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Team:TecMonterrey GDA/Engagement
TecMonterrey_GDA
Youth Biotech
Mathematical Model
Environmental track
Applied design
Lab Book
Gold integrated
Atributions
Education & Public Engagement
The history of our team is quite interesting. We didn't start with iGEM, but at the United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP13-MOP8-MOP2). On december 2016, we had the opportunity to attend this event as youth delegates of the Public Research and Regulation Initiative (PRRI), which, in collaboration with the ISAAA delegation, decided to take an international group of young science students to introduce us to how biotechnology and synthetic biology regulations take place. We sure learned a lot about biodiversity, as well as The Cartagena and Nagoya protocols and their implementation in our countries. However, reality kicked in and turns out that despite all the advantages we can get from this tool, there is a widespread negative perspective on synthetic biology, mainly from activist groups but also from country representatives. Sadly, the problem didn't end there: there was also a big lack of participation from the scientific community and the young people regarding the regulation processes that were taking place. We sat at the real United Nations negotiations and even witnessed the proposal of a moratorium to Synthetic Biology!!!
Considering this situation a problem, with possible negative consequences for the development of emerging technologies, something had to be done. We came back to our homes, inspired, conscious of the importance of effective science communication, and with the conviction to do something to make a change. It was then when we decided to create Youth Biotech, an international association that focuses on science communication, science regulation and science development. Today it's got members from more that 15 different countries who look forward to take the movement to their respective countries. Under the science development track we founded the PHAgave project and we have been carrying out our public engagement activities through this platform since then.
To take science out of the lab and make an impact in our community, we’ve been focusing on hosting and participating in activities and events that share and explain the real implications of the emerging technologies, especially synthetic biology, as well as the importance on developing critical thinking.
UN Biodiversity Conference
During the COP13, we had the opportunity to talk to delegates, learn from their perspectives, the positions of their countries and share with them what we knew about Synthetic Biology and the advantages of the implementation of these technologies. We even got to share our concerns with Mexico’s Environment Minister.
The Public Research and Regulation Initiative (PRRI) delegation hosted a side event, in which some of the PHAgave team instructors and advisors explained their previous iGEM projects. We also got the chance to share our thoughts in an article written by one of the team members. It was reviewed by Dr Mahaletchumy Arujanan, major science communicator, and published by the Malaysian Biotechnology Information Centre in the Petri Dish, Malaysia’s first science newspaper.
We can say that this experience totally shaped the way we see ourselves as biotechnologists. It made us realize the importance of stepping out of the labs and taking part in decision making, because what people are deciding today will affect our future.
Part of the iGEM team at the COP-MOP in Cancún, México. From iGEM team: Santiago Ochoa, Mildred Jiménez, Diana Bonilla, Diana Tamayo and Diana Rábago.
Part of the iGEM team at the COP-MOP in Cancún, México. From iGEM team: Santiago Ochoa, Mildred Jiménez, Diana Bonilla, Diana Tamayo, Diana Rábago. Instructors and advisors: Alex Mayorov, Thomas Dohmen, Ricardo Hernández and Luis García.
Part of the iGEM team at the COP-MOP in Cancún, México. From iGEM team: Santiago Ochoa, Mildred Jiménez, Diana Bonilla, Diana Tamayo, Diana Rábago. Advisors and instructors: Ricardo Hernández and Thomas Dohmen.
Part of the iGEM team at the COP-MOP in an insightful discussion with Mexico’s Environment Minister.
From iGEM team: Eliel Villegas, Mildred Jiménez & Diana Bonilla.
Part of the group at the COP-MOP during the PRRI side event in which some instructors and advisors of the team explained their previous iGEM projects.
From iGEM team: Eliel Villegas
Instructors and advisors: Thomas Dohmen, Daniel Domínguez, Heber Torres, Ricardo Hernández and Saúl Pizarro.
Thomas Dohmen from TU Darmstadt, our team instructor, presenting his iGEM project at the PRRI’s side event during the COP-MOP.
Article published by the Malaysian Biotechnology Information Centre in the Petri Dish, Malaysia’s first science newspaper. Written by team member Mildred Jiménez on behalf of the Youth-PRRI delegation. Other voices from the floor also includes thoughts on the matter from team member Diana Bonilla.
Being Human 2.0: #SynbioLive
This was the very first event we hosted with a science communication goal. In order to reach the general public and bring science closer to everyone, we organized Being Human 2.0 in collaboration with The Institute for Science on Global Policy “The Forum” and Cornell’s Alliance for Science. We held panels and live sessions with Synthetic Biology experts from USA, England and Mexico, to discuss the applications of this field and its ethical implications. The event was available online and it was seen in 30 different countries. We were honored to count with the participation of Juan Enriquez Cabot from Excel Venture Management, who mainly opened the discussion regarding singularity and how the emerging technologies are changing what it means to be a human.
Some of the experts who also participated in the event were: Michael Hecht from Princeton's Chemistry Department; Richard Kitney from Imperial College London Bioengineering Department; Luis Figueroa and Oscar Aguilar from Jalisco's Center for Research and Assistance in Technology and Design; Luis Ochoa from the Mexican Biosafety Association; Morris Schwarzblat from Jalisco's Secretariat of Innovation and Monserrat Mora from the Startup Biomentum.
Being Human 2.0: SynbioLive event at Tecnológico de Monterrey Campus Guadalajara México. Discussion panel included experts from CIATEJ (Jalisco’s Center for Research and Assistance in Technology and Design), AMEXBIO (The Mexican Biosafety Association) and Juan Enriquez Cabot participating via Google Hangouts.
Youth Biotech Head Quarters thanking the panelists for their outstanding participation.
TechnoX 2.0
What may have started as “The Latin American version of iGEM”, is an annual event that aims to promote the use of open-source technologies to attend the necessities with social relevance in Latin American. It is an open-non-lucrative organization with representatives from the Academy, Laboratories, FabLabs, Colleges, Hack-labs, DYIBio and NGOs who cooperate to organize the event through the continent.
This year, the second edition of the event TechnoX took place in our home city in Mexico: Guadalajara. We held a workshop on science communication and the importance of critical thinking. Our goal was to make people conscious about how easily information can be manipulated, especially by social media and activist groups. This is a big issue that prevents Synthetic Biology and other technologies to be accepted by the general public because of the fear to the unknown.
Our workshop was held on the same auditorium where Drew Endy, one of iGEM’s founders, gave his speech during the same event.
Drew Endy at Techno X held at ITESO, presenting Synbio 7ed , of IGEM.
At the beginning of the presentation at TecnoX
Interactive quiz made to the Audience with Kahoot to evaluate how many Scientific myths they knew were fake
Role play activity made for the audience to present and argument their views/interests accordingly to their role government, industry and society towards a certain “dangerous chemical” that turned out to be H20. This to expose how information can be manipulated to spread fear in the society towards a particular topic.
Youth Biotech presenting their experiences at COP13-MOP8 as part of the Youth-PRRI delegation
Mildred Jimenez presenting as part of the Youth Biotech group.
Diana Bonilla, one of our team members, and Drew Endy after they discussed the importance of youth participation in forums like the COP-MOP.
Every year, Guadalajara’s State University organizes an event called “Brújula”, which consists on several camps at different high schools in the state of Jalisco where workshops are imparted. This year, we gave a workshop at one of this high schools about science communication and critical thinking. We also talked about Synthetic Biology and how it can be implemented to solve real problems for humanity.
Eliel and Mildred, members of the team, carrying out the Science communication and Critical Thinking workshop at Universidad de la Ciénega High School.
14th ISBGMO
The International Society for Biosafety Research (ISBR) organized the 14th International Symposium on the Biosafety of Genetically Modified Organisms (ISBGMO), which took place from June 4-8, 2017, in Guadalajara México. It is a is a biennial, international meeting that has previously been hosted in Germany, Canada, China, France, Korea, New Zealand, Argentina, USA and South Africa. It aims to bring together bring together academics, technology developers, regulatory authorities, non-government organisations and other stakeholders involved in all aspects of biosafety. The goal is to shape the way GM technology is regulated. (http://isbr.info/ISBGMO14 ).This was the second time that the Symposium has been held in a Latin American country.
Three of our members presented their perspectives regarding our country’s regulation system and proposed new possible ways to improve them. We also talked to the organizers about the importance of youth participation at these events. They said they felt the same and even agreed to give out several scholarships for young scientists to attend.
Diana Rábago presenting at the ISGBMO.
Diana Rábago, Diana Tamayo and Diana Bonilla at the ISBGMO.
Diana Bonilla presenting at the ISGBMO.
Risk Analysis Certification
Conscious on how crucial it is to protect the biological integrity of our ecosystems, especially when working with genetically modified organisms we helped to organize a Risk Analysis course in which we got certified ourselves by the Mexican Association of Biosafety. We learned the three steps of a Risk Analysis: Risk Assessment, Risk management and Risk communication. We also reviewed the concept of “One Health” that emphasizes the interrelationship between animal, human and plant health. All of these concepts were taken into account when we designed and carried out our project. We also developed a risk analysis ourselves that can be found in our Biosafety section.
Flyer of the event.
Example: Diana Tamayo’s diploma for her attendance and participation on the AMEXBIO workshop.
GapSummit 2017
This year we had a participation in GapSummit 2017, held in Washington D.C. This is an annual event, organized by the Global Biotech Revolution, that selects 100 leaders of Tomorrow in Biotechnology from around the world to discuss solutions for the gaps on the Bioeconomy with current world leaders of the area. Some of our members got the chance to attend, so we developed science communication VLOGS to share the discussions that were held there and interviewed the organizers and speakers for them to share their concerns and inspire young scientists to take actions that make a change and solve problems like climate change, contamination, famine, antibiotic resistance, cancer, among others. The videos can be found in Youth Biotech’s youtube channel.
Mildred Jiménez interviewing Katarzyna Kowalik, one of the other leaders at the summit.
Mildred Jiménez interviewing Felix Breyer, GapSummit’s 2018 President.
Eliel Villegas interviewing Hudson Freeze on the importance of science communication.
Eliel Villegas interviewing Ipshita Mandal, Global Biotech Revolution Co-founder.
Annual event hosted in Jalisco that reunites the young talent of the country and makes up the biggest technology and entrepreneurship community in Mexico. It focuses on innovation, creativity, science and digital entertainment. The event has hosted big personalities and influential people such as Stephen Hawking, Steve Wozniak, Neil Armstrong, Bruce Dickinson, among others (http://mexico.campus-party.org)
This year, we gave a conference called “The phantoms of Biotechnology: past, present and future”, in which we discussed classic biotechnology and its current and future panorama. After the presentation, several attendees came to us and shared their concerns regarding science communication.
Diana Tamayo and Eliel Villegas presenting “The Phantoms of Biotechnology: Past, Present and Future”.
Diana Tamayo and Eliel Villegas presenting “The Ghosts of Biotechnology: Past, Present and Future”.
Youth Biotech members sharing with Greenpeace representative information regarding the real implications of Synthetic Biology and biosafety.
Food Evolution Screening
Tired of all the misconceptions and bad reputation of GM crops, which are mostly under the perception of being unhealthy for the human being and the environment, we joined the international Food Evolution campaign by organizing a screening of the movie in our university in collaboration with the Mexican Synthetic Biology Network. The movie is narrated by Neil deGrasse Tyson and intends to promote science based decisions regarding the use of GMO crops. We organized an activity at the end of the screening to promote the public’s reflection
Food Evolution screening poster.
Team member Diana Rábago and Environmental Engineer Ediner Fuentes during the discussión held after the screening. Doubts regarding GM crops and their environmental impact were answered by Ediner Fuentes.
Food Evolution screening at Tecnológico de Monterrey Campus Guadalajara.
Science Manual for elementary school kids
June - October 2017
Throughout the process of making our genetically engineered machine, we also focused on the importance of spreading science to people and most importantly to those in their early stages in life. This is why, in collaboration with the other two mexican iGEM teams we created a fun science manual full of easy experiments for elementary school students. This manual is intended to be presented to the Mexican Ministry of Education. Each team collaborated in proposing 10 different experiments according to the national educational plan. We validated the experiments in public and private schools in the cities of Chihuahua, Guadalajara and Mexico City where we got feedback from teachers and students. We aim to awaken the children’s curiosity and to bring them closer to scientific activities to, in the long term, increase the scientific development in Mexico. For more detail please visit our Collaborations section.
Front page of the science manual.
Team members José Ferrer and Frida García at the elementary school where they validated the science manual.
Team members José Ferrer and Frida García during the validation of the science manual.
AllBiotech
This year AllBiotech, a Latin American version of GapSummit was also held. The event took place in Santiago, Chile and some of our members also attended. We, as well, created science communication VLOGS to share the discussions that were held there, which focused on agriculture, technology transfer, biohacking, famine, climate change, among others. The videos can be found in Youth Biotech’s youtube channel.
Diana Bonilla and Mildred Jiménez, among other attendees from Mexico during the event.
Diana Bonilla and Mildred Jiménez talking to Ana Sifuentes, from iGEM Headquarters during the event. Had the chance to meet with her and explain her the PHAgave project.
I Support Sience Campaign
Team members organized a campaign of sports dry-fit shirts sale (which can also be found at our Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/IGEM-TEC-GDA-807301782767980/) not only to support some expenses from reagents, but we mainly took it as an opportunity to spread the message of people supporting science development in our home country. Recently, Mexico has suffered budget cuts in the science development area, actually in 2016, the government subtracted 7 thousand million mexican pesos (which equals 350,000,000 USD) from the funds destined for the National Chamber of Science and Technology. Meaning there are less funds for investigation and technology (Hernández, 2016). The shirts had 3 different phrases and colors and we made our marketing campaign with #IsupportScience.
In order to raise funds for the project and spread the word on science, we developed a campaign in which we sold sports t-shirts with labels promoting science.
Hernández, M (2016) ¿Qué necesita México para detonar el desarrollo científico y tecnológico? The Huffington post. Retrieved from: http://www.huffingtonpost.com.mx/2016/11/15/que-necesita-mexico-para-detonar-el-desarrollo-cientifico-y-tec_a_21606630/
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How the EU’s new ‘toxic-free’ vision could shape your safer chemicals strategy
How the EU’s new ‘toxic-free’ vision could shape your safer chemicals strategy Bob Kerr Thu, 01/14/2021 – 01:00 For the last two decades, the European Union has played a leadership role in tackling the risks hazardous chemicals pose to our health and environment. It has now proposed a new vision for a “toxic-free environment” and published a strategy for moving the EU towards that goal. Just as its current policies have inspired imitation, it’s likely that these new policies will drive significant changes in the U.S. and elsewhere. While EU chemical restrictions have gained limited traction in U.S. federal statutes and regulations, many state laws increasingly rely on the chemical hazard criteria and analyses from REACH (the principal European chemical regulation) and other EU laws and regulations. California legislation, for example, prohibits sale of electronic products that would be subject to the EU Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) directive if amounts of cadmium, lead, mercury or hexavalent chrome in those products exceed EU RoHS limits . Many U.S. companies base their restrictions on hazardous chemicals on EU lists or restrictions such as the Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs) under REACH — even where unregulated in the U.S. The EU plans to promote safer substitutes or eliminate the need for chemical additives in some products altogether, so they do not end up being circulated indefinitely in commerce. The EU chemical regulation footprint is also strong in the rest of the world. Several countries in Asia, including China, the world’s largest chemical producer, have developed national chemical regulatory programs strongly influenced by the EU’s design. As the EU moves toward adopting specific legal and regulatory measures to begin to realize its vision, government agencies in the U.S. will look closely at the potential for adopting elements of the new EU programs. Beyond the regulatory world, many leading companies already at the forefront of looking to provide safer chemicals — including Walmart , Apple and Ahold Delhaize USA — are likely to move toward adoption of components of the new EU policies, with ramifications for supply chains and potential competitive benefits in the consumer marketplace. EU’s new chemical policy vision Despite the successes of its current regulatory framework, the European Commission has found that “the existing EU chemicals policy must evolve and respond more rapidly and effectively to the challenges posed by hazardous chemicals.” In October, the commission published ” Chemical Strategy for Sustainability: Towards a Toxic-Free Environment .” To meet that vision, the EU plans a fundamental change in how chemical regulations manage the production and use of chemicals. As explained by Frans Timmermans, commission vice president responsible for EU’s Green Deal, the EU intends to move away from an approach to chemical regulation that depends primarily on tracking down substances that are hazardous only after they’re already being used in products, even when similar to previously restricted substances. Rather, it will focus on prohibiting their use in the first place: One of the first actions we will take is to ensure that the most harmful chemicals no longer find their way into consumer products. In most cases, we now assess these chemicals one-by-one — and remove them when we find out that they are unsafe. We will just flip this logic on its head. Instead of reacting, we want to prevent. As a rule, the use of the most harmful substances will be prohibited in consumer products. Further, the new EU chemical strategy identifies a wide array of initiatives for realizing its goal of a toxic-free environment. Some are specific to the EU, including EU support for development of innovative green chemistry materials. Others are measures with general applicability for government regulatory agencies or company sustainable chemistry initiatives. Among the key measures are: Extending hazard-based approach to risk management for consumer products: The goal is to ensure consumer products, such as toys, cosmetics, cleaning products, children’s care products and food contact materials, do not contain chemicals that may cause cancer, gene mutations, neurological or respiratory damage or that may interfere with endocrine or reproductive systems. Grouping of chemicals for assessment of hazards and restrictions: Under most regulations, both in the EU and U.S., chemicals are usually assessed and regulated one-by-one. The European Commission plans to address PFAS and other chemicals of concern with a group approach. New hazard categories: The commission plans to finalize a legally binding hazard definition of endocrine disruptors and, to address classes of chemicals recognized as posing serious environmental risks, introduce two new categories of substances of very high concern (SVHCs): persistent; mobile and toxic (PMT); and very persistent and very mobile (vPvM) substances. Accounting for combinative impacts of multiple chemicals on health: Increasing evidence points to the risks from simultaneous exposure to multiple chemicals. The commission plans to integrate requirements for information on the impacts of chemical mixtures more formally into chemical risk assessment requirements. These above approaches are in some leading corporate safer chemical programs and, with clarity from the EU, they should be considered by more companies. IKEA , for example, bans use in its products of some chemical groups (PFAS, organic brominated flame retardants) and hazard classes of chemicals (carcinogens, mutagens, reproductive toxins and any REACH SVHCs). Beyond its direct effects on protecting health of consumers and reducing toxic chemicals in the environment, the chemical strategy is a key component in the EU’s path towards a circular economy that conserves materials and reduces waste. A critical barrier to circular production models for many products and materials is contamination with hazardous chemicals — either inadvertently added during sourcing and processing or intentionally added to change the product. Through the chemical strategy, the EU plans to promote safer substitutes (the replacement of ortho-phthalates with non-hazardous plasticizers) or eliminate the need for chemical additives in some products altogether, so they do not end up being circulated indefinitely in commerce. The EU has outlined a leading safer chemicals strategy that companies can begin to apply to their own operations. Tools such as the Chemical Footprint Project survey and other benchmarking tools can help support these initiatives. Companies that take the lead in adapting their planning to the EU strategy will be ahead of EU requirements, mitigate future supply chain and product risks and operate in the best interest of consumers and the environment. Pull Quote The EU plans to promote safer substitutes or eliminate the need for chemical additives in some products altogether, so they do not end up being circulated indefinitely in commerce. Topics Chemicals & Toxics Circular Economy Policy & Politics European Union Collective Insight The Right Chemistry Featured in featured block (1 article with image touted on the front page or elsewhere) Off Duration 0 Sponsored Article Off
Tags: a-and-analyses, a-key-component, a-leading-safer, a-strategy-for, apple, china, Eco, european union, health, right-chemistry, usa, world
2020 was the year that…
Filed under Business, Eco, Green, Recycle
