kent, England from July 25-26.
Once parked up, we made our way from the car park to the Glamping area. Here we were met by a lovely young lady who checked us in and showed us to our Bellepad. Luckily, 3 of us had booked into a 6-person pad, which was roomy and tidy and a welcome sight. However, 2 of our Pattaya Mail media party had a twin Podpad (Mott the Dog and Clever Trevor), which they likened to a “Wendy House made on the cheap”! This was a phrase we became accustomed to hearing over the weekend, as others who had booked one of these were also implying it was a big mistake.
Scorpions’ lead singer Klaus Meine and his band brought the house down with a string of classic hits.
Saturday arrived and the sun finally made an appearance, so the mood was much more upbeat. Once we’d gathered the troops, we headed down to the Arena entrance where there was a bit of a delay in the opening of the gates, but generally speaking, everyone was in good spirits, wallowing in the sunshine and talking to everyone around them. Once inside we headed straight to the VIP area and Founder Members Bar to partake in a few beers before wandering off to see some of the bands.
Well this article would have to resemble a novel of “War and Peace” dimensions if I were to write a review for every act playing over Saturday and Sunday, so that will have to wait until another day. What I will say though, was that there was a myriad of top headline bands throughout the weekend, including on Saturday in the sunshine.
Blue Oyster Cult were the first band to grab the Fair by the tail and do a monster of a set, like Godzilla flattening Mote Park. Hayseed Dixie then set a smile on everybody’s faces with a rumbustious set on the Outlaw Country Stage with their thrilling countrified versions of rock classics, including the greatest killer song ever written in rock… Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen!
Mott the Dog stands guard outside his ‘Dog House’, home for two people for 3 rain soaked nights.
Whilst the younger members of the Pattaya Mail team went off to head bang to Saturday’s Classic Rock Stage headliners The Scorpions, the more sedate of us, led by the good Captain Steve, retired to the Prog Rock Stage to watch the wonderful Camel who brought the night to a glittering climax with some dexterous music and a wonderful light show, even if the British weather was trying to freeze us all solid.
Top of the bill on the Saturday night were the aforementioned mighty Scorpions. It’s hard to believe they are now in their 50th year, as they still have it, whatever ‘IT’ is: Jumping around the stage in a blaze of glory, and soaking up the admiration of the assembled masses. Lead vocalist Klaus Meine’s voice proved as powerful as ever. They really performed to the crowd, nothing subtle about it, just an almighty powerful set delivered with genuine enthusiasm.
Camel’s Colin Bass and Andrew Latimer.
The stage set was a mega light show, which surely underlined the pomp of the band. A huge screen created two levels, meaning you could see each band member’s skill in clarity. These screens were used to the band’s full advantage, scanning quickly between the musicians and the audience reactions, which complemented the songs beautifully.
One of the biggest highlights however, was the point at which a giant Union Jack was projected, full screen, to an already excited crowd, who reacted with an even bigger cheer. The set list was fairly predictable, showcasing all the classics from their long and illustrious career. As always, it had to be their most famous hit “Wind of Change” that created the biggest crowd reaction, lighters held aloft, and the audience singing along, chants filling the night air. Great to see these guys back in the UK, it’s been way too long!
Blues Pills’ Elin Larsson.
On Sunday, for a brief 40 minutes, the rain relented long enough for the Blue Pills to open up the day’s proceedings. Never have a band first on in a heavy schedule made such a great impact – a true rock band fronted by the rock goddess, Elin Larsson.
Our keen reporter and friend to the people, Mottman assured us that in the Blues Tent, Mick Ralphs and Bernie Marsden played some scorching sets, along with excellent performances by Gregg Allman and Seasick Steve, but I’m afraid it was getting late in the day so the whole Pattaya Mail team went to go see the Prog Rock Stage for the end of the fair.
Whether or not you were an avid rock fan, there was something for everyone at this Fair throughout both days. I was impressed by all the bands already mentioned and being a massive Scorpions fan it was great to see them play the UK for the first time in years. But of all the acts it was actually Marillion that really blew me away. I have seen them a few times over the years, and I don’t know whether on this occasion it was their impressive stage set, the sound, their energy or something else, but they were truly fantastic.
Marillion’s Steve Hogarth.
Besides the fabulous line-up, there was so much to do and see here over the two days, from an impressive fairground, to a great selection of food stalls and, of course, the obligatory random stalls selling everything from clothes, records, masks, wellington boots (which sold very well on the Sunday), you name it.
Unfortunately the weather did play a key part in the attendance figures I guess. It certainly didn’t seem as crowded as some of the other major UK rock festivals I’ve been to. This was a real shame, as the Ramblin’ Man Fair is definitely at the top of my list for the future, and I’ll be doing my best to encourage everyone else I know to go next year!
(NB: All Photos courtesy of Sean Cameron and Oliver Halfin).
The Pattaya Mail team in The Founders Bar.
A Sunday highlight – Ian Anderson playing the songs of Jethro Tull.
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Life at 33 1/3: It’s always after midnight
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Swift to release concert tour exclusively on Apple Music
Arts & Entertainment December 16, 2015
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Home/Community/Urban Success Stories
San Jose Home Gardens
open space authority funds contributed to project
project awarded
The Authority helped fund Valley Verde’s San Jose Family Gardening Project, which creates and maintains community and home gardens in collaboration with 140 low-income families. The project addresses the need for access to green spaces for underserved families, healthy and affordable fresh food, and environmental education. Valley Verde provides families with raised-bed gardens at home along with all the supplies needed to grow fresh vegetables and a year of monthly workshops which cover topics such as urban agriculture, habitat for native wildlife, and water conservation. After one year, participants are eligible to become mentors for other families in the program, growing the circle of environmentally sustainable gardening skills and fostering sense of community in urban areas.
Award Date:
Urban Grant Program
466 W San Carlos St, San Jose, CA 95125
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Other Success
Campbell School District Garden-Based Instruction
The Authority’s grant will help to fund Living Classroom’s Garden-Based Instruction in the Campbell School District. Living Classroom's environmental education program focuses in three key areas: environmental literacy, connection to healthy food, and science learning that is relevant and real to the lives of students. Living Classroom will provide a full-service program to schools, including lesson instruction to hundreds of classrooms with multiple lessons for each class each year over multiple years, lesson materials, garden installation and maintenance, and recruitment and training of volunteer parents and docents. The goal of the Authority-funded portion the program is to provide top quality, engaging garden-based learning experiences in the areas of science, nutrition, math, and social studies for at least 1,200 K-3 students at five Campbell schools
Bill's Backyard
The Authority helped fund the Children's Discovery Museum's new Bill's Backyard: Bridge to Nature project, which is a 27,500 square foot outdoor nature education center adjacent to the existing facility. This innovative space is inspiring children and their families to spend time outside, exploring the wonders and joys of building, exploring, climbing, rolling, digging, and getting dirty.
Gateway to Trails and Parks
The Authority contributed funds to the Bay Area Ridge Trail Council for the Gateway to Trails and Parks: Ridge Trail Interpretive, Wayfinding and Outings project at Berryessa BART Station. The project will use the opening of the new Berryessa BART station to introduce and connect the public to the outstanding network of trails, parks, and open space in Santa Clara County. The Berryessa station will include a new section of the Bay Area Ridge Trail and connect directly to the Penitencia Creek Trail and other trails, offering access to many nearby parks and open spaces. This project will promote exciting new opportunities to combine transit and trails for recreation and transportation.
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Off the Kuff
Knowledge Is Good
2018 Legislative
2018 judicial
2018 Congressional
2018 Harris County
In which Houston becomes more walkable
by Charles Kuffner.
It’s a start.
On 19th Street, one of Houston’s most enduring strips of shops and restaurants, there is a vacant lot tucked between two stores, about a block from the landmark “Heights” sign.
When developers recently expressed interest in putting a new building there, however, they suffered a setback.
Houston’s planning codes, written in the 1990s with automobiles in mind, meant the developers would have to put the new building 25 feet back from the road, set awkwardly behind the street-side strip of storefronts.
The city planning commission granted them a reprieve from the rule, but the episode illustrated how Houston’s code served as an impediment, not a spark, for so-called “walkable” development, said Bill Baldwin, a real estate agent and member of the planning commission.
City council on Wednesday took a first step toward changing that, unanimously approving ordinances aimed at making pockets of Houston more friendly to pedestrians and moving the city away from its car-centric planning code. The new regulations only apply to new buildings and redevelopment in certain parts of the city.
In those areas, the ordinances will bring buildings — not parking lots — closer to the street, widen sidewalks, and reduce or altogether eliminate the number of parking spots developers are required to offer.
The ordinances create two distinct programs: areas with a ““Walkable Places” designation, where the city seeks to foster pedestrian-friendly development; and areas in the “Transit-Oriented Development” program, where the city hopes to bring the same principles to most streets that fall within a half-mile of a bus or train station.
While the underlying regulations are similar, the Walkable Places” program initially takes shape in three pilot projects along Emancipation Avenue, Midtown, and Hogan and Lorraine Streets in the Near Northside. Other areas can pursue a “Walkable Places” designation if a majority of property owners support it. City council will have final say over all such designations.
The “Transit-Oriented Development” program will apply to city-designated areas across Houston that are close to transit stops.
For the streets covered by either program, the ordinances undo many of the automobile-centered rules adopted in the 1990s. For example, under those rules, all development on major streets must be set back 25 feet from the road, businesses must offer a prescribed number of parking spaces for customers, and sidewalks must be 5 feet wide.
The new rules waive the set-back requirement, bringing buildings closer to the street and pushing parking lots to the side or behind new buildings. The transit-oriented development ordinance cuts or eliminates parking space requirements.
A preview version of the story from Wednesday morning is here. You should follow the links in the excerpt to see more about the program. It will take awhile for the effects to be truly visible, but the potential is great, and there are a lot more places that need this kind of intervention – I for one would put Washington Avenue at the top of the list of corridors to be added to the existing list. Though this story begins with a development on 19th Street in the Heights, as of today none of the Heights is in scope. Which is fine, as most of the commercial parts of the neighborhood – think White Oak, 11th, and 19th/20th – are pretty good with sidewalks to begin with. I guess what I’m saying is, I want to see this spread to more of the city. It’s a little crazy to think that we had these anti-pedestrian rules in the first place, but that was Houston in the 90s for you. Would have been great to do this kind of unwinding a long time ago, but better late than never.
It’s hard out here on a small theater company
It’s rough going in Houston right now.
Horse Head ended operations earlier this month. But it was far from an isolated case. Many other small theater companies in Houston are also fighting for survival, battling gentrification, donor apathy and increasingly competitive public grants.
In the past two years, one other professional company, 4th Wall Theatre, has announced its closure — before being rescued by a donor. Three others — Mildred’s Umbrella, Landing Theatre and Classical Theatre Co. — have been forced out from their homes. Established mid-tier theaters are seeing no growth. Rents inside the loop continue to rise, while revenue and fundraising have plateaued.
If theaters like these continue to shutter, it would be an enormous blow to the performing arts in Houston, leaving the scene without the vital second-rung of talent to supplement what’s available on the better-funded main stages. The trends have raised concerns among local artists.
“Small to mid-size companies can no longer survive in this climate,” said Matt Hune, artistic director of Rec Room, a theater in East Downtown founded in 2016. “We’re seeing dwindling or capped funding, while prices keep rising.”
Last December, Mildred’s Umbrella and Classical Theatre Company were forced out of their shared space in the Chelsea Market shopping center near the Museum District. The development was sold, to be torn down and replaced with high-end apartment complexes.
This has left both companies homeless, in a search for space. But the Midtown Arts & Theater Center Houston (MATCH), built in 2015 to address the need of Houston’s smaller galleries, music ensembles, dance companies and theater groups for affordable performance spaces, is at capacity. Studio 101 at Spring Street Studios, Mildred’s Umbrella’s former home, became too expensive after then-co-tenant 4th Wall Theatre temporarily shut down in 2017.
Local theaters sometimes help by renting out their spaces to other companies at a discount — the Alley Theatre is housing Mildred’s Umbrella’s performances for two weeks. But artists say they need a permanent solution.
“Inside the loop, there’s nothing affordable,” said Jennifer Decker, artistic director of Mildred’s Umbrella.
Obviously, the sharp rise in property values in what were once cheap inner-city areas is a problem for these theater companies, all of which operate on tight margins. Audience sizes haven’t been great lately, either – one theory I’ve heard is that the type of people who go to smaller and independent theater productions are also the type of people who have been spending a lot more time and energy on politics lately, with the decline in theater-going being a casualty of that. Perhaps that will turn out to be a cyclical thing. I agree with the view that having a thriving local theater scene is a big deal for a city’s overall quality of life and ability to attract high-end jobs. People who have a choice for where to live want to live someplace where there are lots of things to see and do, and especially in a city without natural attractions a strong arts scene is a critical component. There’s still plenty of donor money available for arts, but it tends to be very concentrated at the top. We need to figure out a way to spread the wealth around more, to find more places where theaters can be, and to just generally keep the scene healthy. It will be bad for us all if this ecosystem collapses.
Zipcar parking arrangement approved
The City Council on Wednesday said companies can start immediately applying for agreements with the city that allow them to use on-street parking spaces so vehicles are visible and easily available to users. Companies such as Zipcar allow people to check out vehicles with a smartphone app and rent them by the day or hour. Drivers can then leave the vehicles in any designated spot.
Council members also approved continuing the current agreement with Zipcar for four on-street parking spots in Midtown.
With citywide rules in place, Mayor Sylvester Turner said he hopes more companies come forward to offer vehicles. A handful of companies — typically subsidiaries of larger well-known car manufacturers or car rental agencies — have entered the industry.
After delaying approval two weeks ago, council members approved the proposal by the city’s regulatory affairs department, with some changes. District I Councilman Robert Gallegos, sought more focus on using renewable-energy and fuel-efficient vehicles, as well as greater oversight of exactly where the spaces will be located.
Up to 20 spaces total will be used for car-sharing at first, and any additional ones must be approved by council. Before any spaces may be used for car-sharing — following approval by a traffic engineer and ParkHouston — city staff must notify any property owners within 200 feet of the space and the appropriate city council district office.
See here for the background. As the previous story notes, Zipcar is leasing these spots from the city, which seems like a reasonable arrangement to me as long as they’re paying a fair market rate. We need to find ways to encourage people to use cars less on a daily basis, and one way to accomplish that is to make it easier for them to get a car when they do need one. This is a step in the right direction.
Zipcars and parking
Let’s sort this out.
A plan to allow more on-street parking spaces for cars Houstonians could rent by the hour hit a bump Wednesday, when city council members balked at moving beyond the pilot program they approved nearly two years ago.
Expansion of the city’s car-sharing program will wait at least another week, as staff address some of the concerns raised. As devised, the program would allow Houston to enter into agreements with car-sharing companies, firms that allow via smartphone app someone to check out a vehicle and then drive it wherever, which usually requires a membership that comes with a monthly or annual fee. The car could then be left at any designated location, including returning it to the original spot.
Skeptical council members struggled with the idea of reducing public parking or allowing a private company control over the spots.
“These parking spots belong to the city and to give them to private companies for their use, it just doesn’t seem to make sense to me,” At-Large Councilman Michael Kubosh said.
Though it is growing, the Houston area’s car sharing program lags other cities, such as Boston where hundreds of pickup locations dot the region, and Denver, which worked out city regulations allowing companies to purchase on-street parking spaces or buy a placard allowing cars to be parked at any public spot within a specified area.
The Houston area has about two dozen spots where cars can be accessed from a handful of companies, but only one of those firms — Zipcar — has an on-street location. The rest are located in private lots, such as Bush Intercontinental Airport and major universities in the area.
The companies have aggressively marketed to transit riders and others who would prefer not to own a vehicle in dense urban areas, while maintaining the ability to grab a car when they need it.
Zipcar leases four spots in Midtown, as part of pilot with the city that started in January 2017. Typically, the company keeps a variety of cars in the downtown area, including “Polar Bear,” a Nissan pickup and “Mayor Turner,” a Mazda 3 that on Thursday was parked in one of the on-street spots on Bagby and available for $9 per hour or $74 for the entire day.
According to a city presentation on the program, membership in car sharing programs has increased 3.9 percent since the on-street pilot began, with 16 percent of members giving up their automobiles.
While supporters say more is needed to convince increasing numbers of Houstonians to ditch their cars and choose transit, bicycles and shared cars to get around, skeptics question whether the benefits outweigh the costs in terms of lost parking spaces for vehicles that only a limited number of people can use.
Under the proposal, Houston could enter into master licenses with the various companies interested in on-street spaces, and designate which spaces could be used. As Zipcar does now, the companies would pay the city for use of the parking spaces on a monthly basis.
I must have missed the story about expansion in 2017, but there was a previous expansion in 2014. You can see their current locations here. I don’t really see a problem with leasing some parking spaces to Zipcar, as long as the city gets paid a fair price for it. I agree with Mayor Turner, one of the few ways we have available to us to combat traffic is to provide ways for people to get around without driving. Services like Zipcar allow people to get by in their daily life without needing a car all the time. We should take reasonable steps to enable that.
What Houston is showing to Amazon
Meet the Innovation Corridor.
Houston leaders hope to entice Amazon with a spot somewhere within the four-mile stretch of the Metro rail line that runs from downtown to the Texas Medical Center, an area they’re calling the Innovation Corridor – and the city’s best shot at winning the Seattle tech giant’s $5 billion second headquarters.
The rail line cuts through a part of Houston that includes some of the city’s largest companies and most prominent health care institutions, as well as Rice University, Hermann Park, the Museum District, Houston Community College, NRG Park and the collection of bars, restaurants and apartment complexes in trendy Midtown, according to a document outlining Houston’s confidential proposal.
City officials won’t say exactly where they want Amazon to plant a campus that could grow to more than 8 million square feet and house 50,000 high-paying jobs. But they have proposed multiple sites within the corridor, a slice of Houston that connects the city’s intellectual and cultural assets in the heart of its ethnically diverse population and bustling business hub.
“What’s remarkable is how concentrated all of this is in a four-mile-long area,” said Bob Harvey, president and CEO of the Greater Houston Partnership, the group behind Houston’s bid for Amazon. “Innovation Corridor seems to fit. It’s just like, wow, this is what Amazon is looking for.”
Local leaders have given Amazon its choice of undisclosed sites within the so-called Innovation Corridor, which, according to the document drafted by the Greater Houston Partnership, offers close access to two international airports, three interstates, 3 million workers, plus key game changers in business and an unparalleled array of amenities.
The document’s 32 bullet points highlighted the nearly 100,000 people who work in technology-related fields as well as the region’s low taxes, low cost of living, reasonable housing prices and eclectic neighborhoods and restaurants.
In particular, the document highlighted the city’s racial and ethnic diversity, which, Harvey argued, should appeal to a company that wants to attract millennial workers to a tech industry that has come under fire for its ethnic uniformity, particularly in Silicon Valley.
“As Amazon seeks to diversify its ranks at the executive, manager and professional levels, there is no better place to locate than in Houston,” city leaders said.
I still don’t think Houston’s efforts are going to amount to anything, but hey, it’s worth a shot. Given what Amazon has talked about for their new location, this is probably the best part of town to meet the requirements. Maybe we’ll learn something from the experience for the future.
The Complete Transportation Guide To Super Bowl LI
For which the tl;dr version is don’t drive in or near downtown if you can at all help it.
More than 1 million people are expected to converge on downtown Houston during the week leading up to Super Bowl LI on Feb. 5, officials emphasized Tuesday as a transportation guide for the festivities was unveiled for visitors and locals alike.
The transportation guide – part of a #KnowBeforeYouGo social media campaign – details options for efficient movement around downtown, Midtown, the Uptown-Galleria community and areas surrounding NRG Stadium, the game venue. The manual can be found at www.housuperbowl.com/transportation – which is an area of the Houston Super Bowl Host Committee website.
Among new features for 2017:
There will be prepaid downtown daily parking available beginning in January via the committee’s app for motorists to reserve spaces for light rail passes.
Super Bowl Live downtown will feature a bike valet for those who prefer to travel on two wheels.
Free shuttles will circulate in downtown and Midtown; an Uptown-Galleria area link to downtown from Feb. 1 to Feb. 5 is $2 each way.
A game-day shuttle between the Galleria area and NRG Stadium will be $2 each way.
Metro will have extended rail hours from Jan. 28 to Feb. 5 beginning around 4 a.m. and running until at least midnight daily.
Click here for the official guide. My advice, if you work downtown, is to take the week off. I’m already getting a cold sweat thinking about how many tourists I’m going to have to dodge in the tunnels at lunchtime. A staycation is sounding pretty damn good the more I consider it. If you must come downtown, Metro or a bike are your best bets to not be part of the problem. The Press and Write On Metro have more.
Next B-Cycle expansion approved
Expansion of Houston’s bike sharing system is pretty much in high gear after City Council on Wednesday signed off on a $4.1 million plan to roughly triple the number of bikes and kiosks.
With the agreement in place, local B-Cycle operators can proceed with their plan to purchase 568 bikes and install 71 new kiosks where people can check out a bike.
By 2018, Houston is slated to have roughly 100 stations and 800 bicycles spread across the central business district, Midtown, Texas Medical Center, Montrose, Rice Village and around the University of Houston and Texas Southern University campuses.
Seventeen of the stations in the medical center and Museum District should be operational by March, said Carter Stern, executive director of Houston’s bike sharing system.
Stern said new stations will pop up in Midtown and the Montrose area in the summer, with stations on the college campuses expected to open in the fall.
“The rest of the allocated stations will occur piecemeal as we finalize locations and secure the matching funding,” Stern said last month.
This expansion was announced in August, with funding coming from a TxDOT grant and the nonprofit Houston Bike Share. Usage continues to grow as well, and in the parts of town where B-Cycle exists and will exist getting around on a bike often makes more sense than driving and parking. I look forward to further growth, and eventual further expansion.
The Purple City plan for I-45
Should a major freeway plan consider the needs of cyclists? Of transit riders?
And if we’re going to tear down and reconstruct the entire downtown freeway network of the fourth-largest city in America, shouldn’t the final result have better geometry than the mid-century structures it replaces?
The PDFs below contain an analysis of Houston traffic patterns, a critique of the current plans for Downtown Houston’s freeway ring, and an alternate proposal. My schematic requires less right-of-way, creates a continuous managed lane network for commuter buses and BRT, and eliminates all left-hand exits, among other improvements.
The plan is here, and a detailed schematic is here. I’ve read the plan and recommend you do as well, there are a lot of interesting and worthwhile ideas in there. Tory Gattis has a bullet point summary as well as the news that this has attracted the attention of TxDOT, which can only be a good thing. I’m still trying to make sense of the schematic, which is quite detailed, so I don’t have any analysis to offer here, but I do hope that we hear more about this, and in particular that we have a much broader discussion about what we want to happen. As Purple City notes in the introduction of this proposal, what we have now is the result of design decisions that were made decades ago. The reality around us has made some of those decisions less than optimal for us. This is an opportunity to completely change downtown and its environs in a way that better suits the Houston we have now, or it’s an opportunity to lock in those decades-old decisions for years to come. This is why I harped so much on this during the election last year. I still think it’s the most important issue that got exactly zero attention from anyone other than me during the campaigns. What do we want these freeways that dominate our city core to look like, and how do we want to interact with them? We need to understand those questions and give them our best answers. Link via Swamplot.
UberEats expands
Good news for those of you who like having food delivered.
A larger section of metro Houston now can use Uber’s meal delivery service seven days a week and with more dining options through a new app.
A new UberEats app, separate from the Uber ride-sharing app meal ordering customers have used, launches Tuesday.
“Houstonians have embraced UberEats, but we also know that with a separate app, we are able to give users a better experience,” said Sarah Groen, general manager for UberEats Houston.
As of the app’s launch, 100 restaurants are participating. More are being added to the list, Groen said.
The service’s operation hours have been extended beyond midday weekdays to daily between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m.
Users will be able to browse menus and order food from participating restaurants, and track drivers bringing their food. The service area has expanded beyond downtown and Midtown, and now includes the Galleria area, The Heights, Montrose, Rice Village, West University and Upper Kirby.
Those areas have shown large demand for UberEats, where the company has received many requests from people asking for service, Groen said. In January, the company did test runs in the new areas and registered high demand.
See here for the background. I’m still not the kind of person who likes to order food for delivery, so I’m still not in their market. But if you are, and you live in these areas, then these are good days for you. The Houston Business Journal and the Houston Press, both of which have maps of the expanded service area, have more.
The draft bike plan is out
Here it is, in all its glory. I encourage you to look at the draft plan and play with the interactive map. Then, when you start to feel overwhelmed and wish someone would explain it all to you, go read Raj Mankad’s story in Offcite, which does exactly that.
The last time Houston made a bike plan was 1993. Many of the streets declared official bike routes then are among the least safe places to bicycle. Take Washington Avenue. Every few hundred feet, a yellow sign with an image of a bicycle declares “Share the Road.” The street, however, has no dedicated bicycle path — not even a narrow one. Cars race down the 12-foot-wide lanes feebly painted with ineffectual “sharrows” that have faded from the friction of tires. Only “strong and fearless” cyclists, who represent less than one percent of the total population, attempt such routes.
The signage on Washington is visual clutter, or worse. It sends the wrong message to potential cyclists, according to Geoff Carleton of Traffic Engineers. If the city designates a route for bicycling, he says, it should be comfortable enough for “enthused and confident” riders, not just the spandex-clad racers in pelotons. Ultimately, says Carleton, a city’s bike facilities fail unless they can reassure the largest segment, as much as 65 percent of the total population, of potential cyclists: those who self-identify as “interested but concerned.” (The other group is the “no-way no-hows.”)
The Houston Bike Plan, a new draft released by the City of Houston, details just such a future. Made public and presented to the Planning Commission, the plan was crafted by Traffic Engineers, Morris Architects, and Asakura Robinson, a team comprising most of the designers behind METRO’s New Bus Network, a dramatic reimagining and restructuring that’s receiving national attention for its success. A grant to BikeHouston from the Houston Endowment provided part of the $400,000 budget for the new plan with additional funds coming from the City, Houston-Galveston Area Council, and the Houston Parks Board.
The process involved extensive community outreach across class, race, gender, and ethnicity, as well as a study of all existing plans made by the city, management districts, parks, livable center studies, and neighborhood groups. The resulting draft is more a fresh start than an elaboration of the 1993 precedent.
The plan begins with an assessment of where we are today and makes distinctions between high- and low-comfort bike lanes. Only the high-comfort routes are kept in the plan moving forward.
As the plan’s introduction states, Houston has “made great strides in improving people’s ability to bike to more destinations.” The plan also notes changes in attitude and ridership levels, calls out “Sunday Streets … a great example of encouraging more people to get out and be active on Houston streets.” The most substantial improvement comes by way of Bayou Greenways 2020, the 150 miles of separated trails and linear parks along the bayous. (See our coverage of the 2012 bond measure funding this project, the progress of its construction, and the transformative impact it could have on our region.)
Approximately 1.3 million people — six out of 10 Houstonians — will live within 1.5 miles of these bayou trails when they are completed, but traversing those 1.5 miles can be a major challenge. When you map out this and other projects in the works, you see islands of bicycle-friendly territory and fragments of high-comfort bicycling facilities. Because the bayous run east-west, a lack of north-south routes could leave cyclists alone to contend with dangerous traffic and car-oriented infrastructure.
“If we do nothing beyond what is already in progress, we will have 300 miles of bikeways,” says Carleton, “but it won’t be a network.” Thus, the draft plan focuses on links that would build that network.
Ultimately, the vision is for Houston to become by 2026 a Gold Level Bicycle Friendly City according to the standards of the League of American Bicyclists. Currently, the city is Bronze Level.
Here, the plan is broken down into three phases: 1) Short-Term Opportunities, which could solve problems quickly and relatively inexpensively; 2) Key Connections, which are high-impact improvements that would require more investment; 3) Long-Term Houston Bikeway Visions, which are true transformations of infrastructure that would require substantial investments of money, time, and labor. Below, we look at each stage as a whole and at few routes in particular as examples.
Go read the fuller explanation of what those things mean, then look at the map to see where they fit in. A lot of the short-term opportunities include finishing the planned trails along the bayous and taking advantage of streets that have more capacity than traffic to turn a lane into a dedicated bike line like what we have on Lamar Street downtown.
Here’s a snip from the map that I took, which focuses on the parts of this plan that most interest me. Green lines are off street, blue lines are streets with dedicated bike lanes, and fuscia represents streets where bikes and cars can coexist in reasonable fashion. The thicker lines are what exists now, and the thinner lines are what’s in the plan. I’ve filtered out the long-term visions, so what you see are the short term and key connection opportunities:
A few points of interest:
– Note the continuation of the MKT Trail due west at TC Jester (it currently continues along the bayou), following the existing railroad tracks, then turns south through Memorial Park and on down, via the existing CenterPoint right of way. I think all of that is included in that 2012 bond referendum, but don’t hold me to that. Note also the connection from Buffalo Bayou Park to Memorial Park, which just makes all kinds of sense.
– The blue line that runs north-south is at the top the existing bike lane on Heights Blvd, which then continues on to Waugh, serving as a connection to the Buffalo Bayou trail. I’ve noted before how while I’d like to be able to bike that way, it’s just too hairy once you get south of Washington Avenue on Heights. As Raj notes in his story, this would involve some road construction to make it happen, but boy will that be worth it.
– Other blue east-west bike lane additions include (from the bottom up) Alabama, West Dallas/Inwood (connecting to an existing on-street path), Winter Street, White Oak/Quitman (a convenient route to the North Line light rail), and 11th Street/Pecore. I can testify that there is already a bike lane drawn on Pecore east of Michaux, but it needs some maintenance. 11th Street west of Studemont can have some heavy car traffic – people regularly complain how hard it is to cross 11th at the Herkimer bike trail – so I’ll be very interested to see how the plan aims to deal with that.
– Downtown is in the lower right corner of the picture, with Polk and Leeland streets targeted for connecting downtown to EaDo, and Austin and Caroline streets for downtown to midtown. These will no doubt be like the existing Lamar Street bike lane, where the main investment will be in paint and those big raised bumps.
Those are the things that caught my eye. Again, I encourage you to look it all over. The short term and key connection opportunities are fairly low cost all together, with some of the funds likely coming from the 2012 bond and the rest from ReBuild Houston. From Chapter 6 of the plan, on Implementation:
While a significant number of projects have dedicated funding identified for implementation over the next five years, including projects in the City’s CIP and the Bayou Greenways 2020 projects, the City of Houston budget projections indicate that there will be challenges in identifying additional resources, either in personnel, capital, or operations and maintenance to advance many additional components of the plan forward in the near term. Opportunities to leverage existing resources to meet the goals of the plan are important. Additional resources will likely need to be identified to implement many of the recommendations in the HBP in addition.
The Mayor’s press release identifies some of the funding sources being used now for this. Take a look, see what you think, and give them feedback. The draft plan exists because of copious public input, and that input is still needed to take this to completion.
Some new food delivery options, at least for some people.
Uber will expand its presence in Houston this week with the local launch of its meal-delivery service, UberEats.
Beginning Thursday, Houston becomes the second city in Texas and the 10th in North America where Uber drivers will deliver meals. Customers in downtown and Midtown can use the Uber app to select from a list of 60 participating restaurants and place orders, said Sarah Groen, general manager of UberEats Houston.
After customers order and pay through the app, the company says an Uber driver will arrive with the food – already in the car in temperature-controlled containers – within 10 minutes.
“We keep that geography fairly small to make sure we can deliver on that promise of 10 minutes or less,” Groen said.
Several app-based and online food delivery services already operate in Houston and for longer hours. They include GrubHub, Favor and DoorDash.
Groen said Uber Eats differs because of its changing menus. Some participating chefs are creating specific meals for UberEats.
I have no feel for how big a market there may be for something like this. We cook or we eat out – even when we order a pizza, from Pink’s here in the Heights, I pick it up. If you’re the sort of person that is into this sort of thing, then this is good news for you. We’ll see if there are enough such people to make this a success.
More on the proposed I-45 changes
Offcite reads the documents and provides some bullet points.
1. I-45 Would Rival I-10 in Width
The plan would dramatically widen I-45 to more than 30 lanes in certain sections. North of 610, I-45 would rival the Katy Freeway in its expanse. Though the west side of I-45 at Crosstimbers is largely vacant, TxDOT plans to take major right of way east of I-45 where many businesses thrive, including the Culinary Institute. The greater capacity to move automobiles might be accompanied by increased cancer risk and asthma for Houstonians generally, and for those living close to the path in particular.
2. I-69 Would Be Sunken through Midtown and Museum District
All of I-69 from Shepherd to Commerce Street would be sunk as deep as 20 feet below grade. That is to say, all the above-ground sections in Midtown and the Museum District (Greater Third Ward) would be sunken and widened, radically transforming the landscape in these neighborhoods. As Tory Gattis notes, the plans would eliminate the bottleneck at Spur 527.
3. TxDOT Would Demolish Apartments, Public Housing, and Homeless Services in EaDo
Lofts at the Ballpark, Clayton Homes (public housing), and the SEARCH building (a 27,000-square-foot facility for services to the homeless that is just now breaking ground) are in the path of the widened I-45/I-69 freeway east of Downtown, and will be torn down at the expense of taxpayers.
6. New Slimmed-Down Bridges for Cars to Cross Buffalo Bayou
The section of the “Pierce Elevated” over Buffalo Bayou would be rebuilt with new Downtown connectors that TxDOT alternately describes as “parkways” and “spurs.” Though the official rendering is dull, the public-private partnerships that have rebuilt the parks along the bayous might help bring about new iconic bridges for cars. A Sky Park in this location is unlikely because moving traffic across the bayou is considered a major priority for many stakeholders.
That’s a lot of real estate that could be sacrificed for this project, if it comes to pass – as the story notes, funding has not yet been secured for it. The bridges will be a contentious issue, at least in my neighborhood. Already there’s a disagreement between those who applaud and advocate for the closing of the North Street bridge, and those who want to maintain it so as not to cut off a large segment of the neighborhood from the east side of I-45. There are also some potentially good things that could happen, as item #2 points out. I’ll say again, if this goes through it will be the most consequential event of the next Mayor’s tenure. Sure would be nice to know what that Mayor thinks about it, wouldn’t it?
Zipcar expands in Houston
A car-sharing service on Wednesday expanded from spots on the Rice University campus to other locations in Houston, providing city residents with another option for transportation.
Zipcar is making available 25 vehicles in 10 different locations in Houston including the downtown area, Mid-town, Greenway Plaza, and Upper Kirby.
“We want the locations to be five minutes walking distance from neighborhoods, so they can see it as their car,” said Kaye Ceille, president of Zipcar. “They also know that the car may be used by their neighbors, and that’s why its car-sharing.”
Zipcar was introduced to Rice University in 2008, allowing students, staff and faculty to use its services.
Of course I noted Zipcar’s arrival at the time. Here’s more from their press release.
Beginning today, 25 Zipcars are available by the hour or by the day for residents, students, businesses and visitors in the city of Houston. Zipcar’s revolutionary “wheels when you want them” service offers a wide variety of vehicles, from MINI Coopers to pickup trucks, and includes gas, a reserved parking spot, insurance, and 180 miles per day, making it a great option for those looking for convenient and cost-effective transportation. The launch, which makes Houston the company’s 27(th) major metropolitan area, will be supported by a retail office where members can interact with a local team.
Zipcars are parked in prime locations throughout Houston including the Downtown area, Midtown, and Greenway Plaza/Upper Kirby. Zipcar expects to expand the service to additional neighborhoods in the near future. The vehicles are parked in designated parking spots and can be reserved in seconds on Zipcar’s mobile app, online or over the phone. Rates start as low as $9 per hour and $73 per day. Membership information is available at www.zipcar.com/houston.
Zipcar’s consumer launch builds on its successful program with the city of Houston FleetShare program in which Zipcar technology is embedded in city-owned vehicles, increasing efficiency, accountability and lower overall fleet costs. Zipcar has also offered service to Rice University students on campus since 2009. In addition, the University of Houston and Texas Southern University will be adding Zipcars on and near campus to further provide alternative transportation options to students, faculty and staff. These programs are expected to launch in Fall 2014.
“I want to welcome Zipcar to all of Houston,” said Mayor Annise Parker. “This is another major step forward in Houston’s ongoing effort to change the way we live and get around the City. Sustainable transportation options offer convenience, are less of a burden on our pocketbooks and also have a big impact on our environment.”
Here’s the map of where Houston’s Zipcars currently livel there are actually several downtown spots for them. I’m sure it will expand to more locations soon. I guarantee that being a Zipcar member is cheaper than owning a car, and having that option available will make living and working in these places a lot more attractive. Sometimes you just need a car, but unless you need one every day having Zipcar around makes a lot of sense.
Complete Streets coming
This is good to see.
Houston, long ruled by the automobile, will give more consideration to the needs of pedestrians and cyclists in designing its streets and neighborhoods.
Mayor Annise Parker on Thursday said she is drafting, with public works and planning officials, an executive order stating that the city will adhere to “complete streets” standards. The change could enable some neighborhoods to press for wider sidewalks, shadier streets and bicycle lanes, for example.
“Houston streets can and should accommodate the needs of all users, not just those behind the wheel,” Parker told a crowd gathered for the announcement and the dedication of Bagby in the Midtown area as Texas’ first “green” street.
Parker said she would sign the order after fully briefing the City Council, as early as next week. While the order doesn’t directly affect the rules planners and engineers use, supporters say it changes Houston policies from a narrow focus on moving cars to a broader effort to provide mobility for cars and other means of getting around.
Giving thought to pedestrians can lead to subtle but meaningful changes in the standards the city uses to consider applications for new developments and how streets are redesigned or improved.
“This is a process the people are a part of,” said Jay Blazek Crossley, a member of the Houston Coalition for Complete Streets, one of the groups that pushed for the change.
The new standards will apply to projects and streets within city control. State-maintained freeways, for example, are meant to move vehicle traffic and would be unaffected.
As Stace notes, this has also been a priority for CM Ed Gonzalez, so if you like this announcement, thank him as well. Houston Tomorrow has a quote from the Mayor’s verbal remarks at the event on Thursday that I think captures what is actually being changed here:
Frankly, it’s always been possible to do a Complete Street in Houston, but the default has been let’s get those cars moving. Now we want the default to be a Complete Street and anything different than that to be something that has to be the exception.
That’s the key. The Bagby location in Midtown where the event was exemplifies this, because the developers of that area had to get a variance from the city in order to proceed. Under this change, they would not need a variance but someone who wanted to build something the old way would. That won’t have any immediate effect on existing streets, but as Rebuild Houston moves forward you should expect to see at least some of the affected streets get redesigned to incorporate this new vision. See here and here for a basic primer on what “complete streets” means.
The Mayor’s press release has more, as does the press release from CM Gonzalez. As noted in the story, the Bagby Midtown location also received certification as the first Greenroads Project in the State of Texas. See beneath the fold for that press release, The Highwayman and Texas Leftist for more on what this will mean in practice, here for more on what it was about Bagby Midtown that got it this certification, and here for more on Greenroads.
Six new B-Cycle locations announced
From the B-Cycle monthly newsletter:
6 NEW B-stations coming this month!
We are happy to announce our new locations!
When we launched our pilot program in May of 2012 we were anxious and excited to see how Houston would respond to a bike share program. As you are probably aware, the reaction has been incredibly positive and we are now expanding again! We will be installing SIX additional stations later this month!
1. Spotts Park- 401 S. Heights Blvd
2. Taft & Fairview- 2401 Taft St.
3. The Menil Collection/ Alabama & Mandell- 1529 W. Alabama St.
4. Leonel Castillo Community Center/ South St. & Henry- 2109 South St.
5. Milam & Webster- 2215 Milam St.
6. Project Row House/ Holman & Live Oak- 2521 Holman St.
The first three are basically Montrose – the far north end, the east side near Midtown, and farther south – the Leonel Castillo Community Center is north of downtown, just east of where I-10 and I-45 cross, the Milam location is on that dense little patch of Midtown just south of I-45, and the Holman location is east of downtown. As noted on Facebook when they teased the news last week, they’re spreading out from their “established footprint”, and you can sort of get a hint from there where they might go next. The Highwayman has more, including a map that shows all the current and new locations.
On using B-Cycle
The Chron had a nice lifestyle section story about B-Cycle last week.
B-cycles are appearing all over downtown and Midtown. You may have seen them, parked at racks with self-serve kiosks, where riders are able to enter their payment information, detach the bike and go.
B-cycle is a program of Houston Bike Share, a nonprofit organization funded by federal grants. The program started in May 2012 with 18 bikes planted at the George R. Brown Convention Center, Houston City Hall and Market Square. Success was immediate. Today 173 bikes are available at 21 stations in downtown, Midtown and Montrose, with more planned.
Will Rub, the director of Houston Bike Share, is passionate about the program.
“Our prices are so much better than most other cities’. Denver carries an $80 annual cost and a weekly rate of $20; New York’s annual rate is $95 while the weekly is $25. You can rent a Houston B-cycle bike for as little as $5 for 24 hours; $15 for seven days and $65 for a year,” Rub said.
But there’s a catch: “You can only use the bike for one hour at a time.”
That means someone who wants to ride a B-cycle to work must pick up a bike in the morning and park it when he arrives at his destination. He must use another bike to ride home in the afternoon.
Because the bikes are linked to computers, Rub can track who takes a bike at any given time and where he drops it off. He said several residents of the Sabine Lofts near the Sabine Street Bridge will pick up bikes about 7:30 a.m., ride for four to six minutes, then leave them at buildings downtown. The stations are open 6 a.m.-11 p.m. daily, though bikes can be returned at any time.
Not a whole lot there that would be news to anyone who has been paying attention to B-Cycle. I suspect this was an introductory story for those who haven’t followed it closely – Page One of the lifestyle section will do that. I don’t have any particular analysis of it, I just wanted to note that having moved to a downtown office a couple of weeks ago, I finally got a chance to break in my own B-Cycle membership. I rode to and from Phoenician Market for lunch. That would have been a ten-minute-plus walk for me, not terribly inviting in the heat, but was much quicker and less arduous on a bike, since the nice thing about riding is that you create a breeze for yourself. My way of thinking of this is that having B-Cycle available – there’s a kiosk two blocks from my office – enables me to expand my range of lunch possibilities. I can get farther in a short time span, with my car being an impractical option (and sometimes an unavailable one, if Tiffany needs it at lunchtime). I’ve got my eye on the Food Truck Park and Stanton’s City Bites for the future. Maybe the north end of Midtown – there’s a bunch of stuff there on West Gray, just south of I-45. All practical and doable with a bike, but not by any other means. I’m getting enthusiastic thinking about it.
On a related note, I had a doctor’s appointment last week. My doctor’s office is 1.3 miles from where I work, according to Google Maps. Way too far to walk, and a big hassle to drive since it means going from one multi-story parking lot to another – and having to pay for the privilege at my destination – but a snap on a bike. To avoid any concerns about securing the bike or keeping it longer than the 60-minutes-free period, I rode from one kiosk to another, which was four blocks away from the office. Given that I’d have had to walk four blocks to get my car anyway, my trip took no more time than driving would have, and it was free. You just can’t beat that.
Does this fit into the Chron’s critique of B-Cycle as “toys for urban bohemians” rather than “legitimate transportation”? Well, beyond the fact that if I’m a bohemian then the term has lost all meaning, how is this not “legitimate” transportation? These destinations are all too far to walk, but are within five minutes of my B-Cycle kiosk. It’s still a car off the street, even if it’s not at rush hour, and even if the thought of driving to one of these places – after walking four blocks to my parking garage, and not having any guarantee of finding parking at some of these destinations – is ludicrous. It makes downtown a better experience for me as an employee there, and though I do have a car available to me because I carpool with my wife, B-Cycle makes taking transit to downtown more attractive, since you needn’t feel as limited for lunch options. That’s my point about the Uptown transit plan, and why I think B-Cycle expansion out there will help address Judge Emmett’s concerns about people not wanting to give up their cars. I bet if it was pitched properly, you might be able to get the Uptown Management District and/or some of the businesses there to kick in for a piece of the cost to put kiosks there. It’s good to have options, and B-Cycle provides them.
Don’t expect B-Cycle in the Heights anytime soon
I know there are a lot of people in the Heights that would like to see some bike share kiosks here, but as The Leader News reports, it will be awhile before that happens.
Although running through arguably the most bike-conscious set of communities in Houston, the bike paths along White Oak Bayou and through the Heights into downtown now primarily sustain a ridership of weekend and evening recreational users, walkers and joggers. (It doesn’t help the White Oak trail that 610/290 construction is closing a big chunk of it from south of the North Loop along T.C. Jester to 34th Street for another year.)
The city of Houston’s B-cycle bike share program largely completed its second phase this week ahead of schedule and now boasts 21 stations and 175 bikes – but they’re all in downtown, midtown, Montrose, the East End and the Museum District-Hermann Park area.
And Will Rub, head of the B-cycle program, says when the third phase is funded, it’s likely to focus on the Medical Center area.
“We might start looking along sites along the Washington Avenue Corridor,” he said, “but that’s down the line.” Way down the line is the Heights, he said.
Blake Masters, president of the Greater Heights Super Neighborhood, seems strangely calm about the area being passed over so far for the B-cycle kiosks. But there’s a reason.
As part of a Leadership Houston class, Masters studied putting a bike share into Houston before the group learned that the B-cycle program was already on the drawing boards.
“You do have to start somewhere, and to make it succeed, you have to choose the areas with the heaviest pedestrian traffic and people who need to go short distances on congested streets. So far, they’re doing it right.”
He’s encouraged to hear that the Washington Avenue Corridor, which is in his Super Neighborhood, is on B-cycle’s radar. Parts of the Heights would also be “very logical” locations he said, naming the 19th-20th Street, White Oak and Studewood commercial areas. “We’d have to make sure the neighbors are on board with the plans, though,” he said.
This makes sense to me. Bike sharing is for places to which people travel without cars, or for whom it’s inconvenient to get their parked cars for a short trip. That describes places like downtown and the Medical Center, but not the Heights. The Heights is a destination, not a point of origin, for bike sharing; if you’re in the Heights and you want to get somewhere by bike, you probably already have your bike with you. The downtown bike share network, which is somewhat akin to a transit network, is beginning to build spokes out of downtown, with kiosks in Midtown and parts of Montrose. The Washington Avenue corridor, which is directly accessible from downtown, is a natural future spoke of this network. Once this extended network is robust enough to support spokes being built from other spokes and not from the hub, that’s when it will make sense to look at putting kiosks in the Heights, most likely in the locations suggested by Blake Masters. Alternately, as Metro’s re-architected bus route map gets built, or in the event of future streetcar/BRT/light rail construction along Washington, that may make Heights-area kiosks more attractive and useful. The kiosks are coming, I have no doubt about that, but the network isn’t ready for it yet. If you want it to hurry along, do what you can to make the existing B-Cycle network a success.
New bike share kiosks now open
Organizers of Houston’s bike-sharing program are excited about an increase in use of the community bicycles since 18 new kiosks around downtown and Midtown opened.
After slow-going last year for the B-Cycle program, use of the bikes increased since the weekend, when word that many of the new stations were open spread on social media sites.
“We have skyrocketed in checkouts,” said Laura Spanjian, Houston’s sustainability director. “Like a 300 percent increase in the last 72 hours.”
The recent additions expanded Houston’s bike sharing network from three stations and 18 bikes in February to 21 stations and 175 bikes as of Wednesday. Three more stations and more bikes are planned next month, completing the second phase. A $750,000 deal with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas paid for the expansion and operations.
See here for the announcement of the expansion, here for the Mayor’s press release, and here for a map of the kiosk locations. According to Laura Spanjian, who responded to an email question I sent, the Week of March 18, with only 5 stations live, there were 150 checkouts and 84 memberships. The week of March 25, with 21 stations live, there were 500 checkouts and 312 memberships. This week has been even busier, with more than 75 new memberships sold at the weekly farmer’s market downtown. I bought my membership yesterday, too – my office is moving downtown in May, and there’s a kiosk a block from where my office will be. I’m very much looking forward to having non-car options for getting to lunch. As I said in my previous post, there are lots of good options for where to expand next, but let’s see some good numbers here first. I’m encouraged by how it’s going so far.
In the HAUS
Meet Houston’s first housing co-op.
Technically, this is HAUS, the Houston Access to Urban Sustainability Project, a housing co-op for those willing to work for their cheap rent and board by making meals, cleaning toilets and recycling – lots of recycling.
The three founders, who had lived in or visited co-ops in other cities, began working on the concept in 2010. They wanted to create a home that was kind to the environment, affordable and close to public transportation and light rail.
One of them had purchased an old house on Rosalie in Midtown. They wanted to fill it with like-minded individuals who would promise to do things like plant gardens, hang their clean clothes outside to dry and use bikes to get around as much as possible.
“What I love about what they’re doing is they’re walking the talk,” said Laura Spanjian, the city of Houston’s sustainability director, whose job is to focus on helping “green” the city through improving air quality, energy efficiency and recycling, among other efforts.
The house itself is a sharp contrast to the fancy townhomes that have cropped up around it.
The housemates take their mission seriously.
Everyone who moves in is required to sign a “sustainability pledge.” Applicants must attend at least two house dinners before being accepted.
Everyone shares in running the houses.
Many of the residents hold officer positions to manage such house operations as maintenance, gardening and the kitchen.
The “labor czar” makes sure everyone is doing their share of the housework.
Each person is responsible for contributing five hours of labor to the house per week.
The Press wrote about HAUS back in 2011. They’ve since expanded to a second house. I might have found this appealing when I was single – I had at least one roommate for eight of the ten years I lived here before I was married, and I like the idea behind HAUS. Obviously, this isn’t for everyone. It’s a niche market, but the niche is likely to grow. People are staying single longer, and there’s a lot more interest these days in living in the urban core, near transit, but there’s a shortage of affordable housing, at least at this time. There’s a lot to like about this if you’re a fit for what they’ve got to offer. If that describes you, go to their website and put in an application. I wish these folks all the best.
Why does Midtown need a big box store?
This story is about a forthcoming six-acre “superblock” being developed in Midtown, and about Midtown’s rise as a successful residential/entertainment area. What caught my eye was this bit at the end:
Still, Midtown has yet to see any significant new retail, retail broker Ed Page said, referring to big-box stores like Target, TJ Maxx and Best Buy.
“I believe at some point in time that hurdle will be crossed, and I think there will be a significant retail project down there,” said Page, managing partner of UCR moodyrambin PAGE.
Why does Midtown need someplace like that? Midtown has grown as a dense, reasonably walkable area with convenient access to the Main Street light rail line. Big box development is the antithesis of this. In fact, as Andrew Burleson showed, big box development stops nascent walkable development in its tracks. Why do that to Midtown? It’s not like big box stores are unavailable to Midtowners. All three of the places mentioned in this story have locations near 59 and 610, which is to say a 10 minute or so drive from Midtown. So I ask again, why does Midtown need someplace like that? It makes no sense to me.
Houston Bike Share set to expand
The plan has always been to expand the program, and Laura Spanjian, Mayor Annise Parker’s sustainability director, first alluded to a search for new locations in early June.
“We’re going to have about 20 new kiosks and about 205 new bikes,” Spanjian now tells CultureMap. That would bring the total to approximately 225 bicycles inside of the Loop.
Spanjian says that the expansion, which was made possible through grant funding, will bring B-cycle sites to high-density neighborhoods with big office buildings and apartment complexes.
Come October, expect to see another 10 downtown kiosks, plus a few each in Midtown, the Museum District and Montrose. A leftover kiosk may be granted to the burgeoning East End.
I inquired with Spanjian about this and was told that so far there are 650 members in Houston B-Cycle and over a thousand check-outs at the three downtown kiosks, not too bad for our wet summer. There will be a full array of stats and numbers relating to the program around the time of the expansion in October. I don’t spend much time downtown but I did see a few people riding by on those easily recognizable bikes on the western end of the Buffalo Bayou trail near Shepherd a few days ago. I expect to see a lot more of them in the fall.
Take the train to your dining destination
Katharine Shilcutt writes about how she gets to some of her favorite restaurants.
When owner Staci Davis decided on a location for her restaurant, Radical Eats, one thing was extremely important to her above all: Davis wanted her vegan paradise to have access to the new Metro light rail North Line that’s currently being built along Fulton. When the line is completed, riders will only have a few short blocks to walk from the Moody Park station to her restaurant. For now, the construction and the dust are a bit of a nightmare, but Davis insists that it’s worth it.
And at the new 8th Wonder Brewery that’s being built in EaDo, the planned Stadium stop on the East End Line will not only service the Dynamo’s shiny new stadium — it will bring visitors to the craft brewery as well as to concert venues like Warehouse Live and restaurants like Huynh.
I ride the light rail to the Museum District and to Reliant Stadium so that I don’t have to deal with parking. I ride it to my doctor’s appointments or to visit hospital-bound friends in the Medical Center (or to eat at Trevisio) because the only thing more confusing than the hospital corridors themselves is trying to recall where you left your car. I ride it to the Best Block in Houston to see shows at the Continental Club, to get cocktails and coffee at Double Trouble, to eat brunch at Natachee’s or dinner at t’afia. I ride it to the Preston station and get my movies at Sundance or my culture at Jones Hall.
And, as you would expect, I ride it to restaurants up and down the line. People will often complain about walking in the Houston heat — that’s why we have tunnels, after all — but the funny thing is this: You get used to it. Really fast. And walking off a meal is one of my favorite activities to do outside of eating the meal itself. If more of us did this (myself included, as I don’t walk nearly as often as I should), Houston would undoubtedly remove itself from the running each year as the Fattest City in America. Walking is good. Try it.
On that note, we’ve put together a handy visual guide — to scale, no less! — of all the lunching and dining options off the main stops on the light rail. Some will require a bit of a walk (perhaps five blocks at most) while others are literally right in front of the stop itself. If you use it online, you’ll note that you can click on the restaurant names to be taken to a site about the restaurant itself. If you print it out, you can use it as a visual reference when you take your first heady steps into the rail car before it rattles and shakes off into city.
You can see the map here. That’s a link I plan to keep handy for visitors who are staying or doing business downtown or in the Medical Center. Be sure to read through the comments, as several people noted places they overlooked. There will be a version of this map the June 28 dead tree edition of the Press, so look for that as well. This map is just for the Main Street line, but Katherine says (in response to my comment) that they will do this again later for the three that are under construction. I’m looking forward to that.
Couple things to add. One, I totally agree with Katharine about walking and the heat. It really isn’t that bad, especially if the sidewalk you’re on has some tree cover. I’ve been bringing my bike with me to work and using it to get to lunch instead of driving, and I’ve actually been surprised by how little the heat has affected me as I bike around. Sure, I do work up a bit of a sweat, but I haven’t melted yet. And remember, eight months out of the year the weather is generally pretty darned nice here, much better for the most part than in many transit-and-pedestrian cities around the country. This is Houston, y’all. We don’t let a little heat get us down.
If you look at the map, you’ll note that the vast majority of dining locations are at or north of the Ensemble/HCC station. They didn’t bother to extend the map any farther south than the Museum District station, and as someone who works near the Smithlands stop, I can confirm the dismal lack of lunch options in the vicinity. The sheer paucity of eateries in the Medical Center – there’s a Subway and a Chipotle at the Dryden/TMC stop, and pretty much nothing else there or at the other two stops, unless you walk to Hermann Park to go to Little Big’s – is as frustrating as it is confounding. With the thousands of people that work and visit there daily, you’d think some entrepreneur would see a golden opportunity to fill a giant niche. Available space is an issue, of course, but still. That’s got to be a huge potential market. All those people have to eat somewhere. What do you do for lunch if you work in the Med Center?
Alamo Drafthouse coming inside the Loop
Jun 1st, 2012
I am so thrilled to announce that we’re getting two new Alamo Drafthouse locations in Houston! I love living in Houston and I love the Alamo theaters here, and the expansion of the company in this wonderful city is nothing but great news. Northwest Houston is getting a theater, and we’re finally getting that long-coveted inner loop location. It’s a great spot, convenient to downtown, Midtown, museum district, Rice and Montrose and with plenty of room for a beautiful, spacious theater. You guys: this is HUGE!
(HOUSTON, Texas, May 30, 2012) – Triple Tap Ventures LLC, owner and operator of the Houston area Alamo Drafthouse Cinema locations in West Oaks Mall and on Mason Road in Katy, Texas, is pleased to announce it will bring two new Alamo Drafthouse Cinema locations to Houston in 2013.
The second new Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, scheduled to open after Vintage Park, is a highly anticipated inner-loop location, which will be centrally accessible and located in Houston’s bustling Midtown area. Alamo Drafthouse Cinema – Midtown will be located at 2901 Louisiana Street as part of a mixed-use project developed by Crosspoint Properties and, like Alamo Drafthouse Cinema – Vintage Park, will offer state-of-the-art auditoriums featuring 100 percent digital projection and sound as well as an expansive and inviting lobby bar which will be visible from Milam Street and boast panoramic views of Houston’s impressive downtown skyline. In addition, there will be a ground floor lobby entrance leading up to the theatre, which will be located on top of a three floor parking garage.
“We are thrilled and excited to be announcing the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema – Midtown and to have the opportunity to bring our unique experience to our existing inner-loop customers as well as introduce the Alamo brand to a new audience,” Michaelsen states. “The Alamo Drafthouse Cinema – Midtown will no doubt be the epicenter for movie going entertainment for the 700,000 plus residents living within 15 minutes of the new theater and a must-visit destination for those located around the Houston area. We greatly appreciate our strong relationships with inner-loop organizations such as Aurora Picture Show, the Downtown Management District, Market Square Park, the Museum of Fine Arts Houston, Whole Foods and many more, and look forward to creating new partnerships with our Midtown neighbors.”
I am over the moon at having this theater nearby. There’s a map of the location at the Chron’s Newswatch blog, and if you zoom and and switch to street view, you can see they’ll be using the space now occupied by some abandoned building. Alternately, you can look at the photos on Swamplot for more. Oh, and they’re a few blocks away from the McGowan light rail stop. Awesomeness all around. Via InnerLooped.
Feb 3rd, 2012
I have three things to say about this.
Despite public and private attempts to revive a shopping scene downtown, the retail market has struggled.
Some stores like Forever 21 and Books-A-Million have opened, but most of the activity in recent years has come from restaurants and bars.
Turnover has been high.
Last year, 16 street-level restaurants and bars closed, including three that had been open less than a year, according to the Houston Downtown Management District. At least one relocated and a couple of others lost their leases.
“A lot of nighttime traffic has moved over to different parts of town,” said Sherman Lewis, one of the owners of Cabo, a shuttered Mexican restaurant that helped popularize the fish-taco craze.
But even as the market for downtown retail and restaurants remains shaky, and sometimes unsustainable, new businesses continue to open.
Owners now pin their hopes on new residential and office towers, public investment in parks, transportation and the area around the George R. Brown Convention Center, and an overall economic rebound.
The downtown district counted 24 establishments that opened last year, and at least a couple more have opened or will do so early this year. Most are in the food and bar business. One was a large grocer.
The number of residents has been slow to grow. About 12 years ago, some 3,000 people lived downtown and officials were projecting that number to triple by 2010.
Today it’s around 4,400.
“Everyone has a vision of what they want downtown,” Bob Eury, the district’s executive director, said at a recent business event about the future of downtown. “We’re not quite there yet.”
1. Given the state of the economy, having more businesses open than close in the past year sounds like a win to me. All things considered, it could be a whole lot worse.
2. Having nearly fifty percent population growth over the past decade isn’t too shabby, either, even if it’s well below the rather optimistic projection. As one of the commenters on the story says, it’s a bit of a chicken and egg problem – people don’t want to move in until there are more amenities, but until the population increases sufficiently there isn’t enough support for those amenities. Part of the issue is getting residential construction off the ground. Discovery Green was a boon for that, and the proposed Convention Center district includes some further residential possibilities. I’d still like to see a focus on making something happen with the derelict properties downtown, as they seem to offer the greatest potential for residential growth.
3. These things do take time. As noted previously, Midtown took the better part of 20 years to get where it is. I don’t know when exactly downtown’s renaissance is supposed to have begun, but by my measure it started after Midtown’s. It’s not there yet, but it’s come a long way.
Leland Woods
Feb 1st, 2012
I’ve been banging the drum lately about encouraging growth inside the city’s boundaries as a long-term financial management strategy, so I’m glad to see this.
Eight years ago, city of Houston officials decided to incentivize the conversion of 80 wooded acres off Little York Road into a 375-home community, a place, in some small measure, to reverse working class flight to the suburbs and turn vacant land into a cluster of property-tax payers.
The idea was to give the area a little shove and hope that once Leland Woods took off, other developers would chase the success without city help and District B in northeast Houston would sprout new neighborhoods.
To seed the new neighborhood, the city put up $1.5 million in redevelopment money toward the land purchase. It resulted in only 41 homes before credit markets dried up and builders fled. The city got the land back, but it was out nearly $120,000 in fees and taxes to do it.
So, when economic development officials asked City Council last week to approve $100,000 to give it another go, even new District B Councilman Jerry Davis confessed to having some initial reservations.
“I want to make sure that myself, as well as other council members, understand that this is going to be a good investment, not a case of throwing good money after bad,” he said.
Davis said he is confident that a second attempt to grow the neighborhood will succeed because the city has one of the nation’s largest home-builders involved. D.R. Horton plans to build at least 44 more homes and is in talks with the city to continue working toward the original vision of Leland Woods. The city searched for a new builder for two years before selecting D.R. Horton.
The council signed off Jan. 18 on moving the $100,000 from some of the city’s other redevelopment zones to restart Leland Woods. The money is to pay for landscaping, parks, fencing, a monument – and to cover interest payments on the bank note the city holds from a previous developer.
I’ve embedded the TIRZ map in the quote above, but to really appreciate this you have to have a view of the area. Here’s a Google map link, and here’s a closeup look at the development area and its environs:
Leland Woods, south of Cheeves at Little York
That’s an awful lot of undeveloped land. There are a number of reasons why unincorporated Harris County has grown more over the past decade than the city, but one prime reason is because there’s a lot more empty space out there that can be easily and inexpensively converted into housing and other development. There’s not nearly as much of that inside city limits, but where it does exist it behooves us to do something with it.
Even successful redevelopment projects take time, officials say. The redevelopment zone in Midtown, for example, is held up as a success story, but it grew slowly in its initial years before ultimately expanding from a tax base of $211 million 18 years ago to $1.3 billion today.
This is exactly what I’m talking about. Midtown was a wasteland when I moved to Houston in 1988. It’s some of the most prime real estate in the city now. Leland Woods may never be that successful, but it sure as heck can be more than it is today. We need it and other places like it to be.
The Midtown arts deal
A nonprofit group plans to build a community arts complex in Midtown with the help of up to $6 million in reimbursements from the city.
The Houston City Council this week approved a tax reimbursement deal and the $2.5 million sale of 3400 Main, currently a parking lot, to the Independent Arts Collaborative, a group created to run the facility.
The 90,000-square-foot facility will include a performance theater, rehearsal spaces, offices and classrooms, as well as make it easier for various arts groups to work together, said Emily Todd, a board member of the collaborative.
The Independent Arts Collaborative has raised $250,000 for a down payment and has financed the rest through the International Bank of Commerce. Ensemble/HCC Partners, a partnership that owns two adjacent blocks and of which developer Bob Schultz is a managing partner, is guaranteeing the loan.
The collaborative must now raise the estimated $22 million it will cost to build the project, on the block bounded by Francis, Travis, Holman and Main.
The group’s deal with the city, also known as a 380 agreement, requires the collaborative to raise at least $10 million for design and construction of the project. At least 25 full-time workers must also be employed by the building’s tenants.
The collaborative intends to deed the finished building to the city. It would then be maintained by the collaborative and managed by Houston First — recently created by the merger of the city’s Convention and Entertainment Facilities Department and the existing government corporation that runs the city-owned Hilton Americas.
According to the agreement, the city believes the project, along with new retail and parking garages on two adjacent blocks, will attract tourism and more development to the area.
Bob Schultz, who developed some of 3600 Main and the site of four businesses on 3700 Main, plans to build office space, retail and some residential units on 3500 Main and the rest of the 3600 block of Main.
1. Now this is what I call a good use of a 380 agreement. It’s helping to facilitate a deal that wouldn’t have happened otherwise, in a location where the development in question will fit with and benefit existing and future neighbors. More like this, please.
2. Clearly, Houston First is going to be about more than just managing the Convention Center. I wonder where else it will turn up. I also wonder if it was essential to this deal, or if it could have happened with the old setup.
3. Revenue from the sale of 3400 Main was part of the fiscal year 2011 budget. Good to see they got it done before the June 30 deadline. Swamplot has more.
There are two things about this Chron story about the residential population of downtown that I find curious.
Twenty-five years after the residential development of downtown Houston began in earnest, fewer than 4,500 people reside in the city’s central core, an area bounded by Interstates 45 and 10, and U.S. 59.
The exact number isn’t clear – the 2010 Census found fewer than 3,500 people, once those in the county jail and a federal detention center are discounted.
That would be fewer than 1,300 new residents over the past decade, or an average of just 130 people a year.
Advocates for downtown suggest the true number is closer to 4,300, when people who live downtown while working a temporary job are included.
But even that falls far short of the once-heady dreams for downtown, with predictions that the population would approach 20,000 by 2025.
Blame the recession, as financing stalled for projects to convert existing buildings to apartments or to build new high-rises.
And blame the growth of neighborhoods surrounding downtown. Midtown and EaDo, just east of downtown, have added several thousand residents in the past decade.
They are close to downtown, but land costs – and apartment rents – are lower.
For one thing, I’m curious about the calculations made in this article. It was just two months ago, in the sidebar to a story about infill growth, that the Chron told us that ZIP code 77002, which mostly covers that I-10/I-45/US59 area, grew by 28% to nearly 17,000 residents. This isn’t an exact comparison – 77002 includes turf a bit north of I-10, a little patch east of 59, and bits south and west of 45. It doesn’t include the far northeastern corner of “downtown” as defined here, near where 59 and 10 cross. The tiny 77010 ZIP code, which is more or less where Discovery Green is, is also downtown. Still, that’s a big discrepancy. If the figure cited in the earlier Chron story is accurate, then surely it’s not the case that 75% of 77002 lives in those small areas outside the three freeways. But then if that’s the case, how are they counting the population in this story? Something’s not right here.
The other thing about this that I found curious was the glass-half-empty tone. So what if “downtown” has seen slow population growth? There’s plenty of growth all around downtown, in Midtown and the Fourth Ward and EaDo. Maybe all of those folks can’t easily walk to work like the true downtowners can. But some of them are able to, and most of the rest can easily bike or take a short bus ride. Some can take the light rail, and others will be able to soon. And as the story notes, there’s a lot more to do downtown than there used to be, even if it’s declined a bit from its peak due to the recession. If you’ve lived here long enough, think back to what downtown was like 20 years ago. Not even close, right? The measure of the area is a lot bigger than one number. I don’t see what the problem is.
Infill growth
Anyone who’s been watching Washington Avenue has seen this.
From downtown through midtown and along Washington Avenue, a population growth spurt has taken off since 2000.
One buzz word to describe what’s going on is “infill,” said Jerry Wood, previously Houston’s deputy assistant director for planning and development and now an independent consultant advising the city on census issues.
