pred_label
stringclasses 2
values | pred_label_prob
float64 0.5
1
| wiki_prob
float64 0.25
1
| text
stringlengths 34
1.02M
| source
stringlengths 37
43
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
__label__cc
| 0.697195
| 0.302805
|
Mike Dennis began teaching the Crossmen hornline in their inaugural season of 1975. An arranger as well as a brass instructor, Mike was key in the development of the Crossmen brass sound in the corps' early years. His version of Russian Christmas Music is a classic, and helped vault the Crossmen into DCI Finals for the first time in 1977.
Throughout the years, Mike has served the corps in several capacities. He was on the brass staff from 1975-1977, 1980-1981, 1984, and 1986-1990, as well as serving as a guest clinician and brass instructor during the 2003 season. He has served as a member of the administrative team from 1986-1990, and at various other times during his association with the Crossmen. He also spent several years as a member of the Board of Directors for Youth Education in the Arts, once the parent organization of the Crossmen, and has spent several years as an adjudicator for the United States Scholastic Band Association.
Always with a smile and a kind word, he has been and continues to be an extremely valuable asset to the Crossmen organization.
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1707
|
__label__wiki
| 0.721362
| 0.721362
|
The media's role
The media in any future campaign
The media play a crucial role in a modern democracy in informing the people. To do this they must be free. The media agree that there is an ethical requirement that fact and comment should be distinguishable, and that the news should be as truthful as is reasonably possible.
As the editor of the Manchester Guardian famously declared in 1921, " Comment is free, but facts are sacred."
But while the private media are entitled to editorialise, this is not a luxury which the taxpayer funded public media, the ABC and SBS, can properly have.
In the 1999 referendum, the media were mainly and strongly in favour of change. What became clear was that this seriously affected the presentation of the news..
As the international authority, and in his earlier career a highly respected editor, Lord Deedes, wrote in the London Daily Telegraph :
"I have rarely attended elections in any country, certainly not a democratic one, in which the newspapers have displayed more shameless bias. One and all, they determined that Australians should have a republic and they used every device towards that end."
Dr Nancy Stone undertook a survey for The Samuel Griffith Society of two outlets at the time, The Age and The Australian. Her research confirms Lord Deedes’ conclusion.
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1708
|
__label__cc
| 0.64761
| 0.35239
|
Get Samuel Langhorne Clemens from Amazon.com
The Blithedale Romance
Samuel Langhorne Clemens Biography
This Biography consists of approximately 60 pages of information about the life of Samuel Langhorne Clemens.
This section contains 17,885 words
Dictionary of Literary Biography on Samuel Langhorne Clemens
Mark Twain's work captures the child that lives in the American psyche and also presents the confusions of the American adult. As a mature writer, Twain could recreate the small-town boyhood he had known by the Mississippi River in those halcyon years before the Civil War. His philosophical ponderings, however, kept leading him back to simple views of mankind as either deservedly damned or irresponsibly determined, and then, finally, as a figment of some celestial imagination, "wandering forlorn among the empty eternities," disillusioned with the world in which he finds himself but unable to make his way to any other. Mark Twain is best known for his evocations of pre-Civil War life along the Mississippi in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876), Life on the Mississippi (1883), and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1884). Still, readers have cherished almost as much his books of wandering, whether factually based travel books, such...
More summaries and resources for teaching or studying Samuel Langhorne Clemens.
Samuel Langhorne Clemens from Gale. ©2005-2006 Thomson Gale, a part of the Thomson Corporation. All rights reserved.
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1710
|
__label__wiki
| 0.600325
| 0.600325
|
Difference between Trudeau and Trump
• Categorized under Leaders,Politics | Difference between Trudeau and Trump
Justin Trudeau (left) with Donald Trump (right)
Within the context of national and international politics, we often find very diverse leaders, prime ministers, head of states, monarchs, presidents and dictators. The unique personality of political leaders has been carefully analyzed by political scientists throughout the years, and the information concerning the personal stances and preferences of leaders has often been used to foresee or anticipate their moves. However, there are cases – many cases – in which “predicting the future” is almost impossible. Some leaders are the so-called “outliers” – they do not fit any pattern and anticipating their moves is incredibly difficult: this is the case of Donald Trump.
In fact, the 45th President of the United States has won the 2016 elections causing general surprise and shaking the existing global order at its very core. Mr. Trump had no previous political experience, ran a particularly controversial presidential campaign and proposed a very radical agenda, which included:
Creating a wall between Mexico and the United States (wall that should be paid by Mexico, of course);
Strengthening the U.S. borders;
Cracking down illegal immigration;
Deport all illegal aliens;
Banning (certain) migrants from the country;
Cutting taxes for everyone; and
Taking a stronger stance on several foreign policy issues.
Furthermore, before and after his election, Trump has shown little respect towards women and media, and has posted controversial Tweets attacking news agencies, public figures (i.e. Meryl Streep) and famous brands (i.e. Nordstrom).
However, not all leaders are as controversial and unpredictable. In fact, the Prime Minister of the United States’ biggest neighboring country could not be more different. Donald Trump and Justin Trudeau stand at opposing ends of the political spectrum and their personalities are in stark contrast. The U.S. President is an histrionic man, former TV star and real estate developer with extremist ideas and nationalist ideals whereas the Canadian Prime Minister is a young politician – former teacher and advocate for youth and environment – who believes that the input of young Canadians is the key of success and wants to work in partnership with other countries to tackle global issues such as climate change.
Justin Trudeau is one of the youngest head of state in the entire world and the second youngest Canadian Prime Minister. Trudeau was born on December 25, 1971 and was deeply influenced by his father and former Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau. Raised speaking both English and French, Trudeau graduated from McGill University in 1994 with a Bachelor of Arts in literature and later obtained a degree in education from the University of British Columbia. Justin Trudeau worked as teacher, became the Chair of Katimavik and served as advocate for the environment and young people.
Wanting to make a real change in the lives of Canadians, Trudeau entered politics in 2006-2007 and was elected leader of the Liberal Party in April 2013. During his 2015 campaign, he focused on:
Creation of new jobs;
Achieving reconciliation with and providing redress for past abuses to indigenous peoples;
Protecting abortion rights;
Combatting climate change and global warming;
Legitimizing marijuana;
Increasing taxes for wealthy people and cutting taxes for the middle class;
Reforming the electoral process;
Pushing for gender balance;
Eliminate gender-based and sexual-orientation-based discrimination;
Respecting and promoting freedom and diversity;
Welcoming and integrating refugees; and
Encouraging young people to actively participate in Canada’s political life.
On October 19, 2015, Justin Trudeau won the election as well as a majority government with 184 seats and defeated the Conservative Party.
As far as his private life is concerned, Trudeau likes his privacy and tends to keep his private affairs away from public scrutiny. Yet, we know that he married Sophie Grégoire – a Quebec radio and TV host – in 2005 and the two have three children: Xavier, Ella-Grace, and Hadrien.
Donald Trump’s past is very different from the history of most political leaders. In fact, Mr. Trump – born in Queens, New York, in 1946 – is the son of a real estate agent and is the first president in the history of the United States to be elected without having previous government or military experience.
In the 1970s, Trump took over the family business and participated in the development of luxurious buildings and palaces, including casinos, hotels and private estates. For instance, in the 1980s he worked in the construction of the Grand Hyatt New York hotel, opened hotel-casinos in Atlantic City and New Jersey and opened the notorious Trump Tower.
In addition, throughout his career, Trump faced several bankruptcies and was forced to give up large percentages of his ownership shares in order to save his empire. Finally, before deciding to run for presidency in 2015, Mr. Trump starred in the TV-show “The Apprentice,” offering a management position in one of his companies to the winner of the reality show.
In the first eight months of his presidency, Donald Trump has taken several controversial measures, including:
Signing two executive orders – also known as “Muslim bans” – to prevent immigration from seven (later six) Muslim majority countries;
Attempting to repeal the Obamacare – although he has not managed to obtain the majority of the votes to enforce the measure;
Strengthening security checks and harshened immigration laws;
Withdrawing from the Paris Agreements;
Focusing on American development;
Pulling out of or renegotiating several multilateral agreements;
Attacking press agencies and accusing media outlets of spreading fake news;
Proposing harsher sanctions against North Korea – although the United Nations Security Council did not adopt the resolution proposed as Russia (one of the Permanent 5 Members) used its veto power;
Meeting with Palestinian President Habbas and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu in order to promote a peaceful solution to the Israeli-Palestinian question; and
Deporting several “illegal aliens.”
Justin Trudeau vs Donald Trump
The Canadian Prime Minister and the American President could not be more different. The first is a young politician who believes in the importance of diversity and who wants to find global solutions to common problems. The second has extremist ideas, prefers bilateral agreements to multilateral deals, and is determined to “Make America Great Again.” The differences between Trump and Trudeau are evident:
Their background is very different: Trudeau was a teacher and a youth and environment advocate. whereas Trump was a real estate developer and TV host;
They have contrasting opinions on climate change and global warming: Trudeau believes that climate change is a serious problem that needs to be solved before it becomes too late, whereas Trump withdrew from the Paris Agreements and does not believe in the use of alternative fuels;
They have opposing views on immigration: Trudeau continues to welcome Syrian refugees and is working to improve Canada’s integration system in order to allow refugees and migrants to find their place within the Canadian society, whereas Trump believes that most immigrants represent a threat to national security. In fact, Trump signed two different “Muslim bans,” preventing people from seven (later six) Muslim majority countries from entering the United States. Such executive orders have been disputed by judges, lawyers and activists.
They have a different attitude towards the media: Trudeau encourages freedom of opinion, values independent news agencies and takes into account the opinion of the Canadian youth, whereas Trump often accused media outlets of allegedly spreading fake news concerning his family and his presidency; and
They have different views on women: Trudeau is a feminist who is working to protect abortion rights whereas Trump has shown little respect towards women (i.e. his campaign was jeopardized by a record of him being particularly disrespectful towards women), and has a conservative stance on abortion.
Although Canada and the United States are economic and political allies, the two current heads of state could not be more different. Justin Trudeau, the Canadian Prime Minister, is a young politician, former teacher and youth advocate, married to a TV and radio host with whom he has three children. Trudeau believes that all countries should work together to halt climate change, pushes for the creation of multilateral trade deals, wants to achieve reconciliation with indigenous peoples and values diversity. Donald Trump, the 45th President of the United States, is a former real estate developer, a billionaire businessman who was married three times and has three sons and two daughters. Trump has a radical agenda and his main goal is to “Make America Great Again.” The U.S. President wants to bring jobs back to the United States, promised benefits to those who decide to invest in America, took measures to slow down illegal immigration (and immigration in general) and withdrew from the Paris Agreements.
However, the differences between the two are not preventing the two governments from continuing their cooperation on several issues as well as their relation of mutual respect and support. In fact, the historical ties that link the two countries seem to be stronger than the discrepancies between the two men.
Giulia Squadrin
Latest posts by Giulia Squadrin (see all)
Difference Between Michelle Obama and Melania - January 29, 2019
Difference Between Trump and Modi - December 4, 2018
Difference Between Carbon Tax And Cap And Trade - December 4, 2018
Difference Between Trump and Modi
Difference Between President and Prime Minister of Israel
Difference Between President and Prime Minister of India
Difference Between Prime Minister and President in Russia
Trudeau vs Harper – the Canadian political divide defined
Squadrin, G. (2017, September 28). Difference between Trudeau and Trump. Difference Between Similar Terms and Objects. http://www.differencebetween.net/miscellaneous/politics/difference-between-trudeau-and-trump/.
Squadrin, Giulia. "Difference between Trudeau and Trump." Difference Between Similar Terms and Objects, 28 September, 2017, http://www.differencebetween.net/miscellaneous/politics/difference-between-trudeau-and-trump/.
Written by : Giulia Squadrin. and updated on 2017, September 28
[0]Donald Trump, History, available at http://www.history.com/topics/us-presidents/donald-trump
[1]Justin Trudeau, Biography.com, available at https://www.biography.com/people/justin-trudeau
[2]Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada, available at http://pm.gc.ca/eng/prime-minister-justin-trudeau
[3]The difference between Donald Trump and Justin Trudeau shown in 90 seconds, Irish News, available at http://www.irishnews.com/magazine/2017/02/13/news/the-difference-between-donald-trump-and-justin-trudeau-shown-in-90-seconds-931179/
[4]Trump and Trudeau Tread Carefully on Differences on Refugees, Trade, NBC News, available at http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/trump-trudeau-tread-carefully-differences-refugees-trade-n720301
[5]https://canadians.org/blog/tweaking-nafta-only-worsens-agreement
See more about : Canadian president, Donald Trump, justin trudeau, US President, World leaders
More in 'Leaders'
Difference Between Joe Biden and Donald Trump
Difference Between President and Prime Minister
Difference Between Michelle Obama and Melania
Difference Between Doug Ford and Donald Trump
More in 'Politics'
Difference Between NAFTA and USMCA
Difference Between Futurism and Fascism
Difference Between Collectivism and Communism
The Difference Between Collectivism and Socialism
Difference Between Isolationism and Imperialism
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1713
|
__label__wiki
| 0.858919
| 0.858919
|
This article by Anita Diouri appeared in the Dundee Courier on 26 November 2020
Kinross rail link 'could cut journey times from Perth to Edinburgh by 35 minutes'
Calls have been renewed for to reinstate the Kinross rail link, amid claims it would cut journey times from Perth to Edinburgh by up to 35 minutes.
The direct rail route from Edinburgh to Perth, via Dunfermline, Kinross and Glenfarg was closed in 1970 to make way for the M90 motorway. As well as cutting journey times, it would create a transport hub in Kinross, serving the growing town and its residents working in the east coast region.
Conservative councillor Callum Purves of the Kinross-Shire ward said: "Reinstating the rail link to Kinross is a project that has strong support in the local community. "As Kinross-shire continues to grow as a result of large-scale developments and with many local residents commuting outwith the area to get to work, the case for a new train station is stronger now than ever."
SNP MSP Roseanna Cunningham of Perthshire South and Kinross-shire echoed the call but said: "As far as I am aware, the biggest problem facing any campaign to restore a rail service for Kinross is that the original line serving the town, which ran between Perth and Edinburgh, has been almost entirely built over, in particular by the M90."**
Scottish Conservative leader, Douglas Ross said: "Kinross has a good case for a new train station."
**In fact, according to the InterCity Express project, "Much of the proposed route alignment is still in existence. Some development has inevitably taken place at a number of locations, and a four-mile tunnelled section would be required to avoid the M90 and Glenfarg village."
It is thought likely that the total cost of this project would be around half the cost of dualling either the A9, or the A96. Journeys from the FNL to Edinburgh and beyond would benefit enormously.
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1716
|
__label__cc
| 0.704014
| 0.295986
|
Search the Family Code for:
Legal Resources | Family Code | FC 7050
Chapter 2 Effect of Emancipation
An emancipated minor shall be considered as being an adult for the following purposes:
(a) The minor's right to support by the minor's parents.
(b) The right of the minor's parents to the minor's earnings and to control the minor.
(c) The application of Sections 300 and 601 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
(d) Ending all vicarious or imputed liability of the minor's parents or guardian for the minor's torts. Nothing in this section affects any liability of a parent, guardian, spouse, or employer imposed by the Vehicle Code, or any vicarious liability that arises from an agency relationship.
(e) The minor's capacity to do any of the following:
(1) Consent to medical, dental, or psychiatric care, without parental consent, knowledge, or liability.
(2) Enter into a binding contract or give a delegation of power.
(3) Buy, sell, lease, encumber, exchange, or transfer an interest in real or personal property, including, but not limited to, shares of stock in a domestic or foreign corporation or a membership in a nonprofit corporation.
(4) Sue or be sued in the minor's own name.
(5) Compromise, settle, arbitrate, or otherwise adjust a claim, action, or proceeding by or against the minor.
(6) Make or revoke a will.
(7) Make a gift, outright or in trust.
(8) Convey or release contingent or expectant interests in property, including marital property rights and any right of survivorship incident to joint tenancy, and consent to a transfer, encumbrance, or gift of marital property.
(9) Exercise or release the minor's powers as donee of a power of appointment unless the creating instrument otherwise provides.
(10) Create for the minor's own benefit or for the benefit of others a revocable or irrevocable trust.
(11) Revoke a revocable trust.
(12) Elect to take under or against a will.
(13) Renounce or disclaim any interest acquired by testate or intestate succession or by inter vivos transfer, including exercise of the right to surrender the right to revoke a revocable trust.