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2020 was the year that… Joel Makower Mon, 12/28/2020 – 02:11 It was a very long year. True, just 366 days (it was a leap year, after all), each one, I’m told, containing only the standard 24 hours. But it was much, much longer than that. Remember 2019? Neither do I. To recall some of the key developments, as I have done each December for more than a decade, I’ve plumbed the nearly 1,300 stories, columns and analyses we’ve published on GreenBiz.com since the dawn of 2020 — a.k.a. the beforetime — accentuating the positive, seeking signs of progress and hope. We need such reminders to get us through these challenging times. Here, in no particular order, are five storylines that I found encouraging during the 12 months just ending. And, perhaps, to set us on a more bullish course for 2021. Here, in no particular order, are five storylines that I found encouraging during the 12 months just ending. (All links are to stories published on GreenBiz.com during 2020.) What would you add to the list? 1. Companies accelerated the route to sustainable mobility The rise of electric vehicles has been a perennial story for nearly a decade, but 2020 saw the pace of change accelerate. Indeed, in January, my colleague Katie Fehrenbacher predicted that 2020 would be a key year for EVs. She was right. Both the private and public sectors delivered big wins for the electrification of transportation. California’s governor signed a history-making executive order , banning sales of new gas-powered cars within 15 years. Britain upped the ante , with a similar ban but within a decade, helped by McDonald’s plan to install EV chargers at its UK drive-thru restaurants. On the supply side, General Motors and Volkswagen planned major EV rollouts. Ultimately, how fast these markets rev up depends on demand from fleet buyers. Amazon continued its aggressive EV buying plans , as did both Walmart and IKEA . One reason for all this: Batteries continue their journey down the price-experience curve, where increased demand lowers prices, further pumping up demand. New technologies are helping, many still in early stages . Some are specifically geared toward truck and bus fleets , an indication that the markets for medium- and heavy-duty EVs are about to kick into high gear . 2. Sustainable fashion became material Fashion is another long-simmering environmental story that has finally reached a boiling point. The issues are many, from the resources needed to grow cotton or produce synthetic fabrics, usually from petroleum feedstocks, to the waste that ends up in landfills, especially for inexpensive and trendy clothing items that often have a short useful life. In 2020, several new developments help put sustainability in fashion. For example, the nonprofit Textile Exchange launched a Material Change Index , enabling manufacturers to integrate a preferred fiber and materials strategy into their products. It also launched a Corporate Fiber and Materials Benchmark to help the fashion and textile industry take action on biodiversity. Circular models made the rounds, starting with the design department, where a lot of negative environmental and social impacts are baked into garments, usually unwittingly. Adidas and H&M Group teamed up for a project to recycle old garments and fibers into new items for major brands. German sportswear company adidas committed to using only recycled polyester across its supply chain by 2024. Markets for secondhand clothing racked up sales, including recommerce , where companies sell their own reclaimed and refurbished goods back to customers. In the wings: startups touting a new generation of textiles, production methods and business models, suggesting there are a lot more innovations in store. 3. Forestry took root on the balance sheet Saving and planting trees has been a cornerstone of environmental action pretty much since Day One. (Hence, the often-epithetic moniker “treehugger.”) And pressing companies to eliminate deforestation in their supply chains has long been an activist focus. Now, companies themselves are seeing the business benefits of proactive forestry policies. First, there’s risk mitigation — ensuring “a company’s ability to sell products into a global supply chain,” as a BlackRock executive put it . It’s not just the climate impacts of concern to investors. Deforestation and human rights abuses often go hand-in-hand — “there’s almost a direct correlation,” said another investor — an additional layer of risk for companies from neglecting forests and those who live and work there. And then there’s the opportunity for companies to offset their emissions, since trees are a natural climate solution that can help draw down greenhouse gases, especially firms adopting net-zero commitments (see below). Microsoft , JetBlue and Royal Dutch Shell are among those seeking to offset a portion of their carbon footprint by investing in forest protection and reforestation. Finally, there are the innovators — entrepreneurs who see gold in all that green. Silicon Valley venture capitalists are beginning to branch out into forestry-related startups — companies such as SilviaTerra and Pachama that provide enabling technologies to facilitate forestry projects. These entrepreneurs likely saw opportunity in the Trillion Trees initiative launched in early 2020. Of course, success requires stopping deforestation in the first place, especially in tropical rainforests. And that remains a problem. Half of the companies most reliant on key commodities that have a negative impact on forests — palm oil, soy, beef, leather, timber, and pulp and paper — don’t have a publicly stated policy on deforestation, according to one report . Still, some firms are making progress. Mars, for example, announced that its palm oil — used in food and pet care products — is now deforestation-free after shrinking the number of mills it works with from 1,500 to a few hundred, a clear-cut sign that progress is possible. 4. Food equity showed up on the menu For all the talk about Big Ag and Big Food, there’s a growing recognition of the smaller players in the food chain, from farmers and producers to those who prepare and serve meals. And, of course, the 821 million or so humans who face food insecurity, according to the United Nations. And that stat was from 2018, long before this year’s pandemic and global recession created millions more hungry bellies. With restaurants closed and other foodservice operations curtailed, one lingering question is what the world’s largest food companies are doing to help their suppliers and other partners. “Retailers and brands are recognizing that if they don’t step in to help their producers and distributors, the links holding together those supply chains may crack in ways that aren’t easily repaired,” my colleague Elsa Wenzel reported back in June. Collecting uneaten food or unsellable produce for distribution to those in need is one activity that accelerated during the pandemic . A newish concept, “upcycled food” — goods that “use ingredients that otherwise would not have gone to human consumption, are procured and produced using verifiable supply chains, and have a positive impact on the environment” — is being promoted by a nonprofit consortium called the Upcycled Food Association. Increased concern for farmers is also on the menu. Fair Trade certified crops continue to rise , ensuring a living wage for many smallholder farmers, and there’s growing interest in supporting Indigenous farmers , who have long practiced regenerative techniques. The Regenerative Organic Alliance developed a standard to support farmers who promote soil health. All this will require making capital and assistance available to growers around the world, including the data and analytics that increasingly are core to 21st-century farming. And to do this quickly, before the ravages of a changing climate create further hardships for both food producers and consumers around the world. 5. Net-zero commitments found infinite potential And finally, zero — perhaps a fitting coda to a year that boasts two of them in its name. What began just a couple years ago blossomed into a full-on movement as the number of net-zero commitments doubled in less than a year . The list of companies making such commitments cut across sectors and international borders, among them BP , Delta , Facebook , HSBC , Nestlé , Walmart , even Rolls Royce . Verizon, Indian IT services giant Infosys and British consumer goods brand Reckitt Benckiser became the first global companies to join Amazon’s Climate Pledge initiative , committing to reach “carbon neutrality” by 2040. Some went further. Microsoft said it would become “carbon negative” within a decade , with a stretch goal to remove all the carbon it has emitted since it was founded in 1975. The travel-intensive strategy firm BCG said it aspires to be “climate positive” by removing more carbon dioxide emissions from the atmosphere than it emits. But getting to zero — or neutral or positive or some other goal — is not without controversy. As one report noted , net-zero commitments vary widely in terms of their metrics and transparency, among other things. That is, no single standard governs the way net-zero is defined or measured, or how it should be communicated. As such, net-zero could soon be in the crosshairs of activists eager to point out corporate greenwash. Help could be on the way. In September, the Science Based Targets initiative unveiled plans to develop a global standard for corporate net-zero goals, including the role of carbon offsets, a practice whose massive expansion is itself problematic and controversial . How it gets resolved will be an enduring storyline for 2021 and beyond. There’s more Those were hardly the only 2020 storylines of note. There was a significant uptick of Wall Street interest in environmental, social and governance (ESG) reporting … a surge of attention by companies to environmental justice … the continued rise and empowerment of corporate sustainability professionals . Oh, and the advent of a new U.S. presidential administration that promises to reengage with business and the global community on addressing the climate crisis. That is to say, 2020 wasn’t all about the pandemic, recession and you-know-who. If that’s not enough, here — in alphabetical order by company — are a baker’s dozen other hopeful headlines from the past 12 months: How Apple aims to lead on environment and equity Bank of America CEO: Each public company needs to reach carbon zero BP announces net-zero by 2050 ambition Delta lifts off with $1 billion pledge to become carbon neutral Inside Eastman’s moonshot goal for endlessly circular plastics General Mills, Danone dig deeper into regenerative agriculture with incentives, funding HSBC invests in world’s first ‘reef credit’ system IKEA will buy back used furniture in stand against ‘excessive consumption’ Microsoft is building a ‘Planetary Computer’ to protect biodiversity Morgan Stanley will measure CO2 impact of loans and investments How Ocean Spray cranberries became America’s ‘100 percent sustainable’ crop Unilever unveils climate and nature fund worth more than $1 billion Walmart drives toward zero-emission goal for its entire fleet by 2040 I invite you to follow me on Twitter , subscribe to my Monday morning newsletter, GreenBuzz , and listen to GreenBiz 350 , my weekly podcast, co-hosted with Heather Clancy. Pull Quote Here, in no particular order, are five storylines that I found encouraging during the 12 months just ending. Topics Leadership Featured Column Two Steps Forward Featured in featured block (1 article with image touted on the front page or elsewhere) Off Duration 0 Sponsored Article Off GreenBiz Group
Tags: amazon, apple, computer, design, environment, esg, food, Green, markets, metrics, ocean, science
Sustainable shopping is healthy, even amid a pandemic
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Sustainable shopping is healthy, even amid a pandemic Diane Osgood Tue, 12/15/2020 – 01:45 As sustainability professionals, we’ve been talking for years about how consumers are increasingly influenced by values and sustainability. We search the data for proof points that people would prefer to buy from a more sustainable company. Indeed, even when we find the proof points, we also find a large action gap between what people say and what they do. We think the action gap is about to get smaller, due to a set of trends and the context of the pandemic. The pandemic has shaken the mental health and emotional well-being of people everywhere. It also has caused many people to consider more carefully what they value most: family; friends; health — and savings, if possible. As a result, consumers are paying increased attention to companies that treated their customers and employees well during the pandemic . Against the backdrop of the pandemic, we see important trends. Values matter, even now The importance people place on values in purchasing has increased. Even a global pandemic and economic trouble couldn’t push values out of people’s minds. As the pandemic surged around the world, stock-art giant Getty Images wanted to know whether it rendered everything else irrelevant. It combed its own vast customer database of more than a billion image searches, then commissioned a third-party survey of more than 10,000 people across 25 countries, conducted in more than a dozen languages. If sustainability’s importance to consumers and purchasers didn’t go away in the midst of a global pandemic, will it ever? Getty found that months into the pandemic, consumers still had attention for other issues, represented by four basic categories: sustainability; wellness; “realness” (authenticity); and technology. Sustainability was, they learned, trending upwards ” quite against expectation .” And for those respondents who are passionate about sustainability, they said they were willing to pay 10 to 15 percent more for products or services from companies that: use sustainable practices; are aligned with their values; have transparent business practices; and care about the well-being, safety and security of customers. In other words, even in times of enormous upheaval, people still have, and act on, personal values. Shoppers’ behaviors continue to change What’s more, it’s not all just happy talk. We have seen this in shoppers’ actual purchasing behavior during the pandemic. Evidence? NYU Stern Business School’s 2020 Sustainable Share Market Index shows shares of sustainability-marketed products grew significantly during the week of March 15, and continued to maintain that increased share through mid-June. We have to wait until the researchers release the data analysis for the second half of 2020 to see if the trend held. However, the period of March to June clearly indicates consumers were more frequently putting their money where their mouth is on sustainability. The same study found that sustainability-marketed products are responsible for more than half of the growth in consumer-packaged goods from 2015 to 2019. Businesses are changing, too What’s changed is not just consumers but also business purchasing. We see evidence of business-to-business purchasing teams applying sustainability criteria to supplier expectations. The biggest driver seems to be net-zero ambitions. Any company that has taken on net-zero commitments will be looking at its supply-chain partners to reduce its carbon emissions and switch to renewables in the next few years. Indeed, Apple already has set the bar for its major suppliers such as Foxconn. Foxconn committed to supply Apple’s iPhones from factories run on 100 percent renewable energy. Other companies, such as IKEA, BT, Unilever, Ericsson and Telia, have launched a new net-zero initiative aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions across their supply chains. The trend in B2B spending strikes us as an important lever to accelerate even more sustainable production. New cross-sector efforts to address corporate supply chains and purchasing will further expedite effective approaches. If sustainability’s importance to consumers and purchasers didn’t go away in the midst of a global pandemic, will it ever? Remember when U.S. automakers thought customers weren’t that concerned about quality because they bought largely based on style? One day, we’ll look back at the belief that sustainability doesn’t matter to customers, shaking our heads the same way. Pull Quote If sustainability’s importance to consumers and purchasers didn’t go away in the midst of a global pandemic, will it ever? Contributors Daniel Aronson Topics Consumer Trends Marketing & Communication Consumer Products Featured in featured block (1 article with image touted on the front page or elsewhere) Off Duration 0 Sponsored Article Off Shutterstock
Tags: a-global-pandemic, apple, communication, consumer trends, daniel-aronson, data, purchasers-didn, stern-business, words
Crypto crowdfunding meets energy efficiency in Apple co-founder’s new venture
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Crypto crowdfunding meets energy efficiency in Apple co-founder’s new venture Heather Clancy Thu, 12/10/2020 – 01:00 Did you know Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak (aka Woz) has a cryptocurrency named after him? Here’s the backstory. A mere three years ago, my inbox was bloated with news about startups such as South Africa’s Sun Exchange or Estonia’s WePower or Australia’s Power Ledger focused on “democratizing” the ability of individual investors to back solar projects, often in emerging markets or communities off the grid or radar of traditional financers. The common denominator underlying these ventures is blockchain, a digital ledger technology used for dozens of intriguing corporate applications intended to address climate change — from tracing ingredients across supply chains to verifying, purchasing and trading carbon credits. And now you can add energy efficiency financing to the list of crypto-enabled crowdfunding opportunities, in the form of a new company co-founded by Wozniak. The mission of Efforce , which has operations in Italy and Malta, is to raise capital for energy efficiency projects, one of the most potentially impactful ways for businesses to decarbonize their operations, if not quite as media-sexy as buying into solar or wind energy installations. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), more than $250 billion in financing went toward energy efficiency initiatives in 2019, but at least double that amount is needed by 2025 to keep the world progressing toward the mitigation goals of the Paris Agreement. This push can’t be a single person’s battle. It needs to come from all of us together to compound this effect in such a way that it becomes a reality over our lifespan. In most cases, the challenge is the upfront financing that energy services companies (ESCOs) typically need to get a project off the ground — the equipment alone to retrofit a building or industrial facility with power-sipping alternatives such as LED lighting, insulation or new manufacturing equipment easily can cost $200,000, according to Efforce’s estimates. To help fund more projects, Efforce will use a web marketplace to verify and list proposals, and to create a performance contract used to track the results. Next, the opportunities will be listed and would-be backers can buy into them using Efforce’s currency, called the WOZX token. Over time, the project results will be measured through smart meters and project owners will receive energy credits (measured in megawatt-hours) that can be cashed out or traded. “This push can’t be a single person’s battle. It needs to come from all of us together to compound this effect in such a way that it becomes a reality over our lifespan,” says Woz in the marketing video on the Efforce website. “In these difficult times, many small companies are struggling,” said Efforce co-founder Jacopo Visetti, in a statement. “Efforce allows business owners to safely register their energy upgrade project on the web and secure funding from all types of investors around the world. The companies will then have more available cash to use for other critical projects such as infrastructure or hiring.” Visetti previously founded AitherCO2 , an energy services company in Italy, so I wasn’t really surprised to learn that Efforce plans to handle some of the initial projects itself before it opens things up to other partners. Efforce’s official launch last week — the venture was rumored more than a year ago, but market turmoil delayed initial funding — created a stir: Even before listing a single project, the company’s tokens were trading at $1.55 Monday afternoons (up from 22 cents at its listing). The company has raised $18 million from private investors, at a valuation of $80 million. Given the relatively modest scale of this venture, it will take the creation of many, many more companies such as Efforce to address a gap of the size that the IEA has identified. What’s more, the appetite for investments of this nature in a COVID-19-ravaged economic climate with lots of empty commercial buildings is unclear. But the model it has set forth — sidestepping a massive upfront capital expense — is right for the times. Pull Quote This push can’t be a single person’s battle. It needs to come from all of us together to compound this effect in such a way that it becomes a reality over our lifespan. Topics Energy & Climate Information Technology Energy Efficiency Blockchain Featured Column Practical Magic Featured in featured block (1 article with image touted on the front page or elsewhere) Off Duration 0 Sponsored Article Off Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak with fellow Efforce co-founder Jacopo Visetti. Courtesy of Luca Rossetti Close Authorship
Tags: a-single-person, apple, climate, efforce, energy, italy, jacopo-visetti, push, south-africa, steve-wozniak
10 eco-friendly holiday gift ideas for friends
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Too often, the giving season feels like a mad rush to check tasks off a list. It’s all too easy (and embarrassing) to wind up giving our friends and family junk gifts that we regret buying. Our shopping guide makes it simple to find sustainably made, easy-to-purchase presents that you can feel good about giving over the holidays. Spent grain pancakes Everybody has to eat, and anybody sane likes a good pancake. This spent grain mix is low carb, high protein , contains lots of fiber and uses recycled grains. What?! That’s right, these pancakes are called “spent” because the barley flour comes from microbrewery castoffs. You and your pancake gift recipient will feel even better about breakfast knowing that Grain4Grain donates to a food bank every time somebody purchases a box. Related: How to make soy wax candles for a cozy, autumnal home Shoes by Allbirds Buying shoes can be intimate, so this one is for your close friends. Allbirds , best known for its sneakers, also makes boat shoes, slip-ons and flats. Choose from shoes made from wool — supposedly these New Zealand sheep have a fabulous life — or, for your vegan bestie, choose shoes made from responsibly sourced eucalyptus fiber. As a carbon-neutral company, Allbirds puts eco-thought into all aspects of business. The laces are made from recycled plastic bottles, the insoles use castor bean oil and even the shipping boxes are made from 90% recycled cardboard. Digital thrift store gift card Some friends are easier to shop for than others. For some particular people, it’s best to let them pick out their own gifts . Help them shop sustainably with a digital thrift store gift card from Rent the Runway or thredUP. Upcycled clutch from Jungalow Jungalow specializes in bright colors and bold botanical patterns. The company is the brainchild of design blogger Justina Blakeney. Now you can get Jungalow’s super lush upholstery fabrics in a clutch purse. These clutches use upholstery scraps that wound up on the cutting room floor. Your friend can carry it as a small purse, or keep important things organized inside the clutch while tossing it in a larger bag. Darling little tassels adorn the clutch’s zipper. Girlfriend Collective activewear Through fashion alchemy, Girlfriend Collective turns old fishing nets, plastic bottles and other trash into chic leggings, bras, socks, sweatsuits and shorts. The company has already sidetracked about 4.5 million plastic water bottles bound for a dubious fate. You can find clothing for all sizes, and even a maternity section on their website. Homemade sugar scrub For a low-cost yet personal gift with a sweet scent, make your friend a sugar scrub. All you need is sugar , coconut oil (or similar) and a few drops of essential oil. Use the essential oil straight out of the bottle, or make a special blend for your friend. Scoop the scrub into a mason jar, tie a bow around it, and it’s ready to gift. Full details on making sugar scrubs are available at The Simple Veganista . Malala Scrunchie With a Malala scrunchi , your friend can secure her hair while simultaneously promoting education for girls. When you buy these hair holders, the money goes to the Malala Fund, named for the brave and beloved Pakistani heroine and kick-ass activist Malala Yousufzai. The scrunchies are made from sustainably sourced bamboo fabric and dyed with natural plant dyes, like turmeric for yellow, indigo for blue and madder root for pink. We like the pumpkin color for fall and winter. Cruelty-free, 10-free nail polish from Pear Nova Ten what? Bad ingredients: toluene, formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, DBP, xylene, parabens, camphor, fragrances, phthalates or animal ingredients. Not sure what all those ingredients are? The bottom line is you probably don’t want them on your nails. Pear Nova products are 10-free, designed in Chicago and look much more stylish than your average drugstore nail polish. The inventive colors have fun names, such as Cleo F*ckin Patra, Rub My Temples, It’s Summer Somewhere and Rooftop ‘Til You Drop. Wine barrel Apple Watch strap In another clever example of upcycling , Uncommon Goods offers an upgrade for your Apple Watch strap. Your oenophile friend will feel good knowing that her new watch strap was once a French oak wine barrel. These straps are made in Austria and compatible with Apple Watch Series 5, 4 and 3. Eco travel kit In this pandemic holiday season, everybody wants things to go back to normal ASAP. Give the gift of optimism with this eco travel kit . Your friend will smell delightful with naturally flavored lip balm, deodorant, moisturizer and perfume in grapefruit, bergamot and rose scents. She’ll nap beneath a silky eye mask and wake to note her thoughts in an artisan-crafted kite notebook. The kits come in a vegan leather case and also include earplugs, q-tips, hair ties, disposable face masks and Emergen-Cs. You can upgrade and personalize the Aria Kit with extra add-ons. Images via Grain4Grain , Katherine Gallagher / Inhabitat, thredUP , Jungalow , Girlfriend , Pixabay, HARA , Pear Nova , Uncommon Goods , and Aria Kit
Tags: a-new-tab, apple, apple-watch, Eco, friend, gift, gifts, gitfs, Green, green gift guide, holidays, Recycle, summer, uncommon-goods
Apple’s Lisa Jackson on the power of influence in addressing climate justice and equity
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Apple’s Lisa Jackson on the power of influence in addressing climate justice and equity Since becoming Apple’s lead on environmental and social issues, Lisa Jackson has led the company to make bold commitments — not just in its own operations, but in those of its suppliers and partners. In this conversation, we’ll dive into the company’s wide-ranging initiatives, from low-carbon design to closing the materials loop to aligning entrepreneurship with social and environmental justice. This session was held at GreenBiz Group’s VERGE 20, October 26-30, 2020. Learn more about the event here: https://events.greenbiz.com/events/ve… Watch our other must-see talks here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwW3… OUR LINKS Website: https://www.greenbiz.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/greenbiz LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gree… Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/greenbiz_group Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GreenBiz YanniGuo Mon, 11/09/2020 – 16:05 Featured Off
Tags: and-climate, and-partners, apple, are-changing, game, Green, grounded-and, its-suppliers, other, user-profile-
The world is on fire. What can pine cones teach us about how to respond?