Wood said that infill, or the use of vacant land in an otherwise built-up area, has happened in such neighborhoods as Rice Military (between Westcott and Shepherd south of Washington), First Ward (near Houston Avenue north of Washington) and Cottage Grove (both sides of Interstate 10, between Shepherd and Hempstead Highway).
“In Cottage Grove, three-and four-story townhouses are replacing bungalows at a high rate,” Wood said. “That’s been true throughout that ZIP code.
They’re also replacing a lot of empty lots and vacant buildings. The growth in that part of town is astonishing, and for the most part good. The main downside, as noted in the story, is that the infrastructure has not come close to keeping up. Most of the streets parallel to Washington are very narrow, with no sidewalks and drainage ditches. Parking is a big problem, and there’s often no room for cars driving in opposite directions to get past each other. (Yes, this includes all of the streets around the Wal-Mart site.) The area desperately needs a comprehensive transportation solution to help deal with this.
The print version of this story had a chart listing population change in several area ZIP codes. Here’s a reproduction of that:
ZIP Code 2000 Pop 2010 Pop % Change
77002 13,159 16,885 28%
77003 9,137 10,168 11%
77006 18,861 19,337 3%
77009 42,474 38,172 -10%
77010 76 366 382%
77018 27,094 25,804 -5%
Total 190,307 204,226 7%
77010 is a tiny area, just a few blocks, on the east side of downtown; Google Maps centers it on Discovery Green, which says to me that the population growth there is likely the result of the One Park Place tower. 77002 is the rest of downtown and a little bit of midtown; if you picture the area in the middle of the Loop that’s bounded by 45, 59, I-10, that’s more or less 77002. 77007 is basically Super Neighborhood 22, which is the main focus of the story. 77019 is River Oaks/north Montrose and most of Midtown, and which includes Estates at Memorial, while 77098 includes 2727 Kirby. Finally, 77003 is EaDo and the Harrisburg area, which I’ll bet shows double digit growth in the next Census as well.
What’s truly curious to me is the two ZIP codes that show negative growth. 77009 is all of the Heights plus a roughly equivalent area east of I-45, which includes places like the Near Northside and Lindale Park. I’ll admit to not being as familiar with the eastern half of the area as the western part, but I cannot fathom it losing over four thousand people this decade. I see fewer vacant lots, not more, and the gentrification of the Heights has brought a little baby boom with it. 77018 is more or less Garden Oaks/Oak Forest, and while its loss is smaller, I don’t understand it, either.
One possible clue to what’s happening may be in the other way the data was presented, in terms of the ethnic makeup of these areas:
Ethnicity 2000 Pop 2010 Pop % Change
White 84,281 101,825 21%
Hispanic 82,379 71,076 -14%
Black 18,084 20,470 13%
Asian 3,113 7,199 131%
The increase in white population is easy to believe, as is the increase in Asians. It’s the decline in the Hispanic population that’s strange. You can see a graphic representation of this for the whole county at Greg’s place. Obviously, some of the Latino growth in the burbs is fueled by inner city folks moving outward in search of affordable houses and better schools. I have to wonder if some of it is also due to insufficient participation in the Census. All I can say is that I just don’t believe 77009 lost ten percent of its people. I hope a review of the Census process leads to an adjustment of these numbers.
Midtown development
The Sunday Chron had a look at some new development coming to Main Street near the Ensemble/HCC station. In it was this observation about what had previously been built in the area:
When the Main Street light rail line opened in 2004, there were hopes that transit-oriented developments would follow, particularly at rail stops, but there has been relatively little growth.
One notable exception is the block next door to the soon-to-open shops at 3600 Main, at the Ensemble/HCC stop: 3700 Main, which houses the Continental Club, the Breakfast Klub, T’Afia, Julia’s Bistro and Mink bar. Four businesses on the 3700 block — the Continental Club, Tacos A-Go Go, Sig’s Lagoon and Big Top Lounge — were developed by Bob Schultz and his partners Steve Wertheimer and Gordon, and investors. Some of those businesses, including the Continental Club, predate light rail.
Ed Wulfe, chairman of the Main Street Coalition, a group aiming to enhance the street, offered reasons why only a relative few blocks have been developed along the rail line: land speculation, which causes real estate prices to soar and makes development less desirable; the lack of incentives to encourage development; and the recession.
It all depends on how you look at it. Christof Spieler documented in 2007 a whole bunch of new construction and renovation work done along and nearby the Main Street Corridor. The vast majority of it was downtown or in the Medical Center, though there were a few things in Midtown. My own observation is that much of what I’ve seen happen in Midtown, before and since the construction of the light rail line, has happened on the streets near Main Street, but not so much on Main Street. For whatever the reason, that’s been a much tougher nut to crack.
H-GAC Livable Centers Study of the Ensemble/HCC Station Area in Midtown
Tomorrow night at 7 PM at the Trinity Episcopal Church located at 1015 Holman Street at Main (map) is a public meeting for the H-GAC Livable Centers Study of the Ensemble/HCC Station area in Midtown. You can click on the flyer for the details, but the basic idea is to figure out how to enable pedestrian-friendly development around there – more comfortable sidewalks, building regulations that actually allow good urban buildings, holistic parking solutions, that sort of thing. If urbanism is your bag, this is the sort of thing you’ll like, so check it out.
Interview with Carlos Obando
We don’t get a lot of competitive Council race in Houston that don’t involve an open seat. As I’ve noted before, we may get one this year for At Large #5. One of the candidates seeking to unseat incumbent Council Member Jolanda Jones is Carlos Obando, who was the first to announce his candidacy. Obando is a Bellaire native who has worked abroad in the investment industry, and owns his own public relations firm. He was a candidate in the GOP primary for HD134 last year. Obando is a resident of Midtown.
Download the MP3 file
Karen Derr, At Large #1
Brad Bradford, At Large #4
Stephen Costello, At Large #1
Lane Lewis, District A
Lonnie Allsbrooks, At Large #1
Noel Freeman, At Large #4
Brenda Stardig, District A
Oliver Pennington, District G
Amy Peck, District A
Herman Litt, At Large #1
Natasha Kamrani, HISD Trustee in District I, not running for re-election
Alex Wathen, District A
Robert Kane, District F
Council Member Melissa Noriega, At Large #3
Jeff Downing, District A
Mike Laster, District F
Council Member Jolanda Jones, At Large #5
Mills Worsham, District G
Rick Rodriguez, At Large #1
Council Member Sue Lovell, At Large #2
REV Houston revisited
Aug 3rd, 2009
REV Houston is back in the news.
The drivers of Rev Houston’s green-and-white shuttles zip through downtown picking up and dropping off passengers for tips. Here’s a tip from city officials: Follow the rules.
To Rev Houston owner Erik Ibarra, his three-vehicle electric fleet — think stretch golf carts — is a carbon-free way to move people around downtown. To city officials, however, Rev Houston is an outlaw company, skirting ordinances to make a buck.
City officers have ticketed Rev Houston drivers at least 15 times this year, and plenty more last year. The citations, which average $150 to $200, are for offenses such as “no taxicab permit” and “no taxicab driver’s license.”
“One of the offenses is ‘no fire extinguisher,’ ” Ibarra said. “Our vehicles don’t have a single drop of combustible liquid, but the city feels we need to have a fire extinguisher. ‘No taxi meter’ is another one. We don’t charge a fare, so why should we have a taxi meter?”
Tina Paez, the city’s deputy director of administration and regulatory affairs, said Ibarra’s vehicles have been cited as taxis because they take passengers.
“If they charge a fare or accept a gratuity, they are a vehicle for hire,” she said. “Even though they don’t technically charge, they come under the ordinance.”
I blogged about them in September, and the issues haven’t changed much since then. I think it’s clear these guys are a breed apart from taxicabs, and I think the city needs to consider addressing them as such. Some regulation is certainly required – ensuring they have adequate insurance, making sure the drivers receive safety training and certification, that sort of thing – but given that their domain is limited to downtown and parts of Midtown, it doesn’t make sense to regulate them like cabs. If they go beyond that area, then they can and should be re-evaluated – a well-written new ordinance can handle that. In the meantime, there has to be a better approach than this.
How to do (and not do) urban streets
neoHouston says:
One of the big problems in development today, in particular in the area of city planning, is distinguishing between good urban infill and mediocre urban infill. At first glance the two may look very similar, but they are not. Good urban infill has a great interface, like what you see in the photo above. Mediocre (or bad) urban infill does not. People don’t want mediocre infill, it adds density without adding vitality. People crave good urban infill, because when you combine density and great interface, you get the best part of urban life – vibrant and healthy street-life.
Click over to see the picture (there are several more) and read the post about how to do urban streets right, how to do it wrong, and how doing it wrong can have negative effects that can cancel out some of what was done right. Excellent post, well worth your time. See also this comment on Swamplot for a coda.
Midtown not feeling the recession
Good to know some parts of town are still thriving.
The recession seems to have forgotten about Midtown.
A drive around the neighborhood reveals forgotten buildings undergoing restoration and new apartments being framed.
This area between the Central Business District and the Texas Medical Center began its transformation in the late 1990s when Post Properties built an upscale apartment complex above street-level retail that’s attracted sidewalk cafes and boutiques. A tax increment reinvestment zone formed in 1995 has helped fuel development by pumping money into the area’s infrastructure.
Matt Stovall, vice president of Midtown property owner Crosspoint Properties, said inquiries to lease office space in the company’s commercial buildings are on the rise.
It’s just too bad that that original Post property remains the only such example of truly pedestrian-friendly mixed use development. If only there was to be a revision to the city codes that governed new development so that policies that encouraged that kind of building could be enacted.
Having said that, as one who remembers what Midtown looked like 20 years ago, when it was used as the filming location for a movie set in post-apocalyptic Detroit, the place is several orders of magnitude better now. We didn’t call it “Midtown” back then – we didn’t call it anything, because there was no good reason to be there. Even if it’s a missed opportunity for urbanism, Midtown is a huge asset to the city now.
Houston attorney Genora Boykins was able to persuade a lender to finance a roughly $2 million bed and breakfast called La Maison in Midtown that has broken ground at 2800 Brazos.
“It was a little challenging early on in the process,” Boykins said. “The thing that made the difference is we really didn’t give up on the vision we have.”
The amount of real estate activity in the area helped too, she said. One of the largest projects is a $39 million apartment complex being developed on Travis by local developer Camden Property Trust. It’s going up just behind the Crosspoint retail and office project that houses acclaimed restaurant Reef.
Boykins and her business partner, Sharon Owens, plan to open their B&B in next year’s first quarter.
The seven-room property will be in a three-story build-ing designed to evoke New Orleans-style architecture. Rooms will run from about $175 to as much as $300 for one of the two suites.
Gotta admire the optimism in that. I’m unsure how good an idea such a B&B would be in good times, but best of luck to ’em. I will note that this location is seven blocks away from the McGowen light rail stop, which will surely be a plus for them. I’d say the Main Street line overall has been a sizable boon for Midtown.
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office@ogdentrust.com
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The Ogden Blyth Valley Partnership was officially established in September 2019. With a focus on physics, it is building on existing links developed through the Blyth Partnership of Schools (BPoS) which is committed to improving outcomes for learners in local schools and has supported the development of the Blyth STEM Hub – an innovative initiative to enable schools to engage with colleges, universities and business to inspire learners around science education. The BPoS works with Newcastle, Northumbria and Durham universities and key employers including the National Research Centre for Offshore and Renewable Energy (Catapult), the Blyth Tall Ship project, Tharsus, Energy Central and the Port of Blyth.
As partnership lead, I have been awarded an Ogden fellowship to help establish and implement our partnership plan. A teacher fellow induction day with other partnership leads provided me with a pertinent, well-planned and insightful day of CPD. Having the time to work collaboratively with colleagues who are so clearly passionate and dedicated to improving the quality of science provision in partnerships up and down the country was genuinely inspiring. We shared examples of best practice from our partnerships and were able to turn the spark of an idea into something concrete and achievable through supportive discussions.
The resources we received as part of the day had an immediate impact on all of my partnership schools. Curriculum progression was clearly mapped out, simple and effective action planning tools helped to organise our intentions clearly and the moderation grid for curriculum coverage was designed so every member of staff could take ownership of curriculum coverage in their class.
Empowering the teachers in our partnership has been at the heart of our first year: up-skilling teachers and increasing their confidence in delivering high-quality hands-on physics to create a positive cascade throughout our schools. Twilight CPD has covered the concept of thinking and working scientifically, and has supported mastery in science; our maths for scientists CPD has helped to embed a cross-curricular approach ensuring consistency in teaching across the disciplines.
Phizzi CPD
I want to make particular reference to the outstanding Phizzi Forces CPD led by our Ogden North East Regional Representative Dr Lorraine Coghill. We made a concerted effort to promote the importance of every school being represented through attendance to this event and it really worked. Not only was this the best attended event of the partnership so far but it was also the moment when it felt like every school saw just how special and important the Ogden Trust partnership was going to be in helping us achieve our long term ambitions for the children of our town.
The levels of engagement and enthusiasm for the teaching of practical, exciting physics lessons at the STEM Hub that day were incredibly high and made me feel proud to be part of a team of such dedicated professionals. The moment, at the end of the day, when I got to see every teacher’s reaction to receiving the free kit boxes filled with high-quality resources for them to take back to their schools will stay with me for a very long time.
Partnership teachers has been overwhelmingly positive about having the opportunity to share high-quality CPD with their colleagues back at school. As a result of this, I am working with all partnership schools to ensure that, moving forward, every teacher who attends training through our Ogden partnership or wider Blyth STEM Hub initiatives will be guaranteed staff meeting time to share what they have found within three weeks of their attendance.
As a partnership we have planned events to encourage girls into physics and to engage families in physics; we have also been looking at how to aid the transition from primary to secondary science. Our partnership planning meetings have been very well attended so far which has allowed us to forge a sense that every school has a voice in our partnership and that we all need to buy into it for it to have the greatest, and most sustainable, impact in the long term.
I took on board the Trust’s advice about making sure there are snacks and refreshments available at all partnership meetings and I am pleased to report this has been very well received by the teachers in Blyth!
So far, I have used these meetings to make decisions related to our action plan, to share resources, to keep partnership members informed of wider strategic planning from The Ogden Trust and to have an ongoing dialogue about the successes and areas for development of our partnership so far.
As our partnership develops over time, I want to encourage other partnership members to use these meetings as an opportunity to share specific aspects of physics teaching that they are passionate about or to discuss approaches to the teaching of physics that they have found to be effective.
I am incredibly proud to be the chosen Ogden fellow of the Blyth partnership and I understand the importance of my role in ensuring all of the schools in my town work together towards the shared goal of improving the teaching of physics and developing the cultural and science capital of our children and families. However, I also understand that this will only ever be fulfilled to its greatest potential if staff from every school in our partnership are encouraged to take the opportunity to work alongside the experts of the Ogden Trust in creating a legacy that will be felt by the children and wider community of our town for generations to come.
Overall, the partnership, and the support offered by the Ogden Trust, has been phenomenal. In what has been a relatively short period of time working together, the impact that the Trust has had on the teachers and children in Blyth has been significant. When I envisage where our partnership will be in a further four years, and even beyond that, I am genuinely excited at the prospect of how big a difference this shared project will make to my town.
Working with the Ogden Trust has already broadened the horizons of the children of our town. We have launched Space Camp initiatives in many of our schools and children at Newsham Primary asked Tim Peake questions about space (after the UK Schools Space Conference was unfortunately cancelled); pupils are being exposed to a much higher quality science education – our children’s science capital and view of themselves as scientists is improving all the time.
I recently found out I have been chosen to be one of the six Ogden Trust members to be invited to take part in the ‘Playing with Protons UK’ course at CERN (cancelled for Summer 2020 but hopefully taking place at a later date). I am relishing the prospect of working with some of the greatest minds on the planet within the field of physics to make particle physics more accessible to children across the country.
As someone who was born and raised in Blyth, I intend to use my experience to show the children of my town that places like CERN aren’t out of reach for them. If they embrace the opportunities that will be presented to them by our partnership, there is no reason why they can’t one day be working as one of the greatest minds in physics at CERN trying to answer some of the most important questions in the universe.
Partnership Co-ordinator (Teacher Fellow 19/20)
Blyth Valley Primary Partnership
Newsham Primary
Forming a partnership: applications for 2021 now open
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CADIZ, SPAIN [1948]
He is a Spanish painter and sculptor , member of the new Madrid figuration and one of the most famous painters of postmodernism in Spain . Some sources include him in a stream called neomannerism .
Against the values of some abstract modernity (authenticity of materials and formal purity), the painting of Villalta is fully narrative nature, as seen in two significant of his works, at the Reina Sofia Museum in Madrid: Group Of People . in an atrium (1975-1976 and People leaving a rock concert (1979) Other highlights include: Painting as Golden Fleece (1981-1982), Natural History (1987), Samson and Dalila and Sanctuary ( . 1996) His interest in mythological and religious themes (presented with an almost irreverent boldness) distinguishes him from the mainstream of contemporary painting, in 1982 he designed a Spanish card which replaced the usual figures for gods and saints nude El Rey de Oros. It was a fusion of Christ and Bacchus. He is a true artist to the study of tradition, tending to a motley ornamentation and an exuberance that inspires optimism (or nostalgia for an idealized past). Beauty defender as enjoyment and as "necessary to live," Pérez Villalta does not hide his desire for the ornamental (as opposed to minimalist art) and although it is sometimes provocative and rubbing the scandal continues to design methods and traditional production: Multiple sketches, refined technique of slow execution ... accuses disparate influences and admirer not only of old masters, but also of Giorgio de Chirico, Marcel Duchamp and Dali confesses.
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Secure these Football Manager 2020 bargains and save some cash
By Fraser Gilbert 20 November 2019
The following stars offer serious value for money.
(Image credit: Sports Interactive)
Secure some silverware with these FM20 guides
Best FM20 bargains: Grab some cheap stars
Best FM20 tactics: Outfox the opposition
Best FM20 wonderkids: Unearth future gems
Who are the best FM20 bargains? Identifying a good cheap player in Football Manager can be tough, especially when asking prices are often significantly higher than their valuations. There are plenty of hidden gems out there though, including an array of top-level players who won’t break the bank.
Bargains are different to the best FM20 wonderkids, but there is something of a crossover. These promising players can be cheap relative to their potential long-term progression, so there is scope to find a bargain among them if you're in for the long haul.
I've scoured the database to find some of the best Football Manager 2020 bargains you can acquire for under £10m. You might need to haggle for some of these—and some of their wage demands will only suit top teams—but they’ll all prove excellent signings in this year’s game.
If you're feeling the absence of football due to Covid-19 virus-related cancellations, you can play FM20 free for a week from March 18th until March 25th on Steam.
The best FM20 bargains and cheap players
Thomas Meunier
Position: DR/WBR (MR/MC)
Estimated Cost: £3.6m
A Belgian right-back that deserves your attention is PSG’s Thomas Meunier. The 27-year-old, who is classed as a 'fringe player' by the Ligue 1 side, is again noted for his determination and teamwork in particular. Expect to fork out a big wage for him though.
David Ospina
Estimated Cost: £9m
Highly-experienced Colombian international David Ospina can do a job for all top-level sides in FM 2020, boasting 17 reflexes and 16 agility. He’ll ask for a wage of over £50k per-week, so be prepared, but he’s definitely worth considering between the sticks.
Martin Campaña
Independiente keeper Campaña is only valued at £2.6m, and it's possible to obtain him for less. The former Uruguay international enjoys a well-rounded set of stats, highlighted by his 18 leadership and 16 reflexes, and starts out with a wage of just £5.25k per-week.
Position: DR/DL/WBR/WBL/MR (MC)
Estimated Cost: £9.75m
Young Belgian prospect Castagne is a versatile full-back and wide midfielder, and sports a high determination stat in particular. You’ll need to get in quick, however: his asking price can increase to around the £30m or £40m mark within just one year.
Jérôme Onguéné
Position: DC
21-year-old Onguéné has excellent potential at centre-back, benefiting from high stats in bravery and determination. The Cameroon international costs over double his value, but will almost certainly represent value for money down the line.
Senad Lulić
Position: DL/WBL/ML/MC/AML
33-year old Senad Lulić isn't getting any younger, but he’s still a versatile choice at left-back, left-midfielder, or centre-mid. The Bosnia and Herzegovina international makes for a great captain, with high attributes in leadership, determination, and teamwork.
Position: DM/MC (MR)
LA Galaxy will only require you to pay slightly more than Jonathan dos Santos’ valuation to bring the midfielder on board. He’s certainly worth it, too: the Mexico international boasts high stats across the board, including 17 stamina, 16 passing and 16 first touch.
Position: DM/MC
Another MLS star with a low asking price is highly-capped USA international Michael Bradley. The big downside is his wage—a massive £96k per-week—but he’s still an outstanding talent with 18 bravery and 17 work rate.
Guido Pizarro
Position: DM (MC)
Tigres midfielder Pizarro is classed as a 'star player' by the Mexican side, but you can still get him for a bargain. You’re looking at spending around £7.5m on the 29-year-old Argentine, who boasts 16 composure, positioning, balance, and stamina stats.
Manuel Fernandes
Position: AMC (MC/AML)
Portuguese international Manuel Fernandes also proves affordable due to his advancing age. Don’t let that put you off, though: for just £6m, you’ll get a versatile midfielder with high stats in key areas, particularly in terms of his 17 technique, 17 first touch, and 16 flair.
Juan Fernando Quintero
Position: AMR/AMC (MR/MC/AML)
The big downside to River midfielder Quintero is his damaged cruciate ligaments injury, which puts him out of action early on in FM 2020. Keep him on your shortlist though, and for just £7m, you’ll acquire a superb attacking presence with plenty of room to develop.
Position: AMR/AML/MR/ML (ST)
Ex-Chelsea star Salomon Kalou remains fantastic in this year’s game, even at 33. He’s not one for the future, but if you’re in need of a skillful wide presence, he can still do a job for strong teams. Expect him to command relatively high wages, though.
Position: AML/ML/ST (AMC)
You definitely want to try and sign 25-year-old Viktor Fischer - his potential will see him slot into most top-level teams. You’ll need to pay around £10m to take advantage of the Denmark international, but he’s worth every penny.
Júnior Moraes
Position: ST
Shakhtar Donetsk striker Moraes remains a superb striker at the age of 32, benefiting from 16 finishing and first touch stats. The Ukraine international is valued low due his only having a year left on his contract, so get him quickly before he renews it.
André-Pierre Gignac
Another Tigres star on the list is French striker André-Pierre Gignac, who joined the Mexican side back in 2015. His contract expires in June 2020 in-game and he’s a great acquisition: he showcases outstanding finishing, strength, balance, and work rate stats.
PC Gamer is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.
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How to use a Chromebook: 10 must-know tips, tricks, and tools for beginners
Chromebooks are dead-simple to use, but just like any PC a little tweaking makes your experience that much better.
When Google first introduced Chromebooks in 2011, it seemed like a ridiculous idea. A laptop that can only run a browser? Who wants that? But over time, web apps slowly became more powerful and capable, while Google steadily improved the Chrome OS experience. Then, Google went even further and added the ability to run Android apps, and still further with Linux desktop apps.
All of this means the Chromebooks of 2019 and 2020 are nothing like that original experience. Today, Chrome OS feels like a modern operating system that offers a first-class web browser, the flexibility of mobile apps, and a desktop experience in one box. It can satisfy the needs of almost every user, with the notable exception of those who need video or advanced image editing.
If you set your Chromebook up right, that is. Let’s get that done.
1. Get to know ChromeOS
A Chromebook desktop with Chrome OS 76.
Chrome OS has some basic similarities with other desktop systems. Just like Windows, Linux, and OS X, there’s a desktop area that you can customize with your own background image. But unlike the desktop in other systems, you cannot place any files here. It’s merely a visual space where you can arrange open windows.
When you open an app it will open in a new window if it’s an Android app, desktop app, or web app that you’ve set-up to launch in its own window. Otherwise, you’re opening a tab in the main browser. Open windows can be resized or split to take up half the display like in other systems, though some Linux desktop apps may not respond to these commands.
You’ll probably notice right away that your keyboard has a search icon where the caps lock key should be. This search key is a way to search your devices, apps, and the web in one spot. It’s also a way to see every app on your system.
To begin, tap the key, and a Google Assistant box pops up at the bottom of the screen with some of your recently used apps. Click the upward-facing arrow above the search box to get a view of everything you have available.
Most apps will appear here just as they would on an Android phone, but Linux apps are grouped together.
The Chrome OS Files app in version 76.
One system-critical Chromebook app is Files. This is the Chrome OS file manager that lets you access files saved on your system, view the contents of a ZIP folder, or access items in Google Drive.
The last point of interest in our system tour is the lower-right corner of the taskbar-like Shelf, called the system tray. (More on the Shelf later.) The first thing you’ll see is a small counter that tells you how many notifications you have. Click it, and you can view and clear your notifications.
The system tray in Chrome OS 76.
Next to that are a clock, Wi-Fi status, and a battery life indicator. Click this area, and a panel appears with basic system settings, including Wi-Fi, VPN, Bluetooth, Night Light, volume, screen brightness, a shutdown button, and more
Selecting the cog icon in this section opens your Chromebook’s settings window. Here you can access system settings for the touchpad, mouse, keyboard, display, and onboard storage.
Finally, to access your Chromebook’s task manager, click Search + Esc. This shortcut used to be Shift + Esc, but Google is phasing it out.
2. Set up your shelf
When you first open your Chromebook, you’ll see several app icons sitting at the bottom of the screen. This area is called the Shelf, and it mimics the Windows taskbar. The Chrome OS Shelf shows which apps are running and provides an easy way to launch apps.
To make the Chromebook your own you’ll want to add your commonly used apps to the Shelf, and remove the ones you don’t use. To get rid of something, hover your mouse pointer over the app icon in question, tap the touchpad with two fingers (the equivalent of a right-click), and select Unpin from the context menu that appears.
Adding a website to the shelf in Chrome OS.
The easiest way to add web apps is to open the site you want in the browser. Next, right-click the webpage tab—it looks like three vertical dots—and select More tools > Create shortcut.... A small pop-up window appears asking you to confirm that you want to add the web app. If you want a desktop-like experience for the web app, check the box that says Open as window, and then click Create.
To rearrange apps on the shelf, click and drag them to the desired position.
3. Smartphone unlock
To open a Chromebook, you need to sign in with your Google account password. That’s easy enough, but if you have an Android phone this process can become even easier. Your phone can automatically unlock your computer without a password via Bluetooth.
To set this up, click the clock in the lower right corner of your desktop and select Settings. Next, in the left rail select Connected devices, then in the main window click Set up in the Android phone section.
A new window will pop-up displaying your phone by brand or nickname. If you recently switched phones it may take a few days for your Chromebook to recognize the new phone. If everything is set click Accept & continue, then enter your password and click Done. Finally, back in the Settings window, confirm that the slider next to your phone is enabled. If not, activate the slider and enter your password to confirm.
Now when your phone is near your Chromebook it should automatically unlock.
4. Modify Google Sync
Decide what you want to sync with Google’s servers and turn on encryption.
One of Chrome’s key features is the ability to sync your recently opened tabs, browsing history, bookmarks, extensions, passwords, and other items across multiple devices. This syncing works on any device that runs Chrome—including computers, smartphones, and tablets—as long as you’re signed into your Google account.
Syncing’s on by default with Chromebooks, but you can control which items are synced and which aren’t. Go to Settings, and then in the left-hand rail select People > Sync.
The next screen shows all the various items that are synced. Turn off Sync everything at the top, and then deactivate anything you don’t want shared with other devices.
Next page: Helpful controls, customizing your system, and more.
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Phoenix celebrates the humble VHS
PHOENIX CELEBRATES THE HUMBLE VHS VIDEOTAPE WITH A NOSTALGIC NIGHT
Phoenix will host a special evening to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the now defunct VHS videotape on Sunday 27th September, as part of Scalarama, a worldwide festival of cult film taking place throughout September.
Curated by specialist film event organisers The Social Cinema, VH-YES! will include a special screening of John Carpenter’s 1986 cult classic Big Trouble in Little China – starring Kurt Russell and Kim Catrall – screened from videotape onto the big screen at 9pm.
Audiences are invited to arrive at Phoenix from 7pm where there will be a ‘videostore paradise’ complete with retro gaming, a videotape exchange, and a film quiz dedicated to cult films, video nasties and all things VHS.
The Social Cinema organiser Alan Morton says: “Everyone has fond memories of growing up with VHS and we’re looking forward to a nostalgic night of celebrating the humble videotape.
“We’re inviting people to bring videos they no longer want to swap at our videotape exchange – we have some real gems on offer in our collection, from classics like Highlander to a few we’d never even heard of before.”
Phoenix Progamme Manager Jake Harvey adds: “We love film in all formats here from digital to 35mm. This is the first time we’ve done a VHS screening on the big screen and we’re excited to see how people react – we’re literally going to pop it in the tape player, press play and let it roll with FBI warnings, cheesy adverts and everything.”
Now in its fifth year, Scalarama is an annual celebration of cinema, showcasing the different ways people come together to watch films, filling the land with cinemas every September.
VH-YES! takes place on Sunday 27 September at Phoenix. Tickets for the film screening at 9pm are £3, with free events in the Phoenix Café Bar from 7pm.
Entry to the Film Quiz costs £1 per team member (max. 5 per team). Tickets can be bought online or on the night. To reserve quiz place, call the Box Office on 0116 242 2800.
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Pakistan Collects Rs 28.8 Billion ($185 Million) in Mobile Taxes Using DIRBS
Zainab SaeedLast Updated: Dec 4, 2019
Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has informed the senate committee that more than 10 million mobile phone handsets were imported during 2018-19 and government collected around Rs 28.8 billion taxes. However, during the first four months of the current fiscal year around 7.6 million phones were imported and the government collected a record Rs 15.1 billion under the head of duties and taxes, indicating that increased in legal imports of mobile devices.
Chairman Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Shabbar Zaidi on Monday said that the recommendation for allowing duty-free import of mobile phones under baggage rule would be tabled before the federal cabinet. The facility that is being provided shall cost the nation billions in Taxes.
Pakistan collects Rs 28.8 billion ($ 185 Million) in mobile taxes using DIRBS
Briefing the Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication, chairman FBR said that baggage rule was misused in the past, compelling the government for withdrawing the facility and duty/taxes are applicable on every mobile handset import. The senators from the government benches also opposed the government’s decision of imposing a duty on import of even a single mobile phone handset. The committee recommended for suspending an order of FBR and allowing one duty-free mobile phones’ import under the baggage rules.
The Committee was of the view that well off people can afford any price of phones and taxes levied on them but the larger part of the population who are using phones for multiple purposes cannot afford it. However, considering that, the taxes on low-end devices have already been reduced drastically, and most of the individual users importing their phones are happy with that.
(Try our Mobile Tax Calculator to find the tax you’d have to pay on any mobile phone that you bring into Pakistan).
Furthermore, the FBR gave a briefing on the reasons for withdrawal of customs duty exemption on the imported phone per the calendar year under the personal baggage rules. The member FBR informed the committee that the duty-free allowance on import of mobile phone brought by international passengers was withdrawn vide amending SRO 689 (I) 2019 dated 29-6-2019. The said SRO was made effective from 1-7-2019. The reasons for withdrawal of duty-free allowance were that the facility was being misused. Data of international arriving passengers were being stolen and the passport numbers and flight data were being used to enter data details in the Mobile Device Registration Software to claim an exemption under the baggage rules.
He further said that expensive mobile devices were mostly being registered by using international passengers’ data. Furthermore, the government desired that there should be uniformity in the application of duty/taxes whether brought into Pakistan by passengers or locally procured and, therefore, the exemption was withdrawn to avoid this anomaly, he added.
Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) advised that more than 0.6 million were imported under the baggage rule and most of them were of high end and expensive and it was reported that the facility is being misused. The main reason being that most of these imported handsets weren’t by individuals, rather businesses for commercial use. He further said that taxes were still reviewed and reduced for commercial and baggage import.
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My sources tell me Jasper Bernes is now a minor household name in cyberpunk poetry. He also runs a blog on bs. Burt says that it’s the poetry the world of Neal Stephenson’s Snow Crash would include if that world could include really good poetry (and I’m not sure it could). Snow Crash does include poetry, although it’s more like the updated twentieth-century version called lyrics. My best bet for cybepunk poetry still lurks in the depths of the previous-millennium era, in a PC game called Bloodnet – that would still be a treat for moviemakers or even series producers, for that matter, easily taking the best bits of Strange Days, Hellgate:London (it’s more like templars fighting vampires in lower Manhattan) and lots of street-gang bravado. The link for Bloodnet is here, quite unconveniently killed by an ESA notice. Lucky I bought it in a miserable RPG shop for something like four bucks. (Update: that was a hilariously bad way of finishing up this post. I am frustrated.)
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WCGRider, Dong Kim, Bjorn Li, Jason Les Playing Heads-Up Against a Bot
Starting on Friday at the Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, four high-stakes poker pros will square off against an AI bot. The competition lasts for two weeks and will see Doug "WCGRider" Polk (pictured), Dong Kim, Bjorn Li, and Jason Les each play 20,000 hands heads-up against a bot developed by Carnegie Mellon University. The game is No Limit Texas Hold'em. "Poker is now a benchmark for artificial intelligence research, just as chess once was," said Tuomas Sandholm, a Professor of Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon, in a press release. "It's a game of exceeding complexity that requires a machine to make decisions based on incomplete and often misleading information thanks to bluffing, slow play, and other decoys. And to win, the machine has to out-smart its human opponents. Computing the world's strongest strategies for this game was a major achievement, with the algorithms having future applications in business, military, cybersecurity, and medical arenas." Each of the four pros will compete for a purse of $100,000, hoping to wrestle the six-figure sum away from the computer program, which is called Claudico. Polk, whom we've written about several times here on PocketFives, commented, "I think there will be less hand reading, so to speak, and fewer mind games. In some ways, I think it will be nice, as I can focus on playing a purer game and not have to worry about if he thinks that I think, etc." Play will proceed in two 750-hand sessions per day for 13 days. According to the press release, AI bots have had success in Limit Hold'em, but it remains to be seen whether they can master No Limit Hold'em, a game that's considerably more complex. As the release put it, "Two-player No Limit Hold'em has 10161 (1 followed by 161 zeroes) situations, or information sets, that a player may face, vastly more than all of the atoms in the universe. By contrast, the easier game of Limit Hold'em, in which bets and raises are limited to a predetermined amount, has only 1013 (1 followed by 13 zeroes) information sets." Want the latest poker headlines and interviews? Follow PocketFives on Twitterand Like PocketFives on Facebook.
bjorn li
Dong Kim
Jason Les
WCGRider, Humans Winning Brains Versus AI Challenge
With the event headed into the homestretch, four poker pros have built up an edge over a specially-created poker playing bot in a first-of-its-kind demonstration. On April 24, four players – World Series of Poker bracelet winner and online guru Doug WCGRiderPolk (pictured), Dong Kim, Jason Les, and Bjorn Li – set out in the "Brains vs. Artificial Intelligence" competition being held live at the Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh. Their opponent was the latest creation of the Carnegie Mellon University School of Computer Science, a poker playing program known as Claudico. The challenge for the two sides was to play 80,000 hands of No Limit Hold'em on laptops linked together and, in the end, whomever had won the most money would be determined the victor. The four humans are playing for a $100,000 bonus. The competition is unique in that this is the first time a computer program built for poker was taking a stab at No Limit Hold'em. Other programs and competitions from the past, including the University of Alberta's Polaris, were playing Limit Hold'em, a far more statistical game than the No Limit version. Even the program that supposedly has "solved" poker – Alberta's Cepheus– has only solved the Heads-Up Limit version of the game. Over the past 12 days, the four men have played 1,500 hands per day against Claudico, with two of them playing on the floor of the Rivers Casino and the other two in an "isolation room" taking part in their own heads-up matches. The players are all using the same cards against Claudico and, as the experiment draws to a close, the players are the ones cleaning up. Heading into the final few days of play, the humans have built up a sizeable edge over the Carnegie Mellon team. Overall, the "Brains" have built up a $673,941 lead over Claudico, which, according to Dr. Tuomas Sandholm (pictured) of Carnegie Mellon, would be a statistical defeat for his artificial intelligence program. Li has been the star of the "Brains" team, racking up $466,473 of the total win for the squad. Polk ($184,542) and Kim ($129,273) are running neck-and-neck to see who can take the second largest total, while Les (-$106,347) is the only one letting the human race down. What is the purpose of building Claudico, Polaris, or Cepheus, you ask? Artificial intelligence programs have usage far beyond simple games such as poker and chess. The program that defeated chess grandmaster Garry Kasparovin 1997, known as Deep Blue, eventually morphed into the Watson program that crushed former Jeopardy champions in 2011. By being able to compute a massive amount of information from differing sources, such artificial intelligence programs can improve the lives of humans through the fields of medicine, finance, cybersecurity, and other areas. In essence, the decision-making skills the poker-playing programs use are vital in many areas of daily life. With only a couple of days of play remaining, it seems that the human race will emerge as victorious in this particular battle. On May 8, a special closing ceremony will be held where the final results will be announced. Want the latest poker headlines and interviews? Follow PocketFives on Twitterand Like PocketFives on Facebook.
wcgrider
Poker Pros Beat Carnegie Mellon Computer in NLHE
After two weeks and 80,000 total hands, four of the world's top online heads-up cash game players emerged victorious against an artificial intelligence program specifically designed to beat humans at No Limit Hold'em. The idea of computer programs built to "beat" poker is nothing new – the University of Alberta's Polarishas been tested against people and its latest version, Cepheus, is said to have "solved" the game – but those programs played Fixed Limit. This was No Limit Hold'em, a much more complex, nuanced game. The four men - Doug "WCGRider" Polk (pictured above), Dong Kim, Jason Les, and Bjorn Li – played 1,500 hands per day against the Claudico program, developed by a team at Carnegie Mellon University led by Dr. Tuomas Sandholm. To minimize variance that can be produced by one player getting lucky and receiving better hands than the other, two players were dealt one set of hands against Claudico, while Claudico received those same hands against the other two human players. In the end, the human players came out $732,713 in play money chips ahead. The breakdown of the individual results is as follows: Bjorn Li: +$529,033 Doug Polk: +$213,671 Doug Kim: +$70,491 Jason Les: -$80,482 While the nearly three-quarters of a million dollars victory seems overwhelming, Sandholm said that by virtue of the $170 million bet over the course of the 80,000 hands, the result was actually a statistical tie. "We knew Claudico was the strongest computer poker program in the world, but we had no idea before this competition how it would fare against four top 10 poker players," he said in a press release. "It would have been no shame for Claudico to lose to a set of such talented pros, so even pulling off a statistical tie with them is a tremendous achievement." Les was impressed by the artificial intelligence. He had seen an earlier version of Claudico called Tartanian7last July, but said this one is better: "The advances made in Claudico over Tartanian7 in just eight months were huge." Li was proud that the humans are still #1 despite Sandholm's claim of a tie, saying, "We know theoretically that artificial intelligence is going to overtake us one day, but at the end of the day, the most important thing is that the humans remain on top for now." Interestingly, Sandholm(pictured) said creating a computer program to beat humans in No Limit Hold'em is not really the goal of the project, but rather just a step in a larger overall process. "Beating humans isn't really our goal; it's just a milestone along the way," he said. "What we want to do is create an artificial intelligence that can help humans negotiate or make decisions in situations where they can't know all of the facts." As the Carnegie Mellon press release stated, "The same sort of algorithms could also be used to create strategies for applications involving cybersecurity, business transactions, and medicine. For instance, an AI similar to Claudico might help doctors develop sequential treatment plans for a patient, or design drugs that are less prone to resistance. Or, such an AI might help people negotiate their best deal when purchasing a house or a car." Polk, like Les, thought Claudico was a solid poker player, but still has a ways to go before it is a serious challenger to the human throne. One oddity he noted was that sometimes Claudico's bet-sizing was way out of whack. Severe underbets and overbets were not uncommon: "Betting $19,000 to win a $700 pot just isn't something that a person would do." Want the latest poker headlines and interviews? Follow PocketFives on Twitterand Like PocketFives on Facebook.
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Florian Eder’s must-read briefing on what's driving the day in Brussels.
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POLITICO Brussels Playbook, presented by Google: EU’s global terror plan — May’s pay day — Trump’s UN speech
By Ryan Heath
September 20, 2017 7:10 am
By Ryan Heath with Harry Cooper | Send tips here | Subscribe for free | Listen to Playbook’s EU Confidential podcast | Playbook desktop version
GLOBAL ONLINE ANTI-TERROR INITIATIVE: After two years of a European Commission Internet Forum cajoling companies like Facebook and Twitter to take down terrorist material from the internet, the leaders of the U.K., France and Italy, as well as European Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration Dimitris Avramopoulos, will today launch a global version of the agreement, including states like Brazil and Indonesia. Tech companies will be given a target of two hours to take down terror content, reports Annabelle Dickson.
“In the beginning, we were confronted with some concerns about what this initiative would be based on,” Avramopoulos told Playbook’s Harry Cooper. “The companies are cooperating with us … we are partners in fighting terrorism online,” he added.
We love Theresa: Avramopoulos pointed out Theresa May was a driving force behind the initiative when she was the U.K.’s home secretary. “She has a good, deep knowledge of this issue and I can tell you our cooperation when she was minister of interior was excellent,” he said.
Global migration compact: The commissioner will also give a speech outlining progress made on negotiations for a new global compact for migration management agreed at last year’s U.N. General Assembly.
**A message from Google: Our philanthropic arm, Google.org, is focused on education, economic opportunity and inclusion. In Europe, that means supporting nonprofit organizations that help people get the right skills for new opportunities and jobs. Learn more.**
UN — TRUMP PREPARED FOR ‘TOTAL DESTRUCTION OF NORTH KOREA’: U.S. President Donald Trump, in a combative debut speech to the U.N. General Assembly, threatened the total destruction of North Korea if it does not abandon its drive toward nuclear weapons. “Rocket man is on a suicide mission for himself and his regime,” Trump said, using his nickname for leader Kim Jong Un. If the U.S. “is forced to defend itself or its allies, we will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea.”
Europeans didn’t take the Trump bait: Trump also singled out Iran as he called on “the righteous many” to “confront the wicked few” to prevent “evil” from prevailing. “We cannot let a murderous regime continue these destabilizing activities while building dangerous missiles, and we cannot abide by an agreement if it provides cover for the eventual destruction of a nuclear program,” Trump said, referring to the Obama-era agreement to curb Iran’s nuclear program. French President Emmanuel Macron and EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini refused to step away from the deal.
Donald Tusk delivers his UN speech today: According to Playbook’s source, Tusk will focus on the value of having an international rules-based order, including a reformed U.N. He is also expected to address North Korea, Myanmar, irregular migration, terrorism and climate.
ECB — MONEY-PRINTING SET TO STAY: European Central Bank policymakers disagree on whether to set an end-date for their money-printing program when they meet October 26, sources told Reuters. The split is between hawks — led by richer, northern countries such as Germany — who are ready to wind down the €2.3 trillion bond-purchase program, and doves, who simply want to reduce its monthly pace, the sources said.
COMMISSION — COLLEGE MEETING: European commissioners will discuss new financial regulation under the EU’s capital market union taxation of tech companies.
COMMISSION — SELMAYR SPEECH FRIDAY: Martin Selmayr, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker’s chief of staff, will speak at a Center for European Policy Studies (CEPS) event Friday on the future of Europe and Juncker’s State of the Union speech. Full details.
STATE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION FEEDBACK: Thomas Wieser, the EU official who runs preparations for Eurogroup meetings of finance minister, said Tuesday at a panel discussion in Vienna that Juncker “addressed the big topics of the next 20, 30 years, but many made the mistake of interpreting it as if [the changes] were to be expected next year,” Reuters reports.
PARLIAMENT — MEPs VERSUS HUNGARY OVER A LITTLE TRAIN: A routine trip by European lawmakers to Hungary to make sure EU cash is being spent properly has become the latest source of tension between Budapest and Brussels. Members of the European Parliament’s Budgetary Control Committee, which is charged with ensuring proper use of EU taxpayers’ money, are in Hungary this week to visit several projects funded by the bloc. But their decision to visit a railway connecting two villages with links to Prime Minister Viktor Orbán angered the government, which accused the MEPs of seeking to interfere in Hungarian politics ahead of an election due in the spring.
Local media reported the Hungary prosecutor’s office cooperated with the mission.
** Save the date: The EU Studies Fair will take place once again in Brussels for its 19th edition on February 9-10, 2018. LSE, College of Europe, King’s College, Canterbury Christ Church, KU Leuven, Kent University, The Johns Hopkins SAIS, Maastricht University and more will showcase their master’s programs in EU studies, international relations, business, law, public policy and economics. To find out more and pre-register, visit our website: www.eustudiesfair.com **
COUNCIL — AMBASSADORS MEET TODAY: Ambassadors will set the agenda for an agriculture, fisheries and environment ministers’ meeting in October and prepare for inter-institutional negotiations on the EU’s aviation emissions trading scheme and a set of waste laws and policies.
COUNCIL — ENERGY AND TRANSPORT MINISTER MEETING: Ministers will discuss electricity market design, “delivering the Energy Union and the Single European Transport Area” and air connectivity. Full agenda here.
ECHR — HUMAN RIGHTS COURT STRUGGLES TO LAY DOWN THE LAW: Nearly 10,000 judgments of the European Court of Human Rights have not been put into effect by national governments, some ruled on as far back as 1992, and they cover all but one of the 47 member countries of the Strasbourg-based Council of Europe, reports Ginger Hervey.
PLAYBOOK INTERVIEW — FORMER EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT PRESIDENT JOSEP BORRELL …
The Socialist Catalan, who led the European Parliament between 2004 and 2007, is a voice from the left against independence for Catalonia. Borrell was in Brussels to make the case for a united Spain but is also angry at Madrid’s inability to explain its case as the country seems to sleepwalk towards the October 1 vote, which could lead to violence. Here are the highlights from Playbook’s conversation. On Thursday Playbook will hear more from the secessionist side.
Do more, Madrid: “The Spanish state has disappeared from my village in the Pyrenees,” Borrell complains, except for “some roads which are in bad shape.” He added: “If I have a problem with my wife, I send flowers.” The hint being Madrid should send fiscal flowers to Catalonia, the villages especially.
Micro-solutions: Borrell believes the most urgent task for Madrid is to separate the grievances of the Catalans into two baskets: practical problems it can solve and “imaginary problems” it can fight with facts.
The Catalan people do not exist: “Half of Catalonia has become psychologically independent. The other half still believes they are part of Spain.” That fact alone should be enough to puncture the idea of a single oppressed Catalan people, Borrell said. “The story of a single people of Catalonia: It’s not true. It doesn’t exist, the Catalan people.” Instead, Catalonia is divided on ethnic, language and geographic grounds. “Seventy-five percent of the people whose mother tongue is Catalan support Yes. Seventy-five percent of the people with other languages as their mother tongue are against independence.”
Catalan, Spaniard, European: Borrell considers himself all three. When he said that in the European Parliament, his home was defaced, an act he called “the opposite of European.”
Facts have disappeared: “The ability to argue between facts has been lost. It’s no longer rational.”
Stealing the Brexit playbook: “It’s the same discourse of stolen money,” Borrell said. In the Brexit campaign, the suggestion was the EU effectively stole money from British institutions like the National Health Service. In Catalonia, the argument is Madrid steals the money.
One-sided referendum: Perhaps Madrid’s strongest argument about the Catalan government’s plans is “There is no ‘no’ campaign.” A real referendum would have two sides, according to Borrell.
Who will Catalan police side with? Borrell worries “temporary” violence could flare around the October 1 vote and predicts Catalonia’s autonomous police force will be crucial.
EU constitutional crisis: “This could be the biggest European constitutional crisis since the fall of the Berlin wall. For the first time since then, we are talking about changing borders. There could be a domino effect.” Borrell advises Veneto (Italy), Flanders (Belgium), Scotland (U.K.), Bavaria (Germany) and ethnic Hungarian communities in the Carpathian basin could be flashpoints.
CATALAN INDEPENDENCE’S AGITATOR-IN-CHIEF: Gabriel Rufián is a key voice in the Catalan independence campaign. “I’m the son and grandson of Andalusians who moved to Catalonia from Jaen and Granada 55 years ago … and I’m pro-independence,” Rufián said in a firecracker March 2016 maiden speech in the Spanish Congress for the Catalan Republican Left (ERC), one of the two leading pro-independence forces. Diego Torres profiles Rufián and breaks down Catalan voters by national identity, birthplace, age, education and more.
OTHER CATALAN NEWS: Spanish judge says the referendum is unconstitutional, but mayors are not acting illegally.
GERMAN ELECTION — LIBERALS POISED FOR A COMEBACK: Janosch Delcker reports the liberal FDP has a good shot at third place in the German election, and is willing to drive hard bargains with Angela Merkel. The party’s leaders have little reason to make things easy for the chancellor, with many feeling they paid steeply for failing to force the chancellor to accept the pro-business reforms they had promised to their voters when joining her coalition back in 2009.
GERMAN ELECTION — AFD COULD BECOME GERMANY’S OFFICIAL OPPOSITION: If the Social Democrats were to stay as junior government partners and the right-wing Alternative for Germany party finished in third place (polls also give them a good chance), that would make the AfD Germany’s official opposition, the Guardian reminds us. Meanwhile, the AfD is making the most noise on Twitter ahead of the election, according to an Oxford University study.
GERMAN ELECTION — MISPLACED FAITH IN ECONOMIC STRENGTH: When it comes to the economy, most German voters seem content. But they shouldn’t be so complacent, writes Johanna Treeck.
BELGIUM — AGREEMENT WITH SUDAN ON REFUGEES: De Morgen reports the Belgian government is cooperating with the Sudanese government to identify and send home refugees via sweeps of the Brussels North train station. The International Criminal Court accuses Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir of genocide and the regime hosted Osama Bin Laden and other extremist groups. More in De Morgen.
World War Wonder: A German World War I submarine was found near the Belgian coast on Tuesday, with 23 crew members’ corpses inside. La Libre has more here.
BREXIT 360 …
Boris Johnson insists he’s not quitting: The British foreign secretary denied he is trying to undermine Theresa May, or that he is giving up on the government. “I am mystified by all this stuff,” Johnson said.
May prepared to make financial offer to EU: “Germany’s Angela Merkel has been told by the British government to expect Theresa May this week to offer to fill a post-Brexit EU budget hole of at least €20 billion, the first attempt by London to meet European demands to settle its divorce bill,” the FT reports.
The good: The EU could skip re-opening its 2014-2020 budget.
The bad: It’s one third or less of what the EU wants.
Liam Fox’s plan for investment, investment, investment: If Britain can’t yet nail its own trade deals it can at least shape the conditions and incentive for outward investment by British firms, the U.K.’s international trade secretary explains.
Britain’s game of Brexit staff chess: Olly Robbins’ move to become EU adviser to Theresa May creates clarity and confusion, concludes Charlie Cooper.
So Whitehall’s fighting back? Good, says former top civil servant Leigh Lewis. The civil service shouldn’t be a “whipping boy.”
Fabian Zuleeg on Theresa May’s tough draw: The chief executive of the European Policy Center says May is in a mess and the EU must recognize that to ensure it doesn’t compound the damage for both sides.
BRUSSELS CORNER …
MONNAIE SHOPPING CENTER TO RE-OPEN: After two years of renovation, the shopping center above De Brouckere metro and adjacent the Opera House will re-open in October, reports Le Soir.
RYANAIR CANCELED BRUSSELS FLIGHT DETAILS: The airline released its full list of canceled flights here, Le Soir has identified those affecting Brussels here.
YOU’RE INVITED — 3 EVENTS ABOUT IMPRESSIVE WOMEN …
Book launch — Women Leading the Way in Brussels: September 27 from 5:30 p.m. at the Vlerick Business School Brussels campus. The book has endorsements from World Bank executive and former Vice President of the European Commission Kristalina Georgieva and Anne-Marie Slaughter, who describes it as: “Reflections by a remarkable collection of European leaders that women everywhere will want to read.” Buy it here.
Women making history in chemicals exhibition: It’s not a topic you’d normally associate with the high art of cocktails, but that’s what makes it interesting. In the European Parliament sponsored by MEP Kerstin Westphal.
NGOs score the EU on gender equality: The NGO platform CONCORD, hosted by the Portuguese permanent representation, will September 26 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. gather representatives from the European Commission, European External Action Service and embassies to debate which, if any, gender equality initiatives are working.
BACK IN BRUSSELS: Kai Holst Andersen has left his post as Greenland’s deputy minister responsible for foreign affairs, to rejoin the European External Action Service as a director.
REDFLAG FISHES TRUMP ADVISER: RedFlag has hired Andy Hemming, a former director of rapid response in the Trump White House, to work from Brussels on public affairs and strategic communications.
CHANGING ROLES: Cécile Rotureau has left cabinet DN to join the Hitachi corporate office Europe as EU affairs manager.
BIRTHDAYS: MEP Siegfried Mureșan, Alessandro Torello; journalist Janos Karpati; European Commission’s Katarzyna Bitka; Francesca Craig, social secretary at the French Embassy in D.C. (h/t Ben Chang).
Belated wishes for POLITICO’s environment reporter Marion Solletty.
PLAYBOOK COULDN’T HAPPEN WITHOUT Quentin Ariès, and Zoya Sheftalovich
THANKS to Judith Mischke and Cynthia Kroet.
**A message from Google: Over the last five years, Google’s Growth Engine team has helped small businesses across Europe get online and find new customers. Google.org, our philanthropic arm, has partnered with them to make sure Europeans are getting the digital skills they need to thrive. We’ve invested in organizations building economic opportunity, such as WeTechCare in France, which helps socially excluded people learn digital skills, and Czechitas in the Czech Republic, which offers women data science training. The way we work is changing, and we want to make sure that as many people as possible can seize these new opportunities — some of which we couldn’t have imagined just a few years ago. Read this to learn how our new initiative on the future of work will help make the future work for everyone.**
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More from ... Ryan Heath
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Deadpool 2 (A PopEntertainment.com Movie Review)
Starring Ryan Reynolds, Josh Brolin, Morena Baccarin, Julian Dennison, Zazie Beetz, T.J. Miller, Brianna Hildebrand, T.J. Miller, Karan Soni, Terry Crews, Lewis Tan, Bill Skarsgard, Rob Delaney, Shioli Kutsuna, Leslie Uggams, Karan Soni, Eddie Marsan, Randal Reeder, Alan Tudyk, Matt Damon, Brad Pitt and the voice of Stefan Kapičić.
Screenplay by Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick and Ryan Reynolds.
Directed by David Leitch.
Distributed by 20th Century Fox. 119 minutes. Rated R.
I wasn’t the biggest fan in the world of the first Deadpool movie, but I did get its selling points for the fans. It was a childish superhero (or anti-hero) tale told with an R-rating; adult humor, topical references, puncturing of the fourth wall, abundant cynicism, crazy-stupid violence, 80s easy-listening music and even some gratuitous sex and nudity.
Deadpool 2 is more of the same, and yet at the same time, it is less. The insanely high and bloody body count is ramped up, if possible. The sense of humor is even more on an eighth-grade level – though in fairness there are some very funny lines here. As for the sex, well that is pretty much left behind – in a plot-driven way, I suppose – and replaced with a surprisingly massive sappy streak.
Yes, somewhere along the line, Deadpool, arguably the most jaded superhero on film, has become a misty-eyed romantic, broken-heartedly pining for his girlfriend and trying desperately to help a young, misunderstood mutant boy. Just because he is telling dick jokes while doing it doesn’t make the change in tone any less shocking.
In the meantime, like the first film, the extreme mayhem is both exhilarating and numbing at the same time. Eventually the body count is so massive that you don’t really care who lives or dies. However, there were a few deaths (particularly in a sequence with a superhero team Deadpool recruited) which became hysterical; mega-extreme gore turned into edgy sight gags that work surprisingly well.
Besides, the movie is offbeat enough to have Brad Pitt, arguably the biggest star in the cast, do a cameo as an invisible man – so you can’t see that it’s even him. Matt Damon also has a nearly unrecognizable cameo.
I wish there was more to recommend about Deadpool 2 than its irreverence, but honestly it is the film’s one true superpower.
Even that superpower can often be faulty, though.
It is supposed to be ironic, I suppose, that the worst of the mayhem is mostly done to a soundtrack of adult contemporary music by the likes of Air Supply, Rupert Holmes and Dolly Parton. I wonder how much they had to pay Celine Dion to make her new song the butt of this particular little joke. Cheesy music is not funny in and of itself. There is a running gag in the film in which Deadpool keeps breaking the fourth wall to call out the film’s lazy writing to the audience. Well, the winking, ironic mocking of old music is the epitome of lazy writing.
If you liked the first Deadpool, chances are you’ll like this one, too. If the first one left you cold, don’t expect this one to change your mind.
Copyright ©2018 PopEntertainment.com. All rights reserved. Posted: June 11, 2018.
#eddiemarsan #RobDelaney #BriannaHildebrand #RupertHolmes #StefanKapicic #dollyparton #MorenaBaccarin #JaySJacobs #DavidLeitch #JulianDennison #ZazieBeetz #TerryCrews #PopEntertainmentcom #AirSupply #BillSkarsgård #RhettReese #CelineDion #KaranSoni #TJMiller #PaulWernick #Deadpool2 #LewisTan #BradPitt #deadpool #mattdamon #ShioliKutsuna #RyanReynolds #joshbrolin #xmen #LeslieUggams #AlanTudyk #moviereview #RandalReeder
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Reading Pandemics
Poe, Pandemic, and Underlying Conditions
Timothy Scherman
Rose by Ri_Ya (Pixabay License / Pixabay)
To read Edgar Allan Poe in the time of pandemic, we need to appreciate a very different aspect of his perspective—not that of a mimetic artist but of the political economist.
It's not for nothing that Edgar Allan Poe's works figure prominently in COVID-inspired reconsiderations of the figure of pandemic in literary social history. He lived through one of the worst cholera outbreaks to ever reach the US, lasting from 1832 well into the 1840s, and he has long been remembered as the master of what one might call "pandemic affect" in characters experiencing dread of the unknown, claustrophobia, and mourning.
In this essay, however, I want to argue that to best read Poe in the time of pandemic, we need to appreciate a very different aspect of his perspective—not that of a mimetic artist but of the political economist; not that of the practitioner or inventor of Gothic tropes, but one making a comment—in my reading, one of the darkest imaginable—on the possibility of getting anything but cash for the work of writing on such horrors, and anything but a temporary escape from reading it.
For Poe, the question may not be what we read, or how our reading enables us to do or see things differently (our consciousness now raised!), but simply where we read. It is very different, Poe's life and work tell us, to read under a tree in the Italian countryside, in Boccaccio's time, than in a damp tavern in the city; very different to read in a suburban home office, in our own time, than on a bus commuting to one's "essential" job in a meat-packing plant.
Like George Packer, Zak Cheney-Rice, and in different ways, Sari Altschuler and others writing about the pandemic today, Poe's works would have us look beyond the mere effects of what ails us at the moment to underlying conditions of US society that this pandemic has "revealed [as] already broken": "brutal inequalities" that give the lie to any idealized sense of disease as the "great equalizer" (Tensley). "By almost every metric," Cheney-Rice summarizes, "those getting the sickest and dying most frequently and being plunged into dire financial straits at disproportionate rates are the same people who were vulnerable and marginalized" before the pandemic: "lower income workers, minority communities, communities of color, folks working in service jobs…living in public housing"—in a word, the poor.
COVID-19 image by Geralt (Pixabay License / Pixabay)
Granted, few of us imagine a writer as famous as Edgar Allan Poe as that poor. We've heard he drank too much—but so did lots of great writers. Perhaps we imagine him properly dressed, sitting at an ornate desk, pen in hand, with books everywhere, and sure, that pet Raven perched like a sculpture beside him. Politely contributing to the facade of civilized intellect he cultivated in all his writing, kind contemporaries remembered him as hard-working, punctual, and even fastidious in his dress.
But the truth is, after his break in 1829 with his foster father John Allan, an import-export tycoon who would certainly be ranked in today's "1%", Poe fell straight and hard into a life of desperate penury that lasted his remaining 20 years. Evicted from one shared lodging to the next throughout his adult life, he survived on little more than bread and molasses for weeks at a time. One reason he wore his jacket buttoned all the way to his chin was that at times, he did not own a shirt (Fisher 75, Quinn 211).
While some biographers consider it a dramatic performance, lines from Poe's letter to his foster father on his dishonorable discharge from West Point foretell his future all too accurately: "I have no more to say—except that my future life...must be passed in indigence and sickness"(cited in Quinn 172).
Re-adopted in Baltimore in 1831, this time at the opposite end of the economic spectrum, by his retired aunt Maria, her drunken son Henry, and a girl cousin named Virginia who would become his wife, he found himself the only candidate for family bread-winner. He looked for positions teaching, or doing hack work for magazines, and there is even some evidence that he did some manual labor, but the mark of his entry into the class of "vulnerable and marginalized" persons is certainly his near total disappearance from the historical record. Biographers have barely any evidence of Poe's movements in the year 1832, the year cholera came to the United States for the first time, and the year he may well have written "King Pest" (1835), a story patently designed to address those currently experiencing a modern pandemic.
Dead-Serious Satire: "King Pest"
Lost places by MichaelGaida (Pixabay License / Pixabay)
"King Pest" is set not in Poe's Baltimore but in London, during the Black Plague. Looking backwards in this way, it might seem to invite readers to see themselves beyond the cholera, or in a position of privilege in comparison to those facing a disease that five centuries before killed more than a third of all humanity. Likewise, in a setting that suggests Cheney-Rice's critique of pandemic's economic bias, we find London mostly "depopulated" and those remaining poor, diseased, dying, or dead. The plot follows two drunken sailors, Legs and Hugh Tarpaulin, skipping out on their bill at the "Jolly Tar" and fleeing into "the most noisome" districts of the city under Pest-ban.
But at this point, readers expecting serious description or reflection on the conditions or psychology of pandemic in Poe's time may be disappointed to find the thing turn silly.
Unaccountably following a series of "wild…fiendish shrieks" into a cellar beneath an abandoned undertaker's shop, the sailors discover a phantasmagoric party going on around a long dining table, where a company of diseased caricatures posing as royalty—"King Pest the first", "Queen Pest", the "Arch Duchess Ana-pest", etc.—engorge themselves with what is left of the former tenant's wine cellar. Offended at the "commoners'" intrusion, King Pest declares (in what has to be a formula Poe remembered from his raucous days at University of Virginia) that they must leave "forthwith"—or to remain, must each chug a gallon of "Black Strap". Violence ensues, and knocking the company down with the bones of a skeleton-candelabra hanging from the ceiling, the sailors run off, each with one of the dropsical "ladies" by the waist. Curtain.
Read as a transparent comment on the disease Poe experienced in Baltimore, "King Pest" seems to be a frank celebration of social irresponsibility that might appeal more to spring break crowds on Miami Beach today than to anyone suffering under cholera in the 1830s.[i] The reckless abandon of his protagonists may also testify to the desperation of those without hope of escape in such conditions (wasn't Ishmael at the very end of his own economic rope when he boarded the Pequod in Moby Dick?), but the tone is baffling.
Still, there is far more here in the story's "underlying conditions". As Terry Whalen reminds us in Edgar Allan Poe and the Masses (1999), the underlying conditions of all Poe's professional writing are those of the US publishing industry in the 1830s and 40s—unorganized, undercapitalized, and hardly "literary" (Whalen 3-21). Without the ability to help fund the publication of his work or a network of powerful friends behind him, the Poe who knew by 1831 that he was better at writing than brick-laying set about producing what was mostly likely to "draw the public attention", and prove himself a good investment to magazines in need of subscribers. In this light, rather than see "King Pest" as anything like an "original" comment on the cholera, we ought to view it as a work frankly written to sell—taking advantage of the topic's "currency".
As early as 1835, the relative novice Poe advised an editor who found his writing distastefully graphic that what the magazine reading public craved was not "simplicity", but "the ludicrous heightened into the grotesque, the fearful coloured into the horrible" (cited in Quinn 211). Hence, perhaps, the skull-and-bones frat party here.
But what makes the point of "King Pest" clearer—and what relates it to both the conditions of Poe's writing and the pandemic—is its original context--and its original subtitle ("A Tale Containing an Allegory"). There is excellent evidence that the story was conceived as part of a collection Poe briefly advertised as "The Folio Club"—a book meant to parody the popular "saleable" styles of writing in the early magazine industry (Hammond, Scherman). Here a "club" of swell editors meets at dinner to judge each other's (mostly derivative) work. Every month, the writer whose work is judged "best" hosts the next meeting, while the writer judged worst (a rotating newcomer) has to pay for all. The collection results, according to the plot, from the revolt of the latest loser, who sweeps all the manuscripts from the table and rushes out to publish them together to appeal to the good sense of the public.
Out of context, a story like "King Pest" may seem bafflingly unserious, but precisely as an "allegory" it was likely central to this collection he never published, featuring the same table around which an imperious group of powerful pretenders "judge" poor-devils coming in from the pestilential conditions outside. Indeed, the plague setting makes this circle of secluded sociability a blatant, bitter parody of Boccaccio's Dacameron, revealing hardly the life-affirming preservation of story-telling communities outside the walls of plague-ridden Venice, but a reflection of the monstrous injustice of monied publishers in New York or Baltimore carelessly deciding the fate of desperate authors like Poe over bottles of expensive port.
Form Against Substance: "The Mask of the Red Death"
Red skull by cattusniger (Pixabay License / Pixabay)
A decade into the cholera, Poe wrote another tale of pandemic entitled "The Masque of the Red Death" (1842) at a time when he had achieved, if only for 18 months, a position as magazine editor (Quinn 331). While the serious tone of this story might seem to reflect the point of view of a now responsible writer who has joined the "club" of influence and privilege—who might warn readers of our need for mutual care—instead, Poe invites readers of Graham's Magazine (a magazine already featuring color plates of the latest women's fashion) to enjoy some of his most exquisite artistry, while retaining his deep resentment of those whom pandemics rarely touch.
Irresponsibility returns "royally" here in the form of Prince Prospero (compare "Fortunato" from "The Cask of Amontillado"), who, at the height of a plague named "The Red Death", "summons to his presence a thousand hale and light-hearted friends" to join him in his well-provisioned castle, the doors of which are welded shut. "The external world could take care of itself", sneers the narrator. "In the meantime it was folly to grieve, or to think".
As in "King Pest", there is a party—this time a fantastic "masqued ball" attended by grotesques—"figures with unsuited limbs and appointments", "delirious fancies such as a madman fashions". The most outrageous of all is a figure who has evidently dressed up to resemble a victim of the Red Death itself, inspiring in the assembled guests first "disapprobation", then disgust, and finally terror. The Prince pursues the figure, and is mysteriously killed by his own dagger as he attempts to execute "justice" in the most remote room of his suite. Perversely crowding into the space, guests attempt to un-mask the mummer but find the mask "untenanted by any tangible form". Everyone dies:
...one by one dropped the revellers in the blood-bedewed halls of their revel, and died each in the despairing posture of his fall. And the life of the ebony clock went out with that of the last of the gay. And the flames of the tripods expired. And Darkness, and Decay, and the Red Death held illimitable dominion over all.