(14) Make an election referred to in Section 13502 of, or an election and agreement referred to in Section 13503 of, Probate Code.
(15) Establish the minor's own residence.
(16) Apply for a work permit pursuant to Section 49110 of the Education Code without the request of the minor's parent.
(17) Enroll in a school or college.
(Added by Stats. 1992, Ch. 162, Sec. 10.)
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1719
|
__label__cc
| 0.636739
| 0.363261
|
Sammy Hagar planning Las Vegas residency
Sammy Hagar is planning to launch a Las Vegas residency this summer.
According to The Las Vegas Review-Journal, the Red Rocker is hoping to set up shop in June at the "Celestia" tent inside the Strat Hotel, Casino and SkyPod, formerly known as the Stratosphere; Hagar would then settle into a one-weekend-per-month residency, with a format that would follow his infamous birthday parties at his Cabo Wabo Cantina in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
“I want to create the ultimate environment where I can throw the ultimate party, like I have done in Cabo for 30 years for my birthday, but at another time of year here in Las Vegas, which is really the party capital of the world,” explains Hagar. “I hate to put Cabo second to anything, but I feel in this case it’s gotta take second place to Las Vegas.”
The guitarist is already issuing an open invitation to such artists and friends as Rick Springfield, Billy Idol, Toby Keith, Kenny Chesney, Neal Schon, Vince Neil and members of REO Speedwagon to join him during the series.
Further details regarding the residency are expected soon.
Hagar and The Circle will begin a South American tour in support of their “Space Between” album in Santiago, Chile on March 14, and will team up with Whitesnake for a US trek that will open in West Palm Beach, FL on July 9.
Sammy Hagar announces US tour with Whitesnake
Sammy Hagar and Cheap Trick added to Aerosmith MusiCares tribute
Rock News Artist Of The Year No. 4: SAMMY HAGAR
VIDEO: Sammy Hagar performs acoustic set of classics at Grammy Museum
Search Sammy Hagar at hennemusic
Labels: Sammy Hagar
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1722
|
__label__cc
| 0.552699
| 0.447301
|
Understanding Ron Paul
A few weeks ago I attended a speech by Ron Paul, a candidate for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination. There were about 1000 people there, and the crowd was remarkably diverse. My wife and I brought our little children, and I was surprised by how many other young families were there. There was the usual contingent of animated college students, but the middle-aged and elderly were at least as numerous. By the attendees’ clothing, I could tell that they came from diverse economic backgrounds. The “high-and-tight” hair cuts revealed many military supporters—even though none were wearing uniforms. And there were a few of the pot-smoking hippies that always somehow appear in the news footage.
Ron Paul’s speech was enthusiastic and optimistic. He talked about the importance of liberty to both economic progress and social harmony. He condemned unconstitutional foreign wars and warned about unintended consequences of intermeddling in the affairs of other sovereign nations. He explained that free trade, friendly relations, and example are far more powerful tools for the spread of democracy than bombs and bullets, and that aggressive posturing and economic sanctions are the true isolationism we should worry about. He decried the federal reserve’s surreptitious theft from the American people through the devaluation of the dollar. In short, he delivered the same powerful defense of liberty, peace, and prosperity that he has been giving for decades, and I left puzzling over the same question that I have wondered about since 2008 when I first learned of Ron Paul: what is it about Ron Paul and his message that can unite and energize such a diverse group of people and yet fail to resonate with the majority of voters?
Granted, Ron Paul sometimes stumbles a bit in his public speaking; his training and experience delivering babies didn’t translate well to delivering speeches. But I don’t want to believe that the majority of voters are so superficial that they would reject the message merely because the messenger isn’t polished enough. I prefer to think that it is an issue of communication. Ron Paul frequently references topics about which many Americans are woefully ignorant: the U.S. Constitution, economics, monetary policy, and world history. References to these topics during speeches and debates leave casual listeners confused, and confused listeners don’t become supporters. But I think the communication barrier runs even deeper than that.
Ron Paul thinks and talks about politics in a way that is fundamentally different from his opponents. The best way I can describe this difference is by offering examples: when Mitt Romney explains the moment that he changed his stance on abortion, he talks about how pro-abortion legislation arrived at his desk for signature and he had a change of heart and simply couldn’t sign it; when Rick Santorum talks about why he changed his stance on No Child Left Behind, he says that politics is a team sport and sometimes you have to rally around the leader and do something, compromise, take one for the team. I am not faulting these men for their sentiments. I believe they each sincerely hope to do good. But notice that in each of these examples, key political decisions were the product of emotional reaction: Santorum felt like he needed to be loyal and play ball with his colleagues; Romney had a change of heart when faced with the prospect of enabling the death of an unborn child.
This type of decision-making is understandable because whatever we may tell ourselves about being rational, emotion often trumps reason. This is especially true when a majority of those around you are swept up in the emotional tide. But Ron Paul is exceptional when it comes to politics; he uses reason and principles to make political decisions. In other words, he actually does what the other politicians only pretend to do. Consider this exchange from a presidential debate held in South Carolina on 5 May 2011:
Moderator: You say that the federal government should stay out of people’s personal habits, including marijuana, cocaine, even heroin.
Ron Paul: It’s an issue of protecting liberty across the board. If you have the inconsistency, then you’re really not defending liberty. We want freedom [including] when it comes to our personal habits.
Moderator: Are you suggesting that heroin and prostitution are an exercise of liberty?
Ron Paul: Yes, in essence …
Notice that he starts with a principle, personal liberty, and follows that principle to its unavoidable conclusion. Obviously he doesn’t advocate heroin use or prostitution. He is a devout Christian, so both of those behaviors undoubtedly are emotionally and morally repugnant to him. But he believes in the principle of personal liberty. So he is willing to let people make poor choices, like using heroin, since that is what protecting personal liberty requires. This shocks many people. Like I said, it is fundamentally different from other candidates. If Rick Santorum were to say something so shocking—no matter how consistent it was with the principles he claims to follow—there would be a valiant attempt at spin, followed by an apology. Remember the scandal about his statement that he wanted to throw-up after he heard President Kennedy’s speech about religion and politics?
This isn’t just a Republican problem. Just ask honest people who supported Barack Obama during his 2008 run. They believed that his principles—especially those relating to civil liberties—would lead to different decisions than those made by President Bush. But that didn’t stop President Obama from ordering the execution of American citizens without trial or public hearing. Those principles didn’t stop him from signing into law the National Defense Authorization Act, which allows for the indefinite detention, again without trial or public hearing, of anyone deemed a threat to national security.
What it boils down to is this: for most candidates, principles are vague guides that easily bend or crumple under political pressure; for Ron Paul, principles define his political goals and methods from beginning to end and top to bottom. This means that, even when a principle leads to shocking conclusions, Ron Paul doesn’t shy away. This confuses voters and makes them nervous. Throw in a few references to unfamiliar topics like the U.S. Constitution, economics, monetary policy, and world history, and the average voter runs for the familiar smooth-talking candidates they are used to.
Posted in Politics | 2 Comments »
You are currently browsing the infoRipple blog archives for April, 2012.
Copyright © 2008 - 2016 by the contributing authors.
infoRipple.com is proudly powered by WordPress.
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1724
|
__label__wiki
| 0.533187
| 0.533187
|
HIGHLAND HOUSE - The Oscar Hammerstein Estate High Atop Montego Bay by Kaya Morgan
AIthough thousands of miles apart, Jamaica in the Caribbean and mythical "Bali Hai," situated somewhere in the South Pacific, have something in common – the world-renowned lyricist and librettist Oscar Hammerstein II. Named for his German-born grandfather, a famous theatrical manager in New York in the early twentieth century, Oscar Hammerstein II is best remembered for his collaborations with Richard Rodgers, including the Broadway musical phenomenon of 1949, "South Pacific."
In fact, Hammerstein wrote the lyrics to "South Pacific" from the terrace of Highland House, his fabulous Jamaican estate overlooking Montego Bay. More than just a second home and retreat from the traffic and noise of Hammerstein's native New York City, this 7,000-square-foot island home with its breathtaking views was a main source of inspiration for the musical. "This is what it's like, living on an island"... he wrote in "South Pacific," which was later made into the popular movie that was filmed on the Island of Kauai in Hawaii.
Highland House had roots in the theater even before Oscar and Dorothy Hammerstein bought it as their vacation home in the mid-1950s. Designed by Jamaican architect Harold Simpson, it was built in the 1940s for English actress Gladys Cooper. The sprawling estate was first renovated after Oscar Hammerstein died in 1960, then sold in 1970 to its current owners, George and Ingrid Teichner from Bal Horbor, Florida who turned Highland House into their own private island escape. George, an investment banker, and Ingrid, a former model knew when they laid eyes on the home that it was their heart’s desire and the added historic significance made it a very special place to be.
For the past seventeen years, as during the era of the Hammersteins' ownership, many a Broadway star, Hollywood celebrity, or show business executive has enjoyed the stunning natural beauty of this gracious home set on twenty-seven lush acres. Among the most spacious and glamorous homes anywhere in the Caribbean, Highland House is especially enchanting at night, with the lights of Montego Bay flickering in the distance. It is not difficult to imagine Hammerstein writing the words to "Some Enchanted Evening" here, along with the lyrics to the other songs in "South Pacific" that made so many fall in love with the idea of living on a far-off island.
An exquisitely landscaped compound of buildings surrounding a central courtyard and a forty-foot swimming pool, Highland House has six bedrooms under four separate roofs. Accessed by connecting pathways and all having adjoining porches or private decks, each bedroom has its own distinctive charming character.
The main building boasts the formal Great Room with a white-painted, open-beam ceiling and large pocket doors that open on two sides of the room. The interior courtyard doors open to the central pool deck, while the opening opposite reveals expansive bay and ocean views. The half-dozen other buildings in the compound, with their Canadian wood-shingled hipped roofs shaped into unusually high peaks and capped by finials, are reminiscent of Fijian bure architecture.
This main structure at Highland House has a wrought iron spiral staircase leading from the pool area to the rooftop sundeck. From this vantage point, guests can enjoy a breathtaking panorama of the estate's grounds, sparkling Montego Bay, and the Caribbean Sea beyond while relaxing in comfortable padded chaise lounges, or as they feast on lunch in the shade of a thatched umbrella. Downstairs, below the Great Room, is a recreation area and gym featuring a billiards table, exercise machines and free weights, a massage table, and a convenient mini-kitchen.
The Great Room itself is splendidly decorated with antiques, objets d'art, and several comfortable sofas and chairs all upholstered in a summery floral print that is carried through in the room's curtains. White marble flooring is cool underfoot. Scattered about the room are mahogany tables and chests that hold an interesting array of framed pictures, collectibles, antique lamps, and bright fresh flower arrangements.
Hanging from the white-painted, vaulted ceiling is a magnificent antique brass chandelier with candlestick-style lights and a white ceiling fan. Above the fireplace is a painting depicting the first Montego Bay baptisms of native islanders by the seventeenth century English missionaries who introduced Christianity to the island. Opposite the fireplace is a baroque gilded mirror (a gift to Dorothy Hammerstein from a friend) that is surrounded by a collection of framed pictures.
Also in the main building, on the north side and facing the bay, is a breezy sunroom wrapped by sliding glass doors on two sides. Here Sarah Churchill and Noel Coward played bridge with Dorothy Hammerstein on many a balmy Jamaican evening. And just outside on the covered terrace facing the pool is a cozy seating area with an armoire of Jamaican wood concealing surround-sound audio components.
Around the estate's buildings are five spacious terraces with antique brick and concrete decks, separated by lawns and tropical gardens. Brick also surrounds the forty-foot-long rectangular swimming pool, where more padded lounge chairs here offer poolside relaxation in the sun or shade.
Across the central pool area is another building sheltering the estate's gourmet kitchen, formal dining room, and casual al fresco dining terrace. Here, each morning, the usual bill-of-fare is pots of steaming Jamaican coffee and platters of fresh island fruit. Meals may be enjoyed indoors in the formal dining room, which seats ten under a white chandelier or poolside in a more casual setting on the covered terraces.
The master bedroom suite has a king size, four-poster cedar canopy bed, marble flooring, a spacious sitting area, ceiling fans, and sliding doors that lead to the private patio deck with panoramic views of the surrounding sea. The master bath has separate his-and-hers facilities with walk-in closets, and a huge linen-draped Roman tub. Connecting to the master suite is a smaller guest room that is ideal for children, with twin beds, en suite bath and walk-in closet.
The Green Room is a favorite guest suite offering a romantic king size, four-poster bed, marble flooring, a comfortable sitting area, dressing room, and en suite bath. Two sliding window walls in this suite open to a private, well-furnished terrace.
French doors opening to an expansive view of the lawns, woods, and sea – as well as an adjacent covered terrace for morning coffee – are amenities offered by the Peach Room. This guest room has a double bed, sitting area, and en suite bath. The Flowered Room, which features a wonderful collection of Jamaican and Haitian art, has twin beds, an en suite bath and walk-in closet, and an adjacent covered terrace in a garden setting.
In the new wing and totally private from the rest of the estate is a spacious bedroom suite with a queen size, four-poster elephant bamboo canopy bed, a sitting area, terra cotta tile floor, en suite bath, walk-in closet with a private deck surrounded by fragrant lush foliage.
The Hammerstein estate is located less than ten miles from the colorful village of Montego Bay and Sangster International Airport, and only minutes by car from beaches, championship golf and tennis facilities, restaurants, deep-sea fishing, snorkeling, and craft markets. The fabulous beaches of bohemian Negril are about an hour away to the west while the bustling city of Ocho Rios and its world-famous attraction, Dunn's River Falls, are about an hour and a half drive to the east.
For those who don't live on an island, whether it be in the Caribbean or the South Pacific, owning an estate like this one is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to rediscover what Oscar Hammerstein meant when he wrote those words: "This is what it's like, living on an island..." And in the case of Highland House in particular, it's a rare opportunity to experience an important moment in American theater history.
To rent this historic vacation villa, contact 301.229.4300 or www.jamaicavillas.com
Press Coverage | VentureCapital | Business Development | Venture Opportunities | Resources | Contact Us | Investor Extras | Home
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1725
|
__label__wiki
| 0.615923
| 0.615923
|
Homecoming for a Lost Tribe of Israel
http://www.michaelfreund.org/12544/lost-tribe-of-israel
On October 24, the government of Israel passed an historic decision, one that paves the way for the return of a Lost Tribe of Israel to Zion.
Resolution 5180, which received unanimous ministerial approval, will allow 275 members of the Bnei Menashe community of northeastern India to make aliya.
Coming at a time of increasing uncertainty for the Jewish state, this momentous development should infuse us all with some much-needed optimism regarding the future.
After all, the Bnei Menashe are descendants of the tribe of Manasseh, one of the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel who were exiled by the Assyrian Empire more than 27 centuries ago. The community, which numbers 7,232 people, resides primarily in the Indian states of Mizoram and Manipur, along the border with Burma and Bangladesh.
Though a great distance separated them geographically from the rest of the Jewish people, their hearts and their aspirations, centered on the goal of return, were never truly remote.
Just as the people of Israel have done for centuries, the Bnei Menashe turned in prayer toward Jerusalem, confident that despite whatever travails they might face, nothing could stand in the way of their dream. And that dream is now coming to life, demonstrating once again the unbreakable power of the Jewish spirit.
The cabinet's decision was more than five years in the making. In the middle of 2007, the Olmert government inexplicably chose to freeze the aliya of the Bnei Menashe, despite the fact that more than 1,700 had already moved here, thanks primarily to Shavei Israel, the organization that I founded and chair.
For the past several years, I have lobbied and cajoled, prodded and nudged, wandering the halls of the Knesset and making a nuisance of myself in various government ministries.
I could not accept the fact that the government of Israel would shutter the gates in front of these wonderful people. The Bnei Menashe are proud Jews and committed Zionists. They live observant lifestyles, volunteer for combat units in the IDF, and work hard to support themselves and their families. Only 4-5 percent are reliant on social welfare benefits, which is half the national average.
A growing number of the community's youth are studying at various institutions for higher education, and several have been ordained as rabbis.
The Bnei Menashe are a blessing to Israel and the Jewish people, and there is no good reason to deny them the right to rejoin our nation.
Thankfully, with support from the Foreign Ministry, the Interior Ministry and the Immigrant Absorption Ministry, we were at last able to overturn the previous government's decision, and the freeze it imposed is a thing of the past.