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The world is on fire. What can pine cones teach us about how to respond? GreenBiz Vice President and VERGE Executive Director, Shana Rappaport, welcomes participants to VERGE 20 with a clean economy call to action and a surprise musical performance.This World is on Fire” was written by Kiki Lipsett, with additional lyrics customized by Shana Rappaport for VERGE 20 (original song, “This Girl is on Fire,” by Alicia Keys). You can learn more about and connect with all the musical collaborators via their websites: Kiki Lipsett (songwriter, piano: kikilipsett.com ), Liliana Urbain (drums: lilianaurbain.com ), Jules Indelicato (sound producer: facebook.com/soundbyjules ), and Shana Rappaport (lead singer, theseastars.org ). This session was held at GreenBiz Group’s VERGE 20, October 26-30, 2020. Learn more about the event here: https://events.greenbiz.com/events/ve… Watch our other must-see talks here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwW3… OUR LINKS Website: https://www.greenbiz.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/greenbiz LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gree… Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/greenbiz_group Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GreenBiz SHOW LESS YanniGuo Mon, 11/09/2020 – 15:51 Featured Off
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Tags: a-clean-economy, about-the-event, and-partners, apple, are-changing, Eco, game, Green, must-see-talks, other, shana-rappaport, show, sound-producer, world
Episode 243: VERGE voices with Apple’s Lisa Jackson, 350.org’s Bill McKibben
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Episode 243: VERGE voices with Apple’s Lisa Jackson, 350.org’s Bill McKibben Heather Clancy Fri, 10/30/2020 – 00:10 Week in Review Stories discussed this week (4:30). Carbontech is getting ready for its market moment The top 25 most sustainable fleets Why Google, BASF and Sephora are coming together on safer chemistry Features VERGE 20 mainstage highlights (16:55) Lisa Jackson, vice president of environment, policy and social initiatives at Apple , reflects on the intersection of racial inequity and climate strategy; how it’s shaping the company’s circular economy strategy. Andrew Zolli, head of global impact initiatives at Planet , on making the most of our “long emergency” Bill McKibben, co-founder of 350.org, on how companies can be more authentic in their storytelling 5 questions with JPMorgan Chase (31:35) Marisa Buchanan is managing director and head of sustainability for the financial services firm. She chats about JPMorgan Chase’s new financing commitment aligned with the Paris Agreement, how it’s helping clients with their carbon mitigation journeys, and its strategy for supporting stronger community resilience. A ‘Fixation’ with fixing things (41:30) Sandra Goldmark, is a theater design artisan and founder of social enterprise Fixup , which runs repair and reuse events. She urges us to reimagine our relationships with stuff, especially broken stuff. In this segment, the Right to Repair movement advocate discusses her new book, “Fixation: How to have stuff without breaking the planet.” Read an excerpt here . *Music in this episode by Lee Rosevere: “Curiosity,” “Waiting for the Moment that Never Comes,” “Knowing the Truth,” “Night Caves” and “I’m Going for a Coffee” *This episode was sponsored by Amazon and IHG, and features VERGE 20 sponsor JPMorgan Chase. Resources galore Lessons in resilience from the produce industry. Subject matter experts from Kwik Lok, Walmart and Second Harvest Food Bank join us at 1 p.m. EST Nov. 10 to discuss responding to disruption and how to balance food safety and security to minimize food waste. Behavior change and the circular economy. How innovation and new business models alter people’s relationship with waste. Join the discussion at 8 p.m. EST Nov. 12. Missing pieces of decarbonization. Join us for a discussion on how 100 percent renewable power can practically, affordably and quickly become a reality. Register for this webcast at 1 p.m. EST Nov. 19. Do we have a newsletter for you! We produce six weekly newsletters: GreenBuzz by Executive Editor Joel Makower (Monday); Transport Weekly by Senior Writer and Analyst Katie Fehrenbacher (Tuesday); VERGE Weekly by Executive Director Shana Rappaport and Editorial Director Heather Clancy (Wednesday); Energy Weekly by Senior Energy Analyst Sarah Golden (Thursday); Food Weekly by Carbon and Food Analyst Jim Giles (Thursday); and Circular Weekly by Director and Senior Analyst Lauren Phipps (Friday). You must subscribe to each newsletter in order to receive it. Please visit this page to choose which you want to receive. The GreenBiz Intelligence Panel is the survey body we poll regularly throughout the year on key trends and developments in sustainability. To become part of the panel, click here . Enrolling is free and should take two minutes. Stay connected To make sure you don’t miss the newest episodes of GreenBiz 350, subscribe on iTunes . Have a question or suggestion for a future segment? E-mail us at 350@greenbiz.com . Contributors Joel Makower Deonna Anderson Topics Podcast Circular Economy Policy & Politics VERGE 20 Finance Collective Insight GreenBiz 350 Podcast Featured in featured block (1 article with image touted on the front page or elsewhere) Off Duration 58:59 Sponsored Article Off GreenBiz Close Authorship
Tags: amazon, apple, clancy, coffee, director, Eco, financial, Green, heather-clancy, relationships, survey
Lisa Jackson: How Apple aims to lead on environment and equity
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Lisa Jackson: How Apple aims to lead on environment and equity Elsa Wenzel Tue, 10/27/2020 – 02:00 Apple’s Lisa Jackson is moving social justice to the top of the list for protecting the environment. Coming from one of Fortune’s “most powerful women in business ” at one of the world’s largest companies, she has views that could have a long-term global impact. Apple’s big-ticket sustainability goals released this year for 2030 include becoming carbon-neutral and achieving a net-zero impact in all operations. The company also recently embraced an outward-facing leadership role on its social impacts, with a $100 million investment to create a Racial and Equity Justice Initiative (REJI), which CEO Tim Cook asked Jackson to lead in June. How can we grow some Black and brown-owned businesses that are working on the issue of climate change? It’s not new for Apple’s vice president of environment, policy and social initiatives to see racism and climate change as intertwined. She capped off her two-decade career with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as its chief under President Barack Obama. Jackson recalled a key lesson from her New Orleans childhood to GreenBiz co-founder Joel Makower during a VERGE 20 virtual event Monday. 1. Identifying intersections “I know what it means to be at the receiving end of our industrial society, whether it’s the air quality coming from petrochemical facilities, of wind, or the water quality coming down the Mississippi River, or the Gulf of Mexico’s health — and that ecosystem and diversity, all those issues, conflate to me around the place I call home,” the chemical engineer said. For example, she has seen the resources of the world flow upward to the people who make inequitable decisions around land use and then profit from them — but not flowing back to the people who become victims of flooding, fires or other consequences of poor planning. “Those are the questions we have to solve if we’re really going to solve the climate crisis,” Jackson said. Fighting for equality and justice for my community has driven my career as an environmentalist. I’ll continue the work leading Apple’s Racial Equity and Justice Initiative. #BlackLivesMatter https://t.co/JKuaQP3I2r — Lisa P. Jackson (@lisapjackson) June 11, 2020 Jackson’s passion for addressing these problems deepened recently when she witnessed the combustive mix of poor air quality and high COVID-19 fatalities within historically underserved frontline communities. “It all comes together because we know that the co-pollutants of CO2 from fossil fuel, and from the fossil fuel-burning power sector and transportation sectors, are all part of that justice equation,” she said. 2. Empowering communities As part of its REJI initiative, which centers around representation, inclusion and accountability, Apple describes using its voice and cash to transform systemic disempowerment into empowerment. One way is to hire more coders of color and to build up wealth in underserved communities by doing more business with suppliers owned by people of color. “One of the things we did in the economic empowerment space is come up with this idea of an impact accelerator,” she said. “How can we grow some Black and brown-owned businesses that are working on the issue of climate change? Because we’ve always said that climate change is an economic opportunity, how can we make sure that opportunity is spread equally?” Plus, Apple is also nurturing coding hubs at historically Black colleges and universities. Apple’s $100 million toward REJI is nine to 10 times the investment committed by Amazon, Google and Facebook each toward racial justice causes. 3. Making the human factor material It’s been two years since Apple planted the seeds to grow a circular economy by committing to make all of its devices from recycled or renewable materials eventually. Jackson described how the iPhone maker quickly found that its “moonshot” of shunning ingredients that need to be mined is not just about closing the loop on material resources, but on human resources as well. The tech giant prioritized eliminating conflict minerals and questionably sourced rare earths early on because of the labor and supply chain difficulties involved. In this area, Apple so far has created its own recycled aluminum alloy for devices including the Apple Watch, MacBookAir and iPad, and it uses recycled tin in solder in some logic boards. It has developed profiles of 45 materials in terms of their impacts on the environment, society and supply chains, singling out 14 for early action on recycled or renewable sourcing. The haptic engine, which enables a variety of vibrations in iPhone models 11 and up, uses recycled rare earths. The Daisy disassembly robot gained a cousin, Dave, which recovers rare earth elements, steel and tungsten from spent devices and scrap. Apple is still aiming to make all of its products and packaging from recycled and renewable materials. So far all paper materials are recycled, and plastics have been reduced by 58 percent in four years. The company is more quietly progressing on safer chemistry. Toward its goal of gathering data on all the chemicals that comprise its products, it has information from 900 suppliers on 45,000 parts and materials. “As much as we want to continue to engage in communities to try to lift up the standards and use our purchasing power to lift up, we also have to be honest with ourselves and say, there’s also a need for us to show an alternative path,” Jackson said. 4. Being first and bigger Where Apple leads, others in the market listen. For instance, so far it has nudged more than 70 of its suppliers to adopt clean energy, which Apple has fully implemented in its offices, data centers and stores without leaning on offsets. The company’s supply chain partners of all sizes are ripe for doing something differently, Jackson said. Because we’ve always said that climate change is an economic opportunity, how can we make sure that opportunity is spread equally? “They’ve seen what COVID can do, or a crisis can do, to a business that hasn’t thought about resilience and sustainability,” Jackson said. “Apple can help by modeling and also taking a risk on technologies and ways of doing business, and quickly scaling them.” For example, Apple was able in a single year to embed 100-recycled rare earth elements in the magnets of its iPhone 12 series. “If we can come up with a cleaner alternative, then our belief is that these other places will have no alternative but to clean up as well so that they can be competitive not just on an economic level, but on a social and environmental level as well,” she said. “That’s going to be the exciting work for Apple … in the next few years is to not only do it first but to do it bigger, and to hopefully leave behind a supply chain that’s now economical and accessible for other people. Because those industries, those enterprises will say, ‘OK, there are probably more people who want to buy recycled material as well’ — and that’s the circular economy.” Pull Quote How can we grow some Black and brown-owned businesses that are working on the issue of climate change? Because we’ve always said that climate change is an economic opportunity, how can we make sure that opportunity is spread equally? Topics Human Rights Equity & Inclusion Supply Chain VERGE 20 Featured in featured block (1 article with image touted on the front page or elsewhere) On Duration 0 Sponsored Article Off Apple’s Vice President, Environment, Policy and Social Initiatives Lisa Jackson. Apple Close Authorship
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Brown, female and on the bus: A personal journey into transportation policy
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Brown, female and on the bus: A personal journey into transportation policy Sahar Shirazi Tue, 10/27/2020 – 01:30 I got my first passport at 6 months old. Not to take a luxurious holiday with my jet-setting family, but to move back to a country on the brink of war, right after a democratic revolution that almost immediately turned into a dictatorship. At age 5, after various failed attempts to flee Iran, I boarded a flight from Istanbul to Los Angeles by myself. Before I started school, transportation already had served to move me both into and out of opportunity in very real ways. Like many immigrants, my identity is complicated. First, I am not technically an immigrant. I was born in Berkeley, California. I was 6 months old when my family moved back to Iran, and for the first 5 years of my life, I was physically stuck there. Even after we finally made it back to the U.S., I was raised in such strictly traditional surroundings, we may as well have been in my grandparents’ village in Iran, just without the bombs and threats from the government (at least, not at that point). My family struggled to gain legal status in the U.S., and I was shaped by my personal experiences as well as theirs. When we first moved to the U.S., we were very poor. We lived in apartments around Sacramento, moving every six months or so as my parents chased elusive opportunities and odd jobs. Both of my parents worked at various burger joints, and my sister and I took the public bus to school, keys tied around our necks, sometimes upwards of 40 minutes each way. In 1989, Mazda came out with the Miata, originally only available in red, white and blue in the U.S. It was the first time I’d ever cared about a car. Walking by those shiny, tiny cars as I went to sit in the greasy air of the burger shop gave 9-year-old me my first taste of material want, the first-time consumerism infiltrated my psyche as a child. In school, I fantasized that I could learn skills to woo my classmates; to become clever or artistic or sporty enough that they would no longer question my hair, skin, language or lack of wealth. But here, here was a way for me to buy my way into their world. I was enchanted by the car not as a mode for gaining access or opportunity, but as a means to gain status. And that understanding never left me. I was enchanted by the car not as a mode for gaining access or opportunity, but as a means to gain status. And that understanding never left me. By the time I was old enough to drive, my family had moved out of Sacramento and into northern Sonoma County. My parents had moved up the ladder and now owned their own little burger shop, were able to buy their first house, and we’d been living in a middle-class community for some time. My political psyche also had formed more. I was involved in groups and actions, I already had joined boards and commissions for youth, and I’d organized various petitions and rallies in school. I’d been given a used bike in my early teens and rode it around the developing landscape of wine country as my only physical escape from my home. I took the school bus to school, and the county bus to the local community college, in the neighboring town, for classes I couldn’t take at our underfunded high school. Active and shared transportation was my lifeline, and I could not imagine sheltering myself in a private car — even a little Miata, removed from the experience of transportation, despite all the problems such a luxury would have alleviated. In Iran, taxis and mini-buses charged for space rather than users; and the wealthy paid extra for empty bus seats or “closed door” taxis that did not pick up other strangers. Riding the bus in the U.S. and not smooshing into a stranger still felt luxurious despite the inconveniences and delays, until the harassment began. In addition to being Middle Eastern in a region made up of mostly white and Latino populations, I was a young female who’d developed early. Before I understood the comments that men hurled at me, I knew the discomfort they caused. On the school bus, young boys grabbed me with no remorse and no consequences (other than the time I punched one of them, finally trying to assert some form of power). At the city bus stop, on a rural road with no one around, men slowed down and screamed out the window for me to get in as they drove by. This behavior continued through my 20s, in Oakland and San Francisco and much more “urban” and “progressive” places than the small town I spent my adolescence in. I still remember wondering what part of my 22-year-old self, dressed in paint-splattered clothes from nine hours of working with preschoolers, screamed out for that kind of attention. A stop request sign on a light-rail train in Sacramento. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock/ZikG Media Source Shutterstock Media Authorship ZikG Close Authorship These were normalized experiences of being female, brown and a non-driver. And yet, I never sought the safe isolation of being in a car. I could not have explained why, until age 29, I refused to get a license. I had neither the understanding of transportation’s importance or its role in our social fabric to put words to my own stubbornness, until I sank deep into the academic study, personal stories and history of our systems. When I entered grad school at Mills College in 2009, I finally decided to get a license. I realized I could no longer afford to wait for buses that never came, and I had the luxury of being able to drive, have a vehicle and affording my private transportation system. Being in an enclosed vehicle alone was a new experience at 29, and the safety and comfort I felt was matched only by my own sense of disconnection from the world. I’ve heard the term “windshield mentality” used for the psychology of driving, and it resonates deeply. On a train, a bus, a bike or on foot, we are forced to interact with the world in some way. But alone, in a car, separated physically from all others, we can easily sink into an “us vs. everyone” mentality. Suddenly, the biker or pedestrian is a nuisance, not a person trying to get somewhere just like me. The stop signs and speed limits are just in my way, rather than being protections for the lives of others. No level of learning changes this basic psychology. I still must remind myself every time I drive, I am not in traffic, I am traffic. To truly have a system that serves the needs of diverse communities, that acknowledges and repairs the harm we have done with past planning and projects, we must have greater representation from the people affected by them. With this shift in mentality taking shape, I entered a public policy program, aiming to learn about community-based economic development and social equity work. I was going back to school to make a difference, and I had no idea that that path would lead me to transportation. One of my early projects was a study for the local business improvement district; a parking study. As I walked around the community counting parking spaces by the hour, I dashed across roads with no stoplights, crosswalks and wide lanes incentivizing high speeds, wondering why certain corners were so dark once the sun went down, and taking note of the infrastructure for other modes of transportation such as buses and bikes. I spoke to shop owners and residents, passersby and city officials, and every conversation and observation pushed me to learn more about urban planning. I think of those conversations often these days, of the person who told me they won’t take the bus in the evenings, because the bus stop is next to an ATM, and there have been too many muggings there. Of the person who explained to me that the land use and transit components are decided separately, so putting a bus stop in front of a café instead, for example, had not been considered. And of our final presentation to the local Business Improvement District, where we suggested pedestrian, bike and transit improvements to slow down traffic would benefit them, rather than more parking, and the incredulous response we received. I think of my own transportation stories; of the frustration of taking three buses and riding over an hour to commute to my job that was only eight miles away. Of the kids who were on the last leg of that commute, using the county bus as their school bus every morning, and how happy their interactions made me. Of missing a bus between jobs and the anxiety I felt as I waited 30 minutes for the next option. In many ways, transportation and land use is the physical manifestation of patriarchy and racism. From our history of bulldozing minority neighborhoods to build freeways and refusing loans to Black families to our current decision-making structures that exclude those who cannot access language, time, education, transportation, childcare, technology — all but the most resourced participants, we have reinforced systems that benefit white men at the expense of all others for decades. How do we move forward when we are burdened with so much weight, pulling at us from our past? How do we confront our own history and learn from it, to make programs, policies, investments and structures that serve the needs of communities, especially in a world of constrained time and resources? Recently, I gave a presentation that showed historic redlining maps lined up with current maps of disadvantaged communities, and I was surprised at the response it garnered. “Wow, they are the same,” someone said incredulously. Our past actions have long-lasting consequences, and we are never starting from scratch. It still boggles my mind how that is a revelation. Of course they are the same. To truly have a system that serves the needs of diverse communities, that acknowledges and repairs the harm we have done with past planning and projects, we must have greater representation from the people affected by them. Our current systems, which make decisions for people without their involvement, will continue to create inequitable outcomes, however well-intentioned those decisions may be. Sharing more information, education and stories about transportation and mobility, and enabling collaboration through new models of engagement can help us move past limited community meetings and outreach into engagement and co-creation of goals. By acknowledging the importance of transportation in economic, environmental, educational and health outcomes, those of us in the field can help connect the dots for the next generation of transportation planners, policymakers and engineers, and increase diversity in representation in our field. Just as my lived experiences influenced my decision to enter transportation, and continue to color my views through every project, the experiences of those different from me, those affected most by the mistakes of our past and present, must be included and valued as we move forward and try to do better. Meaningful representation, moving past tokenism, is critical to shifting the transportation paradigm and addressing our past harms. Mobility creates economic, social, and environmental opportunity, and that opportunity has been distributed asymmetrically thus far. Transportation is more than technical engineering, it is more than a bus or a train or a bike; it is the potential for movement through the physical world, and the experiences and stories of accessing that movement. So when someone asks me now why I do this work, I simply tell them: It turns out I’ve been working in transportation my whole life, I just finally made it official. This article was first published on the author’s Medium channel. Pull Quote I was enchanted by the car not as a mode for gaining access or opportunity, but as a means to gain status. And that understanding never left me. On a train, a bus, a bike or on foot, we are forced to interact with the world in some way. But alone, in a car, separated physically from all others, we can easily sink into an ‘us vs. everyone’ mentality. To truly have a system that serves the needs of diverse communities, that acknowledges and repairs the harm we have done with past planning and projects, we must have greater representation from the people affected by them. Topics Transportation & Mobility Racial Issues Social Justice Featured in featured block (1 article with image touted on the front page or elsewhere) On Duration 0 Sponsored Article Off Inside a bus in Chicago, circa March 2016. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock/Sorbis Shutterstock Sorbis Close Authorship
Tags: amazon, apple, climate change, community, Eco, facebook, family, first, government, issue, local, needs, president, school, world
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Mumbai music lovers enjoy ‘Cry Freedom’ music concert
By Calcutta Tube Team / September 5, 2011
Mumbai, Sept 5 (Calcutta Tube / IBNS) Music lovers were in for a treat on Sunday at Mumbai’s 1st ever 12-hour Live concert ‘Cry Freedom’ conceptualized by music network Indigo Live, in partnership with Hard Rock Café .