Doubtless it is tempting to draw the quiet moral that "the Red Death/the plague/the virus/the disease" "knows no boundaries", and thus the privileged should be as interested in eradicating it from our land as the poor. But what we need to notice in this conclusion—and the whole tale—is actually Poe's obsessively careful word choice, and his insistence on his words' aesthetic and psychological effects.
The work is a model of rhythm and compactness, its last syllable ("all"), for example, doubling the sound of someone's last gasp, which is itself repeated twice ("hall" and "fall") in the closing paragraph. Moreover, those attentive to Poe's words (and mine) will note that as it ends up, the figure of the "Red Death" has no "tangible form".
And again, there is a sub-title to help us: "A Fantasy". With this hint, Poe reminds us that his work points not to the real—the "outside" of literature where actual sickness and death occur—but rather to the power of his writing to evoke suspense and horror from words placed under our eye that might cause us to "buy" it all. We have not been taught anything but rather fallen for the horror of a facsimile—a "Read" death. If one is concerned about one's exposure to a horrifying reality (poverty, pandemic, or death itself), perhaps reading such a tale (or writing one) offers something to hide—sure, "Mask"—us momentarily from the real thing.
The Riddle of Our Privilege: "The Sphinx"
If these readings of what "underlies" Poe's work seem too pessimistic (for even the most critical writings about the class divide and pandemic seem to insist on a silver lining), consider Poe's last tale on pandemic called "The Sphinx", published in 1846, and try not to groan like a dying reveller in "Masque". Here the narrator and his friend escape the "Cholera in New-York" in a cottage on the Hudson, "passing the time pleasantly enough", save when "word arrives" of "the decease of some acquaintance".
Gazing out the window one day, the narrator makes the horrifying discovery of a winged monster hundreds of feet long climbing the hills in the distance, and reports the sighting to his friend. In a minor detective move, his companion seats himself at the same window and demonstrates, with quick reference to a synopses of Natural History at hand, that the narrator's perspective has been the culprit: the "monster" is a tiny insect climbing a spider's thread just before his eye.
Spider Silhouette by mohammad_hassan (Pixabay License /Pixabay)
This time Poe cannot resist a moral—if it can be called that—and it can hardly be explained without reference to the tale's pandemic setting and the class experiences revealed here once again. "The source of error in all human investigations", the detective explains, is our "liability to under-rate or over-value the importance of an object [by] misadmeasurement of its propinquity." For example, he continues, "the influence to be exercised on mankind at large by the thorough Diffusion of Democracy". By the time "we" achieve Democracy, Poe's narrator suggests, most of us will be long dead.
It could be argued, of course, that it is an elite perspective whose distance from the victims of pandemic under-estimates the possibilities of democracy—of societal transformation. Bbut Poe places the "Natural History" there to question the idealist perspective that continues to believe, despite the evidence of our history, that the reading of literature—in cottages, offices, and classrooms, or even buses—has much chance of inspiring social change at the level of the economic divisions that determine who survives and who dies before, during, or after pandemic.
So who, if anyone, for Poe, can "profit" from their reading? Looking back at "King Pest" for the first time in some decades, it took this pandemic perspective for me to notice that one of the first things we learn about Poe's desperately poor protagonists is they cannot read.
Works Cited:
Cheney-Rice, Zak. "Are You Rich Enough to Survive This Pandemic?" Intelligencer. New York Magazine. 27 April 2020.
Fisher, Benjamin Franklin. Poe in His Own Time: A Biographical Chronicle of His Life, Drawn from Recollections, Interviews, and Memoirs by Family, Friends, and Associates. University of Iowa Press. 2010.
Hammond, Alexander and Fisher, Benjamin Franklin . "Edgar Allan Poe's Tales of the Folio Club: The Evolution of a Lost Book". Poe at Work: Seven Textual Studies. Baltimore: The Edgar Allan Poe Society. 1978. pp. 13–43.
Packer, George. "We Are Living in a Failed State". The Atlantic. 1 May 2020.
Quinn, Arthur Hobson. Edgar Allan Poe: A Critical Biography. New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts, Inc. 1941.
Scherman, Timothy H. "The Authority Effect: Poe and the Politics of Reputation in the Pre-Industry of American Publishing". Arizona Quarterly: 49/3. Autumn 1993. pp. 1-19.
Tensley, Brandon. "How Coronavirus Is Deepening American Inequality". CNN, Cable News Network, 6 April 2020.
Whalen, Terence. Edgar Allan Poe and the Masses: the Political Economy of Literature in Antebellum America. Princeton University Press. 1999.
[i] In a recent article for The Atlantic and a longer essay in American Literature (2018), Sari Altschuler has brilliantly traced the effects of the cholera pandemic of this period into politically problematic new conceptualizations of "global" health in the US. Her approach to Poe's work, grounded in the context of generic or scientific discourses, lead her to more hopeful conclusions, however, than the more strictly materialist analyses here.
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View and post jobs in journalism
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Newsquest's Evening Times changes name in relaunch aiming to 'renew local roots'
By Charlotte Tobitt Twitter
Newsquest’s Scottish daily title The Evening Times has dropped half of its title in a relaunch designed to “renew” its “local roots”.
The paid-for newspaper has today become The Glasgow Times under new editor Callum Baird, who took the helm last month.
Baird, formerly the editor of sister title The National, was appointed managing editor of both newspapers reporting to editor-in-chief Donald Martin.
The Evening Times switched to overnight production in 2012, when it began to go on sale at the same time as its sister morning daily The Herald.
The word “Evening” is still present on the new-look masthead today, but it is understood the word will be dropped when the name is fully established.
Announcing the name change yesterday, the newspaper told readers the “exciting change” heralded “part two” of its history.
“Despite every effort to innovate and keep abreast of a fast-changing Scotland, the Evening Times could not escape the fate of the rest of the country’s press as it was overtaken by social and technological developments it found itself ill-equipped to deal with,” the title said.
“As circulations declined, it was hard to maintain the same quality of editorial output.
“But of course, the newspaper industry is capable of innovation too, which may enable it to redefine its role for readers who are nowadays often more demanding in their specialised interests.
“Glasgow is a good place for this. Glaswegians remain local patriots, especially as the city has once again been redefining itself, this time as a centre for the advances of the digital age.
“On the old Evening Times, it is time for a relaunch. The first appearance of the Glasgow Times tomorrow will preserve in half its title one link with the past, but with the other half, it will renew local roots that have plenty of life in them yet.”
In the second half of 2018 the Evening Times had a circulation of 18,204, according to ABC.
Ten years earlier, it was being read by 68,422 people.
Full breakdown of magazine sales for first half of 2012
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PRISMATIST bending toward enlightenment
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Not A Silent Night
By Susan Dietrich
In the spring of 1980, I began playing music in the Boston subways on a rickety old accordion my late ex-husband and I found in a junk shop. I wasn’t enthusiastic about spending $20 on it, more than a day’s average income, which I slowly dredged up by selling our artwork and panhandling for hours on end. We had been living a marginal existence for years as a result of our moral objection to the Vietnam war, and kept as low a profile as we could for fear of Joel being arrested and imprisoned for draft evasion.
Neither of us knew the first thing about playing accordion, but in true form, Joel was insistent and persuasive, and we ended up taking it home with us, only to have it sit in our music room untouched for the next year or so. But in desperation after our first baby was born and a second was on the way, I picked it up one afternoon and realized my piano background gave me good facility with the keyboard side — and I soon discovered the buttons were arranged in fifths. Reading them like Braille with my left hand, I was able to pick out some simple Irish tunes, well aware that Saint Patrick’s Day, Boston’s favorite holiday, was just around the corner.
The next day, over Joel’s objections (he feared someone would steal it out of my hands), I took the old junker down into Park Street Station and began learning as I earned – and earn I did, although the vast majority of commuters ignored me. Still, among the hundreds of oblivious passersby, a few would stop and give, to my amazement. After seven tedious years of peddling my pen-and-ink drawings and Joel’s poetry and color-Xerox collages on the street, suddenly people were approaching me with money in hand, without my having to ask! When I got home late that evening, Joel was as amazed as I was to count up $40 in change and dollar bills, more than double my previous daily take.
By summer, I traded up to a pearly white accordion with glittery gold keys that actually played in tune. That upgrade instantly brought in even better earnings. Encouraged by my blossoming foray into a street music career, I took the next step and bought a cheap Radio Shack headset mic and a tiny belt-pack amplifier so people could hear me sing over the rather loud instrument. The added vocals increased my income even more, not to mention my fun!
But around Thanksgiving time, disaster struck.
After a busy day playing underground on the Red Line to Cambridge, I knelt down to gather up the change and put my beautiful instrument in its case, when a wild and crazy drunk careened toward me like a spinning top, grabbed my accordion by the strap, and swung it around like a hammer thrower, letting it fly full force into the concrete wall across the train tracks. He proceeded to whirl away like a dervish, leaving me devastated there on my knees!
I made my way home, shattered accordion and shattered mind — shocked, horrified, and heartsick at the loss of my lifeline. The next day I felt no better...but Joel was somehow looking at the bright side.
“You still have your mic and amp,” he said. “Just go downtown and sing Christmas carols a cappella!”
“Oh yeah, sure!” I responded, rolling my eyes in horror. “I’ll look like a total idiot! I’d rather go out there stark naked than sing without an instrument!”
But Joel persisted, dragged me back to Radio Shack, and bought me a battery-powered reverb unit.
“You gotta try this! It’ll give your voice the depth and dimension your voice needs.”
I reluctantly tried it out in the kitchen when we got home, and to my surprise, my voice sounded nice, like it was coming from somewhere off in the distance. Still, I was terrified to sing in public without my precious accordion, but with no better idea as to how to support our growing family, I trudged downtown the next morning, picked a spot on a busy street corner in the financial district, and began singing “Silent Night” into the cold, grey air.
I couldn’t believe the response! Immediately, a middle-aged black woman smiled at me, blessed me, and put a dollar bill in my box. And every few minutes, another person gave me a tip and a smile, if not a compliment.
“That sounds so beautiful!”
“What a lovely voice you have!”
“This is the true Christmas spirit!”
Elated, I sent my voice soaring high among the cold, gray buildings, amazed at how it reverberated off the towering walls above while people scurried by in the cold, dismal weather, looking all around to find the source of the mysterious, haunting carols.
Day after day I sang a cappella, and even recited “The Night Before Christmas” between songs. On Christmas Eve, the gloomy sky opened up and rained over $200 into my tip box! With that money I bought the very first battery-operated electric piano ever seen in the U.S., a Casiotone MT-40, a toy by today’s standards, but highly sought after on eBay all these decades later.
Again, it was a learn-as-you-earn proposition, but from the get-go I was turning heads and earning unprecedented income. Joel was as thrilled as I was with my new-found popularity, and he began writing songs for me and choosing great rock songs for me to cover. He gave me one of his guitar pedals, a phase shifter, which gave the Casio a wafting, ethereal sound. He also adorned my equipment with tiny blinking lights and colored rhinestones, and ultimately crowned me with his very own highly treasured winged helmet: “a theatrical device,” he called it, in response to my vehement objections to wearing such an outrageously embarrassing thing on my head. But to my utter surprise, people loved it, and it quickly became my trademark.
I played from morning rush hour ‘til long after dark, day after day, week after week, month after month, often in the same spot and to the same people going and coming from work. I became a fixture in the Boston subway system and people took notice — not all favorably to be sure, but I eventually won over many doubters through my dogged determination alone. I also won over many who had previously considered me a pariah and a street urchin back when I was begging, and they happily told me so.
Slowly but surely, as my expertise and self-confidence grew, I began to develop a devoted fan base —Joel being the most enthusiastic of them all. He was constantly singing my praises to everyone he encountered, referring to me as a “street-level superstar.” Thus, The Space Lady - a former struggling but persistent busker - was born, and who, remarkably enough, now performs on stages around the world!
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11.13.2016 TV Appearances
A Tribe Called Quest Performs on ‘SNL’
A Tribe Called Quest takes over “SNL.”
Live from New York, the legendary rap group joined host Dave Chappelle on last night’s episode of the late-night program to perform two tracks off their first album in 18 years, We got it from Here… Thank You 4 Your service.
Performing “We the People,” Tribe delivered a politically-charged set. “If you’re looking at us, stand up, touch somebody next to you,” Q-Tip said from the outset. “Everybody here, stand up, one fist in the air. We are all one. We are the people.”
Backed by Ali Shaheed Muhammad, Jarobi White and Tip performed their socially-conscious lyrics before a banner of the late Phife Dawg dropped from the ceiling.
“All you black folks, you must go,” Tip and J rapped in unison. “All you Mexicans, you must go / And all you poor folks, you must go / Muslims and gays / Boy, we hate your ways / So all you bad folks, you must go.”
ATCQ wasn’t done there. The group also performed their We got it from Here… Thank You 4 Your service intro, “The Space Program.”
Honoring Phife once again, longtime Tribe affiliates Busta Rhymes and Consequence emerged from the audience to join Tip and Jarobi in performing the Five Footer’s call for action on the track.
“Let’s make somethin’ happen,” they chanted. “Gotta get it together for brothers / Gotta get it together for sisters / For mothers and fathers and dead ni**as / For non-conformists, one-hitter quitters / For Tyson types and Che figures.”
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Bow Wow Faces Backlash for Performing at Packed Nightclub During Pandemic
Bow Wow is coming under fire for performing at a packed nightclub in Houston amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The rapper …
Bruno Mars Performs ‘24K Magic’ on ‘Skavlan’
Bruno Mars brings that "24K Magic" to "Skavlan." Head to toe so playa, the dapper hitmaker delivered his latest smash …
Prince’s Estate Rejects Jay Z’s Bid for Unreleased Music Catalog
Prince's estate just became one of Jay Z's 99 problems. The late icon's camp reportedly rejected Hov's lucrative offer for …
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How much money do you get on the pension?
Nick Bendel-29/01/2018- 2 min read
The standard age pension for Australians is $894.40 per fortnight for singles and $1,348.40 per fortnight for couples.
In annualised terms, that equals $23,254.40 for singles and $35,058.40 for couples (or $17,529.20 for each member of the couple).
As the table below shows, those figures assume that pensioners are receiving the maximum basic rate, maximum pension supplement (to help with bills and medical costs) and energy supplement (to help with energy costs).
Per fortnight
Couple each
Couple combined
Couple apart due to ill health
Maximum basic rate $814.00 $613.60 $1,227.20 $814.00
Maximum pension supplement $66.30 $50.00 $100.00 $66.30
Energy supplement $14.10 $10.60 $21.20 $14.10
Total $894.40 $674.20 $1,348.40 $894.40
Some Australian pensioners, who were getting part pensions on 19 September 2009, are on a ‘transitional rate’ rather than the standard rate (see table below).
This means they are getting paid at a different amount until they catch up with the current standard rate:
Maximum rate $738.30 $596.40 $1,192.80 $738.30
Who can get the pension?
Australians are entitled to the age pension if they:
have reached the pension age (at least 65 years 6 months)
fall within the income test limits
fall within the assets test limits
meet the residency rules
For more information about the age pension, visit the Department of Human Services’ age pension page.
Property Personal Finance Writer
A property and personal finance writer, Nick Bendel covers property, loans, credit cards, superannuation, and other bank products. Nick has previously written for The Adviser, Mortgage Business, Lifehacker, Business Insider, Yahoo Finance, and InvestorDaily, and loves getting elbow-deep in the latest ABS, APRA and RBA data.
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How much money do you get on the age pension?
Pension payments can be reduced due to the income test and asset test (see ‘What is the age pension’s income test?’ and ‘What is the age pension’s assets test?’).
Here are the maximum fortnightly payments:
Maximum basic rate
Maximum pension supplement
How does superannuation work?
Superannuation is paid by employers to employees, at least once every three months. The ‘superannuation guarantee’ is currently 9.5 per cent – which means that your employer must pay you superannuation equivalent to 9.5 per cent of your salary. The guarantee is scheduled to rise to 10.0 per cent in 2021-22, 10.5 per cent in 2022-23, 11.0 per cent in 2023-24, 11.5 per cent in 2024-25 and 12.0 per cent in 2025-26.
Superannuation is generally taxed at 15 per cent. However, if you earn less than $37,000, you will be automatically reimbursed up to $500 of the tax you paid. Also, if your income plus concessional superannuation contributions exceed $250,000, you will also be charged Division 293 tax. This is an extra 15 per cent tax on your concessional contributions or the amount above $250,000 – whichever is lesser.
You can withdraw your superannuation when you meet the ‘conditions of release’. The conditions of release say you can claim your super when you reach:
Your ‘preservation age’ and retire
Your preservation age and begin a ‘transition to retirement’ while still working
How does the age pension work?
Most Australians who are of retirement age can qualify for the age pension. However, depending on the size of your assets and post-retirement income, you might be entitled to only a reduced pension. In some instances, you might not be entitled to any pension payments.
How does superannuation affect the age pension?
What happens to my superannuation when I change jobs?
You can keep your superannuation fund for as long as you like, so nothing happens when you change jobs. Please note that some superannuation funds have special features for people who work with certain employers, so these features may no longer be available if you change jobs.
How do I change my superannuation fund?
Changing superannuation funds is a common and straightforward process. You can do it through your MyGov account or by filling out a rollover form and sending it to your new fund. You’ll also have to provide proof of identity.
How do you claim superannuation?
There are three different ways you can claim your superannuation:
Account-based pension
Part lump sum and part account-based pension
Two rules apply if you choose to receive an account-based pension, or income stream:
You must receive payments at least once per year
You must withdraw a minimum amount per year
Age 55-64 = 4%
Age 90-94 = 11%
Age 95+ = 14%
If you want to work out how long your account-based pension might last, click here to access ASIC’s account-based pension calculator.
How is superannuation regulated?
The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) regulates ordinary superannuation accounts. Self-managed superannuation funds (SMSFs) are regulated by the Australian Taxation Office.
How do I set up an SMSF?
Setting up an SMSF takes more work than registering with an ordinary superannuation fund.
An SMSF is a type of trust, so if you want to create an SMSF, you first have to create a trust.
To create a trust, you will need trustees, who must sign a trustee declaration. You will also need identifiable beneficiaries and assets for the fund – although these can be as little as a few dollars.
You will also need to create a trust deed, which is a document that lays out the rules of your SMSF. The trust deed must be prepared by a qualified professional and signed by all trustees.
To qualify as an Australian superannuation fund, the SMSF must meet these three criteria:
The fund must be established in Australia – or at least one of its assets must be located in Australia
The central management and control of the fund must ordinarily be in Australia
The fund must have active members who are Australian residents and who hold at least 50 per cent of the fund’s assets – or it must have no active members
Once your SMSF is established and all trustees have signed a trustee declaration, you have 60 days to apply for an Australian Business Number (ABN).
When completing the ABN application, you should ask for a tax file number for your fund. You should also ask for the fund to be regulated by the Australian Taxation Office – otherwise it won’t receive tax concessions.
Your next step is to open a bank account in your fund’s name. This account must be kept separated from the accounts held by the trustees and any related employers.
Your SMSF will also need an electronic service address, so it can receive contributions.
Finally, you will need to create an investment strategy, which explains how your fund will invest its money, and an exit strategy, which explains how and why it would ever close.
Please note that you can pay an adviser to set up your SMSF. You might also want to take the Self-Managed Superannuation Fund Trustee Education Program, which is a free program that has been created by CPA Australia and Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand.
What is the age pension's income test?
These are the rules for most people who want to claim the standard pension:
Single people
If your income per fortnight is up to $168, you’re entitled to a full pension
If your income per fortnight is over $168, your pension will reduce by 50 cents for each dollar over $168
These are the rules for most people who want to claim the transitional pension:
For most people, the age pension cuts off if your fortnightly income exceeds these thresholds:
Fortnightly income
Standard pension for singles $1,944.60
Standard pension for couples living together $2,978.40
Standard pension for couples living apart due to ill health $3,853.20
Transitional pension for singles $2,038.00
Transitional pension for couples living together $3,317.00
Transitional pension for couples living apart due to ill health $4,040.00
What compliance obligations does an SMSF have?
SMSFs must maintain comprehensive records and submit to annual audits.
How do you open a superannuation account?
Opening a superannuation account is simple. When you start a job, your employer will give you what’s called a ‘superannuation standard choice form’. Here’s what you need to complete the form:
The name of your preferred superannuation fund
The fund’s address
The fund’s Australian business number (ABN)
The fund’s superannuation product identification number (SPIN)
The fund’s phone number
A letter from the fund trustee confirming that the fund is a complying fund; or written evidence from the fund stating it will accept contributions from your new employer; or details about how your employer can make contributions to the fund
You might want to provide your tax file number as well – while it’s not a legal obligation, it will ensure your contributions will be taxed at the (lower) superannuation rate.
How much extra superannuation can I add to my fund?
There is an annual limit of $25,000 for concessional contributions – that is, money paid by your employer and extra money you pay into your account through salary sacrificing. There is also a limit on non-concessional contributions. Australians aged between 65 and 74 have a limit of $100,000 per year. Australians aged under 65 have a limit of $300,000 every three years.
When can I access my superannuation?
The preservation age – which is different to the pension age – is based on date of birth. Here are the six different categories:
Preservation age
Before 1 July 1960 55
1 July 1960 – 30 June 1961 56
From 1 July 1964 60
A transition to retirement allows you to continue working while accessing up to 10 per cent of the money in your superannuation account at the start of each financial year.
There are also seven special circumstances under which you can claim your superannuation:
Compassionate grounds
Severe financial hardship
Temporary incapacity
Permanent incapacity
Superannuation inheritance
Superannuation balance under $200
Temporary resident departing Australia
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Home/News/National/Calif. Court Kicks Prop 8 Case to State Supreme Court
Calif. Court Kicks Prop 8 Case to State Supreme Court
StaffJanuary 4, 2011
The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has declared that one of two groups attempting to overturn Judge Vaughn Walker’s ruling that California’s Proposition 8 is unconstitutional has no standing in the case. The court, however, remanded the decision of the other opponent to the state’s supreme court.
Walker determined in Perry v. Schwarzenegger that the ballot measure banning gay marriage in the state is unconstitutional. The state’s attorney general chose not to appeal the ruling.
Imperial County, Calif. and ballot-measure sponsor organization,Yes on 8, appealed. The court today announced that Imperial County lacks standing in the case, but asked the California State Supreme Court to determine if Yes on 8 does.
Gays Lose Right to Marry in California
Olympians to be honored in Miami Beach and LA
Study finds gaydar exists, is effective
Mich. Supreme Court Weighs Same-Sex Benefits
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You are here: Home / Education / ERAU Closes Out 2020 with Vigor
ERAU Closes Out 2020 with Vigor
Despite a year of detours along the academic pathway, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) President Barry Butler and Chancellor Anette Karlsson say 2020 ended with noteworthy achievements.
Hundreds Graduate in Virtual Commencement
Recognizing students by name, degree and academic honors, Chancellor Karlsson and other academic leaders granted degrees to 621 undergraduate and graduate students during virtual ceremonies Dec. 12. In addition, 50 students received military commissions – 36 from the Air Force ROTC, 13 from Army ROTC and one from Navy ROTC.
Students Selected for Space Force
The newest branch of the military, the U.S. Space Force, selected five seniors from the Prescott campus to be in the initial class of only 250 chosen competitively nationwide. The Space Force is designed to oversee space surveillance and satellite command and control.
NEW AIRCRAFT ADDED TO
EAGLE FLEET
Fifteen new aircraft were added this year, and 19 more are coming in 2021 to meet the constantly growing demand for collegiate professional aviation programs, according to ERAU Vice President for Enrollment Management Jason Ruckert.
Twelve new Cessna 172 Nav Skyhawk aircraft and three Diamond DA 42 NG VI “Twin Star” aircraft joined the Flight Department fleet in 2020. An additional 19 new Skyhawks will be added in 2021, bringing the total number of aircraft used for flight training to 45 planes.
Flight Department Chair Parker Northrup said ERAU anticipates having more than 1,200 flight students within the next five years at the Prescott campus. “We want to ensure our students fly the most up-to-date aircraft with up-to-date avionics in the industry.”
Center for the Future is Reality
The innovative Center for the Future (CFTF) has become a reality and is part of the Prescott Regional Opportunity Foundation. The Center is a hub for innovation, incubation, attraction, growth and retention of companies in key technological industries such as cybersecurity, aerospace, global security operations, materials, agricultural technology and related services. Recently, the Prescott City Council approved setting aside $1.7 million in existing funds to support the project. Further, the city provided office space for the CFTF Incubation Space at City Hall.
Several major high-tech firms already have become partners and more are expected. Officials say ERAU and Northern Arizona University are working to secure support through the National Science Foundation.
Book Drive Contributes Volumes
Hundreds of youngsters in local schools will be the beneficiaries of the ERAU chapter of the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society (PKP).
Honor students collected more than 500 books to be distributed among area schools and to Goodwill Industries in order to support and honor the annual “Read Across America Day” on March 2.
According to Anne Boettcher, director of ERAU Honors Programs, and Curtis James, PKP president, student members collected non-textbooks from throughout campus and within the greater community.
“Thank you, Phi Kappa Phi, for your generous donation of books to the K-12 schools in the YC system,” said Yavapai County Librarian Suzie Rother. “These books are a welcome and needed addition to library holdings.”
ERAU Director of Philanthropy Steve Bobinsky calls 2020 a “highly” successful year. “We are anticipating even more successes in 2021, when we hope our programs and activities return to some sort or normalcy.” QCBN
By Ray Newton, QCBN
Filed Under: Education Tagged With: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, ERAU
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New York-Based Roasting Plant® Coffee Opens for Business in Downtown Detroit’s First National Building
Company’s innovative Javabot™ technology is right at home in evolving tech corridor
DETROIT – January 30, 2013 – New York City’s Roasting Plant, a coffeehouse known for its innovative in-store roasting technology and wide selection of coffees brewed by the cup, announced it will open the doors of its first downtown Detroit store on Thursday, January 31. The unique coffee shop is located on the ground floor of the First National Building at 660 Woodward Avenue, steps from Campus Martius Park.
Roasting Plant’s patented Javabot coffee system enables continuous roasting so that coffee is ground and brewed at the peak of flavor within days of roasting.
The Roasting Plant experience was built by founder Mike Caswell, an industrial engineer whose love of coffee and appreciation of the coffee bar experience was developed while working as a part-time barista in his college days, and subsequently as the Director of Profit Improvement at Starbucks in Seattle. Roasting Plant is the culmination of Mike’s engineering, systems and coffee industry expertise.
“Just like fresh bread, coffee tastes amazing when it’s brewed from freshly roasted beans,” said Caswell. “We capture the art of roasting and brewing combined with the science of automation to offer the best-tasting espresso and coffee in the world.”
Precise roasting and brewing profiles are carefully developed by Roasting Plant’s coffee master, and customers watch the whole process come to life with beans shooting through clear tubes from the roaster to the barista. Coffee lovers can choose from 12 different just-roasted coffees, or even create their own unique blend.
“We are excited to open a location in downtown Detroit, as our high-tech roasting system is a perfect fit for the growing tech corridor developing here,” said Elizabeth Rose, operator of Roasting Plant’s Detroit location. “This technology allows us to offer our customers the freshest cup of coffee on the planet.”
Roasting Plant’s newest location, the first one outside of New York, is particularly special to Rose.
“I used to live in Detroit and would run the halls of the First National Building as a child when I went to work with my father,” said Rose. “When I saw this space, I could not pass up the opportunity to return to my roots and be part of the transformation taking place in downtown Detroit.”
Bedrock Real Estate Services LLC, Rock Ventures’ full service real estate firm, helped Roasting Plant find its new location and brokered the lease. The space was transformed into a cutting-edge coffee shop that will feature outdoor seating.
“Roasting Plant is the exact type of unique, ‘experience’ retail the city needs to fulfill the demand for one-of-a-kind restaurants, bars, shopping and more,” said Dan Mullen, Bedrock Real Estate Services vice president of development. “The company is an ideal fit for the downtown Detroit community.”
For more information about Roasting Plant and its breakthrough Javabot technology, please visit its website, featuring available coffees, a coffee subscription service, news and much more, at www.roastingplant.com.
About Roasting Plant
Roasting Plant® combines the art and science of coffee™ with its patented Javabot™ technology that can continuously roast beans and brew coffee to order by the cup at the peak of freshness within a few days of roasting. Roasting Plant carefully sources the world’s finest beans and can brew any single origin or a customer’s choice of up to four coffees blended, ground and brewed by the cup. Roasting Plant’s just-roasted coffee™ sets a new standard of freshness, flavor and smoothness for coffee lovers – the ultimate coffee experience™.
Quicken Loans Celebrates 10th Consecutive Year on FORTUNE Magazine’s List of the ‘100 Best Companies to Work For’
Quicken Loans Named #1 in Workplace Dynamics’ National Top Workplace List
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Home India News General News Japan extends 3,550 cr loan to India to help destitute populations affected by Covid-19
India and Japan signed an agreement for a loan of up to 50 billion yen (about ₹3,550 crore) to back the implementation of health and medical policy for New Delhi’s economic support programmes concerning the poor and vulnerable affected by the Covid-19 crisis, on Friday.
READ | COVID-19: India Delivered 9 Consignments Containing Relief Supplies To Bhutan Since March
In New Delhi, Additional Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs of Finance Ministry, CS Mohapatra and Japanese ambassador Suzuki Satoshi signed the agreement with an interest rate of 0.65% per annum and a repayment period of 15 years, including a five-year grace period. Suzuki Satoshi tweeted about the signing pact.
Pleased to have exchanged the E/N for Yen Loan with Dr. C.S. Mohapatra, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Finance. This loan will help the most vulnerable people in India affected by #COVID-19 and contribute to PM Modi’s #PMGKY program. A friend in need is a friend indeed! pic.twitter.com/96gJCjHST0
— Satoshi Suzuki (@EOJinIndia) January 8, 2021
READ | MEA On US Threat Against Russia's Missile Deal: 'India Pursues Independent Foreign Policy'
Earlier Japan supported the Indian government to counter the Covid-19 crisis by providing budget support of 50 billion yen and grant assistance worth one billion yen (about ₹71 crore).
The Japanese embassy stated that the vulnerable groups, including the poor and women, had been severely affected by the economic slowdown caused by the pandemic and will contribute to the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana.
“This loan will provide the necessary funds for the government of India to implement economic support programs for the poor, vulnerable and policy reforms, including but not limited to health and medical sectors, which are essential in the fight against Covid-19,” the embassy said.
READ | India Reiterates Afghan Peace Commitments While Chairing UNSC Taliban Sanctions Committee
This financial supports from Japan aims to support the Indian government's programmes such as Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY), that will contribute to a more stable and sustainable socio-economic development in India. Including provision of special insurance for health workers fighting Covid-19, provision of assistance and support to construction workers and distributing food grains to the poor and vulnerable.
It is expected that this grant aid will lead to reinforcing the fight against infectious diseases COVID-19, in India, and contribute towards further strengthening cooperation between Japan and India.
READ | India's UNSC Term Critical; Focus On Indo-Pacific, Terror Threats: French Prez' Advisor
Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY)
Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY) was launched by the Government of India and came into effect since 2016. It allows individuals to deposit money that has not been taxed. Under the scheme, 50% of the untaxed amount must be paid. This scheme was initially valid from December 2016 to March 2017. It was later extended to overcome the economic impact of Coronavirus-induced lockdown on the poor, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, soon after the imposition of lockdown on March 24, announced a relief of Rs 1.70 lakh crore under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana.
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Crawfish farmers urged not to drain ponds yet despite drop in sales
• By Bruce Schultz •
Crawfish producer Allen McLain, at right, inspects crawfish caught by Ethan Trahan, at left, in Vermilion Parish last year — file photos by Bruce Schultz/LSU AgCenter
Crawfish producer Allen McLain’s business has dropped dramatically because of the coronavirus’ impact on the restaurant business.
“We’re struggling. It’s not looking good,” said McLain of Abbeville, Lousiana.
A big portion of his business is selling his product to area restaurants, but he said that has been sharply reduced.
Crawfish are plentiful and have grown to a large size, but there’s a limited market. He said sales during the week are a fraction of his normal volume.
“The weekends are about average,” he said.
Normally, McLain’s workers would be bringing sacks of crawfish from his ponds.
“The ponds are just resting,” he said. “We’re not fishing a quarter what we need to be fishing.”
Mark Shirley, Louisiana State University AgCenter crawfish specialist, said McLain is enduring the same challenge faced by many producers. Buyers are limiting how much they will purchase from producers, he said.
Peeling plants can only process a limited amount because of restrictions on the number of workers who can occupy a facility and maintain social distancing, he said.
But Shirley said it may not be the time to drain ponds, even if producers have a serious loss of business. The current population will be needed to provide a supply next year, he said, and draining a field now would curtail that potential.
“You need to look ahead,” Shirley said.
For a rice farmer, draining a crawfish pond makes sense if the field is intended for a rice crop this year. The window recommended by the LSU AgCenter for planting a rice crop to obtain optimum results closes April 15.
A field planted in rice to be used for crawfish next year can be stocked with crawfish when the rice gets 10 to 12 inches tall, Shirley said.
Just leave it flooded
But if the pond will be used for crawfish next year, the best strategy now is to leave it flooded and harvest crawfish to meet demand, Shirley said.
“Wait until May to slowly draw it down and let the crawfish burrow,” he said.
The burrowing crawfish will emerge after the summer and reestablish the population, he said.
Stocking crawfish in a rice field should be done at the rate of two to three sacks per acre with crawfish from healthy ponds. No white river crawfish should be used, he advised.
The stocking population should have at least 50% females, which can be determined by hand. He said details for determining the females can be found in the LSU AgCenter Crawfish Production Manual at https://www.lsuagcenter.com/topics/livestock/aquaculture/crawfish/crawfish-production-manual.
If crawfish are stocked too early in a rice field, the crawfish will damage seedlings, he said.
White spot virus
Shirley is getting reports of fields that have been infected with white spot syndrome virus, which has been a problem for producers for several years. That’s expected for this time of year, he said, with warmer weather.
Boiled crawfish are scooped by Allen McLain into a carryout dish in 2019.
“If a pond is infected with white spot syndrome virus, we do not have enough information to make a confident recommendation to farmers,” he said. “Some ponds have had an outbreak again in the following season, and others have not.”
He said draining an affected field now to plant a rice crop is an option, but those fields would have to be restocked with crawfish.
In permanent pond situations, Shirley said, farmers can keep the pond flooded and drain in May or June.
“There may be enough crawfish to live through the infection and survive until the fall to repopulate the pond,” he said. “There is no guarantee that the virus will not show up again next spring.”
Shirley warned that water from an infected pond could transmit the virus if it is pumped into other ponds.
He said a team of LSU AgCenter researchers has recently been awarded funds to investigate the factors surrounding the impact of white spot syndrome virus, including transmission vectors, viral resistance in crawfish and changes of the virus.
“Those efforts are just beginning and will likely take several years to come up with management recommendations,” he said.
Bruce Schultz is assistant communications specialist at the LSU AgCenter. He may be reached at BSchultz@agcenter.lsu.edu
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crawfish louisiana lsu agcenter 2020-03-27
Previous: With little early planting, COVID-19 impacts on Arkansas rice remain unknown
Next: USDA: U.S. rice producers say they’ll plant 2.84 million acres in 2020
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Plantronics Buys Altec Lansing Technologies Inc
New York (July 25, 2005)--The Board of Directors of Altec Lansing Technologies, Inc. has agreed to sell the company to Plantronics. Altec's Professional Division is included in the sale, which should be finalized in mid-August. There will be no changes in the Professional Division management team, according to Altec president Dave Merrey, and the company is proceeding the introduction of its new VIPER Digital Audio Speaker System, a CAT5E Plug & Play ceiling speaker system.
New York (July 25, 2005)–The Board of Directors of Altec Lansing Technologies, Inc. has agreed to sell the company to Plantronics. Altec’s Professional Division is included in the sale, which should be finalized in mid-August. There will be no changes in the Professional Division management team, according to Altec president Dave Merrey, and the company is proceeding the introduction of its new VIPER Digital Audio Speaker System, a CAT5E Plug & Play ceiling speaker system.
Under the terms of the agreement, Plantronics will acquire all of the capital stock of Altec Lansing for a cash purchase price in total of approximately $166 million. Following the close of the transaction, the resulting wholly-owned subsidiary of Plantronics will be called Altec Lansing Technologies, Inc.
Altec Lansing will remain in Milford, PA, functioning as a division of Plantronics. Gary Savadove, former GE Consumer Electronics executive and CEO of Labtec, joined Plantronics six months ago and is president and CEO of the Plantronics Audio Entertainment Business Group which will now incorporate Altec Lansing. Bob Garthwaite, who has served as senior vice president of marketing and sales for Altec Lansing, will become president and CEO of Altec Lansing after closing of the agreement.
Altec Lansing, with more than $100 million in revenue in calendar 2004, brings to Plantronics a range of products and a market presence in portable and powered audio. “From the beginning, we recognized that we complemented Plantronics extremely well, from both corporate and product perspectives,” said Bob Garthwaite, senior vice president of marketing and sales, Altec Lansing. “Both companies go back forty years or more in their focus on audio quality.”
www.alteclansing.com
www.plantronics.com
At NAMM: Altec Lansing Debuts ALX Line
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Studio Technologies Updates IFB Features
Dodd Technologies Brings grandMA2 to Electric Forest
At InfoComm: PreSonus Buys WorxAudio
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The Son of the House
Author: Cheluchi Onyemelukwe-Onuobia
In the city of Enugu in the 1970s, young Nwabulu dreams of becoming a typist as she endures her employers’ endless chores. Although a housemaid since the age of ten, she is tall and beautiful and in love with a rich man’s son. Educated and privileged, Julie is a modern woman. Living on her own, she is happy to collect the gold jewellery love-struck Eugene brings her, but has no intention of becoming his second wife. When dramatic events straight out of a movie force Nwabulu and Julie into a dank room years later, the two women relate the stories of their lives as they await their fate. Pulsing with vitality and intense human drama, Cheluchi Onyemelukwe-Onuobia’s debut is set against four decades of vibrant Nigeria, and celebrates the resilience of women as they navigate and transform what remains a man’s world.
Full colour double-sided map of Great Britain at 8.7 miles to 1 inch (1:550,000), with clear, detailed road network and administrative areas shown in colour.With its political colouring of counties...
36 Questions That Changed My Mind About
36 questions guaranteed to make two strangers fall head over heels in love with each other? What's not to like. A clever, wry, funny, rom-com. For fans of The Rosie...
7 Secrets Investing Like Warren Buffett
A complete guide for beginning investors who want to understand how to invest like Warren Buffett.This is one of the first books to showcase both Warren Buffett's Value Investing technique...
A Date with Death
All they wanted was to find their happy-ever-after... Instead, they met their deaths. Three women have been killed in Liverpool. The MO points to a stranger, and now DCI Eve...
A Famished Heart
THEY DID IT TO THEMSELVESBUT SOMEONE WAS WATCHINGThe Macnamara sisters hadn't been seen for months before anyone noticed. It was Father Timoney who finally broke down the door, who saw...
A History of Pictures : From the Cave to the Computer Screen
A new, compact edition of David Hockney and Martin Gayford's brilliantly original book, with a revised final chapter and three entirely new Hockney artworksInformed and energized by a lifetime of...
A Marvelous Life: The Amazing Story of Stan Lee
Stan Lee invented SPIDER-MAN! And IRON MAN! And the HULK! And the X-MEN! And more than 500 other iconic characters! His name has appeared on more than a billion comic...
The beautiful town of Bellevue-sur-Mer, tucked between glitzy Monte Carlo and the plush red carpets of Cannes, is home to Theresa, Carol, William, Benjamin and Sally: five retired expats who...
The Son of the House The Son of the House.
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Tap to Call: 0800 989 0029
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Detailed Market Outlook Report – March 2017
Market Outlook >>
With unemployment falling rapidly in many developed economies and close to record lows in some, the debate is no longer about shortages of demand but whether inflation will take off. Government bond yields, for so long seen as proof of the existence of secular stagnation, are rising. Talk of a large global co-ordinated fiscal stimulus has also gone out the window. Instead, the talk is of how soon and how quickly interest rates will rise, following the latest recent hike by the US Federal Reserve.
Overall, the global economy is looking a bit more normal. Growth in the advanced industrial economies is respectable, inflation is picking up and interest rates are rising. The US has expanded for the past 30 quarters and unemployment remains low. The eurozone has grown for 14 quarters; last quarter’s GDP growth, at 0.4 per cent, meant that growth for the year amounted to 1.7 per cent, just shy of Britain’s figure.
GDP Growth in the Eurozone continued for the 14th consecutive quarter.
Yet the global economy remains in a fragile state. The recovery is starting from a position of serious fragility. High overall debt levels leave the global economy vulnerable to shocks, whether from a cyclical downturn in a major economy, rising interest rates, or political shocks including economic nationalism.
During March, the Bank of England voted to hold interest rates at 0.25 per cent, although traders were surprised by a vote for a rate rise by the outgoing Bank policymaker Kristin Forbes and a number of other monetary policy committee members indicating that they might soon follow suit. Earlier on the day, the Bank of Japan maintained its rate. A “doveish ” interest rate rise by the US Federal Reserve helped to push the FTSE 100 to a new record high in March. In a widely expected move, the Fed voted on Wednesday to raise interest rates by a quarter of a percentage point, marking its second increase in three months and only the third since the financial crisis. More importantly for investors, the central bank also dampened growing speculation that it would raise interest rates further and faster than it had previously indicated. Investors interpreted the Fed’s position as doveish, sending shares up on both sides of the Atlantic and yields on US government bonds down sharply. Gold prices have seen a rebound after the U.S. Federal Reserve raised its benchmark rate by 25 basis points. Since then, the weakness in the dollar has led to further strength in gold prices.
The Fed voted on Wednesday to raise US interest rates by a quarter of a percentage point, marking its second increase in three months and only the third since the financial crisis.
Wall Street fell last week as investors worried that President Trump would struggle to deliver the promised tax cuts that have helped to boost confidence and propel America’s markets to record highs in recent months. The sell-off came as a new survey found that the world’s fund managers think that shares are more overvalued than at any time since the peak of the technology bubble 17 years ago. The latest poll of institutional investors shows that they are starting to wobble on the attractions of Wall Street, while shunning UK shares with even greater fervour. With global stock markets at or close to all-time highs, fund managers think that corporate profits will have to grow significantly this year to justify share valuations, according to the monthly barometer from Bank of America Merrill Lynch.
More fund managers than at any time since 2000 think that equities are overvalued
For most of the subsequent period until 2014, the majority thought that shares were undervalued. Most of the concern is confined to the United States, with a net 81 per cent of respondents thinking it is the most overvalued region. Share markets in the eurozone and in emerging markets are regarded by most as undervalued.
Reeves IWM is aware of the fragility of the global economy and all of the challenges and uncertainties which might throw the recovery off course. This is why we maintain a widely diversified investment portfolio and retain a prudent cash balance within this balanced approach. A market correction is inevitable following a prolonged rally; it’s just that the accurately predicting the timing is extremely difficult. Research has repeatedly shown that trying to beat the market by pre-empting a envisaged market correction are costly and it is better to ride such fluctuations over the medium to long-term and avoid missing the equally unpredictable bounce-back recovery. Such volatility is part of the risk-reward nature of stock market investment, but it can be mitigated by a diversified portfolio (both geographically and sectorally) in well-managed, low-cost funds with consistently strong performance records. This is the approach taken by Reeves IWM.
Following our latest Monthly Investment Meeting, it has been judged appropriate to reduce our exposure to US and UK equities, whilst adding 1% to the gold and oil sectors (via selected Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs), which individually hold positions in gold and oil commodities and trade close to the underlying commodities’ net asset market value) and adding diversification to the emerging markets via the Blackrock Frontiers Investment Trust PLC (which is a consistently strong performing investment trust company, that won Best Emerging Markets Investment Trust category in the Money Observer 2015, 2016 and 2017 Investment Company of the Year Awards and the Investment Week 2015 and 2016 Investment Company of the Year Awards).
UK Special Situations
- 2.50%
UK Equity Income
+ 1.00%
The table above represents the adjustments advised to our Model Portfolios. This will result in a temporarily increase in cash holdings, this is a short term measure.
UK Economy
Inflation surged faster than expected in February to 2.3 per cent from 1.9 per cent in January, manufacturers claimed to be as confident as they had been in two decades and official data showed that public borrowing was running at its lowest level since the financial crisis. The trio of upbeat releases buoyed foreign exchange traders and the pound has climbed against the dollar and the euro. The pound has fallen by 15 per cent against the dollar since last June’s referendum, driving up import costs and pushing up prices.
The resilience of British industry after the Brexit vote has been underlined by a study revealing that the majority of small manufacturers grew orders over the final six months of last year. The national manufacturing barometer found that 57 per cent of small and medium-sized companies increased sales while two thirds expect revenues to rise over the first half of this year. There was a 9 per cent increase in the number of companies expanding their turnover compared with the survey results six months ago. Manufacturers are being boosted by the weakness in sterling, which makes their goods more competitive overseas, and solid domestic demand.
Meanwhile, the lower pound has helped manufacturers to deliver the highest rise in export orders in more than three years, making companies more optimistic about the future than at any time in the past two decades. Indeed, businesses expect the pace to quicken still further and to grow at the fastest rate since February 1995. The rising orders have generated higher output at factories, which rose at its quickest pace since July 2014 in the three months to March.
However, rising inflation has sent household confidence into a decline that threatens to drag down the economy, separate surveys have warned. Families are more pessimistic about their finances than at any point in the past three years, with household budgets under as much pressure as they have been since late 2014, according to IHS Markit. Research by the Bank of England, meanwhile, indicates that consumer demand is waning.
UK Consumer Confidence
Both reports blame the deteriorating outlook on the collapse in the pound since Brexit. Cheap sterling has driven up inflation, which is accelerating faster than wages and is squeezing household incomes, official data shows. Such factors will mitigate the instinctive inclination to raise interest rates in response to rising inflation, which is driven by rising costs rather than excessive consumer demand.
At last, we seem to have some explicit acknowledgement by the Bank of England at least (Gertjan Vlieghe) that it's not inevitable that interest rates must always automatically rise in response to higher inflation, irrespective of what is causing prices to rise. Automatically raising interest rates is not the universal silver-bullet solution to every inflationary scenario. Markets expect a first rate rise in the second half of next year.
Britain’s shoppers flooded back on to the high street in February but it was not enough to prevent retail sales recording their biggest quarterly fall in nearly seven years, according to official figures. Rising inflation, and higher fuel prices in particular, ate into households’ disposable income, leaving less for other purchases, the Office for National Statistics said. Sales volumes for the three months to February fell by 1.4 per cent, the largest decline since March 2010 and only the second fall since December 2013. Economists had expected the poor quarterly performance to be even worse. February’s sales increased by 1.4 per cent on the previous month, beating forecasts and lifting the pound by half a cent against the dollar to $1.2504.
In recognition of the increasing uncertainty around the foreseeable prospects for the UK economy, we have judged it appropriate to reduce our UK market exposure within our model investment portfolios.
Consumer prices in the United Kingdom increased 2.3 percent year-on-year in February of 2017, above 1.8 percent in January and beating expectations of 2.1 percent. It is the highest inflation rate since September of 2013. On a monthly basis, consumer prices increased 0.7 percent.
UK Inflation surged faster than expected in February to 2.3 percent.
Economists said that inflation’s surge to its highest level since September 2013 suggested that the Bank of England may have been complacent about the risk of escalating prices since Brexit. Inflation is already above the Bank’s 2 per cent target and is accelerating faster than expected. Last month, the Bank forecast prices to rise at only 2.05 per cent in the first quarter. Core inflation, which strips out volatile food and energy prices, has also hit 2 per cent, suggesting that price rises are embedded in the domestic economy.
For the first time, the Office for National Statistics published three measures of inflation this month. The consumer prices index (CPI), until now the headline measure and the measure targeted by the Bank of England, the retail prices index (RPI), the longest standing measure, having being first calculated in June 1947, and the CPI including owner occupiers’ housing costs (CPIH), which for the first time is presented as the ONS’s preferred or headline measure. Headline inflation measures don’t change very often. Indeed until today there has been only one such change — when the CPI superseded the RPI — in all the time that regular measures have been produced.
(Last Ever) UK Spring Budget
Healthcare An extra £2 billion will be spent on social care to ease pressure on the NHS.
National insurance Contributions paid by self-employed people earning more than £8,000, will rise from 9p to 11p in the pound. The move will land 1.2 million basic rate taxpayers with an average tax increase of £205 a year.
Personal taxes Income tax will become payable at £11,500 in April, up from £11,000.
Tax-free dividend allowance will be cut from £5,000 to £2,000 — which will affect more than 400,000 pensioners and raise £2.6 billion over five years.
Business rates A £435 million relief package
Economy Growth this year is forecast by the OBR to reach 2 per cent, up from previous predictions of 1.4 per cent
Budget Changes In More Detail:
MPs will vote in the autumn on the proposed class 4 national insurance increases from 9 per cent to 10 per cent in April 2018 and then to 11 per cent in April 2019. The increases apply to earnings between £8,060 and £45,000. The change will mean an average annual increase of £240 for the self-employed from April 2018. Class 2 national insurance, a separate, flat-rate contribution paid by self-employed workers who make an annual profit of more than £5,965, will be scrapped as planned in April next year.
Personal tax allowance
The amount that you can earn before paying tax will increase from £11,000 to £11,500 in April. The higher-rate income tax threshold will rise from £43,000 to £45,000.
The tax-free dividend allowance
This will be reduced from £5,000 to £2,000 from April 2018, a move that will affect small business owners who pay themselves in dividends, as well as investors with large share portfolios. Dividend income paid on investments held in a stocks and shares Isa will remain tax-free.
NS&I bond
The government-backed bond from National Savings & Investments will launch next month paying 2.2 per cent on deposits of up to £3,000.
Money purchase annual allowanceFrom April the Treasury will cut the allowance from £10,000 to £4,000. This means that those who have started drawing an income from their pension plan will be allowed only to pay in additional contributions of up to £4,000.
Offshore pensions
Those seeking to move their pensions abroad to take advantage of different tax regimes will be hit with a 25 per cent tax charge.Corporation tax
By 2020 corporation tax (the amount paid on company profits) will fall from 20 per cent to 17 per cent. This could benefit those who hold properties within limited companies.
Digital tax returns
Small businesses, landlords and self-employed people who have a turnover of less than £83,000 a year will have to file quarterly digital tax returns from April 2019. Originally it was April 2018.
Rate rises for businesses losing their small-business rate relief will be capped at £50 a month. There will also be a £1,000 discount this year on business rates for pubs with a rateable value of less than £100,000.National living wage
This will rise from £7.20 to £7.50 an hour next month. For a full-time worker it equates to a pay rise of more than £500 a year.Duty on tobacco
A minimum excise duty on cigarettes will be introduced in May. On Wednesday the cost of tobacco rose 2 per cent above the retail prices index (RPI), adding 35p to a packet of 20 cigarettes and 42p to a pack of rolling tobacco.Duty on alcoholThe cost of beer, cider, wine and spirits will increase from Monday in line with RPI inflation: 2p on a pint of beer, 1p on a pint of cider, 36p on a bottle of whisky and 32p on gin.
Sugar tax
From April 2018 soft drinks containing 5g of sugar per 100ml will be subject to an 18p levy per litre, rising to 24p for drinks with 8g or more of sugar per 100ml.
Impact of Budget on Investments
The FTSE 100 slipped 31 points to close the week ending 10 March at 7,343, as investors gave a lukewarm reaction to Philip Hammond’s spring budget.
Over a year, the index is up 20.3% (up 25.1% with dividends).
Over three years, it is up 9.9% (up 23.4% with dividends).
Over five years, it is up 24.8% (up 50.6% with dividends).
Over 10 years, it is up 20.6% (up 75.9% with dividends).
As many as 2.3 million savers and entrepreneurs will be hit by a cut in the tax-free dividend allowance announced in the budget. The concession, which was introduced only this tax year, is to be reduced from £5,000 to £2,000 from April 2018. The chancellor, Philip Hammond, wants to discourage small-company owners from the practice of drawing dividends rather than salaries to reduce their tax bills. However, the reform will also hit savers who have an investment portfolio worth £50,000 or more — at least 400,000 of these are retirees.
Its withdrawal will enhance the appeal of individual savings accounts (Isas), which offer tax-free income and growth.
Older workers hit by a move to penalise ‘double-dippers’
A loophole giving over-55s extra tax relief on pension savings will be narrowed from next month. Under changes confirmed in the government’s budget, savers who have already taken an income from their pension pots will have the amount they can continue putting away tax efficiently for retirement cut to £4,000. The change is designed to stop abuse of the system by so-called doubledippers, who withdraw money from a pension after reaching 55, the age that investors can access their pensions, only to put it straight back in for a second-helping of tax relief. The practice is called “recycling” and a higher-rate taxpayer can qualify for £1,125 a year of free money by doing this.
The chancellor, Philip Hammond, announced his intention to reform the rules in his autumn statement, saying older savers should not be allowed to “enjoy double pension tax relief”.
Most people under retirement age are eligible for tax relief on up to £40,000 saved into a pension each year, although different rules apply for high-fliers earning more than £150,000. The much lower limit of £4,000 will affect pension savers who have triggered the money purchase annual allowance (MPAA), a complicated clause that kicks in when someone takes an income from their pension. The MPAA was introduced in 2015 at £10,000.
The eurozone economy is growing at an annualised rate of more than 2 per cent, its fastest for more than six years and faster than the US. Every country in the eurozone economy is growing and the growth is across all sectors. The latest surveys show sharp increases in manufacturing and services activity, order books and business optimism, with French output stronger than Germany for the first time since 2012. Meanwhile job creation is at its strongest in almost a decade and unemployment is down to 9.6 per cent, down a percentage point in a year and its lowest since 2009.
European stock markets face an especially challenging time in 2017. In addition to the continuing turmoil over Britain’s exit from the European Union, there are elections in three European countries where the far right has a chance of winning and creating further disruption, as electors in the Netherlands, France and Germany collectively decide the political fate of Europe.
The other headwinds
The rising tide of protectionism threatens to disrupt world trade and hit some of the successful multinational companies that are based in Europe. Mr Dowling says pharmaceuticals have come under fire for ratcheting up their prices to customers, and many European funds have substantial holdings in the sector.
Martin Todd, the manager of Hermes European Alpha Equity Strategy, says there are plenty of other flashpoints. “In Turkey, President Erdogan’s authoritarian grip on society is strengthening, while on the Russia-Ukraine border conflict smoulders.”
The positives
Despite the gloomy news, the European economy is steadily picking up. Unemployment continues to fall while the latest figures show growth in manufacturing and services. Tim Stevenson, the manager of Henderson EuroTrust, says: “Europe’s gross domestic product is expected to grow by about 1.5 per cent in 2017 and an improving economic climate is leading to more relaxed government spending.” Mr Todd says: “While the risks posed by far-right parties and instability in eastern Europe are myriad, we believe that investors focused on large-scale political events may be missing out on opportunities at the company level. Companies are not the economy or politics of any nation. It is important to step back from the endless stream of depressing headlines to recognise the strength of balance sheets within many European companies.”
Unemployment rates continues to fall while the latest figures show growth in manufacturing and services.
Although Europe is home to many of the world’s most successful and innovative companies, European stocks are significantly cheaper than US stocks, with valuations averaging only 15.8 times earnings compared with 18.2 times for US stocks. Mr Dowling says the political uncertainties that led investors to pull large amounts of money from European markets after the Brexit vote have made European shares attractive to bargain hunters. He says the average discount to the real, or net asset, value at which European investment trusts trade almost doubled in the month after the referendum. Yet, as his company’s research shows, many of the trusts were “European funds” only in the sense that they invest in companies that are domiciled in Europe. He adds: “While the sector was seeing its share prices battered by fears about the health of the EU in the wake of Brexit, many funds it contained were drawing revenue streams from all over the world.”
Our selected European funds have performed very well over the past month (Schroder European Smaller Companies Z Acc up 4.86%, Threadneedle European Smaller Companies Z Inc up 3.53% and the JPMorgan European Smaller Companies Investment Trust up 6.57%. Our clients have benefitted from these pleasing returns.
The US economy has surged since the presidential election in November, with stock markets hitting repeated highs. As markets have soared, so too has inflation. The US Federal Reserve’s preferred measure of inflation, the personal consumption expenditures index, has risen to within touching distance of the central bank’s 2 per cent target. Consequently, America’s central bank signalled the end of an era of ultra-low borrowing costs this week, as it raised interest rates for the second time in three months and forecast two further increases this year. The federal open market committee (FOMC), the central bank’s policymaking body, voted nine to one to lift the federal funds rate range by a quarter of a percentage point, to between 0.75 per cent and 1 per cent. The committee’s decision to raise rates, which was widely expected, came after several positive economic reports in recent weeks, including stronger than expected jobs figures in March. The federal funds rate stood at 5.25 per cent when the financial crisis struck. The Fed embarked on a series of cuts in September 2007, reducing the rate to a range of 0 per cent to 0.25 per cent by the end of 2008. The next rise would come seven years later, and the one after that in December last year.
The committee noted yesterday that inflation had “increased in recent quarters” and was “moving close” to its 2% target. Two recent reports suggest that inflationary pressure was building further. The consumer price index rose to a five-year high of 2.7 per cent in February, up from 2.5 per cent the month before. Retail spending rose by 0.1 per cent in February, in line with expectations, a separate report showed. Spending in January was revised upwards to growth of 0.6 per cent.
Meanwhile, American employers added 235,000 new jobs in February, the first full month of Donald Trump’s presidency, blasting through economists’ expectations. The unemployment rate, which is calculated from a different survey by the US Department of Labor, fell from 4.8 per cent to 4.7 per cent.
US job growth - monthly change in workers, excluding farm employees:
More fund managers than at any time since 2000 think that equities are overvalued, it found, with a net 34 per cent of respondents saying so. For most of the subsequent period until 2014, the majority thought that shares were undervalued. Most of the concern is confined to the United States, with a net 81 per cent of respondents thinking it is the most overvalued region. Consequently, during our latest Monthly Investment Meeting, we decided to reduce our exposure to the U.S. in our model investment portfolios, following recent US market jitters which have started to have an impact on the value of U.S. funds.
The performance of the default/benchmark Reeves IWM Balanced portfolio is summarised below.
Reeves Version 17C Balanced Portfolio - 27/03/2017
Name Total Ret
(Daily) Total Ret
(Daily)
JPMorgan European Smaller Comp Ord -0.81 -0.83 6.57 11.67 9.18 28.93
Schroder European Sm Cos Z Acc -0.31 -1.32 5.12 10.98 13.24 29.60
Threadneedle Eurp Smlr Coms Z Inc GBP -0.30 -0.71 4.20 10.40 8.75 25.96
JPMorgan Mid Cap Ord -0.56 -1.45 3.32 9.13 13.02 13.37
Empiric Student Property PLC 0.87 1.98 2.62 4.62 9.55 12.33
IP High Income Acc -0.14 -0.95 1.95 3.37 4.07 10.29
Lazard European Smaller Coms C Acc -0.37 -1.10 1.92 7.59 7.86 20.07
Marlborough Special Situations P Acc -0.12 -0.94 1.74 7.90 10.16 20.80
Fidelity Special Situations W Acc -0.53 -2.08 1.27 4.17 12.15 21.16
Tritax Big Box 0.00 0.00 1.22 1.22 3.67 9.83
Benchmark:FTSE AllSh TR GBP -0.56 -1.71 0.91 4.60 8.96 22.83
Aberdeen UK Property I Acc 0.01 0.04 0.78 2.40 4.08 -0.74
Henderson Global Technology I Acc -0.39 -2.28 0.72 9.80 15.81 41.32
Threadneedle UK Prpty Authrsd Invmt IGA 0.00 0.08 0.56 6.94 9.06
Baillie Gifford Shin Nippon Ord -1.26 -1.22 0.50 9.04 3.31 23.70
AXA Framlington Global Technology Z Acc -0.28 -2.46 0.36 10.22 15.39 44.72
TR Property Ord -0.75 -1.64 0.18 2.92 -5.08 8.32
Liontrust Special Situations I Inc -0.01 -0.58 0.13 5.57 7.24 23.49
MedicX Ord -0.01 0.12 0.11 3.70 8.89 13.55
Summary -0.52 -1.59 0.03 3.69 7.85 19.76
GCP Student Living Ord 0.00 0.00 0.00 3.35 2.39 9.29
Target Healthcare REIT 0.00 0.00 0.00 3.42 4.41 7.44
AXA Framlington Financial Rl Acc -0.51 -2.93 -0.27 2.49 19.85 37.48
Investec Cautious Managed I Acc Net -0.29 -0.67 -0.89 1.95 7.33 16.81
AXA Framlington Biotech GBP Z Acc -0.26 -3.91 -0.91 5.00 0.30 25.83
F&C UK Property 2 inc 0.09 0.09 -1.34 0.20 1.41 0.99
Jupiter Financial Opportunities Inc -0.91 -3.57 -1.52 2.91 6.91 23.24
iShares Core S&P 500 USD (Acc) -0.74 -2.96 -1.88 1.28 12.97 31.73
Jupiter North American Income Acc -0.86 -3.30 -2.75 0.16 13.54 32.58
Schroder US Mid Cap Acc -1.30 -4.08 -3.54 -0.66 11.27 33.01
Fidelity American Special Situations -1.53 -3.79 -3.73 -2.46 9.24 27.28
The above table reflects the strong performance of our selected European funds over recent months (as commented on above) and illustrates the reasoning behind our recent decisions to reduce our exposure to the U.S. in our model investment portfolios (following recent US market jitters which have started to have an impact on the value of U.S. funds).
Look out for our specific advice e-mails to follow.
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Contact us for your Pension Review
Reeves Independent – The Pension Specialists/Pensions, Investments & Retirement Advice is/are trading style(s) of Reeves Independent Limited (Reg No: 11751772), 147 Gosforth High Street, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE31HA, which is Authorised and Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority under reference 839943. The information provided on this website does not constitute a personal commendation, recommendation, representation or warranty for or in relation to any product or service. Pensions are a long term commitment. You may not be able to access your pension funds until the age of 55. Investments can go down as well as up and you might not get back your initial capital. Pension and tax legislation does and can change in the future which could have an impact on your pension
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#BioNTech #Pfizer #Saudi Arabia
The use of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine against COVID-19, approved by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) last week, will not be mandatory, a health official has said.
“The vaccine will not be compulsory for anyone. But workers in the health sector, particularly those in the frontline, are aware of harm resulting from infection due to dealing with and treating the patients,” Dr. Mazen Hassanain, the managing director of the SaudiVax pharmaceuticals company, added.
He told Saudi television Al Ekhbariya that the SFDA will analyse samples from each batch of the vaccine arriving in the kingdom before allowing its use to ensure its quality.
“The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is undoubtedly safe. But we should admit that there is worry among the people,” Dr. Hassanain said.
Natural and healthy
He termed this worry as natural and healthy. “For the first time, the ordinary people have information about the remedy, clinical trials and side effects of vaccines. In addition, all this has happened in a very short time, given that a year ago, no one had an idea about clinical trials and vaccines,” he explained.
Saudi authorities have said that the vaccine will be made available to everyone in the kingdom.
The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is expected to arrive in Saudi Arabia in the next few days and will be distributed in stages, according to media reports.
The vaccine will initially be used for people over 65 years, health workers and those suffering from obesity, immunity deficiency and chronic diseases.
Keywords: BioNTech Pfizer Saudi Arabia
Category Gulf News | 2020/12/13 latest update at 5:00 PM
Source : Gulf News | Photocredit : Google
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Home » offshore wind » Page 6
World’s 1st Offshore Farm to use 9.5 MW Turbines Comes Online
Updated On Fri, May 15th, 2020
The 219 MW Northwester 2 offshore wind farm is now supplying the Belgian grid with green energy from all of its 23 fully wind turbines producing 9.5 MW each. In just under ten months from the start of the offshore works, the 219 MW Northwester 2 offshore wind farm is now supplying the Belgian grid […]
CPP Investments Commits €200 Mn to Offshore Wind Projects in France
Updated On Thu, May 14th, 2020
CPP Investments acquires 49% of the entity that holds Enbridge’s stake in its partnership with EDF Renewables that is developing 3 offshore wind farms in France. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments) has announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, CPP Investment Board Europe, has reached an agreement with Enbridge to acquire 49 percent of the […]
Macquarie GIG Partners With RIDG to Compete Scottish Offshore Leasing Round
Updated On Tue, May 12th, 2020
Macquarie’s GIG and RIDG have partnered to compete in the next round of seabed leasing for offshore wind development off the Scottish coast From their Edinburgh base, Macquarie’s Green Investment Group (GIG) and Scottish offshore wind developer Renewable Infrastructure Development Group (RIDG) have announced their partnership to compete in ScotWind, the next round of seabed […]
Shell, Eneco to Enter Dutch Tender for 759 MW Offshore Wind Project
Updated On Fri, May 8th, 2020
Through their JV with CrossWind, Shell and Eneco will be participating in the tender for the 759 MW Hollandse Kust (Noord) offshore wind farm. Shell Nederland, a subsidiary of the Royal Dutch Shell, has announced its plans to create a green hydrogen hub in the port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands. The firm aims to […]
All 102 Turbines Installed at 714 MW East Anglia ONE Offshore Wind Farm
Updated On Thu, Apr 30th, 2020
ScottishPower Renewables and Macquarie’s GIG have successfully installed every one of the 102 turbines on the 714 MW East Anglia ONE offshore wind farm ScottishPower Renewables and Macquarie’s Green Investment Group (GIG) have announced that they have successfully installed every one of the 102 turbines on the 714 MW East Anglia ONE offshore windfarm – […]
Offshore Wind Energy Major Ørsted Posts Strong Q1 Numbers
Ørsted has released its interim report for Q1 2020, reporting an operating profit of DKK 6.8 billion up 33 percent over the same quarter last year. Global offshore wind energy leader, Ørsted has released its interim report for the first quarter (Q1) of 2020. The firm has reported an operating profit (EBITDA) of DKK 6.8 […]
Wpd Enters 600 MW Offshore Wind JV to bid in Taiwanese Tender
Updated On Wed, Apr 29th, 2020
wpd has formed a JV with Taiwanese LeaLea Group, to develop a 600 MW offshore wind farm which is expected to be part of the third tender round in Taiwan. With several contracts, wpd is strengthening its presence and activities in Taiwan and intensifying its focus on this emerging energy market. Ahead of future tender […]
Ørsted and Nestlé Sign15-Year Offshore Wind PPA
Updated On Tue, Apr 28th, 2020
Nestlé UK has signed a 15-year PPA with Ørsted to buy green power output worth 31 MW from the 573 MW Race Bank Offshore Wind Farm. Nestlé UK, the UK subsidiary of one of the world’s largest food and beverage companies, Nestlé, has signed a 15-year indexed fixed-price power purchase agreement (PPA) with Ørsted, […]
Dominion Energy Remains on Schedule to Build 2.6 GW Offshore Wind Project
Dominion Energy and its contractors remain on track to ensure that the 2.6 GW Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project remains on schedule Dominion Energy has issued a notification claiming that it along with its contractors remains on track to ensure that the 2.6 GW Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) project remains on schedule to become an economic […]
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OpinionsTop Story
Bad move: Tumblr bans adult content, chokes out NSFW artists
Kayla McKiski December 6, 2018 January 27, 2019
The logo for Tumblr, a social media and blogging platform. On Dec. 17, Tumblr will ban all adult content defined as photos, videos and GIFs showing “real-life human genitals,” “female-presenting nipples” and any content depicting sex acts. PUBLIC DOMAIN
Within the last two weeks of 2018, the social media platform rooted in “creative expression, self-discovery, and a deep sense of community” will eradicate subcommunities. No folks, not the white supremacist blogs that are still alive and well (despite policy changes). The microblogging site, Tumblr, is banning porn.