As a result, people such as Avraham Haokip, his wife and two small sons, will soon be making aliya. They will reunite with Avraham's parents and brother, who moved here previously and whom they have not seen in more than five years.
Avraham Haokip is a graduate of the University of New Delhi, where he studied information technology and software development.
He works as a computer operator for an Indian television station, but will be leaving behind his promising career to build a new life in Israel.
And then there is David Gangte, a 29-year-old Bnei Menashe entrepreneur who lives is Manipur, India, with his wife, son and daughter. Gangte has built up a thriving import-export business, and managed to teach himself Hebrew to the point where he can deliver a discourse on the weekly Torah portion in the ancient tongue of our people.
Sadly, the government won't be covering the costs of the impending immigration. But thanks to some generous Jewish leaders in Europe and the United States, as well as some of Israel's Christian friends, the Bnei Menashe will be coming home.
The International Christian Embassy Jerusalem has taken it upon itself to cover most of the cost of the first flight of immigrants.
Others, such as Bridges for Peace, are also committed to assisting the Bnei Menashe with getting settled into their new surroundings.
Just as the prophet Isaiah (49:22) foretold, the nations of the world will be carrying our sons and daughters back home to Zion.
The government decision is a breakthrough, and in the coming years we hope to bring the remaining 7,000 Bnei Menashe here as well.
The return of the Bnei Menashe to Israel is an inspiring story of Jewish faith, survival and dedication, and it marks the closing of an historical circle after 27 centuries of exile.
It is a miracle of biblical and historic proportions, and we are witnessing the words of the Prophets come to life before our very eyes.
Interestingly, the week in which the government passed the decision was that of the weekly Torah portion of Lech Lecha, when G-d instructs our father Abraham to leave behind his home and make aliya.
Coincidence? Perhaps.
But I prefer to view it as Divine providence, for G-d's directive to Abraham is one that echoes down across the generations, calling out to all the people of Israel to make their way home to Zion. And now, at last, after 2,700 years, Manasseh's children will finally be able to do so.
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1729
|
__label__wiki
| 0.725505
| 0.725505
|
Popular Upper Peninsula radio stations changing hands
on February 10, 2010 9:01 AM | Permalink
One of the largest sales of radio stations in recent times, at least in terms of numbers of stations being dealt, was announced this week in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Sault Ste. Marie based Sovereign Communications has reached an agreement with Northern Star Broadcasting to purchase all but one of their Upper Peninsula radio stations for $3.5 million dollars.
The eleven station, multi-million dollar acquisition will give Sovereign a total of seven radio stations in the Sault Ste. Marie and Newberry area with the addition of WYSS-FM, WMKD-FM and WKNW AM where the company already owns WSOO AM, WSUE-FM, WNBY AM and WNBY-FM. Northern Star will maintain its ownership of WIHC-FM Newberry as the acquisition of that station by Sovereign would have pushed it over FCC ownership limit caps.
The cash deal also includes WJPD-FM, WUPK-FM, WNGE-FM, WDMJ AM, and WIAN AM in Marquette as well as WIMK-FM, WZNL-FM and WMIQ AM in Iron Mountain.
Bill Gleich, President of Sovereign Communications, said, "We couldn't be more excited about this purchase. Having these additional stations will allow us to serve the community as well as our advertisers and listeners in even greater ways. I believe we have the best people in the radio business; they're all very excited about our growth and ready to take on new challenges. I look forward to a smooth transition as we bring the Northern Star stations into the Sovereign Communications family. Personally, as a local kid that grew up in Sault Sainte Marie and started in the radio business at WSOO at 15 years old, this is a real dream come true for me."
David Simmons, President of Traverse City/Cheboygan based Northern Star Broadcasting, commented, "While we will miss the many warm relationships that have developed during our involvement in the Upper Peninsula markets, the transaction with Sovereign Communications provides Northern Star Broadcasting with the opportunity for a renewed sense of focus and commitment to the remaining radio stations in the Northern Star Broadcasting group. We look forward to our continued community involvement, presentation of entertaining and quality programming for our listeners while providing outstanding customer service to our advertisers and promotional partners."
Northern Star Broadcasting has owned and operated its eight Northern Lower Peninsula radio stations since the company's formation in 1998. All of the Lower Peninsula Radio Stations will stay intact as a Radio Station Broadcast Group and will continue to be owned and operated by Northern Star Broadcasting, LLC. The current management team, Del Reynolds, Vice President of Programming and Operations and Chief Engineer, and Mary Reynolds, Vice President of Marketing and Promotions and General Manager, will continue to lead the Northern Star Broadcasting team of dedicated broadcast professionals.
Del Reynolds tells Michiguide.com, "I think this group of UP stations will be taken to the next level under the direction of Bill "Curtis" Gleich. He is truly a radio guy through and through from programming to sales. His attention to detail with regard to programming is the best I've seen. He gets up early and stays up late to make his stations sound great and they do! Bill has a thorough understanding of how to market, promote and program radio stations no matter what the format. Since Yes FM in the Sault was the first radio station that I owned and named, it has a special place in my heart. Having a guy like Bill Curtis own Yes FM 25 years later makes me feel better about ever selling it. In retrospect, that's one of the 10 stations that I've owned that I should have kept. From the time it went # 1 back in 1985 to now it's continued to do well over all these years. Yes FM is in good hands!"
The deal still must go through the FCC approval process and closing.
This page contains a single entry by Mike Austerman published on February 10, 2010 9:01 AM.
Metro Detroit: Newsmakers Feb. 10, 2010 was the previous entry in this blog.
Upper Peninsula: Newsmakers Feb. 10, 2010 is the next entry in this blog.
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1730
|
__label__wiki
| 0.968376
| 0.968376
|
'Spring Breakers' Star Vanessa Hudgens Was 'Most Scared' Of Threesome Scene
'Everybody was comforting,' actress says of filming with co-stars James Franco and Ashley Benson.
Amy Wilkinson 03/12/2013
Given all of the advanced buzz surrounding Harmony Korine's latest project, the sex- and drug-fueled vacation romp "Spring Breakers," it should come as little surprise that the film's actresses — many former Disney darlings — performed acts that would make a certain Mouse blush and hide his face behind gloved hands. But how did the leading ladies themselves feel about these daring deeds?
"The thing I was most scared of was the sex scene and the nudity issue behind all of it," Vanessa Hudgens told MTV News recently. "Because I was not down to show this [gestures to chest]."
The scene Hudgens referred to is one in which she and co-stars James Franco and Ashley Benson engage in a wet and wild threesome in a backyard pool. And Hudgens was quick to add that Korine did everything possible to ensure the awkward experience was as comfortable as possible — both during and after filming.
"Harmony is so amazing, though," she said. "He's so supportive, and he let me know it was going to be OK, and at the end of the day, if there's something I don't like, we can snip it out of there. So there were like a few little portions that I was like, 'Can we please get rid of that?' But it was like a great compromise. I think that it turns out really beautiful and artistic."
As to whether she had fun filming the titillating moment, Hudgens hedged slightly, admitting that the aquatic setting did add a certain something to the process.
"It was just kind of like, 'This is crazy! This is happening!' " she recalled. "Hallelujah for Ashley, and the fact that it was a pool kind of made it a lot of fun. I was like, 'Peace out for a second. I'm going to swim around.' But it was just great. Everybody was comforting. They wanted to let me know that it was going to be OK and that I'm safe."
"Spring Breakers" opens March 15 in New York and L.A., going wide March 22.
Check out everything we've got on "Spring Breakers."
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1732
|
__label__wiki
| 0.923086
| 0.923086
|
Please report any broken links or trouble you might come across to the Webmaster.
Please take a moment to let us know so that we can correct any problems and make your visit as enjoyable and as informative as possible.
NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive
WWII U-Boats
To Additional Pages
U-1105
Class: (Type IXC)
Text courtesy of uboat.net
Surrender Details: Surrendered from sea at Mar del Plata, Argentina on 10 July 1945. Moved to Buenos Aires on 28/29 July and handed over to the US Navy.
Time in US Navy: In company with U-977, and escorted by the fleet tug Cherokee (ATF-66), U-530 left the Rio Santiago Naval Base in Buenos Aires on 11 September 1945. The two U-Boats stopped at Rio de Janeiro in Brazil from 16 to 20 September and, after having to repair the engines of both U-Boats whilst at sea, they then stopped at Trinidad in the British West Indies from 2 to 5 October, where they were inspected by the Allied Tripartite Naval Board on 3 October. They left Trinidad on 5 October and arrived at the US Navy's Submarine Base at New London on 12 October 1945.
U-530 was allocated to the US Navy as a war prize, and in November and December 1945 it took part in a 7-week tour to seven US ports in Texas. It travelled on the surface throughout, and was escorted by the destroyer Thomas (DE-102). The U-Boat and its escorting destroyer left New London on 5 November and, after calling at the Key West Naval Base on 9/10 November, they visited Port Arthur (11 to 16 November), Houston (16 to 22 November), Galveston (22 to 25 November), Corpus Christi (26 to 29 November), Brownsville (30 November to 2 December), Beaumont (3 to 8 December) and Orange (8 to 12 December). On the return journey north, U-530 had overnight stops at both the Key West Naval Base (15/16 November) and the Norfolk Naval Base (19/20 November) before it arrived back in New London on 22 December 1945, where it was declared out of service and to be retained for explosive tests.
Final Disposal: Sunk on 28 November 1947 by Toro (SS-422) off Cape Cod, Mass.
Text courtesy of Derek Waller
Click On Image
For Full Size
246k The US crew of the U-530 taken in Houston in 1945. Photo courtesy of uboatarchive.net
192k Argentine Navy boarding party inspects U-530, after her surrender at Mar Del Plata Naval Base, July 1945. Photographer unknown. Image from 75 Anniversary edition of La Capital newspaper, May 1980, page 97, courtesy of Daniel Mesa for Carlos Mey via Robert Hurst.
501k Five photo PDF of the U-530 being torpedoed by Toro (SS-422) on 20 or 21 November, 1947. USN Photos # 80-G-704668 / 704672, courtesy of uboatarchive.net
Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
uboatarchive.net
Back To The Main Photo Index Back To the Submarine Index
Problems and site related matters, E-mail Webmaster
This page is created and maintained by Derek Waller & Michael Mohl
All Pages © 1996 - 2022, NavSource History All rights reserved.
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1733
|
__label__wiki
| 0.675426
| 0.675426
|
Republicans Careen toward Immigration Showdown
House Republicans are very near the edge of a very embarrassing shutdown over immigration which House speaker Paul Ryan and his leadership team have been trying their best to avoid. GOP centrists gave the immigration political groups a choice of allowing a vote on a bill which includes a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers or else they will be teaming up with the Democrats for forcing votes on bipartisan immigration legislation that they do not like at all. This happened when the lawmakers left Washington for the Memorial Day break in late May. But most of the members of House Freedom Caucus are rejecting the offer. A number of them stated that they see no reason for relenting with the issue of citizenship. They refer to the offer as a special pathway and would only betray their beliefs and a vote on a bill which has actually no chance of becoming law.
Jim Jordan who is the founder of the Freedom Caucus mentioned that the negotiations are still going on with the moderates and GOP leaders but he said that he does not believe that the people of the United States elected the Republicans for the creation of any kind of special pathway for citizenship for the DACA individuals. He added that they are trying to work around that but that is a matter of real concern. It is all set to be a very chaotic month of June for Paul Ryan because of the stalemate between the two wings of the conference.
The leadership was hoping to stop the moderates from gathering the 218 signatures for a so - called discharge petition which was essential to trigger the immigration vote on the House floor. But Democrats are assured of joining hands with several dozens of centrist Republicans for the purpose of passing a bill that codifies the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program which was a program during the time when Barack Obama was the president of the United States. The bill would tighten border security in a modest manner and it includes virtually no new limitations on immigration and therefore the passage of the bill would be nothing but a humiliating defeat for Congress that is controlled by the GOP. But at this point the efforts of a whole week; for the purpose of striking a compromise for the avoidance for a vote has fallen short.
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1736
|
__label__cc
| 0.70813
| 0.29187
|
Pico Rivera Will Carry a $2.1 Million Surplus Into Next Fiscal Year
Recent reports by the city of Pico Rivera show the city in surprisingly good fiscal shape given the massive impacts that the pandemic had on other municipalities.
General Fund revenues are up, while expenditures are down. The city’s General Fund has several sources of revenue which include three major categories: sales tax, property tax and all other revenues, which include licenses and permits and business licenses.
Sales tax is the largest source of revenue for the General Fund, comprising more than one-third of the annual operating revenues, so the Mayor and City Council along with City Manager Steve Carmona were bracing for large decline due to the pandemic, and projected 23 percent decline.
But the losses were not as massive as first calculated, thanks to the city proactively implementing plans to assist local businesses, which led to an increase in sales tax. A rise in the property tax roll, and an increase in Pico Rivera residents shopping online were also cited as revenue drivers.
“The City has indeed been able to experience more positive results than initial expectations and through this latest reporting quarter, now shows signs of recovery,” management wrote in the staff report.
Through the first nine months of the fiscal year, sales tax is trending 4 percent ($501,000) higher than the same period last year.
Revenues through the third quarter totaled $27 million; that number is 3 percent, nearly $943,000, compared to last year, but over $903,000 came from the CARES Act.
Most economists attribute the rise in revenues to increased consumer confidence after the presidential election, which drove up sales in higher-priced “luxury” goods. Good weather, and an increase in online shopping while residents were sheltering in place meant a consistent allocation of sales tax from State and County pools.
The property tax roll, the second largest general fund revenue source, rose 4.9 percent, slightly less than the increase countywide at 6.1 percent. The median sale price of a single family home for March 2021 was $580,000, compared to $520,000 as of March 2020 an 11 percent increase.
In other revenue areas, the utility users tax is up 4 percent – or $81,000 – compared to the same period last year; parks and recreation revenues saw a significant reduction of $330,000 primarily due to the cancellation of events and in-person services; licenses and permits, which includes business license tax revenue is 35 percent higher than last year, an over $589,000 increase.
The cost side of the ledger saw 2020 total expenditures of $28.6 million compared to $29.9 million in 2019, a decrease of $1.3 million. Most expenses we’re down across the board in every major city department with the exception of Finance, the increase attributed to a new accounting software system.
This was more good news for the city its management team, extrapolating revenues and expenses out to year end shows the city generating a $2.1 surplus.
Pico Rivera Mayor Raul Elias told HMG-CN, “In keeping with my pledge to not increase taxes we intend to apply our in current surplus in diversifying our revenue sources in anticipation of declining revenues in our traditional source.”
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1739
|
__label__wiki
| 0.619371
| 0.619371
|
Nurses and Doctors in a Globalized Context
"Hanna Wafula lives in a small village in Zambia. She is 50 years old and lives with her husband and four grandchildren. Three of her six children have died: two when they were very young, and one last year at the age of 30. She notices that the doctor in the nearest health centre is rarely present. On the radio she heard that the government plans to spend more money on health care, but she has not seen any effects of increased spending yet. When she goes to the health facility, there is absolutely no guarantee there is a doctor or nurse to attend to her. The shortage of health personnel seriously impacts Hanna's life. Should she be in need of medical care there might not be a health worker available to treat her or her family." (1)
Human Resources for Health
by Linda Mans and Diana Hoeflake * **
Wemos Foundation
The world is 7.2 million health workers short (2). Low-income countries are particularly affected by the shortage of health personnel (3). Too few health workers are being trained and retained due to insufficient public investments in health care and medical staff. Migration of health workers increases the inequalities and presents a challenge for all countries. Vacancies in high-income countries have a pull effect on qualified health workers from low- and middle-income countries. One of the reasons is that health personnel are leaving for greener pastures - countries where salaries are higher and facilities are better. Case in point, 57 per cent of all physicians trained in Zambia now work abroad, mainly in wealthier countries (4).
If the international recruitment is not carried out responsibly, it can have serious repercussions. When the much needed health workers are recruited from fragile health systems, those systems can be dangerously undermined. Equally, individuals who go to work in unfamiliar settings may be vulnerable to various forms of exploitation if no appropriate measures are taken. Allutis et.al. (2014) state that the health workforce crisis can be regarded as “one of the most pressing global health issues of our time (5)”. If nothing changes, the global health workforce shortage will reach 12.9 million in 2035 (6).