With an ensemble of artists from diverse genres, music lovers experienced the best of performances by the hugely talented and distinctive Indian musical talent.
The 12-hour unbridled Live concert enthralled the audience with the impressive line-up of stellar performances, all bundled into a one spectacular musical treat at one stop music destination- Hard Rock café, known for its association with rock music.
Indus Creed, Gary Lawyer, Afflatus- an all girl band, Blackstratblues, Boomerang, Salil Bhatt’s performance alongside renowned sand artist, Sudarshan Patnaik who designed a sand art depicting his views of freedom received overwhelming response.
Also, Jazz Mac Duo, Adil & Vasundhara, D- Company, Chandresh Kudwa, Anushka Jagtiani, Luke Kenny, Spook, Jishnu Guha, Hoodwink Circle, Blakc and Ramone Ibrahim put up a great show.
The concert was hosted by Luke Kenny which ended with the bands coming together for Freedom jam singing the anthem ‘Cry Freedom’ originally sung by David Mathews.
Living up to the slogan ‘Music for a revolution’, Cry Freedom Concert, a property conceptualized, produced and promoted by Indigo live, is a celebration of the expression of freedom through live music and arts. In this day and age freedom no longer means independence from a colonial power.
Freedom to the youth of today has different connotations and means different things to different people: freedom from corruption, freedom to choose a career, freedom to live the way one wants to, freedom to earn, freedom to enjoy music, films, dance and other arts without too much censorship, or something as simple as the freedom to go out and party without too many restrictions.
UNAIDS is partnering with Indigo Live to host a series of events centered around the communication of UNAIDS objectives in India, starting with Cry Freedom concert.
At the Cry Freedom concert, 19 artists/bands from different parts of the country came together to celebrate freedom with 12 hours of unrestricted live music.
The concert was webcast live on social media and select Digital OOH screens at key locations like Multiplexes, Malls, Gyms and Mumbai Domestic Airport (arrivals).
Cry Freedom, Shom Jagtiani – Director & COO, Indigo Live Pvt. Ltd. said, “India today is a relatively free and open society; what we need to do is make more efforts to sustain and develop these qualities. We need to reach out to issues from a profound understanding of the deeply interconnected nature of today’s world. As we know, music has always had the power to draw and unite people together.
“Hence, keeping this in mind, we have built a property that everyone can relate to and celebrate the freedom from various struggles, with Live music. We are extremely thrilled and excited to bring to you the Cry Freedom concert and it’s our privilege to have UNAIDS support this initiative”
Jay Singh, Co-founder and Executive Director JSM Corporate Pvt Ltd, said: “The Cry Freedom Concert truly embodies the spirit of celebrating the expression of freedom. Enveloped with refreshing and heart rending voice, all music lovers will be entrenched in the unhindered 12-hr nonstop LIVE concert.”
Tags: Mumbai Events, Music
Metal band Brahma is back
By Calcutta Tube Team / April 25, 2012
Marathi ghazal album released by Universal Music India
By Calcutta Tube Team / January 23, 2012
Suresh Wadkar sings Marathi ghazal
Sonu Nigam unveils ‘Tutiya Dil’ music
By Calcutta Tube Team / December 23, 2011
Hindi film ‘Ek Deewana Tha’ music launch
Bengali TV channel Star Jalsha registers 505 GRPs
Movie ‘Speedy Singhs’ (Breakaway) releases on Sept 23 in UK, India
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RLG launches Uhuru Classic smartphone in Ghana
RLG has officially launched its latest smartphone product, saying it is in line with the company’s goal of being the leader in the industry.
The Uhuru Classic, according to the company, has a lightweight size and a heavyweight style. It has an Android 4.2.1 operating system, front 2.0MP and rear 8.0MP cameras, as well as a 4.7 HD LCD 09 display, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS connectivity, 10.4GB ROM, and 1GB RAM.
Users can have their names engraved on the device when they pre-order from RLG’s website.
Alex Lu, global head of RLG, said: “A personalized mobile device should guarantee the privacy of its owner, which includes watching what you want when you want, where you want, without prying eyes. That is the very essence of limitless freedom which is granted by this latest device.”
Epson honoured at BLI’s Summer 2014 Pick Awards
Equity Bank cleared to launch MVNO normal SIM cards
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Christina backs Marie Curie Call
Christina McKelvie MSP has lent her support to help improve the lives of people in Scotland living with terminal illness.
Meeting with representatives from Marie Curie, the terminal illness charity recently, Christina was interested to hear about efforts to encourage people to think about their wishes for the end of their life and discuss preferences with loved ones.
The charity has published a free information resource to support conversations called ‘You Matter’, available to download from mariecurie.org.uk/youmatter
Marie Curie believes that starting with a simple conversation over cake and a cuppa can help tackle the stigma that exists around dying, death and bereavement.
Coinciding with their fundraising campaign Blooming Great Tea Party this month Marie Curie is encouraging people to ask friends, colleagues and family round for a tea party, bake sale or ‘Bake off’ style competition. Every donation raised at events help Marie Curie provide vital care and support to people living with terminal illness.
Last year there were over 600 Blooming Great Tea Party events in Scotland raising over £86,000, equating to over 4,300 hours of Marie Curie Nursing care.
Christina McKelvie MSP said:
“Marie Curie are the leading experts in providing sensitive, empathetic and tailored support for end of life care.
“Their ‘You Matter’ resource is a really important document which can help unlock those difficult and painful discussions regarding end of life preferences.
“It can start with something as simple as a conversation. Words can change the world, and by opening up to loved ones or professionals, we can all ensure everyone matters and that everyone has their wishes respected during their end of life care”.
Susan Lowes, Marie Curie Policy & Public Affairs Manager Scotland said:
“Sadly one in four people in Scotland aren’t getting the care they need at the end of their lives. By encouraging people to start with a simple conversation about their wishes we hope that we can empower everyone to play their part in improving end of life care.
There’s only one chance to get this right at the end of someone’s life, and everyone matters in making that a reality.”
To find out more about Blooming Great Tea Party and receive your free fundraising pack, call 0800 716 146 or visit www.mariecurie.org.uk/teaparty
Free Marie Curie Support and Information is available for anyone with questions about terminal illness. Contact 0800 090 2309 or visit mariecurie.org.uk/support
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The official web site of Super Bowl Champion
Biography & Stats
Pre-Season Game – Giants vs Steelers
Home/News/Pre-Season Game – Giants vs Steelers
Big Ben completed 4 of 8 passes for 36 yards in this one, leading the Steelers to a field goal on his second possession.
Final Score: Giants 18, Steelers 13
“I thought the line did a good job opening the holes and the zone blocking that everyone has stressed. We wanted to establish an identity early of running the ball, and I think we did a good job.” — Ben, post-game.
News, Notes & Quotes from the first one:
“Steelers take good with bad in preseason loss to Giants”
The Steelers didn’t like all there was to see of their 18-13 preseason loss to the New York Giants at Heinz Field on Saturday night…
“There were some positives and some negatives,” coach Mike Tomlin said.
The good: Stephens-Howling, expected to be a situational back, ran seven times for 40 yards and led a 13-play drive late in the first quarter that ended with a Shaun Suisham 34-yard field goal. The starters wound up playing 18 plays, or one-third more than the 12 that Tomlin projected.
“He has great vision, and he got outside and made some plays,” center Maurkice Pouncey said of Stephens-Howling, a former Pitt player from Johnstown.
Even as the 5-foot-7 Stephens-Howling bounced those runs outside, the Steelers used their new zone-blocking system only twice during the starters’ nine running plays.
“We wanted to establish an identity early of running the ball, and I think I did a good job with that,” Ben Roethlisberger said.
You can read more from Mr. Robinson here.
From Coach Tomlin’s post-game press conference:
What was your take on QB Ben Roethlisberger? It seems like it was a little bit rough, not necessarily on his part, but the delay of game, the sack – what was your take on it?
Coach T: He didn’t take a delay of game. He used a timeout. I didn’t have any problem with Ben’s performance. He did a nice job communicating and executing the offense. Some things happened from a communication standpoint that kind of happen quite often this time of year. We’ll move past it. No worries there.
You can watch video of his interview here.
You can see a few photos from the game here.
By admin|2013-08-11T16:06:50+00:00August 11th, 2013|News|0 Comments
A different kind of Fan Friday
Coach Tomlin: ‘In regard to Ben…’
AFC Wildcard Game: Browns 48, Steelers 37
2021’s first Lil’ Fan Friday
Copyright 2019 BigBen7.com | All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy
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ANTBITES (Media Releases)
CARTOONS & INFOGRAPHICS
Home CAPITAL RAISED Page 3
Hometime raises further $6.7 million and announces two more acquisitions in Melbourne and Cairns
Anthill Magazine - Dec 6, 2019
Hometime, Airbnb’s leading property management partner in the APAC region, has raised a further $6.7 million on top of a recent $6 million equity and venture debt funding round completed in May 2019.
The Netflix of live music is looking for Aussie investors following massive success
Established in 2016, GiggedIn has become a thriving monthly subscription platform that connects music loving Australians to more bands, DJ’s and festivals whilst saving money in the process.
Justin Hemmes & Tyro lead $8 million Series B funding round for hospitality mobile...
me&u, Australia’s mobile ordering & payment app for cafes, restaurants and bars, recently announced an AUD$8 million Series B funding round, as it sets itself up to expand interstate and enhance the product suite.
Suncorp invests $1.5 million in largest peer to peer car sharing platform, Car Next...
Anthill Magazine - Nov 27, 2019
The Suncorp investment was $1.5m. It’s also part of a $10 million funding round, raising up to a further $1,000,000 on the Equitise crowdfunding platform.
Melbourne transport startup Raine has the fastest funded electric vehicle in history
Melbourne-designed electric transport company Raine, backed by Blackbird Ventures, has hit its Kickstarter funding goal in only 43 minutes, becoming the fastest funded electric vehicle in history.
New workspace redefining flex work for women launches equity crowdfunding campaign to raise $2.5...
FRANKLY CO, an up-and-coming flexible workspace, community, and digital platform dedicated to helping women make work work, has launched an equity crowdfunding campaign with Birchal to raise up to $2.5 million to get off the ground.
FlexCareers raises $1.8 million to accelerate its HR technology platform roll-out
Anthill Magazine - Nov 8, 2019
FlexCareers, Australia and New Zealand’s leading platform for flexible jobs, return to work and future of work services has completed an oversubscribed convertible bond issue, raising $1.8 million to accelerate the roll out of its end-to-end HR technology platform.
Medicinal cannabis startup Greenfield MC Global launches equity crowdfunding round
Greenfield MC Global recently launched its equity crowd-sourced funding (CSF). After the success of Series A and B investment, the next round is suited to the overwhelming number of smaller investors who expressed interest in participating in the rapidly growing medicinal cannabis industry.
Lyka raises $500,000 in pre-seed funding round to improve the health of Australia’s pet...
Australia’s largest online tailored pet food subscription platform Lyka, announced it has raised AU$500,000 in a seed funding round to accelerate growth, expand its operations and expand it’s core team over the next 12 months.
Muso raises $1.5 million in seed funding round to grow Australia’s live music scene
Muso was founded in 2018 by co-founders, Jeremiah Siemianow, Brandon Crimmins and Alan Jin to help up-and-coming local musicians find and book live gigs, while enabling venues to uncover and access new talent.
Practice Ignition raises AU$26m Series B funding round to transform the accounting and bookkeeping...
Practice Ignition, a software solution for accountants, announced it has completed its Series B round, raising AU$26 million, led by Tiger Global Management.
AmazingCo raises $5.1m Series A funding round to bring moments of connectivity to the...
AmazingCo, the Melbourne-founded experiences platform that has expanded across 23 American cities in the past six months, recently announced it has closed a $5.1m Series A funding round, with participation from Aconex founders, Rampersand VC, Artesian and Macdoch Ventures.
Australian tech company Culture Amp raises US$82m (A$122m) to create a better world of...
The financing, which brings the total funds raised by the company to over USD$158million, will be used to accelerate Culture Amp’s global expansion and the development of innovative products and offerings that enable companies to build a better world of work.
Global VC bets on Australian quantum computing start-up Q-CTRL in US$15m Series A funding...
Since its founding in 2017, Q-CTRL has rapidly established itself as a global leader in the quantum computing space. In 2018 it was named as the only company outside of North America to be included in IBM's hand-picked network of startups working to advance the emerging quantum computing industry.
Parking app Parkable raises NZ$4.6 million in first-round funding led by Spark
The funds will be used to increase Parkable’s dominance of New Zealand’s shared economy parking market, further develop its presence in Australia and China and explore new international markets.
DC Power Co raises $1.6m in round two of its fight against the big...
Anthill Magazine - Sep 5, 2019
DC Power Co plans to unlock the collective power of Australia’s two million solar households to create a large-scale competitor to the big energy companies’ coal fired power plants.
Microlearning platform EdApp completes $4.25M follow on raise from SafetyCulture
EdApp is best known for its on-demand microlearning platform which offers companies across all industries, including retail, mining, FMCG and infrastructure, a more effective way to onboard, motivate and train employees.
Australia’s first baby product review site raises $5.5 million to accelerate national growth and...
Local startup and baby product review site, Tell Me Baby, has completed a $5.5 million capital raise in a bid to accelerate its growth within Australia and prepare for its e-commerce launch into China
Telstra-backed AI startup Near raises US$100M to fuel expansion and roll out new platform...
Near, the platform that uses AI to make real-world data actionable, today announced that it has raised USD$100M (AUD$143M) in a Series D funding round.
Blockchain startup Lumachain raises $3.5 million to shine the spotlight on $1.5 trillion food...
Gerald Ainomugisha - Aug 15, 2019
Lumachain’s solution has the potential to make food production, manufacturing, and delivery safer, more efficient, and transparent.
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About Antioch
NYTimes Critics Pick of Antioch’s CD (though love be a day)
“Sure, you could just play Handel’s “Messiah” between now and Christmas. Or for a fresh-yet-almost-ancient-sounding alternative, dip into this quietly mesmerizing recording of choral works — some with subtle instrumental accompaniment — by Matthew Brown. Using texts by Donne, Byron, Burns and Cummings, as well as the Wintu people, a native Californian tribe now extinct, Mr. Brown spins delicate harmonies that build up like gentle snowdrifts. (Corinna da Fonseca-Wollheim)”
NYTimes Review of our Gesualdo Reflections Concert
‘Gesualdo Reflections’ at Good Shepherd-Faith Presbyterian
By CORINNA da FONSECA-WOLLHEIM
The two things that come most readily to mind about Carlo Gesualdo are that he butchered his wife and her lover, and that he wrote extraordinary music. The complex harmonies and extreme chromaticism of his madrigals, written at the turn of the 17th century, are so viscerally unsettling that people tend to grasp for familiar points of reference to make sense of them. Aldous Huxley thought he heard Schoenberg in them. The composer and critic Philip Arnold Heseltine saw in them a prefiguration of Wagner. Stravinsky saw Picasso.
The specter of Gesualdo, who died 400 years ago in September, continues to haunt the imagination of composers. On Thursday evening the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center presented “Gesualdo Reflections,” a program that contrasted performances of his madrigals with works by living composers that quoted, incorporated or alluded to his music.
The concert, which was held in the Good Shepherd-Faith Presbyterian Church on West 66th Street in Manhattan, began and ended with shots of undiluted Gesualdo that offered a reminder of the third indisputable fact regarding his music: that it is fiendishly difficult to sing. The Antioch Chamber Ensemble performed it with clarity of tone and intonation so pure that you could hear the buzz of overtones created by some of the close harmonies. The most daring of these often color the sighs and wordless exclamations that punctuate both spiritual and secular texts, and the Antioch singers gave each its expressive register: impassioned, weak-kneed, swooning.
“O Gesualdo, Divine Tormentor!” written in 2004 by Bruce Adolphe is a transcription of five Gesualdo madrigals for string quartet, including “Moro lasso,” and an “Epilogue: Momenti” made up of lines by Gesualdo spliced together. Tucked in between like a cuckoo’s egg is Mr. Adolphe’s “More or Less,” a witty reaction to “Moro lasso” that features exaggerated slides, sharp harmonic accents and a deep, impatient groove in the cello. The excellent Brentano String Quartet gave it a probing and rhythmically vigorous performance that drew together its disparate components into an inner dialogue.
That dialogue continued in Brett Dean’s “Sparge la Morte for Cello, Five Voices, and Tape” (2006), Wolfgang Rihm’s selections from “Seven Passion Texts for Six Voices” (2001-06) and David Gompper’s “Musica Segreta” for piano and string trio (1996, revised 2006). In Mr. Dean’s work the solo cello, played by the Brentano’s emotionally fearless cellist, Nina Lee, brackets Gesualdo’s madrigal with a high searching line, which eventually converses with an electronically sampled version of itself, an effect both disorienting and poignant.