Beginning on Dec. 17, Tumblr will prohibit all adult content. The company defines adult content as photos, videos and GIFs showing “real-life human genitals,” “female-presenting nipples” and any content depicting sex acts. The move comes a few weeks after the Tumblr app was yanked from the App Store after images of child pornography were found on the site.
Aggressively prohibiting child porn is a no-brainer, but thousands of sites are able to effectively moderate adult content. Though it’s unclear if the content-annihilation stems from pressure from Apple, the company is infamous for sanitizing content. As Steve Jobs said in 2010, “Folks who want porn can buy an Android phone.”
I imagine the site will take a hard hit after the rules are in full effect. About 20 percent of clicks are driven by “adult content,” according to a 2016 TechCrunch analysis.
Should users have to scroll through explicit images? Absolutely not, which is why the site had incorporated a few key features into the platform prior to the most recent announcement. To use Tumblr, a user must be 13-years-old or over. Additionally, all users under the age of 18 have “safe mode” enabled, which filters sexually explicit material. Users over 18 also have the option to censor material for themselves.
Other social media platforms follow the idea of autonomy on the internet. A few months ago, the gaming platform Steam implemented measures allowing users to avoid certain content. Twitter’s policy permits some adult content too, as long as it’s marked as sensitive.
Since 2007, Tumblr has been a refuge for exploration. Sex-focused subcultures within both the heterosexual and the LGBTQ communities have lived in harmony with the rest of Tumblr. Users are able to curate their experiences through the use of tags, which allows them to search for content they want to see and avoid content they don’t.
Bottom line: GIFs of hardcore bondage, domination, sadism and masochism (BDSM) didn’t have to appear on your dashboard. But they could if you wanted them to; because there was the option.
I created a Tumblr for personal use when I was 16. Though I mainly reblogged photos exuding teen angst, I loved the platform because it was a place for me to explore my curiosities in private. When I came of age, it allowed me to explore them further. Nowadays, I don’t use Tumblr too much. But when I do, I’m reblogging art.
Some of the blogs I follow are not suited for work (NSFW) artists, like Ismael Guerrier. He draws and paints both provocative and sexually explicit scenes. Guerrier encouraged bloggers to follow him on Instagram if they want to keep enjoying his art.
Outlets for work like Guerrier’s are already slim and Tumblr is one of the last inclusive places on the internet. The new rules are going to undoubtedly restrict and choke these NSFW artists out out.
About 150,000 people signed one NSFW artist’s Change.org petition to stop the adult content ban.
“Without Tumblr, many adult artists will have no way to share their work efficiently and safely, nor will they have a way to support the works of other adult artists,” the artist wrote on the petition.
I respect the content creators fueling that portion of the site and mourn the loss of their following.
For anyone interested in NSFW art, I guess you have to go searching through the depths of the internet now. If you don’t want to do that, don’t worry, you can still reblog written erotica and some nude art like Michelangelo’s 500-year-old sculpture “David.”
Communities shouldn’t be erased, and Tumblr users should be allowed to engage in adult content if they would like. But who knows … maybe — like the hate speech on the platform — porn will prevail.
Tagged: adult content adult content ban art artist Bans BDSM blogs censored change.org erotic explicit content filters GIFs hardcore bondage instagram Ismael Guerrier Kayla McKiski masochism Michelangelo nipples NSFW nsfw artist opinions petition photos policy porn prohibit sadism sexual content tags teens Tumblr Share
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#NSFW
Warning: This post may contain sensitive content that some viewers might find disturbing. Viewer discretion is strongly advised!
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UofSC honors top students at Awards Day
Posted on: April 21, 2016; Updated on: April 21, 2016
By Megan Sexton, msexton@mailbox.sc.edu, 803-777-1412
The annual Awards Day program was held on the historic Horseshoe on Thursday.
The University of South Carolina presented its top honors, the Algernon Sydney Sullivan and Steven N. Swanger awards, to four graduating seniors during the university’s annual Awards Day ceremony Thursday on the historic Horseshoe.
Riley Xavier Brady, James Frederick Weber Pike and Caroline Linnea Westberg received the Sullivan awards, the university’s highest honor for undergraduates. Sullivan awards are given each year for outstanding achievements, campus leadership, exemplary character and service to the community. The award is named for the 19th-century New York lawyer and philanthropist.
Morgan Elaine Lundy received the Steven N. Swanger Leadership Award, the university’s second-highest undergraduate honor. The award is named for a former president of Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK), which sponsors the university’s Awards Day. It is given to a graduating senior for exemplary leadership and for making significant contributions to the Carolina community.
A full list of the university's award winners is available here.
Algernon Sydney Sullivan award
Riley Xavier Brady
Brady, a McNair Scholar and member of the South Carolina Honors College, maintained a 3.912 GPA as a marine science major. He also received the Outstanding Undergraduate Award in Marine Science and was recognized with a graduate fellowship from the Department of Energy. He is a 2015 Goldwater Scholar, a 2014 Magellan Scholar and a 2013 Hollings Scholar.
He is a member of Beta Theta Pi Fraternity, serving on the new member education committee for three years; was director of education for Green Greeks; and was the co-founder for Walk Home Cocky, a safety initiative on campus. Brady was a University 101 peer leader, intern in both the Office of Fellowships and Scholar Programs and Sustainable Carolina, a Magellan Ambassador for the Office of Undergraduate Research and a student mentor for Buddies Beyond Borders, Freshman Council and several other organizations. He worked all four years as an undergraduate research assistant in the Ecosystem Oceanography and Climate Change Lab.
In addition, he plays the guitar at venues around Columbia, and he was named the 2014 Homecoming King.
In his personal statement, he says: “Looking back on my years, I feel that I have accomplished my initial goal of making use of the diverse opportunities around me and to leave an impact in the process. Most importantly, I believe that I have exemplified the Carolinian spirit along the way: my involvement has been well-rounded, passionate, and genuine; I have lead, studied, and served in many contexts; my words and actions have embodied the Carolinian Creed; and I have made lasting connections with my peers, professors, and community. Although proud of my accolades and involvement, I am most concerned with being remembered for my character. To me, an outstanding student is not one who is consumed with titles, plaques or an impressive resume; rather, they find success in their endeavors while striving to be a role model to others.”
James Frederick Weber Pike
Pike has been a student-athlete and involved in numerous student activities at Carolina while earning a 3.934 GPA in biomedical engineering. A Hamilton Scholar, he is a member of Phi Beta Kappa and served as treasurer for Tau Beta Pi, the engineering honor society. He participates in undergraduate research as a research assistant at the School of Medicine.
As a member of the Gamecock baseball team, he was redshirted in 2013 and played in both the 2014 and 2015 seasons. He served on the Student Athlete Advisory Committee, where he helped organize community service activities for all student-athletes. He also made the All-SEC Honor Roll all four years. He is a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity and the Biomedical Engineering Senior Design Project Team.
In his personal statement, he says: “When I was young, I learned the importance of a strong work ethic. My dad always told me that in order to succeed, I had to work as if there was always someone out there working harder and doing more than me. My mom instilled in me a desire to perform well in school and always stressed the importance of maintaining good grades and getting a quality education. These core values are now a part of me. Of all my activities, I believe my greatest contribution to the university comes from my involvement in the Student Athletic Advisory Committee. I was honored to be chosen by my team to be one of our two representatives. An outstanding senior demonstrates significant achievement in service, leadership and academics, and I have strived to exemplify these values in all I have done during my time at USC.”
Caroline Linnea Westberg
As an international studies major, Westberg has maintained a 3.955 GPA while being involved in numerous leadership activities. She was named USC’s Outstanding Woman of the Year for 2016 and is pursuing graduation with leadership distinction in two tracks – global learning and professional and civic engagement.
A Woodrow Scholar, she is a resident mentor, a Leadership Scholar and a Green Scholars mentor. As a senior, she founded Women LEAD, a women’s leadership certification program in the Leadership and Service Center. She was involved with residence hall government and mentored students through the Emerging Leaders Program, Buddies Beyond Borders and as a conversation partner for English Programs for Internationals.
After her sophomore year, she took a gap year and served as a member of the AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corp, where she devoted 1,700 hours to community service through a partnership with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. During that time, she received the Congressional Award given by the U.S. Congress for outstanding commitment to community service, along with the President’s Volunteer Service Award. After returning to Carolina for her junior year, she studied abroad in Brussels, Belgium, and worked as an intern at the Fulbright Commission of Belgium, Luxembourg and the United States. She has participated in several alternative break trips, including going to Thailand to work with elephant conservation.
In her personal statement, she says: “My impact on the Carolina community has been shaped by my drive to empower others to lead and find their own potential to create positive change within their corner of the world. I have discovered a simple idea: leadership empowerment cultivates connection and drive. By guiding others through the exhilarating process of realizing their leadership potential, inspiring them to harness their unique leadership power, and pushing them to lead within their own communities, I have become aware of the dynamic and formidable nature of this idea. My most noteworthy contribution at USC is my personal endeavor to engage this idea by establishing a sustainable and diverse Women’s Leadership Certificate Program through the Leadership and Service Center that creates a supportive community of women to explore the challenges we face in society, discover their own leadership potential, and empower them to lead fearlessly within Carolina and beyond.”
Steven N. Swanger Leadership Award
Morgan Elaine Lundy
Lundy, the recipient of the Steven N. Swanger Award has, earned a 3.984 GPA as an English major in the Honors College while focusing on gaining skills through leadership, service and mentoring others.
She is a McNair Scholar and a member of Omicron Delta Kappa and Phi Beta Kappa.
She has devoted many hours in the Leadership and Service Center, serving as the alternative breaks student coordinator and site leader for several trips, an impact weekly service program site leader, flood relief coordinator and social justice dialogues facilitator.
Lundy was a resident mentor, a mentor for the Emerging Leaders Program and Pillars for Carolina extended orientation mentor. She has been president and treasurer of INK!, the undergraduate English association. She is pursing graduation with leadership distinction in community service, global learning and professional and civic engagement.
In her personal statement, she says: “My ability to become ‘outstanding’ at USC is simply due to the sheer number of opportunities available to grow as a student, leader, citizen and person while blazing new trails and starting initiatives. Flourishing in this culture, I pushed academic limits in my creative research and dynamic course load, pushed myself to take on leadership roles in the organizations I am passionate about, and supported others in finding their way at USC through mentorship roles and service leadership. The education USC has given me, and what I have sought and found for myself through beyond the classroom experiences, will carry with me in a career continuing these passions to equip and empower others to succeed.”
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Topics: Students, Academics, Recognition, Signature Events, Leadership, College of Arts and Sciences, College of Engineering and Computing, South Carolina Honors College
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Every undergraduate student takes foundational classes in the College of Arts and Sciences. With more than 20 core disciplines, we provide over half of all instruction at UofSC, offering a diverse curriculum that enables students to transform the world around them.
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Indian Coders Rank Poorly
By SearchIndia.com on August 5, 2014 5 Comments
Chutiya programmers a.k.a. Indian coders are all over the place.
From Hicksville in New York to Sunnyvale in California to Geneva in Switzerland, I’ve spotted Indian code monkeys in buses, trains, Indian restaurants, parks, office towers and tourist attractions.
With all these tens of thousands of Chutiyas strutting around and poring endlessly over their computers, you’d think our people would be aces at programming.
Alas, No!
According to a ranking by TopCoder.com, Indian programmers are a pathetic #19, behind Russia, China, Poland, Japan, Ukraine, US, Belarus, Iran, Brazil, Croatia, Slovakia, Vietnam, Bulgaria etc.
TopCoder says its country rankings are based on an aggregation of members within a particular country that have competed within the last 180 days. It seems the site uses a rating system where if all coders from a particular country have the same rating, then that country’s would be the same as the individual ratings. Apparently when coder ratings differ, the country rating is based mostly on the top rated coders.
TopCoder’s says its goal is to to provide a better way to rank countries than a simple average.
Indian Coders – Low Ranking
Why do Indians coders rank so low?
Because Indians have no imagination.
It’s no exaggeration to say that Indians are the most unimaginative cocksuckers walking this planet.
Be it movies, coding, music or any other field, the Indian mentality is to steal, cram, blow and regurgitate.
That’s the reason you never see these Chutiyas create anything original or noteworthy but always toil at some low-level tasks at the bottom of the programming food chain.
While part of the blame must be assigned to the Indian educational system that encourages rote learning, some blame must also go to the food these Chutiyas gorge on.
I’m a fervent believer in We are What We Eat.
Given the proclivity of Indian programmers (majority are from South India) to stuff themselves with brain-numbing food like Dum Biryani, Chepala Pulusu, Gutti Vankaya, Gongura Chicken, Menthi Koora Pappu etc, it’s no surprise Indians barely manage to type some gibberish and delude themselves and the world that they too are coders.
Country Ranking of Coders
South Indians have Ruined U.S. IT Job Market, Says New Book
Indian Coders Rank Poorly added by SearchIndia.com on August 5, 2014
5 Responses to "Indian Coders Rank Poorly"
shadowfax_arbit August 6, 2014 at 1:33 pm
That’s because we are not so good at math!
Btw, I’m a good ranker at Topcoder.
You write: Btw, I’m a good ranker at Topcoder.
Naveen August 7, 2014 at 2:34 am
It is quite embarrassing.
I have heard many Americans commenting sarcastically that the Indian Government should hire some of its programmers to build a decent website for Indian Consulate.
The web sites for Air India’s and the Indian Railway online reservation are quite pathetic.
The bad quality of Indian programming talent and govt web sites apart, so many, so many, so many Indian politicians, government & PSU offices and senior bureaucrats still use third party e-mail like hotmail, yahoo, gmail etc for official communications.
Unbelievably naive. 🙁
guruji August 7, 2014 at 8:35 am
Yes – that shocked me to the core, when I first noticed that Indian Government officials use the free webmail services.
And I wonder why US uses sophisticated techniques to spy on these morons!
They would just give all information themselves, for a free t-shirt.
Free often has a costly price.
boopalanj August 7, 2014 at 11:25 am
http://www.worldometers.info/
http://www.worldometers.info/world-population/
Some interesting statistics..
1. Sweetie, they’re not interesting statistics but terrifying.
2. Regarding your first link, Breeding, Tweeting, E-mailing, Googling, Browsing, Videogaming – All absolutely worthless activities. Only sensible thing I saw today (under Society & Media) was blogging (1.76 million blog posts and climbing, today). 😉
3. Your second link is sheer horror. Every 4-seconds, there’s a birth in India. Thank God, Infant Mortality is high in India.
There must be an edict banning Chutiyas from breeding for one generation or until our population returns to 500-million.
I’ve never understood this Indian mania for a Boopalan to create a junior Boopalan or for an Ashwin to drop a litter of junior Ashwinis and Ashwins.
As if the breeding were not a heinous enough crime in that over-populated nightmare of a country, Indians exacerbate their crime with all kinds of nonsensical functions Seemantham (pre-breeding) and Namakarnam (post-breeding).
As I’ve said often, India has no hope. Just muddling along.
boopalanj August 7, 2014 at 3:11 pm
I agree that it is horrifying.
I don’t know if you scrolled down on the second link to see other charts / statistics.
Only from 1800s, World’s population steeply increased presumably. Seems, people before that were very lazy 😉 In July 200 AD, the population was 200 million, all over the world. That is, if you take today’s TN, AP, KL, KA states’ population and scatter them all over the world. Should have been easier for Jesus to handle lesser number of people!
http://www.worldometers.info/world-population/#pastfuture
And, Global growth rate will start to decline, and will reach its minimum at 2095.
http://www.worldometers.info/world-population/#growthrate
I honestly hope the apes should take over by that time.
By 2030, India surpasses China as the most populous country. By 2100, Desis are far ahead & are uncontrollable and chinks are lagging big time. Indians will need to annex some of the neighboring countries to accommodate their brats.
http://www.worldometers.info/world-population/#top
And totally, mother earth has seen 106 billions of dicks and pussies together so far (total number of people lived).
http://www.worldometers.info/world-population/#total
1. Yes, I took a look at the amount of time it took to add another 1 billion.
It took us 1804 years to add the first billion and just 12 years to go from 6 billion to 7 billion (1999-2011).
2. Another scary thing is the religious aspect.
In one of your charts, a mere 16% (i.e. 1.13 billion) of the world’s population are sensible people, i.e. atheists/agnostics.
The remaining 84% (5.87 billion) are lobotomized idiots believing in a non-existent higher being.
Lobotomized idiots a.k.a. religious nuts are scarier because you can’t have a rational argument with these bonobos.
The U.S. is a more sensible nation – 20% of Americans don’t identify with any religion.
3. You write: Indians will need to annex some of the neighboring countries to accommodate their brats.
Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bangladesh were part of Akhand Bharat during Ashoka’s time.
Right na? 😉
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U12 Premier Division
Groups are processed one at a time. If teams are tied in points after the group play points are awarded (Tied teams will appear in blue), we will apply the tie breaker rules to tied teams until all ties are broken or the tie breaker rules are exhausted. Points awarded to teams to determine the winner of the tiebreakers are shown in the last column on the right.
Place Group Play Points
1st GCAA Cleveland United Arsenal 7
2nd 12u Silver West 3
3rd CVYSA Blast White 0
The current standings for group A are reflected in the table above.
1st FC Athletico 09 Schalke 7
2nd NCF Central Gold 3
3rd DUFC Warriors 0
The current standings for group B are reflected in the table above.
Break the tie
If there is still a tie after the system goes through all of your scoring rules, you'll need to manually break the tie. Identify the placement for tied teams and click the button to save.
Break the tie by awarding points to the tied teams. The team with the highest points in this group of tied teams advance first out of the tie.
1 Y U12M01 F CVYSAAB 2020 CVYSAAB 2020
Autumn Blast Tournament
IN PERSON CHECK for Teams Friday night, November 6, 2020 will be at Pepsi Soccer Complex, 5655 Sweet Bay Lane, Hickory 28602 NC. Please check our website for this information and any future updates. ON LINE Check in will also be available.
GAME CHECK-INS
Coaches must check in with the field marshal at least 30 minutes prior to each match and present an approved match roster to the referee. Player passes should be available at each match. At the conclusion of the match, the two coaches are to verify the score of the match with the referee and retrieve their match rosters from the referee.
PLAYER ELIGIBILITY
All players must be within the proper age grouping as determined by USYSA, US Club and other USSF Affiliates. No player shall play for more than one team during the tournament nor transfer from team to team during the tournament. Teams must be properly registered and in good standing with their respective state or national associations and each player must have a current player pass. All players must be properly registered with the team on which they are playing. Each player must have a medical release to be eligible to play. Academy Teams: ALL 12U and younger Academy Teams will participate with Challenge teams in a competitive tournament bracket. Match Rosters: 1 Red Stamp and 4 Copies.
ROSTER SIZE AND GUEST PLAYERS
The maximum team roster size is dependent on age.
10U has a maximum of 12 players
11U – 12U has a maximum of 16 players
All age groups are allowed a maximum of three (3) guest players. Guest players may not bring the total team roster size above the maximum number of players allowed for their specific age group. Guest players must have a guest player form from their state association.
MATCH LAWS
FIFA “Laws of the Game” as modified by USYS shall apply to all matches unless otherwise provided.
10U: two 25 minute halves
11U – 12U: two 30 minute halves
BALL SIZE
The 10U, 11U and 12U age groups shall use a size 4 ball. The 13U to 16U age group will use a size 5 ball. A tournament game ball will be provided to each team to be used for match play.
NCYSA No Heading Policy
(Ex. BOD 8/29/2016)
In a recent webinar from the Federation, it was stated that they were looking at NO HEADING for ALL Small Sided play believing this would address the many concerns they have received. The EXBD considered this and the calls and emails we have received and made the decision to modify the heading policy to the following. This supersedes any other previously released policy on heading from NCYSA.
NO HEADING is allowed in any small sided match (12U and younger).
In matches for 13U and older in which a 12U player or younger may be on the roster, heading will be allowed due to the fact that it would be very difficult for a referee to be able during the run of play to determine if a player that heads the ball is 12U or younger vs 13U and older. As stated by the Federation, it will be the coach and parent’s responsibility to “police” a child 12U and younger on heading in a 13U and older match.
There are limitations on heading in training for 11U and younger. There are no restrictions for heading in training for 12U and older.
This has been shared with the Referee organization their Assignors and Referees.
PLAYERS’ EQUIPMENT
Shin guards are mandatory.
All field players must have matching uniforms with individual numbers on the shirts.
When the colors of the Jerseys are similar or identical, the designated home team shall change jerseys (home team: team listed first on official schedule).
SUBSTITIUTIONS DURING THE MATCH
Teams are permitted unlimited substitutions during the following:
Possession throw-ins
Goal kicks for either team
Following a goal
Cautioned players
Between periods of play, including OT
*All players entering and leaving the field of play must do so at mid – field nearest the designated team bench area.
The referee shall insure all players are properly equipped. The score of each match must be reported to the field marshal by the referee immediately following each match. Names of cautioned and ejected players must also be reported to the field marshal.
The assistant referee shall assist the referee with the field and play inspections prior to each match and shall perform those other duties as dictated by the laws of the game and the referee.
Ties in preliminary group matches will stand (no overtimes). Should a semi-final or championship match end in a tie, teams will be given a 5-minute rest and immediately proceed with two 5-minute GOLDEN GOAL periods. If neither team scores in the two periods, FIFA penalty kicks will be used to determine the winner of the match. Teams must have an equal number of players for the penalty kicks which follow the overtime periods.
A forfeit shall be awarded if the team is not present to play within five minutes following the scheduled time of its match. (The coach is to report to the Field Marshall 30 minutes prior to the scheduled start of the match.) Any team which forfeits a game before championship play will not be eligible for the championship matches.
CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH DETERMINATION
Point System for Preliminary/Round Robin Games:
Points are scored as follows:
1. Win 3 points
2. Tie 1 point
3. Shutout 1 point
4. Loss 0 point
Example 1: A 2-0 score: Winning team gets 4 points (3 pts. For win & 1 pt. for shutout)
Example 2: A 0-0 Score: Both teams gets 2 points (1 pt. for tie & 1 pt. for shutout)
Win-loss-tie records at the conclusion of match play will be used to determine the first and second place teams to play for the Semi-final or Championship Matches.
Tie Breaking Rules
In the event/situation that 2 or more teams have the same number of points from round robin play, tie will be broken by using the following criteria in the ORDER listed, one after another as needed:
1. Head to Head competition
2. Goal Differential (max/min 3 goals per game)
3. Fewest Goals Allowed
4. Most Shutouts
5. Shootout from the penalty mark
If more than 2 teams are involved in a tie, the criteria will be followed in order (OMMITTING HEAD TO HEAD COMPETITION) until ties are broken. If tie cannot be resolved, tournament DIRECTOR shall have the ABSOLUTE DISCRETION to break the tie by any method deemed appropriate.
“NOTE “: There is no tie breaker related to MOST goals scored (NO RUNNING UP SCORE)
A team winning by forfeit gets 3 points for a win and 1 point for a shutout.
Matches terminated due to fighting will be considered double forfeits and the teams involved will have one (1) point subtracted from their totals.
FAIR PLAY AND GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP
Teams are encouraged to exhibit good sportsmanship throughout the tournament. Trading of patches and club standards is highly encouraged. Fair Play Award will be given to a team in each division.
FOULS AND MISCONDUCT
Any player ejected from a match will not be allowed to participate in this team’s next match. Ejection for fighting will result in the player not being allowed to participate in any remaining tournament matches. The protest and appeals committee shall make this decision with the recommendation of the referee. Any coach ejected from a match will not be allowed to preside as coach in his/her team’s next match. If a coach coaches multiple teams, the coach will still be allowed to coach the team he / she did not have an ejection with. Any parent sent off from a game will not be allowed to attend the next game of his/her team. EACH COACH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONDUCT OF THE TEAM’S PARENTS AND SPECTATORS.
Regardless of weather conditions, coaches and their teams must appear on the field and be ready to play as scheduled. Failure to appear for the match will result in a forfeiture of the match.
Only the Tournament Director or his designee has power to cancel, postpone or shorten a match prior to its commencement.
Matches will not begin and matches will not be allowed to continue if lightning exists.
Should a match in progress be terminated due to weather conditions and one half has been completed, the match will be considered official and the score at that time will stand. If a match in progress is terminated before the end of the first half or postponed due to inclement weather and cannot be rescheduled, each team will be awarded one (1) point.
If an age group’s competition cannot be completed through the championship match due to poor weather conditions, the division winner and runner up will be determined by the Tournament Director in consultation with the protest and appeals committee. They will determine, as equitably as possible, the performance of the teams based upon points accumulated in the matches that have been completed at that time. Such decisions will be final and will not be subject to appeal or subject to protest.
TOURNAMENT CANCELATION: If the Autumn Blast is completely cancelled due to weather, there will be no refund of the entrance fee.
Protests regarding alleged mis-application of the Laws of the Game shall be made in writing and must be submitted with a $150.00 cash fee to the Tournament Headquarters within one (1) hour following the competition of the match. The fee will be refunded only if the protest is upheld. No protests regarding referees’ application and interpretation of the laws of the game will be considered. The decision of the protest and appeals committee is final and binding and not open to any appeals.
QUESTIONS REGARDING THE TOURNAMENT RULES SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR
CVYSAAB 0
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Lee Tae Im Apologizes to Yewon for Her Outburst
by R. Jun
Lee Tae Im, who recently became caught up in controversy after exploding in a temper at Yewon while filming “Tutoring Across Generations,” has offered an official apology to Yewon.
Released via the actress’s agency, Onion Management Group, on March 5, the statement starts off, “First, I would like to apologize,” after which Lee Tae Im explains what happened. “At the time, late in the afternoon on February 24, in the middle of filming an underwater scene with Lee Jae Hoon on Jeju Island, it got a bit too cold, so I came out.”
She says that it’s true that Yewon spoke to her first, after she had warmed up a bit. “However, as we were meeting for the first time, I didn’t hear what she said to me as friendly words of concern. I sincerely apologize for hurting Yewon, and I deeply regret not being able to control my emotions at the time, ultimately saying something I shouldn’t have.”
Lee Tae Im continues, “I’ve read the rumors going around, and I swear, what I said is not as bad as everyone is saying.” She says she still thinks that what Yewon said at the time was more informal than the situation warranted, but also acknowledges that she overreacted. “[Yewon] was just speaking out of concern, but with everything that was going on, I just didn’t see it that way,” she says, and apologizes again.
Wrapping up, the actress expresses her sincere apology to the staff and cast of “Tutoring Across Generations,” as well as her best wishes for Yewon’s future activities.
Additionally, in another statement, Lee Tae Im’s agency states that the actress was having a hard time with various issues like the media always spotlighting her body from variety programs, and the ensuing malicious comments, as well as the early ending of her drama “My Heart Twinkle Twinkle.” According to the statement, Lee Tae Im began to experience severe insomnia, requiring in-patient treatment from February 26 through March 3, at which time she checked out to wrap up filming for the drama.
Source (1) (2)
Lee Tae Im Claims Yewon Was Rude to Her First; Explains Why She Exploded
Yewon Reportedly Remained Calm Although Lee Tae Im Cursed and Screamed at Her
Lee Tae Im Leaves “Tutoring Across Generations” after Cursing and Screaming at Fellow Cast Members
Tutoring Across Generations
Lee Tae Im
Yewon
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Apple Replaces 15-inch MacBook Pro With 16-inch Model
All Tech News > category news Mobility > category news Laptops
LaptopsMobility
New model ditches controversial ‘butterfly’ keyboard and touts 80 percent performance increase
Apple has revealed a brand new 16 inch MacBook Pro, which replaces the previous 15 inch model, with prices starting at $2,399.
Besides the redesigned model being slightly bigger, the most notable development has been that Apple has opted to ditch its controversial ‘butterfly’ keyboard.
In May this year Apple took the unusual step of offering free keyboard repairs for those MacBooks that utilised the butterfly mechanism beneath the keyboard.
Essentially all MacBooks with the butterfly mechanism beneath the keys (nearly all modern MacBooks) became fully eligible for Apple’s Keyboard Service Program.
But the new MacBook Pro has dropped the butterfly mechanism and reverted back to good old reliable scissor switches, in order to deliver “the best typing experience ever in a Mac notebook.”
Other new features with the new model includes the latest 8-core processors, up to 64GB of memory, six speaker sound system, and a larger 16 inch retina display, “making it the most powerful MacBook Pro ever.”
It also comes with 8GB of VRAM and a new advanced thermal design.
“Our pro customers tell us they want their next MacBook Pro to have a larger display, blazing-fast performance, the biggest battery possible, the best notebook keyboard ever, awesome speakers and massive amounts of storage, and the 16-inch MacBook Pro delivers all of that and more,” said Tom Boger, Apple’s senior director of Mac and iPad Product Marketing.
“With its brilliant 16-inch Retina display, 8-core processors, next-gen pro graphics, even better thermal design, new Magic Keyboard, six-speaker sound system, 100Wh battery, up to 8TB of storage and 64GB of fast memory, the 16-inch MacBook Pro is the world’s best pro notebook,” boasted Boger.
The 16 inch Retina display is the largest fitted to a notebook, and offers a resolution of 3072×1920 and a higher pixel density of 226 ppi.
Thermal improvements
Apple also says that the 16-inch MacBook Pro also uses the most advanced thermal architecture ever in a Mac notebook, so it can run at higher power for sustained periods of time.
The fan design features a larger impeller with extended blades along with bigger vents, resulting in a 28 percent increase in airflow, while the heat sink is 35 percent larger.
There is still no SD card reader, but the new MacBook Pro doubles the SSD storage to 512GB and 1TB on standard configurations.
And for the first time, MacBook Pro can be configured with a huge 8TB of storage.
Starting price for the MacBook Pro is $2,399, the same price as the previous 15-inch MacBook Pro, and is available to order from today. A beefier version will cost $2,799.
Quiz: How well do you know Apple?
Parler Sues Amazon Web Services After Hosting Takedown
Google To Add Privacy Labels To Its iOS App Portfolio
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Focus and scope Peer review process Openness and transparency Publication frequency Archiving Article processing charges Criteria for authorship and contributors Conflicts of interest Allegations of misconduct Complaints process Sponsors Journal History
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Metsätieteen aikakauskirja Dissertationes Forestales Suo - Mires and Peat
Current issue: 54(5)
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PlanS compliant
+ Volume 55 (2021)
Issue 1B
Silva Fennica Monographs 2000-2005
Silva Fennica 1926-1997
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Issue 1A
+ Volume 9 (1975)
Acta Forestalia Fennica
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Articles containing the keyword 'historia'.
article id 7328, category Article
A. Benj. Helander. (1936). Anton Gabriel Blomqvist ja hänen aikalaisensa. Acta Forestalia Fennica vol. 43 no. 2 article id 7328. https://doi.org/10.14214/aff.7328
English title: Anton Gabriel Blomqvist and his contemporaries.
Original keywords: metsäopetus; Evon metsäopisto; metsänhoidon historia
English keywords: forest education; Evo Forest Institute; history of forest management
Abstract | View details | Full text in PDF | Author Info
The article is a biography of Dr. Anton Gabriel Blomqvist, who was the head of Evo Forest Institute in Southern Finland in 1874‒1903. He developed higher forest education in Finland, and continued his career as forest scientist alongside his work in the forest institute. His works include growth and yield tables for the main tree species of Finland. His had also big influence in the development of forest management in the country. The article describes also the work of several of his colleague.
The PDF includes a summary in German.
Helander, ORCID ID: – E-mail: –
K. T. Jutila. (1926). Tutkimuksia Perä-Pohjolan ja Lapin talous- ja asutusoloista III. Maanviljelyksestä. Acta Forestalia Fennica vol. 28 no. 3 article id 7098. https://doi.org/10.14214/aff.7098
English title: Studies on the economic conditions and colonization of Perä-Pohjola and Lapland III. Plant culture.
Original keywords: maatalous; karjanhoito; maanviljely; viljelymenetelmät; historia; Lappi; Perä-Pohjola
English keywords: agriculture; forestry; cattle; farms; Lapland
Only 0.1% of the land area of Perä-Pohjola and Lapland is arable land. The study includes a detailed survey of 154 farms in the area. Part of the results are presented in the second part of the article series about Perä-Pohjola and Lapland (Acta Forestalia Fennica vol. 18). The farms had in average 1.87 hectares of arable land and 16.1 hectares of meadows. Cattle-manure was the most important dressing. The main crops were barley, hay, potatoes and rye. The article includes a detailed description about the cultivation methods.
The PDF includes a summary in English. This is a third part of four-article series on the natural resources in the area of Perä-Pohjola and Lappi. The article includes a detailed survey of the farms in the area.
Jutila, ORCID ID: – E-mail: –
Pentti Alho. (1990). Suomen metsittyminen jääkauden jälkeen. Silva Fennica vol. 24 no. 1 article id 5404. https://doi.org/10.14214/sf.a15556
English title: The history of forests in Finland after the last ice age.
Original keywords: jääkausi; metsittyminen; puulajit; luonnonhistoria
English keywords: review articles; natural afforestation; ice age; natural history; post glacial; tree species
Based on literature this paper describes the natural afforestation of Finland that took place after the last ice age and the changes which have taken place during the last 10,000 years. The origin and development of the vegetation and trees are related to the changes in the edaphic and climatic factors. The first tree species to arrive in Finland were the primary colonizing species, birch and Scots pine. The appearance of Norway spruce dates back to about 5000 B.P. There have been great changes in the species composition of Finnish forests during the last several thousands of years but some 2,000–3,000 years ago the various species reached their present balance. The epoch of naural forests, which had lasted some 9,500 years, came to a conclusion, however, when man started to have a marked effect on the forest’s development 300–400 years ago.
The PDF includes an abstract in English.
Alho, ORCID ID: – E-mail: –
Matti Leikola. (1989). Uuteen maatalous- ja metsäakatemiaan. Silva Fennica vol. 23 no. 4 article id 5396. https://doi.org/10.14214/sf.a15554
English title: Towards new agriculture and forest academy .
Original keywords: historia; metsäntutkimus; maataloustieteet; tieteelliset seurat
English keywords: history; scientific societies; forest research; Finnish Society of Forest Science
This paper is a commentary which summarises the history of the Finnish Society of Forest Science and its connection to the corresponding society in the field of agriculture, the Scientific Agricultural Society of Finland. The original idea when the Scientific Agricultural Society of Finland was founded was that the society would function as a scientific society for both forest scientists and agronomists. However, A.K. Cajander founded a separate academy for forest sciences. The article discusses the implications of this decision.
Leikola, ORCID ID: – E-mail: –
Pekka Virtanen. (1987). Kansanperinteen metsäkuvia. Silva Fennica vol. 21 no. 4 article id 5336. https://doi.org/10.14214/sf.a15493
English title: The forest in Finnish folk lore.
Original keywords: kansanperinne; metsähistoria; metsäperinne
English keywords: folklore; forest traditions; forest history
Several views to forest’s role in the Finnish folklore are presented. They clearly show how many important dimensions forests have had in Finnish life. Descriptions concentrate on forest-related traditions of ancient times. They give a basis to examining the role of forests in the modern Finnish mind.
The paper is based on a lecture given in the seminar 'The forest as a Finnish cultural entity’, held in Helsinki in 1986. The PDF includes a summary in English.
Virtanen, ORCID ID: – E-mail: –
Bo Lönnqvist. (1987). Kultivoitunut metsä - herraskartanon puisto. Silva Fennica vol. 21 no. 4 article id 5329. https://doi.org/10.14214/sf.a15486
English title: Cultivated forests – the case of manor parks.
Original keywords: kulttuurimaisema; puistot; kartanopuistot; rakennettu ympäristö; kartanot; kulttuurihistoria
English keywords: constructed environment; cultural landscape; park; manor; garden; symbol value
The earliest manor parks, which are a special form of cultivated forests, were created at the end of the 18th century. The surrounding of the main buildings was divided into two parts, an aesthetic park and yard serving household and economic purposes. Early in the 19th century, large parks were created which represented dominant aesthetic ideals but, on the other hand, formed a ”wild” counterpart to the structured inner world of the main building. A good example is Ratula Manor and its park, which represent the diversity of the cultivated forest of the 19th century manors.
The paper is based on a lecture given in the seminar ‘The forest as a Finnish cultural entity’, held in Helsinki in 1986. The PDF includes a summary in English.
Lönnqvist, ORCID ID: – E-mail: –
Jussi Raumolin. (1987). Metsän suojassa. Silva Fennica vol. 21 no. 4 article id 5324. https://doi.org/10.14214/sf.a15481
English title: Under the shelter of forests: some thoughts about political anthropology and the geopolitics of forests.
Original keywords: poliittinen antropologia; geopolitiikka; sotahistoria; sissisodankäynti; metsät
English keywords: state formation; geopolitics; guerilla warfare; forest warfare; political anthropology
Only a few studies exist concerning the political anthropology and geopolitics of forests. The role of forests in European geopolitics and their role in restraining concentration of power and promoting guerrilla warfare is examined. The shelter of forest cover has been a fundamental factor for the formation of the Finnish people and it has also played an important role in the defence of independent Finland. Clearcuttings, forest roads and modern reconnaissance technology have recently diminished the protective shelter of forests.
Raumolin, ORCID ID: – E-mail: –
Matti Leikola. (1987). Metsien hoidon aatehistoriaa. Silva Fennica vol. 21 no. 4 article id 5323. https://doi.org/10.14214/sf.a15480
Keywords: aatehistoria; historia; kulttuuri; menetelmät; metsänhoito; metsänuudistus; metsät; seminaarit
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Olli Makkonen. (1981). Metsätöiden palkkauksen ja työolosuhteiden kehitys Suomessa ennen työehtosopimuskautta. Silva Fennica vol. 15 no. 3 article id 5121. https://doi.org/10.14214/sf.a15062
English title: Development of the wages and work conditions in forest work in Finland prior to the age of agreements on the terms of working.
Original keywords: metsätyö; uitto; palkkaus; asumisolot; työolot; historia
English keywords: forest work; floating; wages; Finland; history; working conditions; lodging
In Finland the first trade union in the field of forest work and timber floating was founded in 1946 and the first formal collective agreement was achieved in 1962. Information about the development of wage payments and work conditions (lodging and food) in forest work prior to the formal agreements was dispersed in a number of different sources, and is already partially in danger of being forgotten. The aim of this study was to bring together all available information concerning the matter in question.
The PDF includes a summary in English.
Makkonen, ORCID ID: – E-mail: –
Matti Leikola. (1979). Tutkimustoiminta Lapin metsien hoidon ja käytön suuntaajana. Silva Fennica vol. 13 no. 1A article id 5013. https://doi.org/10.14214/sf.a14867
English title: The role of forestry in guiding forest policy and management in Finnish Lapland.
Original keywords: metsäntutkimus; metsätalous; Lappi; metsänhoito; historia
English keywords: forest management; forest policy; forestry research; forestry; history; Lapland; Finland
The part played by research work in guiding the management and utilization of Lapland’s forests is examined in this publication. The review has been written to mark the 70th anniversary of the Finnish Forestry Society (now the Finnish Society of Forest Science).
The climate in Lapland is very severe and, owing to the lack of experience abroad, forestry has been forced to follow the guidelines set by domestic research activity in Finland. Research work was very active in Lapland the 1910’s, 1920’s and 1950’s, and the main outlines for forestry utilisation were soon established. In the 1950’s, there was a strong trend prevailing to develop forestry, with the result that a change took place in favour of clear-cutting. The cool climate period in the 1960’s caused considerable damage to young plantations. In order to find means to rectifying the situation and to devise new guidelines for forest management, The Finnish Forest Research Institute established a number of research stations in Lapland.
Research activity has had a pronounced effect on the management and utilization of forests in Lapland. Present-day problems have been caused more by the international situation than by difficulties in the management of forests in Lapland.
Antti Haapanen, Pertti Siitonen. (1978). Kulojen esiintyminen Ulvinsalon luonnonpuistossa. Silva Fennica vol. 12 no. 3 article id 5002. https://doi.org/10.14214/sf.a14856
English title: Forest fires in Ulvinsalo strict nature reserve in Northern Finland.
Original keywords: Ulvinsalon luonnonpuisto; Kuhmo; metsäpalot; mänty; kuusi; palohistoria; ekologia
English keywords: national park; Northern Finland; forest fires; ecology; Scots pine; Norway spruce
The study is the first report of a larger project concerning fire ecology in the Finnish boreal forests. Modern forestry has never been practiced in the Ulvinsalo strict nature reserve (2,500 ha) in Northern Finland in the county of Kuhmo. Forest fires have been uncommon because of mosaic of mineral and peat soils. The forests are mostly Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) H. Karst.) dominated with Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) often as the oldest trees of a stand. Forest fires were dated by counting annual rings from cambium to the fire scar in pines. 73 stands covering 1,207 ha were surveyed, over 80% of which was on mineral soil.
50% of the area had burned at least once during the life time of the present pine trees. 48 different forest fires were found, the first being from the year 1712 and the latest from 1969. The average time elapsed between the fires was about 82±43 years, and range 18–219 years. It was assumed that the stands where no fire scars were found, had, however, regenerated after fires but no fires have occurred since after that. In latter part of the 19th century 21 forest fires were dated, in the other half centuries only 4–9. This may have been caused by the increased human activity in the late 1800’s. The fire rotation of the area is 280 years, and spruce is almost the only tree species, which can regenerate in the present situation.
Haapanen, ORCID ID: – E-mail: –
Siitonen, ORCID ID: – E-mail: –
Olli Makkonen. (1976). Mitä vanhalla ajalla tiedettiin puiden kasvusta. Silva Fennica vol. 10 no. 1 article id 4931. https://doi.org/10.14214/sf.a14773
English title: What was known in ancient times about growth of trees?
Original keywords: historia; puiden kasvu
English keywords: history; growth of trees
In this article, information about tree growth which was familiar to the learned men in the old days is presented. The time when different tree species start growing, the different growth rate of various tree species, the age of trees, their resistance to injury etc. are discussed.
Matti Kärkkäinen. (1975). Kantojen käytön kehittyminen Suomessa. Silva Fennica vol. 9 no. 4 article id 4927. https://doi.org/10.14214/sf.a14769
English title: Development of stump utilization in Finland.
Original keywords: kannot; hyötykäyttö; historia; metsätalous; tervanpoltto; polttoaineet; polttopuu; selluteollisuus
English keywords: stumps; tar; history; utilization; forestry; fuelwood; pulp industry
The utilization of stump and root wood is analysed in this paper on the basis of literature from middle of 19th century to the present date. According to the information available, the utilization of pine stumps in tar production was small compared to that of peeled Scots pine stemwood in the 19th century. During the 1st and 2nd World War the utilization of stumps for tar production reached its highest levels. Other industrial utilization of stumps has been small up to the present time but now stumps are beginning to be used in the pulp industry.
The greatest amounts of stumps have been utilized by the rural population. Stumps were used as fuel. In the thirties, the yearly amount used was over 200,000 m3 (solid measure), and even in the sixties over 100,00 m3. No industrial utilization method has yet reached these levels.
Kärkkäinen, ORCID ID: – E-mail: –
Olli Makkonen. (1975). Puiden lyhytkiertoviljelyn varhaishistoriaa. Silva Fennica vol. 9 no. 3 article id 4923. https://doi.org/10.14214/sf.a14765
English title: Early history of short-rotation forestry.
Original keywords: historia; lyhytkiertoviljely; vesametsätalous
English keywords: history; short-rotation forestry; coppice
In the first place the term short-rotation forestry is being used in the sense of intensive tree growing during a short rotation time using reproduction by coppice shoots from broad-leaved tree material which has been specially bred for this purpose, or of producing fast-growing varieties from planted stock during the course of somewhat longer rotation time (maximum 20 years). However, short-rotation forestry as such has already a long history.
In the Fertile Crescent in ancient Egypt grew no tree species suitable for short-rotation production, but reeds and bulrushes were used for the same purpose as willow-twigs, e.g. wickerwork or binding. At least in the Fertile Crescent reed harvesting using a rotation of one year was practiced already very long ago. The earliest information about coppice-shoot cultivation is found in Greek literature, but it was the Romans who developed short-rotation forestry based on the trees’ capacity of reproducing through coppice shoots into an extensive economic activity. Willows were by far the most important species used. Twigs intended for wickerwork were harvested once a year and thicker material, to be used for support and in basket framework, every fourth year. Chestnut and oak were used for the production of slightly thicker poles employing a longer rotation. Cypress poles were produced from seedlings using a rotation time of 12–13 years. Roman scholars give us plenty of information concerning the tending of plantations in short-rotation forestry.
Olli Makkonen. (1975). Metsien "moninaiskäytöstä" vanhalla ajalla. Silva Fennica vol. 9 no. 2 article id 4916. https://doi.org/10.14214/sf.a14760
English title: The multiple use of forests in ancient times.
Original keywords: historia; metsien monikäyttö; virkistyskäyttö; suojametsät; metsästys; metsälaitumet; sivutuotteet
English keywords: history; multiple use of forests; recreation; hunting; protection forest
It is possible to show that many of the after-effects resulting from the disappearance of forest cover were well known already in ancient times. The invigorating effect of moving around freely in the forest and its artistic creative ability were also recognized as well as the healing effect of coniferous forest on people suffering from consumption. Hunting and the use of forests for cattle grazing is also an extremely old practice. The so-called by-products of the forest such as tree bark and leaves, as well as berries and fruits, have played an important role in the history of mankind from the very earliest beginnings.
Antero Piha. (1975). Metsänhoitoyhdistyslain syntyvaiheet. Silva Fennica vol. 9 no. 1 article id 4914. https://doi.org/10.14214/sf.a14758
English title: The creation of the Act on Forest Owners’ Associations passed in 1950.
Original keywords: metsänhoitoyhdistykset; lainsäädäntö; historia; metsänhoito; yksityismetsänomistajat
English keywords: forest owners' associations; legislation; forest organizations; forest management; private forest owners
The paper, which was written already at the turn of the year 1950–51, gives a quite detailed description of the early history of the Act on Forest Owners’ Associations, which was passed on 17 November 1950 and is still in force, of the long-lasting and multifarious preparations involved with it, and of its consideration in the parliament. In most parties there were both supporters and opponents; only the social democrats voted harmoniously for the act and the people’s democrats against it.
Piha, ORCID ID: – E-mail: –
Olli Makkonen. (1974). Forst-sanan alkuperä. Silva Fennica vol. 8 no. 1 article id 4894. https://doi.org/10.14214/sf.a14738
English title: On the origin of the word forst (forest).
Original keywords: historia; etymologia
English keywords: history; etymology
By the last times of the Roman Empire, a considerable part of the vast forest and wilderness areas of the northern provinces had come into the possession of the Emperor and other owners of large land areas. Such areas were called saltus. The kings of the Franks considered all inhabited lands as belonging to the crown, but contrary to the Roman Emperors, they reserved the right of hunting and fishing in these areas for themselves. As the concept saltus did not originally include a prohibition against outsiders’ right to hunt and fish, and as among the people saltus still meant forest-covered wilderness in general, a new term was needed for description of uninhabited areas belonging to the king including all rights of using them. The introduced term was forestis, a word the origin of which has been a subject of much contention. In the present writer’s opinon, the most probable solution is that the word forestis has been derived from the Latin foris (outside of; e.g. outside of inhabited areas or of free utilization) by means of the suffix -estis. This is against the rules of Classic Latin, but it is completely possible in the case of the Latin of the seventh century.
Yrjö Ilvessalo. (1969). Metsäntutkimus Suomessa ennen ja nyt. Silva Fennica vol. 3 no. 2 article id 4789. https://doi.org/10.14214/sf.a14575
English title: Earlier and present forestry research in Finland.
Original keywords: historia; metsäntutkimus; metsätieteet; tutkimuslaitokset
English keywords: history; forest sciences; forest research; research institutes
The article gives an account of the organization of research work, which was started in the 18th century at the Academy of Turku. It was later developed in the times of the Forest Institute at Evo, founded in 1862, but it was not until the highest forestry education was transferred to the University of Helsinki in 1908 that it got a more compact form. In 1909 the Finnish Society of Forestry was founded and in 1918, the Finnish Forest Research Institute. In addition, a number of special institutes and organizations have been established.
At first the number of different branches was small, but the number of fields has multiplied until the present day. The article describes development that has taken place within the fields of forest biology, silviculture, forest protection, soil science, peatland forestry, forest mensuration, forest management, forest technology, forest economics, and multiple-use forestry.
Development was promoted by the organization of research work and its division into branches. Improvement of vehicles used in collection of study material as well as of the equipment used for this purpose and for handling the material have been important for the development. Funds for research have increased. Contacts with other fields of science and participation in international research work, especially through IUFRO, team work and schooling new scientists, have been influential. In 1960 a State committee appointed for further development of forestry research presented a plan to this end.
Ilvessalo, ORCID ID: – E-mail: –
Olli Makkonen. (1968). Roomalaisten taimitarhat. Silva Fennica vol. 2 no. 2 article id 4766. https://doi.org/10.14214/sf.a14551
English title: The nurseries of the ancient romans.
Original keywords: historia; taimitarhat; taimikasvatus; puun taimet; taimistot; roomalaiset; Rooman valtakunta
English keywords: history; nurseries; tree nurseries; tree seedlings; romans; Roman empire
The paper outlines the information about forest tree nurseries in the Roman Empire, found in ancient writings. According to the author, it cannot be stated that actual forest cultivation was practiced in the times of the Roman Empire, even if tree seedlings were used for a variety of purposes, such as embellishment of cities, parks and gardens, and raising supporting trees in forest vineyards. Nurseries were usually established on farms to fill the owner’s needs. For instance, Gato, Varro, Virgil, Pliny and Colulmella have given instructions about establishment and management of nurseries, and methods to sowing seeds of different tree species. Except for seeds, both root- and branch-cuttings were used in cultivation of trees. Also, grafting was known.
Paavo Ennevaara. (1963). Suhdanteiden vaikutus puutavaran myynteihin Keski-Pohjanmaalla hakkuuvuosina 1927/28-1931/32. Silva Fennica no. 113 article id 4710. https://doi.org/10.14214/sf.a14268
Keywords: 1927-1932; historia; Keski-Pohjanmaa; metsätalous; puukaupat; suhdanteet; Suomi
Ennevaara, ORCID ID: – E-mail: –
Erkki Laitakari. (1960). Metsähallinnon vuosisataistaival 1859-1959. Silva Fennica no. 107 article id 4689. https://doi.org/10.14214/sf.a14130
English title: A century of Finnish State forestry 1859-1959.
Original keywords: historia; metsähallinto; valtionmetsät; Metsähallitus; Suomi
English keywords: history; forest administration; State Forests; Forest Service; Finland
Abstract | View details and supplementary files | Full text in PDF | Author Info
This book deals with the Finnish Forest Service, organization responsible for the management of the State forests of Finland, since its establishment in 1859 up to the present time. Attention is paid especially to the following topics: the area of State Forests and its changes; the organisation of Forest Administration; the promotion of transportation conditions for State forestry; silvicultural treatment of State Forests, their management and commercial activity; the Forest Service as an employer; the State Schools for training forest foremen; the activity of the Forest Service as regards private forests.
The PDF includes a short summary in English, a more comprehensive history of the Forest Service is published in Silva Fennica no. 112.
Laitakari, ORCID ID: – E-mail: –
Aarne Laitakari. (1963). Suomen metsien tila 1730-luvulla ruotsalaisen geologin ja vuorimiehen, Daniel Tilas’in kuvaamana. Silva Fennica no. 115 article id 4717. https://doi.org/10.14214/sf.a14275
English title: The condition in Finland’s forests in the 1730s as described by Daniel Tilas, a Swedish geologist and mineralogist.
Original keywords: 1730-luku; historia; metsätalous; metsänhoito; Suomi
English keywords: history; forestry; 1730s; forest management; Finland
The present article reviews a geological report given by Daniel Tilas, a Swedish mining manufacturer, towards the end of the 1730s as the report regards information on the Finnish forests. His report gives at hand that forests in several localities southwest of the region demarcated by the towns of Loviisa, Äänekoskei and Kristiina were seriously diminished or burdened by tar burning and shifting cultivation. Larger saw log stands were found mainly in the scaterly populated parishes of Central Finland. Thus, in the chain of ridges between Orivesi and Ruovesi, covering an area of about 4,000 km2, there was a heavily stocked Scots pine forest, as reported by Tilas.
The report given by Tilas is kept in the files of the Geological Research Institute in Helsinki.
Erkki Kivinen, Erkki Laitakari. (1958). Helsingin yliopiston maatalous-metsätieteellisen tiedekunnan vaiheita 50-vuotiselta taipaleelta. Silva Fennica no. 95 article id 4674. https://doi.org/10.14214/sf.a14110
English title: 50 years of education in agriculture, forestry and home economics at the University of Helsinki.
Original keywords: historia; metsätalous; maatalous; kotitalous; kalatalous; korkeakouluopetus; maataloustieteet; metsätieteet; yliopisto
English keywords: education; forest education; forestry; agriculture; limnology; house education; university
Agricultural education in Finland begun in 1840, when an agricultural college started its activity in the estate of Mustiala in Southern Finland. A decree published in 1896 stated that the highest agricultural education should be transferred from Mustiala to the University of Helsinki, and two professorships and an assistant professorship should be established. The first professor of agricultural chemistry was appointed in 1900, and the work to compile the scheme for the agricultural university studies was started. By 1957 the personnel had increased to ten professorships and 23 docents.
In 1924 the section of agriculture of the Philosophical faculty was changed to the Faculty of agriculture and forestry. By the spring 1957 a total of 2,180 Bachelor of Agriculture Examinations, 2,196 Bachelor of Forestry Examinations and 1,198 Candidate’s Examinations had been attained. Experimental farms were established in Viik an in Malminkartano in 1931, however, the areas were in the beginning leased to the Prison Administration. The farm in Viik had also laboratories for research purposes. In 1949 it was decided that also the agricultural institutes should be placed in Viik.
The highest forest education was established in a forest college in Evo in Central Finland in 1862. In 1900 it was suggested that also the highest forest education should be transferred to the University of Helsinki. It was affirmed by a decree in 1906. In 1957 there was 8 professors and 15 lecturers in the faculty. A large adjustment in the content of the examination was performed in 1951. Up to spring 1957 a total of 2,196 Bachelor of Forestry Examinations was achieved in the faculty.
The education of home economics commenced in the faculty of agriculture and forestry in 1946.
The article includes an English summary.
Kivinen, ORCID ID: – E-mail: –
Viljo Holopainen. (1957). Metsätalouden edistämistoiminta Suomessa : Tapio 1907-1957. Silva Fennica no. 94 article id 4667. https://doi.org/10.14214/sf.a14126
English title: Promotion of private forestry in Finland, Tapio 1907-1957.
Original keywords: historia; Tapio; Keskusmetsälautakunta Tapio; metsätalous; yksityismetsät
English keywords: forestry; promotion of forestry; Finland; Central Forestry Association Tapio; Tapio; private forests
For many decades Finland’s forest policy has been focused on private forestry, accounting for approximately 60% of Finland’s forest area. The objective has been to regulate forest management by legislation and to promote private forestry. The aim of the study was to explore the role of the Central Forestry Association Tapio in promoting private forestry.
A detailed synthesis of Tapio’s 50 years long history and activities is drafted. According to the three forest inventories (in 1921-24, 1936-37 and 1951-53), big improvements have been made in cutting methods, mainly in the sense that selective cuttings have decreased. The condition of private forests is, however, not as good as that of the state and company forests. Improvements introduced in the legislation in 1928 have had great influence in forestation and drainage of peatlands in private forests. The private forests, however, suffer from a lack of planning.
Through Intensified forest policy it has been possible to ensure supply of roundwood for forest industry. An efficient information service on timber markets have been organized, and the measurement of roundwood has been standardized. Progress in the promotion of forestry has suffered from unfavourable trends in forestry, mainly from the nearly doubling of the number of forest holdings in the present century and from the contraction of their size.
Holopainen, ORCID ID: – E-mail: –
Arvo Lähde. (1940). Metsä- ja uittotyöläisten asunto- ja ravinto-oloista. Silva Fennica no. 51 article id 4572. https://doi.org/10.14214/sf.a13954
English title: Housing and nourishment of forest workers and log floaters.
Original keywords: henkilöhistoria; kämpät; metsätyö; uitto; metsätyöntekijät; ruokatalous; työolot; työmaa-asunnot; lainsäädäntö; ravitsemus
English keywords: forest work; forest workers; log floaters; working conditions; lodgings; legislation; nourishment
Due to constantly changing working sites often in remote places the working conditions of forest workers and log floaters have been inadequate. The article discusses the requirements of the act on the housing of forest workers and log floaters that came into force in 1928, and assesses how it affected the working conditions of the laborers.
The employers had positive attitude towards the new legislation and they had improved the housing conditions to match the requirements. Most complaints in the inspections of the working conditions were found in Eastern Finland. The shortages were considered to be mostly minor ones. Even if the act concerned only housing, it improved indirectly also nourishment in the working sites. Other factors affecting the working conditions were shelters for the draught horses, health care, and newspapers and other spare-time activities available for the workers.
The article includes a German summary.
Lähde, ORCID ID: – E-mail: –
Finnish Society of Forest Science. (1935). Metsänhoitolaitoksen 75-vuotisjuhla 19. IV. 1934. Silva Fennica no. 36 article id 4477. https://doi.org/10.14214/sf.a9063
English title: 75 years’ jubilee of the Finnish Forest Service on April 19th, 1934.
Original keywords: esitelmät; historia; juhlat; Metsähallitus; metsätalous; valtion laitokset; valtionmetsät
English keywords: Forest Service; anniversary; state forests
The article is a description of the 75th anniversary of Finnish Forest Service (now Metsähallitus, Forest Service), held on April 19th 1934. The greetings of the quests, presented in the Commemoration festival and Banquet, are included in the article.
Finnish Society of Forest Science, ORCID ID: – E-mail: –
Finnish Society of Forest Science. (1932). Lauri Ilvessalon muisto. Silva Fennica no. 26 article id 4467. https://doi.org/10.14214/sf.a9039
English title: In memoriam of Dr. Lauri Ilvessalo.
Original keywords: esitelmät; henkilöhistoria; julkaisut; Lauri Ilvessalo; metsähallitus; muistokirjat
English keywords: obituary; Lauri Ilvessalo
The article is an obituary of Dr. Lauri Ilvessalo, who died in 1928. He worked as a professor of silviculture in 1918-24, and published numerous scientific articles on silviculture. The article includes his presentations on the state of forestry in Finland, and on the establishment of Forest Service in Finland and the public attitude towards the organization.
E. E. Kaila. (1932). Tervanpolton leviäminen Suomessa 1700-luvun puolimaissa. Silva Fennica no. 21 article id 4462. https://doi.org/10.14214/sf.a9018
English title: Tar burning in Finland in the middle of the 18th century.
Original keywords: tervanpoltto; vienti; taloushistoria; metsien käyttö
English keywords: burning of tar; export; economic history; forest utilization
Tar was an important export article in Finland, then a part of Sweden, in the 18th century. For instance, in 1640 half of Finnish trade consisted of tar. In other countries, like Norway, Poland, Archangel in Russia, and North Sweden, burning of tar was minor compared to Finland. In Finland, tar was produced of young pine trees. Tar production concentrated in more remote locations of the country, where it would be too difficult and expensive to transport timber and wood products. The cheapest products, such as wood, boards and planks, were produced on a coastal zone at farthest 30 km from the coast. Tar was produced in the zone beyond the coastal district. The inland parts of Southern Finland were, however, hilly which made even the transport of tar difficult. Tar production ended by the middle of the 19th century when wooden ships were abandoned, and the value of forests and other wood products increased.
Kaila, ORCID ID: – E-mail: –
O Tähtinen. (1930). Katsaus Jokioisten kartanon eli n.s. Jokiläänin metsätalouden vaiheisiin. Silva Fennica no. 14 article id 4455. https://doi.org/10.14214/sf.a8989
English title: A short account of the history of the forestry of the Jokioinen Estate.
Original keywords: historia; kartano; metsänkäyttö; kaskiviljely; polttopuu
English keywords: estate management; shifting cultivation; fuel wood; history; forest utilization
The Jokioinen Estate was established in 1562 when king Erik XIV of Sweden granted a large area around Jokioinen in the southwest Finland to Klas Kristersson Horn. The estate had several landlords until it was acquired in 1872 by Jokkis Stock Company, and finally sold to the government in 1918. The forestry of the estate was influenced by complications concerning the ownership of the land. A part of the tenants of the estate had originally been independent and owned their farms, but some farms were so-called family-right-farms, which were inherited from father to son, but the farmer did not own the land. A third type of farmers were ordinary tenants, who were directly dependent on the landlord. Especially ambiguous was the family-right-farmers’ right to harvest timber from the forests. The Finnish government acquired the estate to solve the problems and gave the tenants right to buy their farms.
Until the 18th century most of the farmers in Jokioinen area practiced shifting cultivation. This method of farming influenced strongly the forests, and continued until the increased market price of timber made it unprofitable. The forests were also the source of fuel wood for both the farmers and the landlord. The estate had own saw-mill industry since the 18th century. In 1871 a trained forester was hired for the estate. When the government acquired the estate, it comprised 32,000 hectares of land. The state retained 7,000 hectares of the forests. They were managed by a trained forester and administrated under the Board of Agriculture.
Tähtinen, ORCID ID: – E-mail: –
C. C. Böcker. (1929). Om skogars skötsel i Norden. Silva Fennica no. 13 article id 4454. https://doi.org/10.14214/sf.a8987
English title: Silviculture in the Northern countries.
Original keywords: Pohjoismaat; Ruotsi; metsänhoito; hakkuutavat; metsäpolitiikka; metsänhoidon historia
English keywords: Nordic countries; Sweden; forest management; silviculture; felling methods; forest policy; history of silviculture
The article gives a review on the history of forest management in the Northern countries. The article concludes that in the Northern Countries with their immense supplies of forest and small demand, because of sparse population, there was no hurry for developing the study of forest economics, as was the case in Central Europe. It was only when the modern wood using industry had revolutionized the marketing conditions, that the opportunity was provided for forest economics to develop. The paper introduces the book ’Om skogarnas skötsel in Norden’ (Silviculture in the Northern Countries) written by a Finn C.C. Böcker. That paper was compiled in behalf of a request of the king of Sweden, King Carl XIV Johan, who offered a price to a person who would draw a scheme for organizing forestry in Sweden, where Finland at that time belonged to. The prize was divided by Böcker and a swede, af Ström.
The PDF includes a summary in Finnish and English and the original text in Swedish.
Böcker, ORCID ID: – E-mail: –
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Blogs | China’s Amended TM Law Has Potential To Reduce Squatting
China’s Amended TM Law Has Potential To Reduce Squatting
On November 1, 2019 China’s amended trademark law came into force. The Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress has amended six articles of the trademark law focusing on reducing trademark squatting and increasing damages for infringement.
Accordingly, U.S. companies entering China may face less chance of a Chinese entity’s squatting on their preferred brand names. And if there is squatting, the new Chinese trademark law makes it easier to cancel the trademark instead of a long road of negotiating purchase of the trademarks for sometimes extortionate amounts.
For example, automobile manufacturer Tesla Inc. reportedly offered 2 million RMB (about $288,000 at the time of writing) to purchase its trademark from a squatter but was countered with a 200 million RMB sale price[1]. After four years of negotiation and eventually litigation, Tesla was able to regain rights to its trademark in China. The new law may prevent squatting from occurring, and, in the event that squatting does occur, the law will make it easier and less expensive for foreign companies to recover their trademarks.
Bad-Faith Filing of Trademarks
Article 4, paragraph 1 of the Trademark Law is amended to read:
Where any natural person, legal entity or other organization, in the course of his or its production or business operations, intends to acquire the exclusive right to use a trademark for his or its goods or services, an application should be filed with the Trademark Office for registration of the goods trademark. Applications for trademark registrations in bad faith which are not intended for use shall be refused.
That is, the Trademark Office of the Chinese National Intellectual Property Administration can now reject applications for bad faith during substantive examination before publication. In addition, Article 33 for oppositions and Article 44 for invalidations now make reference to amended Article 4, thereby making bad faith a basis for oppositions and invalidations
This amendment codifies existing practice with respect to examination and invalidations and adds a basis for oppositions. In Wuhan Zhongjun v. Trademark Review and Adjudication Board, both the Trademark Review and Adjudication Board in 2017[2] and later the Supreme People’s Court in 2018[3] ruled that the hoarding of trademarks without intent to use constituted a basis for invalidation under the current trademark law. Since these decisions, People’s Courts and the TRAB have been accepting of bad faith as a basis for invalidation.
This amendment will hopefully stop bad-faith registrations at the source by giving the CNIPA the power to reject applications during substantive examination at an earlier stage instead of requiring third parties to challenge trademarks registered in bad faith after publication.
In addition, Article 19, paragraph 3 is amended to read:
A trademark agency shall not accept the entrustment of a principal if it knows or should have known that the trademark entrusted by the principal for registration application falls under any of the circumstances prescribed by Article 4, Article 15 and Article 32 of this Law.
That is, a trademark agency must firstly refuse representation of a bad-faith filer if the agency knows or should have known that the bad-faith filer was squatting. This implies that a trademark agency must commit at least a minimum level of due diligence of client’s proposed marks before filing.
Article 68, which lists penalties for trademark agencies, trademark applicants and trademark registrants, has been amended to add:
Where an application for trademark registration is filed in bad faith, an administrative penalty such as a warning or fine shall be imposed according to the circumstances; and if a trademark lawsuit is filed in bad faith, the People’s Court shall impose a penalty according to law.
While it is not explicit which government entity will issue the administrative penalty and against whom, it can be presumed that the CNIPA will issue the administrative penalty against the bad-faith trademark applicant and/or agency that filed the bad-faith mark.
The second clause specifies that the People’s Court will impose a penalty for trademark lawsuits filed in bad faith but, again, doesn’t specify who is subject to the penalty — presumably the attorneys representing the plaintiff and/or the plaintiff itself. Further, it is unclear what is covered by a trademark lawsuit filed in bad faith — for example, presumably lawsuits filed based on bad-faith trademarks, but perhaps and/or nuisance lawsuits based on legitimate trademarks.
Increased Statutory and Punitive Damages
Article 63 is amended to increase statutory damages from 3 million RMB to 5 million RMB (about $710,000 at the time of writing) when “the actual loss suffered by the right holder as a result of the infringement, the profits gained by the infringer from the infringement and the royalties of the registered trademark concerned are difficult to determine” as is often the case in China.
Article 63 of the Trademark Law is amended to increase punitive damages from up to treble to up to quintuple assessed damages when infringement is “committed in bad faith and the circumstance is serious.” However, Chinese courts rarely award punitive damages in trademark infringement litigation, although that is changing with some courts’ awarding punitive damages[4].