Europe is part of the problem. Various European countries recruit trained health personnel from abroad, a practice that is unsustainable, increases inequality and further weakens health systems in and outside Europe. In this context it is even more worrying that in the aging societies of European countries, the number of people who need long-term care is growing, thus fueling the demand for health workers. Forecasts indicate that, by 2020, Europe will need one to two million additional health workers (7). As the labour market becomes more globalized, rising demand is driving migration and mobility amongst health personnel.
Adequate measures are needed to prevent staff shortages anywhere in the world. In May 2010, the member states of the World Health Organization (WHO) adopted a global code of practice (WHO CoP) on the ethical recruitment of health workers (8). The WHO CoP encourages countries to solve their own (anticipating) shortages of health personnel in a sustainable and responsible manner. By adopting the code, member states agreed that they will be self-sufficient in the domestic health workforce deployment and that they will make sure that health systems in source countries are not undermined by international migration of health personnel. In addition, the WHO CoP calls for a fair and equal treatment of foreign health workers. By applying all the principles of the WHO CoP, countries become less dependent on foreign healthcare staff, and on a global and European scale they will subsequently pull away fewer health professionals.
Despite this code, political consensus on the sustainable management of health workforces and of health worker migration at the European level is still a long way off. There are powerful - albeit sometimes short-sighted - conflicting interests, and in many countries EU-driven austerity measures have put a damper on health expenditures and limit the implementation of policy options. Some countries attempted to lower expenditure through salary cuts or freezes and by reducing funds for training and retention purposes but these policies have exacerbated wage imbalances, thereby increasing health worker migration.
It’s therefore high time that all countries implement the principles of the WHO CoP. The Amsterdam-based advocacy organization Wemos calls on actors involved to abide by this code and advocates action towards achieving a sustainable health workforce and strengthening health systems. Wemos is member and coordinator of a European project entitled “Health workers for all and all for health workers” (HW4ALL). For the project, Wemos is working with civil society organizations (CSOs) in eight European countries: Belgium, the United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, Poland, Romania, Spain and the Netherlands. The project is designed to promote the responsible recruitment of health workers inside and outside the European Union. The CSOs are drawing attention to the consequences of the migration and mobility of health workers.
To ensure that everyone, anywhere in the world, has access to health workers, it is necessary that various ministries and other stakeholders, such as health care providers, work together on a sustainable future-oriented solution. Norway and Ireland are leading examples of WHO CoP implementation. They have implemented a sustainable national health care plan and experienced that this can only be achieved in cooperation with different ministries. For Ireland, the WHO CoP presents a particular challenge as this country employs relatively large numbers of nurses and doctors from outside Europe. Norway has been one of the trailblazers for the WHO CoP. Both countries have prioritized the creation of an effective registration system that can serve to signal areas in which shortages may arise. Additional effort is put into education and in-service training, partly with a view to increasing staff retention. Steps are also being taken to make careers in health care more attractive, such as by improving salaries. Where recruiting health workers from other countries is the only option, Norway and Ireland address the ethical aspects by making firm agreements with those countries. Furthermore, both Norway and Ireland provide aid to help them strengthen their health care systems. In doing so, globally sustainable and fair personnel policies can be ensured.
However, not solely destination countries but also the European Union (EU) can play an important role in contributing to fair and sustainable solutions for the health workforce crisis. In 2006, the EU stated that they “(…) will strive to make migration a positive factor for development, through the promotion of concrete measures aimed at reinforcing their contribution to poverty reduction, including facilitating remittances and limiting the âbrain drainâ of qualified people. (9)” However, for the global human resources for health crisis to be addressed instrumentally, greater coherence between migration, health, development, trade, education, labour, fiscal and other health workforce and migration related policies of the EU is needed. At European level there is a multitude of interventions and tools addressing the issue, making policy coherence a vital element in solving the health workforce crisis. Policy coherence helps create the proper context to ensure that gains for both the European health workforce, the rights of the individual health worker and the health systems in sources countries in and beyond Europe are maximized and costs - economic, social, human, administrative - are kept to a minimum.
Wemos, together with the other members of HW4ALL, strongly encourages a viable health workforce through long-term investment in education and training, accompanied by coherent planning and policies at local, national, and regional level. In doing so, we promote the use of the WHO CoP as a framework to regulate the pan-regional approach to human resources for health and to strengthen health systems not only in Europe but also globally. For example, we call on the EU and its member states to grant equal treatment and equal rights to migrant health workers, and ensure the full portability of social security and pension rights. In addition, we explicitly advocate the adoption of a policy coherence framework for developing sustainable health workforces in and outside Europe. Further, we among others highlight the currently limited possibility for European States to -take effective measures to educate, retain and sustain a health workforce that is appropriate for the specific conditions of each country- (as requested by the WHO CoP) in the context of austerity measures currently imposed on many of them.
We believe that everyone across the globe can have access to skilled health workers. Responsible and coherent policies for a sustainable health workforce will contribute to ensuring there are sufficient health providers available for everyone, everywhere. Then also Hanna and her family will receive health care whenever needed. That is why we advocate sustainable solutions for the global health workforce shortage!
Read more about the migration and mobility of health workers and the work of the HW4ALL project.
(1) http://www.wemos.nl/files/Documenten%20Informatief/Bestanden%20voor%20’Organisatie’/Bird’s_Eye_View_2011-2015.pdf
(2) World Health Organization. (2014). A Universal Truth: No Health Without a Workforce. Geneva: WHO Press.
(3) Sub- Saharan African countries suffer more than 24 per cent of the global disease burden, but have access to only three per cent of the worldâs health workforce. In Germany there are 34 doctors per 10,000 inhabitants available, whereas countries like Zambia and Kenya have to survive with only one.
(4) Ferrinho, H. et.al. (2011). The human resource for health situation in Zambia: deficit and mal distribution. Human Resources for Health. 9: 30.
(5) Aluttis, C. (2014). The workforce for health in a globalized context – global shortages and international migration. Global Health Action 7: 23611.
(7) European Union (2012). COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT on an Action Plan for the EU Health Workforce. http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/health_consumer/docs/swd_ap_eu_healthcare_workforce_en.pdf
(8) WHO Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel: http://www.healthworkers4all.eu/fileadmin/docs/gb/WHO_Code_of_Practice.pdf
(9) See para. 38 of the European Consensus on Development, OJ C 46/01, 24.02.2006.
*Article republished from WEMOS November 20, 2014: http://www.wemos.nl/news/?v=2&lid=2&id=359&cid=3, with permission.
** Linda Mans is the project coordinator of the European consortium project “Health workers for all and all for health workers”, of which Wemos is the leading party. Together with partners from 8 European countries, this project aims to promote cohesion between development cooperation policies and domestic health policies and practices of European Member States and thus facilitating the establishment of responsible health worker policies. Through this project, Linda calls for more concerted action for better training, recruitment, retention and deployment of staff in the Netherlands and Europe. The WHO Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel World Health constitutes the starting point. Linda maintains relations with the Health Workforce Advocacy Initiative (HWAI) and the Global Health Workforce Alliance (GHWA).
Diana Hoeflake is responsible for Wemos’ social media. She writes articles for Wemos’ website and for trade media on health and international development. In addition, Diana carries out policy analyses and desk studies for the purpose of Wemos’ activities.
Posted on 27th January 2015 4th October 2015 Author Daniele Dionisio
Previous Previous post: Breaking News: Link 127
Next Next post: Antibiotic Resistance – Beginning of the End?
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1742
|
__label__wiki
| 0.79398
| 0.79398
|
In a Breakthrough: Physicists have just produced antimatter from light
Adnan Ab July 30, 2021 Physics
In the depths of space, there are celestial bodies where extreme conditions prevail: Rapidly rotating neutron stars generate super-strong magnetic fields. And black holes, with their enormous gravitational pull, can cause huge, energetic jets of matter to shoot out into space. An international physics team with the participation of the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) has now proposed a new concept that could allow some of these extreme processes to be studied in the laboratory in the future: A special setup of two high-intensity laser beams could create conditions similar to those found near neutron stars. In the discovered process, an antimatter jet is generated and accelerated very efficiently. The experts present their concept in the journal Communications Physics.
The basis of the new concept is a tiny block of plastic, crisscrossed by micrometer-fine channels. It acts as a target for two lasers. These simultaneously fire ultra-strong pulses at the block, one from the right, the other from the left. "When the laser pulses penetrate the sample, each of them accelerates a cloud of extremely fast electrons," explains HZDR physicist Toma Toncian. "These two electron clouds then race toward each other with full force, interacting with the laser propagating in the opposite direction." The following collision is so violent that it produces an extremely large number of gamma quanta -- light particles with an energy even higher than that of X-rays.
The swarm of gamma quanta is so dense that the light particles inevitably collide with each other. And then something crazy happens: According to Einstein's famous formula E=mc2, light energy can transform into matter. In this case, mainly electron-positron pairs should be created. Positrons are the antiparticles of electrons. What makes this process special is that "very strong magnetic fields accompany it," describes project leader Alexey Arefiev, a physicist at the University of California at San Diego. "These magnetic fields can focus the positrons into a beam and accelerate them strongly." In numbers: Over a distance of just 50 micrometers, the particles should reach an energy of one gigaelectronvolt (GeV) -- a size that usually requires a full-grown particle accelerator.
Successful computer simulation
To see whether the unusual idea could work, the team tested it in an elaborate computer simulation. The results are encouraging; in principle, the concept should be feasible. "I was surprised that the positrons that were created in the end were formed into a high-energy and bundled beam in the simulation," Arefiev says happily. What's more, the new method should be much more efficient than previous ideas, in which only a single laser pulse is fired at an individual target: According to the simulation, the "laser double strike" should be able to generate up to 100,000 times more positrons than the single-treatment concept.
"Also, in our case, the lasers would not have to be quite as powerful as in other concepts," Toncian explains. "This would probably make the idea easier to put into practice." However, there are only few places in the world where the method could be implemented. The most suitable would be ELI-NP (Extreme Light Infrastructure Nuclear Physics), a unique laser facility in Romania, largely funded by the European Union. It has two ultra-powerful lasers that can fire simultaneously at a target -- the basic requirement for the new method.
First tests in Hamburg
Essential preliminary tests, however, could take place in Hamburg beforehand: The European XFEL, the most powerful X-ray laser in the world, is located there. The HZDR plays a major role in this large-scale facility: It leads a user consortium called HIBEF, which has been targeting matter in extreme states for some time. "At HIBEF, colleagues from HZDR, together with the Helmholtz Institute in Jena, are developing a platform that can be used to experimentally test whether the magnetic fields actually form as our simulations predict," explains Toma Toncian. "This should be easy to analyze with the powerful X-ray flashes of the European XFEL."
For astrophysics as well as nuclear physics, the new technique could be exceedingly useful. After all, some extreme processes in space are also likely to produce vast quantities of gamma quanta, which then quickly materialize again into high-energy pairs. "Such processes are likely to take place, among others, in the magnetosphere of pulsars, i.e. of rapidly rotating neutron stars," says Alexey Arefiev. "With our new concept, such phenomena could be simulated in the laboratory, at least to some extent, which would then allow us to understand them better."
Yutong He, Thomas G. Blackburn, Toma Toncian, Alexey V. Arefiev. Dominance of γ-γ electron-positron pair creation in a plasma driven by high-intensity lasers. Communications Physics, 2021; 4 (1) DOI: 10.1038/s42005-021-00636-x
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1749
|
__label__wiki
| 0.633382
| 0.633382
|
Los Angeles Galaxy vs. AC St. Louis: Stability Versus Turmoil
On July 29, Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy will look to kick off their 2010 U.S. Open Cup run with a bang against A.C. St. Louis of the USSF D2 Pro League.
A.C. St. Louis, a team founded this season, defeated the NSC Minnesota Stars in the second round 1-0, but they are a team in turmoil right now.
This past week, the club fired manager Claude Anelka and replaced him with Dale Schilly of youth club St. Louis Scott Gallagher.
The club currently sits in the cellar of the USSF D2 Pro League NASL Conference with a 2-7-1 record. Furthermore, a financial power struggle has seen businessman Jeff Cooper take complete financial ownership of A.C. St. Louis.
A player to watch out for on A.C. St. Louis is Mike Ambersley. He was instrumental in their 1-0 victory over the NSC Minnesota Stars on June 22 and has a great striking touch.
Others to look out for include midfielder Luke Kreamalmeyer and Gauchinho (Jéferson Lima de Menezes) and goalkeepe...
« Houston Dynamo Downs C.D. Aguila To Take 2010 Charities Cup Los Angeles Galaxy Rebound, Force Point Split With Toronto FC »
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1753
|
__label__wiki
| 0.894516
| 0.894516
|
Himansh Kohli is all excited to resume shoot for 'Boondi Raita'
Mumbai, Dec 7 (TIWN) Actor Himansh Kohli has finally started shooting for his next film 'Boondi Raita' in Dehradun and the young actor is extremely happy with the development. He started shooting at the end of November.
Himansh is playing Baggu's role in the film and his life has a backdrop of Dehradun. When asked, how does it feel to be back on the film set again, the actor says: "Throughout the lockdowns, I kept on wishing that the postponed shoot may get resumed asap. I can't tell you how elated I feel that I'm finally back on the set. It was a long break and Covid made it even longer. Also, while this break has given us more time to refine the film, the hype of the film has also taken a hit which we will need to create again.
"I feel the most important trait of any actor apart from the basics like acting, looks, dance, etc. is patience. Every aspect of a film takes time and while sometimes you can contribute and act as a catalyst, there are times when all you got to do is wait. The only way I am able to keep my patience is by being positive and staying in regular touch with the crew to understand what's going on in their mind." Interestingly, Himansh has done some music videos in the last few months such as 'Tenu Vekhi Javaan', 'Main Jis Bhulaa Du', 'Wafa Na Raas Aayi', 'Bewafa Tera Muskurana', 'Dil Galti Kar Baitha Hai', 'Chura Liya', all of which have done quite well. He says: "I have been lucky to bag a role in some really amazing songs, which have helped me stay relevant and given me the opportunity to be seen and noticed when almost the entire market was at a halt. I would like to thank Bhushan Kumar ji here for having faith in me that I'd be able to pull it off." 'Boondi Raita' is the story of a small-town boy whose life is a mess. Sometimes it's about his career, sometimes it's about his relationships, and then sometimes it's about his family. Directed by Kamal Chandra, the film also features Sonnalli Seygall, Ravi Kishan, Rajesh Sharma, Alka Amin, Ishlin Prasad, Neeraj Sood and Naresh Vohra in key roles.
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1754
|
__label__wiki
| 0.881844
| 0.881844
|
HomeJohnny Mathis
Posts tagged: Johnny Mathis
Queer Music Of The 1950s and 1960s
Happy 2021 Pride! Though LGBTQ+ Pride should be celebrated every month, June is the month officially designated to celebrating one’s identity, orientation and possible otherness.
To celebrate Pride this year I’m going to create thirty-song playlists broken out by decade, kicking off today with two decades combined – the 1950s and the 1960s. I’ll post these lists sporadically throughout the month.
Here is what you’ll hear on today’s playlist and what makes it queer:
“Cry” – Johnnie Ray
Poor old Johnnie Ray, as he was referred in Dexy’s Midnight Runners’ “Come On Eileen,” was a closeted gay man, arrested for soliciting male undercover officers on more than one occasion. “Cry” was a humongous hit, spending more than two months at #1.
“Hound Dog” – Big Mama Thornton
Chances are you’re familiar with Elvis Presley’s hugely successful version of this song from 1956. Three years earlier, Willie Mae “Big Mama” Thornton, who preferred to dress in what would be considered men’s clothing, sold a half million copies of her version, from which she made $500.
“Too Much” – Bernard Hardison
Another song covered by Elvis, Bernard Hardison released his version two years prior to The King. The song was played on the web radio series Queer Music Heritage, though I cannot find any other indication anywhere about Hardison’s sexual orientation.
“Don’t You Want a Man Like Me” – Billy Wright
As a youth, Billy Wright sang the gospel in church and worked as a female impersonator. The openly gay Wright was an influence on young Little Richard, suggesting he wear his hair in the pompadour style. Speaking of…
“Tutti Frutti” – Little Richard
No matter that the hit version altered the original lyrics “Tutti frutti, good booty / If it don’t fit, don’t force it / You can grease it, make it easy,” the song and the performer are oh so queer.
“Rockin’ Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu” – Huey “Piano” Smith and the Clowns
As his nickname might indicate, Huey Smith was a piano player. The singer in his band was an openly gay man named Bobby Marchan.