The pianist Soyeon Kate Lee brought her sensitive playing to Mr. Gompper’s “Musica Segreta,” in which she joined Ms. Lee and the Brentano’s first violinist, Mark Steinberg, and violist, Misha Amory. Here Gesualdo’s music is sublimated more fully into Mr. Gompper’s own Modernist language with chiseled rhythms, brilliant sound and the occasional big gesture. When the opening of Gesualdo’s madrigal “Beltà, poi che t’assenti” appears toward the end in the strings, it does so with the flickering insubstantiality of a hologram.
There was no recognizable Gesualdo in the two Passion motets by Mr. Rihm, which used the same texts as Gesualdo’s Tenebrae Responsories, but the densely chromatic music, interspersed by cluster chords that were as dissonant as they were scintillating, had a clear kinship with Gesualdo’s psychologically probing and emotionally raw language.
Review of Antioch’s performance at the Shandelee Music Festival:
Review by Barry Plaxen
SHANDELEE, NY (August 12, 2012) – Breaking with “tradition,” the Shandelee Music Festival brought a choral group to Livingston Manor for the final concert of the 2012 Festival on August 11, 2012, prior to the two forthcoming solo piano recitals of the International Artists of Shandelee on August 16 and 18.
The decision to add choral music to the mix of instrumental and chamber performances seems to have come form Festival Co-director Daniel Stroup who is a choral conductor at the United Nations School in New York City. One of his student choirs rehearsed in the Sunset Pavilion at Shandelee and when Stroup heard the voices in the venue he knew he wanted to present a choral concert there.
The New York City based Antioch Chamber Ensemble is currently celebrating its 15th season of music-making under the leadership of founding Artistic Director Joshua Copeland… With the Shandelee hall’s amazingly clear, sharp and stunningly resonant acoustics, the just under a dozen voices presented a program of sacred and secular songs that literally rang out with beautiful tones wafting through the space.
The selections performed varied from Renaissance to Contemporary, with songs by John Sheppard, Jan Sweelinck, Giovanni Gastoldi, Alice Parker, Ivo Antognini (who discovered the group on youtube and contacted Copeland), Eric Whitacre, Matthew Brown and with jazz pieces by Brown and Greg Jaspere. There were piano accompaniments for a few works.
At a concert such as this, “the singing’s the thing.” Hearing the vocal line separations and both consonant and dissonant melding harmonies, the swelling and diminishing sounds and variety of short selections is what it is all about. But I must add that when music by masters is also performed, thrills happen.
Reviews of Antioch’s CD, The Passing of the Year:
“The excellent choir ACE under Joshua Copeland… Excellent performances…”
Turok’s Choice, Issue No.229 ~ February 2011
“The Antioch Chamber Ensemble… sing with an unaffected verve and tight ensemble unity that many other groups can only envy… the program as a whole is very satisfying… Jonathan Dove’s The Passing of the Year…is a fine cycle of no little invention and dramatic effect… the ACE brings a lot of energy and drive, not to mention subtlety and substance to all of this music, captured in great sound during the festival… Bravo to all concerned.”
Steve Ritter, Audiophile Audition ~ February 2011
“[In] Whitacre’s Sleep [the] singers are joined by piano and violin in sensitive performances by Christine Chang and Jennifer Cho, respectively. Indeed, Chang, the choir’s regular pianist, is unfailingly attentive to the needs of the music in this piece as well as the Dove…part of the choir’s success is its ability to characterize each piece fully, communicating its individuality; they make the performance about the listener, not the singer. The five songs to poems about roses by Morten Lauridsen are delightful, the choir again finding the perfect characterization: fresh yet sweet, matching Lauridsen’s tender but dry-eyed response to Rilke’s passionate words to produce something utterly charming… a remarkably successful disc… I am certain that any listener will appreciate and value these excellent performances by an outstanding choir.”
Jeremy Marchant, Fanfare ~ March/April 2011
“Copeland and his 11 fellow performers clearly appreciate the bitterness and hurt in the text and music [by Morton Lauridsen]. Textures are spare, the tempos initially swifter than other recordings, and the effect almost madrigal-like at times, despite modern harmonies… [The Whitacre] performances are the more moving for their luminous clarity. The earlyThree Flower Songs in particular engage both ear and heart, every line clear, every chord impeccably tuned, and the text beautifully projected. Antioch ’s other Whitacre is comparable… Pride of place, however, must be given to the premiere recording of the choral version of Whitacre’s settings of Hila Plitmann’s Five Hebrew Love Songs. Heard here with piano accompaniment and Jennifer Cho’s elegant solo violin, the instruments underline the Semitic flavor of the work, now blended with, now standing apart from the voices in what is an ideal setting of his wife’s fragile, evocative verse. A recording of the string quartet version has just been released on Decca with the Eric Whitacre Singers, but this one is something special, not least for the wonderfully sensitive instrumental accompaniment… [Belmont Ford’s setting of] If Music Be the Food of Love suggests she should be better represented. This charming part-song, beautifully performed, is harmonically of a type with Whitacre and Lauridsen… The 12-voice Antioch Chamber Ensemble…projects the complex eight-part writing [of The Passing of the Year] with remarkable authority. As elsewhere in this program, the flawless blend, excellent intonation, and enthusiastic but sensitive phrasing of these relatively young artists, pure and slightly bright in the English style, assures aural bliss… The recordings…are crystal-clear without being analytical, the parts distinct, but the voices beautifully integrated into the ensemble, with a nice sense of space but no excessive reverberation… make sure to grab this second release while it is available.”
Ronald E. Grames, Fanfare ~ March/April 2011
“…this is a top-notch ensemble with extraordinarily fine blend and balance, unanimity of attack, intonation, and rhythmic accuracy… To those attracted to this repertoire, this disc is definitely recommended.”
James Altena, Fanfare ~ March/April 2011
“Without question…a commendable choir. They can be bright and engaging in selections like ‘Answer July’. A poignant hush descends for the opening bars of Whitacre’s ‘Sleep’ and for appropriate moments in the Hebrew Love Songs as well. Emotional entry into the music is admirable in all respects… an attractive program.”
Greenfield, American Record Guide ~ January / February 2011
Prime Piccolo at St. Philips Church, Charleston, SC
Posted by Lindsay Koob on Sun, May 30, 2010 at 4:00 AM
Happily, I was able to make it to my first Piccolo event Saturday afternoon. Trust me when I say — from long experience — that Spoleto USA’s little sister festival consistently manages to attract quite a few world-class acts in all areas of the performing arts, and yesterday’s performers fall into that exalted category.
Antioch is a fabulous New Jersey-based professional mini-chamber choir (12 voices) that’s been performing in Piccolo’s generally excellent Spotlight on the Art of Choral Music Series for years. I first heard them here a few years back, and have been looking for a chance ever since to again wallow in their sweet sonorities and relish anew their rare choral artistry.
Perhaps the most revealing thing I can tell you about the ensemble’s quality is that about half of its members are alumni of the vaunted Westminster Choir, Spoleto USA’s world-famous resident chorus. Their appearance at St. Philip’s Church offered a winning array of mostly a cappella choral classics, both ancient and modern, plus some really cool jazz.
They got going with a set of five Italian Madrigals: secular choral confections from the late renaissance that tend to celebrate things like the beauties of springtime and the joys of romance, or to bitterly mourn lost or unrequited love. Among others, we enjoyed a frolicsome number about beautiful shepherdesses (lots of “fa-la-la’s”) by Giovanni Gastoldi, a keenly mournful jilted suitor’s lament by Cipriano de Rore, and an especially gorgeous item about love’s ecstasy by Claudio Monteverdi,– with its adroit canonic layering of vocal lines. Next came the jazz numbers: three of them, all by rising composer Greg Jasperse. We heard “Oh How Beautiful, this Finely Woven Earth,” an original composition, followed by a lovely arrangement of the popular song “Fields of Gold.” The best-known piece was “VoiceDance,” a happy wordless vocal romp that recalls the art of scat-singing. And all of it is real jazz, both in terms of rhythm and harmony, yet the composer achieves classically brainy levels of sophistication and refinement that would make these pieces at home in any serious choral event. With them, Antioch revealed an entirely different sort of vocal warmth and laid-back expressiveness.
Finally, we were treated to the evening’s true novelties. The first was “Though Love be a Day,” the world premiere performance of a cunningly crafted E.E. Cummings setting by Matthew Brown, a young composer who studied with American choral icon Morten Lauridsen. Brown, as explained by founding director Joshua Copeland, sent the piece to Antioch after discovering them on YouTube. The singers, loving the music, ran with it, and for good reason: it’s a sweet and warmly accessible work, offering ingenious harmonic structure and direct emotional appeal.
The final selection was The City and the Sea, a new five-piece cycle (again, setting poems by E.E. Cummings) by American choral wizard Eric Whitacre. Antioch recently delivered in its world premiere performance, and they’ll be giving its European premiere in an upcoming tour. Not just any old choir gets to do this composer’s premieres. The music, like the poetry it sets, tends to be whimsical and wondering, almost like nursery rhymes. Whitacre’s usual inventive tonal structures beguiled our ears, and the piano accompaniment was downright startling, consisting mostly of tone-clusters that enveloped the choral sonorities in a kind of surreal harmonic haze.
Bravo to accompanist Christine Chang for pulling this very tricky material off splendidly. The happy crowd’s spontaneous standing O got us a sweet encore: “Sleep,” a well-known earlier piece from Whitacre, a soft and sensual marvel in which the composer makes a truly beautiful thing of dissonance. Antioch’s interpretations glowed and glittered throughout, offering melting tonal beauty, dead-on intonation, exquisitely nuanced phrasing, tremendous dynamic range and faultless technique.
This concert will continue to haunt me for days. And to think: this sterling ensemble is but one of many reasons why music lovers should take Piccolo Spoleto very seriously. Afterward, I was touched to witness the reunion of director Copeland with his revered mentor, Dr. Joseph Flummerfelt, former Westminster Choral Director (and still Spoleto USA’s cherished choral director), who had come to bear proud witness to the consummate artistry of his protégés. What a joy it must be for him to count artists like these among his life’s work.
© 2016 by Antioch Chamber Ensemble. All Rights Reserved.
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Conceptual Ecological Modelling of Shallow Sublittoral Mud Habitats to Inform Indicator Selection.
Coates, D. A., Alexander, D., Stafford, R. and Herbert, R. J.H., 2015. Conceptual Ecological Modelling of Shallow Sublittoral Mud Habitats to Inform Indicator Selection. Technical Report. Peterborough: JNCC.
This is the latest version of this eprint.
JNCC Report Conecptual Modelling of Shallow Sublittoral Muds.pdf - Published Version
Overview model Mud v1.0.pdf
Submodel 1. Tube Building Fauna - CONFIDENCE.pdf
Submodel 1. Tube Building Fauna v1.0.pdf
Submodel 2. Burrowing Fauna -CONFIDENCE.pdf
Submodel 2. Burrowing Faunas v1.0.pdf
Submodel 3. Suspension and deposit feeding infauna - CONFIDENCE.pdf
Submodel 3. Suspension and deposit feeding infauna v1.0.pdf
Submodel 4. Epifauna, predators and scavengers - CONFIDENCE.pdf
Submodel 4. Epifauna, predators and scavengers v1.0.pdf
Submodel 5. Echinoderms and Sessile Epifauna - CONFIDENCE.pdf
Submodel 5. Echinoderms and Sessile Epifauna v1.0.pdf
Official URL: http://www.jncc.gov.uk/
The purpose of this study is to produce a series of Conceptual Ecological Models (CEMs) that represent the shallow sublittoral mud habitat in the UK. CEMs are diagrammatic representations of the influences and processes that occur within an ecosystem. The models can be used to identify critical aspects of an ecosystem that may be developed for further study, or serve as the basis for the selection of indicators for environmental monitoring purposes. The models produced by this project are ‘control diagrams’, representing the unimpacted state of the environment, free from anthropogenic pressures. It is intended that the models produced by this project will be used to guide indicator selection for the monitoring of this habitat in UK waters. CEMs will eventually be produced for a range of habitat types defined under the UK Marine Biodiversity Monitoring R&D Programme (UKMBMP), which, along with stressor models designed to show the interactions within impacted habitats, would form the basis of a robust method for indicator selection. This project builds on the work to develop CEMs for shallow sublittoral coarse sediment habitats (Alexander. 2014). The project scope included the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) predominant habitat type ‘shallow sublittoral mud’. This definition includes those habitats that fall into the EUNIS Level 4 classifications A5.33 Infralittoral Sandy Mud, A5.34 Infralittoral Fine Mud, A5.35 Circalittoral Sandy Mud and A5.36 Circalittoral Fine Mud, along with their constituent Level 5 biotopes which are relevant to UK waters. A species list of characterising fauna to be included within the scope of the models was identified using an iterative process to refine the full list of species found within the relevant Level 5 biotopes. A literature review was conducted using a pragmatic and iterative approach to gather evidence regarding species traits and information that would be used to inform the models and the interactions that occur within the shallow sublittoral mud habitat. All information gathered during the literature review was entered into a data logging pro forma spreadsheet which accompanies this report. Wherever possible, attempts were made to collect information from UK-specific peer-reviewed studies, although other sources were used where necessary. All data gathered was subject to a detailed confidence assessment. Expert judgement by the project team was utilised to provide information for aspects of the models for which references could not be sourced within the project timeframe. A model hierarchy was developed based on groups of fauna with similar species traits which aligned with previous sensitivity studies of ecological groups. One general control model was produced that indicated the high level drivers, inputs, biological assemblages, ecosystem processes and outputs that occur in shallow sublittoral mud habitats. In addition to this, five detailed sub-models were produced, which each focussed on a particular functional group of fauna within the habitat: tube building fauna, burrowing fauna, suspension and deposit feeding infauna, mobile epifauna, scavengers and predators, and echinoderms and sessile epifauna. Each sub-model is accompanied by an associated confidence model that presents confidence in the links between each model component. The models are split into seven levels and take spatial and temporal scale into account through their design, as well as magnitude and direction of influence. The seven levels include regional to global drivers, water column processes, local inputs/processes at the seabed, habitat and biological assemblage, output processes, local ecosystem functions, and regional to global ecosystem functions. The models indicate that whereas the high level drivers which affect each functional group are largely similar, the output processes performed by the biota and the resulting ecosystem functions vary both in number and importance between groups. Confidence within the Conceptual Ecological Modelling of Shallow Sublittoral Mud Habitats models as a whole is generally high, reflecting the level of information gathered during the literature review. Important drivers that influence the ecosystem include factors such as wave exposure, depth, water currents, climate and propagule supply. These factors, in combination with seabed and water column processes, such as primary production, suspended sediments, water chemistry, temperature and recruitment define and influence the food sources consumed by the biological assemblages of the habitat, and the biological assemblages themselves. In addition, the habitat sediment type plays an important factor in shaping the biology of the habitat. Output processes performed by the biological assemblage are variable between functional faunal groups depending on the specific fauna present and the role they perform within the ecosystem. Important processes include secondary production, biodeposition, bioturbation, bioengineering and the supply of propagules; these in turn influence ecosystem functions at the local scale such as nutrient and biogeochemical cycling, supply of food resources, sediment stability, habitat provision and in some cases microbial activity. The export of biodiversity and organic matter, biodiversity enhancement and biotope stability are the resulting ecosystem functions that occur at the regional to global scale. Features within the models that are most useful for monitoring habitat status and change due to natural variation have been identified; as have those which may be useful for monitoring to identify anthropogenic causes of change within the ecosystem. Physical and chemical features of the ecosystem have mostly been identified as potential indicators to monitor natural variation, whilst biological factors have predominantly been identified as most likely to indicate change due to anthropogenic pressures.
Monograph (Technical Report)
Conceptual Ecological Modelling of Shallow Sublittoral Mud Habitats to Inform Indicator Selection. (deposited 18 Aug 2015 10:50)
Conceptual Ecological Modelling of Shallow Sublittoral Mud Habitats to Inform Indicator Selection. (deposited 02 Oct 2015 10:32) [Currently Displayed]
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Ancient artifacts revealed as northern ice patches melt
Published: Monday, April 26, 2010 - 12:15 in Paleontology & Archaeology
High in the Mackenzie Mountains, scientists are finding a treasure trove of ancient hunting tools being revealed as warming temperatures melt patches of ice that have been in place for thousands of years. Tom Andrews, an archaeologist with the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre in Yellowknife and lead researcher on the International Polar Year Ice Patch Study, is amazed at the implements being discovered by researchers.
"We're just like children opening Christmas presents. I kind of pinch myself," says Andrews.
Ice patches are accumulations of annual snow that, until recently, remained frozen all year. For millennia, caribou seeking relief from summer heat and insects have made their way to ice patches where they bed down until cooler temperatures prevail. Hunters noticed caribou were, in effect, marooned on these ice islands and took advantage.
"I'm never surprised at the brilliance of ancient hunters anymore. I feel stupid that we didn't find this sooner," says Andrews.
Ice patch archeology is a recent phenomenon that began in Yukon. In 1997, sheep hunters discovered a 4,300-year-old dart shaft in caribou dung that had become exposed as the ice receded. Scientists who investigated the site found layers of caribou dung buried between annual deposits of ice. They also discovered a repository of well-preserved artifacts.
Andrews first became aware of the importance of ice patches when word about the Yukon find started leaking out. "We began wondering if we had the same phenomenon here."
In 2000, he cobbled together funds to buy satellite imagery of specific areas in the Mackenzie Mountains and began to examine ice patches in the region. Five years later, he had raised enough to support a four-hour helicopter ride to investigate two ice patches. The trip proved fruitful.
"Low and behold, we found a willow bow." That discovery led to a successful application for federal International Polar Year funds which have allowed an interdisciplinary team of researchers to explore eight ice patches for four years.
The results have been extraordinary. Andrews and his team have found 2400-year-old spear throwing tools, a 1000-year-old ground squirrel snare, and bows and arrows dating back 850 years. Biologists involved in the project are examining dung for plant remains, insect parts, pollen and caribou parasites. Others are studying DNA evidence to track the lineage and migration patterns of caribou. Andrews also works closely with the Shutaot'ine or Mountain Dene, drawing on their guiding experience and traditional knowledge.
"The implements are truly amazing. There are wooden arrows and dart shafts so fine you can't believe someone sat down with a stone and made them."
Andrews is currently in a race against time. His IPY funds have run out and he is keenly aware that each summer, the patches continue to melt. In fact, two of the eight original patches have already disappeared.
"We realize that the ice patches are continuing to melt and we have an ethical obligation to collect these artifacts as they are exposed," says Andrews. If left on the ground, exposed artifacts would be trampled by caribou or dissolved by the acidic soils. "In a year or two the artifacts would be gone."
Source: Arctic Institute of North America
Articles on the same topic
Melting sea ice major cause of warming in Arctic, new study reveals
Wed, 28 Apr 2010, 17:55:19 UTC
Arctic ice melt reveals ancient artifacts
from UPI
Thu, 29 Apr 2010, 22:10:20 UTC
from Physorg
Melting Arctic ice reveals hunting weapons
from CBC: Technology & Science
Tue, 27 Apr 2010, 12:50:33 UTC
Ancient tools revealed by melting Arctic ice
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By George Barnes on November 20, 2008 in Exotic Dancers, Male Strippers
I have traveled across America to witness the performances of male strippers. After attending many male revue shows, only the best are selected to join the HB Strippers team. I have documented specific traits that the certain gentleman exotic dancers possessed. The following four major cities have made major contributions to the training and development of America’s top male strippers.
Male strippers in Chicago have a burlesque quality about them. The weekly male stage show performances at the Pink Monkey in Chicago are quickly gaining popularity much like the competitive male revue show called the Thunder from Down Under. This male revue show in Chicago is called the Chicago Hunks and includes a performance unmatched in quality and structure. One or two male strippers sing a song during the show to win over the female audience. Between the female comedian that warms up the audience before the show, the hot male strippers from Chicago, and the dynamic videos and lighting, there is nothing like a show from the Chicago Hunks to make your night anything but ordinary.