Finally, Chinese courts can order the destruction of counterfeit products and equipment used to manufacture the counterfeit products in trademark infringement litigation:
In examining trademark dispute cases, the People’s Court shall, at the request of the rights holder, order the destruction of commodities bearing counterfeit registered trademarks, except in special circumstances; order the destruction of materials and tools mainly used to manufacture commodities bearing counterfeit registered trademarks, without compensation; or, in special circumstances, order the prohibition of the aforementioned materials and tools from entering commercial channels, without compensation.
Commodities bearing counterfeit registered trademarks shall not enter commercial channels after only removing counterfeit registered trademarks.
The above amendments should increase the cost to counterfeiters and form an effective deterrent to them.
Provisions on the Regulation of Trademark Applications
The China National Intellectual Property Administration released a draft of these provisions on what kind of circumstances could be considered a violation of Article 4 of the new trademark law and what kind of additional factors need to be taken into consideration to determine what constitutes a bad-faith application, such as number of trademark applications filed by an applicant, trademark sales records, prior cases holding confirmed bad faith for the same party, etc. The draft also covers potential penalties against trademark agencies including warnings, fines, use of negative credit reports, industrial self-discipline measures, stopping the acceptance of new trademark applications by trademark agencies and other regulatory means.
Clarity Needed
While the amendments are few, the potential impact could be tremendous — or not. For example, will the CNIPA enforce sanctions against trademark agencies and agents that file bad-faith marks on behalf of their clients? Will the CNIPA try to enforce sanctions directly against the bad-faith applicants themselves? Will courts actually award maximum punitive damages (i.e., five times actual damages)? Will squatters simply advance[5] planned use of their registered marks to avoid an invalidation based on bad faith? Will oppositions based on bad faith be available for applications filed before the effective date of the law?
Currently, the CNIPA is asking for opinions from the public on the draft of regulations governing trademark applications. Hopefully, the CNIPA will issue the regulations governing trademark applications and clarify the implementing regulations for the amended trademark law soon to answer the above questions.
[1] http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/kindle/2013-08/14/content_16893607.htm
[2] Decision No [2016] 87151.
[3] Wuhan Zhongjun v. Trademark Review and Adjudication Board of the State Administration for Industry and Commerce of China, No 4191 [2017], Administrative Retrial, Supreme People’s Court of China, 29 June 2018.
[4] For example, on September 6, 2019, the Shanghai Pudong Court awarded 3 million RMB, including 2 million RMB in punitive damages, to U.S.-based Balanced Body against Yongkang Elina Sports Equipment Co. Ltd. for trademark infringement. This is the first punitive damages award for intellectual property in Shanghai. See http://www.shanghai.gov.cn/nw2/nw2314/nw2315/nw4411/u21aw1401249.html.
[5] Squatters will use their marks within three years of registration to avoid loss of rights via cancellation based on non-use for three years. With the amended law, squatters may ensure usage occurs sooner.
Aaron R. Wininger /闻宁阁
Director of China Intellectual Property Practice
Schwegman Lundberg & Woessner, P.A.
Principal Office: Minneapolis, MN
Contacting us through this website or via e-mail does not imply nor create an attorney-client relationship. Any information sent via e-mail may not be privileged or confidential. The information presented in this website should not be construed as legal advice.
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Cooking Oil Self-Sufficiency Can’t be Achieved by Revisiting High Tariffs of the Late 1980s
Import duties on cooking oil have been raised four times since last August. But without productivity increases, cooking oil self-sufficiency will not be possible or sustainable. New technology, including GM technology, should be adopted and yield gaps should be bridged, reports Vivian Fernandes.
Though the Solvent Extractors Association (SEA) “lobbied very strongly” with ministers and officials and got import duties on edible oils hiked four times since August, it believes enhanced productivity in oilseeds is vital to steady the ship of the cooking oil industry.
The import duty on crude palm oil including education cess has tripled from 15.5 percent to 48.4 percent between August and June. That on refined, bleached and deodorized palmolein, and palm oil has doubled from nearly 26 percent to a tad less than 60 percent during this period. The duty on crude soybean oil is 38.5 percent from 18 percent a year ago. The tariff on crude sunflower oil has risen from 13 percent to 38.5 percent. The duty on refined oils – soybean, sunflower and rapeseed – is now nearly 50 percent from a little over 20 percent a year ago. Both crude and refined cottonseed oil which could be imported duty-free a year ago, now bear a levy of 38.5 percent and 49.5 percent respectively. These are the highest levels of import duties on edible oils in a decade, says news agency Reuters.
Support for protection has come from NITI Aayog member Ramesh Chand. In an article in the Business Standard, he said while the Green Revolution created self-sufficiency and more in cereals, it has bypassed the oilseeds sector. India’s import dependency in cooking oil has increased. From less than 5 percent of domestic consumption in the early 1990s, the share of imports is now 66 percent, he laments. India is the biggest edible oil importer shelling out about $10 billion a year to buy 14 million tonnes from overseas.
Chand blames liberalized imports after the 1991 trade reforms for this situation. He attributes the change in import stance to “some experts (who) produced analysis that India has a comparative advantage in increasing production and export of cereal instead of oilseed, and it was more efficient to meet edible oil demand from imports.” Persuaded by this logic, the government slashed import duty on palm oil from 65 percent in 1994-95 to 25 percent in 1996-97 and 15 percent the next year, he says, though it could charge up to 300 percent according to India’s commitment to the World Trade Organisation (WTO). In fact, the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government of Manmohan Singh went further. It reduced the import duty on crude and refined palm oil to zero and 7.5 percent respectively in 2008. Global cereal and edible oil prices had spiked in tandem with crude oil prices owing to a diversion of corn and palm oil to produce biofuels.
The analysis that Chand refers to was published in March 1996 in the Economic and Political Weekly by agricultural economist Ashok Gulati along with Anil Sharma and Deepali S Kohli. In ‘Self-Sufficiency and Allocative Efficiency: Case of Edible Oils,” they put the 1986 Technology Mission on Oilseeds (TMO) under scrutiny. The aim of the mission was to achieve self-sufficiency in oilseeds by 1990. Since consumption of cooking oil grows as incomes rise, imports had risen steadily since 1976-77, they said. By the early 1980s, the country was importing a third of its requirement, which could not be sustained owing to the shortage of hard currency.
Chand declares the policy adopted by the Rajiv Gandhi government to achieve self-sufficiency as successful. In just six years, he says, production of oilseeds increased by 78 percent or nearly 9 million tonnes a year and imports fell from close to 2 million tonnes in the year following the launch of the mission to 0.1 million tonnes in 1992-93.
But this self-sufficiency was achieved at a cost. Only the State Trading Corporation could import cooking oil. Duties were raised to 85 percent. The National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) was charged with giving price support to farmers by keeping the wholesale prices of cooking oil within a range of Rs 20 and 25 a kg. NDDB launched Operation Dhara and influenced retail prices though buffer stocks and market intervention. (It continues to retail Dhara brand cooking oil). It made losses in the process and was allowed to recoup them up through the import of cooking oil at a special, concessional rate of duty.
Under the 1986 National Oilseed Development Project, priority was given to the cultivation of four oilseeds – groundnut, rapeseed-mustard, sunflower and soybean. The project was launched in select districts of 12 states. Apart from price support, farmers were given subsidized seed and credit. The project was later extended to 180 districts in 17 states.
Gulati and his team attributed 53 percent of the increase in oilseeds production to area expansion, mainly to irrigated land. Only a third of the output increase was due to yield enhancement, they said. The highest yield increase was in groundnut. The yield of soybean, sunflower and rape-seed mustard increased by about 20 percent. The area was diverted from cereals like jowar and pulses.
Chand believes the cheap supply of cooking oil created demand. If there was a lid on imports, cooking oil consumption would have been flat like that of cereals. That may not be true. As incomes rise, people tend to consume more of protein (pulses, milk, eggs, and meat) and fat and less of carbohydrates or cereals. Siraj Chaudhry, Chairman of Cargill India, which is a large global agri-commodities trader that produces and retails cooking oil, says much of the new demand is institutional: from restaurants and the snack food industry.
Chand would like to think that Indian oilseed producers may not be inefficient as they are able to compete on exports of oil meal, which is used as animal feed. It is true that the yield of oilseeds has improved since the technology mission was launched. That of soybean has risen from 755 kg per hectare to 1,060 kg/ha. Groundnut yield has grown from 852 kg/ha to 1,394 kg/ha (kharif). That of rapeseed-mustard has increased from 706 kg/ha to 1,193 kg/ha.
These yields compare poorly with those of the major oil exporters. Canada’s rapeseed yield is 2.39 tonnes/ha and that of EU’s 3.14 tonnes/ha (though their crops are of longer duration). Soybean yield in Argentina, Brazil and the United States is around three tonnes per hectare. V.S. Bhatia, Director of the Indore-based Soybean Indian Institute of Soybean Research says India’s soybean crop is of 90 days while that of the Americas is 140-150 days. Still, the scale is vastly different and India is at a cost disadvantage.
Chand also brings in health aspects to buttress his case for higher import duties. He says palm oil is unhealthy compared to the oils which Indians traditionally consumed. But oil palm yields 4-5 tonnes of oil per hectare and is affordable to the poor. This is the reason why India is promoting its cultivation.
Chaudhry says given India’s low yield, it would require tremendous area expansion to create self-sufficiency in cooking oil. Disposing of the oil cake and meal would be problematic because India is not a predominantly meat-eating country. But Dinesh T Bhosale, Regional Sales Director of A.B.Vista South Asia, an animal nutrition company, says animal feed demand will double by 2025.
Chaudhry says his stance has changed from the TMO days when he was engaged with STC in oil imports. Being a large consumer, Indian cannot depend on oil imports. It must support a local oil- crushing and refining industry to insulate itself from external shocks like that of 2008. That will also encourage farmers in dryland areas to cultivate oilseeds.
Siraj Hussain, the former agriculture secretary, says the landed cost of edible oil should not be below the minimum support prices (MSP). But if MSP is cost plus 50 percent (the latest government policy), it will encourage inefficiency. MSPs cannot ignore global price trends.
Import duties must be dynamic and set at a level that protects the more efficient domestic producers. Oilseeds (and pulses) are also socially-useful crops. They enrich the soil with atmospheric nitrogen and reduce dependence on imported ─ and subsidized ─ urea. They also need less water. Oilseed farmers must be compensated for these environmental services. A per hectare fixed payment, like that of Telangana (Rs 4,000 per acre, per season) would be ideal.
Salvation lies in technology. Sadly, for ideological reasons, both the BJP and Congress-led governments have not permitted genetically-modified (GM) food crops to be cultivated. Insect-resistant soybean would save the harvest that is eaten by borers. Herbicide tolerance would reduce weeding costs. Chand is silent on high-yielding GM mustard which this government has blocked.
B.V. Mehta, Executive Director of SEA says MSP must be linked to productivity but that may be hard to implement. Last year, SEA had launched Mission Mustard and had sought (without success) the government’s help in increasing area under mustard in Punjab and Haryana through assured procurement at higher support prices. It has also proposed to partner with the government in field-level demonstrations of good agronomic practices to increase mustard yields. It has offered as a model its intervention in castor seed over the past two years covering 140 farmers and 160 hectares in Gujarat’s Junagadh, Banaskantha and Sabarkantha districts. The association’s members had picked the Rs. 35-lakh tab for engaging domain experts, training and employing agricultural science graduates as extension agents and for the free supply of inputs. As a result, the association says, average castor seed productivity rose by 80 percent to 4.5 tonnes/ha in the target farms versus 2.5 tonnes in farms of the control group.
(Top photo: A tribal woman threshing soybean at the Indian Institute of Soybean Research, Indore, in 2016. Photo by Vivian Fernandes).
(This article was first published in the Financial Express. The last paragraph in that article has inaccuracies which have been corrected in the version posted above).
Ashok Gulati Dinesh T Bhosale of AB Vista South Asia Indian Institute of Soybean Research mustard NDDB Operation Dhara Ramesh Chand self-sufficiency in edible oil Siraj Chaudhry of Cargill India Siraj Hussain Solvent Extractors Association soybean Technology Mission on OIlseeds Vivian Fernandes
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Elizabeth Scott (Woodard) Bay Fuller
August 16, 1918 ‒ June 17, 2017
Formerly of Galion, Ohio
In Elizabeth's Memory
Snyder Funeral Home, Lexington Avenue Chapel 2553 Lexington Avenue
P.O. Box 3085 , Mansfield Ohio , 44904
Friday, Jun 23, 2017 from 2:00pm - 4:00pm
LEXINGTON: Elizabeth Fuller peacefully passed away Saturday, June 17, 2017 in Lexington Court Care Center at the age of 98.
She was born August 16, 1918 to parents James Albert & Velena Okle (Ellis) Woodard in Melton, West Virginia. Elizabeth was graduated from Rio Grande High School and babysat members of the Evans family (relatives to Bob Evans).
On August 28, 1944, she married Dallas Clarence Bay who passed away the day before their 9th wedding anniversary in 1953. Ten years later she married Jeston Dale Fuller on April 14th, 1963; he passed away in 1979.
Elizabeth worked as a telephone operator for Sears and dedicated her life to raising her two daughters Grace and Eileen. She was an excellent cook and was known for her catchphrase “by cracky!” which was popular in the late 1800’s but still used daily by Elizabeth.
She was a member of Crossroads Community Church in Mansfield and a previous member of St. Mark’s United Methodist (now Christ United Methodist) in Galion. Elizabeth was an active church member and a tremendous woman of faith.
She is survived by two daughters and a son-in-law Grace Smith of Lima, and Eileen & Mark Kline of Lexington; grandchildren (& spouses) Marlene & Rick Fox, Jessica Smith, Keri & Chris Sobieck, Wendy & Rick Tommelleo, and Travis & Nouiy Kline; great-grandchildren Samantha Tommelleo, Allison Tommelleo, MacKenzie Sobieck, Christopher Sobieck, and Aubin Tommelleo.
In addition to her husbands, she was preceded in death by her parents and six siblings: Ervin Woodard, Eloise Tannehill, Mary Ellen Woodard, Dorotha Woodard, William Woodard, and James Woodard.
Her family will receive friends 2-4 p.m. Friday, June 23, 2017 in the Lexington Avenue Snyder Funeral Home where a 4 p.m. funeral service will give glory to God for Elizabeth’s life with Pastor Ron Biddle officiating. Friends are also invited to attend her burial by meeting in Greenlawn Cemetery (15550 Elm Rock Rd, Nelsonville, OH 45764) 1 p.m. Tuesday, June 27th.
Contributions in her memory to Asia’s Hope (please make checks payable to Crossroads Community Church) may be made at her services.
Snyder Funeral Homes is honored to serve Elizabeth’s family and encourage you to share a fond memory or message of condolence to them at SnyderFuneralHomes.com
Legacy Touch fingerprint
PIN number for Elizabeth:
DKUUBFJD
Place an order by visiting
www.ltkeepsakes.com
Linda Mills says:
What a grand, long life. Although I only knew OF Elizabeth, I know her daughter and son-in-law Eileen and Mark Kline. They are two of the most caring and compassionate people I know, so I’m guessing it is in part a legacy passed on by Mama. The beauty of one who has known Jesus as her Savior is that death has no sting. She walked away from her 98 years on this earth into Jesus’ arms. I am keepin the family in my tender prayers, as I know they will miss her.
Love you Linda, and we appreciate your prayer’s
Erma Sandora and Family says:
Sending love and prayers God Bless her Eternal rest grant to her oh Lord and let Your perpetual light shine upon her
Thank you so much Aunt Erma, she will be missed…
Carol Wagner says:
She was such a special lady. She will be greatly missed. She was my favorite aunt. We will keep yall in our prayers.
Geral & Judy Dyer says:
Eileen & Mark,
Love and prayers being sent your way.
john bessick says:
Eleen and Mark,
Our prayers and deepest sympathy are with you and the entire family. God Bless You All.
Thank You John…
My sweet Aunt Elizabeth, you will be sorely missed.
Rev. Philip & Allyson Raynes says:
As one of Elizabeth’s pastors at St. Mark United Methodist Church in Galion, we loved her and her faithfulness at the church. Allyson and I remember her well, and also remember her “By crikey” comment, as I grew up in England often hearing that comment as a child. We were blessed by her friendship, and we will remember her in the years to come, as she gave us a cutting from her Hibiscus tree which had double blossoms. That cutting is now a 6 foot tall tree, and blooms for much of the year, reminding us of her each time it blooms!
Ken and Carol Keller says:
We were so fortunate to have known Elizabeth. Charitable, selfless, loving, these are all words to describe her. She was a joy to be around. Our family will never forget how wonderful she was. Our whole family was touched by her kindness. Our deepest condolences to her family and friends.
Jean carr says:
Sorry to hear about Elizabeth. We were friends @ St. Mark. She always was nice to everyone. Prayers for everyone.
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Home > Jewish > The Usual Uncertainties: Stories
The Usual Uncertainties: Stories
Jonathan Blum
Pub Date: 11/1/2019
Publisher: Rescue Press
SKU #: L11G
Fiction. California Interest. Jewish Studies. THE USUAL UNCERTAINTIES: STORIES—Jonathan Blum's highly anticipated first collection—is storytelling at its finest. In precise, elegant prose, these stories follow characters and communities often consigned to the edge of the frame: a community college dropout, a geriatric care manager, a square dance bar mitzvah, a Scrabble club, an entrepreneurial Thai immigrant, and a South Florida country club. With echoes of Leonard Michaels, Mavis Gallant, and Lore Segal, Blum explores the ways our divergent histories tether us together and at times push us completely apart. THE USUAL UNCERTAINTIES: STORIES revels in the persistent human struggle to love with abandon and marks a dynamic voice in American short fiction.
"The characters that inhabit these stories will break your heart and mend it simultaneously. A writer of immense talent and imagination, Jonathan Blum is unafraid to explore, sometimes hilariously, the most dangerous interiors of personality in ways we’ve never quite seen before. THE USUAL UNCERTAINTIES tackles the most primal of our human dilemmas with a vision as profound and achingly delicate as it is unforgettable."—Holiday Reinhorn
"Jonathan Blum is a wonderful writer: witty and sharp, compassionate and humane, and THE USUAL UNCERTAINTIES is a flat-out glorious collection that manages to be both hilarious and heartbreaking, nervy and timeless. I won't soon forget these masterful stories."—Molly Antopol
"These wonderful stories by Jonathan Blum run so many gamuts—his range is glorious: from joy to grief, from hilarity to solemnity, from stupidity to wisdom. When I consider how beautifully achieved these stories are I weep with pleasure. Jonathan Blum is the real deal, the full spectrum and I've known this from when I first read him such a long time ago. This is his first full book of stories—finally, at last. The world needs this book. We deserve it after a long wait."—Michael Silverblatt
"I love everything about this book. These are wise and richly imagined stories, at turns hilarious and heartbreaking. Blum is undeniably a master of the short story form, a writer of profound compassion and virtuosic talent, and these stories mark the arrival of a major new voice in American short fiction."—Andrew Porter
"In these wonderfully various stories, gentle and bizarre and tragic and very funny, there are characters the likes of which have rarely been given life in fiction: The young son of a pulmonary oncologist learns excitedly to read x-rays, and that excitement is very different than what his father feels. A widow makes a business of bringing a quality of life to elders, and a thirteen-year-old Roger, on the occasion of his Bar Mitzvah, has a T-shirt stamped: I'd Rather Be Davening. Herm is a one-man ad hoc adoption agency finding unwanted newborns and delivering them into well-appointed futures. Jonathan Blum descends from a great tradition of Jewish storytellers, Richler, Malamud, Michaels, and he brings the tradition into the twenty-first century, and he brings the tradition west, too, to Los Angeles. Oh, and south to Florida, and right up to the Shabbat table where Adam sits with his Thai girlfriend in 'A Certain Light on Los Angeles.' There is a certain light here in these stories and it is very much worth your time."—Michelle Latiolais
"I've long been an admirer of the strange, intense, and yet incredibly intimate work of Jonathan Blum."—Peter Orner
Feature @ Life and Style Mag
Jonathan Blum is the author of two books of fiction: LAST WORD (Rescue Press, 2013), a novella, and THE USUAL UNCERTAINTIES: STORIES (Rescue Press, 2019), a story collection. Blum grew up in Miami and graduated from UCLA and the Iowa Writers' Workshop. His short stories have appeared in Angels Flight-literary west, The Carolina Quarterly, Gulf Coast, Kenyon Review, Playboy, Sonora Review, Shanxi Literature, among others. He has taught fiction writing at The University of Iowa, Drew University, and the Iowa Summer Writing Festival, and is the recipient of a Michener-Copernicus Society of America Award, a Hawthornden fellowship in Scotland, and a grant from the Helene Wurlitzer Foundation. He has also been a guest writer at the Tianjin Binhai New Area International Writing Program in China. He lives in Los Angeles.
Author City: LOS ANGELES, CA USA
Anne Germanacos
Toughlahoma
Christian TeBordo
Sabrina Orah Mark
Last Tower to Heaven
Jacob Paul
That Treeplanting Story
Dan De Vries
Warsaw Stories
Daniel Kennedy (Translator), Hersh Dovid Nomberg
Ghost Engine: Stories
EDIE ON THE GREEN SCREEN
To Remain Nameless
Brad Fox
Agitprop for Bedtime: Polemic, Story Problems, Kulturporn and Humdingers
Charles Holdefer
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New Fabrication Methods Improve Perovskite Solar Cell Efficiency
by Rahul Patidar
Our most recent paper, which was published in Sustainable Energy and Fuels, looks at using a roll-to-roll (R2R) fabrication method for slot-die coated perovskite solar cells (PCSs). The extensive 50-page document is the most descriptive paper of its kind and will influence solar cell research across the globe.
Here, SPECIFIC researcher and one of the paper’s authors, Rahul Patidar, discusses the processes and research that led to the paper being published.
A newcomer to the photovoltaic industry, PSCs have gathered remarkable attention from researchers around the globe. With efficiency reaching similar to that of the current market leader, silicon photovoltaics (PV), attention has been diverted towards upscaling PSCs.
Contrary to silicon PV, which requires high temperature and high vacuum depositions, PSCs can be solution-processed at a low temperature, which significantly reduces the manufacturing cost. Low temperature processing makes it possible to use plastic substrates to make flexible solar cells. And the ability to solution process provides the opportunity for a number of well-developed printing and coating techniques:
Slot-die coating
Spray coating
Combining both of these advantages, we can use roll-to-roll manufacturing for PSCs.
We used slot-die coating as it provides number of advantages over the alternatives. It is a pre-metred technique, which means we can control the wet film thickness before coating. It is also highly efficient in material usage, with minimal loss of material compared with spray coating or screen printing.
Another issue that arose in this work was the use of toxic solvents. In the UK, the air exposure of toxic solvents in the workplace is quantified by workplace exposure limit (WEL), which is monitored and regulated by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). WEL is calculated from the time-weighted average (TWA) of the exposure time. Typical solvents used in fabrication of PSCs are:
dimethyl formamide (DMF), which as a WEL of 5PPM
N-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), which has a WEL of 1PPM 8-hour TWA
Using these solvents at an industrial scale requires a lot of air handling to stay under those limits, which can incur significant and unnecessary expenses.
For this reason, we used an acetonitrile-based system (WEL is 40 PPM 8-hour TWA), which was first developed by Oxford University. This system has a higher WEL and has a rheological advantage over DMF and NMP due to low viscosity and low surface tension. This results in better coatings.
Along with this, we introduced a ternary blend of high workplace exposure limit solvents (WEL > 50PPM 8-hour TWA), replacing chlorobenzene (WEL 1PPM 8-hour TWA) for the deposition of hole transport material. Our PSCs gave the stable power output of 12.2%, which is the highest efficiency reported for four layers of roll-to-roll printed PSCs.
A complete solar cell for a chosen architecture requires coating 5 layers. Fully printed solar cells would ideally require using slot-die coating for all five layers. But in this case, we coated four layers using slot-die coating and the top contact was put on using thermal evaporation. Why is this? We’re still looking into how to slot-die top contact without destroying any layers underneath. By solving this, we can manufacture a fully roll-to-roll printed PSC.
With thanks to the paper’s co-authors:
Dr Daniel Burkitt, Rahul Patidar, Dr Peter Greenwood, Dr Katherine Hooper, Dr James McGettrick, Dr Stoichko Dmitrov, Matteo Colombo, Dr Vasil Stoichkov, David Richards, Dr David Beynon, Dr Matthew L. Davies, Prof. Trystan M. Watson
Tags:Printed Photovoltaics
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Selma Amrane, M.D.
Stephanie Beall, M.D., Ph.D.
Pavna K. Brahma, M.D.
Anate A. Brauer, M.D.
Jason G. Bromer, M.D.
Paulette E. Browne, M.D.
Rebecca J. Chason, M.D.
Matthew T. Connell, D.O.
Kate Devine, M.D.
Joseph Doyle, M.D.
Nicole P. Doyle, M.D., Ph.D.
Michael Edelstein, M.D.
Melissa A. Esposito, M.D.
Rachana V. Garde, M.D., M.P.H.
Jennifer Y. Hsu, M.D.
Anthony N. Imudia, M.D.
Naveed Khan, M.D.
Sunita Kulshrestha, M.D.
Eric D. Levens, M.D.
Michael J. Levy, M.D.
Valerie Libby, M.D., M.P.H.
Shruti Malik, M.D.
J. Ryan Martin, M.D.
Howard D. McClamrock, M.D.
Desireé McCarthy-Keith, M.D.
Jeffrey L. McKeeby, M.D.
Kimberly S. Moon, M.D.
Gilbert L. Mottla, M.D.
Anne Brawner Namnoum, M.D.
Anitha S. Nair, M.D.
Kara Khanh-Ha D. Nguyen, M.D., M.P.H.
Jeanne E. O'Brien, M.D.
Melanie E. Ochalski, M.D.
Barbara H. Osborn, M.D.
Joseph E. Osheroff, M.D.
Shayne M. Plosker, M.D.
Andrea E. Reh, M.D.
Lauren Roth, M.D.
Arthur W. Sagoskin, M.D.
Isaac E. Sasson, M.D., Ph.D.
Brianna Schumacher, M.D.
Robert Setton, M.D.
Anish A. Shah, M.D., M.H.S.
Paul R. Shin, M.D.
Celso Silva, M.D.
Tomer Singer, M.D.
Cori Tanrikut, M.D.
Geof Tidey, M.D.
Lorna S. Timmreck, M.D.
Eric A. Widra, M.D.
Ricardo A. Yazigi, M.D.
Michael J. Tucker, Ph.D.
CalebKallen, M.D., Ph.D.
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Chesterbrook, PA 19087
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Caleb Kallen, M.D., Ph.D.
About caleb kallen, M.D., ph.d.
Caleb Kallen, M.D., Ph.D., FACOG, earned his medical degree and doctorate in philosophy (Molecular and Cellular Biology) from the University of Pennsylvania. He went on to complete his residency training in obstetrics and gynecology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. Dr. Kallen completed his subspecialty training in reproductive endocrinology and infertility at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. Dr. Kallen then served as Assistant Professor at Emory University for 7 years, followed by a position as Associate Professor at Thomas Jefferson University where he was elevated to the position of Director of the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. During his time as a full time academician Dr. Kallen performed NIH-funded basic biomedical research, received numerous teaching awards, and built active clinical practices.
Dr. Kallen has expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of infertility, including in vitro fertilization (IVF), ovulation induction with intrauterine inseminations (IUI), donor egg treatments, endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome, and preimplantation genetic diagnosis. He applies the latest clinical data, state-of-the-art technology, and his extensive clinical experience to optimize pregnancy rates while minimizing patient stress with his supportive approach to care.
Dr. Kallen is a member of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, the Society for Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, the Society for Reproductive Investigation, and the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
Raised in West Philadelphia, Dr. Kallen is married with three children and enjoys home repair (except painting), woodworking, the NFL, cooking, and eating.
Residency: Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Pennsylvania
Fellowship: Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Yale University
George W. Householder, III Memorial Prize, University of Pennsylvania. Awarded to a student in the School of Medicine engaged in original and meritorious work in the area of basic or clinical cardiovascular research.
American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM)/Organon grant in Reproductive Medicine.
National Institutes of Health (and University of California-San Francisco) K12 HD000849/RSDP (Phases I and II, Research Scientist Development Program) from the NIH/NICHD.
American Society for Reproductive Medicine, Reproductive Immunology Special Interest Group’s Prize Paper Award. “Evidence that neither THP1 Monocytes nor THP1 Macrophages have functional Estrogen Receptor-a.”
"Golden Apple" award for resident education, Emory University.
Mentor for project awarded first prize, Emory University Annual Fellowship Research Award. (Resident and Fellow Research Day, April 20, 2010).
Association of Professors of Gynecology and Obstetrics (APGO) and the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics at Emory University "APGO Excellence in Teaching Award."
Emory University School of Medicine Excellence in Teaching Award: Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility.
Council on Resident Education in Obstetrics and Gynecology (CREOG) National Faculty Award in recognition of outstanding contributions.
Dean's Award for Excellence in Education at Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University.
Federal research funding, NIH/NIDDK, R01-DK09184 (PI: Kallen) Title: The Anti-inflammatory mRNA-binding Protein ZFP36 in Obesity and Metabolism.
American Society for Reproductive Medicine
Society for Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility
Reproductive Biologists Professional Group
American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Society for Reproductive Investigation
American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine
Georgia Obstetrical and Gynecological Society
Q: Why did you become a doctor/reproductive endocrinologist?
I have always been interested in science and discovery and remain ever curious about how things work (whether considering the human ovary or the garbage disposal in our kitchen). Centuries of research and experimentation have shaped our current understanding of human physiology and have enabled us to develop improved treatments for many conditions. While advances in basic science can be thrilling, these are often incremental and riddled with false turns and roadblocks; in contrast, the practice of medicine often yields immediate and highly gratifying results for our patients. In my career I have been fortunate to experience both sides of this equation...the methodical slog of research and the immediate reward of, say, removing an ovarian cyst or helping a couple to become pregnant; which is to say that I find my job to be both a privilege and personally gratifying.
Q: Who inspires you?
I'm inspired by people who succeed against great odds and especially by those who, given the choice to take the easy road, instead just "do the right thing." Think Raoul Wallenberg or Oskar Schindler; men who could have looked the other way but, instead, risked their lives to save innocents during the second World War. I value persistence and hard work...especially when it goes unrecognized or unrewarded. I think that this world could use a little more civility, compassion, patience, and empathy.
Q: What are your hobbies and why do you enjoy them?
Woodworking, home repair, cooking, eating, spending time with my family, and Eagles football (in no particular order). Then eating, again.
Q: What is something about you that would surprise most people?
I'm a Type-A personality with a Type-B sense of fashion. I love order. I check and double check. I clean. That said, I don't like to shave and I prefer to dress casually (for my patients, I suppose this comes as no surprise). I'll try any food...twice.
Q: What about SGF makes you the most proud?
I am deeply impressed with the intelligence and commitment of my colleagues and staff at Shady Grove Fertility. Beyond this, I observe an insistence on evidence-based and state-of-the-art care. This is coupled with a focus on the patient and his/her experience from the time that care is initiated to the successful completion of his/her sometimes frightening journey. Our team approach to healthcare is personalized for each couple and benefits from our vast clinical experience, ongoing discovery, and our cadre of world-class providers who genuinely care.
Q: What's on your bucket list?
I'd like to visit the Tsukiji market in Japan, the largest seafood market on earth. Then, I'd like to taste "one of everything" in the market...including Puffer Fish/Fugu.
"Dr. Kallen and his staff were phenomenal throughout our infertility journey. I couldn’t have asked for a better and more supportive group of people. Even when we were discouraged, he always remained positive and confident that we would soon succeed. Dr. Kallen is very thorough in his methods and I felt fully comfortable in his care. While he may seem serious and distant at times, underneath is a very compassionate and meticulous doctor. He is definitely one of the most efficient doctors and I never had to wait long to be seen. Even if he wasn’t the doctor seeing me that day, I felt reassured knowing that he was still the one reviewing my results and making decisions regarding my treatment. I highly recommend Dr. Kallen and the staff at Shady Grove!"
"Dr. Kallen and the staff at Shady Grove Fertility were amazing through this difficult process. Having difficulties conceiving was a very hard time in our lives and Dr. Kallen took the time to understand our individual circumstances to develop and adjust a course of action based on our needs. Not only did we receive the medical support we needed to realize our dream of becoming parents, but Dr. Kallen and the staff were emotionally supportive as well. The care I received by far exceeded what I hoped for."
"My experience with Dr. Kallen and Shady Grove Fertility has been one of the best medical experiences of my life. The level of care Dr. Kallen and his team puts into each patient is astonishing. I was always kept in the loop about what was going on with my treatment plan and was expertly taken care of even after I got pregnant! I will definitely be returning back to Dr. Kallen for baby number two!"
"Dr. Kallen is extremely knowledgeable and keeps up-to-date on latest studies. While he has a very calm, serious demeanor, he is also a caring, compassionate human. He's very informative, lays out your options and lets you take it from there. His nurse and him work like a well-oiled machine and the care they provide is remarkable. Questions are always answered promptly. The entire team at Shady Grove Fertility Chesterbrook is phenomenal. Thanks to Dr. Kallen, we are expecting this spring!"
"I could not have asked for a better experience with Dr. Kallen and the staff at Shady Grove Fertility, Chesterbrook. Dr. Kallen and his nurse Chrissy were more than happy to answer all of our questions and help with any concerns my husband and I had. They truly went above and beyond to keep us informed. The staff at Shady Grove allowed us to feel more than comfortable and supported in situations that aren't always so easy to go through. After our first IUI treatment I am now pregnant!! A super huge thank you goes out to everyone there!"
"Dr. Kallen and his staff at Shady Grove Fertility were absolutely wonderful! I felt like they really took the time to get to know us and answer all of our questions and concerns They were right by our side every step of the way from office visits to emails to phone calls. I am extremely thankful for all of their individualized care and positivity. After only 1 IUI treatment we are expecting our first baby!! I couldn’t recommend anyone else."
"My husband and I spent 9 months receiving treatment from another 'highly" recommended fertility provider in the area. After ZERO success we decided to leave and give one last chance for IUI with Shady Grove Fertility. What a world of difference. Dr. Kallen and the entire staff at SGF provided top level patient care with kindness and empathy that resulted in pregnancy after three short months! Don't waste precious time anywhere else!"
"Dr. Kallen took time to meet with my husband and I personally several times before helping us decide the best route for us to achieve our goal of pregnancy. He took time out of one of his weekends off to call me after a particularly difficult appointment to talk me through an important decision. When we had concerns he made sure to address them. When we finally got our positive result, he called me and shared in my joy! We highly recommend Dr. Kallen to any couple struggling to conceive!"
"I cannot recommend Dr. Kallen highly enough! He was always clear and informative yet compassionate and sensitive. He quickly put us at ease during a stressful time. Because of him we are now expecting our first! He performed my surgery and all procedures and always made me feel comfortable and confident in him. We are so thankful for Dr. Kallen and the entire Shady Grove Fertility team. After a long journey of trying to conceive at another facility we ended up at Shady Grove Fertility and are so thankful that we did! Our experience there was vastly different from anywhere else, in a wonderful way. And in a short period of time we got the wonderful news that I was pregnant. We were sad to "graduate" back to my regular OB after receiving such warm and kind treatment at SGF. There is no way to thank them enough!"
Ringler GE, Aguirre AU, Kao LC, Nulsen JC, Kallen CB, Kliman HJ, Strauss JF 3rd (1988). Control of Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) by Cyclic AMP: Lessons From Primary Cultures of Cytotrophoblasts. Placental Protein Hormones: Proceedings from the Satellite Symposium on Pacental Biology, (Edited by M. Mochizuki and R. Hussa), Excerpta Medica, Elsevier, starts p183.
Strauss JF 3rd, Yamamoto R, Rennert H, Kallen CB, Billheimer JT (1992). Cloning and Expression of Sterol Carrier Protein-2 (SCP-2): A role for SCP-2 in Ovarian Steroidogenesis. Recent Advances in Ovarian Function: Basic and Clinical Researches. Serono Symposia Review No. 28 (Edited by S. Fujimoto, M. Mizuno and S. J. Segal) 173-182.
Kallen CB, Arakane FA, Kiriakidou M, Pollack SE, Watari H, Christenson LK, Strauss JF 3rd (2001). Structure, function and regulated expression of the Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein (StAR): molecular insights into the acute steroidogenic response of the gonads and adrenals. Contemporary Endocrinology: Adrenal Disorders, Edited by Andrew N. Margioris and George P. Chrousos, Humana Press, 107-117.
Pollack SE, Arakane F, Kallen CB, Watari H, Kiriakidou M, Strauss JF III. (2002) Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein (StAR): The Regulator of the Rapid Steroidogenic Response to Trophic Stimulation. Hormone Resistance and Hypersensitivity States, Edited by George P. Chrousos. Lippencott Williams and Wilkins. Modern Endocrinology, 353-362.
Kallen CB, Arici A (2003). Immune testing in fertility practice: truth or deception? Current Opinion in Obstetrics and Gynecology, 15:225-231, PMID: 12858110.
Kallen CB (2004). Steroid Hormone Synthesis in Pregnancy. Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinics of North America. 31(4):795-816, PMID: 15550336.
Nanes, MS and Kallen CB (2010). Osteoporosis. Avoiding Common Obstetrics and Gynecology Errors, Edited by Carla Roberts and Diana Broomfield, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 363-373. ISBN: 978-0-7817-9143-4.
Pauli SA and Kallen CB (2011). Endocrine Disorders and Infertility. Gynecology in Practice: Infertility, Edited by Emre Seli. Wiley-Blackwell, Chapter 10, DOI: 10.1002/9781444393958.ch10.
Kallen CB (2011). Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators (SERMs) and Aromatase Inhibitors (AIs). Contemporary Endocrinology, Treatment of Menopause: Concepts and Controversies, Edited by S. Berga. Springer Science LLC.
Kallen CB (2012). Androgen Therapy (Chapter 33). Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility: Handbook for Clinicians (2nd Edition). Editors: D. Lebovic, J. Gordon, and R. Taylor. Scrub Hill Press.
Ringler GE, Kallen CB, Strauss JF 3rd (1989). Regulation of human trophoblast function by glucocorticoids: dexamethasone promotes increased secretion of chorionic gonadotropin. Endocrinology Apr;124(4):1625-1631, PMID: 2538307.
Yamamoto R, Kallen CB, Babalola GO, Rennert H, Billheimer JT, Strauss JF 3rd (1991). Cloning and expression of a cDNA encoding human sterol carrier protein 2. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A Jan15; 88(2):463-467, PMCID: PMC50831.
Yu K, Bayona W, Kallen CB, Harding HP, Ravera CP, McMahon G, Brown M, Lazar MA (1995). Differential activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors by eicosanoids. J Biol Chem Oct 13; 270(41):23975-23983, PMID: 7592593.
Kallen CB, Lazar MA (1996). Antidiabetic thiazolidinediones inhibit leptin (ob) gene expression in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 11;93(12):5793-5796, PMCID: PMC39140.
Pollack SE, Furth EE, Kallen CB, Arakane FA, Kiriakidou M, Kozarsky KF, Strauss JF 3rd (1997). Localization of the Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein (StAR) in Human Tissues. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 82(12):4243-4251, PMID: 9398748.
Arakane FA, King SR, Yag D, Kallen CB, Walsh LP, Watari H, Stocco DM, Strauss JF 3rd (1997). Phosphorylation of Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein (StAR) Modulates its Steroidogenic Activity. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 272(51):32656-32662, PMID: 9405483.
Watari H, Arakane F, Moog-Lutz C, Kallen CB, Tomasetto C, Gerton GL, Rio, MC, Baker ME, Strauss JF 3rd (1997). MLN64 contains a domain with homology to the steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) that stimulates steroidogenesis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A Aug 5;94(16):8462-8467, PMCID: PMC22957.
Sugawara T, Kiriakidou M, McAllister JM, Kallen CB, Strauss JF 3rd (1997). Multiple steroidogenic factor 1 binding elements in the human steroidogenic acute regulatory protein gene 5’-flanking region are required for maximal promoter activity and cyclic AMP responsiveness. Biochemistry Jun 10;36 (23):7249-7255, PMID: 9188726.
Arakane F, Sugawara T, Kiriakidou M, Kallen CB, Watari H, Christenson LK, Strauss JF 3rd (1997). Molecular insights into the regulation of steroidogenesis: from laboratory to clinic and back. Journal of the British Fertility Society, 2 (1), 46-50, ISSN 1363-9579.
Kallen CB, Arakane FA, Christenson LK, Watari H, Devoto L, and Strauss JF III (1998). Unveiling the Mechanism of Action and Regulation of the Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein (StAR). Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology; 145 (1-2):39-45, PMID: 9922097.
Kallen CB, Billheimer JT, s SA, Stayrook SE, Lewis M, Strauss JF 3rd (1998). Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein (StAR) is a Sterol Transfer Protein. Journal of Biological Chemistry, Vol. 273, 41: 26285-26288, PMID: 9756854.
Kallen CB†, Arakane FA†, Watari H, Foster JA, Sepuri NBV, Pain D, Stayrook SE, Lewis M, Gerton GL, Strauss JF 3rd (1998). The Mechanism of Action of Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein (StAR): StAR Acts on the outside of Mitochondria to Stimulate Steroidogenesis. Journal of Biological Chemistry, Vol. 273, 26: 16339-16345. (†Equal Contributors), PMID: 9632696.
Arakane F, Kallen CB, Watari H., Stayrook SE, Lewis M, and Strauss JF 3rd (1998). Steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) acts on the outside of mitochondria to stimulate steroidogenesis. Endocr Res 24, 463-468, PMID: 9888526.
Lei H, Furth EE, Kalluri R, Wakenell P, Kallen CB, Jeffrey JJ, Leboy PS, Strauss JF 3rd (1999). Induction of matrix metalloproteinases and collagenolysis in chick embryonic membranes before hatching. Biol Reprod. Jan;60(1):183-9, PMID: 9858504.
Strauss JF III, Kallen CB, Christenson LK, Watari H, Devoto L, Arakane F, Kiriakidou M, Sugawara T (1999). The Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein (StAR): A Window into the Complexities of Intracellular Cholesterol Trafficking. Recent Progress Hormone Research; 54:369-394, discussion 394-395, PMID: 10548884.
Kallen CB †, Hua S†, Dhar R, Baquero MT, Mason C, Shah PK, Liu J, Khramtsov A, Tretiakova MS, Krausz TN, Olopade OI, Rimm DL, and White KP (2008). Genomic Analysis of Estrogen Cascade Reveals a Histone Variant H2A.Z Associated with Breast Cancer Progression. (†Equal Contributors) Molecular Systems Biology, 4(188), 1-14, PMCID: PMC2394496.
Brahma KP and Kallen CB (2008). Ovarian hyperstimulation following a short course of an oral contraceptive in a patient with premature ovarian failure. Fertility and Sterility, 90(5):2004.e15-7, PMID: 18554593.
Wang C, Yu J, Kallen CB (2008). Two Estrogen Response Element Sequences near the PCNA Gene Are Not Responsible for its Estrogen-Enhanced Expression in MCF7 Cells. PLoS One, 3(10):e3523, PMCID: PMC2568806.
Nanes MS and Kallen CB (2009). Clinical Assessment of Fracture Risk and Novel Therapeutic Strategies to Combat Osteoporosis. Fertility and Sterility, 92(2), 403-412. PMID: 19559412.
Mason CE†, Feng-Jue S.†, Wang C.†, Session RM, Kallen RG, Sidell N, Yu T, Liu MH, Cheung E, and Kallen CB (2010). Location analysis for the Estrogen Receptor-a reveals binding to diverse ERE sequences and widespread binding within repetitive DNA elements. Nuc Acids Res 2010 Apr;38(7):2355-68; doi: 10.1093/nar/gkp1188, PMCID: PMC2853111 (†Equal Contributors).
Shu FJ, Sidell N, Yang D, and Kallen CB (2010). The Tri-Nucleotide Spacer Sequence between Estrogen Response Element Half-Sites is Conserved and Modulates ERa-Mediated Transcriptional Responses. Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 120(4-5) 172-179, PMCID: PMC2891080.
Karipcin S, Ensari TA, Kayisli UA, Guzel E, Kallen CB, and Seli E (2010). The mRNA-binding Protein HuR is Regulated in the Menstrual Cycle and Repressed in Ectopic Endometrium. Reprod Sci 2011 Feb;18:145-155, PMCID: PMC3343139.
Sidell N, Mathad RI, Shu F-J, Zhang Z, Kallen CB, and Danzhou Yang (2011). Intercalation of XR5944 with the estrogen response element is modulated by the tri-nucleotide spacer sequence between half-sites. Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 2011 Apr;124(3-5):121-7, Epub ahead of print, doi:10.1016/j.jsbmb.2011.02.003, PMCID: PMC3072055.
Brahma PK, Zhang H, Murray BS, Shu F-J, Sidell N, Seli E, and Kallen CB (2012). The mRNA-binding protein ZFP36 is up-regulated by b-adrenergic stimulation and represses IL-6 production in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Obesity 2012 Jan;20(1):40-7, Epub ahead of print, doi: 10.1038/oby.2011.259. PMCID: PMC4127993.
McCarthy TL, Kallen CB, and Centrella M (2011). b-Catenin-independent cross control between the estradiol and Wnt pathways in osteoblasts. Gene 2011 Jun;15;479(1-2):16-28, Epub ahead of print, doi:10.1016/j.gene.2011.02.002, PMCID: PMC3094493.
Zhang H, Taylor WR, Joseph G, Caracciolo V, Gonzales DM, Sidell N, Seli E, Blackshear PJ, Kallen CB (2013). mRNA-Binding Protein ZFP36 Is Expressed in Atherosclerotic Lesions and Reduces Inflammation in Aortic Endothelial Cells. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2013 Apr 4. Jun;33(6):1212-20. doi: 10.1161/ATVBAHA.113.301496. PMCID: PMC3844532.
Karalok HM, Karalok E, Saglam O, Torun A, Guzeloglu-Kayisli O, Lalioti MD, Kristansson H, Kallen CB, Seli E (2014). mRNA-Binding Protein TIA-1 Reduces IL-6 Expression in Human Endometrial Stromal Cells and is Down-Regulated in Ectopic Endometrium. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2014 Dec;99(12):E2610-9. PMCID: PMC4255110.
Romero F, Shah D, Duong M, Stafstrom W, Hoek J, Kallen CB, Lang CH, and Summer R (2014). Chronic alcohol ingestion in rats promotes lipid accumulation, alters metabolism, and impairs alveolar macrophage functions. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol 2014 Jun 18. PMCID: PMC4291549.
Nanes MS, and Kallen CB (2014). Osteoporosis. Seminars in Nuclear Medicine. 44(6): 439–450 (http://dx.doi.org/10.1053/j.semnuclmed.2014.06.006) PMID: 25362234.
Romero F, Shah D, Duong M, Fessler MB, Madenspacher J, Stafstrom W, Kavuru M, Lu B, Walsh K, Kallen CB, and Summer R (2014). A pneumocyte-macrophage paracrine lipid axis drives the lung toward injury and fibrosis. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol. PMCID: PMC4566113.
Kawwass JF, Summer R, Kallen CB (2015). Direct Effects of Leptin and Adiponectin on Human Reproductive Tissues: A Critical Review. Mol Hum Reprod. pii: gav025, PMCID: PMC4518135.
Shah D, Romero F, Duong M, Wang N, Paudyal B, Suratt BT, Kallen CB, Sun J, Zhu Y, Walsh K, Summer R (2015). Obesity-induced adipokine imbalance impairs mouse pulmonary vascular endothelial function and primes the lung for injury. Sci Rep. 2015 Jun 12;5:11362. doi: 10.1038/srep11362. PMCID: PMC4464323.
Shah D, Romero F, Sun J, Kallen CB, Naik U and Summer R (2017). Obesity-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress causes lung endothelial dysfunction and promotes acute lung injury. American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology. In Press.
Romero F, Shah D, Kallen CB and Summer R (2017). Lipid synthesis is required to resolve ER stress and limit pulmonary fibrosis. In Submission.
Myeloid-Specific Deletion of Zfp36 Protects Against Insulin Resistance and Fatty Liver in Diet-Induced Obese Mice (2017). Caracciolo V, Young J, Gonzales D, Ni Y, Summer R, Waldman SA, Kim JK, Jung DY, Noh H-Y, Kim T, Blackshear PJ, O'Connell D, Bauer RC, and Kallen CB. In Submission.
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A dozen years after 'Hell's Kitchen,' celeb chef Van Hurd takes on fried chicken and doughnuts
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Leeanne Griffin
Van Hurd, a “Hell’s Kitchen” alum who moved to Connecticut 12 years ago, is heading up Citizen Chicken and Donuts in West Hartford.
Courtesy of Winter Caplanson | Connecticut Food & Farm
In the 12 years since he first settled in Connecticut after his appearance on the sixth season of Fox’s “Hell’s Kitchen,” Southern-raised Van Hurd has cooked cuisine he didn’t necessarily expect to prepare up north: tacos and elevated Mexican fare at Sayulita in South Glastonbury; barbecue at Taino Smokehouse in Meriden.
For his next move, he’s doing “good old proper Southern fried chicken” — with a side of doughnuts.
Hartford Baking Company president Scott Kluger has tapped Hurd to lead the bakery’s new project, Citizen Chicken & Donuts, which will replace the original HBC location on New Park Avenue in West Hartford.
“Scott told me about this new concept, and I was all over it,” he said. “There’s so much you can do with doughnuts.”
Citizen will open in the next several weeks in the New Park space, featuring a menu of doughnuts, egg sandwiches and coffee in the morning that will give way to fried chicken, chicken sandwiches and hearty sides for lunch and dinner. Hartford Baking’s two other locations, in West Hartford Center and Glastonbury, will remain open.
A post shared by Citizen Chicken and Donuts (@citizenchickenanddonuts)
“People are getting excited about it. I think it’s going to be a hit,” Hurd said.
The concept is new to Connecticut, but has popped up around the country in recent years. Hurd noted an East Coast chain, Federal Donuts in Philadelphia, which has multiple locations throughout the city and features classic and “fancy” doughnuts with chicken meals, wings and sandwiches.
Hurd, who has lived in Georgia and Texas, befriended his co-contestant Kevin Cottle on the cooking show in 2008 and moved north after the show wrapped, joining Cottle at the Country Club of Farmington. His career led him from there to Jordan Caterers, Sayulita and Taino, and he took a position with Riverhouse Catering in early 2020.
But COVID-19 ground events to a halt in March, and he found himself without a job for several months. The layoff wasn’t all bad, he said, as he was able to spend valuable time at home with his newborn son, who arrived in July. By the time Kluger came calling about the new project, he was ready to get back into a kitchen.
Citizen is still finalizing its menu, but Hurd said guests can expect “good old comfort food”: chicken accompanied by sides like collard greens, mashed potatoes with gravy, mac and cheese and cole slaw; housemade pickles and Parker House rolls. He expects the menu to be ideal for family-style takeout, with sides served by the pint or quart and chicken available in buckets.
Sandwiches will be served on brioche rolls with pickles and zesty mayo-based “comeback sauce,” and Hurd’s even planning fried cauliflower as a vegetarian substitution. Gluten-free fried chicken will also be available, coated with rice flour and cooked in a dedicated fryer, he said.
Doughnuts are new for Hurd, he said, as he’s always had a pastry chef as part of his team, but he’s embraced the challenge. Citizen will offer cake, brioche and yeast styles.
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Hurd said he never expected to be in Connecticut as long as he has, but he’s thrilled to keep taking on new projects in his adopted home state.
“I’ve been so blessed to come up here,” he said. “Now I’m getting to do fried chicken. I’m just having a blast.”
Citizen Chicken & Donuts will open at 625 New Park Ave. in West Hartford. Visit facebook.com/citizenchickenanddonuts for updates.
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Europe experienced a transformation after the fall of the Roman Empire. This transformation was influenced by Roman culture, Germanic-barbarian culture, and early Christianity. Although daily life varied from region to region throughout the Middle Ages, certain common elements have been identified by historians and researchers. These include family life, the role of religion, an emerging legal system, and the eventual growth of towns and city-life, influenced by trade patterns and renewed contact with the East.
Following the decline of Roman rule, Western European societies developed the feudal system. Categorizing this system is difficult, however. Historians note the influence of geography, the extent of Roman cultural impacts, as well as the role of leadership under kings like Charlemagne. Additionally, feudalism was influenced by other powerful forces like the Viking raids and new barbarian incursions that originated in Asia.
Novgorod was an important link in the Hanseatic League of cities, connecting the Baltic Sea region with northern Russia. Medieval Novgorod facilitated the first dynastic leadership in Russia, representing on of the earliest pillars of power and influence.
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Food in the Middle Ages may not have been prepared with many of the spices and ingredients a modern kitchen holds, but good eating relied on a diversity of tastes and preparation techniques. Here is a sampling of such diversity as well as an intriguing recipe.
Tourists today stroll through the remnants of Medieval cities and towns, enthralled perhaps by the quaint buildings and inviting shops and cafes. But life in a Medieval town was perilous and harsh. When not confronting an enemy, townspeople contended with diseases and deplorable living conditions.
The growth of towns and cities was influenced by emerging trade patterns. The emergence and expansion of the Hanseatic League helped to facilitate this process, providing a mutual benefit for member cities.
The path to knighthood in the Middle Ages began early, associated with the role of squire. Training was arduous for young men focusing on one of the three orders of the Middle Ages: those that fought.
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Strategic America Honored with Best of Des Moines Awards
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Encyclopedia > letter C > carrier–envelope offset
Carrier–envelope Offset
8 suppliers for carrier–envelope offset measurement and stabilization
are found in the RP Photonics Buyer's Guide. Among them:
Find more supplier details at the end of this encyclopedia article, or go to our
List of suppliers for
carrier--envelope offset measurement and stabilization
You are not yet listed? Get your entry!
Calculating CEO Effects
Ask RP Photonics for advice concerning the measurement of the carrier–envelope offset frequency, its effects in a particular situation, and on calculations.
CEO effects can be simulated numerically with the software RP Fiber Power. One could check, for example, how intensity noise is converted to CEO noise by the Kerr nonlinearity.
Acronym: CEO
Definition: the offset between the optical phase and the maximum of the wave envelope of an optical pulse
Categories: optical metrology, light pulses
How to cite the article; suggest additional literature
Author: Dr. Rüdiger Paschotta
The time dependence of the electric field associated with a light pulse can be described as a fast sinusoidal oscillation, called the carrier, multiplied by a more slowly varying envelope function. When the pulse propagates through a medium, the relative position between the carrier wave and envelope will in general change due to chromatic dispersion, causing a difference between phase velocity and group velocity, and possibly also due to optical nonlinearities. The carrier–envelope offset phase (or absolute phase) of a pulse is defined as the difference between the optical phase of the carrier wave and the envelope position, the latter being converted to a phase value. Figure 1 shows pulses with different values of the carrier–envelope offset phase.
Figure 1: Electric field (blue curves) of laser pulses with a 5-fs duration and a variable CEO phase. This phase changes by π/2 from one pulse to the next one, corresponding to a CEO frequency which is one quarter of the pulse repetition rate.
In a mode-locked laser, a pulse train is usually generated from a single pulse circulating in the laser resonator. Every time when this pulse hits the output coupler, an attenuated copy of it is emitted to the laser output. Typically, there is a certain change in the carrier–envelope offset phase in each round trip, which can be hundreds or thousands of radians. Therefore, each emitted pulse will have a different carrier–envelope phase. For the output pulse train, only the change in this phase value modulo 2 π is relevant. This can very sensitively depend on factors such as the laser power, resonator alignment, etc.
Carrier–Envelope Offset Frequency
The carrier–envelope offset frequency (CEO frequency) of a mode-locked laser is
where Δφceo is the change in the carrier–envelope offset phase (also called carrier–envelope phase, CEP) per resonator round trip and frep is the pulse repetition rate. The carrier–envelope offset frequency thus lies between zero and the repetition rate frep. The optical frequencies of the pulse train (which for simplicity is assumed to be noiseless) are
with integer values of the index j. This means that there is a so-called equidistant frequency comb, and all occurring optical frequencies are determined by the repetition frequency and the CEO frequency.
The carrier–envelope offset frequency is important in optical frequency metrology and also in high-intensity physics with few-cycle laser pulses, because it affects the oscillation pattern of the electric field and even the peak electric field strength.
CEO Measurement
The carrier envelope offset frequency can be detected e.g. with a so-called f−2f interferometer via a beat note between the higher-frequency end of the comb spectrum with the frequency-doubled lower-frequency end, if the optical spectrum covers an optical octave. (Such broad spectra can be achieved e.g. with supercontinuum generation in photonic crystal fibers, if the spectrum from the laser is not broad enough.) The article on frequency combs gives more details.
CEO Stabilization
The CEO frequency of a laser can be influenced e.g. via the pump power, by slightly tilting a resonator mirror, or by inserting a glass wedge to a variable extent. (Various other control elements have also been developed.) The combination of detection and control of the CEO frequency allows the CEO frequency to be stabilized to a constant well-known value, so that all optical frequencies in the frequency comb are related to two RF or microwave frequencies [4]. Under such conditions, a laser is called CEO-stabilized or CEP-stabilized.
It is also possible to obtain frequency combs which naturally have a zero carrier–envelope offset frequency, i.e., an essentially constant carrier–envelope offset phase. For this purpose, it is necessary to arrange for difference frequency generation with both inputs from a single frequency comb [6]. This method leads to so-called self-phase-stabilized pulses.
The RP Photonics Buyer's Guide contains 8 suppliers for carrier--envelope offset measurement and stabilization. Among them:
Laser Quantum provides several lasers and systems for carrier–envelope phase stabilisation, including the finesse pure CEP – an ultra low noise laser with direct pump modulation capabilities and powers between 4–16 W.
Menlo Systems
Menlo Systems' CEP Stable Lasers and CEP Phase Stabilization are solutions that allow one to stabilize the carrier envelope phase of light pulses. We offer CEP stable femtoscond laser sources as well as phase stabilization electronics for OEM integrators. Applications range from CEP stable front end seed lasers to few cycle pulse oscillators and amplifiers for high harmonic generation and attosecond science.
Kapteyn-Murnane Laboratories
Our Stryde Ti:sapphire mode-locked oscillator has an optional "CEP-ready" configuration for applications that require CEP stabilization. Our RAEA HP-SP based on a multipass amplifier design has the ideal system architecture for applications that require CEP stabilization for mJ-class, multi-kHz systems.
Sphere Ultrafast Photonics
The CEP-tag system provides at single-shot measurements of the Carrier Envelope Phase (CEP) offset of amplified laser pulse. It is based on f–2f interferometry, where the second harmonic of the red edge of an octave-spanning spectrum is spectrally interfered with the blue edge. Detection is based on a photodiode array and the use of Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) electronics enables us to determine the CEP at a rate of 100 kHz.
Fastlite
The combination of the Dazzler or high repetition rate Dazzler single-shot and dispersion-free CEP control, with the multi-kHz single-shot CEP detection of the Fringeezz allows to build high bandwidth carrier–envelope phase stabilization loops. The ultimate CEP control for Ti:sapphire amplifiers, OPCPAs or other CEP-compatible systems, as well as for high-stability interferometers. For amplifier CEP stabilization or phase-tagging, fast and single-shot measurement is mandatory. Placed after a f-to-2f setup, the Fringeezz can extract the CEP error for every shot, up to 10 kHz.
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[1] M. Ivanov et al., “Routes to control of intense-field atomic polarizability”, Phys. Rev. Lett. 74 (15), 2933 (1995), doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.74.2933
[2] L. Xu et al., “Route to phase control of ultrashort light pulses”, Opt. Lett. 21 (24), 2008 (1996), doi:10.1364/OL.21.002008
[3] A. de Bohan et al., “Phase-dependent harmonic emission with ultrashort laser pulses”, Phys. Rev. Lett. 81 (9), 1837 (1998), doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.81.1837
[4] H. R. Telle et al., “carrier–envelope offset phase control: a novel concept for absolute optical frequency measurement and ultrashort pulse generation”, Appl. Phys. B 69, 327 (1999), doi:10.1007/s003400050813
[5] T. Brabec and F. Krausz, “Intense few-cycle laser fields: frontiers of nonlinear optics”, Rev. Mod. Phys. 72 (2), 545 (2000), doi:10.1103/RevModPhys.72.545
[6] A. Baltuška et al., “Controlling the carrier–envelope phase of ultrashort light pulses with optical parametric amplifiers”, Phys. Rev. Lett. 88 (13), 133901 (2002), doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.88.133901
[7] F. W. Helbing et al., “Carrier–envelope offset phase-locking with attosecond timing jitter”, IEEE J. Quantum Electron. 9 (4), 1030 (2003), doi:10.1109/JSTQE.2003.819104
[8] C. Vozzi et al., “High-energy, few-optical-cycle pulses at 1.5 μm with passive carrier–envelope phase stabilization”, Opt. Express 14 (21), 10109 (2006), doi:10.1364/OE.14.010109
[9] C. Grebing et al., “Performance comparison of interferometer topologies for carrier–envelope phase detection”, Appl. Phys. B 95 (1), 81 (2009), doi:10.1007/s00340-009-3428-9
[10] E. Moon et al., “Advances in carrier–envelope phase stabilization of grating-based chirped-pulse amplifiers”, Laser & Photon. Rev. 4 (1), 160 (2010), doi:10.1002/lpor.200810060
[11] V. Tsatourian et al., “Common-path self-referencing interferometer for carrier–envelope offset frequency stabilization with enhanced noise immunity”, Opt. Lett. 35 (8), 1209 (2010), doi:10.1364/OL.35.001209
[12] Z. Chang and P. Corkum, “Attosecond photon sources: the first decade and beyond”, J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 27 (11), B9 (2010), doi:10.1364/JOSAB.27.0000B9
[13] A. M. Sayler et al., “Precise, real-time, every-single-shot, carrier–envelope phase measurement of ultrashort laser pulses”, Opt. Lett. 36 (1), 1 (2011), doi:10.1364/OL.36.000001
[14] K. Okamura and T. Kobayashi, “Octave-spanning carrier–envelope phase stabilized visible pulse with sub-3-fs pulse duration”, Opt. Lett. 36 (2), 226 (2011), doi:10.1364/OL.36.000226
[15] B. Borchers et al., “Carrier–envelope phase stabilization with sub-10 as residual timing jitter”, Opt. Lett. 36 (21), 4146 (2011), doi:10.1364/OL.36.004146
[16] G. Gademann et al., “Carrier–envelope phase stabilization of a terawatt level chirped pulse amplifier for generation of intense isolated attosecond pulses”, Opt. Express 19 (25), 24922 (2011), doi:10.1364/OE.19.024922
[17] A. Klenner et al., “Phase-stabilization of the carrier–envelope-offset frequency of a SESAM modelocked thin disk laser”, Opt. Express 21 (21), 24770 (2013), doi:10.1364/OE.21.024770
[18] M. Hoffmann et al., “CEO stabilization of a femtosecond laser using a SESAM as fast opto-optical modulator”, Opt. Express 21 (24), 30054 (2013), doi:10.1364/OE.21.030054
[19] T. Paasch-Colberg et al., “Solid-state light-phase detector”, Nature Photon. 8, 214 (2014), doi:10.1038/nphoton.2013.348
[20] J. Hirschman et al., “Long-term hybrid stabilization of the carrier-envelope phase”, Opt. Express 28 (23), 34093 (2020), doi:10.1364/OE.400321
[21] E. Shestaev et al., “Carrier-envelope offset stable, coherently combined ytterbium-doped fiber CPA delivering 1 kW of average power”, Opt. Lett. 45 (23), 6350 (020), doi:10.1364/OL.409410
(Suggest additional literature!)
(More references can be found in the article on frequency combs.)
See also: pulses, optical phase, optical frequency, frequency combs, frequency metrology, stabilization of lasers, The Photonics Spotlight 2007-10-11
and other articles in the categories optical metrology, light pulses
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Color-coded reflectivity of a Bragg mirror as a function of wavelength and angle of the incident beam.
This diagram has been made with the RP Coating software.
The Transparent Laser
The dream of each laser developer, and not only of each laser scientist: have a transparent laser, where you can look into any components and see e.g.
optical intensities
excitation densities of laser-active ions
… and this at any location and time, with arbitrary resolution!
If you had this, finally you could
fully understand what goes on in your laser,
quickly identify and fix any problems, and
make faster progress
while saving a lot of money.
Absolutely marvelous, but only a dream?!?
Good news: such transparent lasers can be made! See our presentation:
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VSS365 Anthology
I joined a writing community on Twitter a couple of years ago called VSS365. Thousands of writers around the globe writing micro fiction or Very Short Stories with a single word writing prompt provided through the hashtag #vss365
In 2019, the hosts led by flash dog Mark A King, tasked a talented global writing community to produce their best work. We were provided with 37 challenging prompts with a strict 280 character limit. From thousands of entries, they selected just 365. I was lucky to have two stories chosen for inclusion.
What can be achieved with just 280 characters? On the pages of the anthology you will feel the fabric of love and depths of loss, you will explore mortality and ponder what it truly means to be alive, you will find poetry, prose, wonder, despair, humour and courage.
Most of all you will find exceptional thought-provoking authors who are pushing their form to the very limits and beyond. All royalties of this anthology go directly to a children's literacy charity.
Available through Amazon
Suzy Aspley
Crime Writers Supporting the NHS
VERY excited to have my story published amongst some brilliant crime and thriller writers in this anthology...
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Gold Hits Two-Week High as Dovish Fed Weighs on Dollar
(Reuters) - Gold rose to its highest in nearly two weeks on Thursday after the U.S. Federal Reserve signalled a slower pace of interest rate hike and gave a cautious outlook for the U.S. economy.
The Fed's dovish stance sent the dollar lower although the greenback clawed back some lost ground in afternoon trading in Asia.
Spot gold was little-changed at $1,167.40 an ounce by 0804 GMT, after earlier climbing to $1,177.46, its highest since March 9.
The metal gained 1.6 percent on Wednesday, its biggest one-day jump since Jan. 30.
The Fed moved a step closer to hiking rates for the first time since 2006, but downgraded its economic growth and inflation projections, signalling it is in no rush to push borrowing costs to more normal levels.
The U.S. central bank removed a reference to being "patient" on rates from its policy statement, while sounding a cautious note on the health of the economic recovery. It also slashed its median estimate for the federal funds rate and expressed concern over the strength in the dollar.
"The (Fed's) statement and press conference suggest that monetary policy is likely to be tightened but at a more moderate pace than the FOMC initially anticipated," ANZ said in a note, referring to the Federal Open Market Committee.
Gold fell to a four-month low earlier this week as concerns mounted over higher U.S. interest rates which could dent demand for non-interest bearing bullion.
The dollar has risen nearly 10 percent this year against a basket of major currencies as strong U.S. economic data boosted expectations the Fed would soon start raising interest rates.
Immediate resistance level for gold sits around $1,180-$1,185, said MKS Group trader James Gardiner, who sees decent offers leading up to $1,200.
Others noted that bullion could see further gains on a short-covering rally.
The Fed's caution on rates brought some bullion investors back on board.
Holdings in SPDR Gold Trust, the world's largest gold-backed exchange-traded fund, rose 0.24 percent to 749.77 tonnes on Wednesday - the first inflow since Feb. 20.
The fund had seen some heavy outflows recently that took holdings to their lowest in over a month just earlier this week.
Precious Metals & FX
Note: Rates displayed here are not live, just for the information purpose and not for the trading.