“Chances Are” – Johnny Mathis
Johnny Mathis never covered up his sexual orientation, though he didn’t come out as gay until 1982, when a reporter printed his off the record acknowledgment.
“Jailhouse Rock” – Elvis Presley
“Number 47 said to number 3, ‘You’re the cutest jailbird I ever did see. I sure would be delighted with your company. Come on and do the jailhouse rock with me.” Nothing queer about that, right?
“Secretly” – Jimmie Rodgers
“Wish we didn’t have to meet, secretly / Wish we didn’t have to kiss, secretly / Wish we didn’t have to be afraid to show the world that we’re in love / ‘Til we have the right to meet openly / ‘Til we have the right to kiss openly / We’ll just have to be content to be in love secretly.” Make of those lyrics what you will.
“Rockin’ the Joint” – Esquerita
Though Little Richard released records prior to Esquerita, it was Black flamboyant Esquerita who taught Little Richard his style of piano playing and perhaps introduced the high-pitched “whoo”s in his singing.
“Frances and Her Friends” – Frances Faye
Frances Faye was openly embracing of bisexuality in her stage shows, as the lyrics of this tune will attest. In the late 1950s she met a woman named Teri Shepherd who became her life partner.
“My Baby Likes Western Guys” – Brenda Lee
Oh, does he now?
“He Don’t Care About Me” – The Miracles
Yes, those Miracles. Written by Smokey Robinson with lead vocals by his wife Claudette, you wonder why he don’t care about her. When she sings “Don’t he know that I could make him gay?,” you just have to respond “Girrrrrrrl!”
“Up on the Roof” – The Drifters
Rudy Lewis, who sang lead on this Drifters hit as well as “On Broadway” and others, was a closeted gay man who sadly died of a drug overdose when he was just 27 years old.
“Any Other Way” – Jackie Shane
Though she didn’t call herself trans, Jackie Shane presented and sang in a way typically associated with women. She considered herself to be a gay man, and my use of pronouns here is not intended to disrespect that.
“You Don’t Own Me” – Lesley Gore
Lesley Gore came out as a lesbian in 2005, revealing that she knew she was attracted to women since age 20 and never sought to hide out, though didn’t announce it before then.
“You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away” – The Beatles
Many believe that The Beatles’ John Lennon wrote this song about the group’s gay manager, Brian Epstein. It wasn’t until 1967, two years after this song’s release, that England decriminalized sex between two men over the age of 21, and Epstein would no longer have to hide his love away. Sadly, he died in August of that year.
“See My Friends” – The Kinks
The Kinks’ Ray Davies wrote this song about a young man who is unsure of his sexual orientation, a feeling Davies said he experienced.
“To Try for the Sun” – Donovan
The song’s teenage narrator and his “gypsy boy” friend have an obvious affection for each other. “And who’s going to be the one to say it was no good what we done?”
“You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me” – Dusty Springfield
“I know that I’m as perfectly capable of being swayed by a girl as by a boy. More and more people feel that way and I don’t see why I shouldn’t. There was someone on television the other night who admitted that he swings either way. I suppose he could afford to say it, but I, being a pop singer, shouldn’t even admit that I might think that way. But if the occasion arose I don’t see why I shouldn’t.” – Dusty Springfield, 1970, in an interview with The Evening Standard
“Do You Come Here Often?” – The Tornados
Produced by legendary gay producer Joe Meek, “Do You Come Here Often?” has to be heard to be believed. The song was the b-side of a forgotten 45, released on a major record label.
“I’m a Boy” – The Who
The story of a boy whose parents wanted a girl, so his mother raises him as a girl.
“Willkommen” – Joel Grey
From the Tony Award winning musical Cabaret, written by openly gay lyricist Fred Ebb and openly gay composer John Kander, based on a book by openly gay writer Christopher Isherwood, comes this number, performed by Joel Grey, who publicly came out in 2015 at age 82.
“Sweet Soul Music” – Arthur Conley
Arthur Conley was living as a closeted gay man in the United States when “Sweet Soul Music” became a smash. He later moved to the Netherlands, changed his name to Lee Roberts, met a man who became his life partner, and then lived as an openly gay man.
“Arnold Layne” – Pink Floyd
“Arnold Layne” became Pink Floyd’s first hit single, despite Radio London eventually banning it from airplay as its subject matter of a transvestite stealing women’s clothing off clothes lines was considered by them to be too distasteful for “normal” society.
“Let the Heartaches Begin” – Long John Baldry
Reginald Dwight changed his name to Elton John after Elton Dean, a fellow musician in the backing band of Long John Baldry, the gay vocalist from where the John comes.
“Save the Country” – Laura Nyro
The late Laura Nyro was bisexual, enjoying romantic relationships with men and women, the longest one being with painter Maria Desiderio.
“Triad” – The Byrds
Written by The Byrds’ David Crosby, this 1967 recording of a song about a throuple went unreleased until 1987.
“Candy Says” – The Velvet Underground
Inspired by Candy Darling, a transgender actress in Andy Warhol films, “Candy Says” tells of a trans woman who has “come to hate her body.”
“That’s the Way God Planned It” – Billy Preston
A brilliant musician whose friends and collaborators knew he was gay, Billy Preston didn’t publicly come out until shortly before his passing in 2006.
Follow Tunes du Jour on Facebook.
Follow Tunes du Jour on Twitter.
Your (Almost) Daily Playlist (12-7-20)
Inspired by the season and the December 7 birthdays of Tom Waits, All Saints’ Nicole Appleton, Louis Prima, and Harry Chapin.
Inspired by the season and the December 3 birthdays of Black Sabbath’s Ozzy Osbourne, Starship/Jefferson Starship/Elvin Bishop’s Mickey Thomas, Andy Williams, Lil Baby and City Girls’ JT.
Inspired by the season and the December 1 birthdays of Bette Midler, Janelle Monae, Basement Jaxx’s Simon Ratcliff, Lou Rawls, Richard Pryor, Billy Paul, Gilbert O’Sullivan, Mary Martin, Woody Allen, Treat Williams, Sarah Silverman, Julee Cruise, Jonathan Coulton and Matt Monro.
Inspired by the season and the November 28 birthdays of Randy Newman, En Vogue/Lucy Pearl’s Dawn Robinson, The 5 Royales’ Johnny Tanner, The Fleetwoods’ Gary Troxel, Chamillionaire, R.B. Greaves, William DeVaughn, Bruce Channel, The Foundations’ Clem Curtis and Motown founder Berry Gordy Jr.
Your (Almost) Daily Playlist (9-30-20)
Inspired by the passings of Helen Reddy and Mac Davis and the September 30 birthdays of The Fifth Dimension’s Marilyn McCoo, Johnny Mathis, T. Rex’s Marc Bolan, Frankie Lymon, Sugababes’ Keisha Buchanan, Patrice Rushen, T-Pain, Butthole Surfers’ Gibby Haynes, Marley Marl and Len Cariou.
Your (Almost) Daily Playlist (8-4-20)
Inspired by the August 4 birthdays of Louis Armstrong, Yo-Yo, Frankie Ford, Timi Yuro, and 808 State’s Graham Massey; and the August 3 birthdays of Tony Bennett, Skunk Anansie’s Skin, Syreeta, and Ricky Blaze.
Inspired by the July 28 birthdays of Devo’s Jerry Casale, Rachel Sweet, Rudy Vallee, Stephen Lynch, and Afroman; and the July 27 birthdays of Maureen McGovern, The Moonglows’ Harvey Fuqua, Bobbie Gentry, Juliana Hatfield and Phosphorescent.
Inspired by Black Music Month, LGBTQ Pride Month, and the June 20 birthdays of The Beach Boys‘ Brian Wilson, The Coasters’ Billy Guy, Lionel Richie, The Miracles’ Claudette Rogers, Chairlift’s Caroline Polacheck, Jerry Keller, The Rivingtons’ Carl White, The Deftones’ Chino Moreno, and Chris Gibson.
Inspired by Black Music Month, LGBTQ Pride Month, and the June 18 birthdays of Sir Paul McCartney, Alison Moyet, Tommy Hunt, The Undisputed Truth’s Joe “Pep” Harris, and Blake Shelton.
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1755
|
__label__wiki
| 0.773149
| 0.773149
|
FBI: Truck Driver who Threatened Mass Shooting in Memphis Apprehended in Indianapolis
(INDIANAPOLIS) – A truck driver who federal investigators say planned to carry out a mass shooting at a Memphis church was captured in Indianapolis.
FOX 59 News reports, the Federal Bureau of Investigation said Thomas Matthew McVicker, 38, of Punta Gorda, Florida, first came under scrutiny on Aug 12, when the FBI in Tampa received a tip that he planned to carry out a mass shooting and then kill himself, according to court documents.
Court documents said a friend alerted them to the situation after McVicker sent a series of disturbing text messages days earlier.
“I’m thinking about shooting a church up but I’m afraid how it will affect my family in the flesh when I’m gone,” he wrote. “So I think I’m just gonna kill some people on the street and get away with it then kill myself.”
When his friend urged him to get some help, McVicker replied, “I’m telling you there won’t be a glorious turnaround for me, I’m going to be gone soon forever.”
McVicker’s family said he’s being treated for schizophrenia and sometimes uses cocaine and methamphetamine. His mother told the FBI that sometimes he “hears voices” and often claims to be possessed by demons. He had a Ruger P90 handgun in his possession.
McVicker said he planned to take some time off work on Aug. 22 while in Memphis, Tennessee. His friend later contacted the FBI in Tampa again because McVicker was acting erratically and said he planned to target a church in Memphis.
He “was speaking in a frantic manner and told [his friend] that he intended to take his knife and slit the pastor’s throat,” court documents said. While he didn’t give specifics, he insisted that “something” would happen when he visited Memphis.
The FBI confirmed with McVicker’s employer that he’d requested time off on Aug. 22; the request indicated he planned to go to Memphis. Investigators looked through his text conversations with his friend, who also said McVicker wanted to carry out a mass shooting at a Memphis church.
Based on the information received in the case, the FBI applied for an arrest warrant. He was stopped in Indianapolis, according to the Associated Press. Details of his apprehension were unavailable.
His arrest is the latest in a string of cases in which potential mass shooters have been stopped.
Information: FOX 59 News, https://fox59.com
Previous Story: Indiana Chamber Teams With Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield to Bring ‘Game-Changing’ Health Care Plans to Small Businesses
Next Story: La Porte and Sullivan Named INspire Idea Competition Recipients
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1759
|
__label__wiki
| 0.70362
| 0.70362
|
JUNE 18–22, 2017
MY SCHEDULE (-)
Prof. Peter V. Coveney
Professor, University College London
Prof Peter V. Coveney holds a chair in Physical Chemistry, is an Honorary Professor in Computer Science at University College London (UCL) and is Professor Adjunct at Yale University School of Medicine (USA). He is Director of the Centre for Computational Science (CCS) and of the Computational Life and Medical Sciences Network (CLMS) at UCL. Coveney is active in a broad area of interdisciplinary research including condensed matter physics and chemistry, materials science, as well as life and medical sciences in all of which high performance computing plays a major role. He has led many large scale projects, including the EPSRC RealityGrid e-Science Pilot Project (2001-05) and its extension as a Platform Grant (2005-09); he is also PI on several current grants from EPSRC and other agencies, including the the role of Coordinator of the EU FP7 Virtual Physiological Human (VPH) Network of Excellence (2008-13). He has been the recipient of many US NSF and DoE as well as European supercomputing awards (from DEISA and PRACE), which provide access to several petascale computers. Coveney chairs the UK Collaborative Computational Projects Steering Panel and has served on programme committees of many conferences, including the 2002 Nobel Symposium on Self-Organisation; he was Chair of the UK e-Science All Hands Meeting 2008, and of the Discrete Simulation of Fluid Dynamics conference 2003. He has published more than 350 scientific papers and co-authored two best-selling books (The Arrow of Time and Frontiers of Complexity, both with Roger Highfield) and is lead author of the first textbook on Computational Biomedicine (Oxford University Press, 2014). Coveney is a founding member of the UK Government’s E-Initiative Leadership Council and a Medical Academy Nominated Expert to the UK Prime Minister's Council for Science and Technology on Data, Algorithms and Modelling which has led to the creation of the London based Turing Institute.
Speaker at: High Performance Computing in Life Sciences
Tuesday, June 20, 2017, 03:45 pm - 04:45 pm
Rapid, Accurate & Reliable Binding Affinity Calculations for Drug Discovery
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1762
|
__label__cc
| 0.530442
| 0.469558
|
SPICA Jiwon’s agency updates on her condition after car accident
Just recently, SPICA member Jiwon was reported to have been involved in a minor car accident resulting in three cars colliding with one another. Her agency updates on her condition.
On July 3rd, B2M Entertainment told OSEN, “It was not a big accident, she only suffered minor injuries. They are not grave injuries, she was discharged from the hospital after getting treated for a cast on her finger. She was preparing for SPICA’s comeback and had just come out of practice at the time.”
According to the Gangnam Police Station, on June 2nd at 11pm KST, Jiwon crashed into two taxis in the lane next to her at Seongsu Bridge, Apgujeong. She was already cleared from drunk driving and it is revealed it she dosed off at the wheel.
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1763
|
__label__cc
| 0.565448
| 0.434552
|
Beautiful 17-year-old Filipino Girl Might Debut Under YG Entertainment
Chrisha Choo, aka Kriesha Tiu on K-Pop Star has impressed YG Entertainment‘s Yang Hyun Suk so much that he wants to sign her immediately. After watching Crisha Choo perform on season 6 of K-Pop Star, Yang Hyun Suk is convinced that she’s going to become the next superstar. In fact, he even said, “I wanted to take her from day 1, but now I want to meet up with her CEO.”
He even compared her to another participant Lee Soo Min, saying, “I hope this showed Lee Soo Min she has a long way to go.”
Chrisha is becoming super popular everywhere in Korea!
Crisha Choo also received praise from JYP Entertainment’s Park Jin Young, another of the show’s judges. He said, “She’s like a real star when she sings and dances, she shines.” Although she didn’t win the competition, it seems Crisha Choo will definitely have a bright future in the industry.
Watch the the amazing performance below:
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1764
|
__label__wiki
| 0.906137
| 0.906137
|
Long Island Scout of Merit
By Stacey Sager
Long Island 17-year-old earns every Boy Scout merit badge
EAST SETAUKET, Long Island (WABC) -- Talk about going for it! It took him nearly seven years, but 17-year-old John Ninia of East Setauket has now earned every single one of the merit badges for Boy Scouts of America. That's 137 badges and it wasn't easy.
From mining, to theater, from dogs, to birds, to insects, to cooking, welding, rafting, kayaking, and waterskiing and scuba diving, there's nothing John didn't accomplish!
But rest assured, they didn't all come easily.
He says waterskiing was the toughest, having to cross the wake four times, which for some reason was most difficult for him.
"It took me two years of working at it, but finally I was able to get up on the skis and do what I had to do," Ninia said.
Ninia decided this would be his goal back when he was only 11 years old. It was his first week at Scout camp and most of the scouts earned three to five badges, but he earned 11 that week. He told his parents he'd decided to earn them all.
His dad Jerry told Eyewitness News, "No one believed him. In fact, I thought that he was kidding around."
But Ninia stuck with it, and so there were family trips to insect museums, rafting journeys, and yes, quarries where Nunia learned about mining.
Ninia can also cook and tell you about the origin of paper. But he is most proud of his environmental accomplishments, having eradicated a local park of an invasive species, called Japanese knotweed.
He has also studied the effects of nitrogen on the Long Island Sound, and helped alleviate the program in one local spot, where he repaired a disheveled rain garden to stop runoff.
Ninia gives his merit counselors and his parents lots of credit. They took the time to guide him, and drive him all the places he needed to go.
He's now applied to 20 colleges, and hopes to start or invest in a "green" business someday.
Eyewitness News asked his mother Lynn, what she thought he might do later in life.
"Something good," she said.
Good boy, John!
hobbies & interestseast setauketsuffolk countyboy scouts of americaboy scouts
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1765
|
__label__wiki
| 0.768084
| 0.768084
|
Amid challenges of pandemic, new data finds a silver lining for parents
The Census Bureau found the pandemic brought some families together.
ByKatie Kindelanvia
Our favorite feel good moments of 2021
Here's to another year of memories!
The Good Brigade/Getty Images
Despite the stress the ongoing coronavirus pandemic has brought to many families, there has been a silver lining for some, according to new data.