Male Review Shows in Las Vegas are methodical operations of masculine proportions. The wide range of talent coming from local and abroad combine to create a synergistic show comprised of exotic adventures. Male strippers in Las Vegas are among the best paid in the world. The unusual pay scale causes the performers to have a cocky attitude. Many Las Vegas male strippers work 6 to 7 days a week which gives them an unfair advantage over Chicago or Los Angeles strippers who were three or four nights a week. The sheer mass numbers of female audience members that get pumped through the Las Vegas strip clubs contribute to the financial success of these lucky male strippers.
New York male strippers are as diverse as the boroughs the live in. The beefy chaps from the Bronx can bring an attitude not seen by other US male strippers. The queens that come from Queens have that extra flair in their step that may not be liked by some members of the female audience. Only male strippers in Los Angeles have a higher percentage of gay male exotic dancers in the industry compared to New York. Male revue shows in New York have more of a theatrical overtone because of lighter footwork and smaller body frames. The New York gentleman performers have an ability to accurately dance hip-hop as opposed to the lampoon style of amateur strippers found at local strip clubs.
Male strippers in Los Angeles are nimble and flexible enough to perform more salsa dancing than the other exotic dancers throughout the country. This typically may not be categorized as mannish behavior, but ordinary male strippers do not to win the hearts of their female audience members like the LA male strippers do. I can personally do without the flamboyant costumes that are found in the Los Angeles male revue shows, but it is still great adult entertainment.
In conclusion, I have found that male strippers in highly populated cities like New York, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and Chicago perform brilliant male revue shows compared to less populated states like Idaho or Wyoming. I believe the large void in provision of male revue shows can be filled with the traveling team of superstar male strippers called the Chicago Hunks.
gentlemen strippers, male exotic dancers, male review shows, male stripper, Male Strippers
Los Angeles Male Strippers
The Hottest Girls Are Female Strippers
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Posted on March 29, 2020 March 29, 2020 by babatim
Apocalypse Not # 6 Reality is Disrupting the Legacy Media Narrative
I started the Apocalypse Not series because I do not trust computer modeling nor do I trust any experts warning of apocalyptic doom based on computer modeling. As Richard Fernandez who writes the Belmont Club blog observed: “My dear old statistics teacher used to say that relying on any model however good but founded on past data was like driving by looking at the rearview mirror; fine as long as the future looked like the past“.
It is now clear the future does not look like the past. I knew a flu virus, that had the same symptomology as the Wuhan flu, swept through the Rio Grande Valley last December/January, Given the reported virulence of the Wuhan strain, it made sense to conclude what had swept the valley was the Wuhan flu. This mild form of Wuhan was no picnic, my wife has never been so sick, for so long, as she was around Christmas.
I went on to note that on March 3rd scientist has identified two strains of the Wuhan virus, one that spreads quickly but is relatively mild, and one that spreads slowly that is dangerous. That explained to me what we experienced last Christmas, but my speculation was met with alarm by my liberal friends (and I have many who I value and respect) who responded with arguments from authority that stressed I was no expert and should not be commenting on topics I do not understand.
But then I remembered I was an expert, one of the few people who has ever deployed ashore off naval shipping into a combat zone to hunt down a microscopic pathogen that was turning into a killer. I mentioned this tongue in cheek, I was a navy corpsman, trained as a advanced medical laboratory technician, sent ashore to obtain and process samples identified by environmental health officers who were the real experts. It is on such thin gruel claims of expertise are often made.
HM2 Tim ‘Doc’ Lynch ashore in Beirut in February 1984 hunting down the source of a nasty typhoid outbreak at the Beirut Airport
Despite not being a real expert it now seems the rest of the world is catching up to me. This morning USA Today published an article saying there are 8 strains of the Wuhan circulating the globe. Plus the fatality numbers in the USA are not adding up (as I have been pointing out for a month now) with most of our cases being confined to New York City.
Existential crises reveal the character of both our leaders and the people. The governors of Washington State, Michigan, and Nevada have been revealed to be not only incompetent, but cowardly. The Governor of New York and the mayor of New York City have been revealed as opportunistic. They are cooperating with the Trump administration to cover for their gross incompetence in emergency management preparation. It is no coincidence that New York City is getting slammed by the flu, they were completely unprepared.
Our country has unprecedented wealth, leisure, economic freedom, and security because men who are the antithesis of Mayor de Blasio and Governor Cuomo have eradicated every existential threat to the people of the United States. Those two men are directly responsible for the lack of preparation in New York. As Julie Kelly, writing in American Greatness observed;
A public policy researcher in 2015 detailed long waits in New York City emergency rooms. The head of the emergency department for the Mount Sinai hospital system quit in 2018 after less than a year on the job.
“I had to follow my moral compass and leave and decide this is not an organization that cares for patients,” Dr. Eric Barton told the New York Post.
Last year, city nurses threatened to strike due to overcrowding at three major hospital systems. “Nurse Anthony Ciampa said he had to choose recently between feeding an elderly patient at New York Presbyterian and treating several acutely ill patients because there weren’t enough other nurses on duty,” according to a March 2019 report in the Daily News.
And the outcry about ventilators? State officials were informed several years ago that the stockpile of ventilators was woefully inadequate to handle a severe pandemic. But instead of preparing for a looming crisis and buying 16,000 ventilators, the state’s health commissioner formed a task force to develop a system to ration the life-saving equipment. The task force “came up with rules that will be imposed when ventilators run short,” the New York Post reported last week.
I expect gross incompetence from big city governments and democratic governors. They have been focused for years on ramming through their progressive agenda while painting all opponents as virulent racists or stupid hicks who don’t understand the need to eviscerate our traditional relationship with governmental organizations. What is alarming to me is the new intolerance of dissent on display in the chattering classes. As Brandon O’Neil observed;
…the implacable rage against anyone who deviates from the Covid-19 script and asks if shutting down society really is the right thing to do. Like medieval scolds, they brand such people dangerous, insane, a virus, accessories to manslaughter. ‘Shut them down!’, they cry, thinking they are signalling their concern for the public’s health when really they are advertising their profound contempt for freedom of thought and critical debate.
We do not know how badly the over-reaction to this virus will hurt our economy. We do not know how many citizens will be financially ruined by the heavy-handed response. What we can safely assume is that measures to control the public (smart phone tracking for one) will be part of our lives from this day forward. That is not good.
What is also not good is our crappy main stream media. Here is the perfect example of how crappy they can be (hat tip to the Mark Margolis at PJ media):
Here are the top six countries by confirmed cases (based on the case numbers from the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University as of 2:30 pm ET March 27) in descending order:
USA (94,238)
Spain (64,059)
Germany (49,344)
Iran (32,332)
Now, here are the top six countries by confirmed cases per capita (based on population numbers from the CIA World Fact Book):
Italy (1386.13)
Spain (1280.78)
Germany (615.57)
France (436.17)
Iran (380.72)
USA (283.30)
The United States’ confirmed cases are the lowest of the top six countries affected by the virus. Yet the media and the shitbird democrats want you to believe we are far behind the curve because Orange Man Bad. This nightmare will end sooner than you think. When it does, the public officials who displayed gross incompetence, who used this crisis for personal gain, and who refused to work with the federal government because Orange Man Bad, should be voted out of office. The politicians who loaded the stimulus bill with traditional DC pork should become social pariahs.
The MSM is trying to make you believe that the coronavirus in the United States is spiraling out of control. They want you (you dumbasses) to understand Orange Man Bad when the majority of us think he’s doing a good job. But the most ergregious crime of this crisis is the destruction of our economy. For that the press, the alarmist governors, and the so-called “experts” who continue to cry wolf in the face of solid evidence they are wrong should pay a steep price.
No matter what happens de Blasio, Schumer, Pelosi and that strange looking woman who is now the governor of Michigan (wasn’t she a he before and a olympic decathlon winner)? will do fine because they have no skin in the game. Destroying our economy will cause no disruption in their lives, they don’t stand in line for toilet paper, they know there will always be a respirator and hospital bed for them, they will always get a paycheck, and they will always have well compensated employment.
This crisis should spell the end of virtue signaling politicians. As this lockdown continues we shall see what the consequences are for shills who ruined millions of American families for their own vanity. If this lasts for months, without the massive numbers of deaths we are being told are inevitable; there will be blood.
CategoriesAfghanistan
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Alex:Rose3IzKRosIzFuturIzJaRoseIz1
This archive page should be relatively self-explanatory. I've organised the comics into groups of six (corresponding to two weeks' worth of comics) and named each group. Clicking on any of the dates on the page will take you to the comic published on that date.
March 3 - 14, 2014: Rose
2014-03-03 2014-03-05 2014-03-07 2014-03-10 2014-03-12 2014-03-14
March 17 - 28, 2014: Family Matters
March 31 - April 11, 2014: Not Quite Sherlock
2014-03-31 April Fool! 2014-04-02 2014-04-04 2014-04-07 2014-04-09 2014-04-11
April 14 - 25, 2014: Mutual Stalking
April 28 - May 9, 2014: Hot Potato, Pass It On
2014-04-28 2014-04-30 2014-05-02 2014-05-05 2014-05-07 2014-05-09 Mother's Day
May 12 - 23, 2014: Möbius
May 26 - June 6, 2014: Musical Friends
June 9 - 20, 2014: Street-Corner Consulting
2014-06-09 2014-06-11 2014-06-13 Father's Day 2014-06-16 2014-06-18 2014-06-20
June 23 - July 4, 2014: Familiarity Breeds Contempt
July 7 - 18, 2014: Friendship 101
July 21 - August 1, 2014: Aunt Chaotic
August 4 - 15, 2014: In Her Room
August 18 - 29, 2014: A Little Bit of Random
September 1 - 13, 2014: Questions and Non-Answers
2014-09-01 2014-09-03 2014-09-05 2014-09-08 2014-09-10 2014-09-12 WoB Kickstarter
September 15 - 26, 2014: School Again, School Again, Damnity Damn
September 29 - October 10, 2014: Pride Goeth
2014-09-29 2014-10-01 "The Power of Love" 2014-10-03 2014-10-06 2014-10-08 2014-10-10
October 13 - 24, 2014: Before a Fall
October 27 - November 7, 2014: Maggie
November 10 - 21, 2014: Frozen
November 24 - December 5, 2014: Aftermath
December 8 - 19, 2014: School Is Always Terrible
December 22, 2014 - January 2, 2015: Alone and Palely Loitering
January 5 - 16, 2015: Rose Is Rose
January 19 - 30, 2015: Avoidance for Beginners
February 2 - 13, 2015: Going Retro
February 16 - 27, 2015: Let's Do the Time Warp Again
March 2 - 13, 2015: Secret Keeping
2015-03-02 1st Anniversary 2015-03-04 2015-03-06 Debs & Errol Farewell 2015-03-09 2015-03-11 2015-03-13
March 16 - 27, 2015: Over to You, Jacqueline
March 30 - April 10, 2015: Bully vs. Bully
April 13 - 24, 2015: Possible Mad Science
April 27 - May 8, 2015: Riddlicious
May 11 - 22, 2015: Need to Know
May 25 - June 5, 2015: Turning Left
June 8 - 19, 2015: MATH EXAAAAAAAM!
2015-06-08 2015-06-10 2015-06-12 2015-06-15 2015-06-17 2015-06-19 Father's Day
June 22 - July 3, 2015: The Door into Weirdness
2015-06-22 2015-06-24 2015-06-26 Marriage Equality 2015-06-29 2015-07-01 2015-07-03
July 6 - 12, 2015: Tiny Nudges
July 13 - 19, 2015: Spreading Ripples
July 20 - 26, 2015: The Beard Is Weird Indeed
July 27 - August 2, 2015: Adventures in Babysitting
August 3 - 9, 2015: Sisters
August 10 - 16, 2015: Wind Up
August 17 - 23, 2015: Bouquet
August 24 - 2015: You Know Nothing, Rose Malory
August 31 - September 11, 2015: The Year of Doom
September 14 - 25, 2015: Angst to the Future
September 28 - October 9, 2015: Existential Sulking
October 12 - 23, 2015: None So Blind
October 26 - November 6, 2015: Almost Definite Mad Science
November 9 - 20, 2015: Impossibilities
November 23 - December 4, 2015: Fuzzy Math
December 7 - 18, 2015: Under the Microscope(s)
December 21, 2015 - January 1, 2016: Popping In and Out
Januaey 4 -15, 2016: Enemy Mine
January 18 - 29, 2016: The Frustration Awakens
February 1 - 14, 2016: Future Prep
2016-02-01 2016-02-03 2016-02-05 2016-02-08 2016-02-10 2016-02-12 Valentine's Day
February 15 - 26, 2016: Aunts and Experiments
February 29 - March 11, 2016: We Could Have Scienced All Night
2016-02-29 2016-03-02 2nd Anniversary 2016-03-04 2016-03-07 2016-03-09 2016-03-11
March 14 - 25, 2016: Stuck
March 28 - April 8, 2016: Intergenerational Communication
2016-03-28 2016-03-30 April Fool! 2016-04-02 2016-04-04 2016-04-06 2016-04-08
April 11 - 22, 2016: Back to the Future
April 25 - May 6, 2016: Too Much Into the Future
2016-04-25 2016-04-27 2016-04-29 2016-05-02 2016-05-04 2016 -05-06 (& Mother's Day)
May 9 - 20, 2016: Just the One of Us
May 23 - June 3, 2016: Easing Back In
June 6 - 17, 2016: Passing Notes
June 20 - July 1, 2016: Practice
July 4 - 10, 2016: Makes Perfect
July 11 - 17, 2016: The Doctor Is In
July 18 - 24, 2016: Missing
July 25 - 31, 2016: Back and Forward to the Future Past
August 1 - 7, 2016: Interpreting Jennifer
August 8 - 14, 2016: Fill in the Blanks
August 15 - 21, 2016: Into the Unknown
2016-08-15 & Olympics 1 2016-08-16 & Olympics 2 2016-08-17 & Olympics 3 2016-08-18 & Olympics 4 2016-08-19 & Olympics 5 2016-08-20 & Olympics 6 2016-08-21
August 22 - 28, 2016: Straight Answers Would Be Too Easy
August 29 - September 10, 2016: The First-Year-University Blues
2016-08-29 2016-08-31 2016-09-02 2016-09-05 2016-09-07 2016-09-09 James Rendell Cameo
September 12 - 23, 2016: Extra Roses
September 26 - October 7, 2016: The Mediocre Escape (Room)
October 10 - 21, 2016: Conversations
October 24 - November 4, 2016: Dressed to the Nineteenth Century
November 7 - 18, 2016: The Perils of Multiplicity
November 21 - December 2, 2016: Superpowered
December 5 - 16, 2016: Temporal Temptation
December 19 - 30, 2016: Detective Work
2016-12-19 2016-12-21 2016-12-23 Merry Christmas! 2016-12-26 2016-12-28 Carrie Fisher Tribute 2016-12-30
January 2 -13, 2017: Farewell, General
January 16 - 27, 2017: Spy vs. Spy
January 30 - February 10, 2017: Out of the Loop
February 13 - 24, 2017: Passing Notes
February 27 - March 10, 2017: Groovy
March 13 - 24, 2017: Homeward Bound?
March 27 - April 7, 2017: Forty-Seven Years
2017-03-27 2017-03-29 2017-03-31 April Fool! 2017-04-03 2017-04-05 2017-04-07
April 10 - 21, 2017: Out of the Bag
April 24 - May 5, 2017: Confessional
May 8 - 19, 2017: Secrets Are Hard
2017-05-08 2017-05-10 2017-05-12 Mother's Day 2017-05-15 2017-05-17 2017-05-19
May 22 - June 2, 2017: Jobless
June 5 - 16, 2017: Fit to Print
June 19 - 30, 2017: Wonder
July 3 - 14, 2017: More Street-Corner Consulting
July 17 - 28, 2017: Nothing to See Here
July 31, August 11, 2017: The Belly of the Beast
August 14 - 25, 2017: Formulaic
August 28 - September 8, 2017: More Detective Work
September 11 - 22, 2017: Espionage
September 25 - October 6, 2017: Reconnaissance
October 9 - 20, 2017: Discovery
October 23 - November 3, 2017: Infiltration
November 6 - 17, 2017: Meet the Press
November 20 - December 1, 2017: The Weird Beard Strikes Back
December 4 - 15, 2017: The Kris Awakens
December 18 - 29, 2017: The Past Jedi
January 1 - 12, 2018: Experiments Never Go Horribly Wrong
January 14 - 26, 2018: The Root of the Problem
January 29 - February 9, 2018: The Odyssey
February 12 - 23, 2018: The Devil You (Don't) Know
February 26 - March 9, 2018: 1955
March 12 - 23, 2018: ISTS
March 26 - April 6, 2018: It's All Academic
April 9 - 20, 2018: Frantic Bluffing
April 23 - May 4, 2018: Present Tense
May 7 - 18, 2018: Save the Weird Beard, Save the World
May 21 - June 1, 2018: Need to Know
June 4 - 15, 2018: Two Physicists Walk Into a Classroom
June 18 - 29, 2018: By Her Bootstraps
July 2 - 13, 2018: Suspicious Behaviour
July 16 - 27, 2018: Weird
July 30 - August 10, 2018: 127 Amser Street
August 13 - 24, 2018: Accommodating
August 27 - September 7, 2018: Accommodated
September 10 - 21, 2018: Problematic Sisterhood
September 24 - October 5, 2018: Double the Fun
October 8 - 19, 2018: Double the Trouble
October 22 - November 2, 2018: The Plot Thickens, Doubles Back on Itself, and Ties Itself Up in a Neat Little Bow
November 5 - 16, 2018: Back to the...Oh, Who Even Knows at This Point?
November 19 - 30, 2018: There's Something About Jacquie
December 3 - 14, 2018: The Four-Dimensional Tango
December 17 - 28, 2018: All in the Family
December 31, 2018 - January 11, 2019: Allies and Enemies
January 14 - 25, 2019: It's Not Paranoia if They're Really Out to Get You
January 28 - February 8, 2019: On the Benefit of Deadbolts
February 11 - 22, 2019: Not Even a Mouse
February 25 - March 8, 2019: Speak of the Devil
2019-02-25 2019-02-27 2019-03-01 5th Anniversary 2019-03-04 2019-03-06 2019-03-08
March 11 - 22, 2019: Mixing Genres
March 25 - April 5, 2019: The Future Is Annoying
April 8 - 19, 2019: The Future Is Appalling
April 22 - May 3, 2019: The Present Is Confusing
May 6 - 17, 2019: Channels of Communication
May 20 - 31, 2019: Three Blind Mice
June 3 - 14, 2019: New Endeavours
June 17 - 28, 2019: Parental Tyranny
July 1 - 12, 2019: A Secret Is Simply a Pre-Revelation
July 15 - 26, 2019: Discriminating Taste
July 29 - August 9, 2019: Never Go to Yourself for Advice
2019-07-29 2019-07-31 2019-08-02 2019-08-05 2019-08-07 2019-08-09 Kate Blair Cameo
August 12 - 23, 2019: Self-Puppetry
August 26 - September 6, 2019: Intersecting Storylines
September 9 - 20, 2019: Decisions, Decisions
September 23 - October 4, 2019: The Editing Process
October 6 - 18, 2019: Jack
October 21 - November 1, 2019: Time Travel Is Exhausting
November 4 - 15, 2019: Refuge
November 18 - 29, 2019: 10 Things I Hate About You
December 2 - 13, 2019: The Future Is Excruciating
December 26 - 27, 2019: Not Yet Written
December 30, 2019 - January 10, 2020: In With the New
January 13 - 24, 2020: Suspicious Behaviour
January 27 - February 7, 2020: A Different Approach
February 10 - 21, 2020: Return to Amser
February 24 - March 6, 2020: The Anchor
2020-02-24 2020-02-26 2020-02-28 2020-03-02 6th anniversary 2020-03-04 2020-03-06
March 6 - 20, 2020: Back to Life, Back to Reality
March 23 - April 3, 2020: Trauma
2020-03-23 2020-03-25 2020-03-27 2020-03-30 April Fool! 2020-04-02 2020-04-03
April 6 - 17, 2020: Words Are Hard
April 20 - May 1, 2020: Home Is Where the Interrogation Is
May 4 - 15, 2020: More Than Words Can Say
May 18 - 29, 2020: Cabin Fever
June 1 - 12, 2020: Sisterly Love
June 15 - 26, 2020: Shifting Blame
June 29 - July 10, 2020: The Reverse Bootstrap
July 13 - 24, 2020: Anxiety
July 27 - August 7, 2020: Probably Not Yet Written, but Who Knows, Really?