Copyright © 2021 Swiss Gold DMCC. All rights reserved.
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Covid-19 infections leave an impact on the heart, raising concerns about lasting damage
By Elizabeth Cooney @cooney_liz
Two new studies from Germany paint a sobering picture of the toll that Covid-19 takes on the heart, raising the specter of long-term damage after people recover, even if their illness was not severe enough to require hospitalization.
One study examined the cardiac MRIs of 100 people who had recovered from Covid-19 and compared them to heart images from 100 people who were similar but not infected with the virus. Their average age was 49 and two-thirds of the patients had recovered at home. More than two months later, infected patients were more likely to have troubling cardiac signs than people in the control group: 78 patients showed structural changes to their hearts, 76 had evidence of a biomarker signaling cardiac injury typically found after a heart attack, and 60 had signs of inflammation.
These were relatively young, healthy patients who fell ill in the spring, Valentina Puntmann, who led the MRI study, pointed out in an interview. Many of them had just returned from ski vacations. None of them thought they had anything wrong with their hearts.
“The fact that 78% of ‘recovered’ [patients] had evidence of ongoing heart involvement means that the heart is involved in a majority of patients, even if Covid-19 illness does not scream out with the classical heart symptoms, such as anginal chest pain,” she told STAT. She is a cardiologist at University Hospital Frankfurt. “In my view, the relatively clear onset of Covid-19 illness provides an opportunity to take proactive action and to look for heart involvement early.”
The other study, which analyzed autopsy results from 39 people who died early in the pandemic and whose average age was 85, found high levels of the virus in the hearts of 24 patients.
Watch: It’s not just the lungs: The Covid-19 virus attacks like no other ‘respiratory’ infection
“We see signs of viral replication in those that are heavily infected,” Dirk Westermann, a cardiologist at the University Heart and Vascular Centre in Hamburg, said in an interview. “We don’t know the long-term consequences of the changes in gene expression yet. I know from other diseases that it’s obviously not good to have that increased level of inflammation.”
Taken together, the two studies, published Monday in JAMA Cardiology, suggest that in many patients, Covid-19 could presage heart failure, a chronic, progressive condition in which the heart’s ability to pump blood throughout the body declines. It is too soon to say if the damage in patients recovering from Covid-19 is transient or permanent, but cardiologists are worried.
“These are two studies that both suggest that being infected with Covid-19 carries a high likelihood of having some involvement of the heart. If not answering questions, [they] prompt important questions about what the cardiac aftermath is,” said Matthew Tomey, a cardiologist and assistant professor of medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Health System in New York. He was not involved in either study.
“The question now is how long these changes persist,” he added. “Are these going to become chronic effects upon the heart or are these — we hope — temporary effects on cardiac function that will gradually improve over time?”
Since the pandemic began, people with underlying cardiovascular problems such as high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, or heart failure have been known to be at higher risk for infection and death. The connection between Covid-19 and blood clots emerged later, after doctors began connecting the pulmonary embolisms, strokes, and heart attacks they were seeing to the virus.
Cardiac problems in recovering patients could belong to a pattern of lingering symptoms. Tomey sees signs of weakness in patients who had Covid-19 in March or April, when the disease was surging in New York.
“Patients come to my office saying, ‘Hey, I’m a 31-year-old who used to run and be completely unlimited in my exercise, and now I get palpitations walking across the street. Or I get out of breath climbing up to my second-floor apartment,’” he said. “Individuals are exquisitely tuned in to their own capacity for exercise, so I take that very seriously. Our challenge is to understand the why.”
Marc Pfeffer, a cardiologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, called both the autopsy and MRI studies a sobering warning. He was not involved in either. He’s concerned about relatively young people losing their cardiac health reserves, which typically decrease with age and can set the stage for heart failure.
“We knew that this virus, SARS-CoV-2, doesn’t spare the heart,” he said. “We’re going to get a lot of people through the acute phase [but] I think there’s going to be a long-term price to pay.”
In an editorial about the two studies, Clyde Yancy, a cardiologist at Northwestern’s Feinberg School of Medicine, and Gregg Fonarow, a cardiologist at UCLA’s Geffen School of Medicine, pushed for more research into the problem.
“If this high rate of risk is confirmed, … then the crisis of COVID-19 will not abate but will instead shift to a new de novo incidence of heart failure and other chronic cardiovascular complications,” they wrote. “We are inclined to raise a new and very evident concern that cardiomyopathy and heart failure related to Covid-19 may potentially evolve as the natural history of this infection becomes clearer.”
Asked if there is something that can be done for patients now, Mount Sinai’s Tomey said, “I would love to have the answer to that question.”
General Assignment Reporter
Liz is a general assignment reporter.
elizabeth.cooney@statnews.com
@cooney_liz
Now days my heart makes funny palpitations once in a while. Sometimes, it’s like forcing blood to flow upwards.
Stephanie L Whitman says:
I’m 38 years old and 3 months recovered from COVID – able to recover at home. I have a family history of cardiac issues – CHF, MI, palpitations. In the last month, I’ve recently spoken to my PCP regarding lower extremity swelling and heart palpitations (I’ve had palpitations for years, but nothing had ever shown up on EKGs). I had an EKG just last week that showed borderline intraventricular conduction delay, earning me a 48 hour heart monitor, cardiology consult, and echocardiogram. Now that I’m reading about these studies, I’m interested in knowing what is attributed to my history and what is because of COVID.
As a person not in the medical field, I’m certainly worried to see doctors worried themselves. However, I wonder, as one comment already suggested, at which extent those documented complications related to COVID-19 are specific to this disease.
Some experts say there are complications with other viruses too, including cardiac damage.
I guess my question is, are we finding defects in the body because we’re now looking at them?
From what it looks like, the main difference is, COVID asymptomatic patients are affected, but not the asymptomatic ones who contracted the flu or other viruses ?
I sometimes have the feeling we’re now starting to examine the general health of people, which was already quite bad, because of the COVID, and it collects a lot of the blame.
A lot of questions… we’re all eager to know the answers!
I thought I’d be something they’ve had beforehand, but even with prognosis, if a patient comes about & states having heart palpitations/trouble walking up the street after contracting the virus, it’s pretty safe to say that they didn’t have the damage beforehand. Pretty scary virus, I hate that we have to go through this bs rn lol.
Pat Moore says:
This article presents fodder worthy of wide-spread media attention: warn the beach & bar crowds that they are risking long-term heart issues. Maybe this will finally curb their obnoxious “cognitive dissonance” behaviour, and get them to finally participate in keeping all of the US much safer and healthier and guess what? more free (of disease !).
Vicky Hashley says:
This article horrifies me. It makes my heart palps worse. I had the virus back in April…thought it was a cold…not a particularly bad cold either. I am 60. My 63 yr old husband got it from me…he was incredibly sick for 6 wks and passed away on May 27th. I of course have been greiving and struggling to get by. The anxiety is debilitating. I have over the past few weeks been feeling a ballooning sensation in my chest, LOTS of heart palps and flutters…which freak me out and make me panic. Other stuff too. So bad I’ve almost went to the ER. I started looking on online about what might be going on…too broke to go to Dr. appt with 80% of our income gone. Now I’m even more worried and scared. OMG !
Moira Lourie says:
Or Covid uncovers early heart dx previously undiagnosed. Those with asymptomatic exposure having healthier hearts and able to ward off dx.
James Mena says:
Dear Mrs Hashley, Sorry about your loss and all the carnage this dreaded Evil has brought your family and the rest of our Human families. The human body is a wonderful system in that it has the ability to regain balance.
The Heart(a muscle) can/has through exercise smarter eating been shown to strengthen so please get on a treadmill,stationary bike or start walking and little by little turn it into a light jog and eventually who knows! perhaps climbing your local mountain. I too have experienced “ballooning” shortness of breath, bad,bad GERD but exercising plus Earthing while getting D from the sun are doing wonders for this 60 year old.
Notice the above requires near zero $$$$..
Valerie Barrett says:
Please go see your doctor! You could he experiencing panic attacks. You could be having serious cardiac issues. Both require attention to keep you safe and help you live your life. ♥️ Please do not wait and do nothing. I’ve seen too often how that ends up.
The study authors noted that while most coronavirus research has focused on short-term respiratory complications, particularly in critically ill patients, mounting evidence suggests that COVID-19 has a significant impact on the cardiovascular system by worsening heart failure in patients with preexisting cardiac diseases.
In this study, CMR revealed several kinds of heart abnormalities, each of which can be tied to underlying dysfunction and worse outcomes, the authors said.
Having 22 years in clinical cardiology I have a hard time believing that structural changes have occurred to the heart from COVID 19. I’d like to see additional information in the form of prior studies that prove there was no evidence of a structural heart abnormality before the images or specific modality had acquired them. In other words we don’t know if it was pre-existing before COVID or not. The term structural abnormality is misleading due to the fact that congestion from the course of the upper respiratory response could result in elevated pulmonary pressures which could induce small benign clinical abnormalities such as pulmonary hypertension, that could cause pulmonic insufficiency. Or long standing systemic hypertension that leads to aortic insufficiency. I don’t doubt or discredit clinical finding by patients that state they have experienced a significant drop in relative VO2 Max and or exertional dyspnea, with documented history of exercise. I just feel that recent findings in young patients with no prior diagnostic cardiac testing can not point to COVID as a clinically established cause.
Much more research, at the time of diagnosis of COVID and long term diagnostic cardiac testing is the only verifiable way to accurately know the long term outcome of such claims.
Bonny Jackson says:
I think this is why alot of people are mentioning cold extremeties…especially feet and hands. Palpitations…and breathless months later… including myself…thankyou for the truth…
Sarah rowell says:
While positive with covid 19 I never suffered from any respiratory infection . Although now I suffer from swelling and chest hurts during normal activities .
Mitch Fine says:
Based on the study it is uncertain what % of subjects had pre-existing endocarditis, myocarditis, or pericarditis. From Table 1, Patient Characteristics, we can only tell that a sizable percentage of subjects had diabetes, hypertension and/or were smokers. The total number (n) who had at least one of these is not disclosed, which is a potential major failing of this study, especially since the control group is heart healthy individuals. In short, we have no idea if we are comparing apples to apples so there is no way to ascertain whether this study was properly designed and therefore whether the study’s conclusion are valid.
Francesca Kinsman says:
Yes; our better research tactics and strategies are disrupted as we attempt to plunge into this complicated procedure. Pros and victims all can appreciate the ongoing complexity enhanced by our awkward, feeble, postponed research. 45 did far more harm than even he could guess.
Don Vaid says:
Mitch, I agree with you that the study “control group” is not representative of the subjects being evaluated. We need a valid study to draw valid conclusions.
Former FDA chief David Kessler will helm Operation Warp…
Former FDA chief David Kessler will helm Operation Warp Speed for Biden
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Social homes sales have risen by 128% in five years
Figures released by the Communities and Local Government department shows that the number of social homes sold has risen by 128% in five years.
In 2012-13, 16,659 social homes were sold, however in 2008-09 only 7,309 were sold. The number of sales for this year to April had increased by 72% from the previous year.
More than half of the social homes sold last year were brought with through the right to buy scheme. The 8,398 figure of was more than double the amount bought the previous year and the new junior housing minister said that he believed that this rise is down to the government increasing the discount cap to £75,000 in April 2012, reports Inside Housing.
Of the total overall sales in 2012-13, 6,739 homes were bought from councils which was more than double the amount form the previous year and the highest in five years.
Mr Hopkins said: ‘For years the right to buy was allowed to wither on the vine, with ever-decreasing discounts leaving the prospect of home ownership out of reach for far too many social tenants.
‘But our reinvigorated scheme has changed that, with increased discounts helping more than 10,000 new homeowners onto the property ladder.
‘And because we've committed to using the additional money raised towards funding new affordable homes for rent, we're also getting Britain building and will soon have the fastest rate of affordable house building for 2 decades.'
David Cameron said: ‘The success of right to buy shows how the new reinvigorated scheme is opening up the prospect of home ownership to even more people across the country.
He continued: ‘What is more, we're ploughing the additional money from right to buy sales straight back into building more affordable homes. Whether it's through right to buy, support with mortgages or getting more houses built, we are helping more and more hardworking people to buy somewhere to live and get on in life.'
THE ONS PLANS TO CHANGE THEIR DECISION TO MAKE HOUSING ASSOCIATIONS PUBLIC BODIES
According to reports by 24 Housing, the ONS said the following:Gavin Smart, Chartered Institute of Housing's deputy chief executive also said:"Although we have been expecting this decision for some...
RECENT ANALYSIS FINDS THAT THE HELP TO BUY SCHEME HAS ADDED TO THE INFLATION OF HOUSE PRICES
The analysis of the Help to Buy Scheme revealed the following:The chief executive of Paradigm Housing Group, Matthew Bailes, said:" ... clearly, it worked well for developers, and for providers, it...
A NORTH WALES COUNCIL REVEALED THEIR WAITING LIST FOR NEW HOMES HAS REACHED BREAKING POINT
The north Wales Council revealed their waiting list for new homes has reached "breaking point".According to Clare Budden, Flintshire Council's community enterprise chief officer said:"There are...
HOMELESSNESS POLICY IS UNDER REVIEW IN A NORTHAMPTONSHIRE COUNCIL
Kettering Borough Council has amended its letters to homeless residents to let them know of their right to request a temporary accommodation review.According to an ombudsman, Michael King:"People in...
FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS HAVE CAUSED THE CLOSURE OF MANY CHILDREN AND YOUTH CENTRES
Local Government Association (LGA) made the following findings:Chair of the LGA's children and young people board, Richard Watts, said: "The reality is that services for the care and protection of...
RESIDENTS OF BUILDINGS IN LEDBURY ESTATE, SOUTHWARK, SOUTH LONDON WILL BE MOVED OUT TEMPORARILY
The buildings in Ledbury Estate in Southwark have been constructed in a similar way to Ronan Point, a tower block in Newham which collapsed in 1968 as a result of a gas explosion, killing three. An...
THERE IS A DECLINE IN THE HOUSING MARKET IN LONDON AND OTHER PARTS OF THE SOUTH EAST OF ENGLAND
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics) made the following findings:Chief Economist at Rics, Simon Rubinsohn:"Sales activity in the housing market has been slipping in the recent month...
REPORT FINDS THAT PEOPLE ARE INTENSELY SUFFERING FROM LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOMES IN SCOTLAND
According to the report by "Shelter":Shelter's deputy director, Alison Watson, said:"This report shows the disproportionate impact of Scotland's housing crisis on young people and private renters who...
NEW REPORT BY THE PUBLIC ACCOUNT COMMITTEE IN WALES COMMENDS HOUSING ASSOCIATIONS
The report which was put together after nine months of inquiries stated the following:Nick Ramsey, Chair of the Public Accounts Committee, said:"Generally, we found governance and regulation within...
LONDON COUNCIL URGES THE GOVERNMENT TO MAKE MEASURES TO END LETTING FEES FOR PRIVATE RENTERS
The London council say urgent action is needed because the government has not provided "a clear timescale to introduce its own measure", Letting Agent Today, reports.Last year, the government had...
Support Solutions 5th National Housing Support & Social Care Conference 2014 Good organisation from beginning to end. Excellent keynote speaker. Relevant and important topics for discussion which were to everyone's advantage within the supported housing sector. B.H - Stevenage Haven
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New Gigs in 2016
PurpleTwilight
Post subject: Re: New Gigs in 2016
Network23 wrote:
Not sure if it was Edgar, but I don't see who else could have said it.
I did a quick search, and it turns out it was from an interview from 2014:
It was a compromise, because the idea was orginally, maybe to form a band, between my son, Thorsten and myself. It didn't work at all, because Thorsten and Jerome were like... [clenches fists together]. (http://www.voices-in-the-net.de/jeanne_darc.htm)
But apart from Edgar's fantastic guitar solo in "Hamlet" (which is d e l e t e d ! from the Orange Sized Dreams version)
Well, to be fair, that track is apparently derived from the demo that preceded Edgar's guitar contribution. What mystifies me and other reviewers is why an Edgar composition has popped up on the otherwise Jerome-centric Orange Sized Dreams. Unless I've overlooked something, all of Jerome's retrospective compilations save Dream Mixes V consisted solely of his own TD compositions. (I'm assuming Edgar produced the Touareg remix of "Mombasa" himself, as it doesn't sound Jerome-esque and Jerome tends to keep his hands off his dad's material.) At least one reviewer speculated that "Cymbeline" (aka "Hamlet") originated from Jerome rather than Edgar, and while the evidence is tempting, I don't consider it conclusive. Perhaps Edgar wrote the basic track and Jerome took some liberties by releasing this "redux."
the proceedings resembled a band with an identity crisis.
That's definitely a fair assessment of the 220 Volt tour. I myself love all of TD's work during the 90s, but I can totally understand why the music shocked and/or alienated many traditional fans. I read somewhere that Edgar spoke favorably about Eddie Van Halen's guitar work in the late 80s or early 90s. If this is true, it provides some context for why he allowed Jerome and Zlatko to get away with such a heavy rock sound during that period.
We didn't know it then, but Jerome had been assigned an extremely significant level of control, and I think many will agree that it resulted in the single worst "era" of the band. It got to the point I could barely listen to TD with Jerome. His techno/EDM leanings were stifling (yet mysteriously nonexistent in the context of Loom). The Dream Mixes albums are almost nearly complete throwaways for me.
Again, this is where our tastes differ. I will say, however, that while I generally prefer Jerome's compositions over Edgar's on Rockoon through Goblin's Club, I still like most of Edgar's tracks very much. In fact, I suspect that Edgar's output would have been far better had he not been burdened with remixing TD's extensive back catalog at the time. Maybe even Beyond The Storm would have turned out different, but who can really say?
Location: Kristiansand, Norway
PurpleTwilight wrote:
I don't know all the intricacies of Jerome and Edgar's working relationship from 1990 to 2006, but it's apparent that they didn't really compose music as a team for the most part.
I don't think Edgar wrote anything together with TQ or Schnauss either though. Looks like all of them wrote by themselves.
Jon wrote:
I haven't gotten Mala Kunia yet, but my understanding is that Edgar and Ulrich collaborated on several tracks. Do correct me if I'm wrong. While you're right about Thorsten writing on his own, he's almost worlds apart from Jerome in terms of autonomy within the band. Again, I refer to the concert setlists to make this point. After Jerome left, Edgar got to fill the concerts with his latest compositions. Unlike Jerome, Thorsten only had one or two of his own tracks appear on any given evening's setlist. Whether or not this was mandated by Edgar, I don't know, but it certainly made Thorsten appear more deferential than Jerome ever was. So, as much as I consider Jerome one of my biggest electronic heroes, I can't help but feel that Thorsten is more deserving of respect insofar as he is picking up where Edgar left off. Jerome, on the other hand, has always given off the air of entitlement (which particularly stings now that he's apparently opposed to what Thorsten and company are doing.
From Franz Kafka The Castle
EF & TQ - The Apparently Lunatic Hierarchy
From Booster 7
EF & US - Heart Throb
From Mala Kunia
EF & US - Shadow & Sun
EF & US - Madagasmala
I read somewhere that Edgar spoke favorably about Eddie Van Halen's guitar work in the late 80s or early 90s. If this is true, it provides some context for why he allowed Jerome and Zlatko to get away with such a heavy rock sound during that period.
Jerome knew Zlatko from his school days in Switzerland.
I read the interview in Keyboard where Edgar praised EVH. He was the only guitarist who really impressed him in a long time. I preferred Edgar's guitar playing to anything recorded/written by Jerome or Zlatko. "Sun Gate" is all the proof one needs, but luckily for us there are many more examples.
Three years ago, I commented on Zlatko's Facebook page that he should plan a reunion with Edgar, and he said it'd be "kinda cool." Unfortunately, Zlatko was busy touring at the time, and I guess Edgar already had a competent guitarist in Bernhard. I hope Jerome and Zlatko collaborate sometime in the future.
That's definitely a fair assessment of the 220 Volt tour. I myself love all of TD's work during the 90s, but I can totally understand why the music shocked and/or alienated many traditional fans. I read somewhere that Edgar spoke favorably about Eddie Van Halen's guitar work in the late 80s or early 90s. If this is true, it provides some context for why he allowed Jerome and Zlatko to get away with such a heavy rock sound during that period. [/quote="PurpleTwilight"]
I happen to like, very much, the 220 Volt album and I do not find it so "techno/EDM" as you state. I find it an excellent concert with a lot of very fine energy ... worth of the TD tradition in every respect.
http://www.pedrosena.com
TDludo
Posted: Sat Oct 17, 2015 11:02 pm
Location: Paris/Earth/Solar System/Milky Way
Hipgnosis wrote:
I agree : 220 Volt IS an excellent album "full of energy" (as Linda Spa also said) !
A new cosmic address for the Master Dreamer...
Location: Darkest North Wales
As much as I like his music and totally respect his massive contribution to TD's past, I'm happy for Jerome not to be a part of TD's future. TD must continue to move forward, to develop and remain organic. I've always been mystified by other fans' wishes for past members to re-join. Doing this doesn't reignite past glories. All this can ever do is create an odd mix of present and previous styles, and unbalance the mix within the band's personnel. I'm happy for Ulrich Schauss to be a member of TD now, as I'm sure he'll bring his own qualities into the music, and hopefully blend well with Thorsten's own style. The Quantum Key EP is superb, so it looks like it is working really well so far.
TD has announced a new concert :
TANGERINE DREAM - THE QUANTUM YEARS in concert!
IN HONOUR OF EDGAR FROESE
We are happy to announce a first festival concert this year:
SCHWINGUNGEN FESTIVAL,
3rd September 2016 in Windeck (close to Cologne/Bonn).
Please get more details here:
http://www.schwingungen-festival.de/pro ... ine-dream/
Ticket link: http://www.eventim.de/Tickets.html?affi ... anguage=en
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MIT News magazine
537 Miles, 35 Alumni Stories
Why I walked the California coastline, and how alumni helped
Melissa Williams archive page
“Stop hitting buttons! You’re going to trigger the police response!” our photographer yelled. It was nearly a month into a four-month, 500-plus-mile walk across California, during which we were visiting classrooms to talk to students about diabetes. The photographer, Maureen Roque, was trapped in our host’s home with me and my mother, Kiriaki Williams, because I couldn’t remember the four-digit code to disarm the alarm.
Wellness walk Melissa Williams ’06 treks through California’s Crystal Cove State Park.
When not walking across California, I’m a management consultant focused on the health-care industry. In 2007, I came across some bleak predictions: one in three kids born in 2000 will develop diabetes by 2050. For Hispanic children, the odds are one in two.
I created the California Wellness Walk in an attempt to keep those predictions from coming true. I figured that walking from San Diego to San Francisco would get the kids’ attention, and then it would be up to us to get them excited about eating well and being active. In the end, we walked 537 miles and spoke to more than 8,000 students. And I know many of them took our message to heart. One girl poured her chocolate milk out a window. A boy who was kicked out of class every day for misbehaving not only paid attention to us but shushed his classmates and encouraged them to listen as well. And another girl told her teacher, “I’m going to run the mile faster than I ever have before so I don’t get diabetes.”
None of this would have been possible without the support of MIT’s alumni community. In the fall of 2009, I e-mailed 1,000 alumni through the Infinite Connection, asking if they’d be willing to host us along the way; nearly 150 offered their homes, and we stayed with 35 of them. Our hosts included recent grads and red coats, single men and multigenerational households, young couples and retirees. Never before have I met so many interesting people in such a short time. In any case, that’s how we found ourselves stuck in John Kraus’s entryway.
At 92, John Kraus ‘41 was our oldest host, but you would never guess it. His taut skin and bright face don’t look a day over 65. He’s an avid sailor and spends every Monday out on the Pacific with his crew. John regaled us with stories (he’d earned his MIT degree in general engineering) and even indulged my curiosity by bringing out his red coat and badge (the first time I had seen either in person!).
Though John leads his neighborhood watch in Newport Beach and is very conscientious about security, he had said that he wasn’t going to set the house alarm while we were there. But we’d insisted that he should, assuring him that we would remember the pass code. Famous last words! Fortunately, before the alarm system could trigger a call to the police, John woke up and turned it off, and we were finally on our way.
That day came amid two weeks of heavy rains, during which we lucked out by conducting workshops indoors. One such day, however, our host was not so lucky.
While at MIT, Jim Czarnowski, SM ‘97, helped develop a boat whose efficient propulsion system was modeled after penguin flippers. Now he’s director of engineering at Hobie Cat. The stormy day that we were safely in a classroom, Jim was out on the Pacific with his trusty dog, testing a new prototype kayak.
Jim and his wife, Elena, had just moved in when they hosted us, and even with many of their things still in boxes, they made us feel right at home. The first night, Elena brought the patio furniture inside, draped the table and chairs in sarongs, and served a delicious dinner.
At another stop, we returned “home” one afternoon to find that Christina Stanley ‘85 had prepared perhaps the best soup I’ve ever had. It combined lentils, spices, and handmade Italian sausage from a local butcher. Then, to top it off, Christina suggested that we join her husband, Dave, and their son, Spike, for a sail around San Diego Bay.
When not sailing, Christina serves as chief deputy medical examiner for San Diego County. She shared the harrowing tale of an obese 13-year-old girl who died from complications of diabetes, comparing the fatty deposits on her liver to those seen in older alcoholics. As she told us other stories, Dave interjected some bone-dry humor.
John, Jim, Christina, and the dozens of other alums who hosted us helped me achieve my dream. After getting to meet so many alumni and seeing all the paths they’ve taken, I am thankful to be part of this community.
Melissa Williams ‘06 did the California Wellness Walk from January to May of 2010. See photos of her alumni hosts at www.technologyreview.com/wellness-walk.
Melissa Williams
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Is Google's 'iTunes for Books' anti-competitive?
By Adam Hartley 03 July 2009
US Dept of Justice opens formal investigation into Google Books
Is Google Books an unfair monopoly?
The US Department of Justice has opened a formal investigation into the settlement between Google and book publishers over the rights to publish books online.
Google settled a lawsuit in late 2008 filed by a number of major publishing groups relating to its plans for Google Books.
According to the terms of that settlement, Google has the right to digitally publish books that are out of print by still protected by copyright law – with the onus being on individual authors to opt out should they not wish for their works to be available via Google Books.
Unfair monopoly?
As TechRadar reported earlier this year, Critics of that deal have suggested that this effectively gives Google an unfair monopoly in terms of providing digitised versions of out-of-print books.
As the Guardian notes: "Anyone else who wished to publish those books would have to individually negotiate with their authors, many of whom can not be located very easily."
Judge Denny Chin is responsible for looking over the issues surrounding that settlement made late last year until it is finally implemented in October 2009.
"The Antitrust Division is investigating the possibility of anticompetitive practices involving digital-book intellectual-property rights and distribution," said Department of Justice rep Gina Talamona.
Google responds
In a statement, Google said: "The Department of Justice and several state attorneys general have contacted us to learn more about the impact of the settlement, and we are happy to answer their questions.
"It's important to note that this agreement is non-exclusive and if approved by the court, stands to expand access to millions of books in the US."
For more details on Google's online book library head over to Google Books
Via The Guardian
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Supporters’ Association
Safeguarding Officers
Goalden Gate
Away Guide: Tameside Stadium
This Saturday sees Telford travel to Tameside to take on Curzon Ashton in the National League North.
For those supporters traveling to Manchester on Saturday, please take a look at our away day guide to the Tameside Stadium.
There will be no segregation is place for Telford supporters, admission into the fixture will be £14 adults, £7 concessions & students & U16s £3.
Ground Address:
The Tameside Stadium
OL7 9HG
A variety of hot and cold food and drink is available from the Snack Bar before, during and after each game. The Sports Bar serves a wide variety of alcoholic beverages and soft drinks and is open to all visitors before, during and after games.
Please respect their neighbours when leaving the stadium.
The club shop is also open on match-days and sells a wide range of league and non-league programmes, replica shirts, scarves, pin badges and other club merchandise.
Leave the M60 at Junction 23 and take the A6140 towards Ashton-under-Lyne. After passing a Cineworld Cinema on your right you will reach a set of traffic lights (with a couple of sporting statues on your left as you approach the lights), where you turn left (signposted Local Traffic) onto Richmond Street. Go over the railway bridge, straight across the mini-roundabout and then take the next left into the stadium complex. There is a large car park at the ground which is free.
There is a fair sized Club Bar at the stadium which welcomes visiting fans. If you arrive early at the stadium (or travel by train) then Ashton-under-Lyne town centre is only a 15 minute walk away, where there are plenty of pubs to be found. These include a Wetherspoons pub called the ‘Ash Tree’ on Wellington Road.
The nearest Railway Station is Ashton-under-Lyne which is located just over a mile or a 15-20 minute walk away from Tameside Stadium. The station is served by trains from Manchester Victoria and Huddersfield.
Official Matchday Programme: £2
News / 5 November 2020
AFC Telford United are delighted to announce a partnership with GPS Providers Fitogether
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Level Playing Field Week of Action – Telford v Darlington
AFC Telford United are proud to be supporting the Level Playing Field Week of Action at...
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Enjoy high class hospitality and football at the Bucks Head Stadium, the home of AFC Telford United.
Find out how you can sponsor your club! We provide several ways to get involved.
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Watling Street, Wellington
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Website by Reech Media
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Ousted Sascha Bajin reveals more about mysterious split from Naomi Osaka
Naomi Osaka’s former coach Sascha Bajin says that ‘differences’ were behind his mysterious split from the world number one.
Osaka surprised everyone when she revealed she was dispensing with Bajin’s services after winning the Australian Open, her second consecutive Grand Slam title.
And, while exact details remain elusive, Bajin, who has previously worked with Serena Williams and Caroline Wozniacki, has at least confirmed it was Osaka’s decision.
“Look, to be honest, there were some differences,” he said at the Madrid Open.
“It was her decision. I respect that. No matter what.
“If there was success or not success whatever the case if she feels like it’s better to go then that’s her decision.
“Same as with Caroline, we had a great year with seven finals and we had a deal for a year and she didn’t want to continue.
“It’s ok, I respect her decision. We’re all still friends and we see each other.
“Like I said, the decision was made. It’s in the past. It’s ok, we just move on. It’s all good.”
Follow us on Twitter @T365Official and like our Facebook page.
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Hubert Hurkacz captures second ATP Tour title.
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#Glasgow International 2018 goes cyber
25th October 2017 10:39 GMT
Mark Leckey, UniAddDum (2013-15) Containers and Their Drivers, MOMA PS1.Courtesy the Artist and Cabinet, London
The next edition of Glasgow International (20 April-7 May 2018), the biennial contemporary art event founded in 2005, will certainly be plugged in to the issues, and artists, shaping our times. A major group exhibition at the Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA), entitled Cellular World, is one of 45 group shows due to open in the city next spring. Under the new director Richard Parry, artists including Joseph Buckley, Jesse Darling, Cécile B. Evans, and Lynn Hershman-Leeson will focus on how the future is being shaped—for good or bad—by technological advances. “Prominent concepts will include ideas of the ‘cyborg’, of artificial intelligence (AI) and of avatars, at a time when most of us rely on smartphones and have an online persona through social media,” a press statement says. The event also promises to explore Brexit, featuring works that will “carry a renewed sense of urgency”. Highlights include solo exhibitions dedicated to Mark Leckey and Urs Fischer while the Canadian artist Kapwani Kiwanga and UK pair Linder and Tai Shani will present new projects.
More BlogTopicsGlasgowMark LeckeyUrs Fischer
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Leaked document on ‘Exercise Cygnus’ reveals UK’s insufficient preparation for pandemics
A secret Whitehall document condemning the UK’s “insufficient” preparedness for a health pandemic such as the coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak has been published.
The analysis, based on a 2016 simulation of a flu pandemic codenamed Exercise Cygnus, identified a “lack of joint tactical-level plans” for a public health emergency, with demand for services outstripping local capacity.
The 57-page Public Health England report, leaked to the Guardian, also identified concerns about the expectation that the social care system would be able to provide the level of support needed in the event of a serious outbreak.
Revealed: the secret report that gave ministers warning of care home coronavirus crisis https://t.co/KysM8RYWwg
— The Guardian (@guardian) May 7, 2020
Ambulance workers ‘at breaking point’, union survey suggests
DWP chaos around Universal Credit reaches breaking point
Latest figures from the Department of Health showed 30,076 people had died in hospitals, care homes and the wider community after testing positive for coronavirus in the UK, as of 5pm on Tuesday 5 May. On the same day, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) put the death toll at 32,375.
The UK now has the highest death toll in Europe, amid long-running concerns about a lack of adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) among frontline health workers and care home staff, as well as worries over the government’s testing capabilities.
The Cygnus drill document found the possible impacts of a pandemic were not universally understood across Whitehall.
It said: “The UK’s preparedness and response, in terms of its plans, policies and capability, is currently not sufficient to cope with the extreme demands of a severe pandemic that will have a nationwide impact across all sectors.”
Ministers have acknowledged the presence of the Cygnus report throughout the coronavirus pandemic, with health secretary Matt Hancock claiming last month that “everything that was appropriate to do was done”.
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The Canary , 17th January 2021
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Exercise Cygnus
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I like movies. Movies are good.
2 Stars Movies
Material Witness: Ridley Scott’s Someone to Watch Over Me
Post author By Your Humble Blogger
No Comments on Material Witness: Ridley Scott’s Someone to Watch Over Me
Ridley Scott’s Someone to Watch Over Me (1987) is more of a drama than a police thriller, refreshingly focused on its characters over suspense and action alone. Mike Keegan (Tom Berenger) is a salt-of-the-earth Queens detective assigned to protect material witness Claire (Mimi Rogers) from assassination. Keegan is a modest family man, recently promoted to the second rung of the police hierarchy. It’s no glamorous job; he spends most of his working hours just sitting around not finishing crosswords. He’s utterly unlike the over-the-top testosterone-laden cop character played by Michael Douglas in Scott’s other police thriller, Black Rain.
Any dame what lives in a spread like this is outta yer league, pal.
Keegan is more-or-less happily married (to Lorraine Bracco as Ellie), but a man like him would never otherwise come into contact with a beautiful uptown girl like Claire. Cooped up in close proximity to each other every night, they inevitably lapse into an affair. Her effeminate but wealthy and powerful husband senses that Keegan is a romantic rival, but he is an effectively impotent character and frequently disappears from the film altogether. Also notable is song-and-dance man Jerry Orbach already typecast as a detective in a small role as Keegan’s tough Lieutenant.
When Mimi Rogers heard Director Ridley Scott was big on visual spectacles, this isn’t what she had in mind
One of the guaranteed pleasures of any Ridley Scott film is the visuals. Someone to Watch Over Me’s opening credits feature the namesake song by George Gershwin sung by Sting over beautifully sleek aerial shots of New York City at night. The final shootout is perfectly staged in a claustrophobically enclosed space, with huge mirrors placed for maximum dramatic impact. The principals stalk each other in near silence, punctuated by the wide dynamics of sound design. Perhaps Scott was competing with that other upstart master of cinematic shootouts, Michael Mann (in particular, the similarly explosive conclusion to the contemporary thriller Manhunter).
Tags 1987, action, drama, Jerry Orbach, Lorraine Bracco, Mimi Rogers, New York City, Ridley Scott, suspense, thriller, Tom Berenger
← Girls and Their Unicorns: Ridley Scott’s Legend → Michael Douglas vs. the yakuza in Ridley Scott’s Black Rain
© 2021 Thinking Out Loud
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Sunday, Jan. 17, 2021 | Today's Paper | 68.9°
Sweet bliss for Red Raiders
By Nick Celario | Sunday, September 27, 2015, 1 a.m.
LIHUE — Engulfed in gusting winds, the Red Raiders came through for the home crowd.
Kauai High School’s varsity football team defeated Waimea, 17-0, in the school’s homecoming Saturday afternoon at Vidinha Stadium to post its first win of the Kauai Interscholastic Federation season.
“That’s sweet. Very sweet,” said Red Raiders senior running back Damien Butac about the win. “All I thought about today during homecoming was the alumni looking down on us because it’s homecoming. All of them come out and watch this game because it’s so important. I feel we made them proud today.”
After a scoreless and mostly uneventful first half, Kauai (1-5, 1-3 KIF) drove down the field in its first possession of the third quarter. Sophomore quarterback Christian Manera found pay dirt with a 4-yard run to score the Red Raiders’ first points in the KIF season.
“It means a lot because the boys worked hard. We spoke all week about perseverance and rebounding as a team,” said Kauai head coach Derek Borrero. “They started that positive move from last week against Kapaa by holding them down to 24 points. We carried that on to the practice week.”
“Homecoming, that’s the one you want right? The seniors, they deserve this. So I’m very proud of them,” he added.
That scoring drive was set up by Butac’s 62 yards rushing on five carries. He ended the game with 128 rushing yards off 19 carries.
“I got to say the lineman executed very good today,” Butac said. “They moved their butts. We had a lot of good blocking out there. All I had to do was move my feet.”
The Red Raiders’ second score was by senior defensive back Quinten Mundon in the fourth quarter, in which he blocked a punt and recoverd the ball in the opposing endzone.
After playing the first three KIF games scoreless, to finally have success offensively boosted the team’s morale, Borerro said.
“We needed to start putting points on the board because we’re not helping our defense. They kept us in the game today in the first half when we kept shooting ourselves in the foot. They were taking care of their side of the bargain. We weren’t taking care of our side,” Borrero said. “Once we got on the scoreboard, I knew we’d have a chance to do it again because you could just feel that vibe on the sidelines. They started running the offense how they’re supposed to run it.”
Waimea (3-3, 1-2 KIF) was stalled offensively by penalties, most of which were false starts, including two consecutive penalizations following a timeout to end the second quarter.
The Menehune had favorable positioning in the opposing side of the field following a short Red Raiders punt during the first quarter. The drive ended with a 45-yard field goal attempt by junior Justin Fune which hooked wide.
“It seemed our (offensive) line couldn’t get in sync. They weren’t working as one,” said Waimea head coach Jason Caldeira. “Got to go back and look at the film. I don’t know if it was a defensive plan or we just beat ourselves, but we just couldn’t get in sync.”
Waimea had two quarterbacks play behind center in the game. Freshman Lacin Montemayor started the game and sophomore Keaka Wisneski, who was the starter in the team’s previous games, came in following halftime.
“It’s something we evaluated during practice. A lot of it had to do with our last game,” Caldeira said. Waimea was routed by Kapaa, 68-0, in the Menehune’s last game on Sept. 11.
“Quarterback is a hard position no matter what school you play for or what team you play for. It’s a lot of responsibility for them,” Calderia said. “It’s a sophomore and a freshman that’s our two best choices we have. We just want to see who wants it more.”
Kauai will next play on Oct. 10 against Kapaa (5-0, 3-0 KIF) at Vidinha Stadium. Waimea will host Kapaa at Hanapepe Stadium on Saturday. The contest is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.
04:24 KAUAI Christian Manera 4-yard run, Jonathan Benitez PAT good, 7-0
09:00 KAUAI Quinten Mundon blocked punt recovered in endzone, Jonathan Benitez PAT good, 14-0
01:52 KAUAI Jonathan Benitez 33-yard field goal, 17-0
Passing: Christian Manera, 1-2, 18 yards
Rushing: Damien Butac, 19 carries, 128 yards, 1 fumble
Receiving: Noah Hoopii, 1 reception, 18 yards
Defense: Quinten Mundon, 6 tackles, 1 sack, 1 pass deflection
Passing: Keaka Wisneski, 4-12, 48 yards
Rushing: Jaycob Rapanot, 10 carries, 50 yards
Receiving: Justin Fune, 2 receptions, 36 yards
Defense: Alika Ventura, 5 tackles
Weston-Webb into semis, Moore out early at Cascais
Raider men, Warrior women encore
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Farmers protest gas pipe laying work near Kottampatti
Madurai:, November 12, 2020 17:05 IST
The farmers claimed that the men who came with earth mover started to dug out farmlands with fully-grown paddy crop.
A view of the earthmover that was used to dug a trench for laying underground pipeline for Indian Oil Corporation through paddy fields at Cumbur, near Karungalagudi. Photo: Special Arragement
Farmers of Cumbur near Karungalagudi on Thursday chased away contractors who came for cutting trenches to lay underground pipeline for Indian Oil Corporation.
The farmers claimed that the men who came with earth mover started to dug out farmlands with fully-grown paddy crop. “They claimed that they have got permission from the farmers to lay the second pipeline along the farmlands where already another pipeline had already been laid years back,” said Chinnathambi, a farmer.
However, a representative of the trench-cutting team, Saravanan, said that IOCL was only trying to cut trench on the land it had already acquired in the past. The existing pipeline is used for transporting diesel. Another farmer, A. Kumar (30) said that after issuing notice 20 days back, the team had come to cut the trench without the farmer’s consent.
IOCL had already promised to pay compensation for the crop that would be damaged for laying the new pipeline.
“In the past our elders did not know the threat about the underground pipeline. But, we are now aware of it as gas line could be a threat for generations to come,” Mr. Kumar claimed.
He claimed that the Cumbur panchayat had passed resolutions several times in the last two years denying permission for gas line through their village.
However, the panchayat president, Kathiresan, denied knowledge about any such resolution.
The farmers claimed that they were seeing the paddy crops at flowering stage on the rain-fed fields after several years. “How can they bury the standing crop just days before harvesting,” Mr. Kumar asked.
Printable version | Jan 17, 2021 10:37:48 PM | https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/farmers-protest-gas-pipe-laying-work-near-kottampatti/article33084108.ece
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Ever wanted to own a cinema? Now's your chance
The Odeon in Stillorgan is on sale for €3.5 million.
By Cliodhna Russell Wednesday 26 Mar 2014, 9:37 AM
Mar 26th 2014, 9:37 AM 18,185 Views 25 Comments
IF YOU’VE GOT an extra €3.5 million hanging around, you could become the proud owner of a Dublin cinema.
The Odeon in Stillorgan is up for sale. The seven screen cinema can sit up to 842 people.
It’s let to Ashbourne Cinemas Limited, a subsidiary of UCI, at an annual rent of €325,000 with 22 years still on the lease.
The purchaser will get a net initial yield of 8.8 per cent.
Stillorgan was home to Ireland’s first Ormonde Cinema which opened in 1954.
The original cinema was demolished in the late 1970’s and replaced in the early 1980’s by the existing Stillorgan Plaza.
In 2011, the Ormonde Cinema was fully refurbished and reopened as a UCI Cinema, and later as the Odeon.
Dessie Kilkenny of Savills Investment who is handling the sale said,
This is one of Ireland’s most established cinemas with an excellent residential catchment area. We expect a good level of interest for this particular investment property given the long unexpired lease term and the attractive net initial yield on offer.
“This is the second high profile cinema investment sale to come to the market in recent months following the sale of the Cineworld on Parnell Street to a UK Group for in excess of €23 million”.
Read: Drive In cinema comes to Dublin>
Read: Dublin used to have 56 different cinemas. Here are some of the lost ones>
Cliodhna Russell
cliodhna@thejournal.ie
See more articles by Cliodhna Russell
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A Pandemic Can't Stop Cuties Café From Bringing the Queer Community Together
The L.A. queer café is temporarily closed, but their mission — giving the community a safe space to gather and fight for justice — is more vital than ever.
By Steven Blum
For a few brief weeks starting in late May, the standard griping about social media’s deleterious effects was supplanted by excitement about its revolutionary potential. Previously apolitical entertainment icons were posting about racial justice, mutual aid, and defunding the police. Instagram was awash in videos of protests and resources for supporting Black lives. It felt like we were on the precipice of a new kind of Internet — one that was actually useful.
An especially diverse slate of content could be found on the Instagram page belonging to Cuties, a queer coffeeshop and community space in East L.A. There were links to self-care tips for Black people who felt overwhelmed by the media, guided meditation and breathwork lessons, local alternatives to calling 911, and resources for virtual protesters who were immunocompromised but still wanted to affect change.
All of that was in addition to the regular slate of Cuties’ original programming, including a monthly online meditation class, cooking sessions, virtual watch parties, personal ads, and more.
James Emmerman
Of course, Cuties is far from the only queer establishment to expand its online footprint since the pandemic began. As historic gayborhoods have shut down to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, bars and clubs have been fighting for their survival and attempting to move the party online — luring drag enthusiasts to platforms like OnlyFans, hosting happy hours and trivia nights on Instagram Live, and sending their DJs (and fire-breathers) to Zoom.
But for Cuties, the transition to virtual outreach and activism has felt especially seamless, thanks in no small part to the work of general manager Sasha Jones, a community organizer with longstanding ties to L.A.’s queer Black community. Before the pandemic, Jones was spearheading monthly meetups at Cuties for non-monogamous queer and trans people of color and leading a group camping trip called POC Camp. (The photos for this story were taken pre-lockdown, too.) Now, she spends her days highlighting the queer and Black community’s nonstop activism.
She’s also trying to stay sane. When I first speak with her, in early May, she’s still riding high after attending a 24-hour queer dance party on Zoom. “It was incredible,” she says. “Everyone was so beautiful. I was just dancing alone in my kitchen and laughing out loud. I mean, people were dressed.”
Jones believes the coronavirus has given the queer community an excuse to talk to itself more freely and in deeper ways. “Maybe it’s this feeling that whatever life we were living before is now over, or this sense that we’ve entered a new world,” she says. “We don’t know how much time we have left and everything is changing so quickly that we feel like we need to break down those walls.”
There’s something uniquely queer about making the most of hellish terrain, she adds. “So many of us are used to living with a default level of stress, a default awareness of the potential danger of our existence,” Jones says. “Of course it doesn’t feel ‘normal,’ but we know we can get through it if we rely on our community.”
To an extent, the ambition of Cuties has always been to bring queer people together in ways that bars — by virtue of their architecture and volume levels — cannot. Founder Virginia Bauman envisioned a bright, colorful and non-alcoholic establishment that forged authentic connections by giving people space to just be.
“The goal of Cuties has always been to create a space in our capitalistic, individualistic society that wasn’t goal-oriented, where you were allowed to be still,” she says. “We always need spaces where you don’t have to explain who you are, and where you can try on a new look or a new version of yourself.”
Bauman, who is trans, worries that quarantine will have lasting effects on the trans community in particular by eliminating access to these types of spaces. “Maybe I’m not representative of the majority but I told everyone many, many years ago that I needed to be seen and looked in the eye when I was in the process of transitioning,” she says.” If no places had existed where I could go and be around other trans people, I don’t know if I would have been comfortable saying, ‘Yeah, I’m ready to take these pills, I’m ready to have my blood work done and go see a therapist.’”
Virginia Bauman outside Cuties Café in Los Angeles.James Emmerman
“The energy it takes to go through transition is hard to communicate,” she adds. “And right now, if people aren’t feeling like they have the bandwidth to do that hard work, they may wait. And waiting is hard but in a different way — it hides and compartmentalizes you and it causes you pain.”
For the foreseeable future, Cuties must exist in the virtual ether. Patreon funders and merch sales help pay the remaining staff, but rent and utility bills continue to pile up and Bauman is in no rush to bring employees back indoors.
Still, she’s hopeful the pandemic will inspire others to create the type of environments — virtual or otherwise — that they need to thrive. “I hope it changes the queer community to be even more focused on community care,” she says. “The thing that I think I want people to take away from Cuties is that anyone can start organizing and creating the kind of space they want. That's never been more true than right now.”
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Might This Orlando Attraction Be The Future of Theme Parks? The Fascinating World of Escape Games
Friday, December 1, 2017 - 04:43
Theme parks thrive on the concept of bringing our wildest imaginations to life. More and more in recent years, the theme park experience has moved away from mere spectating to a new focus on fully immersing audiences in our favorite stories.
Universal embraced immersion masterfully in the way they connected Universal Studios Orlando’s Diagon Alley with Islands of Adventure’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter through a ride on the Hogwarts Express. Similarly, Walt Disney World’s Avatar: Flight of Passage could have been a simple simulator along the lines of Star Tours. Instead, Disney crafted a vivid experience where guests experience the full process of being paired with a Navi avatar on the lush world of Pandora. If Disney’s ambitious plans for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney Hollywood Studios are any clue, theme park entertainment is heading truly exciting places.
What if audiences could go one step further, however? Through theme parks, we gain the opportunity to smell, taste, and bask in the fantastical. However, the adventures are still scripted. Even on a randomized ride like Star Tours, the core experience remains essentially the same. Disney has made commendable strides searching for the next evolution in theme park immersion through possibilities like virtual reality and “choose your adventure” style ride elements, but they still have a long way to go.
What if there were already a theme park-style attraction where audiences truly became characters in the story being told? What if the course of that attraction depended fully on guests’ choices, participation, and cleverness, to the point that every ride might prove different depending on those involved?
Such an experience does exist just a short drive away from the realms of Disney, Universal, and Sea World. Welcome to the fascinating world of Orlando’s escape games…
What are escape games?
Image: SparkFun Electronics - Conundrum Escape Room, (license), Link
If you are an avid traveler or adventure junkie, you might already be familiar with escape games. Games have steadily popped up across the country for the last five years, and their popularity is still going strong. The concept is simple: escape a locked room in one hour or less.
Most escape rooms surround a thrilling theme: solving a bank heist, stopping a terrorist plot, escaping a mummy’s tomb, or even locating a buried treasure. Horror themes are especially common, such as evading the clutches of a serial killer or the wrath of a haunted house. Each experience is broadly different, and while each new room helps hone your puzzle-solving skills, there is no telling what to expect in each adventure until the timer starts. Most games allow capacity for 2-8 people per game, and it is a regular practice that smaller parties might be paired with complete strangers.
Once your party is briefed and locked in the room (don’t worry, most rooms have a mechanism by which you can leave in an emergency), you have one hour to work together to find hidden clues and solve complex puzzles to escape. For example, your objective in one game might be to find the hidden treasure of Atlantis. To do that, you need to find a torch so you can see, discover a mysterious codex hidden in a pile of trash, and locate a key to open a treasure chest containing instructions for finding a secret passage out. Puzzles are layered upon puzzles and each problem solved usually leads to 2-3 more.
Image: Bob M ~, Flickr (license)
The puzzles usually increase in difficulty as you go, so don’t be fooled by the space you begin in. Almost every escape experience we have tried has included hidden passages and crawlspaces to reach new stages of the mission. If you ever played old point-and-click styles adventure games like Loom, Kings Quest, or Monkey Island, the escape game concept might seem familiar. Stepping into an escape room is like stepping into a living video game where you are the heroes (or victims) in a thrilling tale, and the mission will live or die on your choices.
Jett Farrell-VegaView Profile
Jett is a writer and lifelong Disney addict based in Florida. She loves vacation hacks and exploring Disney parks through lenses less-explored, especially with humor. When she and her husband aren't messing with stormtroopers in Galaxy's Edge, you'll most likely find her in Epcot, her favorite park.
If you enjoyed this article, you can follow Jett on Instagram (@mykingdomforamouse), Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/jettfarrellvega), or Twitter (@invadervega).
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‘Dune’ Remake News
January 4, 2010 January 4, 2010 Rodney 19 Comments
Man I loved the Dune movie. I think I loved the Dune II video game even more. How many of you played it non-stop? “Harkonnen units approaching from the South”. Even though the original was such a great movie (like Clash of the Titans), I think a remake is in order.
Hollywood insider gives us the news:
Paramount has found a new director for its remake of the sci-fi classic Dune, after Peter Berg dropped off the project in October. The studio has hired Taken helmer Pierre Morel to oversee the movie. Paramount is currently looking for a new writer to incorporate Morel’s vision of the project into the original draft by Quantum of Solace scribe Josh Zetumer. Morel plans to make a very faithful adaptation of the 1965 book by Frank Herbert. The movie is a high priority for Paramount’s production chief Adam Goodman. Kevin Misher and Richard Rubinstein are producing.
And for your viewing pleasure, the original Dune Trailer:
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19 thoughts on “‘Dune’ Remake News”
Chen says:
trilogy… saga..?
cmon man it has 6 herbert’s book and 2 of his son’s book, thats takes 8 complex book to complete the DUNE.
the most important is the 1st book remaking it in the movie, coz that will be the master copy for the upcoming book, if it fail then all is gone for naught.
I think a remake would be great. They need to keep what worked like the cool look of the stillsuits but add things that didn’t make sense like the stillsuits not having a faceflap, or no meniton of Feyd fighting in slave pits (which would have made the end knife fight more suspenceful). They did this in the miniseries but the suits overall didn’t look good. I dont think a trilogy would work because you need a buildup and climax for each seperate movie. The book was written as 1 story, so splitting that up into 3 parts would make people loose interest. I think we need a 3:45 minute movie like The lord of the rings movies and have a smaller cut for theatres. That would do it.
Lynch added the weirding modules, that was brilliant. Its a shame that those werent in the books because a re-make would benefit form having them come back in a new movie. The look seemed to work so much for the Lynch version so I hope they keep the artistic side of it in check.
Why do people wine and complain about inner monologue? Its not like I’m a huge fan of it, but there is no more appropriate movie to have this in. The books include so much introverted thought that its such a cool aspect to the characters. As long as its not to drawn out. I think in Lynch’s version it was all perfect and well placed.
Ruehl says:
Man loved the books! I read all of daddy Herbert’s stuff. Not Jr.’s and Anderson’s work though (only some). Now we all know that any great novel will never be rivaled or equaled by it’s motion picture as books are timeless (esp. “Dune”) in our minds. So for us with closed and rigid minds who have little faith in this latest big budget endeavor by Paramount, you need to relax a little and not treat your conception of the novel as a sole proprietary story of your mind’s eye. The book seems to have a definite niche in American culture, all the more so with a successful movie, which according to IMDB, has not yet been accomplished. It may even go down in Guinness as the most remade novel into motion picture. Now as a true fan wouldn’t you be proud of that? There’s a whole new generation (if not more) of young viewers, and if the movie becomes a blockbuster, then your fogie old but can say, wow, that book was written in my time (or even before if your not so old!) lol. Movie making has come a long way. There’s a whole new breed of directors, writers, and actors. Have fun with this.
Now some of my thoughts on the movie itself. This will definitely be an epic challenge. In another blog, there was some debate whether “second voicing” should be used to stay true to the text. I say, keep it to a minimum. The key to compressing the intricate “plots within plots” is narration. And rightly so, it should be Irulan’s voice to do this, as she eventually became the historian. The era of “Dune” (when human talents flourished after thinking machines were banned) should be quickly introduced, again, narrated by Irulan’s voice. Amazing special effects are needed here of the scenes of epic battles of the Butlerian Jihad, nuclear explosions on integrated worlds, advanced spacecraft of exotic and eccentric overmind computers with different robotic bodies. This should be quickly and gracefully done until we arrive at Arrakis. Then the movie focuses on the story telling, acting, and action. Emphasize the background and character of the Great houses; the patriotism and loyalty of house Atreides, house Corrino’s corporate nature, the psychotic genius of the Harkonnen’s. When I read about the Bene Gesserit back when I was in high school, sex, couldn’t be excluded, so paramount, with your enourmeous budget, Victoria’s Secret models for the Bene Gesserit extras (or something of that nature) wouldn’t be too much to ask? I leave the rest to the experts, whoever Adam Goodman decides to include in this project. Anyway, I’m excited for what this movie could be and how it can repopularize the books. When I walk into Borders/Barnes & Noble, this Epic will be in front, not in the back shelves; and I can tell my nephew, see, I told you so. Boom! Now whose the true Dune fan! Whatever this movie becomes, I have faith, it won’t take anything away from the Novel.
Hertje Zollner says:
I love the Dune movie too!!
Kaneda979 says:
Cool, glad to see they are still working hard to make this happen. Good choice of directer too.
vargas says:
I’m excited. Dune is one of my favorite books of all time! More news on this film project is always welcome! Hopefully they make it into two films instead of one.
Darren J Seeley says:
Follow the path of Peter Jackson as he did with Lord Of The Rings and I’ll be down. Or what Warners is doing with Harry Potter.
That’s right. You heard me. Make Dune into two parts, about 2-3 hours each. Split the book up if you have to.
Otherwise, there’s not much point in this. Forget Dune.
420BAND says:
Remember the Original with Sting
and always thought those suits they wore with liquid substanse were cool..
Remake warranted in this case.
Dan Zee says:
I don’t know why Paramount is so hot on making another Dune movie. The problem with Dune is that the first book it is actually 3 200-page novels, so trying to boil it down to a 2-hour movie is nearly impossible. I also think too many people are familiar with the material. There’s not going to be a lot of surprises in the movie either. I think everyone knows the story by now. Maybe Paramount sees possible sequels coming out of it – Dino DeLaurentis wanted to do this back in the 1980s. But Dune is more harder sci-fi than Star Wars, and it’s not going to have the popularity.
By the way, David Lynch used actual dialog from the Dune books, (as did the mini-series), and I think he remained pretty faithful. And I liked the fact that the movie resembles a spice dream itself, full of visions and imagery. The sets, acting, costumes, and forced perspective miniatures were outstanding. The movie’s huge flaw is that Dino did not hire a special effects company, but had a title company do the green screen mattes. They were poor and ugly – but could be fixed if Universal wanted to spend some money and do some digital clean up.
ADOX says:
this sounds awesome, lots of people on board, thought this had faded away for a while there
i have read everything in dune
Unfortunately the original movie sucked, not from a lack of trying to make it good mind you.
Elements that were good, costumes, sandworms, SFX were reasonably good for the time, actors: Jose Ferrer, Jurgen Prochnow, Kenneth McMillan, Brad Dourif, Franchesca Annis, Linda Hunt (Won Academy Award for The Year of Living Dangerously), Patrick Stewart, Freddie Jones, Richard Jordan, Max Von Sydow , Sean Young, Kyle McLachlan.
Unfortunately a large number of the veteran actors in the list were sadly under used, and they cut the film down so much it lost a large amount of Frank Herbert’s original story.
If they do a remake then they need to do at least 2 half hour version to give it enough time to tell the story properly, otherwise forget it.
Part of me would love to see this, but I don’t think anything could compare to the greatness that was the Dune miniseries, which far exceeds the 80s-era movie. Simply put, the Dune miniseries was one of the best miniseries ever made — which is saying a lot, given the quality of miniseries which have been made over the past decade (Angels in America, John Adams, Taken, etc).
Edvin says:
Yeah I also thought the mini series was pretty spot on.
But I dont mind another version of Dune. While I loved Dune (1984) I would like to see a more faithful adaption. And a bigger budget than the mini series, This could become prety fucking Epic.
padipaws says:
我觉得你的文章不错！继续加油！
I think your article is true! Keep up! LoL
Sweet, Dune is by far one of the greatest Sci-Fi sagas out there, and would make an awesome movie.
Let us hope that it pans out to be a trilogy :)
RonSalon says:
I loved this movie! I hope they remake it, giving it big a huge budget.
tzaylor says:
Ths is great news. I would love to see dune made with modern day effects. I have only read the book, I havn’t seen any video versions. Does the 84 movie stray very far from the source? What a trailer!
Jeremy K. says:
Yeah, it’s pretty different from the book. The miniseries followed the book much more closely, but the effects and some of the acting left a lot to be desired. I look forward to seeing what a new theatrical version will be like. Though, nothing will be beat my curiosity of what Dune would have been like if the original director had not lost the rights to it… a 13+ hour movie with Pink Floyd doing the soundtrack, dear Lord that would of been insane.
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This website is owned and operated by the Government of Tuvalu. Managed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Trade, Tourism, Environment and Labour.
Tuvalu Islands, South Pacific
/ per person
Mangrove Planting
Tuvalu Mangrove Planting
Mangrove planting project in Nanumea atoll.
Conservation benefit: Establishment of a two-acre lagoon-based mangrove nursery/reserve and planting of 1,000 mangrove seedlings along a one-kilometer (.62-mile) coastline for 10 years.
Community benefit: Refurbishment of a handicraft center.
This remote, small island nation is located in the South Pacific about 813 miles south of Tarawa, Kiribati and 638 miles north of Suva, Fiji. Its nine atolls have a total land area of under 10 square miles with the highest elevation above sea level of only 16 feet. A major threat to Tuvalu’s subsistence is the degradation of both land and marine resources. Sea level rise caused by climate change is a major contributor to this degradation and loss of biodiversity and natural resources.
Mangroves are an important resource here. They enhance local fisheries, provide material for handicrafts and firewood, and protect the islands from tidal and storm surge. The Tuvalu National Council of Women (TNCW) has long recognized the importance of mangroves and the need for better lagoon and coastal protection for Tuvalu’s small atoll islands.
TNCW, together with the Tuvalu Association of Non-Government Organizations (TANGO), has proposed an expansion project for the outer islands to replant mangroves and seedlings of Beauty Leaf Laurel in areas threatened by coastal erosion. Community members would like to refurbish their existing handicraft center by adding two rooms to use for training, meetings, and handicraft production. The project will also engage women and youth in planting a two-acre lagoon-based mangrove nursery/reserve. A one-kilometer stretch of coastline will be planted to protect the main village area on Nanumea.
Photo Credits © SPTO, PTI Australia and Tuvalu Tourist.
Tuvalu, South Pacific
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We reveal the Kaizer Chiefs fixtures in the coming premiership season
27 June 2019 - 15:48 By Nick Said
Kaizer Chiefs Team Picture during the 2019 Nedbank Cup Final match between Kaizer Chiefs and TS Galaxy on the 18 of May 2019 at Moses Mabhida Stadium.
Image: Sydney Mahlangu/ BackpagePix
Kaizer Chiefs’ failure to qualify for the MTN8 means they will have some breathing space at the beginning of the 2019/20 Premier Soccer League season‚ but plenty of challenges await coach Ernst Middendorp’s side.
Although the PSL has not officially released the new season’s fixtures in full‚ TimesLIVE has obtained a draft list that shows the likely path for the AmaKhosi.
They start with an away trip to Highlands Park on August 4‚ before a first home game of the season six days later when they welcome Black Leopards.
Thereafter they have two tricky ties which will perhaps tell us much about their season prospects – home to SuperSport United (Aug. 24) and away at Cape Town City (Aug. 27)‚ two sides who expect to be challenging for the league title this season.
It is a tough beginning in a league where there are few easy games anymore‚ but Chiefs fans will no doubt have an eye on the fixtures against their traditional rivals.
The first Soweto Derby of the league season is slated for Nov. 9‚ Chiefs’ home game‚ while the reverse fixture is to be played on Feb. 29 in what is a leap year in 2020.
They will also play away at Mamelodi Sundowns on Oct. 27‚ with their home game against The Brazilians on Feb. 1.
That will be the conclusion of a punishing run for the AmaKhosi that will see them play seven games in 29 days at the start of the year‚ one every four days.
Teams they will face in that time include SuperSport United (away)‚ Cape Town City (home) and BidVest Wits (home)‚ what will be a vital stretch of the campaign for the side.
It will also be immediately followed by the start of the Nedbank Cup‚ so Middendorp will hope his side are in good shape to make a run deep into that competition as they seek elusive silverware for the first time since 2015.
The fixture computer has also thrown up an anomaly with their 10-game stretch between their clash with Sundowns on Oct. 27 and a meeting with Leopards on Jan. 18 seeing the side play seven of those away‚ with only three home games.
That is offset by five home games in their first eight league matches of the campaign‚ perhaps allowing the side to get off to a more confident start.
The start to the season could be a bit of a slow-burner for Chiefs fans – the side are involved in four league games in August‚ three in September but then only two in October‚ though there will be a Telkom Knockout fixture mixed in there as well.
That is become of the MTN8 and also FIFA International dates in September and October.
Should Chiefs be in the title running come the end of the season‚ they face what is a fairly gentle run-in to the season.
Their final five fixtures are Bloemfontein Celtic (away)‚ Stellenbosch FC (home)‚ BidVest Wits (away)‚ Chippa United (home) and Baroka FC (away).
The match against Chippa will be played on Wednesday‚ May 6‚ with the final round of fixtures in the season‚ the clash with Baroka FC‚ on Saturday‚ May 9.
Those two rounds of games are scheduled to be played concurrently.
KAIZER CHIEFS’ ABSA PREMIERSHIP FIXTURES – 2019/20
04/08 Highlands Park (away)
10/08 Black Leopards (home)
24/08 SuperSport United (home)
27/08 Cape Town City (away)
14/09 Polokwane City (home)
24/09 AmaZulu (away)
28/09 Baroka FC (home)
01/10 Lamontville Golden Arrows (home)
27/10 Mamelodi Sundowns (away)
05/11 Chippa United (away)
09/11 Orlando Pirates (home)
27/11 Stellenbosch FC (away)
07/12 Bloemfontein Celtic (home)
22/12 Maritzburg United (away)
04/01 SuperSport United (away)
12/01 Cape Town City (home)
18/01 Black Leopards (away)
21/01 BidVest Wits (home)
25/01 Lamontville Golden Arrows (away)
01/02 Mamelodi Sundowns (home)
15/02 Maritzburg United (home)
29/02 Orlando Pirates (away)
07/03 AmaZulu (home)
21/03 Polokwane City (away)
05/04 Bloemfontein Celtic (away)
11/04 Stellenbosch FC (home)
24/04 BidVest Wits (away)
06/05 Chippa United (home)
09/05 Baroka FC (away)
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Sponsor a Challenger
The Smith Family Challenge
AN EPIC CHALLENGE FOR CHILDREN IN NEED
Since 2008, The Challenge has supported The Smith Family in raising nearly $7million to help children in need to break the cycle of disadvantage through education.
The Smith Family Challenge is an exhilarating 100km off-road adventure held over two days. Teams of four navigate by foot, bike and on the water to the finish line. Challengers pay the full cost of the event so 100% of donations go directly to The Smith Family programs.
For 1 in 6 Australian children growing up in disadvantage, it can limit their choices, opportunities and outcomes in life. Investing in their education delivers long-term positive benefits for them, their family and potentially generations to come.
All funds raised by the Challengers will help to provide these children with practical essentials like school books, shoes, bags, uniforms and the support they need to keep up at school and realise their full potential.
"The Smith Family does extraordinary work with the young people of Australia, supporting their education and vastly improving their chances of breaking the poverty cycle they were born into. In March 2021, The Challenge will once again see some of Australia's most privileged show their support for young Aussies. Challengers put themselves through two days of gruelling competition, funding everything themselves and supported amazingly by generous sponsors. Thanks in advance for your interest, energy and financial support. After the event, we will publish our results and some stories of our endeavours as well as how the money we raise has changed the lives of Australian families. Welcome one and all, participants, sponsors and other supporters to The Smith Family Challenge 2021"
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2010 FIFA World Cup Odds – New Zealand A Long Shot at 2500-1
New Zealand Cup Odds
Of all the 32 teams playing in the 2010 World Cup, no team is a bigger long shot to win it all than New Zealand.
Bet 2010 FIFA World Cup
New Zealand World Cup History:
Number of Previous World Cup Appearances: 1
Last Appearance: 1982
Best Finish: Group Stage
All-Time World Cup Record: 0-3-0
According to oddsmakers from online sports book BroburySports.com, New Zealand has been given 2,500/1 odds to win the World Cup. Spain is the favorite coming in with odds of 4/1.
2010 World Cup Qualifying:
To reach the 2010 World Cup, New Zealand started by winning the Oceania Qualification Group, where it bested teams like New Caledonia, Fiji, and Vanuatu in a six-game series where it went 5-1-0, scoring 15 points. The lone loss came against Fiji, 2-0. From there, New Zealand had to get past Bahrain to qualify. The first meeting between the two was a 0-0 tie and the follow up game saw New Zealand win 1-0 behind a goal from Rory Fallon.