During the pandemic, parents have shared more weekly meals with children ages 17 and under and read to their children more often, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Using data from the 2020 Survey of Income and Program Participation, the Census Bureau found families spent the most extra time together in the spring and summer of 2020, at the start of the pandemic, when lockdowns were in place across the U.S.
Mom gets drawing from son that 'breaks her heart' and gives perspective
Jennifer Garner talks pandemic parenting and Mother's Day plans
Pediatricians answer parents' questions as kids return to school, daycare amid COVID-19 omicron surge
With many parents working from and eating at home -- because they no longer had to commute or be present in an office -- shared meals became the most common type of parental involvement in 2020, according to the Census Bureau.
The proportion of shared meals between children and parents increased from 56% in 2018 to 63% in 2020.
Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images, FILE
After work, nurse Flor Trevino eats dinner with husband Jose Trevino and daughter Stacy Trevino, in Houston, Dec. 7, 2020.
Sixty-nine percent of parents reported reading to young children five or more times per week in 2020, compared with 65% in 2018, and 64% in 2019, according to the Census Bureau.
MORE: WNBA star Candace Parker talks parenting during the COVID-19 pandemic: 'There's no blueprint'
While many parents have understandably worried about how things like remote learning, mask wearing and missing playdates have affected their children, this new data showing family togetherness should be reassuring, according to Dr. Dipesh Navsaria, a pediatrician and associate professor of pediatrics and clinical associate professor of human development and family studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
"One of the strongest things that we have to help counter the psychosocial challenges of the pandemic, and of life in general, is strong relationships," Navsaria told "Good Morning America." "Strong, supportive, nurturing relationships are really the cornerstone of what we look at when we wonder, even amidst of adversity of whatever type, what children's long-term life course looks like."
"So when I look at data like this and I see that families are spending time with one another connecting ... it tells us that families are reacting and responding to the pandemic in exactly the ways that the evidence backs up, which is to strengthen their bonds and their relationships with one another," he said.
Parents should feel reassured too, according to Navsaria, that building strong relationships with their kids can be simple and can take many forms, whether that happens through eating meals together or sharing books, taking walks, playing games or just asking questions and listening.
Evelyn Hockstein/The Washington Post via Getty Images, FILE
Rhonda Hall and her daughter Terik Washington, 6, read at their home in Southeast Washington, D.C, Jan. 30, 2021.
"They really can be as simple as sharing stories and active listening," said Navsaria, medical director of Reach Out and Read Wisconsin, an effort that helps families connect through books. "All of those things really send the message [to a child] that you matter and you matter in a way that I want to listen to you, and I want to spend time with you."
"That can be conveyed to a young infant just simply by looking and smiling and talking, and it can go all the way up to a teenager to say, 'Hey, what's on your mind? What have you been thinking about lately?'" he said. "Ask a really open-ended, nonjudgmental question like, 'Who do you spend time with in school when you have a chance? What do you think it is that makes spending time with them so fun?' and just listen."
When it comes to spending family time together, Navsaria said parents can focus on quality over quantity.
"If a family says that we're only able to achieve family meal time three times a week because of work schedules and family activities, OK great," he said. "If you can do that three times and it's a set expectation and everyone knows it's happening, it's better than 14 meals a week all together with everyone on their phones or distracted."
While the Census Bureau data found overall more togetherness among families during the pandemic, there was a fracture along socioeconomic lines, as is often the case, according to Navsaria, also a spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), which offers tips on its website for building family bonds.
Parents who are married and more educated, for example, tend to read more often to young children, according to the data.
Navsaria said to lessen that divide there needs to be more support in place for policies that support family relationships, adding, "It can be things like living wages and child tax credits. These are fundamentally relational policies."
Navsaria said parents who may not have the ability or the knowledge to build family relationships should be treated with curiosity rather than judgment in order to create solutions.
"That gets us to the point of saying, 'Great, now how can we fix that? How can we make places more welcoming? How can we bolster parenting confidence?" he said. "Because ultimately, all parents want these strong relationships that help their children, and give them a better long-term outcome."
Navsaria said his take-home message for families as the pandemic enters its third year is that, "Parents are good enough, they just need sometimes to be reminded of that, and they might need a little support or guidance in how much of a difference they make."
Speaking of activities like reading and eating together, he said, "It can be these seemingly simple, everyday things that are actually profoundly powerful, they are protective and they are really bolstering and have great evidence for how much of a difference they make long-term."
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1767
|
__label__wiki
| 0.93693
| 0.93693
|
New eats coming to Eastland Mall
Food & Drink, What's new
Photo courtesy of Dayshawn Howard
Columbus vending machine company dishes out charitable donations alongside snacks
Dayshawn Howard used to travel across the country with his cuisine, but come May, he’ll be setting up shop at Eastland Mall.
Howard, better known as “Chef Day,” will open Designer Kitchen May 22 at Eastland, right across from the food court. Hours will be noon to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
Trained by a master chef from Italy, Howard described his fare as fine dining with an urban twist.
“My flavors are pretty bold, authentic,” he said.
Before he considered a brick-and-mortar location, Howard had operated a catering business called LA to New York.
“I’ve been doing this for about 14 years,” he said.
But after the onslaught of the pandemic, the Syracuse, New York native decided to suspend his catering business. He started a food truck here for about six months to start getting to know the community and introduce people to his style.
“It’s a diverse location,” he said.
Howard still operates a meal prep service as well, called Designer Chef Meal Prep. Part of his goal in cooking, he said, is to infuse healthy food with great flavor.
The menu at Designer Kitchen will feature anything from quinoa to risotto, Howard said, along with his signature lobster mac and cheese. On Saturdays from 1 to 3 p.m., he’ll prepare pasta table-side for guests.
Howard said he’s looking forward to getting his patrons excited about food.
“I’m totally pushing the envelope,” he said.
Sarah Sole March 30, 2021
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1772
|
__label__cc
| 0.728447
| 0.271553
|
Monitoring progress
Content intelligence
Digital agility
Marketing roles
Healthcare predictions are consistently optimistic about patient adoption of digital options
Making predictions about the future is a common practice among experts. Inevitably, some turn out to be more accurate than others over time. Back in 1999, Glenn Robert, now Professor of Healthcare Quality and Innovation at Kings College London, published predictions for healthcare science and technology to 2015. Published as part of the Nuffield Trust’s Policy Futures for UK Health Project, his predictions seem to have stood the test of time.
More recently, over in the US, the 2015 American Hospital Association Environmental Scan provides insights into market forces likely to affect healthcare over the next year or so. The two documents show remarkably similar trends and predictions.
Trends and predictions
The aging population and particularly the rise in the number of people with chronic diseases, was predicted, and continues, to put both US and UK healthcare systems under pressure. In particular, the rise in new technology, often at high cost, puts pressure on new technology and drug evaluation and resource allocation systems.
In the US, one response from insurers has been to try to shift costs towards consumers, with the average deductible rising hugely. Almost half of employers have recently indicated that they may in future offer only high-deductible plans. Alternative responses include narrowing the network of available providers and/or treatments available. This behaviour is expected to have serious effects on some of the more expensive hospitals and providers, who could find themselves excluded from networks and plans. Add value, rather than higher volume, may be the only way out.
Both countries are also looking to technology to improve prevention. Behaviour is widely recognised as having a much bigger impact on health status than any amount of money poured into health services. This, together with the rising cost of delivering care, is leading to new models of care, away from hospital, and towards community and prevention-based models.
In the UK, the solution has been, as Glenn Robert predicted, to centralise technology and specialist expertise in a smaller number of centres, with chronic conditions generally being treated locally and even at home. This local treatment is not without specialist support, however, as technology is already being used to link remote care to specialist centres. It’s perhaps not as widespread as predicted at this stage, but there are several pockets of good practice.
The model in both countries is moving towards delivering the best possible outcomes for a given cost, which means a stronger focus on what really matters to patients. Alongside this, the rise in the ability to personalise healthcare to individuals offers huge opportunities, both in treatment and prevention.
The increase in mobile health solutions means that supporting changes to behaviour to prevent lifestyle-related diseases and provide support for compliance with tailored healthcare solutions is possible. This will help and support both clinicians and patients to improve care. But only time will tell whether this will mean higher or lower costs in practice. Certainly, technology is improving patient engagement and involvement on both sides of the Atlantic, and that can only be a good thing.
The AHA Scan notes that interoperability remains the biggest challenge to a robust infrastructure to support new care models. Co-ordination of care looks like the best way to manage care for patients with chronic conditions, so this is an issue which really needs attention, not least in terms of document sharing. Progressive organisations are starting to use IT and better analytics to facilitate evidence-based and personalised care, and these also have implications for management of population health.
Evolution or revolution?
The thinking is not only remarkably similar on both sides of the Atlantic, but also astonishingly close across the 15 year time difference in publication dates. This is at least partly because both countries face similar demographic and financial challenges. Both countries are looking in the longer term towards personalised medicine and particularly, personalised prevention, to defuse the ‘demographic timebomb’ as much as possible. Technology has been, and remains, an enabler of new systems of care.
However, when the two documents are examined side by side like this across the time gap, what emerges really strongly is that technology is almost entirely being used in ways that are in line with existing models of care. We have not yet seen the emergence of any genuinely disruptive models, along the lines of the rise of the low-cost carriers who have so changed the airline business. Maybe these models won’t emerge; perhaps our current models of care are the best possible ones. But looked at like this, technological changes look very much like evolution, not the revolution they are sometimes painted.
This entry was posted in Digital health. Bookmark the permalink.
Making buyer personas work
Do smart cities need smart people?
Collaborative go-to-market
Competence governance
Decision cultures
Delivery modes
Channel features
Channels approach
Social case studies
Ecosystem use cases
Enterprise marketplaces
Subscribe and read our latest newsletters on substack.
Copyright © 6 Revolutions 2009 - 2022
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1773
|
__label__cc
| 0.700303
| 0.299697
|
What’s a business without the aid of a digital marketing agency?
In a world where we eat, sleep, and breathe social media, it is hard to imagine a business that doesn’t. It took a while but startups and large businesses alike recognized the need to be online and are leaving no stone unturned to mark their presence.
This also led to quite a few interesting experiments. While some tried to do it all by themselves, some others employed questionable strategies to boost their businesses. Sooner or later, they all acknowledged that digital marketing is expertise with so many nuances that it takes experience, continuous learning, and 100% dedication to ace it.
This realization further enabled the success of digital marketing agencies, especially those with proven results of revenue. And what happened after that was a sight to behold – a massive expansion of digital marketing agencies in Bangalore, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Delhi, and other popular cities. There’s absolutely no shortage!
Every year, the list of the best keeps growing and it sometimes gets hard to keep a track, especially in a city like Bangalore that’s fondly called the Silicon Valley of India. Imagine the talent, the expertise, the enthusiasm!
We do not wish for you to waste your time searching and contacting all the agencies. That is why, we curated the ultimate list of the best digital marketing companies in Bangalore for you. So, we can positively say that your search ends HERE.
Best digital marketing agencies in Bangalore – 2022 expert picks
The agencies as follows have been picked after careful deliberation, research, and reviews.
1. Dentsu Webchutney
Now a dentsuMB Company, Webchutney has a rich heritage in India. It was established many years ago in 1999 when we were still warming up to the whole idea of digital.
With offices in Bangalore, Gurgaon, and Mumbai, Webchutney offers all-round digital services. It was acquired in 2013 and recognized as one of the World’s Bravest Agencies by Contagious in 2020.
Prominent clients: IKEA, Uber, Google, Sony Entertainment
2. Schbang
Schbang is one of the most popular digital and creative agencies in India. It has offices in Bangalore, Mumbai, and New Delhi. The company was established in 2015 and in just 6 years, it managed to find its place among the leaders.
Its services include Integrated Marketing Solutions, Digital Content Creation & SEO, Video Production & Photography, PR, E-Commerce Strategy & Execution, etc.
Prominent clients: Castrol, Barbie, JW Marriott, Nature’s Basket
Team size: 500+
Phone number: +91 98677 41049
3. 8 Views
Established in 2015 in Hyderabad, 8 Views is now a known presence even in Bangalore. The company has a 360-degree approach towards digital marketing with in-house subject matter experts in each department and home-grown products such as Growth Eye, Yellow Slate, and Scale Dino.
Prominent clients: Kodak, GMR Hyderabad Airport, Novotel, Oakridge International School, Puravankara, KIMS Hospitals, Danube Home, CtrlS
Team size: 90+
4. iProspect
iProspect is a global digital marketing agency with 126 offices spread across the world. Established in 2012, this is one of India’s oldest performance-driven agencies. In the country, it has offices in Chennai, Bangalore, Mumbai, and Delhi.
The services offered by iProspect are well-rounded, ranging from Business Intelligence to Strategy & Planning and Marketing Activation.
Prominent clients: Facebook, Marin Software, BrightEdge
Team size: 8000+
Phone number: 080 3097 3840
5. Interactive Avenues
Interactive Avenues is a Reprise Network Company that believes in “Collaboration. Conviction. Creation.” With offices in Bangalore, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, and Delhi, the company offers Strategy, Media, Creative, Data, Commerce, and Product-related services.
Prominent clients: Zivame, Amazon, IDFC
6. 22feet Tribal WW
22feet has offices in Mumbai, Gurgaon, and Bangalore, providing an array of digital solutions including search engine marketing, digital marketing strategy, web design & development, branded content, studio services, and social media marketing. It was an independent agency since establishment in 2009 and was merged with Tribal World Wide in 2014.
Prominent clients: Royal Enfield, Tanishq, Nike, Spotify
Team size: 260+ across 3 locations
7. Social Beat
Headquartered in Chennai, Social Beat is spread across 4 locations in India. Its Bengaluru branch is considered one of the top agencies in the city due to its result-oriented strategy and execution. It offers a gamut of services covering all aspects of digital marketing. It also offers sector-specific solutions.
Prominent clients: PayTm, Disney Hotstar, Naturals, Boat
8. Social Panga
It has a very attractive name but its work is even more attractive. Known for being creative and quirky, Social Panga has worked with multiple prominent clients in India. It has offices in Mumbai, Delhi, and Bengaluru.
The company offers Performance Marketing, Production, Branding, UI/UX, etc. services.
Prominent clients: Cult Fit, Adani, Mother’s Recipe
9. Kinnect
Kinnect defines itself as “an integrated creative and media agency.” It was established in 2011 and currently has branches in Bangalore, Delhi, and Mumbai. The company’s services include Brand Engagement, Creative Campaigns, Lead Generation, Digital Media Campaigns, App/Website Development, etc.
Kinnect has quite a few prestigious awards to its name such as the MMA Smarties India, ET Brand Equity DG+ Award, and Campaign Digital Crest Award.
Prominent clients: HDFC, Adidas, Intel, Ceat
Phone number: +91 22 4973 0206 (Mumbai office)
10. Webenza
Webenza was established in 2012 as an independent digital marketing agency. It has offices in Bengaluru and Mumbai and offers an array of digital marketing services, brand management, B2B Marketing, Web Development, Content Management, Performance Marketing, etc.
Prominent clients: Prestige, Manipal Hospitals, DTDC, ClearTrip
11. Hive Minds
Hive Minds is not just a digital marketing agency but also a consultancy that offers SEO, Paid Media, Social Media, E-Commerce Marketplace, Analytics, and Creative & Content services. It was acquired by Madison World in 2017.
This 11-year old agency was one of the first entrants in the Bangalore digital space and has been going strong ever since.
Prominent clients: Big Basket, Portea, Sonata, Cloud Nine
12. Langoor
Langoor was founded in 2009 and acquired by the Havas Group in 2019. It is currently known as Langoor Havas with a separate unit named Langoor Havas Enterprise that caters to a plethora of B2B clients across the globe. The agency specializes in content creation, animation, design, and UX/UI services. It boasts of being a “digital agency with creative technologists.”
Prominent clients: Tech Mahindra, Adobe, Infosys
13. Performics
Performics has offices in Bengaluru, Gurgaon, and Mumbai. Its diverse portfolio extends into various sectors and verticals from entertainment to travel and everything in between. With over 800 employees, it is one of the largest performance marketing companies in India.
Its services include Performance Media, Performance Content (SEO, Content, Conversion, Design, etc.), Commerce Practice, and Analytics & Data Science.
Prominent clients: Airtel, Axis Bank, Cred, Livspace
14. WATConsult
“Connect, Converse, Collaborate, Co-create” is the tagline of WATConsult, one of the leading digital marketing agencies in Bengaluru. It has offices in Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi, and Bengaluru.