August 10 - 21, 2020: Inevitability
August 24 - September 4, 2020: Data Analysis
September 7 - 18, 2020: Zoom 101
September 21 - October 2, 2020: One Step at a Time
October 5 - 16, 2020: Data Transfer
October 19 - 30, 2020: Making Deals
November 2 - 13, 2020: This Will Certainly Not Be Fun
November 16 - 27, 2020: Honesty
November 30 - December 11, 2020: Full House
December 14 - 25, 2020: Christmas Time Is Family Time
December 28, 2020 - January 8, 2021: Being a Limerick
January 11 - 22, 2021: The 2021 Is a Lie
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Jeff Goebel
PERSONAL BLOG OF FROGSTAR42
About Jeff Goebel
Single White Male
Frogstar Fun Stuff
Hiccup Cure
My Internet Business
Live Streaming Webcam
Old Messy Life
foreclosure or short sale on Single White Male
Fake Parking Ticket Template Ready to Print - Templates.Tinamaze on Most of us are Criminals.
Jayson on About Jeff Goebel
Mike McGuinn on Another Random Woman saying Hi
Dale Pringle on Reframing Frustration.
Joan of Arcadia Blog
October 8, 2004 by Jeff Goebel
I hate being reminded of my gym days.
I think I’m coming to realize I’m better off without my supressed memories.
I like Joan of Arcadia on the whole. I’m watching it now, and trying to have something profound to say about it during the commercials. The act of writing it down in this case, seems to have had the reverse effect, and stifled my creative conspiracy theories about how TV is used as a tool to train us.
TV doesn’t reflect society. It guides it. Without church, TV is what tells us how to live. When TV can use religion, it’s a double whammy. There is no better example of a parent saying; “because I said so” as their reason – than to look to a God. Ultimate “because I said so” with no reason, and no explanation and no justification. No lawyers.
Just because I said so.
err… because He said so. Capital H.
I like the big picture idea behind Joan of Arcadia. At least in my way of seeing it. The idea that one man can cause change. Every action has ripples. Change can come in subtle ways.
I have a theory in other writing where a God exists, and all he can do is change things. He’s been changing things since evolution began.
Lets assume for just a moment that Joan of Arcadia were true, and that 30 or so different strangers have spoken to Joan as God. The show doesn’t ever show these people vanish, and it has shown us they frequently use the same people over and over, so lets assume that each of these people continue to exist, and live a normal life as individuals. WHen they’re not talking to Joan, they live normal lives, but each morning, they get a list of people to speak with, and what to say. It’s a job.
So we can expand to believe that there are hundreds, perhaps thousands of people spreading the word of God to strangers everywhere, causing ripples and running the world. At least in a direction.
Oh wait, is that what priests do now?
I am not afraid to admit that I cry during every episode of Joan of Arcadia. This week, I’m writing a blog instead of paying 100% attention. It’s a powerful episode when the main characters cry. My emotion is always reactive.
Well, the distraction failed, and I teared.
I need a comedy now. I love my PVR.
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Houston SPCA Campus for All Animals, Houston, Texas
Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter, Georgetown, Texas
The Animal Foundation, Las Vegas, Nevada
Houston SPCA Animal Medical Center, Houston, Texas
Equine and Farm Animal Center, Houston, Texas
Austin Animal Center, Austin, Texas
San Antonio Animal Shelter, San Antonio, Texas
Galveston County Animal Resource Center, Texas City, Texas
Irving Animal Care Campus, Irving, Texas
Cedar Rapids Animal Care, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Thomas J. O'Connor Regional Animal Center, Springfield Massachusetts
Arizona Humane Society Campus for Compassion, Phoenix, Arizona
Paws and Claws Humane Society, Rochester, Minnesota
Chula Vista Animal Shelter, San Diego, California
Maricopa County Animal Control, Phoenix, Arizona
Brownsville Animal Regulation and Care Facility, Brownsville, Texas
SPCA of Texas, Dallas, Texas
City of Southside Place City Hall Complex, City of Southside Place, Texas
Looscan Branch Library, Houston, Texas
The Women's Home - Jane Cizik Garden Place, Houston, Texas
The Women's Home - Adele and Ber Pieper Family Place , Houston, Texas
The Women's Home -Mabee WholeLife® Service Center, Houston, Texas
River Oaks Baptist School’s Mosing Middle School and Sarofim Leadership Center, Houston, Texas
Strake Jesuit College Preparatory STEM Building, Houston, Texas
River Oaks Baptist Church School, Houston, Texas
St. Francis Episcopal Day School and Crum Athletics Center, Houston, Texas
Episcopal High School Academic Building, Bellaire, Texas
The Monarch School, Houston, Texas
Frassati Catholic High School Academic Building, Spring, Texas
Northwoods Catholic School, Spring, Texas
St. Anthony of Padua Catholic School, The Woodlands, Texas
St. Theresa Catholic School Library, Sugar Land, Texas
Brockman Hall for Physics at Rice University, Houston, Texas
Davis Residence, Houston, Texas
Lake House, Artesian Lake, Texas
Private Residence, Key West, Florida
Swyka Ranch, Refugio, Texas
Antigua Pavilion Restaurant, Antigua, West Indies
The Briar Club, Houston, Texas
Trevisio, Houston, Texas
Davis Street, Houston, Texas
Houston Country Club, Houston, Texas
Windwood Presbyterian Church, Cypress, Texas
Saint Martin's Episcopal Church Campus, Houston, Texas
The Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter Chancery, Houston, Texas
River Oaks Baptist Church and School Master Plan, Houston, Texas
St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church and School, The Woodlands, Texas
Northwoods Catholic School Legionaries of Christ, Houston, Texas
San Antonio Museum of Art, San Antonio, Texas
Prince of Peace Catholic Community, Houston, Texas
Cypress Heights Academy, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
St. Edith Stein Catholic Community, Katy, Texas
NALCO Champion’s Sugar Land Campus, Sugar Land, Texas
Market Square Tower, Houston, Texas
Tradition Senior Living Woodway
One Park Place, Houston, Texas
Museum Tower, Houston, Texas
South Shore District, Austin, Texas
WaterWall Place, Houston, Texas
Post Oak Lofts, Houston, Texas
Children's Museum of Houston, Houston, Texas
Museo Americano - Smithsonian, San Antonio, Texas
The Marion Koogler McNay Art Museum, San Antonio, Texas
Bayou Bend Collection & Gardens - Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Texas
Rienzi European & Decorative Arts Center - Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Texas
Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
1885 St. James Place, Houston, Texas
Bank of Tanglewood, Houston, Texas
The Children's Museum of Houston Annex, Houston, Texas
Central Bank, Houston, Texas
John P. McGovern Texas Medical Center Commons, Houston, Texas
Thermal Energy Corporation Houston, Texas
Episcopal High School Parking Garage, Bellaire, Texas
Houston Country Club Parking, Houston, Texas
Our Lady of Walsingham Rood Screen, Houston, Texas
Westcott Study Center, Houston, Texas
St. Luke's United Methodist Church, Houston, Texas
Sheridan Residences and Study Center
Our Lady of Walsingham, Houston, Texas
St. Martin's Episcopal Church, Houston, Texas
The Church of St. John the Divine, Houston, Texas
Sacred Heart Chapel - Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart, Houston, Texas
Our Lady by the Sea Catholic Community, Bolivar, Texas
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Houston, Texas
Prince of Peace, Houston, Texas
River Oaks Baptist Sanctuary Renovation, Houston, Texas
St. John Fisher Catholic Church, Richmond, Texas
St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church - Phase 1, Lake Charles, Louisiana
St. Maximilian Kolbe Catholic Church, Houston, Texas
Rice University Reckling Park Baseball Stadium, Houston, Texas
Antigua Athletic Club, Antigua, West Indies
Rice University Fox Gymnasium at Autry Court, Houston, Texas
River Oaks Baptist Gymnasium, Houston, Texas
Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral Gymnasium, Houston, Texas
St. Anthony of Padua Gymnasium, The Woodlands, Texas
Menu Home About Us - Our Firm - Our People - Location - Philanthropy - 30th Anniversary - News Our Work - Animal Welfare - Civic - Education - Homes - Hospitality - Master Plans - Multi-Family - Museums - Office - Religious - Sports Work In Progress - On The Boards - Under Construction Contact Us
The Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter Chancery
The North American headquarters for The Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter Chancery was seamlessly integrated into the 30-year-old parish of Our Lady of Walsingham as Phase 1 of an expansion program. This building is essentially the main office building for the Ordinariate. As such, it includes office suites for present departments and any future administrative areas that will be needed by this newly formed organization: the Office of the Ordinary as well as Business, Risk and Legal, Archives, Virtus, Insurance, Human Resources, Development and Judicial offices.
This two-story stone building has public spaces on the ground floor, including a polychrome, vaulted entry hall that features four large-scale Italian mosaics, and a precisely detailed courtyard that features inlaid marble symbols of the twelve apostles, elaborate balconies and a marble statue of the Good Shepherd. The ground floor also has an assembly hall and a reception area with elaborately detailed staircases. The second floor includes an Oratory with a wood beam vaulted ceiling and carved marble altarpiece, the main Ordinariate offices, a state-of-the-art distance learning conference room, and arched loggias trimmed in stone and cast stone.
Great effort was made to evoke the historical atmosphere of the architectural style preferred by the Ordinariate - from the cast stone and wood-trimmed arched windows, to the original artwork commissioned in Italy, to the intricate use of the Golden Section proportion for determining the placement of every line, window, door and string course on the facades.
2016 American Institute of Architects Houston Chapter, Honor Award, Architecture
2016 Associated General Contractors of America, Houston Chapter, APEX GOLD Award
2015 The National Cast Stone Institute Excellence Award
2015 Golden Trowel National Award
2015 Golden Trowel Texas Award
2015 Golden Trowel Houston Award
Lead Architects
John C. Clements, AIA, Principal
Suzanne C. Bird, AIA, LEED AP, Associate
John P. McGovern Texas Medical Center Commons, Houston
The Children's Museum of Houston Annex, Houston
Bank of Tanglewood, Houston
2370 Rice Boulevard, Suite 210, Houston, Texas 77005 | 713 526 5436 | jra@JacksonRyan.com
About Us | Our Work | Work In Progress | Contact Us
© 2016 Jackson & Ryan Architects
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The business of health in the pandemic era
COVID-19 is driving a health movement across all sectors
Every brand is now in the business of promoting public health, whether by keeping employees at home, diverting production to making masks and hand sanitisers, or simply amplifying WHO recommendations on social distancing and handwashing.
Some brands are changing their messaging, products and services – and even partnering with competitors – in ways that may last well beyond the pandemic.
Indeed, COVID-19 is turbo-charging an existing trend towards health and wellness that we’ve already seen in sectors such as food, retail, travel and beauty. It’s also spreading the importance of health to other industries. Here’s how some of those changes are happening.
Car manufacturers are now in the business of health as well as safety. A survey by Ipsos in China, conducted at the end of February, found a high level of interest in new cars, with 77% of respondents saying that driving instead of taking public transport can reduce the chance of infection.
Sixty-nine per cent of the 1,620 respondents indicated a preference for a ‘healthy configuration’ in a new car, scoring higher even than ‘vehicle safety’ (64%). Fifty-one per cent preferred an air conditioner with a germ filter and 49% valued a car interior with antibacterial properties.
For years airlines have been increasing passenger numbers, as well as shortening turnaround – and cleaning times – between flights.
AVIOINTERIORS
Italian firm Aviointeriors has redesigned plane cabins for a post-pandemic world, using clear plastic guards around passengers that are reminiscent of phone booths.
Beauty counters are already changing. In the UK, prior to stay-at-home mandates, MAC stores banned make-up artists from using shared brushes on customers. Customers could only use disposable applicators on themselves. We can also expect the swift development of in-store and mobile apps for trying out products virtually.
For now, though, beauty brands are talking less about make-up and skincare and more about how to manage anxiety and cultivate mindfulness. At Goop, Gwyneth Paltrow’s beauty and wellness brand, the website’s work and wellness category saw a 23% jump in page views in the third week of March, according to Glossy.
Solutions from the tech industry
To help enforce quarantine restrictions in China, tech giant Alibaba created the Alipay Health Code app. Users get a rating of green, yellow or red, based on their personal health records, which allows them to travel – or not – on public transport. The app enabled the virus epicentre of Wuhan to gradually re-open and also assured those out-and-about that they wouldn’t accidentally encounter anyone contagious.
VODACOM AND DISCOVERY’S FREE VIRTUAL DOCTOR CONSULTATIONS
In South Africa, mobile phone operator Vodacom is partnering with health insurer Discovery to offer free virtual consultations with a doctor, through the DrConnect platform, to anyone who is concerned they may have COVID-19.
The pandemic has also brought Apple and Google together, to introduce updates to their operating systems that can help track potential COVID-19 cases. Due to be launched in mid-May, the updates on iOS and Android phones will allow an exchange of anonymised keys through Bluetooth for any phones that come in close proximity to each other. If a person tests positive for COVID-19, they can inform the app. The app can then inform anyone with a phone that has come close to the infected person, without revealing their identity. To allay privacy concerns, Apple and Google have confirmed the feature would expire at the end of the pandemic.
Brand responsibility
Meanwhile, Amazon has started building a COVID-19 testing lab for its employees. Founder Jeff Bezos said the company plans “regular testing of all Amazonians, including those showing no symptoms”.
In the future, health could become a necessary component of all product development, with brands perhaps employing their own Chief Health Officer or health therapists, with wide-ranging influence throughout the organisation on both employees and consumers.
by CHEN MAY YEE, Wunderman Thompson Intelligence
@https://www.wpp.com/wpp-iq/the-business-of-health-in-the-pandemic-era
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Luxury Soul 2017
The start of a new year isn’t complete without the annual 3-CD box “Luxury Soul”, once again compiled by Ralph Tee and opening with a super-sexy, light house/soul club tune, “Don’t Judge A Book By It’s Cover” by SouLutions, produced by Steve Lee and Louise Mehan. A superb, ultra soulful opening cut. The 12 tracks from CD 1 are all from last year. Of the 11 cuts on CD 2 are 9 from last year and one each from 2015 and 1998 and CD 3 features 12 tracks, 7 of which from last year and the rest recorded between 1981 and 1989.
But back to the first CD and more quality indie soul with singer Kim Tibbs and her high-pitched voice on “I Need Your For Love!”, a midtempo two-stepper with effective brass work thrown in. Breakwater, hot on the heels of the reissue of their LPs from 1978 and 1980, are back on the map with a track written by original member James Jones: “Gift Of Love” reminds me a bit of “Sweet Thing” by Rufus with Chaka Khan. A welcome return for the group. There is more house-induced stuff by Hannah White, a string-heavy Joey Nelson mix of “That’s Love”, a lush production with some Latin background, George Benson-like guitar solo and voluptuous vocals but it loses its momentum towards the end and a return of Frank Ryle, who, together with Rob Hardt, is better known as Cool Million. Their “Two Way Love Affair” by Ryle feat. Flemming Fanoe simply oozes indie soul, style and class, cool vocals and a pretty catchy hook – just what we have come to expect from the guys. Faye B‘s “Moving On” is a fair enough soul groover with sweet vocals.
I really like the sophisticated soul of the Doggett Brothers on “You Make Me Feel” which gets the T-Groove Remix here and grows through its repetitive chorus. Fine stuff! A lot of formerly unkown artists here, like Cornell C.C. Carter who comes up with a Marvin Gaye-like swaying groove cut; swampy and elegant, “Where Do We Go” trots along brilliantly, hypnotically with a big “more-of-that” factor. I’m not too crazy about the vocals and the production on “Let’s Have A Good Time” by Andy Stokes, but the Latrese Bush add “Love I Can Sing About” brings us back to top quality soul crooning. The first CD concludes with “Groove With You” by Lovell (Lovell Brooks), stepping along smoothly with vocals veering more towards the r&b contemporary style, and a new track by Da Lata: “Asking Eyes” is included with the West Ten mix by Phil Asher and continues their typically Latin/House/Soul branding which is too poppy in this case I think.
The second CD features a track from the 1998 Kashif album on Expansion and a 2015 Tracy Hamlin remix of a Merry Clayton tune on the same label. Opening up the second round is another great from the past: Alton McClain, produced by the Cool Million guys and Sheree Brown is back with “Your Love Is All I Need”, miraculously sounding like the best that soul music had to offer back in the glorious post-disco years of 1980 to 1982. More Cool Million stuff and more 80s-style soul comes with Kiki Kyte and “Disco Chick” with a few nods to the golden disco era and more than a few nods to the music of Chic. Roy Ayers’ infamous “Running Away” gets the 2016 treatment by Simpson Uniquity feat. Diplomats Of Soul, a stylish instrumental (almost) remake exuberantly produced by Paul Simpson. Works good with the keys. And the vibes of course. We get some “Back Together Again”-like vocals on “It’s A Beautiful Day” by Fe’Fea White feat. Jimi Morris. And another group from the 70s is back: Pockets, who have released three brilliant album albums between 1977 and 1979, are back with a new single, “Sing A Message”, and new shows in the UK back in January. (“So Delicious” from 1979 has just recently been released on CD for the first time outside of Japan.) Three of the original members wrote the song and they sound pretty good on this one. Welcome back!
Cool and warm at the same time are the Rhodes sounds opening up “All I Need Is You” by Tom Glide feat. Funmilayo Ngozi and her exquisite vocals in Erykah Badu mode. A fancy little ditty. Drizabone (remember “Real Love” from the summer of 1991? I do – it was my favorite cut during my move to Berlin) are back with “I Need Your Love” by Sargent Tucker with a Drizabone remix and production and a fancy soul cut. More stuff included here by (Stuart) Mather and a decent cover of the 1979 Ronn Matlock tune “I Can’t Forget About You” and “Nothing But Love” by HD feat. Laura Jackson doesn’t really resonate with its discofied approach.
On to the third CD which opens with “I Found Love” by Mather (again) & Kingdon and another cover: Barry White’s “I Found Love”. Nicely done but I prefer the original from 1979. “Now” by Camera Soul sounds like a cheap Shakatak clone whis is also ripping off Earth, Wind & Fire’s “Fantasy”. Joyce Irby (of Klymaxx fame) returns with “Take U Back”, a thickly executed soul/r&b number with Michael Jackson and Justin Timberlake appeal. Joyce sounds great. The Ed The Red piece “Wish You Mine” sounds too trivial to my ears. Four songs here are included from the 80s indie label Omni Records by Keith Patrick (1988), Jean Carne (1988), Brandi Wells (1985), and Rose Royce (1989), all of their albums recently re-issued on CD for the first time. Keith’s song “All My Love” and his resemblance to Howard Hewett are striking. And there is a real discovery as well: I wasn’t aware of Ethel Beatty and her Roy Ayers/Dee Dee Bridgewater-penned “It’s Your Love”, released on Roy’s own Uno Melodic Records in 1981. A typical Ayers production. “Makeusmile” by singer Kenya (from her recently released remix album) feat. Brandon McKenzie is included here as well. As is “Heading Home” from the new album by trumpet player Kenny Wellington who founded Light Of The World and Beggar & Co and continues to be a vital force in the UK soul/jazz scene. Ashley Scott‘s “Words” is the only real ballad here and strangely sounds out of place.