Betting Analysis:
Leading into the World Cup, New Zealand has went 1-3-0 in friendly matches, losing to teams like Mexico, Australia, and Slovenia. New Zealand is entered in Group F with Italy, Paraguay, and Slovakia. In order to just make the Round of 16 to have a chance to win the Cup, New Zealand will have to go at least 1-1-1 in group play, which would require upsets in at least two games. With 2,500/1 odds, there isn’t much to be lost with a bet on New Zealand, but you are pretty much throwing your money away.
2010 FIFA World Cup Odds – June 11-July 11 – South Africa
Spain 4/1
Brazil 9/2
England 6/1
Argentina 13/2
Holland 10/1
Germany 14/1
Italy 14/1
France 20/1
Portugal 25/1
Serbia 50/1
Ivory Coast 50/1
Chile 66/1
USA 80/1
Ghana 100/1
Mexico 100/1
Paraguay 100/1
Cameroon 125/1
Denmark 125/1
Uruguay 150/1
Nigeria 150/1
Australia 150/1
South Africa 150/1
Greece 200/1
Switzerland 250/1
South Korea 250/1
Slovakia 400/1
Slovenia 500/1
Japan 600/1
Algeria 700/1
Honduras 1000/1
North Korea 2000/1
New Zealand 2500/1
Posted: 6/8/10 3:07PM ET
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You have searched for "diabetic"
Health 12 Jan 2003 | 12:00 AM
The sweet affliction
There are presently 177 million diabetics in the world and this will hit 300 million in 2025. Now that's a lot of sweetness that we can do without, writes Dr P.K. YAP.
Fatty issue
WHAT most of us are not aware of is that 80% of cholesterol is derived from the liver and 20% from our diet.
Lifestyle 28 Jan 2003 | 12:00 AM
Words of 2002
AT their annual meeting each January, the members of the American Dialect Society select words and phrases that came to prominence in the previous 12 months. This year#8217;s is noticeably more serious than some that have preceded it and has been deeply affected by current political and military concerns.
Nation 28 Jan 2003 | 12:00 AM
New sugar content rule soon
The Health Ministry will come up with a new regulation on sugar content in food and drinks soon to encourage Malaysians to reduce their sugar intake, said Minister Datuk Chua Jui Meng.
Health 09 Feb 2003 | 12:00 AM
Managing weighty goals
HOOI YOU CHING finds out why you should lose weight and explores some of the problems inherent in any weight loss attempt.
Lifestyle 16 Feb 2003 | 12:00 AM
Saving life and limb with oxygen therapy
FORTY-ONE people have avoided possible amputation of their limbs by undergoing hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) in a local hyperbaric chamber.
Learn from the world's best
Only the chosen few will be gourmet chefs. But we must never stop trying. Get a little help from gourmet websites, says EUGENE NG.
Doing her best on her own
ANGELA RANI is seated between her eldest daughter, Raja Rajeswary (or Rajes) and her good friend, Thilagawadi, on the three-seater settee at Wanita Ikram#8217;s office in Kajang. Her youngest daughter, Thanes, makes herself comfortable on the carpeted flooring next to Thilagawadi.
The new pyramid
An article that was recently published in the journal I>Scientific American/Iis turning mainstream dietary beliefs upside down.
Lifestyle 02 Mar 2003 | 12:00 AM
Children don't need more sugar
By Rekha Naidu.
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Fiction Affliction: November Releases in Fantasy
Wed Nov 2, 2016 5:00pm 2 comments 1 Favorite [+]
Forty-three fantastic books vie for your reading time this month, from the finale of Erika Johansen’s Tearling series to Brandon Sanderson’s massive Arcanum Unbounded! Adventure awaits: Paul Cornell goes back to Lychford with The Lost Child of Lychford; Michael Livingston continues his historical fantasy the Shards of Heaven; the vampire Lestat encounters a spirit from Atlantis, and Robert Repino introduces the feline warrior Culdesac.
Fiction Affliction details releases in science fiction, fantasy, and “genre-benders.” Keep track of them all here. Note: All title summaries are taken and/or summarized from copy provided by the publisher.
Of the Abyss (Mancer #1)—Amelia Atwater-Rhodes (November 1, Harper Voyager Impulse)
After decades of strife, peace has finally been achieved in Kavet—but at a dark cost. Sorcery is outlawed, and anyone convicted of consorting with the beings of the other realms—the Abyssi and the Numini—is put to death. The only people who can even discuss such topics legally are the scholars of the Order of the Napthol, who give counsel when questions regarding the supernatural planes arise. Hansa Viridian, a captain in the elite guard unit tasked with protecting Kavet from sorcery, has always led a respectable life. But when he is implicated in a sorcerer’s crimes, the only way to avoid execution is to turn to the Abyss for help—specifically, to a half-Abyssi man he’s sworn he hates, but whose physical attraction he cannot deny. Hansa is only the first victim in a plot that eventually drags him, a sorcerer named Xaz, and a Sister of the Napthol named Cadmia into the depths of the Abyss, where their only hope of escape is to complete an infernal task that might cost them their lives.
Congress of Secrets—Stephanie Burgis (November 1, Pyr)
In 1814, the Congress of Vienna has just begun. Diplomats battle over a new map of Europe, actors vie for a chance at glory, and aristocrats and royals from across the continent come together to celebrate the downfall of Napoleon…among them Lady Caroline Wyndham, a wealthy English widow. But Caroline has a secret: she was born Karolina Vogl, daughter of a radical Viennese printer. When her father was arrested by the secret police, Caroline’s childhood was stolen from her by dark alchemy. Under a new name and nationality, she returns to Vienna determined to save her father even if she has to resort to the same alchemy that nearly broke her before. But she isn’t expecting to meet her father’s old apprentice, Michael Steinhüller, now a charming con man in the middle of his riskiest scheme ever. The sinister forces that shattered Caroline’s childhood still rule Vienna behind a glittering façade of balls and salons, Michael’s plan is fraught with danger, and both of their disguises are more fragile than they realize. What price will they pay to the darkness if either of them is to survive?
Shadowed Souls—Jim Butcher & Kerrie Hughes, editors (November 1, Roc)
In this dark and gritty collection—featuring short stories from Jim Butcher, Seanan McGuire, Kevin J. Anderson, and Rob Thurman—nothing is as simple as black and white, light and dark, good and evil. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what makes it so easy to cross the line. In #Jim Butcher’s “Cold Case,” Molly Carpenter—Harry Dresden’s apprentice-turned-Winter Lady—must collect a tribute from a remote Fae colony and discovers that even if you’re a good girl, sometimes you have to be bad. Seanan McGuire’s “Sleepover” finds half-succubus Elsie Harrington kidnapped by a group of desperate teenage boys. Not for anything weird. They just need her to rescue a little girl from the boogeyman. No biggie. In Kevin J. Anderson’s “Eye of Newt,” zombie P.I. Dan Shamble’s latest client is a panicky lizard missing an eye who thinks someone wants him dead. But the truth is that someone only wants him for a very special dinner. And Rob Thurman’s infernally heroic Caliban Leandros takes a trip down memory lane as he deals wih some overdue—and nightmarish—vengeance involving some quite nasty “Impossible Monsters.”
Illicit (Luna Lake #2)—Cathy Clamp (November 1, Tor Books)
When a border dispute between two bear clans destabilizes shapeshifter relations throughout Europe and threatens to reveal their existence to humans, the Sazi High Council orders both sides to the negotiation table. The peace talks take place in Luna Lake, the American community where all shifter species—wolf, cat, bird, bear, and more—live in harmony. Diplomats, their families, and security personnel stream into town, among them Dalvin Adway, a Wolven agent. Dalvin is startled to find Rachel Washington in Luna Lake. The last time he saw her, they were children in Detroit. Then she was kidnapped and, he thought, murdered. But Rachel became an owl-shifter as a result of the attack and has avoided family and old friends ever since, knowing they would not understand her . She’s stunned to see Dalvin and learn that he, too, is an owl-shifter. Their wary friendship is on the brink of becoming something more when conspiracy and betrayal cause the peace talks to break down. The fight between the bear clans will be settled through a form of traditional challenge—a risky tactic that might lead to full-blown war. Rachel is determined to prevent that, even if it means taking up the challenge herself!
Seriously Shifted (Seriously Wicked #2)—Tina Connolly (November 1, Tor Teen)
Young adult. Tina Connolly’s Seriously Shifted is a sparkling new adventure about teen witch Camellia and her mother, wicked witch Sarmine, introduced to readers in Seriously Wicked. Cam isn’t crazy about the idea of learning magic. She’d rather be no witch than a bad one. But when a trio of her mother’s wicked witch friends decide to wreak havoc in her high school, Cam has no choice but to try to stop them. Now Cam’s learning invisibility spells, dodging exploding cars, and pondering the ethics of love potions. All while trying to keep her grades up and go on a first date with her crush. If the witches don’t get him first, that is. Can’t a good witch ever catch a break?
The Lost Child of Lychford (Witches of Lychford #2)—Paul Cornell (November 1, Tor.com Publishing)
It’s December in the English village of Lychford—the first Christmas since an evil conglomerate tried to force open the borders between our world and… another. Which means it’s Lizzie’s first Christmas as Reverend of St. Martin’s. Which means more stress, more expectation, more scrutiny by the congregation. Which means… well, business as usual, really. Until the apparition of a small boy finds its way to Lizzie in the church. Is he a ghost? A vision? Something else? Whatever the truth, our trio of witches (they don’t approve of “coven”) are about to face their toughest battle, yet!
How to Save the World (Superheroes Anonymous #3)—Lexie Dunne (November 1, Harper Voyager Impulse)
Gail Godwin—once so famous for being kidnapped by supervillains, the media still calls her Hostage Girl—is done with superheroes and their shadowy schemes. She’s got a cute boyfriend, a great roommate, and she’s even returned to her old job. For the first time in years, life is exactly what she wants it to be. But when a figure from her past resurfaces, he brings with him a plague that changes the game for every superhero and villain out there. Now Gail must team up with both friend and foe to help save the world she thought she had left behind. It won’t be easy, but for Gail, nothing ever is.
Curse on the Land (Soulwood #2)—Faith Hunter (November 1, Roc)
Before Nell Ingram met skinwalker Jane Yellowrock, she had no one to rely on, finding strength only in her arcane connection to the dark woods around her. But now she has friends in the newly formed PsyLED team to keep her grounded—even if being part of the agency responsible for policing paranormals comes with dangers of its own…. After training at the PsyLED academy, Nell returns home to her woods to find the land feeling sick and restless. And that sickness is spreading. With the help of her team, under the leadership of agent Rick LaFleur, Nell tries to determine the cause. But nothing can prepare them for the evil that awaits: an entity that feeds on death itself. And it wants more….
The Revealed (Lakewood #2)—Sarah Kleck (November 1, AmazonCrossing)
The chemistry between Oxford University students Evelyn Lakewood and Jared Calmburry was immediate. After uncovering their shared and magical legacy—that they are the sole descendants of Merlin and the Lady of the Lake—their connection seems fated. When Jared sacrifices himself to save Evelyn’s life and is carried off by his demon nemesis, Morgana, Evelyn must marshal every ounce of courage she possesses. In order to rescue him, she enters the enchanted world of her ancestors: Avalon. Facing demons, monsters, and magical peril at every turn, Evelyn will stop at nothing to save Jared. But will she discover the strength she needs to finish the journey? And will she make it in time to be reunited with her true love? From the author of The Concealed comes the thrilling conclusion to the Lakewood Series.
Death’s Master (Flat Earth #2)—Tanith Lee (November 1, DAW)
Reissue. Death’s Master, winner of the British Fantasy Award, is the second book of the stunning arabesque high fantasy series Tales from the Flat Earth, which, in the manner of The One Thousand and One Nights, portrays an ancient world in mythic grandeur via connected tales. A long time ago when the Earth was Flat, beautiful, indifferent Gods lived in the airy Upperearth realm above, curious passionate demons lived in the lush Underearth realm below, and mortals were relegated to exist in the middle. Uhlume, Lord of Death, second of the Lords of Darkness, King of Shadow and Pallor, makes an unusual bargain which sets in motion an intricate sequence of events that entangle men and gods, queens and kings, sorcerers and witches, and lowly wanderers. When the secret to immortality falls into human hands, dark magic and wickedness are unleashed, testing the bounds of mortal love and sanity, and questioning the nature and purpose of life itself. .
An Import of Intrigue (Maradaine Constabulary #2)—Marshall Ryan Maresca (November 1, DAW)
The neighborhood of the Little East is a collision of cultures, languages, and traditions, hidden away in the city of Maradaine. A set of streets to be avoided or ignored. When a foreign dignitary is murdered, solving the crime falls to the most unpopular inspectors in the Maradaine Constabulary: exposed fraud Satrine Rainey, and Uncircled mage Minox Welling. With a murder scene deliberately constructed to point blame toward the rival groups resident in this exotic section of Maradaine, Rainey is forced to confront her former life, while Welling’s ignorance of his own power threatens to consume him. And the conflicts erupting in the Little East will spark a citywide war unless the Constabulary solves the case quickly.
Den of Wolves (Blackthorn & Grim #3)—Juliet Marillier (November 1, Roc)
Healer Blackthorn knows all too well the rules of her bond to the fey: seek no vengeance, help any who ask, do only good. But after the recent ordeal she and her companion, Grim, have suffered, she knows she cannot let go of her quest to bring justice to the man who ruined her life. Despite her personal struggles, Blackthorn agrees to help the princess of Dalriada in taking care of a troubled young girl who has recently been brought to court, while Grim is sent to the girl’s home at Wolf Glen to aid her wealthy father with a strange task—repairing a broken-down house deep in the woods. It doesn’t take Grim long to realize that everything in Wolf Glen is not as it seems—the place is full of perilous secrets and deadly lies… Back at Winterfalls, the evil touch of Blackthorn’s sworn enemy reopens old wounds and fuels her long-simmering passion for justice. With danger on two fronts, Blackthorn and Grim are faced with a heartbreaking choice—to stand once again by each other’s side or to fight their battles alone…
Dominion (Burned Man #2)—Peter McLean (November 1, Angry Robot)
In the tunnels deep under London, the Earth Elementals are dying. Hunted by something they know only as the Rotman, the Elementals have no one trustworthy they can turn to.Enter Don Drake, diabolist and semi-reformed hitman, and an almost-fallen angel called Trixie. When the matriarch tells Don that Rotman is actually the Archdemon Bianakith, he knows this is going to be a tough job. Bianakith is the foretold spirit of disease and decay whose aura corrupts everything it comes near, and even the ancient foundations of London will crumble eventually. Now Don, Trixie and the Burned Man have to hatch a plan to keep Bianakith from wiping out the Elementals and bringing down the city. But the Burned Man has other plans and those may have dire consequences for everyone.
The Burning Isle—Will Panzo (November 1, Ace)
The mage Cassius has just arrived on the island of Scipio. Five miles of slum on the edge of fifty miles of jungle, Scipio is a lawless haven for criminals, pirates, and exiles. The city is split in two, each half ruled by a corrupt feudal lord. Both of them answer to a mysterious general who lives deep in the jungle with his army, but they still constantly battle for power. If a man knows how to turn their discord to his advantage, he might also turn a profit… But trained on the Isle of Twelve, Cassius is no ordinary spellcaster, and his goal is not simply money. This is a treacherous island where the native gods are restless and anything can happen…
Unquiet Land (Elemental Blessings #4)—Sharon Shinn (November 1, Ace)
Leah Frothen has returned home to rebuild the life she’s avoided for years. But she can scarcely catch her breath before she is summoned to meet with the regent, Darien Serlast, the man who made her a spy. Leah is reluctant to take on a new assignment, but Darien has dangled the perfect lure to draw her in. Leah finds she enjoys the challenges of opening a shop catering to foreign visitors, especially since it affords her the opportunity to get to know Mally, the child she abandoned five years ago. Leah is simultaneously thrilled, terrified, hopeful, moved, and almost undone as she slowly attempts to become part of her daughter’s life. But when the regent asks her to spy on ambassadors from a visiting nation, she develops a dangerous friendship with a foreign woman and finds herself falling in love with a man from her past. Soon Leah learns that everyone—her regent, her lover, and even her daughter—have secrets that could save the nation, but might very well break her heart.
Archangel’s Heart (Guild Hunter #9)—Nalini Singh (November 1, Berkley)
One of the most vicious archangels in the world has disappeared. No one knows if Lijuan is dead or has chosen to Sleep the long sleep of an immortal. But with her lands falling into chaos under a rising tide of vampiric bloodlust, a mysterious and ancient order of angels known as the Luminata calls the entire Cadre together to discuss the fate of her territory. Accompanying her archangelic lover Raphael to the Luminata compound, guild hunter-turned-angel Elena senses that all is not as it seems. Secrets echo from within the stone walls of the compound, and the deeper Elena goes, the uglier the darkness. But neither Raphael nor Elena is ready for the brutal truths hidden within—truths that will change everything Elena thinks she knows about who she is. Nothing will ever be the same again.
Hellfighters (Devil’s Engine #2)—Alexander Gordon Smith (November 1, Farrar, Straus & Giroux Books for Young Readers)
Young adult. Thrown into a relentless war against the forces of darkness, fifteen-year-old Marlow Green and his squad of secret soldiers must fight for control of the Devil’s Engines—ancient, infernal machines that can make any wish come true, as long as you are willing to put your life on the line. But after a monstrous betrayal, Marlow, Pan and the other Hellraisers find themselves on the run from an enemy with horrific powers and limitless resources—an enemy that wants them dead at all costs. Failure doesn’t just mean a fate worse than death for Marlow, it means the total annihilation of the world. And when all looks lost and the stakes couldn’t be higher, just how far is he willing to go?
Once a Gypsy (Irish Traveller #1)—Danica Winter (November 1, Diversion Books)
Even for a clairvoyant, the future is never a sure thing. Helena has always struggled to fit in with her Irish Traveller family. It’s not just her opposition to getting married or her determination to attend university; Helena also has one talent that sets her apart from the rest of her clan—the gift of the Forshaw, the ability to see the future. Graham is the groundskeeper at a manor in Adare, Ireland. Though the estate appears idyllic, it holds dark secrets, and despite his own supernatural gifts, Graham can’t solve Adare Manor’s problems by himself. Desperate for help, Graham seeks out a last resort: Helena, whose skills are far greater than even she knows. When he promises to teach her to control her powers, Helena resists, afraid both of the damage her abilities might do and her increasing attraction to the handsome groundskeeper. Her entire way of life is at risk: Any involvement, especially romantic, with non-Travellers like Graham is forbidden. But Helena’s future is anything but certain, and fate has other plans for her family, her powers, and her relationship with Graham.
Merrow—Ananda Braxton-Smith (November 8, Candlewick Press)
Young adult. The people of Carrick Island have been whispering behind Neen’s back ever since her father drowned and her mother disappeared. The townspeople say her mother was a merrow and has returned to the ocean. Neen, caught in her hazy new in-between self—not a child, but not quite grown up—can’t help but wonder if the villagers are right. But if her mother was a merrow, then what does that make Neen?
Double Eclipse (Summer on East End #2)—Melissa de la Cruz (November 8, Putnam Books for Young Readers)
Young adult. Twin witches Mardi and Molly Overbrook are back for another summer in North Hampton, and this year they’re serious about two things: avoiding trouble and dedicating themselves to rest and relaxation. Molly’s headed to Aunt Ingrid’s, while Mardi has convinced their father, Troy—a.k.a. Thor, the god of thunder—to let her crash with her boyfriend, Trent, who also happens to be Tyr, the god of war. It’s a tangled web they weave, but that’s to be expected where gods and goddesses are concerned. Their vacation’s just begun when an old secret is revealed, leaving Molly and Mardi to question everything they’ve ever known about their family. After an ancient prophecy comes to light, Molly and Mardi notice some mysterious changes that will put their sisterhood to the ultimate test. East End’s shaping up to be much more exciting than the girls were bargaining for, but what’s a summer in the Hamptons without a little magic and mischief?
Ashes of the Tyrant (Brimstone Angels #5)—Erin M. Evans (November 8, Wizards of the Coast)
In a direct follow-up to her fourth book in the Brimstone Angels series, Fire in the Blood, Erin M. Evans thrusts her signature character Farideh into a fast-paced murder mystery rife with political intrigue. In the wake of the war brought on by the Sundering, Farideh’s adopted father Mehen has been called back by the clan that cast him out, and Farideh and Havilar mean to go with him. Just as Mehen confronts the head of his former clan, a clutch of young dragonborn is found in the catacombs, brutally murdered, an infernal summoning circle that looks all-too-familiar to Farideh, nearby.
The Shadow of What Was Lost (Licanius Trilogy #1)—James Islington (November 8, Orbit)
It has been twenty years since the god-like Augurs were overthrown and killed. Now, those who once served them—the Gifted—are spared only because they have accepted the rebellion’s Four Tenets, vastly limiting their powers. As a Gifted, Davian suffers the consequences of a war lost before he was even born. He and others like him are despised. But when Davian discovers he wields the forbidden power of the Augurs, he sets into motion a chain of events that will change everything. To the west, a young man whose fate is intertwined with Davian’s wakes up in the forest, covered in blood and with no memory of who he is… And in the far north, an ancient enemy long thought defeated begins to stir.
Belle Chasse (Sentinels of New Orleans #5)—Suzanne Johnson (November 8, Tor Books)
With the wizard-elven treaty on the verge of collapse, the preternatural world stands on the brink of war. Unless former wizard sentinel DJ Jaco manages to keep the elven leader, Quince Randolph, focused on peace and not personal matters. With no one on the throne, Faerie is in chaos, with rival princes battling for power. The still-undead pirate, Jean Lafitte, is building his own army of misfits, and DJ—stripped of her job and hiding in the Beyond to avoid the death sentence handed down by the wizard Council of Elders—can’t get anywhere near her beloved New Orleans or her significant something-or-other, Alex. It’s time to choose sides. Friends will become enemies, enemies will become allies, and not everyone will survive. DJ and her friends will learn a hard lesson: sometimes, even the ultimate sacrifice isn’t enough.
Frail Human Heart (The Name of the Blade #3)—Zoe Marriott (November 8, Candlewick Press)
Young adult. It’s been a long few days since Mio stole the ancient, magical katana from her family’s attic. She and her friends have defeated the demonic Nekomata and banished the Goddess of Death’s plague-spreading Shikome. But at a terrible cost: Mio’s beloved Shinobu is lost to her, imprisoned again within the katana. With no time to succumb to guilt and grief, Mio must find a way to defeat the vengeful gods Izanagi and Izanami once and for all. Her only hope lies in the one place immortals can’t go: the realm of dreams, a shifting dimension of water and ice, echoes and memories, beauty and danger.
Silver Road (Shifting Tides #2)—James Maxwell (November 8, 47North)
Chloe’s quest to escape the Oracle’s prophecy leads her to a magus with a secret: the eldren are not the only race to use magic in warfare. An ancient power is rediscovered, and a forgotten people will return. Meanwhile, cursed by his birth, Dion tries to forge a new life at sea, away from both the eldren and his former life in Xanthos, but the one thing he can’t leave behind is his heritage. Two kings on opposite sides of the ocean prepare for war. The clash of civilizations has only just begun.…
The Thief Who Wasn’t There (Amra Thetys #4)—Michael McClung (November 8, Ragnarok Publications)
Bellarius, saved from utter destruction, is now plunged into vicious civil war. Amra has vanished, and while Holgren has a plan to find her and bring her back, his plan teeters between impossibility and insanity. Before he can even implement it, Holgren will have to deal with three separate armies vying for control of Bellaria, all of which view him as either a threat, an inconvenience, or a potential tool. Meanwhile, Holgren seeks to trap one of the monstrous rift-spawn—abominations born of the Telemarch’s madness and power—and bend it to his will. Then, he intends to descend into the eleven hells to steal an ancient artifact of incredible power from the dire halls of the Black Library. Oh, the things we do for love.
Heartless—Marissa Meyer (November 8, Feiwel & Friends)
Young adult. Long before she was the terror of Wonderland, she was just a girl who wanted to fall in love. Catherine may be one of the most desired girls in Wonderland, and a favorite of the unmarried King of Hearts, but her interests lie elsewhere. A talented baker, all she wants is to open a shop with her best friend. But according to her mother, such a goal is unthinkable for the young woman who could be the next queen. Then Cath meets Jest, the handsome and mysterious court joker. For the first time, she feels the pull of true attraction. At the risk of offending the king and infuriating her parents, she and Jest enter into an intense, secret courtship. Cath is determined to define her own destiny and fall in love on her terms. But in a land thriving with magic, madness, and monsters, fate has other plans.
The Mountain of Kept Memory—Rachel Neumeier (November 8, Saga Press)
Long ago the Kieba, last goddess in the world, raised up her mountain in the drylands of Carastind. Gulien Madalin, heir to the throne of Carastind, suspects that his father has offended the Kieba so seriously that she has withdrawn her protection from the kingdom. Worse, he fears that Carastind’s enemies suspect this as well. Then he learns that he is right. And invasion is imminent. Meanwhile Gulien’s sister Oressa has focused on what’s important: avoiding the attention of her royal father while keeping track of all the secrets at court. But when she overhears news about the threatened invasion, she’s shocked to discover what her father plans to give away in order to buy peace. But Carastind’s enemies will not agree to peace at any price. They intend to not only conquer the kingdom, but also cast down the Kieba and steal her power. Now, Gulien and Oressa must decide where their most important loyalties lie, and what price they are willing to pay to protect the Kieba, their home, and the world.
Dark Shadows: Heiress of Collinwood (Dark Shadows #4)—Lara Parker (November 8, Tor Books)
An orphan with no knowledge of her origins, Victoria Winters first came to the great house of Collinwood as a governess. It didn’t take long for the Collins family’s many buried secrets, haunted history, and rivalries with evil forces to catch up to Victoria and cast the newcomer adrift in time, trapped between life and death. At last returned to the present, Victoria is called back to Collinwood by a mysterious letter. Hoping to fill in the gaps of her memories by meeting with the people who knew her best, Victoria returns to the aging mansion. However, she soon discovers that the entire Collins family is missing—except for Barnabas Collins, a vampire whose own dark curse is well known. Victoria discovers that she has been named sole heir to the estate, if only she can prove her own identity. Beset by danger and dire warnings, Victoria must discover what dread fate has befallen Collinwood, even as she finally uncovers a shocking truth long hidden in the shadows . . .
Wraith Knight—C.T. Phipps (November 8, Ragnarok Publications)
The King Below, Enemy of the World, is dead. Will his successor save the world…or rule it? Jacob Riverson was once the greatest hero of an age. Cut down during what should have been the final battle against the King Below, he was condemned to centuries of torment as a Wraith Knight in the service of said monster. With the destruction of his master, Jacob finds his free will returning and discovers he is in a world torn by civil war between the King Below’s former slaves and the heroes who “saved” them. Joining forces with the overly-idealistic but brilliant warrior Regina Whitetremor, Jacob must determine whether he has any place in the new world and whether his destiny is as a hero or monster. Or both.
The Iron Beast (A Song for No Man’s Land #3)—Andy Remic (November 8, Tor.com Publishing)
A war is being waged in an impossible world. The Skogsgra and the Naravelle have launched their final offensive, and Private Jones and his companions are caught in the melee. Tens of thousands will die before the battle is over. They travel deep underground, to find and release the Iron Beast… the one creature that can end not one world war, but two. But at what cost … ?
Timekeeper—Tara Sim (November 8, Sky Pony)
Young adult. Seventeen-year-old clock mechanic Danny Hart’s father has been trapped in a Stopped town east of London for three years. Though Danny is a prodigy who can repair not only clockwork, but the very fabric of time, his fixation with staging a rescue is quickly becoming a concern to his superiors. And so they assign him to Enfield, a town where the tower seems to be forever plagued with problems. Danny’s new apprentice both annoys and intrigues him, and though the boy is eager to work, he maintains a secretive distance. Danny soon discovers why: he is the tower’s clock spirit, a mythical being that oversees Enfield’s time. Though the boys are drawn together by their loneliness, Danny knows falling in love with a clock spirit is forbidden, and means risking everything he’s fought to achieve. But when a series of bombings at nearby towers threaten to Stop more cities, Danny must race to prevent Enfield from becoming the next target or he’ll not only lose his father, but the boy he loves, forever.
Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy—Cassandra Clare, Robin Wasserman, Maureen Johnson, & Sarah Rees Brennan (November 15, Margaret K. McElderry)
Young adult. Simon Lewis has been a human and a vampire, and now he is becoming a Shadowhunter. The events of City of Heavenly Fire left him stripped of his memories, and Simon isn’t sure who he is anymore. So when the Shadowhunter Academy reopens, Simon throws himself into this new world of demon-hunting, determined to find himself again. But the Academy is a Shadowhunter institution, which means it has some problems. Like the fact that non-Shadowhunter students have to live in the basement. At least Simon’s trained in weaponry—even if it’s only from hours of playing D&D. Join Simon on his journey to become a Shadowhunter, and learn about the Academy’s illustrious history along the way, through guest lecturers such as Jace Herondale, Tessa Gray, and Magnus Bane.
The Gates of Hell (Shards of Heaven #2)—Michael Livingston (November 15, Tor Books)
Alexandria has fallen, and with it the great kingdom of Egypt. Cleopatra is dead. Her children are paraded through the streets in chains wrought of their mother’s golden treasures, and within a year all but one of them will be dead. Only her young daughter, Cleopatra Selene, survives to continue her quest for vengeance against Rome and its emperor, Augustus Caesar. To show his strength, Augustus Caesar will go to war against the Cantabrians in northern Spain, and it isn’t long before he calls on Juba of Numidia, his adopted half-brother and the man whom Selene has been made to marry—but whom she has grown to love. The young couple journey to the Cantabrian frontier, where they learn that Caesar wants Juba so he can use the Trident of Poseidon to destroy his enemies. Perfidy and treachery abound. Juba’s love of Selene will cost him dearly in the epic fight, and the choices made may change the very fabric of the known world.
Culdesac (War With No Name #2)—Robert Repino (November 15, Soho Press)
The war with no name rages on, setting the world on fire. Humanity faces extinction at the hands of the Colony, a race of intelligent ants seeking to overthrow the humans and establish a new order. The bobcat Culdesac is among the fiercest warriors fighting for the Colony. Driven by revenge and notorious for his ability to hunt humans in the wild, Culdesac is the perfect leader of the Red Sphinx, an elite unit of feline assassins. With the humans in retreat, the Red Sphinx seizes control of the remote village of Milton. But holding the town soon becomes a bitter struggle of wills. As the humans threaten a massive counterattack, the townsfolk protect a dark secret that could tip the balance of the war. For the brutal Culdesac, violence is the answer to everything. But this time, he’ll need more than his claws and his guns, for what he discovers in Milton will upend everything he believes, everything he fought for, and everything he left behind.
Of Fire and Stars—Audrey Coulthurst (November 22, Balzer + Bray)
Betrothed since childhood to the prince of Mynaria, Princess Dennaleia has always known what her future holds. Her marriage will seal the alliance between Mynaria and her homeland, protecting her people from other hostile kingdoms. But Denna has a secret. She possesses an Affinity for fire—a dangerous gift for the future queen of a land where magic is forbidden. Now Denna has to learn the ways of her new kingdom while trying to hide her growing magic. To make matters worse, she must learn to ride Mynaria’s formidable warhorses before her coronation—and her teacher is the person who intimidates her most, the prickly and unconventional Princess Amaranthine, sister of her betrothed. When a shocking assassination leaves the kingdom reeling, Mare and Denna reluctantly join forces to search for the culprit. As the two work together, they discover there is more to one another than they thought—and soon their friendship is threatening to blossom into something more. But with dangerous conflict brewing that makes the alliance more important than ever, acting on their feelings could be deadly. Forced to choose between their duty and their hearts, Mare and Denna must find a way to save their kingdoms—and each other.
Fireborn (Seraphim #2)—David Dalglish (November 22, Orbit)
Bree and Kael Skyborn have seen their island invaded, their Seraphim disbanded, and their royal family imprisoned. A rebellion grows from the ashes, demanding Bree to be their Phoenix, their symbol against Center’s tyranny, and for Kael to find the doomsday prophet Johan and sway his cult to their side. Should they fail, the hope of their rebellion fails with them.
Fate of Flames (The Effigies #1)—Sarah Raughley (November 22, Simon Pulse)
Young adult. When Phantoms—massive beasts made from nightmares and darkness—suddenly appeared and began terrorizing the world, four girls, the Effigies, each gained a unique power to control one of the classical elements: earth, air, fire, and water. Since then, four girls across the world have continually fought against the Phantoms, fulfilling their cosmic duty. And when one Effigy dies, another girl gains her power as a replacement. But now, with technologies in place to protect the world’s major cities from Phantom attacks, the Effigies have stopped defending humanity and, instead, have become international celebrities, with their heroic feats ranked, televised, and talked about in online fandoms. Until the day that New York City’s protection against the Phantoms fails, a man seems to be able to control them by sheer force of will, and Maia, a high school student, unexpectedly becomes the Fire Effigy. Now Maia has been thrown into battle with three girls who want nothing to do with one another. But with the first human villain that the girls have ever faced, and an army of Phantoms preparing for attack, there isn’t much time for the Effigies to learn how to work together. Can the girls take control of their destinies before the world is destroyed forever?
Arcanum Unbounded: The Cosmere Collection—Brandon Sanderson (November 22, Tor Books)
An all-new 40,000-word Stormlight Archive novella, “Edgedancer,” will be the crown jewel of Arcanum Unbounded: The Cosmere Collection, the first book of short fiction by #1 New York Times bestselling author Brandon Sanderson. A must read for fans of the series. The collection will include nine works in all. These wonderful works, originally published on Tor.com and elsewhere individually, convey the expanse of the Cosmere and tell exciting tales of adventure Sanderson fans have come to expect, including the Hugo Award-winning novella, “The Emperor’s Soul” and an excerpt from the graphic novel “White Sand.” Arcanum Unbounded will also contain the Stormlight Archive novella “Edgedancer,” which will appear in this book for the first time anywhere. Finally, this collection includes essays and illustrations for the various planetary systems in which the stories are set.
The Fate of the Tearling (Queen of the Tearling #3)—Erika Johansen (November 29, Harper)
In less than a year, Kelsea Glynn has transformed from a gawky teenager into a powerful monarch. As she has come into her own as the Queen of the Tearling, the headstrong, visionary leader has also transformed her realm. In her quest to end corruption and restore justice, she has made many enemies—including the evil Red Queen, her fiercest rival, who has set her armies against the Tear. To protect her people from a devastating invasion, Kelsea did the unthinkable—she gave herself and her magical sapphires to her enemy—and named the Mace, the trusted head of her personal guards, regent in her place. But the Mace will not rest until he and his men rescue their sovereign, imprisoned in Mortmesne. Now, as the suspenseful endgame begins, the fate of Queen Kelsea—and the Tearling itself—will finally be revealed.
Sins of the Night (Dark-Hunter Series #7)—Sherrilyn Kenyon (November 29, St. Martin’s Press)
Harm no human. Drink no blood. Never fall in love. But every now and again a Dark-Hunter thinks himself above the Code. That’s when I’m summoned. Who am I? I’m the one thing the fearless fear. Step over the line, and it’s my wrath you will face. Nothing can touch me. Nothing can sway me. I am relentless and unfeeling. Or so I thought until I met a Dark-Hunter who goes by the name of Danger—it’s not just her name, it’s how she lives her life. She doesn’t trust me at all. And who could blame her? I’m here to be judge, jury, and the executioner of her friends. Yet she is my key to saving some of them. Without her, they will all die. But as we try to save them, Dangereuse St. Richard is a deadly distraction. Something about her is reawakening feelings I’m not supposed to have. Especially compassion, which is a deadly emotion in a race against evil. The only hope mankind has is that I do my duty. And yet how can I do my duty when it means that I will have to sacrifice the only woman I’ve ever loved?
Gloriana—Michael Moorcock (November 29, Saga Press)
Reissue. In this “spellbinding” (The Sunday Times) award-winning fantasy, the vast empire of Albion is ruled by the beautiful and forlorn queen, Gloriana who must battle against a nefarious scoundrel, Captain Quire, and a court soured by debauchery with her wits. First published in 1978, Gloriana is the award-winning story set in the alternate English kingdom of Albion that reimagines Queen Elizabeth’s reign. Bawdy, cruel, and brilliant, Gloriana has been awarded the World Fantasy Award and the John W. Campbell Memorial Award for Best Science Fiction, and is often cited as one of the great works of speculative fiction and fantasy along the lines of J.G. Ballard, Thomas Pynchon, and Philip K. Dick.
Prince Lestat and the Realms of Atlantis—Anne Rice (November 29, Knopf)
From Anne Rice, conjurer of the beloved best sellers Interview with the Vampire and Prince Lestat, an ambitious and exhilarating new novel of utopian vision and power. At the novel’s center: the vampire Lestat de Lioncourt, hero, leader, inspirer, irresistible force, irrepressible spirit, battling (and ultimately reconciling with) a strange otherworldly form that has somehow taken possession of Lestat’s undead body and soul. This ancient and mysterious power and unearthly spirit of vampire lore has all the force, history, and insidious reach of the unknowable Universe. It is through this spirit, previously considered benign for thousands of vampire years and throughout the Vampire Chronicles, that we come to be told the hypnotic tale of a great sea power of ancient times; a mysterious heaven on earth situated on a boundless continent–and of how and why, and in what manner and with what far-reaching purpose, this force came to build and rule the great legendary empire of centuries ago that thrived in the Atlantic Ocean. And as we learn of the mighty, far-reaching powers and perfections of this lost kingdom of Atalantaya, the lost realms of Atlantis, we come to understand its secrets, and how and why the vampire Lestat, indeed all the vampires, must reckon so many millennia later with the terrifying force of this ageless, all-powerful Atalantaya spirit.
booksFantasyFiction Afflictionnew releasesNovember 2016
All the New Horror and Genre-Bending Books Arriving in January!
Revealing The Bronzed Beasts, the Epic Conclusion to Roshani Chokshi’s Gilded Wolves Series
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Thierafhal on Star Trek: Voyager Rewatch: “Deadlock” 46 mins ago
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Share this Story: Toronto man killed in Nova Scotia crash
Toronto man killed in Nova Scotia crash
Shawn Jeffords
An 87-year-old Toronto man is one of two people killed in a serious car accident that closed a Nova Scotia highway Saturday.
RCMP officials say Luigi Liscio died Saturday night in a Halifax hospital. He was transported there by air ambulance along with two other members of his family who are listed in critical condition.
Police were called to a section of Hwy. 103 in Hubbards, N.S., around 10:45 a.m.
“We know that a vehicle crossed the centreline and hit the vehicle of the deceased,” Sgt. Alain LeBlanc said. “We can’t speculate on what may have cause it.”
That vehicle, a maroon van, was travelling east on the highway when it veered in front of oncoming traffic in the westbound lane, hitting a white SUV with six occupants.
LeBlanc confirmed that 75-year-old Myrtle Veinotte of Beech Hill, N.S,, the driver of the van, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Accident reconstruction experts were called to the scene and the investigation continues, LeBlanc said.
Toronto man killed in Nova Scotia crash Back to video
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Share this Story: BONOKOSKI: Ford government puts OPP suicides, PTSD on frontline
BONOKOSKI: Ford government puts OPP suicides, PTSD on frontline
Mark Bonokoski
Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services Sylvia Jones addresses media in Aurora on Tuesday March 12, 2019. Ernest Doroszuk/Toronto Sun
As suicides within the OPP continue to strain the force — the 13th suicide since 2012 occurred at a detachment on Ottawa’s outskirts mere days ago — Premier Doug Ford has hooked up his government with the police union to combat the psychological crippler and silent killer of post-traumatic stress disorder.
It was a long time coming and, while the announcement by Community Safety Minister Sylvia Jones was applauded by the president of the Ontario Provincial Police Association (OPPA), it undoubtedly received a more muted response from the police brass who have done little to stop PTSD’s relentless onslaught.
BONOKOSKI: Ford government puts OPP suicides, PTSD on frontline Back to video
In 2012, after being made aware there were 23 suicides in the force since 1989, which represented two more officers than were officially killed in the line of duty, then ombudsman Andre Marin tabled his report on the largest investigation his office had undertaken, zeroing in on PTSD and the force’s almost cavalier attitude towards fighting it.
Ontario launching new mental health supports for OPP
BONOKOSKI: Another suicide as OPP awaits internal review
EDITORIAL: Ford's second choice for OPP boss sound
Only last August, shortly before he submitted his retirement papers did OPP commissioner Vince Hawkes order an internal inquiry into PTSD, assigning two respected staff superintendents to head up the probe.
The results of that investigation are expected any day now, but whether they will be made public is still unknown.
Insiders predict it will depend on what they say, and how they say it.
Cops killing themselves is a delicate matter, after all, and their deaths haul in a wide circle of others in their lives.
There is also the stigma of PTSD within the force, whether it be in a police force, the Armed Forces, or first responders who are all supposed to be able to “buck up and carry on” as if their psychological souls are unassailable.
And then, of course, there is the stain of suicide itself, and how it is considered among many in the higher ranks as “a coward’s way out.”
PTSD, which I have written about often, including in an award-winning series of articles in 2010, has a lot of emotional baggage.
And it comes with no easy answer.
According to Jones, this mental health program she sees developing for the OPP has yet to be costed out or fully conceptualized, but tenders for program proposals have now been requested. “When it comes to our frontline OPP officers, immediate action is needed,” said Jones. “(Their) jobs are challenging ones. (They) see tragedies that none of us would ever want to see, (and) experience situations we can only imagine.”
In fact, she said, over a rather standard 30-year career on the OPP, a frontline officer is exposed to more than 900 traumatic events.
Rob Jamieson, president of the OPPA, was present at the podium when Jones made her announcement on the mental-health program.
“During the past year, the tragedy of losing several members to suicide has made all of us reflect and examine how we as an association can offer additional support to our members and their families, both on a proactive basis and in times of crisis,” said Jamieson.
“The status quo simply cannot continue. The world has changed, and mental health treatment in our membership has not kept pace with the ever-changing demands of policing in the 21st century.”
In a few days, the internal report ordered by Hawkes should be completed.
It comes seven years after Marin laid waste with his.
markbonokoski@gmail.com
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FISHERIES AND OCEANS CANADA PHOTO An MPP hero class vessel
Mobile fishery officers patrolling Island’s coast
Marine Patrol fisheries program sends officers to remote places
Hanna Petersen
May. 21, 2018 11:00 a.m.
For four years the Marine Patrol Program’s (MPP) fisheries officers have been out on the water patrolling remote areas on the coast to protect local fisheries.
Their office is the M.Charles, a hero class vessel that covers the entire South Coast of British Columbia monitoring commercial, recreational, and First Nations fisheries for compliance with Fisheries legislation.
“It’s a very efficient way to cover fisheries on the west coast because we can get into remote places,” said Field Supervisor Les Sanderson, adding that they recently “checked a boat right at the head of in Knights Inlet, which is kind of out of the way, and they really didn’t expect to see us out there.”
The vessel-based detachment is operated by the Canadian coast guard and holds a team of three Conservation and Protection, Fishery Officers.
The MPP operates year round typically travelling to areas that require more Fishery Officer presence assisting local conservation and protection detachments.
Sanderson said he thinks it’s important that the public is more aware of the MPP program.
“It is a shining example of the cooperative work happening between the Canadian Coast Guard and Conservation Protection to protect our coastal fisheries,” said Sanderson, adding “We also support Search and Rescue efforts on the coast and work jointly with other Regulatory Agencies such as the Canadian Border Service Agency.”
He said they are able to provide 24/7 coverage on the coast and can respond rapidly to fisheries violations.
“I think the biggest difference for us than a local detachment is that we are always out on the water,” said MPP officer David Clattenburg, adding “We eat, sleep, and live in the fishing grounds so we are always there and we are mobile so we can get to where land-based detachments can’t.”
Sanderson said another aspect of the program is “working on building relationships with Coastal First Nations and working with them to conserve and protect the fisheries resource.”
Clattenburg added that the name of their vessel is significant of that, as the M.Charles is named after Seaman Martin Charles, of Bamfield, British Columbia, and Hereditary Chief of the Nitinat Band who devoted his life and career to saving lives earning the Medal of Bravery for his role in search and rescue.
The MPP also monitors the Canadian Shellfish Sanitation Program (CSSP) closures which are sites up and down the coast closed to shellfish harvest for public safety reasons.
“We will get into those areas and make sure they are properly marked with signs and make sure no one is harvesting there because it could make people sick,” said Sanderson, adding that it is important to verify that the area of harvest is open because eating contaminated shellfish can be life-threatening.
He also advises fishers to check fishery notices regularly to watching for in-season changes and if people have fisheries violations to report they can call the Observe, Record, Report line at 1-800-465-4336.
To check for fisheries closures click here, to check for contaminated shellfish sites click here.
PHOTOS: Floodwaters rise and fall in Grand Forks
Friends and family playing huge role in search for Cobble Hill man
No crystal ball: Island man reveals how he makes his living predicting the future
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Editorial: Omarion Speaks On Possible B2K Reunion
Omarion may be a solo star on Rick Ross' Maybach Music label but he hasn't forgotten his boy band roots.
The singer caught up with Billboard to promote his new mixtape Care Package 2, and he revealed that a B2k reunion may be in the works.
"I feel like those types of reunions are cliche. Most of the time, it's because they have to. It's not totally out of the picture though," he said. "My fans know me from that. What I did with them will always be a part of me."
He went on to say that he still keeps in touch with former group members J-Boog and Lil' Fizz.
"They always check up on me and congratulate me," O said. "They fully support what I have going on which is great because when you're a kid and majority of your life is on the road, you never fully understand how it affects the people around you. So, to look back on that and know I still have the support of those guys is an amazing feeling."
Omarion added that the reunion will happen naturally; when the time is right.
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Watkin Motors’ Russell Shepherd (left) donates a minivan to Errol Thompson and Tim Gares
Family sought for giveaway
Some local businesses are gearing up to make Christmas extra special for a local family in need of a new vehicle
Some local businesses are gearing up to make Christmas extra special for a local family in need of a new vehicle.
But they need the public’s help in finding the deserving family.
Watkin Motors’ has donated a Ford Freestar minivan, which Fix Auto has spruced up and will be giving away just before Christmas.
Nomination letters are being sought, and will be accepted until Saturday, Nov. 28.
“We need everybody to email us or drop off their letter nominating a family who needs a vehicle,” said Tim Gares of Fix Auto (former Star Autobody, in conjunction with Manfred’s Autobody).
It could be a single parent in need of a reliable vehicle, or a family that’s down on their luck and can’t afford to upgrade their clunker which keeps breaking down.
“Of course, they need to be able to afford it and maintain it and insure it,” said Gares.
Although used, the minivan is in “great shape,” says Gares, and includes leather seats and even has a DVD player.
“Watkins really went the distance this year,” he said.
This is the 8th annual Christmas Car Giveaway, and something all involved look forward to just as much as the recipient.
“It’s actually just the feeling we get,” said Gares, of why the tradition continues. “It’s a really positive thing to do for a family this time of year.”
The hardest part is reading the heart-wrenching letters and trying to choose the recipient.
“It’s usually overwhelming. It’s hard to pick just one because they are all worthwhile.”
Nominations letters can be dropped off at either Fix Auto location, Star Autobody at 2814 37th Ave. or Manfred’s Autobody at 6252 Pleasant Valley Road, or Watkin Motors. Letters can also be emailed to: christmascarvernon@fixauto.com.
Alternative gifts offered
Program focuses on health staff
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BE Blogs
Mike Antonovich Joins ScheduALL’s Executive Board as The Company Continues its Worldwide Expansion
By TVTechnology 15 March 2012
Hollywood, FL – March 15, 2012) Broadcast industry veteran Mike Antonovich has joined the Executive Board at ScheduALL. ScheduALL is the leading global provider of Enterprise Resource Management (ERM) software for the media, broadcast and transmission industries. The addition of Antonovich builds on ScheduALL’s continued investment in deep industry expertise across an industry in transition.
Antonovich, with more than 30 years of broadcast, satellite and fiber optic service experience has held broadcast operations positions at ESPN and Group W Satellite, global sales and marketing leadership positions at PanAmSat as well as CEO experience at The Space Connection (the satellite industry's leading space segment reseller) and at Genesis Networks (a global 70-city managed video service fiber network). Antonovich played an essential role in the businesses growth and eventual sale of Genesis to Global Crossing in 2011. He presently is Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Roberts Communications Network, a leading provider of managed satellite and terrestrial network solutions.
"I am excited to join ScheduALL's Executive Board. I am very familiar with the unique capabilities the software provides and I have really seen the company mature over the past several years,” Antonovich said. “ScheduALL is uniquely addressing sizeable industry challenges in bold new ways. ScheduALL has evolved into a de facto industry standard, and I look forward to being a part of their many exceptional innovations yet to come."
In his current role, Antonovich leads sales efforts into the broadcast and media marketplace for Roberts Communications Network which owns and operates more than 110 uplinks, leases more than 12 satellite transponders, operates more than 250 MPEG-4 encoders and manages a global MPLS network. It also is an industry leader in the provision of streaming media and digital signage services and has one of the industry's most advanced hybrid satellite and terrestrial networks.
“Mike is a trusted friend and highly respected business leader across broadcast, satellite and telecommunications industries. We are honored to have him join our Executive Board,” Says Joel Ledlow, CEO at ScheduALL. “His passion and familiarity with where the industry is heading will help us examine new of areas where we can better serve our client community.”
Attend the next ScheduALL user event
The development team at ScheduALL prides themselves in listening to their client partners. Annual user groups and mixers throughout the Americas and Europe allow the team to capture the needs of ScheduALL users and develop those products that users have only up until now, conceptualized in their dreams. For more information about these user groups and mixers, please email- events@scheduall.com
Socialize ScheduALL
Follow @scheduall for exclusive tips and tricks, promotions and messages!
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About ScheduALL
ScheduALL is the leading global provider of Enterprise Resource Management (ERM) solutions for the broadcast, satellite/transmission, media, and entertainment industries. As a market leader with a 23-year track record of success, ScheduALL is clearly recognized as the partner of choice for operational management solutions with over 1,200 installations in more than 53 countries. The modular approach and scalable product sets provide a collaborative platform for users across multiple environments. ScheduALL clients include all of the major U.S. broadcast networks BBC, FOX News Network, The Associated Press, Intelsat, SES World Skies, Turner Studios, Mediaset, Technicolor, Deluxe, CBC, ABC Australia, and RTL.
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3 Zoonotic Disease Myths Busted
By Amy Whitcomb on June 22, 2017
Zoonotic disease results from viruses and bacteria, also known as pathogens, that move between species. Zoonotic disease exists as a single infection, or spillover, between animal and human. It’s in the news as an outbreak when several people in a region are ill due to a shared source or as an epidemic when a widespread occurrence of the same illness is spreading by multiple sources. A pandemic occurrence affects an entire country, continent or the planet.
Here are other key concepts behind zoonotic disease and control.
1. Myth: Zoonotic disease is about zoos.
Reality: Words with zoo- refer to the study of animal biology, or zoology. Zoonotic disease is about much more than illness in zoo animals.
2. Myth: Zoonotic disease only occurs in tropical places.
Reality: Zoonotic disease is part of daily life across the globe.
Zoonotic disease can be transmitted in your home. There are many infectious diseases that move between pets and people, such as Salmonella and ringworm.
Zoonotic disease can be transmitted in your region. Your local farmers constantly monitor and treat diseases in livestock, like strains of avian influenza, that could infect consumers or other animals.
Zoonotic disease can be transmitted in the wild. Disease spreads in natural landscapes where people and animal activities overlap. Researchers have analyzed, for example, where people and primates share disease.
Overall, our land use and lifestyles make disease transmissions common. We build our homes and neighborhoods into wildlife habitat, and we use mass transit to travel for leisure or work and to transport animal products far from their origin. Nearly everyone is affected by the movement of and exposure to pathogens.
3. Myth: Preventing a global disease outbreak is overwhelming and hopeless.
Reality: Simple steps like washing your hands frequently and avoiding insect bites are important in preventing illness and its spread.
There are also more complex strategies that situate laboratory, policy, environmental and other expertise and tools in critical places.
With surveillance, training and collaboration, communities and scientists like Jonna Mazet with the One Health Institute at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine are building the capacity to protect global health worldwide.
The Woman Protecting Us From the Next Pandemic
Is Zika Coming to Neighborhood Near You? (INFOGRAPHIC)
Combating Antibiotic Resistance in Humans and Animals
Amy Whitcomb is an editor on the web team in Strategic Communications.
What is One Health?
One Health is an approach to ensure the well being of people, animals and the environment through collaborative problem solving — locally, nationally, and globally.
More One Health Facts >
Latest One Health Blog Posts
One Health in Action: Addressing Antimicrobial Resistance
UC Global Health Day: Student Takeaways
Habitat Destruction And Biodiversity Loss at the Root of Emerging Infectious Diseases
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November 4, 2019 | Max Willner
Having a Mobile Friendly Website Does Impact SEO
You probably already know how important it is to make your website mobile friendly for a better user experience, but did you know that having a mobile-friendly website impacts your SEO?
Google has talked about mobile-friendliness for years, even before internet usage on mobile made history when it exceeded PC usage in early 2014. Here's a bit of history on Google's mobile-friendly warnings, penalties, and ranking signal changes as well as where things stand today (and what you can do about it)!
Google’s Penalty for Bad Mobile Experiences
In June 2013, Google announced a penalty for websites that produce bad mobile experiences, and offered tips on how to fix the two most common mistakes: faulty redirects and smartphone-only errors. In their related blog post, Google stressed the importance of avoiding these and the other common website misconfigurations for smartphones. This penalty impacted how sites ranked for smartphone search results, making sites which provided a bad mobile experience less likely to rank in smartphone searches.
Google’s Mobile-Friendly Designation
In 2014, Google announced a “mobile-friendly” designation, which made responsive web design more important than ever to business marketing strategy. As part of that change, a “mobile-friendly” label appeared in mobile search results to highlight websites that offer great mobile experiences.
Although the mobile-friendly label was dropped in 2016, the 2014 change was another indication of how much Google values high-quality mobile experiences, and it heightened the buzz among industry experts that mobile-friendly criteria would soon be used as a ranking signal in search algorithms.
Google’s Mobile Usability Warnings
In January 2015, Google sent mass notifications via email and through webmaster tools to owners of sites that weren't mobile friendly.
These notices, along with the launch of mobile usability reports and mobile-friendly testing tools, were more compelling signs that a mobile ranking algorithm would soon be upon us.
<----- Example of Google's response for a website that does not meet mobile-friendly standards.
Google’s Mobile-Friendly UPDATE & Mobile Boost ANNOUnCEMENTs
In February 2015, Google announced that mobile-friendly compliance would soon be a ranking signal for searches conducted on mobile devices. The goal of this change was to help users easily find relevant, high-quality results for sites optimized for mobile viewing. At the time of the "Mobilegeddon" announcement, Google also started using information from indexed apps as a ranking factor if a user had the app installed and was signed in.
In May 2016, mobile was on Google's mind yet again when their blog relayed information on the "Mobile Boost" update. This change further increased the impact of the mobile-friendly ranking signal in their algorithm.
GOOGLE's Mobile-First Indexing ANNOUnCEMENT
Next came Google's November 2016 announcement that they would begin experiments to make their index mobile-first. Because of the increased number of searchers using their mobile devices for results, Google's goal was to eventually primarily use the mobile version of a site’s content to:
Rank pages from that site
Understand structured data
Show snippets from those pages in results
This was a hugely important shift in Google's processes — a vital "first step" that eventually led to the mobile-first structure we live by today.
Google’s Mobile intrusive interstitials penalty
In January 2017, Google announced a ranking penalty for websites that used certain types of interstitials considered intrusive when viewed on a mobile device. Intrusive types of interstitials included:
Displaying a pop-up that covers up the main content of a page immediately after a user lands from the search results or as they're looking through the page
Showing a standalone interstitial that the user is required to dismiss before accessing the main content
Using a page layout that has a standalone interstitial as the above-the-fold portion of the page with the original content inlined underneath the fold
Interstitials that were considered "responsible" by Google and thus not subject to the new penalty were:
Login boxes on sites with content not intended for public viewing
Interstitials that display in a reasonable amount of the screen and are easily dismissed
Interstitials used for legal reasons, such as age verification or GDPR requirements
GOOGLE's SPEED Update
In July 2018, Google rolled out the "Speed Update." Their announcement said that while Google was already using speed in ranking for desktop searches, they were adding page speed as a factor in mobile search ranking as well. This update explained that very slow pages could have more difficulty ranking unless the search query signal took precedence.
Mobile-First Indexing By DEFAULT
In May 2019, Google announced that, as of July 1st, mobile-first indexing would be enabled by default for all new websites previously unknown to the search engine. After approximately two and a half years of experimenting with mobile-first indexing since the initial announcement, Google finally decided that most new websites were "generally ready" for the new method. Using the smartphone "Googlebot" to crawl the web, Google verified that mobile-first indexing was finally ready to be the default — while promising that this standard will continue to be important for new websites.
What does that ominous-sounding warning mean for you? Only that Google will continue to crawl each site and measure its responsiveness to both desktop and mobile versions to ensure the site's compatibility. The readiness and responsiveness of existing websites is determined by:
Parity of content (including text, images, videos, links)
All other meta-data (for example, titles and descriptions, robots.txt specifications, meta tags, etc.)
We (and Google) highly recommended reviewing these sections of your website to make sure you're up-to-date!
Mobile-Friendly Website Tips and Tools
If you care about SEO (and I know you do), don’t suffer negative impacts to your website ranking due to mobile-friendliness problems—use the following tips and tools to check the status of your website and improve your results!
Conduct a mobile-friendly test using Google’s Mobile-Friendly Testing Tool
Check your website for errors using Google’s Mobile Usability tool (in Search Console)
Check the speed of your pages using Google's Speed Test
Invest in responsive web design that's optimized for viewing on mobile and desktop
Wondering about Your Website'S SEO? We've got you covered!
Author's Note: This post was originally published on February, 15, 2015 by Holly Yalove. It has since been updated with new content by VIEO's Digital Marketing Manager Max Willner.
Max Willner
In his role as Digital Marketing Manager, Max provides digital ad strategy, campaign management, and SEO support for our clients. To help build ads and other content that engage visitors and improve ROI, he applies data-driven insight that allows us to create incisive, effective plans that boost clicks, conversions, and sales. His desk plant, Bob, provides fresh oxygen for impromptu yodeling competitions.
5 Reasons to Use HubSpot's CMS
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Land Exhibits
Walk the Show
The Stage
MARINEMAX
Azimut 50 Flybridge
Azimut 50 stands out for its flybridge, the largest in its class, which can be furnished depending on the owner’s needs. Unprecedented spaciousness and unexpected solutions offer the comfort of larger yachts, for truly unforgettable moments. The yachts of the Flybridge Collection break down visual barriers, offering a unique experience of wind and light, lulled by the comfort of welcoming environments and the finest Italian materials, for a true sense of wellbeing.
They say opposites attract. But in the case of Azimut 60, they not only attract but together produce a surprising harmony. Taut, dynamic lines outside; flowing furnishings that embrace you inside; a sporty modern look for the exteriors; and sophisticated, evergreen styling for the interiors. Every detail on this boat is created to surprise with elegance, making the pleasure of life on board an ever more absolute value. Increased volumes enhance your comfort while lower weights guarantee excellent dynamic and static stability for your yachting pleasure.
Italian-made excellence seduces you not only with its contours and taste but also with innovation that puts carbon fiber to work in achieving ultimate comfort. The big windows, low-profile gunwales, and immense flybridge offer a 360-degree experience of the sea. Seakeeper stabilizer eliminates boat roll and transforms your experience on the water. Four cabins with upgraded mattresses (along with crew) leaves no one onshore. Flybridge is fully equipped with teak, BBQ station, co-pilot seating, and multiple comfortable seating areas to entertain friends and family. Other key features include stern thrusters, electrically operated bimini top, salon wine cooler, and Raymarine Platinum Package.
Azimut A45
Sporty, high-performing, and dynamic to experience the sea in a truly unique way. This versatile sports cruiser is for those who love chasing the waves and seeking the true trill of life at sea. The ideal balance between quality and safety, the perfect alchemy of beauty and functionality: and all in large, welcoming spaces and meticulously planned interiors in line with the best Italian design. Dual sun zones include large cushions in the bow and a comfortable sun-pad astern offering incredibly relaxing moments. The main deck is like a big open-air lounge area, designed and furnished to create a sophisticated living space to relax and enjoy life on the sea at the utmost.
This yacht offers a vast open-air lounge area with plenty of room for three on the aft sunpad which sits atop a garage able to house a jet tender up to 3.3 meters (10'10"). Hidden beneath the cushions are two spacious lockers for stowing fenders. The main deck is furnished so as to create a sophisticated saloon for relaxing in. Facing sofas and the option of a foldaway hi-lo table create a spacious uncluttered environment. The modular sofa can be reconfigured as two roomy seats if you need to add places at the table while dining. This spacious area also offers a forward-facing chaise lounge which means the pilot can enjoy company during the navigation.
The layout of the below deck is designed around the large central square, with the creation of a counter-facing galley and dinette ideally positioned to optimize onboard living. The spacious full-height master suite is exceptionally light thanks to the combination of double skylights and side windows.
A charming mix of aggression and seduction in Stefano Righini’s design come together to create a sensual contour with elegance and informal charm. As a classic two-deck yacht, with the generous volumes of an imposing motor yacht, totally separate crew passageways and a garage able to accommodate a four-meter tender. In designing the smooth, fluid interior, Achille Salvagni favored gentle colors that flow naturally, sweeping curves over static geometrical design and furnishings, which seem suspended in mid-air. Wide, airy exteriors designed for open-air living foster a deep and enduring relationship with the sea. Carbon fiber is the design choice to provide increased volumes and extended surfaces within same-weight ranges, granting excellent levels of static and dynamic stability.
Designed by the skilled hand of Stefano Righini, this unique concept wide-body 27 Metri megayacht creates perfect harmony between flowing lines and unparalleled volumes for the segment. The use of carbon fiber made it possible to offer a unique layout with up to 5-cabins and the owner’s suite on the main deck. The vertical bow and the big full-height windows, which rise from the hull and extend up into the superstructure, give the boat a sporty, edgy character and are its signature features. Achille Salvagni’s signature interior style involves harmoniously flowing lines, with an ode to Italian Renaissance art. Other features include large side windows, raised pilothouse, full glass cockpit, and carbon fiber mullions. The extensive use of carbon fiber, which Azimut has pioneered in all its collections, makes it possible to extend the space available without increasing the Yachts weight, resulting in better performance in the water and unprecedented comfort onboard.
Azimut S6 Sport Flybridge
This updated version of the luxurious S6 with a sporty flybridge brings together the best of both worlds. They say technology opens up new horizons, and that's certainly the case for the new S6. The use of carbon fiber and a propulsion system featuring three Volvo IPS units means you can have everything you've always desired from a classy sports motor yacht, without compromising on comfort. Key features include a vast living space split between indoor and outdoor areas, roomy cabins, Seakeeper stabilization, bow thrusters, and the Raymarine Platinum Package. Functionality and sleek style. Because there are times when you can, in fact, have everything.
Azimut S7
They say technology opens up new horizons and that’s certainly the case for the new S7. The use of carbon fiber and a propulsion system featuring three Volvo IPS units mean you can have everything you’ve always desired from a classy sports motor yacht, without compromising on comfort: a huge living space split between indoor and outdoor areas, four roomy cabins and a garage big enough for both the tender and a jet ski. Because there are times when you can, in fact, have everything. Azimut S7 is at the top of the class and is the most technologically advanced yacht in its category, with a top speed of 36 knots, low consumption and some of the most generous volumes around. The ease of handling is as priceless as piloting the yacht is pleasurable. Carbon fiber is used throughout the superstructure, also as a decorative material, boldly drawing attention to the features that seem to support the top section of the boat.
Azimut Verve 40
The first sporty and elegant outboard weekender, Verve 40 is more sophisticated than a walk-around, more stylish than a center console and more spacious, safe and sturdy than a day cruiser. The steering console stands out for its modern styling inspired by automotive design; the instrumentation is all digital, with no analogue displays. The pilot seats are extremely comfortable and supportive, delivering unparalleled ergonomics and safety even at high speed. A skylight incorporated in the hardtop can be opened for ventilation during navigation and the console is protected by glass splash guards on either side. Finally, an electrically operated bimini top by sureshade is fitted inside the hardtop and extends to provide shade across the entire cockpit area.
Benetti Delfino 95
The Benetti Delfino 95 is a contemporary, refined, and elegant yacht. The large glass surfaces create dramatic plays of light that become the decorative features of a timeless design by Giorgio M. Cassetta. The garage converts to an over-sized beach club and does an excellent job of connecting your family to the sea and your senses. With 1,333 square feet of functional space, the sundeck has a spot for everyone, featuring a covered dining area with bar and aft lounge area. The interior spaces are designed to maximize comfort, functionality, and connectivity. With main deck sliding glass doors that fully open and large windows stretching across the entire salon, the Delfino connects the outside to the inside seamlessly. Packed with the latest in technology, the Delfino 95 wheelhouse is the driving force to uncharted waters and anchorages. There is nothing but your imagination between you and your next adventure. You are the master and the world is your playground.
© 2020 by TRMG LLP.
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Royal Ascot Day Five: Merchant Navy wins Diamond Jubilee
Robert Kieckhefer, UPI Racing Writer
The 2018 renewal of Royal Ascot faded into history with a thrilling, internationally flavored stretch battle in the day's crown jewel, the Group 1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes -- Australia winning over France and the United States.
Ryan Moore rode the winners of the day's two biggest races. Sir Michael Stoute added to his all-time trainer record and Irish conditioner Aidan O'Brien wound up the meeting on a high note.
Wesley Ward, who pioneered American participation in the Royal Ascot pageantry, came up short on winners but salvaged third in the Diamond Jubilee.
Her Majesty the Queen wore an outfit officially described as green and ivory, confounding fashion prognosticators.
RELATED Royal Ascot Day Four: Alpha Centauri sets Coronation Cup record
Here's how they ran:
The Diamond Jubilee
Australian invader Merchant Navy prevailed over French and American rivals in the big race on the final day of Royal Ascot 2018, the Group 1 Diamond Jubilee. The race was a bit of a rough go with one of the favorites left at the start and some crowding through the final furlong.
RELATED Royal Ascot Day Three: Stradivarius wins Gold Cup
When all was done, though, Merchant Navy prevailed by a nose, giving O'Brien and Moore another top-level win at the Royal meeting and his Australian and Irish owner syndicates an even more valuable stallion prospect.
Merchant Navy, a 4-year-old colt by Fastnet Rock, was a Group 1 winner in his native Australia but made the long trip to the British Isles in time for a prep race May 26 at the Curragh in Ireland. He won that with Moore getting a feel for the colt.
Watch Merchant Navy win the Diamond Jubilee at #RoyalAscot and qualify for the #BC18 Turf Sprint @ChurchillDowns in November! #WinandYoureIN pic.twitter.com/4kg9BZz2M0
RELATED Royal Ascot: Poet's Word makes impressive run
— Breeders' Cup (@BreedersCup) June 23, 2018
The victory carried an automatic entry for the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint this fall at Churchill Downs through the international Challenge program but Merchant Navy likely is headed home to Australia for the Southern Hemisphere spring breeding season.