WATConsult offers Digital Experiences, Digital Business Solutions, and Digital Marketing & Consulting services. According to Agency Reporter, it is one of the best integrated agencies in 2021. It has multiple other awards to its name as well.
Prominent clients: Total, Bosch, SAP, Mahindra
Phone number: 1800-120-409409
15. Hash Connect
Hash Connect believes in going beyond communicating with people and “connecting” with them. It is a digital marketing agency promising to use its digital proficiency to grow your business. It integrates online and offline strategies to deliver results.
The company’s provides W360, mobile, digital, and experiential services.
Prominent clients: Lenovo, ITC, Soulfull, The Times of India
Phone number: 080 4906 4400/01
16. Ralecon
Ralecon is a 10-year old digital marketing agency with a well-established presence in Bengaluru. It has global clients from 10 countries and boasts of suggesting the best strategies for business growth.
Ralecon is an acronym, which stands for Ranking, Leads, and Conversions. These are the pillars of the company. As of today, the company has serviced 500+ clients.
Prominent clients: mfine, William Penn, PayTm
17. Metric Fox
Metric Fox is all about insights, expertise, and experience. It offers a wide range of services across sectors such as Consulting, Marketing, Data Management, and Application Development.
The agency was founded in 1999 and it has a presence in 5 countries with 3000+ clients. Its Indian offices are located in Bengaluru (HSR and Koramangala).
Prominent clients: Amazon, SAP, HCL, Bosch
Phone number: 080 4903 4555, 080 4115 2610
18. Ittisa
Ittisa was founded in 2014 in Whitefield, Bengaluru. In the past 7 years, it has managed to make a mark, bagging big ticket clients such as Airtel and Flipkart. The agency offers Digital Marketing, Digital Branding, Digital Transformation, Design, Brand Partnership, Programmatic Ads, Analytics, and Technology services.
Ittisa prides itself on being a unique mix of diligence, innovation, and creativity.
Prominent clients: Flipkart, Airtel, Red Chillies Entertainment
19. Team Pumpkin
Team Pumpkin entered the Bangalore market in 2012, offering Search Engine Optimization, Digital Strategy Consulting, Mobile App Development, Social Media Marketing, Content Marketing, etc. services.
It has offices in India (Delhi, Bangalore, Mumbai) and London.
Prominent clients: Bajaj Fin Serv, Ola, MoEngage
20. Brand Story
Brand Story has been rated as one of the top 10 digital marketing agencies in Bangalore. Its arsenal of services includes Web Development, UI/UX, Digital Marketing, SMM, SEO, and Mobile. It also has curated enterprise solutions including Email Marketing and SEO for Enterprise.
Prominent clients: Decathlon, Apollo Hospitals, Flipkart
Team size: –
Phone number: _91 90085 04821
21. Treehack Technologies
Treehack Technologies offers to transform businesses digitally by simplifying digital marketing for them. The agency is an industry leader in Bangalore with an array of services on offer including Digital Marketing, Web Design, SEO, Content Writing, Social Media Marketing, and WordPress.
The agency was recently enlisted as one of the top 20 digital marketing agencies in Bangalore.
Prominent clients: Deccan Paradise, Collaborative Minds
The competition in the digital and creative space has always been high in Bangalore. These stellar agencies are proof of just that. In simple words, there’s not one digital-related service or requirement that top digital marketing agencies in Bangalore cannot fulfill.
Disclaimer: This blog was written to the best of our abilities through research and reference to respective company websites, LinkedIn, and other sources on the web.
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1776
|
__label__wiki
| 0.980917
| 0.980917
|
Sheryl Crow Revives ‘Redemption Day’ as a Johnny Cash Duet [LISTEN]
Angela Stefano
Angela Stefano Published: April 19, 2019
The first release from Sheryl Crow's forthcoming duets album is familiar, but new. Crow has re-recorded her 1996 song "Redemption Day" as a duet with the late Johnny Cash; readers can press play above to listen.
Crow first wrote and recorded "Redemption Day" for her self-titled sophomore album, after touring the war-torn country of Bosnia with then-First Lady Hillary Clinton. "When I came home from that trip, I was so heavily impacted by what I’d seen, but then on TV the news was covering this awful genocide that was going on in Rwanda," Crow recalls to Taste of Country Nights. "I just couldn’t wrap my brain around why we would go into one country to help people and wouldn’t go into another country."
The Man in Black recorded his own version of "Redemption Day" in 2003, shortly before he did. His version appears on his posthumous 2010 album American VI: Ain't No Grave, and Crow's newly released rendition of the song pairs their vocals together with a new, piano-driven arrangement.
"He was adamant about knowing what every lyric meant, and he really delivered the song in a way that felt like for him it would be the most important song on his record ... but two months later, he passed," Crow explains (quote via Nash Country Daily). "I asked the [Cash] family if they would give me their blessing in letting me use his vocal. I feel like the song has finally found its moment ... I hope he would be proud of what we’ve done and feel like it has met its moment.”
Directed by Shaun Silva, the new music video for "Redemption Day" pairs footage of Crow and Cash with images of a young girl watching major moments in world history on a giant projection screen. Crow herself now has two children, a 9 year old and an 11 year old.
“I think it some ways it really makes you think about what we do in our lives that our children will mimic," she reflects. "And the idea is that there is hope and we’re all going to be on this train at the end of life.”
Crow signed with Big Machine Label Group earlier in 2019 for her new project. It's due out this summer and is, according to BMLG CEO Scott Borchetta, "a one-listen masterpiece that spans her entire career."
Do You Remember Who Originally Sang Sheryl Crow's Parts on Kid Rock's "Picture"?
Johnny Cash + More Country Stars Who Suffered Terrible Tragedies
Source: Sheryl Crow Revives ‘Redemption Day’ as a Johnny Cash Duet [LISTEN]
Filed Under: #NewMusicEveryday, johnny cash, sheryl crow
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1777
|
__label__wiki
| 0.594849
| 0.594849
|
The Official Activist Investing Blog (TM)
The Definitive Source For Activist Shareholder Information
Administered and Moderated by Hedge Fund Solutions LLC
www.hedgerelations.com
Damien Park (e) dpark@hedgerelations.com (t) 215-325-0514
Another Swim Around BioPharma for Icahn
Image extracted from Bloomberg
Carl Icahn is at it again. This time his target is Forest Laboratories (FRX), a $11.5 billion biotech firm that has struggled to create shareholder value for the last decade. Of late, Forest Labs has also struggled with seemingly never-ending complaints from the government about illegally promoting two of its drugs, and from losing its patent protection on Lexapro - one of the company's flagship products.
Recently, Icahn disclosed a 7.2% stake in Forest Labs and announced his intention to nominate four representatives to its nine-member board.
While Icahn may not be exactly what the company is looking for at this time, ultimately, he has been very successful in leading previous biotech firms where he has gained board representation. In total, Icahn has yielded significant returns in the stock of his previous biotech targets. As measured since the time of his first investment, his activism in ImClone, Amylin, Biogen, Enzon, and Genzyme has netted the creation of nearly $17 billion worth of shareholder value (not counting dividends). What follows is a summary of his impressive track record.
ImClone Systems (IMCL)
Market cap at the time of its sale: $6.5 billion
2006: Speculated to have started buying shares when IMCL was trading around $2, Icahn disclosed a 13.85% stake in June 2006. At that time, he opposed a $36/share sale and requested that the interim CEO not be given a long-term employment contract. Additionally, he pushed for more drug trials and improvements in the commercialization of certain products, such as Erbitux. Other aims included increasing R&D spending, reducing costs, replacing senior management, trimming capital expenditures, and boosting free cash flow.
Carl was offered a board seat in August 2006. The interim CEO and Chairman resigned around the time Icahn was named Chairman in late October 2006. In addition to being named Chairman, 4 other Icahn affiliates were elected to the board.
2008: In late July 2008, with influential representation on the board, IMCL turned down a $60/share all-cash buyout offer from Bristol-Myers Squibb, which valued the company at $4.5 billion. Bristol-Myers (which owned 17% of IMCL at the time) was in disbelief when Icahn stated that he found a suitor who valued the company at a higher premium. The pharmaceutical company subsequently raised their offer to $62/share.
On July 30, 2008, IMCL was sold to Eli Lilly (LLY) for $70/share at $6.5 billion, a 51% premium to what shares were trading at just a few days earlier when Bristol-Myers made its offer.
Image extracted from The WSJ (graph from April to Oct 2008)
Bottom Line: Icahn bought shares in IMCL for around $390.5 million. After 2 years of board representation, those shares were sold for around $818 million, netting him a profit of ~$427 million and creating $3.4 billion worth of shareholder value, a nearly 110% return.
Amylin Pharmaceutical (AMLN)
Market cap: $1.8 billion
2008: On May 22, 2008, Icahn disclosed a 6.54% stake in the company. A week later, Eastbourne Capital Management disclosed a 12.5% "active" ownership stake. On September 12, 2008, Icahn increased his ownership to 7.3% (owning 10.06M shares). Cognizant about the implications of being considered a group filer with Eastbourne (the group would trigger a 15% poison put trigger on the company's debt), both investors independently expressed their belief that the stock was undervalued and that product development could be improved. The two were also critical of the Chairman.
2009: On January 30, 2009, Icahn increased his ownership to 8.81%, proposed that the company reincorporate from Delaware to North Dakota (a non-binding shareholder proposal), and nominated 5 representatives to the board. That same day, Eastbourne nominated a separate slate of 5 representatives.
AMLN accused Icahn of seeking to sell the company to Eli Lilly. Icahn responded by stating that his intentions were mischaracterized. More verified objectives from the Icahn campaign included cutting costs and improving the commercialization of drugs, particularly Byetta, which the activist felt was a "blockbuster drug" that should have very easily made the company grow value.
Ultimately, on June 2, 2009, the activists prevailed: Not only was the Chairman and lead director replaced, but 2 Icahn and 2 Eastbourne representatives were elected to the 12-member board. Nevertheless, shareholders did not approve of the Icahn proposal to re-incorporate the business to shareholder-friendly North Dakota.
2010 and 2011: Entire board was re-nominated.
AMLN relative stock price performance 2008 to present
Bottom Line: When Icahn first disclosed ownership and the start of his activist campaign, he starting purchasing AMLN shares at around $24 on average. In the eight months that followed when Icahn accumulated 2.27% greater ownership, the stock price fell substantially, hitting a low of $6.05/share in late November 2008. Since Icahn's initial investment, the company has been negative and underperformed both its peers and the market. When the board was reshuffled in mid-2009, shares were trading at around $11.10/share. After much volatility, they are now worth $11.87. If measured from the time that Icahn began his investment, ~$2.6 billion worth of shareholder value was lost. However, in part due to the stock's wild swings, it is difficult to say that the company has underperformed since the reshuffling. Overall, it is a mixed record (at best) here for AMLN and a weaker record here so far for Icahn.
Biogen (BIIB)
Market cap: $24.1 billion
2007: On August 15, 2007, Icahn disclosed a 0.8% stake, valued at around $147 million. He pushed for a sale in late 2007 and the company was "unable" to produce a suitor, which Icahn criticized as a deliberate lack of good faith effort. He continued to pursue a sale.
2008: On May 2, 2008, Icahn disclosed 4.24% ownership, then increased it to 6.03% on August 11. He unsuccessfully pursued a proxy contest to get 3 representatives elected to the board.
2009: With about 5.5% ownership, Icahn pursued a second proxy fight and ended up getting 2 of 4 representatives elected to the 13-member board. He pushed to cut costs and spending, improve partnership relationships, and to enhance product pipeline.
2010: On March 20, 2010, Icahn reached a settlement deal with the company to avert what would have been the third proxy fight. 1 Icahn representative was added to the board, although the activist was seeking 3 more seats.
2011: Icahn continues to own around 5.56%.
BIIB relative stock price performance
Bottom Line: When Icahn started pushing for a sale around August 2007, BIIB shares were trading at ~$57. The stock value of Icahn's holdings has nearly doubled. Evaluated from the time that Icahn began his campaign, or from the time that he gained board representation, BIIB's stock performance significantly outperformed the market generally and its competitors specifically. Since gaining board representation, the stock has nearly doubled to around $100, resulting in the addition of ~$11.5 billion dollars worth of shareholder value.
Enzon Pharmaceuticals (ENZN)
Market cap: $544.3 million
2008: On March 14, 2008, Icahn disclosed 6.93% ownership. He urged the minimization of specific assets, spinoff of the biotech business, and for the company to explore a sale.
2009: On January 29, 2009, Icahn increased ownership to 7.83% and the board agreed to nominate 2 Icahn representatives to the board.
2010: From November 9, 2010 to November 18, 2010, Icahn gradually increased his ownership to 9.72%.
2011: As disclosed in the March 31, 2011, 13F-HR statement, Icahn owns 3.1% of ENZN.
ENZN relative stock price performance
Bottom Line: When Icahn first disclosed ownership, ENZN shares were trading at ~$8.66. Since then, the stock has generally performed equivalent to the market. Since gaining board representation, the picture is a little worse. With shares currently at ~$10.13, about $94 million in shareholder wealth was added.
Genzyme (GENZ)
Sold: $20.1 billion
2010: On March 22, 2010, Icahn disclosed a 3.8% stake in the company and his intention to remove the Chairman & CEO (dual position) and 3 other directors. He also nominated 4 Icahn representatives to the board. About two weeks later, he increased his ownership to 4.91%, criticized management for acquiring unrelated businesses, and pushed for reductions in SG&A, greater margins, better management of manufacturing assets, and the exploration of possible spinoffs.
GENZ then tried to ward off Icahn by electing shareholder activist Ralph Whitworth of Relational Investors and buying back $2 billion worth of stock, in addition to spinning-off certain assets.
On June 9, 2010, GENZ reached a settlement agreement with Icahn and appointed 2 Icahn representatives to the board, which was increased from 10 to 13 members (2 Icahn representatives and Whitworth would fill the vacancies).
2011: Through a 13G statement (a "passive" investment disclosure), Icahn disclosed 5.06% ownership of GENZ. On February 16, 2011, GENZ was sold to Sanofi-Aventis SA (now Sanofi) for $20.1 billion.
Image extracted from Biotech Sector Investing
Bottom line: In less than a year since the first investment and eight months since gaining board representation, Icahn was able to help drive tremendous returns and sell the business. Icahn is said to have made $300 million off of the investment. As measured from the time that he first disclosed ownership and from the time he gained board representation, shareholder value increased by ~$4.3 billion (27.1%) and by ~$6.9B (52.5%), respectively.
Forest Laboratories Inc. (FRX)
Annual meeting date: Expected to take place in August 2011
2011: Disclosed 7.2% ownership (19.9M shares) on June 21, 2011.
Background on Forest Lab's recent difficulties
In September, 2010 Forest agreed to pay $89 million to federal programs and another $60 million to states to resolve charges that it – through a subsidiary, Forest Pharmaceuticals – had illegally promoted two of its drugs, Celexa and Lexapro. Forest also agreed to resolve criminal liability on related charges by pleading guilty to felony and misdemeanor counts. Those guilty pleas cost it another $164 million, combined fine and forfeiture.
It appears Forest Labs promoted Lexapro, chemical name escitalopram, as a way to treat depression in children. Escitalopram is an antidepressant, but it is only approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use on adults with “major depressive disorder” or “generalized anxiety disorder.” It is said to increase suicidal thinking and behavior in patients under 24 years old.
Celexa, chemically citalopram, is also an anti-depressant. The involvement of Celexa in the same accusations and settlements was a bit surprising, though, because citalopram is generally considered a less drastic treatment than escitalopram. Doctors prescribe it for a variety of so-called “off label” uses.
Last month, the AFL-CIO, which owns a small stake of its own in Forest Labs called for the resignation of the chief executive, Howard Solomon. Download the AFL-CIO's letter here.
Extracted from the labor federation's press release: “While we recognize that Mr. Solomon was not personally accused of wrongdoing, we believe that the Chairman and CEO should be held accountable for major regulatory compliance failures by company subsidiaries"
Icahn moves into Forest Labs' stock
On June 10, Icahn nominated 4 representatives to the 9-member board for election at the 2011 annual meeting. He reportedly had a meeting with company representatives on June 14, 2011, where "no agreements or understandings" materialized. Icahn stated his concern about poor stock performance and the loss of patent protection on Lexapro, one of the company's flagship drugs. He also requested that the company disclose information about the OIG-HHS' (Office of the Inspector General, Department of Health and Human Services) exclusion letter preventing Chairman & CEO Mr. Solomon from participating in federal health programs.