Jarrod Lawson “Love Isn’t Always Enough”
Our Record of the Year artist Jarrod Lawson has released another single from his
Introducing…Aaron Frazer
After two albums with Durand Jones & The Indications, vocalist and drummer Aaron Frazer
ginalovesjazz.com – the jazz magazine by matthias kirsch Copyright © 2021.
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Hey look a trailer for Thor
Posted by MGK Published in Comics, Flicks
FLAPJACKS: Hey, you remember how two days ago you were all “oh I want to see new stuff” and then you pretended to be, like, all cool about Thor even though you’re a giant nerd?
ME: I am a nerd, but I’ve never been one of those nerds with a giant boner for Thor. Not least because at this point it is canon that Superman can beat him. Thor’s okay. He’s just not that cool to me and never has been. Jack Kirby, Walt Simonson, I don’t care – it’s all badly mangled medieval English and shouting to me.
FLAPJACKS: So you won’t go see it?
ME: Sure I’ll go see it. I’m just not waiting with aforementioned giant nerd-boner.
FLAPJACKS: Ah, but the trailer is online! I bet you get a giant nerd boner.
ME: We should probably stop talking about giant nerd boners.
ME: Okay, so to guard the hammer in the middle of the wide, flat desert which nobody can lift, they have set up multiple storeys of brightly lit scaffolding. This serves the double purpose of not only being basically useless but also actively working against the whole “secret agents” bit of S.H.I.E.L.D.
FLAPJACKS: But it looks awesome!
ME: And then Thor beats up a bunch of security guards. Why is this impressive? He is Thor. He can, like, mash their faces by shrugging.
ME: And then he gets captured anyway. Way to go, Thor!
FLAPJACKS: He probably held back because he is a noble god and so forth.
ME: A building explodes! That will teach that building to mess with Thor.
FLAPJACKS: He probably hit it so hard all the bricks spontaneously combusted. That is what happened, I bet.
ME: And the big reveal is… he’s Thor! Well, it’s a trailer, I guess.
FLAPJACKS: Chris Hemsworth looks so much like Thor.
ME: If you mean that he is a big guy with long blond hair, then yes.
FLAPJACKS: Why do you gotta be like that?
ME: Okay, I’m pretty impressed with Asgard. It totally looks like Minas Tirith, but metal-plated. That is a compliment. There’s actually a lot of the original Kirby design in this.
FLAPJACKS: Odin speaks! About honor!
ME: Isn’t it one of the things about Thor comics that Odin is, generally speaking, a giant dickhead? Like, Thor comes home and he’s all “father I have slain the dreaded Ogre of Laffafafhafannahaf and saved the villagers” and Odin would be like “yes, that’s very nice, Thor, but what did you learn about yourself in the process?”
FLAPJACKS: So you’re saying Odin is a hippie?
ME: Not exactly.
FLAPJACKS: Volstagg! Fandral! Sif! Hogun!
ME: What’s the over/under on the number of lines they get in this movie, do you think? I’m thinking four for Hogun, nine for Fandral, thirteen for Volstagg and twenty for Sif.
FLAPJACKS: You don’t know! They could be really important!
ME: Based on what we’ve seen so far and the fact that Odin is lecturing Thor right now, I bet the storyline is something like “Odin condemns Thor to go be a human on Earth until he learns to be a proper hero and crap.” Sif and the Warriors Three do not feature heavily in that sort of storyline. I bet they show up right at the beginning, then sit around looking increasingly worried while Loki does Bad Things, and then they get a bit of fight sequence towards the end.
FLAPJACKS: A HA but why are they in the trailer then?
ME: Where did this air? Comicon. This is the movie studio equivalent of foreplay.
FLAPJACKS: That mental image is worse than the one for “giant nerd boner.”
ME: Also, Hogun appears to be holding a colander on the end of a stick.
FLAPJACKS: Maybe he likes pasta.
ME: Ahhhh, there’s the Odin I’m used to. “Thor, you’re an asshole.”
FLAPJACKS: Loki! He’s being sneaky!
ME: There is nothing there that is sneaky.
FLAPJACKS: Black Heimdall!
ME: I can hear the nerds in the far distance saying “I’m not racist, but this godly being should be white, okay?”
FLAPJACKS: …okay, you were right about the Thor being exiled thing.
ME: It’s the most obvious storyline if you want to connect him to Marvel Earth, frankly. I’m not complaining. The story that makes sense is never a bad pick. Unless you’re David Lynch.
FLAPJACKS: What would David Lynch’s Thor be like?
ME: It would feature a meteorologist who dreams surreal dreams of being a Norse god in olden times, drinks beers at O’Denn’s Bar and Grill, and then inexplicably sprays lightning when he masturbates one morning. This would lead him on a vision-quest where he ends up being transformed into a 1967 Chevy El Camino.
FLAPJACKS: I like his delivery of his second line. I personally like it when Norse gods have English accents.
ME: You were expecting them to have Scandanavian accents of some kind? Come on, this is an American movie. English accents are code for “better than you.”
FLAPJACKS: They could sound like Stellan Skarsgard. He always sounds like a badass.
ME: That is true, but shut up I am looking at Natalie Portman because she is pretty.
FLAPJACKS: Magic is like science!
ME: Looks like Marvel is wussing out and going with the “they aren’t really gods, they’re like… aliens or something” deal that gets trotted out whenever they’re worried about pissing off whiny Christians. Right now the comics are in full-on “no, they’re gods” mode. Maybe this is gonna be the next big switcharound, like when the Spider-Man comics had him shooting organic webs from his wrists.
FLAPJACKS: And Thor can’t lift his hammer because he’s not worthy of the power of Thor!
ME: Which is also kind of predictable, but again, nothing wrong with it. Gives Kenneth Branagh an excuse to do a “this is what a hero REALLY is” plot. Thor will help old ladies cross the street and will build wheelchair ramps into buildings for the disabled and give kittens to small children.
FLAPJACKS: What if the children are allergic to cats?
ME: Then Thor will give them goldfish – oh, wait, seriously, are they having Thor do the “drop to your knees and go “NOOOOOOOOO”” bit? Really, Marvel? I mean… really?
FLAPJACKS: Shut up. It is dramatic because he cannot play with his hammer. Oh man I just thought of a dick joke.
ME: And another exploding building means that it’s montage time! Okay, so we’ve got Asgardians walking like they are Reservoir Dogs.
FLAPJACKS: An evil looking… monster thingy!
ME: Odin dies! Loki becomes the King of Asgard. Or whatever.
FLAPJACKS: Thor carries a small child to a pickup truck. I bet he learns to become a hero that way!
ME: Heimdall appears to be a vampire of some kind.
FLAPJACKS: Loki has his curvy horn helmet! He is so mad!
ME: An exploding car. There are a lot of explosions in this movie given that it’s about guys who fight with swords and hammers.
FLAPJACKS: Makeouts! The Warriors Three and Sif again – aw you’re probably right about them.
ME: Another exploding building. All of these explosions seem to be in the same town.
FLAPJACKS: I wouldn’t want to live in that town. Because of all of the explosions. “Hey, Bert, didja see Jerry? He was supposed to gimme a lift to the DMV.” “Yeah, I saw him, but then his car exploded.” “Aw, shucks. Now I’ll hafta -” and then he explodes.
ME: Thor and Loki fighting. I guess they’re actually saving the good stuff for theatres in this case.
FLAPJACKS: And title. That looks good.
ME: But wait, there is more – ahhh, the Destroyer armor. That is what was causing all those explosions.
FLAPJACKS: Well, it would do that.
ME: It would indeed.
FLAPJACKS: So are we going to go see it?
ME: Of course we will.
FLAPJACKS: So are you going to take back what you said and admit that Thor is the awesomest thing ever?
ME: Of course I won’t.
FLAPJACKS: How about we watch the trailer for Yogi Bear next?
ME: I may have to beat you with a cudgel.
Dr. Creaux said on July 29th, 2010 at 9:04 am
Trailer’s gone already. Alas.
Tales to Enrage said on July 29th, 2010 at 10:00 am
I will say one thing I liked about the trailer near the end-the lesser characters are not stupid. When the Destroyer starts charging his death beam, all of the agents immediately recognize that is NOT good. They don’t need Thor around to tell them.
Andrew W said on July 29th, 2010 at 10:24 am
He doesn’t have superpowers when he doesn’t have his hammer! It’s explained in the trailer! He’s stripped of his powers and sent to Earth!
It’s really not racist to say that the Heimdall thing is a little odd. I have no general objection to casting black actors to play Norse gods – or Spider-Man! – but that one is weird for specific mythological reasons, and it’s a bit much to be called a racist for cocking an eyebrow at it on mythological grounds when you’re complaining about the ‘they’re not really gods’ angle.
cAlluvion said on July 29th, 2010 at 10:25 am
Video removed. :<
drmedula said on July 29th, 2010 at 11:26 am
For the record: pleasantly suprised that Justin Timberlake got Boo-Boo’s voice right.
Rob Brown said on July 29th, 2010 at 11:52 am
Where does one purchase a cudgel in the year 2010?
Dave Hemming said on July 29th, 2010 at 12:45 pm
Video still at http://io9.com/5599251/check-out-the-full-thor-trailer-and-get-hammered for now…
Prankster said on July 29th, 2010 at 1:03 pm
I’m totally stoked for some of the same reason Chris seems apathetic–the fact that this actually looks like a Kirby movie. The comics post-Simonson seem to have gone out of their way to make Thor more of a generic fantasy hero, but the thing that makes Kirby’s Thor so awesome is that it’s a bugfuck mashup of ideas that go far beyond Norse mythology. The Asgardians-as-extradimensional-aliens-of-some-kind rather than literal “gods” is very much from Kirby, and I’m delighted that it’s in there, along with the robot fights. Obviously I’d love to see some crazy fantasy monsters or something too, but I realize they don’t have an infinite budget…
DJ Marky Mark, sans Funky Bunch said on July 29th, 2010 at 2:26 pm
I’d like for the first time when we see Valhalla– maybe if it starts on Earth and then some S.H.I.E.L.D agent goes “where the hell did this come from…” and then it pans over Asgard and Valhalla and such– some Norse chanting or something. Maybe in the vein of a Tyr song when they start singing in Faroese, which is a derived from Old Norse.
Also, Thor hearing some norse-mythology influenced heavy metal and being confused and frustrated as hell might be funny.
Josh R said on July 29th, 2010 at 2:31 pm
I got mine at a renaissance festival. It’s got brass studs and everything.
Mary Warner said on July 29th, 2010 at 2:39 pm
Why would they want to remove a trailer? It’s an ad. They should want it to be distributed as widely as possible.
I guess I’ve never seen the Destoyer before. I don’t know who he is. Volstagg looks too small, but I guess it’s too hard to find an actor large enough. Fandral looks exactly like Fandral– that’s perfect casting, at least in terms of appearance.
Well, I just keep remembering how Thor was portrayed in Return Of The Incredible Hulk. No matter how this movie turns out, it’s an improvement.
NCallahan said on July 29th, 2010 at 3:34 pm
The Destroyer is there before you need to have Thor beat on something Asgardian and you can’t be introducing Urik and Skurge willy-nilly, this is a Loki story, before the Destroyer works because IT HAS TEH ODINFORCE and I bet the Warrior Three have to kill Thor but they refuse when they meet him and then Loki dispatches the Destroyer to annihilate New Mexico EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PaulW said on July 29th, 2010 at 3:38 pm
Video has been removed due to infringement.
You fiends made me break the law! SHIELD is breaking down my bunker doors as I type this! NOOO! (unleashes the grenade drones) YOU’LL NEVER TAKE ME ALIVE SAMUEL L JACKSON! (slides into a mecha Power Armor Cannon Carrier (PACC) and prepares for battle) DIEEEEEEE!
Phil said on July 29th, 2010 at 4:15 pm
After the indefinably disappointing Iron Man 2, I’m a little wary of this (the little speech the SHIELD dude gives about how highly-trained Thor is just strikes me as really oddly written, but hey, trailer), but I’m probably going to give it a look.
And I would like to note here that I am pleased Thor has a beard. That is literally why I never liked Marvel Thor- a clean-shaven Norse god of thunder just looks /odd/.
Bill Reed said on July 29th, 2010 at 6:44 pm
Aw man I’ve got hundreds of Thor comics, and now I’ve got hundreds of nerd boners, that’s right, hundreds. Protect your eyes.
DistantFred said on July 29th, 2010 at 6:47 pm
Looks… alright so far? Kirk’s Dad seems to have a better Thor voice than most I’ve heard, because in video games and the like they trend towards cheesy, ren faire Shakespeare. I don’t like that he said Earth, instead of Midgard. I worry that there’s a good chance that there won’t be a hearty “I SAY THEE NAY” with the style of dialogue they’ve chosen for the Asgardians. I am confused as to the apparent lack of Balder.
Costume design looks pretty good, Asgard looks great. Thor having to reprove his worthiness (by going to Medical School, maybe?) is a decent driver to the plot through to the final climactic battle. I’m going to need to see more, or at least better quality, before I pass judgement, though.
Mary Warner- The Destroyer is a big, nasty, nigh unstoppable anti-Celestial war machine created by Odin. If you’ve never seen it before, try to find one of it’s appearances. I think it’s managed to kill Thor twice, so it should make for a good fight in the movie.
Phil- Thor has had a beard before. A few times, actually.
ams said on July 29th, 2010 at 6:48 pm
The movie looks pretty blah to me, but I’ll probably see it anyway so I’m ready when we finally get the Avengers movie.
As far as the Yogi trailer goes, good for Timberlake getting the voice right, but bad for him even associating with that project. I thought he knew better than that.
Tom Galloway said on July 29th, 2010 at 6:54 pm
Thing is, for some odd reason I’ve recently been considering Thor and Asgard, and, well, were I a character in the Marvel Universe I’d likely end up as a small blotch on the sidewalk due to being willing to question the godhood thereof.
‘Cause really, the Asgardians just aren’t very impressive as gods. OK, a few of them (Odin, Loki, Thor) are serious badasses powerwise. Otherwise, someone at Spider-Man power levels has a reasonable shot at ’em. Oh, and they live a long time…but what do they do with that time?
Pretty much nothing. When we’re shown Asgard circa 1-2K years ago, seems pretty much like it is at the start of the current Marvel heroes era. No advancement in science. No apparent advancement in magic. All they seem to do is battle back trolls and giants…but they don’t develop way advanced military tactics and/or strategy, weaponry, personal martial arts, etc. It’d seem that your average Asgardian warrior should make Nick Fury/Sgt. Rock/Captain America look like a first day in the Army rookie, but nope.
There’s an old line about there being a difference between 20 years of experience doing something, where over that time you keep improving and learning, and having one year of experience 20 times, where while you’ve worked at something for 20 years, you were just as good at it at the end of year one as you are at the end of year 20. Asgard seems to be the latter times 100.
So, other than said powerlevels for a few of ’em, why should one be very impressed with the Asgardians? I’d be more impressed with Marvel humans, who’ve developed to the point that they can challenge these so-called gods, either biologically or technologically (other than Odin, Thor, Loki, and Hela, name an Asgardian you’d bet on as a favorite in a fight against Iron Man).
Strayph said on July 29th, 2010 at 7:12 pm
http://thor-trailer.blogspot.com/
AJ said on July 29th, 2010 at 8:08 pm
There better be some fucking Led Zeppelin on the soundtrack.
malakim2099 said on July 29th, 2010 at 8:49 pm
If the Asgardians are “aliens” instead of actual gods, I think I’m going to have to boycott this movie.
Seriously. Are they from Zeist?
Andrew said on July 30th, 2010 at 1:46 am
I don’t understand the problem with expecting a Scandinavian god-figure to look like a Scandinavian. It’s not like Nick Fury or the Kingpin – both roles which are well-enough served by an actor of any ethnicity of adequate talent.
Prankster said on July 30th, 2010 at 3:00 am
The Asgardians of the Marvel U. have always been ultradimensional entities of such power that they’re indistinguishable from gods. That’s the comics. I like it, because it sets them apart from the many other “gods who come to Earth in the present day” we see in fantasy movies, tv shows, books, and comics. And it’s very much of a piece with the Marvel Universe as a whole, which of course being made at the height of the Space Race was all about gadgetry, not magic.
In fact, given how there’s been so much talk from the fanboys about how the fantastical Thor will seem weird in the Avengers movie aside those oh-so-realistic SF-based heroes, you’d think this would ease their complaints.
tbarrie said on July 30th, 2010 at 3:59 am
Walt Simonson didn’t use mangled medieval English, MGK.
And do you dismiss every fictional character who’s canonically unable to take Superman in a fight?
jackd said on July 30th, 2010 at 11:31 am
Nope, looks like the trailer is yanked from io9 and blogspot.
ladypeyton said on July 30th, 2010 at 8:27 pm
@Andrew: Marvel Asgardians are not Scandinavian.
katefan said on July 30th, 2010 at 11:11 pm
I have no problem with the slight modification in Thor and the Asgardians’ origin and it is not like it is the first time we have seen things re-written for the sake of either convenience or what the writer/director feels is an improvement. Spider Man got organic webbing because Raimi probably felt it unlikely a sixteen year old kid was going to be able to 1) create an all purpose super glue and 2) design a delivery system that is so compact it does not show up under his tights. In X-Men Rogue does not have Ms. Marvel’s powers because then you have to introduce Ms. Marvel. In The Incredible Hulk Banner’s origin can’t be a gamma bomb going off because above ground testing has been banned for decades.
In the case of Thor I think Brannagh might feel this origin will sell better to general audiences. I am willing to trust a director who gave me the awesome spectacles of Henry V, Much Ado About Nothing, Frankenstein, Dead Again and Hamlet. He is a good director and a great actor. Part of me wishes he was playing Odin instead of Hopkins.
The Scrote said on July 31st, 2010 at 7:43 am
Superman is without doubt THE most ridiculous superhero of all time. From his powers to his costume to his villans to his jesus complex.
How his popularity has continued on to the 21st century is beyond me.
Thor is positively shakesperian in comparison.
The trailer looked a bit of a mess though.
malakim2099 said on July 31st, 2010 at 12:59 pm
Maybe it would, but personally, I prefer my gods to actually be gods.
Menamebephil said on July 31st, 2010 at 1:26 pm
@katefan- Not disagreeing with you on general principle, but are you sure you’d call Frankenstein ‘great’? Because, um, I’m pretty sure that film was a trainwreck from start to finish.
His ‘Much Ado’ was good, though.
B_Munro said on July 31st, 2010 at 7:51 pm
“I prefer my gods to actually be gods.”
@malakim2099 – sure, I find the notion of the Asgardians having a cultural history, a presumed iron and stone age and, say, Asgardian space-monkeys to have evolved from a bit wierd myself. But what _sort_ of gods?
I mean, presumably Marvel-earth was not assembled from the body of a dead giant, and man was not created out of Ash-wood by Odin and his brothers: so they’re not creator-Gods. And if we go with the old “Gods created by belief” chestnut, the Gods are going to be either dreadfully Old Norse (and that’s dreadfully as in “something to dread”: let’s start with the human sacrifice and more on from there), or constantly under revision (hey, wasn’t there something like that going on in Earth-X?)
So, what sort of origin do they have? Born from a primordial chaos, mating with other species and producing strange children, inhabiting a strange multi-dimensional realm tied together with ours by the endless twisting roots and branches of the world-tree, served by stunted underground creatures, one legend has it, created from the maggots in Ymirs dead flesh…
Perhaps the Asgardians are Elder Gods, or possibly Great Old Ones. Maybe they only look human when manifesting in our dimension, and their true selves would blast mortal minds with madness…
Al Ewing said on August 2nd, 2010 at 7:01 am
“…their true selves would blast mortal minds with madness…”
Jane Foster to thread. As I recall she got blasted with madness when she visited Asgard, to the point of telling Thor he was completely insane and so was his entire society. (They did lock her in a cupboard with a Fear Beast, so it’s not an unreasonable comment from her POV.)
Salieri said on May 5th, 2011 at 3:10 pm
…It’s frightening how right you were about all this.
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