"We were always told that he was only here for Royal Ascot because he has stallion commitments in Australia," O'Brien said. "That's why we were so anxious to get a run into him at the Curragh, because we knew that we might not have him after Ascot. We will have to see what happens now, but that was the plan as far as I was told. The plan might change."
City Light came from France to finish second, 3/4 length in front of Bound for Nowhere, who came from a win at Keeneland for owner-trainer Wesley Ward. Australia's other hope, Redkirk Warrior, finished a nowhere 10th.
"I can't repeat what I was thinking when we hit the wire," Moore said. "The American horse leaned into me and he (Merchant Navy) just lost his room for a minute ... If I had got beat, I would have been very unlucky."
The race had a brush with disaster at the start as Harry Angel, the 5-2 favorite, acted up in the gate, kicking out with both hind legs. The starter pushed the button as Harry Angel's left rear leg still was propped on a rail inside the stall and he staggered out of the gate. "He basically came out of the stall on three legs," his handler said on British television.
Clive Cox, who trains Harry Angel for Godolphin, said the colt returned after finishing next-last with "a nasty puncture wound, which we are concerned enough about. He was not sound behind when he came in. He wasn't dreadful, but he wasn't sound. I am just sorry for everyone and it's a shame, but I think we will be fine."
The Hardwicke
Moore abandoned two of his regular rides for O'Brien to stay with Sir Michael and the heavy favorite, Crystal Ocean, in the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes. As usual, he proved prescient as the 4-year-old Sea the Stars colt emerged the easy winner.
Moore allowed Idaho, one of his previous mounts, to make all the early going while drafting right in behind. When Idaho had enough turning for home, Moore sent Crystal Ocean straight to the front and he strode out to win by 2 1/2 lengths over Red Verdon. Cliffs of Moher, second in last year's Derby and another former Moore partner, was making up ground late and finished third. Barsani and Idaho completed the order of finish.
"It was very straightforward," Moore said. "Crystal Ocean is a lovely progressive horse and I'm very thankful to be riding him today. Crystal Ocean is a horse who has done nothing wrong throughout his career. We have always liked him and all horses improve as they get older and have more experience."
Sir Michael extended his Royal Ascot record with his 79th win -- fourth of this meeting. Crystal Ocean ran his season's mark to 3-for-3, all with Moore riding.
The winner has yet to race at the Group 1 level but that step seems inevitable as the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth -- over the same course and distance July 28 -- is his likely next start. "I think we will get brave," Sir Michael said. "That's likely but we will think about it."
The Chesham Stakes
The drama, history and pageantry of Royal Ascot gave way to tugs at the heartstrings in the Chesham Stakes as Arthur Kitt seized the lead with a late burst of speed and won by a neck. The colt's dam, Ceiling Kitty, won the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2012 but died giving birth to the colt would be Arthur Kitt. The foal, himself resuscitated several times and raised by a foster mare, won his first race May 25 at Haydock and was a moderately priced long shot for the Chesham.
"The night he was born was such a painful night," said owner Andrew Black. I just thought, 'We'll win the Chesham with this and that will somehow make it all right ... This is the most special. I have more emotion attached to this horse than any other I have owned."
Nate the Great was a close second and Duke of Hazard finished third. The strong favorite, Natalie's Joy, never figured and finished seventh.
Soldier's Call led the way on the stands side of the course throughout most of the 5 furlongs of the Windsor Castle Stakes for 2-year-olds and held tenaciously to win by 1/2 length from Sabre. Dom Carlos was third and Van Beethoven, after a slow start, came flying on the far side rail to finish fourth. The American hope, Wesley Ward trainee Moonlight Romance, was 13th under Joel Rosario.
Soldier's Call, a Showcasing colt, finished second in his first trip to the track May 11 at Lingfield and became a winner June 7 at Haydock.
"We were umming and ahhing about whether to run in the Norfolk Stakes or the Windsor Castle," said winning trainer Archie Watson. "So I'm glad our decision to run here has been vindicated."
"I would imagine the Molcomb (Aug. 1 at Glorious Goodwood) would be his aim," Watson continued. "We would love to go to Churchill Downs for the new Breeders' Cup race over five and half furlongs (the Juvenile Turf Sprint) in November if that's the way the season progresses."
The Wokingham
Bacchus raced prominently through the Wokingham Handicap, took aim at the favorite, Dreamfield, who drifted nearly into him, then just did catch that rival to win by a neck. Major Jumbo was third in the field of 28 at the end of 6 furlongs.
Undrafted, winner of the 2014 Diamond Jubilee and the last of Wesley Ward's hopefuls for this Royal meeting, started well but could not go with the field and finished 18th. Ward finished the meeting with a single winner.
"The race panned out perfectly," said winning rider Jim Crowley. Crowley said trainer Brian Meehan "said to me that Bacchus didn't want to be in front too soon. When I saw Dreamfield carry me along like that, I rode him to beat Dreamfield then and it worked out great."
John Gosden, who saddled the 2-1 favorite Dreamfield, said, "I told everyone early on: 'One, it is a silly price and, two, I don't like the draw."
The Queen Alexandra
At nearly 1 3/4 miles, the Queen Alexandra is the longest race on the British flat racing calendar and the winner, Pallasator, showed the effects at the end.
After tracking the pace under Jamie Spencer, the 9-year-old Motivator gelding made the front at mid-stretch and survived despite wandering first left and then back right across the course.
"He was down inside and didn't like it" early in the race, Spencer said. "He came alive when I switched him out."
The favorite, Thomas Hobson, was never prominent and finished eighth. Pallasator rewarded NBC-TV commentator Nick Luck for an excellent week-long job with a "going home" winner at odds of nearly 6-1.
Michael Stoute
Joel Rosario
Seattle Seahawks WR Josh Gordon suspended again
Green Bay Packers to allow limited number of fans for divisional playoff game
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Business Government
Chicago police seek follow-up interview with ‘Empire’ actor
February 17, 2019 Admin 140 Views 0 Comments
CHICAGO, Feb 16 (Reuters) – Chicago police have shifted the direction of their investigation into actor Jussie Smollett’s report of a hate-crime assault and are seeking to interview him again, after releasing two men detained for questioning in the probe, a police spokesman said on Saturday.
Smollett, 36, an openly gay African-American performer who plays a gay character on the musical hip-hop TV drama “Empire,” ignited a furor on social media last month when he reported he had been attacked on the street by two men yelling racial and homophobic slurs.
According to Smollett’s account, his assailants struck him in the face, draped a rope around his neck and doused him with an “unknown chemical substance” before fleeing. Police said the actor took himself to a hospital but was not seriously hurt.
On Wednesday evening this week, police said they arrested two Nigerian brothers described as “persons of interest” who were recognized from surveillance camera footage taken in the area of the alleged Jan. 29 assault.
The pair were freed two days later without charge, police told Reuters on Friday, in light of “new evidence” from their interrogation.
Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi denied a media report on Thursday that detectives were looking into whether Smollett had staged the attack, saying then that there was “no evidence to say this is a hoax.”
On Saturday, Guglielmi issued a brief statement saying that “information received from the individuals questioned by police earlier in the ‘Empire’ case has in fact shifted the trajectory of the investigation.” He added, “We’ve reached out to the ‘Empire’ cast member’s attorney to request a follow-up interview.”
Meanwhile, the New York Post reported that Smollett has retained the services of criminal defense lawyer Michael Monico, a former Illinois federal prosecutor who is also representing President Donald Trump’s former personal attorney and fixer, Michael Cohen.
Neither Monico nor any of Smollett’s previously known representatives could immediately be reached by Reuters for comment.
“Empire” debuted on the Fox network in 2015 and has earned multiple Emmy nominations. Smollett plays the character Jamal Lyon, a member of the family that is the focus of the show.
Reporting by Steve Gorman in Los Angeles; Editing by Sam
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Home ❭ News ❭ COVID Curfew - MAGA March - Election Lawsuits - 2021 Session
COVID Curfew - MAGA March - Election Lawsuits - 2021 Session
Dear Friends,
I hope you’re ready for the cooler weather as we approach the holidays ahead. As you know there is a lot going on at all levels.
I’ll exercise my editorial privilege to show you a picture of my baby granddaughter on a crisp morning this week. It’s these little ones who will live in the world we are shaping in the here and now, so we need to get it right.
If you would like me to continue serving please consider supporting me for re-election.
LOOKING FORWARD TO THE 2021 SESSION
Top Of Virginia Regional Chamber - Pre-Session 2021 Legislators Forum
Elected officials discuss legislative priorities, COVID-19 restrictions and marijuana. “When asked about fully reopening the state in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, LaRock said, “it should never have been closed.” He said that while measures should be put in place to help elderly, sick and at-risk people, he said there are “financial, economic and human costs” to staying closed. A healthy economy is important for maintaining healthy families, he said.
2021 Session - Legislation Ideas
I have 30+ bills being drafted; most of them are repeating worthwhile efforts from previous sessions. The Speaker says each Delegate will only be allowed to file 7 bills, so some will have to wait or be transferred to other legislators. I will share more details later, but I’m wide open to feedback on which ones matter most to you. Here’s a condensed list:
Lockbox to protect against diversion of transportation funds
Incident management vehicles for more efficient clearing of accidents
CTB; revenue-sharing funds
Dulles Greenway- VDOT oversight instead of SCC; reasonable return
Engineering contracts; maximum value
Local/constituent issues:
Nutrient credit trading; hydrologic units.
Co-ops authority to attach communications cables/ broadband
Government reform and accountability:
Protect civil rights from emergency orders (special session HB5075)
VPPA; verification of work for information technology project services; required contract provisions
VPPA; preference for contractors using automatic billing verification software
Require transparency and accountability software use for state agencies with over 20 employees working remotely
Real and personal property tax exemptions
Local ordinances must be publicly available to be enforced
K-12: family life education standards; live human unborn baby ultrasound viewing required.
Tax credit; home instruction and private school
Public Safety:
Prohibit local government self-defense-free zones
Law Enforcement Transparency and Accountability reintroduce 2021 special session
Medical Freedom:
Powers of Commissioner in epidemic. Add safety and ethical requirements for commissioner-mandated vaccine
Religious exemption - childhood vaccines and emergency vaccines
Medical privacy protection; immunization history or status
Bill to protect citizens from compulsory disease testing
Resolution on individuals' right to make their own medical decisions
Proposed statutory statement of fundamental right to be free from medical mandates
COVID-19 vaccine legislation
Create a temporary space for insurance companies to try-out new products and services
Abortion; fetal dismemberment prohibited
COVID-19 and VACCINES
Yesterday, Governor Northam justified his curfew edict by quoting his mothers advice, but here's what real analysis shows: Briand (Genevieve Briand, assistant program director of the Applied Economics masters degree program at Hopkins) noted that "...50,000 to 70,000 deaths are seen both before and after COVID-19, indicating that this number of deaths was normal long before COVID-19 emerged. Therefore, according to Briand, not only has COVID-19 had no effect on the percentage of deaths of older people, but it has also not increased the total number of deaths"
Experimental vaccine anyone?
The Great Barrington Declaration – As infectious disease epidemiologists and public health scientists we have grave concerns about the damaging physical and mental health impacts of the prevailing COVID-19 policies, and recommend an approach we call Focused Protection
A Sensible and Compassionate Anti-COVID Strategy From Hillsdale College: “In discussing the deadliness of COVID, we need to distinguish COVID cases from COVID infections. A lot of fear and confusion has resulted from failing to understand the difference.” In early March, the case fatality rate in the U.S. was roughly three percent—nearly three out of every hundred people who were identified as “cases” of COVID in early March died from it. Compare that to today, when the fatality rate of COVID is known to be less than one half of one percent.
A positive test for COVID-19 reveals little about how sick or contagious the patient might be.
No need for vaccines, Covid effectively over: Ex-Pfizer VP
November 23, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) While Pfizer pharmaceutical made headlines announcing the imminent release of their COVID-19 vaccine, to much fanfare, a former Vice President and Chief Scientist for the company has flatly rejected the need for any vaccines to bring the COVID
pandemic to an end. This according to Dr. Michael Yeadon, who “spent over 30 years leading new [allergy and respiratory] medicines research in some of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies,” and retired from Pfizer with “the most senior research position in this field.
COVID lockdown Restrictions- Despite COVID-19 deaths in Northern Virginia remaining low for the last several months, source here, Governor Northam is tightening the screws, over-reacting to an increase in positive test results.
Thursday afternoon, he announced the following unconstitutional "mitigation measures" will take effect at 12:01 a.m. on Monday, December 14:
Stay at Home Order: 12:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m.
Mask mandate expands to requires all individuals aged five and over to wear face coverings in indoor and outdoor public settings.
Reduction in social gatherings: All social gatherings must be limited to 10 individuals, down from the current cap of 25 people. This does not apply to restaurants, retail stores, religious services, employment settings, or educational settings.
The full text of Executive Order Seventy-Two, which incorporates earlier Executive Orders Sixty-Three and Sixty-Seven is available here.
In addition to my previous and ongoing legislative efforts on this issue, I am a plaintiff on a lawsuit currently seeking to end the Governor's unconstitutional executive orders. More on these efforts is on my website.
2020 ELECTION ISSUES
IF YOU WITNESSED ANY IRREGULARITIES RELATING TO THE 2020 ELECTION, PLEASE SEND THEM TO US
I have been working along with others who are researching possible irregularities in Virginia and actions that could be needed and possible.
Many believe President Trump won by a landslide and is the rightful winner; if you agree, go here:
How President Trump can still win the 2020 election and what you can do to help make it happen
“The federal Constitution places the obligation for choosing presidential Electors on state legislatures:
“Each State shall appoint, in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a Number of Electors, equal to the whole Number of Senators and Representatives to which the State may be entitled in the Congress....” (emphasis added) [Article II, Section 1, clause 2]”
“The public cannot have confidence in the 2020 presidential election unless competent authority examines and ensures that only legal ballots were counted. State legislatures hold constitutional authority to send Congress a slate of presidential electors if the vote count or election procedures violated state law.”
Pending challenges to the outcome of the 2020 presidential election
Here are the two cases pending in SCOTUS that could alter the Presidential election.
1. Texas v. Pennsylvania, Georgia, Michigan & Wisconsin
The motion for leave to file bill of complaint and bill of complaint were filed by Texas in the U.S. Supreme Court. The complaint invokes the U.S. Supreme Court's original jurisdiction under Article III. It may be late in the game, but it puts the issue of the legitimacy of the election rules changes squarely in the lap of the U.S. Supreme Court.
2. Mike Kelly v. Pennsylvania
Justice Alito moved up the deadline for Pennsylvania to respond to Congressman Mike Kelly's application for injunctive relief, based on his state constitutional challenge to Pennsylvania Act 77.
Let’s Talk About This Texas Lawsuit... What Does It Mean?
TX AG Paxton: Election Lawsuit a Bid to Protect Integrity, Constitution
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed suit on Tuesday against Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, claiming the four states exploited the pandemic to justify ignoring election laws.
Virginia RNC delegation Statement of Support for President Trump
More updates on legal challenges here.
Donate to President Trump's Legal Defense Fund here
Donate to the Legal Defense Fund for the American Republic - Sidney Powell, General Michael Flynn's amazing defense attorney and unquestionably one of the smartest women in America is, thankfully, involved in exposing fraud and ensuring that last week's election is not stolen from President Trump and the American people. Please check out her website HERE.
Donate to the Republican Candidates in the Georgia Senate Runoffs HERE. It is critical that Republicans hold onto both of these seats!
MARCH FOR TRUMP RALLY
Saturday, December 12 (Hope to see you there)
https://trumpmarch.com/dc/
https://www.millionmagamarch.us/
BE A CITIZEN MEMBER OF VIRGINIA'S 2021 REDISTRICTING COMMISSION
Application Deadline: Monday, December, 28, 2020
As you know, Amendment 1 passed last month, so redistricting in Virginia will now be done by a commission. The 16-member Commission will consist of eight citizen members and eight legislative members. You can apply to be a citizen member. Details at the link below.
https://redistricting.dls.virginia.gov/RedApplicationDownload.aspx
As always, thank you for the honor and privilege of serving you in the Virginia House of Delegates. Feel free to reach out to me with any questions!
Sincerely,
If you have questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to call or email my office at 540-751-8364 or DelDLaRock@house.virginia.gov. You can also follow me on Twitter @LaRock4Delegate and like my Facebook page to keep up to date.
Communications, Technology and Innovation
Counties, Cities and Towns
School Construction & Modernization
Voter Info
Get in touch and stay connected:
DelDLaRock@house.virginia.gov
District Office: P.O. Box 6, Hamilton, Virginia 20159 (540) 751-8364
Paid for and authorized by Dave LaRock for Delegate
Dave LaRock for Delegate • PO Box 6 Hamilton, VA 20159 • Info@VoteLaRock.us • 540-751-8364
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News Jul 2nd 2009 - 2pm
Police crack down on speeders
COVID-19 pandemic revealed problems and pushed lasting changes in the food chain
The pandemic revealed “mismatches” in the nation’s food chain but also pushed changes that may last long after the pandemic ends.
Written By: Forum News Service | Dec 29th 2020 - 8am.
Lacey Block on April 30, is assisted by her father, Todd Block in a pop-up style beef distribution point in Fargo, N.D. She is in a new Rancher's Rebellion LLC direct-marketing business. (Mikkel Pates / Forum News Service)
FARGO — As the coronavirus pandemic hit the U.S., restaurants and bars closed or were limited to takeout and delivery. Offices closed, keeping workers home and changing normal lunch stops. Schools closed, changing where students ate breakfast and lunch. Millions lost jobs and found themselves with less income to purchase food.
Those changes meant more people in grocery stores and fewer in restaurants. It meant reduced quantities of some items on grocery store shelves and higher prices for others. And it meant big changes for those who raise, process and serve food, as well as those who consume it.
"You see people lining up for donations at food banks. You see empty grocery store shelves. At the same time, you see farmers who are dumping milk, plowing under fields of onions and squash, and most recently reports of having to euthanize hogs" — the result of "mismatches in our food supply chain," said Darci Vetter, former chief agricultural negotiator with the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, during a May 12 webinar on "Global Trade: A Pandemic Primer" hosted by the National Press Foundation.
Those “mismatches” revealed problems in the nation’s food chain but also pushed changes that may last long after the pandemic ends.
Where we eat
Nathaniel Baer holds a “flat” of 30 eggs — two and a half dozen. It costs about $1.25 to produce. A flat brought a wholesale price of about $4 for about 12 days at the height of the marketing bubble but currently is about 30 cents. Mikkel Pates / Forum News Service
The supply chain that gets farm products to end consumers couldn’t change fast enough to account for the disruption when the pandemic hit.
So while grocery stores limited purchases of milk, some dairy farmers were dumping milk bound for foodservice destinations. Milk prices improved later, in part on the strength of cheese, a staple for people cooking at home.
The “shell” egg market saw a brief uptick when people began cooking more at home, but the “breaking” or “liquid” market dried up. As “liquid” eggs were diverted into the shell market, the price of eggs tanked. Producers had to decrease production or move flocks to slaughter faster.
In some places, produce was plowed under as it didn’t pay to harvest it, even as people lined up at food banks. But for some products, demand was high. Kurt Haarmann, senior vice president of Columbia Grain International, based in Portland, Ore., in June said pasta and other “shelf-stable” staples like pulse crops were “flying off the grocery shelves.”
Rural grocery stores became even more important as people tried to stay closer to home. And the grocery industry faced challenges from suppliers. Part of the issue remains that more people are buying groceries, while the other part is that processing plants have contended at times with keeping employees free of the virus.
“Some categories are still constrained. We continue to talk with our suppliers about how to keep our shelves stocked,” said Denise Osterhues, senior director of Corporate Affairs for The Kroger Co., during a session of the Sustainable Agriculture Summit, held virtually in November.
Restaurants, and the people who work in them, still have struggled. According to the National Restaurant Association, most states added restaurant jobs in October but the vast majority still lagged behind pre-pandemic employment levels.
One of the hardest hit areas has been the District of Columbia, which the National Restaurant Association reported remained 31% below pre-pandemic staffing levels in October. North Dakota Farmers Union’s Farmers Restaurant Group owns several restaurants in the D.C. area. Mark Watne, president of North Dakota Farmers Union, said the popular chain is doing about 55% of pre-pandemic business. Maintaining even that amount of business took innovation.
Founding Farmers is one of the Farmers Restaurant Group establishments owned by North Dakota Farmers Union. The restaurants are focusing on delivery and takeout options during the COVID-19 pandemic. Founding Farmers photo
“We did really three things. So one is, we've got the restaurants open with outside dining following the guidelines of the location ... which typically is about a 50% occupancy rate, then we obviously did the curbside pickup and the delivery systems. That's been going fairly well,” he said. “The last thing that we're really focusing on is that we sell groceries from products that come from the same suppliers . . . that supply our restaurants.”
Even with “a really huge week” at Thanksgiving and downsizing staff, Watne said the chain is just breaking even.
The meat issue
Perhaps no segment of the ag and food industries suffered as much as the livestock industry, which faced food chain disruptions and coronavirus outbreaks in packing plants.
By mid-March, prices for livestock plummeted on concerns about demand from restaurants and events, though demand at grocery stores led to empty shelves. A tandem fear that COVID-19 would cause slowdowns or shutdowns at packing plants increased the price for meat.
As the disparity between live cattle prices and meat prices grew, cattle producers called for efforts to address record profits made by packers. The COVID-19 pandemic was the second event in less than a year that called attention to the situation, the first being an August 2019 fire at a packing plant.
Hog producers faced the reality of packing plant slowdowns and closures, which meant they had nowhere to go with market-ready hogs. The Smithfield Foods plant in Sioux Falls, S.D., was an early hotspot for the virus in the U.S. As that plant and others struggled with employee health, pigs had to be euthanized and composted.
The idled Smithfield meat processing plant in Sioux Falls, South Dakota on April 16. (Jeremy Fugleberg/Forum News Service)
MORE FROM THE 2020 PROJECT:
Confronting criticism, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum reflects on pivotal pandemic decisions
Families in 2020: 'What we are able to give, has to be enough'
How the coronavirus pandemic altered the workplace in 2020, possibly for good
Walz stuck to his 'One Minnesota' message during a politically and socially fractured 2020
Packing plants slowly opened back up and returned to work, and by October, Greg Ibach, USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, told the North Dakota Stockmen’s Association convention that packing plant employees had “better protection when they’re at work … than they do when they walk out of the plant.”
To help farmers and ranchers dealing with low prices due to supply chain issues, the government created the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program, which paid out billions of dollars to producers in “CFAP1” and “CFAP2” to compensate for market losses. Also established was a Farmers to Families Food Box program, which was focused on both creating demand for food businesses hit by the pandemic and on providing food for those dealing with food insecurity.
The food supply chain problems had one interesting effect: People looked for local sources of meat and other foods. Small meat processing facilities took on more work. States have looked to help people start or expand processing plants.
In North Dakota, the Department of Health reported that as of Dec. 11, 37 people had obtained retail licenses to sell frozen, prepackaged, USDA or North Dakota inspected meat products to end consumers in the state — up from just 14 at the end of 2019.
An employee of Heart O'Lakes Meats works on meat processing on Friday, April 17, in Pelican Rapids, Minn. Heart O'Lakes has seen a big increase in demand for processing services during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Trevor Peterson / Agweek)
Lacey Block of Lake City, S.D., started her Ranchers Rebellion meat business shortly before the pandemic began, and she drew long lines of consumers looking for meat in May. Though Block continues to fill retail freezers and provide restaurants with beef, the pace is less frenzied now.
After COVID issues were solved for packing plants, many consumers — predictably — returned to the big box stores as prices returned to pre-COVID levels.
By mid-December, the first vaccines to prevent COVID-19 were administered in the U.S. That brought hope that some level of normalcy would return to the world and to food systems.
The livestock industry wants to see changes that will prevent market disparities. Multiple pieces of legislation have been proposed in Congress. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, introduced legislation on a rule that would mandate packers buy at least 50% of their supply on the open market. Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-S.D., has introduced the PRICE Act, which promotes more small packers and creates a cattle contract library to increase transparency. The Department of Justice continues to look into complaints that packers have too much control in the industry.
The restaurant industry expects a strong return to business as virus levels decrease. Watne suspects people will be eager to return to restaurants.
Companies have had to find new ways to serve customers during the pandemic, and some seem likely to stick around. Photo taken Dec. 16, 2020, in Jamestown, N.D. (Jenny Schlecht / Agweek)
And while some things might go back to “normal,” some pandemic changes might stick around. For Farmers Restaurant Group, the pandemic provided a push to try new things. Curbside and delivery options have been popular, as have selling things like chocolate and coffee.
“We've always talked about kind of a retail outlet. We never developed it because we were very fortunate our restaurants are so busy. We didn't have room in our kitchens to do it, but this will come in and this probably put us down the road further as another outlet for our product,” Watne said. “There's going to be a great opportunity. And if you do it right, you're going to be a winner out of this in the long term. You just got to go through the pain for a while.”
Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., sees more permanent flexibility for programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and school lunches, to ensure people grappling with food insecurity can access healthy meals.
On a recent webinar on agri-food resiliency during the Virtual 2020 Minnesota Ag and Food Summit, panelists discussed how quickly they had made adjustments to take care of their customers.
"There's a lot of debate over what we're going to learn from COVID, what's its lasting impact," said Doug Baker, CEO of Ecolab. "Personally, I think, mostly what it will do is accelerate trends that were already in place. Trends around remote capability, trends around digitization of industrial practices."
Hoeven agrees. He sees more possibilities and suspects North Dakota could lead the way with things like unmanned aviation for deliveries.
“Pretty soon you're going to be able to order something and drones are going to deliver it to your doorstep,” he said. “And that's real. That's coming.”
This story is part of a 13-day series that looks at all the ways 2020 has changed us. From now until 2021, expect stories on workplace and education, sports, economics, politics and everything in between.
Agriculture Dec 21st 2020 - 5am
Federal money provided a lifeline for farmers facing 'a trifecta of challenges,' but what does the future hold?
Agriculture Nov 26th 2020 - 5am
Thanksgiving costs are down, but so are the farmers' share
Agriculture Dec 1st 2020 - 5am
Redhead Creamery adds deliveries, apple pies and award-finalist North Fork Whiskey Washed Munster
Business Nov 19th 2020 - 4pm
Tyson Foods suspends employees after lawsuit alleges managers bet on workers catching COVID-19
Agriculture Nov 11th 2020 - 11am
Farm finances stabilized by government relief and good production
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FROM KEITH
WORSHIP @ HOME RESOURCES
MINISTER'S MUSINGS
NOTICE SHEET
JUNIOR CHURCH & CRECHE
KIDS@CHURCH
YMOSES
COMMUNITY DROP IN CAFE
KNIT AND CHAT
TUESDAY HOUSE GROUP
FRIDAY LUNCHES
SUNDAY LUNCHES
MISSION/SERVICE
CHURCH ACTION ON POVERTY
PRISONS WEEK
DEMENTIA FRIENDLY CHURCH
A BRIEF HISTORY IN 4 VIDEOS
A SNAP SHOT
WGCP
Impossible God
Home » Church News » Impossible God
WMC: February 2018
Impossible God, A passion play re-enacting the story of the death and resurrection of Jesus, performed by just one actor, is coming to Wantage. during Holy Week.
Actor, Mark Topping is staging Impossible God at Wantage Methodist Church on Wednesday 28th March at 7:30 pm.
In the drama numerous characters: servants, soldiers and disciples, relive their experience of the death and resurrection of Jesus.
"The drama is a powerful exploration of events at the heart of Christianity," says Mark Topping. "You are taken on an imaginative journey and challenged to look again at Jesus of Nazareth and reflect on what it means."
Tickets are £5 and can be obtained from: 01235 760335 or 07710 214601
Mark Topping is a professional actor. He has toured England, Wales and Ireland for many years performing Impossible God and other one-man plays. He has appeared as John Wesley on BBC TV. Theatre work includes Much Ado About Nothing, Anne Boleyn, Yes Prime Minister, Four Minutes Twelve Seconds, A Chorus of Disapproval, Travesties.
He is the narrator of numerous audiobooks.
The devotional book 'An Impossible God' was written and adapted for the stage by author, actor, broadcaster and Methodist minister, Frank Topping.
WMC: Mon 11 Jan 3:00pm
From the Manse......It was Queen Elizabeth (the Queen mother) who brought to her husband's attention a little know poem by Minnie Louise Haskins, entitled "God knows". Written in 1908 and privately published in 1912, it was part of a collection entitled "The Desert". As a result, King George VI quoted it in his 1939 Christmas broadcast that first December of the...
WMC: Sun 03 Jan 11:48am
For a number of years our Chapel has been open to mark Holocaust Memorial Day. Because of the virus rates our chapel won't be open, but the UK Ceremony for Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) 2021 will be streamed online. This will be the first fully digital commemorative ceremony.The ceremony will feature personal testimonies from survivors of genocide, films, readings and music. We will really...
Worship suspended
K.U.: Thu 31 Dec 10:30am
With the restrictions of Tier 4 now in place, along with the rapid increase in Covid infections, particularly those linked to the new variant, we have taken the decision to suspend worship at church for the time being.Recognising our duty of care, the need to do all that we can to help keep the wider community of Wantage safe and play our part in trying to minimise the spread of the virus, we...
WMC: Wed 16 Dec 4:00pm
The Christmas Story
WMC: Sun 13 Dec 10:00am
Christmas saved?!
WMC: Sun 29 Nov 7:00am
WMC: Wed 21 Oct 2:00pm
WMC: Tue 22 Sep 7:30am
© 2017 - 2021 Wantage Methodist Church
Part of the Wantage and Abingdon Circuit
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Policy, practice and advocacy
Building services that last
Delivering services
Shop Gifts for Life
Bequests/Gifts in Will
Workplace and Payroll Giving
Fundraise for us:
Stories from our work
Global Updates
Life has been tough in Sierra Leone, but the African country is making real progress towards clean water and better health for all.
WaterAid/Anna Kari
Sierra Leone is a small country bursting with potential. Between wealth in natural minerals, a huge harbour and beautiful landscapes of white beaches and rainforests, its young population should be prospering from trade and tourism.
But a decade of civil war devastated Sierra Leone in the 1990s, overturning all progress. When Ebola broke out in 2014, more than ten years after the conflict’s end, less than one in four households had somewhere to wash their hands, and only one in 14 had any soap.
The disease spread rapidly, highlighting just how many people were living – and dying – without clean water, decent toilets or good hygiene. Without all three, people can’t live dignified, healthy lives. With all three, they can free themselves from poverty and change their lives for good.
We began making change happen in Sierra Leone in 2015 as part of our work in Africa. The conditions left by both the conflict and Ebola presented many new challenges. But, thanks to your support, we have already made a difference.
We’re addressing the reasons why some people, especially in the remotest communities, are excluded from services. And we're building up their knowledge and confidence to work together and assert their rights.
The Government has officially recognised people’s right to water, which is a great start. We’re supporting them to fulfil this and allocate the resources needed to reach everyone – and to acknowledge that decent toilets and good hygiene are equally crucial.
We’re also helping to build strong institutions that will provide lasting services, with solid policies, tested programmes and clear plans.
Together, we can ensure Sierra Leone has the foundations to rebuild and return to progress, opening up a future in which everyone can reach their full potential.
More than 6 in 10 people do have clean water.
That's 2.7 million people.
More than 8 in 10 people don't have a decent toilet.
That's almost 5.5 million people.
Over 1,200 children under 5 die a year from diarrhoea.
Caused by dirty water and poor toilets.
A new pump changes everything
We will not suffer as we used to.
Iye Denby, 40 - Nyeama village
Thanks to the hand pump we installed, Iye Denby has seen normal life in her village transformed.
When she and her family returned here after years in exile during the civil war, they had little food or shelter, and only a dirty river for water.
Iye would collect water each evening, and filter it the next morning after the dirt had settled. It still made her family sick, but they had no choice.
Her daughter Ngadie almost died from diarrhoea; her baby son didn’t survive. “Coming from war after all the troubles only to see my child falling sick was another dagger in my heart,” she told us.
Over the years many people, including Iye’s two-year-old granddaughter, died of cholera.
Today though, the clean water from the pump has changed their lives. “Children don’t fall sick as they used to. They have smiley faces.” And Iye herself now stays healthy and energetic, able to farm vegetables, sometimes enough to sell.
This is the kind of change that improves lives for good; the kind of change we're committed to achieving across Sierra Leone.
Ready to make a difference? Just a small gift can help change someone's life.
Get involved, your way
Join an event, fundraise with friends or find your own way to transform lives.
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Safeguarding at WaterAid
Gifts For Life
ABN: 99 700 687 141. All donations of $2 and over are tax deductible.
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Bank of Montreal ATM hacked with weak password
After finding an operator manual online, two Winnipeg teens stumbled onto a case of unforgivably poor security operations by a bank.
By Larry Seltzer for Zero Day | June 10, 2014 -- 10:55 GMT (03:55 PDT) | Topic: Security
A story in the Winnipeg Sun describes how two local teenagers put a Bank of Montreal ATM into operator mode using an easily-guessed password.
Several things stand out about this story, and none of them have to do with hacking prowess. Matthew Hewlett and Caleb Turon of the 9th grade found an operator manual online for an ATM at a local supermarket. On lunch period they went to the ATM to try to put it into operator mode, not expecting it to work. It did.
CNET: For Grads & Dads
Grads Tech Gift Guide: Before sending them out into the cold, cruel world...
Gadget Gifts for Dad: Get the old guy what he wants - toys
Even worse: "Hewlett and Turon were even more shocked when their first random guess at the six-digit password worked. They used a common default password." "123456"? It's unclear, and for obvious reasons the story doesn't go further.
No, all the boys did was read a manual. What's remarkable and impressive about them is that they immediately did the right thing: They went to the nearest Bank of Montreal branch and reported it. After being blown off by the staff, they went back and obtained proof by changing the ATM surcharge amount to one cent and the greeting from "Welcome to the BMO ATM" to "Go away. This ATM has been hacked."
They then printed out several documents on it and brought them back to the bank. This time the bank took them seriously. There is no indication in the story that they were or were not able to dispense cash from the ATM.
Sadly, choosing a common passcode, even for an ATM, is not remarkable. Default and weak passwords are still a very common means of attack. I would argue that allowing an ATM to have only a six-digit passcode for operator mode is also unacceptable. Modern ATM software allows for, and by policy should require, two-factor authentication. There's no excuse for authentication this weak other than laziness.
Banking Security TV Data Management CXO Data Centers
More from Larry Seltzer
Stop the Obama administration from surrendering authority over the Internet
Bank of America app for Windows 10 Mobile coming this summer
Is paying for antivirus a waste of money?
Apple's scariest bug this week: Your device pwned over Wi-Fi
DuckDuckGo surpasses 100 million daily search queries for the first time
DuckDuckGo reaches historic milestone in a week when both Signal and Telegram saw a huge influx of new users.
Iconic BugTraq security mailing list shuts down after 27 years
BugTraq launched in November 1993 and it was one of the first mailing lists dedicated to disclosing vulnerabilities.
Joker's Stash, the internet's largest carding forum, is shutting down
Joker's Stash to shut down on February 15, 2021.
Linux Mint fixes screensaver bypass discovered by two kids
Two children playing on their dad's computer accidentally found a way to bypass the screensaver and access locked systems.
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GSTR-1 filing deadline extended till September 10
Shikha Mehta
New Delhi, Sep 5: The government has extended the deadline for filing the GST sales return, GSTR-1 till September 10 which was to expire on September 5, according to an official announcement.
“GIC (GST Implementation Committee) decides to extend the date of GSTR 1, GSTR 2 and GSTR 3 for the month of July to 10th, 25th and 30th September 2017, respectively,” the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) said.
While GSTR-1 is the sales return and GSTR-2 is the purchase return, GSTR-3 is the match of GSTR-1 and GSTR-2.
Goods and Services Tax (GST) assessees had complained of not being able to log on to the GSTN portal due to the heavy rush for filing GSTR-1 and in the afternoon the GSTN portal having crashed due to heavy load.
Last month, the government announced a five-day extension for filing the initial GSTR-3B return till August 25, after the GST Network (GSTN) return filing portal was hit by a technical glitch and stopped functioning, a day ahead of the last date for filing. Traders across the country faced problems on a penultimate day due to the technical snag and could not file GST returns.
GSTR-3B form, which is a summary return of details of outward supplies, inward supplies, credit and payment of GST, last date for filing was August 20.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said that Rs 92,283 crore of tax had come in by August 29 with 38.38 lakh assessees, or only 64 per cent of those registered, having filed their GST returns. The total number of those registered under GST who should be filing returns is 59.57 lakh.
Related Topics:FinancegstGST returnPM ModiTax
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Microsoft founder and philanthropist Bill Gates owns the largest chunk of private farmland in the US across 18 states, a new report has revealed.
San Francisco: Bill and Melinda Gates amassed 242,000 acres of land in the US, with the largest holdings in Louisiana (69,071 acres), Arkansas (47,927 acres) and Nebraska (20,588 acres), according to The Land report.
Bill Gates also owns a stake in more than 24,800 acres of transitional land outside of Phoenix.
Research indicated that the lands across the US is held by Cascade Investment LLC, Gates’ private investment vehicle.
“Gates also backs online used-car seller Vroom through Cascade as well as the Canadian National Railway Company,” Geek Wire reported.
According to the Tri-City Herald, a 14,500-acre swath of choice Eastern Washington farmland in the Horse Heaven Hills in Benton County has just traded hands for almost $171 million – part of Gates’ holdings.
It is unclear why Gates has invested so heavily in farmland, but it could be connected to climate change.
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation launched a new nonprofit group a year ago, focused on helping small-scale farmers in developing countries with the tools and innovations they’ll need to deal with the effects of climate change.
Bill Gates is currently at the third spot on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index with a net worth of $132 billion.
But even with his big new agricultural holdings, Gates still doesn’t rank in the Top 100 private landowners overall in the US, considering owners of land of all types.
The list is topped by Liberty Media’s John Malone, with 2.2 million acres of ranches and forests. Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos makes that list at No. 25 with 420,000 acres.
The rise in net interest income was driven by advance growth of 15.6 per cent and a core net interest margin for the quarter of 4.2 per cent.
Mumbai, Jan 16 : Lending major HDFC Bank on Saturday reported an 18.1 per cent increase in standalone net profit for the quarter ended December 31 of FY21 on a year-on-year basis.
The bank’s net profit for the third quarter of FY21 rose to Rs 8,758.3 crore on a YoY basis.
“After providing Rs 3,013.6 crore for taxation, the bank earned a net profit of Rs 8,758.3 crore, an increase of 18.1 per cent over the quarter ended December 31, 2019,” the bank said in a statement.
The bank’s net revenues (net interest income plus other income) grew to Rs 23,760.8 crore during the period under review from Rs 20,842.2 crore for the quarter ended December 31, 2019.
Besides, net interest income (interest earned less interest expended) for the quarter ended December 31, 2020 grew by 15.1 per cent to Rs 16,317.6 crore from Rs 14,172.9 crore during the corresponding period of the previous fiscal.
“The bank’s persistent focus on deposits helped in the maintenance of a healthy liquidity coverage ratio at 146 per cent, well above the regulatory requirement.”
Furthermore, the bank made provision and contingencies worth Rs 3,414.1 crore as against Rs 3,043.6 crore during the quarter ended December 31, 2019.
“Total provisions for the current quarter include contingent provisions of nearly Rs 2,400 crore for proforma NPA as described in the asset quality section.”
The RBI Governor’s statement gains significance as the Indian stock market has surged amid the pandemic and scaled new highs in the past one month, raising concerns of stretched valuations.
New Delhi, Jan 16 : Reserve Bank Governor Shaktikanta Das on Saturday said that the central bank remains committed to take any further necessary measures to support the economy.
Delivering the Nani Palkhivala Memorial Lecture on Saturday, Das said that RBI’s principal objective during the pandemic was to support economic activity and the policies have helped in easing the severity of the economic impact of the pandemic.
“I would like to unambiguously reiterate that the Reserve Bank remains steadfast to take any further measures, as may be necessary, while at the same time remaining fully committed to maintaining financial stability,” he said.
RBI’s approach to the Covid situation included measures such as loan moratoriums, easing of working capital financing and deferment of interest restructuring among others.
Speaking of the recent bull run in the financial markets, the RBI Governor said that domestic financial markets must remain prepared for sudden decline going ahead in case risk aversion takes hold among investors globally.
“While abundant capital inflows have been largely driven by accommodative global liquidity conditions and India’s optimistic medium-term growth outlook, domestic financial markets must remain prepared for sudden stops and reversals, should the global risk aversion factors take hold,” he said.
This is the second time in a week that Das has raised concerns regarding the bullish trend in stock market.
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Alana Webster BTM
Administrator, New Zealand Programmes
Home > About Us > Our Team > Alana Webster
Email Alana Webster
Alana Webster is one of three administrators who help the New Zealand Programmes Manager to deliver English language training to the Asian and African government officials who come to New Zealand each year for the programme.
Alana—who holds a Bachelor of Tourism Management from Victoria University of Wellington—is responsible for the administrative tasks involved in hosting up to 200 international participants annually. With her background in tourism, Alana has a particular focus on organising the extensive travel and accommodation arrangements required for participants.
After finishing University, Alana developed her customer service skills working at Walt Disney World in Florida for a year, and as a Duty Manager in a Wellington hotel. An active member of the University’s social club, Alana is also a former competitive roller-skater who has won Gold at SkateNZ’s national championships.
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Corporate Introduction
Case Studies & Doctors Talk
Case Study: For Yemen girl with crippling illness, half a brain is better than a full one
By Health Team
Three years after severe seizures were brought on by a rare neurological disease, Rasmussen’s Encephalitis, Hamed is now making a remarkable recovery — following a drastic six-hour surgery at Fortis Hospital on April 14, wherein the right side of her brain was “disconnected”.
From war-torn Lahij in Yemen to New Delhi, 14-year-old Fatima Hamed has come a long way. But the distance is nothing compared to the medical journey she has covered — from being bedridden due to seizures every few minutes to climbing down a flight of stairs without help. Three years after severe seizures were brought on by a rare neurological disease, Rasmussen’s Encephalitis, Hamed is now making a remarkable recovery — following a drastic six-hour surgery at Fortis Hospital on April 14, wherein the right side of her brain was “disconnected”.
“The right side of her brain was impacted, so we conducted a functional Hemispherectomy, in which only some portions of the right side were removed and the rest of it was disconnected. Chances of seizures ending were 80 per cent but we didn’t think she would be able to walk. Five days after the surgery, when she walked, we were surprised,” said Dr Anurag Gupta, consultant neurosurgeon at Fortis Hospital’s Vasant Kunj, who operated on Hamed along with Dr Rana Patir, head of neurosurgery at the hospital. The surgery took place in Fortis Gurgaon. Gupta said the rare surgery has been performed only a few times at AIIMS.
A little more than a month later, Hamed and her mother Ebtsam Othman (39) sat inside a studio apartment in Saket — a wheelchair now rendered useless in a corner. Their Delhi-based relative Ahmed has been playing translator for them. “Since I couldn’t talk properly or at length due to the seizures, the first thing I did after recovering was call up my brothers in Lahij and tell them about the doctors and Delhi. I also went to Select CityWalk mall… I’m taking a sari and a suit back home,” said Hamed, showing a red and black Anarkali lying on her bed.
Gupta recalled his first meeting with Hamed when, in a span of five minutes, she had at least five seizures. Dr Abhilekh Srivastava, an associate consultant, neurology at Fortis Vasant Kunj, said, “She was incapacitated when we first began her treatment, under the head of neurology Dr Madhuri Behari. We tried five drugs and she didn’t respond. The right side of the brain had shrunk because of which her left side was weak… then we looked at her scans, read some literature, and told the family it was Rasmusssen’s Encephalitis, which responds well only to surgery.”
Her mother’s relief is palpable. “Fatima was in Class VIII when she had to leave school. We got her operated in Yemen. For a month, she was fine, and then the seizures began again — sometimes two in a minute.” With money scarce, the last three years have been hard. Othman said “relatives and strangers from Yemen and Saudi Arabia pooled in to raise close to Rs 2 lakh to fund the surgery”. In a month, the two will return home. Tapping her left hand to signal the weakness, she added, “Only this is not working… hopefully it will, too, soon.”
Article Source: https://www.google.com/amp/s/indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/delhi-for-yemen-girl-with-crippling-illness-half-a-brain-is-better-than-a-full-one-5188967/lite/
Case Study: Artemis doctors successfully re-stitch 3 fingers of a Korean expat
Case Study: Doctors reconstruct artificial bladder of 17-yr-old before kidney transplant
Case Study: Mr. Francis Mvimanzi from Tanzania was diagnosed with Aplastic anaemia, a life threatening bone marrow disorder could not be cured in their home country, flew to India Underwent successful Anti-Thymocyte Globulin (ATG) treatment at Max hospital New Delhi
Case Study: Mr. Philips Ebenezer from Nigeria required a primary Total hip replacement surgery Underwent successful treatment at Fortis hospital Delhi
Case Study: 2-year-old girl Baby Larin’s from Syria was diagnosed with a High-Risk Neuroblastoma (Type of Cancer) could not be cured in their home country so Larin & her parents flew to India, to seek treatment Underwent successful Autologous BMT procedure at Manipal hospital Jaipur
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Rio Tinto adopts global paid parental leave standard
Home Insight Insight
Global paid parental leave is standard at Rio Tinto
Rio Tinto has a global minimum standard for paid parental leave for all employees. The standard provides 18 weeks of paid parental leave at full pay following the birth or adoption of a child. To allow new parents maximum flexibility, 18 weeks’ leave will be granted to an employee designated as the child’s primary caregiver - it is not gender specific. Employees who elect to be the secondary caregiver will receive one week paid leave in the first year following birth or adoption. Employees taking paid parental leave can focus on family duties knowing their job will be protected while they’re away. The global standard was announced at an employee town-hall at Rio Tinto’s Kennecott integrated mine and smelter operations outside Salt Lake City, Utah.
Focusing on the wellbeing of our people
Rio Tinto chief executive J-S Jacques said “This new approach reflects our values as a company, particularly our focus on the wellbeing of our people and improving the diversity of our workforce. To attract and retain the best people we need to provide a work environment that supports all families and offers new parents flexibility regarding early childcare choices. In many countries, such as the United States, this is a significant improvement over legal requirements and practices of multinational peers.”
Fabulous support for working parents
Rio Tinto’s paid parental leave minimum standard will be phased in for employees across the globe in accordance with relevant laws and regulations. The new minimum standard is available to both full time employees and qualified employees on fixed-term contracts and applies to employees who have a child through birth or adoption. It's gender-neutral and is available to all families, irrespective of relationship status. It provides one week of paid leave to secondary care givers in the first year following birth or adoption. Individuals who give birth but choose to be the secondary care giver will receive paid medical leave under their relevant benefit plans. Employees taking paid parental leave can focus on family duties knowing their job will be protected while they’re away Is a global minimum standard. There will be no reduction in benefits in countries where current paid parental leave benefits meet or exceed the minimum standard.
Join the many impressive women at Rio Tinto
A very progressive employer indeed! Consider their wide range of exciting careers on offer and apply today!
Tweets by @wherewomenwork
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The Patriot By Nigel Tranter
by Nigel Tranter
The fascinating 17th century tale of Scottish hero, Andrew Fletcher, laird of Saltoun and his thirty-year campaign against the Act of Union with England.
The Patriot Summary
In 1678, Scotland liesunder the dark threat of union with England.
In an era of intrigue and bloodshed, Andrew Fletcher, laird of Saltoun, stands out as a man of ideals and integrity. His fearless and dogged opposition to the Treaty becomes a thirty-year campaign fought in Europe as well as his native Scotland. His eventual defeat is the defeat of a hero and of a cause so dear to his people that his name is glorified in Scottish history.
'Through his imaginative dialogue, he provides a voice for Scotland's heroes' Scotland on Sunday
Customer Reviews - The Patriot
The Patriot Reviews
He has an amazingly broad grip of Scottish history * Daily Telegraph *
One of Scotland's most prolific and respected writers * The Times *
An accomplished writer of compelling and unforgettable historical novels * She magazine *
Through his imaginative dialogue, he provides a voice for Scotland's heroes * Scotland on Sunday *
Tranter's popularity lies in his knack of making historical events immediate and exciting * Historical Novels Review *
An informative, entertaining read * Daily Examiner *
He treats history with respect * Financial Times *
About Nigel Tranter
One of Scotland`s best-loved authors, Nigel Tranter wrote over ninety novels on Scottish history. He died at the age of ninety on 9 January 2000.
1 chapter chapter 2 kjasdfhkjhsda
Nigel Tranter
Hodder & Stoughton General Division
This is a used book. We do our best to provide good quality books for you to read, but there is no escaping the fact that it has been owned and read by someone else previously. Therefore it will show signs of wear and may be an ex library book.
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Pelosi narrowly reelected as House speaker, faces difficult 2021
Updated: 5:22 AM CST Jan 4, 2021
By ALAN FRAM, Associated Press
Jacquelyn Martin / AP Photo
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of Calif., speaks about the late Rep.-elect Luke Letlow, R-La., during a news conference Wednesday Dec. 30, 2020, on Capitol Hill in Washington. Letlow died Tuesday after battling COVID-19.
SOURCE: Jacquelyn Martin / AP Photo
Nancy Pelosi was narrowly reelected Sunday as speaker, giving her the reins of Democrats' slender House majority as President-elect Joe Biden sets a challenging course of producing legislation to tackle the pandemic, revive the economy and address other party priorities.The California Democrat, who has led her party in the House since 2003 and is the only woman to be speaker, had been widely expected to retain her post. Pelosi received 216 votes to 209 for Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., who again will be the chamber's minority leader.To gain her victory, Pelosi had to overcome some Democratic grumbling about her longevity, a slim 222-211 edge over Republicans after November's elections, and a handful of absences because of the coronavirus. There were two vacancies in the 435-member House, and whatever happens Democrats will have the smallest House majority in two decades.The new Congress convened Sunday, just two days after lawmakers ended their contentious previous session and with COVID-19 guidelines requiring testing and face coverings for House members. There was widespread mask-wearing and far fewer lawmakers and guests in the chamber than usual, an unimaginable tableau when the last Congress commenced two years ago, before the pandemic struck. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., formally nominated Pelosi for the job, calling her "a notorious negotiator and a legendary legislator for such a time as this." Jeffries, a member of House leadership who's expected to contend for the speakership whenever Pelosi steps aside, said that as Pelosi prepares to work with Democratic President-elect Joe Biden, "Brighter days are ahead in the United States of America. This is the day of great renewal in the House of Representatives."To be reelected, Pelosi needed a majority of votes cast for specific candidates and could afford to lose only a handful of Democratic votes. House rules give her a bit of wiggle room because lawmakers who are absent or who vote "present" are not counted in the total number of those voting. Sunday's vote was expected to last perhaps three hours as lawmakers voted in groups of around 72 each to minimize exposure to the virus. With every vote at a premium, workers had constructed an enclosure in a balcony overlooking the House chamber so lawmakers exposed to or testing positive for the coronavirus could more safely vote. Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Ohio, voted from there. Two Democrats who tested positive for the virus last month and say they have recovered voted for Pelosi from the House floor: Wisconsin Rep. Gwen Moore and Washington state Rep. Rick Larsen. In a positive sign for Pelosi, newly elected progressive Rep. Jamaal Bowman, D-N.Y., voted for her. "Our country needs stability right now, and it's really important for the Democratic Party to come together," Bowman told a reporter. Pelosi won plaudits from many Democrats for two years of leading their opposition to President Donald Trump, largely keeping her party's moderates and progressives united on their joint goal of defeating him and raising mountains of campaign funds. No Democrat has stepped forward to challenge her, underscoring the perception that she would be all but impossible to topple.But Pelosi is 80 years old, and ambitious younger members continue chafing at the longtime hold she and other older top leaders have had on their jobs. Democrats were also angry and divided after an Election Day that many expected would to mean added House seats for the party but instead saw a dozen incumbents lose, without defeating a single GOP representative. Pelosi recently suggested anew that these would be her final two years as speaker, referencing a statement she made two years ago in which she said she would step aside after this period.The speaker's election was coming 17 days before Biden is inaugurated. Yet rather than a fresh start for him and Pelosi, there were issues and undercurrents that will be carrying over from Trump's tempestuous administration.Though Congress enacted — and Trump finally signed — a $900 billion COVID-19 relief package late last month, Biden and many Democrats say they consider that measure a down payment. They say more aid is needed to bolster efforts to vaccinate the public, curb the virus and restore jobs and businesses lost to the pandemic.Many Democrats, with the unlikely support of Trump, wanted to boost that bill's $600 per person direct payments to $2,000 but were blocked by Republicans. Democrats want additional money to help state and local governments struggling to maintain services and avoid layoffs. Biden's priorities also include efforts on health care and the environment. Guiding such legislation through the House will be a challenge for Pelosi because her party's narrow majority means just a handful of defectors could be fatal. In addition, cooperation with Republicans could be made more difficult as many in the GOP are continuing to demonstrate fealty to the divisive Trump, backing his unfounded claims that his reelection loss was tainted by fraud. Congress will meet Wednesday to officially affirm Biden's clear Electoral College victory over Trump. Many House and Senate Republicans say they will contest the validity of some of those votes, but their efforts that are certain to fail.There was no widespread fraud in the election, which a range of election officials across the country, as well as Trump's former attorney general, William Barr, have confirmed. Republican governors in Arizona and Georgia, key battleground states crucial to Biden's victory, have also vouched for the integrity of the elections in their states. Nearly all the legal challenges from Trump and his allies have been dismissed by judges, including two tossed by the Supreme Court, which includes three Trump-nominated justices.Meanwhile, it's not clear which party will control the Senate, which Republicans will hold unless Democrats win both Senate runoff elections in Georgia on Tuesday.In the House, one race in New York is still being decided and there is a vacancy in Louisiana after GOP Rep.-elect Luke Letlow, 41, died after contracting COVID-19.
Nancy Pelosi was narrowly reelected Sunday as speaker, giving her the reins of Democrats' slender House majority as President-elect Joe Biden sets a challenging course of producing legislation to tackle the pandemic, revive the economy and address other party priorities.
The California Democrat, who has led her party in the House since 2003 and is the only woman to be speaker, had been widely expected to retain her post. Pelosi received 216 votes to 209 for Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., who again will be the chamber's minority leader.
To gain her victory, Pelosi had to overcome some Democratic grumbling about her longevity, a slim 222-211 edge over Republicans after November's elections, and a handful of absences because of the coronavirus. There were two vacancies in the 435-member House, and whatever happens Democrats will have the smallest House majority in two decades.
The new Congress convened Sunday, just two days after lawmakers ended their contentious previous session and with COVID-19 guidelines requiring testing and face coverings for House members. There was widespread mask-wearing and far fewer lawmakers and guests in the chamber than usual, an unimaginable tableau when the last Congress commenced two years ago, before the pandemic struck.
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., formally nominated Pelosi for the job, calling her "a notorious negotiator and a legendary legislator for such a time as this."
Jeffries, a member of House leadership who's expected to contend for the speakership whenever Pelosi steps aside, said that as Pelosi prepares to work with Democratic President-elect Joe Biden, "Brighter days are ahead in the United States of America. This is the day of great renewal in the House of Representatives."
Congress opens new session as COVID-19, Biden's win dominate
To be reelected, Pelosi needed a majority of votes cast for specific candidates and could afford to lose only a handful of Democratic votes. House rules give her a bit of wiggle room because lawmakers who are absent or who vote "present" are not counted in the total number of those voting.
Sunday's vote was expected to last perhaps three hours as lawmakers voted in groups of around 72 each to minimize exposure to the virus.
With every vote at a premium, workers had constructed an enclosure in a balcony overlooking the House chamber so lawmakers exposed to or testing positive for the coronavirus could more safely vote. Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Ohio, voted from there.
Two Democrats who tested positive for the virus last month and say they have recovered voted for Pelosi from the House floor: Wisconsin Rep. Gwen Moore and Washington state Rep. Rick Larsen.
In a positive sign for Pelosi, newly elected progressive Rep. Jamaal Bowman, D-N.Y., voted for her. "Our country needs stability right now, and it's really important for the Democratic Party to come together," Bowman told a reporter.
Pelosi won plaudits from many Democrats for two years of leading their opposition to President Donald Trump, largely keeping her party's moderates and progressives united on their joint goal of defeating him and raising mountains of campaign funds. No Democrat has stepped forward to challenge her, underscoring the perception that she would be all but impossible to topple.
Nancy Pelosi, Mitch McConnell receive COVID-19 vaccine by Capitol attending physician
But Pelosi is 80 years old, and ambitious younger members continue chafing at the longtime hold she and other older top leaders have had on their jobs. Democrats were also angry and divided after an Election Day that many expected would to mean added House seats for the party but instead saw a dozen incumbents lose, without defeating a single GOP representative.
Pelosi recently suggested anew that these would be her final two years as speaker, referencing a statement she made two years ago in which she said she would step aside after this period.
The speaker's election was coming 17 days before Biden is inaugurated. Yet rather than a fresh start for him and Pelosi, there were issues and undercurrents that will be carrying over from Trump's tempestuous administration.
Though Congress enacted — and Trump finally signed — a $900 billion COVID-19 relief package late last month, Biden and many Democrats say they consider that measure a down payment. They say more aid is needed to bolster efforts to vaccinate the public, curb the virus and restore jobs and businesses lost to the pandemic.
House Democrats back Pelosi for speaker in next Congress
Many Democrats, with the unlikely support of Trump, wanted to boost that bill's $600 per person direct payments to $2,000 but were blocked by Republicans. Democrats want additional money to help state and local governments struggling to maintain services and avoid layoffs.
Biden's priorities also include efforts on health care and the environment.
Guiding such legislation through the House will be a challenge for Pelosi because her party's narrow majority means just a handful of defectors could be fatal.
In addition, cooperation with Republicans could be made more difficult as many in the GOP are continuing to demonstrate fealty to the divisive Trump, backing his unfounded claims that his reelection loss was tainted by fraud. Congress will meet Wednesday to officially affirm Biden's clear Electoral College victory over Trump. Many House and Senate Republicans say they will contest the validity of some of those votes, but their efforts that are certain to fail.
There was no widespread fraud in the election, which a range of election officials across the country, as well as Trump's former attorney general, William Barr, have confirmed. Republican governors in Arizona and Georgia, key battleground states crucial to Biden's victory, have also vouched for the integrity of the elections in their states. Nearly all the legal challenges from Trump and his allies have been dismissed by judges, including two tossed by the Supreme Court, which includes three Trump-nominated justices.
Meanwhile, it's not clear which party will control the Senate, which Republicans will hold unless Democrats win both Senate runoff elections in Georgia on Tuesday.
In the House, one race in New York is still being decided and there is a vacancy in Louisiana after GOP Rep.-elect Luke Letlow, 41, died after contracting COVID-19.
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Voter ID bill needs to go away for good
May 7, 2013 by Kerry Drake 5 Comments
A state senator who sponsored a bill earlier this year requiring voters to present photo identification at the polls in order to cast a ballot thinks Wyoming voter requirements are “ridiculously low.”
“I’ve been told all you need to do to vote in Wyoming is to show a motel receipt and say you intend to move here,” Sen. Ogden Driskill (R-Devils Tower) told me in a phone interview Saturday.
Kerry Drake
That would be absolutely outrageous, of course, if it were true. But it’s not. I don’t know where the senator is getting his information, but it’s clearly not the Secretary of State’s office or any county clerk I’ve ever known.
In fact, Wyoming residents are already required to do what Driskill wants — present a valid Wyoming driver’s license — when they register to vote. If they don’t have a driver’s license, which many people don’t possess for a variety of reasons, they must provide the last four digits of their Social Security number. The only major difference between the bill Driskill proposed and the current law is that since residents already present identification to register, they don’t have to show it again at the polls.
This drives completely crazy those who see conspiracy everywhere. That mania is largely driven by right-wing emails that proliferate at election time alleging rampant voter fraud throughout all but a handful of states that require photo ID. What about the Ohio woman who voted six times for Obama for president? they ask. Or, the people who managed to vote for him even though they actually died years ago?
Every legitimate investigation after recent presidential elections has concluded that claims of massive voter fraud in major metropolitan areas are categorically false. These wild urban legends, though, are used to freak out people in sparsely populated states like Wyoming, and often convince state lawmakers like Driskill that if they don’t do something to tighten the regulations, we too will be besieged by criminals intent on stealing elections.
Investigating charges that incredible instances of voter fraud were committed in the 2012 presidential battleground states of Ohio, Florida, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Virginia, the website Snopes.com concluded that all were patently false. A nationwide analysis of more than 2,000 cases of alleged election fraud done by News21, a Carnegie-Knight investigative journalism project, found in-person voter impersonation on Election Day was virtually nonexistent. The analysis of 2,068 reported fraud cases disclosed 10 cases of alleged in-person voter impersonation between 2000 and 2012. That represents about one for every 15 million prospective voters.
Take, for example, a widely distributed claim was that Barack Obama lost in all of the states where voter ID must be shown at the polls, and won in all states that did not require photo ID. This accusation clearly implies that this form of verification would have kept him from winning those four states – in other words, this line of argument would have you believe, he must have won those states by fraud.
It’s true that states with strict photo ID laws were carried by Republican Mitt Romney, but there were only four of them: Georgia, Indiana, Kansas and Tennessee. In reality, Obama lost in 20 other states — including Wyoming — that did not require photo ID at the polls. The results of the 2012 election reflected very well the politics of all the states involved, right down to individual districts in the battleground. They did not reflect fraud.
Driskill ultimately pulled his voter ID bill when it became clear that it wouldn’t make it out of the Senate Elections, Corporations and Political Subdivisions Committee as written. The measure was strongly opposed by the Wyoming League of Women Voters, which argued that it would effectively disenfranchise segments of the population that do not use a government-issued photo ID in their daily lives, including the elderly, the disabled and low-income people.
Driskill told me he withdrew his bill because several county clerks expressed concern that it wouldn’t fully solve all of their voter problems. The senator said some of these county officials told him and other lawmakers about cases of voter fraud in the 2012 general election in Wyoming, but admitted that none of these claims has been substantiated.
Last summer, prior to the last election, Wyoming’s elections chief in the Secretary of State’s office, Peggy Nighswonger, said she could only recall two cases of attempted voter fraud during her 16 years on the job. Both of those individuals were tried and convicted.
Nighswonger added that in the event an election official questions a Wyoming voter’s eligibility, the person is given a provisional ballot. The county canvassing board then determines whether that person’s ballot can ultimately be counted.
Still, despite offering no evidence that Wyoming has a voter fraud problem, Driskill managed to get the voter ID issue approved as an interim committee topic for the Elections Committee, which will discuss it at 1:30 p.m. on May 28 at its meeting in Lander.
To be fair, Driskill also pointed out to me that after talking to county clerks, he is concerned there is a problem with people voting in the wrong districts. This could be either accidental or intentional, but the senator is right when he says that if true, the situation could impact the results in some close elections, potentially leading to an official being elected due to illegally cast votes.
But while the committee should address this issue, it’s a separate one from voter identification.There certainly doesn’t need to be a de facto poll tax enacted on some of the most vulnerable members of the electorate to make sure that people are voting in the right district.
At its recent state convention in Casper, the League of Women Voters adopted a resolution opposing any attempts to require either a photo ID or a birth certificate to be shown at the polls. The organization noted that numerous studies “have unequivocally demonstrated that voter impersonation fraud is exceedingly rare, and that legislation enacted to counter perceived fraud is an expensive solution in search of a problem.”
It is indeed. Hopefully, the interim committee will be convinced after hearing from all of the parties that Wyoming doesn’t need a voter ID law — not even to keep all those pesky motel guests from deciding our elections.
— Veteran Wyoming journalist Kerry Drake is the editor-in-chief of The Casper Citizen, a nonprofit, online community newspaper. It can be viewed at www.caspercitizen.com.
Columns are the signed perspective of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of WyoFile’s staff, board of directors or its supporters. WyoFile welcomes guest columns and op-ed pieces from all points of view. If you’d like to write a guest column for WyoFile, please contact Guy Padgett at [email protected] or Dustin Bleizeffer at [email protected]
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Filed Under: Drake's Take, The Drake's Take
About Kerry Drake
Veteran Wyoming journalist Kerry Drake has covered Wyoming for more than four decades, previously as a reporter and editor for the Wyoming Tribune-Eagle and Casper Star-Tribune. He lives in Cheyenne and can be reached at [email protected]
gwarnock says
As usual Mr. Drake, an excellent article!
My question to the “Voter Fraud Is Rampant” crowd is, Why?
Why would anyone try it, only to chance getting caught and spend time in prison to skew the vote by 1 or 2 and likely not even bump the results? Mr Rosenthal sites Indiana, yet conveniently omits Florida in 2000 where legal voters were disenfranchised allowing the Supreme Court of the United States to elect George Walker Bush President, and the same fraud perpetrated in Ohio in 2004?
The bottom line is those ignorant enough to try, get caught and convicted,,,
unless it is the President!
http://www.gregpalast.com/one-million-black-votes-didnt-count-in-the-2000-presidential-election-rnits-not-too-hard-to-get-your-vote-lost-if-some-politicians-want-it-to-be-lost/
http://www.gregpalast.com/kerry-won-ohio-rn-just-count-the-ballots-at-the-back-of-the-bus/
Michael Rowley says
A little research shows that voter fraud has occurred and been prosecuted in several states. Fraud pervades not only Presidential elections, but all the way to local school board elections. http://mountvernon.dailyvoice.com/schools/report-mount-vernon-group-says-voting-fraud-has-riddled-school-elections
Obviously you have not researched Snopes either. The people who run it are radical left-wing biased individuals who use their site to purposely skew fact, a look at any news organization website and searching for election or voter fraud will show prosecutions taking place… including Wyoming:
http://dailyranger.com/story.php?story_id=6909&headline=Digest
great article! provided information I was not aware of, thanks!
Reid Lance Rosenthal says
Taking the position that there is no voter fraud does not run rampant(see story on Indiana just this past week, or prosecutions/convictions over past two months in four states–see al franken election by 365 votes, later determined to include more than 900 illegal votes by convicted felons in prison) is akin to asserting that Islamic Jihad does not exist.
According to your article one needs an ID to register. But nothing can go wrong after that? Wrong location, multiple ballots, shill voting on someone else’s registration? You need a photo ID to check into a motel, buy a pack of cigarettes, grab some booze, go through an airport, and etc. But not to vote, eh?
And what about those eleven million illegal aliens? Not a problem in your progressive mind, I bet.
Your piece is written and argues falsely in the best tradition of Alynski–can’t win an election, steal it–and at the same time undermine confidence in this fundamental amino acid of a representative republic.
Brodie Farquhar says
Voter ID has always been a “solution” in search of a non-existent “problem.” In the entire country, cases of individuals voting in a wrong district, or more than once, are teeny-tiny, out to many decimal points, compared to overall voting. They’re also easily caught, using existing law and common sense.
The real threat is the security of digital voting machines, which can easily be hacked and voting totals manipulated. Google it and you’ll be horrified by how easily academics and their graduate students have demonstrated how easy the machines are to hack. But there are zero proposed bills by Republicans, anywhere in the country, about this issue. Wonder why?
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