Icahn's Nominees:
Dr. Alexander J. Denner - Icahn Capital; Chairman of ImClone Systems; director of Biogen, Amylin, and Enzon (later Chairman of Enzon)
Dr. Richard Mulligan - Director of ImClone, Biogen, Enzon
Professor Lucian A. Bebchuk - Professor of Law, Economics, and Finance and Director of Corporate Governance Program at Harvard Law School. Well respected governance activist.
Dr. Eric J. Ende - Director of Genzyme.
FRX relative stock price performance July 2010 - present
Bottom Line: With enterprise value trading at around 5.53x EBITDA, no debt, $3.85 billion worth of cash in a $11.5 billion market cap company, a quick ratio of 5.13, could Forest Labs be targeted by Icahn for a sale? It's worth noting that three of Icahn's four nominees have had direct experience in the specific strategic activism highlighted above. It is quite clear that Icahn has been a successful investor in this industry, so a negotiated settlement for board representation is likely being considered by the FRX board, as it was for Biogen and Genzyme (both larger corporations than Forest Labs)...
Download Forest Lab's recently filed preliminary proxy statement
*Graphs extracted and revised from Google Finance
Posted by David Schatz (Hedge Fund Solutions) and Christopher Faille (Christopher Faille writes about a variety of legal and financial issues, and co-authored Basic Economic Principles (2000) with David O'Connor)
Subscribe by RSS feed
Receive blog posts by email
Subscribe to FREE Weekly Activist Research
Hedge Fund Solutions' Activist Investing Research
Free activist investing research
Activist Investing Research
Check out the NEWLY LAUNCHED Activist Investing Resource Blog
Academic Papers, Presentations from Investing Conferences, Books, Etc... http://shareholderactivismcenter.blogspot.com/
Activist News Feed from HedgeTracker.com
Hedge Fund Feed From FINalternatives
ActivistInvest Twitter Updates
Contributing Experts
Damien Park (Hedge Fund Solutions)
Troy Marchand (Foundry Capital)
Jon Heller (Hedge Fund Solutions)
Edward Ferris (Hedge Fund Solutions)
Art Crozier (Proxy - Innisfree M&A)
Marc Weingarten (Legal - Schulte Roth Zabel)
Mark Harnett (Proxy - MacKenzie)
Peter Casey (Proxy - Alliance Advisors)
Steve Wolosky (Legal - Olshan)
Advisors to Investors and Companies
Investment Research & Consulting
Hedge Fund Solutions
Olshan
Schulte Roth & Zabel
Proxy Firms
MacKenzie Partners
Innisfree M&A
The Conference Board: Governance Center Blog
Cheap Stocks Blog - Jon Heller
Greenbackd: Undervalued stocks w/a Catalyst
TheCorporateCounsel.net Blog
Harvard Law Corporate Governance Blog
The Icahn Report
Western Investment's activism at CEFs
Proxy Partisans: Struggles for Corporate Control
RiskMetrics' Risk & Governance Blog
Ron Orol's news and analysis
DealLawyers Blog
August 31, 2011: Interactive Case Study on Shareho...
Peerless Systems Launches the First Ever Publicly ...
Hedge Fund Solutions' Research Featured on CNBC
2011 Mid-Year Shareholder Activism Update
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1780
|
__label__wiki
| 0.609753
| 0.609753
|
OSMAN, CEDI
Anadolu Efes Istanbul 6 Forward
Height: 2.04 Born: 8 April, 1995 Nationality: Turkey
Totals 13 0 151:17 49 6/18 11/21 4/10 5 17 22 12 6 4 1 2 24 14 46
Averages 13 0 11:38 3.8 33.3% 52.4% 40% 0.4 1.3 1.7 0.9 0.5 0.3 0.1 0.2 1.8 1.1 3.5
11 at FC Barcelona 10:38 5 1/3 1/2 2 2 1 5 1 -1
12 vs Unicaja Malaga 3:58 0/1 1 1 1 1
13 at Panathinaikos Athens 1:17
15 at Laboral Kutxa Vitoria 1:43 0/2 1 -1
16 at Olympiacos Piraeus 21:45 8 2/5 1/3 1/2 1 3 4 2 2 1 2 11
18 vs FC Barcelona 6:48 6 2/3 1 1 2 1 5
19 at Unicaja Malaga 14:42 10 2/3 2/2 1 1 2 2 1 3 1 10
20 vs Panathinaikos Athens 18:48 0/2 0/1 1 1 1 2 -3
21 at EA7 Emporio Armani Milan 0:20
22 vs Laboral Kutxa Vitoria 13:56 3 0/1 1/1 1 1 1 1 3
23 vs Olympiacos Piraeus 15:27 4 1/2 1/2 1 1 1 1 1 3 1 4
24 at Fenerbahce Ulker Istanbul 28:57 9 1/4 2/2 1/2 1 3 4 4 1 3 5 6 12
12 Totals 138:19 45 6/18 10/17 3/8 3 14 17 11 5 4 1 2 21 13 41
Average 11:31 3.8 33.3% 58.8% 37.5% 0.3 1.2 1.4 0.9 0.4 0.3 0.1 0.2 1.8 1.1 3.4
2 at Strasbourg 12:58 4 1/4 1/2 2 3 5 1 1 3 1 5
1 Totals 12:58 4 0/0 1/4 1/2 2 3 5 1 1 0 0 0 3 1 5
Average 12:58 4 0% 25% 50% 2 3 5 1 1 0 0 0 3 1 5
#2 in 3-point % (58.8%)
Index rating 24 Olympiacos Piraeus vs. Anadolu Efes Istanbul 10/20/2016
Points 22 Olympiacos Piraeus vs. Anadolu Efes Istanbul 10/20/2016
Offensive rebounds 4 AX Armani Exchange Milan vs. Anadolu Efes Istanbul 11/10/2016
Defensive rebounds 6 Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar vs. Anadolu Efes Istanbul 1/8/2016
Total rebounds 8 Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar vs. Anadolu Efes Istanbul 1/8/2016
Assists 4 Anadolu Efes Istanbul vs. Olympiacos Piraeus 1/29/2015
Steals 4 Anadolu Efes Istanbul vs. Zalgiris Kaunas 12/20/2016
Blocks 3 Anadolu Efes Istanbul vs. Real Madrid 11/14/2014
Minutes 32 Olympiacos Piraeus vs. Anadolu Efes Istanbul 10/20/2016
Grew up with Anadolu Efes Istanbul (Turkey) juniors.
Signed for the 2011-12 season by Pertevniyal Istanbul, TB2L.
Made his debut with Anadolu Efes during the 2012-13 season.
Also playing with Pertevniyal.
He's still playing there.
Won the 2015 Turkish National Cup with Anadolu Efes Istanbul.
Member of the Turkish National Team.
Played at the 2014 World Championship.
Played at the 2015 and 2017 European Championships.
Has been member of the Turkish U-16 and U-18 National Team.
Played at the 2011 European U-16 Championship.
2013-14 Anadolu Efes Istanbul 13 49 3.8 6/18 33.3 11/21 52.4 4/10 40 22 6 12 1
2014-15 Anadolu Efes Istanbul 27 180 6.7 40/85 47.1 20/66 30.3 40/60 66.7 99 19 29 8
2015-16 Anadolu Efes Istanbul 23 182 7.9 36/72 50 27/71 38 29/38 76.3 71 21 17 2
2016-17 Anadolu Efes Istanbul 35 249 7.1 52/109 47.7 36/106 34 37/47 78.7 97 21 26 3
Totals 98 660 6.7 134/284 47.2 94/264 35.6 110/155 71 289 67 84 14
Averages 98 660 6.7 134/284 47.2 94/264 35.6 110/155 71 2.9 0.7 0.9 0.1
2011-12 IJT ANADOLU EFES ISTANBUL 2 28 14 8/12 66.7 2/5 40 6/11 54.5 13 10 3 0
Totals 2 28 14 8/12 66.7 2/5 40 6/11 54.5 13 10 3 0
Averages 2 28 14 8/12 66.7 2/5 40 6/11 54.5 6.5 5 1.5 0
2011/12 Pertevniyal 6 96 16.0 32/45 71.1 6/20 30.0 14/27 51.9 18 7 7 3
2012/13 Anadolu Efes 3 16 5.3 5/6 83.3 2/2 100.0 0/0 0.0 2 3 1 0
Pertevniyal 30 348 11.6 94/177 53.1 26/110 23.6 82/124 66.1 94 38 34 3
2013/14 Anadolu Efes 28 149 5.3 35/66 53.0 15/57 26.3 34/46 73.9 74 27 32 2
2014/15 Anadolu Efes 39 322 8.3 74/159 46.5 36/103 34.9 66/97 68.0 168 39 41 13
2015/16 Anadolu Efes 37 356 9.6 71/123 57.7 59/149 39.6 37/57 64.9 136 34 39 7
2016/17 Anadolu Efes 34 455 13.4 107/180 59.4 58/150 38.7 67/91 73.6 142 53 45 9
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1782
|
__label__cc
| 0.543
| 0.457
|
(954) 306-9603 customerservice@aflexxassistarm.com
Healthy Body Mechanics
CHEW Foundation
Chair Compatibility
A~flexX Blog
What Do You Know About “The Garbage Patches)
by Aurelia Byrne | Dec 8, 2021 | A~flexX Staff Blog
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a collection of marine debris in the North Pacific Ocean. Marine debris is litter that ends up in oceans, seas, and other large bodies of water.
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, also known as the Pacific trash vortex, spans waters from the West Coast of North America to Japan. The patch is actually comprised of the Western Garbage Patch, located near Japan, and the Eastern Garbage Patch, located between the U.S. states of Hawaii and California.
These areas of spinning debris are linked together by the North Pacific Subtropical Convergence Zone, located a few hundred kilometers north of Hawaii. This convergence zone is where warm water from the South Pacific meets up with cooler water from the Arctic. The zone acts like a highway that moves debris from one patch to another.
The entire Great Pacific Garbage Patch is bounded by the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) defines a gyre as a large system of swirling ocean currents. Increasingly, however, it also refers to the garbage patch as a vortex of plastic waste and debris broken down into small particles in the ocean. The North Pacific Subtropical Gyre is formed by four currents rotating clockwise around an area of 20 million square kilometers (7.7 million square miles): the California current, the North Equatorial current, the Kuroshio current, and the North Pacific current.
The area in the center of a gyre tends to be very calm and stable. The circular motion of the gyre draws debris into this stable center, where it becomes trapped. A plastic water bottle discarded off the coast of California, for instance, takes the California Current south toward Mexico. There, it may catch the North Equatorial Current, which crosses the vast Pacific. Near the coast of Japan, the bottle may travel north on the powerful Kuroshiro Current. Finally, the bottle travels eastward on the North Pacific Current. The gently rolling vortexes of the Eastern and Western Garbage Patches gradually draw in the bottle.
The amount of debris in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch accumulates because much of it is not biodegradable. Many plastics, for instance, do not wear down; they simply break into tinier and tinier pieces.
For many people, the idea of a “garbage patch” conjures up images of an island of trash floating on the ocean. In reality, these patches are almost entirely made up of tiny bits of plastic, called microplastics. Microplastics can’t always be seen by the naked eye. Even satellite imagery doesn’t show a giant patch of garbage. The microplastics of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch can simply make the water look like a cloudy soup. This soup is intermixed with larger items, such as fishing gear and shoes.
The seafloor beneath the Great Pacific Garbage Patch may also be an underwater trash heap. Oceanographers and ecologists recently discovered that about 70% of marine debris actually sinks to the bottom of the ocean.
While oceanographers and climatologists predicted the existence of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, it was a racing boat captain by the name of Charles Moore who actually discovered the trash vortex. Moore was sailing from Hawaii to California after competing in a yachting race. Crossing the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre, Moore and his crew noticed millions of pieces of plastic surrounding his ship.
No one knows how much debris makes up the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. The North Pacific Subtropical Gyre is too large for scientists to trawl. In addition, not all of the trash floats on the surface. Denser debris can sink centimeters or even several meters beneath the surface, making the vortex’s area nearly impossible to measure.
80 percent of plastic in the ocean is estimated to come from land-based sources, with the remaining 20 percent coming from boats and other marine sources. These percentages vary by region, however. A 2018 study found that synthetic fishing nets made up nearly half the mass of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, due largely to ocean current dynamics and increased fishing activity in the Pacific Ocean.
While many different types of trash enter the ocean, plastics make up the majority of marine debris for two reasons. First, plastic’s durability, low cost, and malleability mean that it’s being used in more and more consumer and industrial products. Second, plastic goods do not biodegrade but instead, break down into smaller pieces.
In the ocean, the sun breaks down these plastics into tinier and tinier pieces, a process known as photodegradation. Most of this debris comes from plastic bags, bottle caps, plastic water bottles, and Styrofoam cups.
Marine debris can be very harmful to marine life in the gyre. For instance, loggerhead sea turtles often mistake plastic bags for jellies, their favorite food. Albatrosses mistake plastic resin pellets for fish eggs and feed them to chicks, which die of starvation or ruptured organs.
Seals and other marine mammals are especially at risk. They can get entangled in abandoned plastic fishing nets, which are being discarded largely due to inclement weather and illegal fishing. Seals and other mammals often drown in these forgotten nets—a phenomenon known as “ghost fishing.”
Marine debris can also disturb marine food webs in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre. As microplastics and other trash collect on or near the surface of the ocean, they block sunlight from reaching plankton and algae below. Algae and plankton are the most common autotrophs, or producers, in the marine food web. Autotrophs are organisms that can produce their own nutrients from carbon and sunlight.
If algae and plankton communities are threatened, the entire food web may change. Animals that feed on algae and plankton, such as fish and turtles, will have less food. If populations of those animals decrease, there will be less food for apex predators such as tuna, sharks, and whales. Eventually, seafood becomes less available and more expensive for people.
These dangers are compounded by the fact that plastics both leach out and absorb harmful pollutants. As plastics break down through photodegradation, they leach out colorants and chemicals, such as bisphenol A (BPA), that have been linked to environmental and health problems. Conversely, plastics can also absorb pollutants, such as PCBs, from the seawater. These chemicals can then enter the food chain when consumed by marine life.
Patching Up the Patch
Because the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is so far from any country’s coastline, no nation will take responsibility or provide the funding to clean it up. Charles Moore, the man who discovered the vortex, says cleaning up the garbage patch would “bankrupt any country” that tried it.
Many individuals and international organizations, however, are dedicated to preventing the patch from growing.
Cleaning up marine debris is not as easy as it sounds. Many microplastics are the same size as small sea animals, so nets designed to scoop up trash would catch these creatures as well. Even if we could design nets that would just catch garbage, the size of the oceans makes this job far too time-consuming to consider. The National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration’s Marine Debris Program has estimated that it would take 67 ships one year to clean up less than one percent of the North Pacific Ocean.
Many expeditions have traveled through the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Charles Moore, who discovered the patch in 1997, continues to raise awareness through his own environmental organization, the Algalita Marine Research Foundation. During a 2014 expedition, Moore and his team used aerial drones, to assess from above the extent of the trash below. The drones determined that there is 100 times more plastic by weight than previously measured. The team also discovered more permanent plastic features, or islands, some over 15 meters (50 feet) in length.
All the floating plastic in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch inspired National Geographic Emerging Explorer David de Rothschild and his team at Adventure Ecology to create a large catamaran made of plastic bottles: the Plastiki. The sturdiness of the Plastiki displayed the strength and durability of plastics, the creative ways that they can be repurposed, and the threat they pose to the environment when they don’t decompose. In 2010, the crew successfully navigated the Plastiki from San Francisco, California, to Sydney, Australia.
Scientists and explorers agree that limiting or eliminating our use of disposable plastics and increasing our use of biodegradable resources will be the best way to clean up the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Organizations such as the Plastic Pollution Coalition and the Plastic Oceans Foundation are using social media and direct action campaigns to support individuals, manufacturers, and businesses in their transition from toxic, disposable plastics to biodegradable or reusable materials.
https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/great-pacific-garbage-patch/12th-grade/
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1784
|
__label__cc
| 0.725089
| 0.274911
|
Home End times headlines Several dead, trees uprooted & streets blocked as severe storm hits Moscow
Several dead, trees uprooted & streets blocked as severe storm hits Moscow
At least six people were killed as the Russian capital, Moscow, was hit by a heavy storm midday on Monday, the Investigative Committee confirmed. The city mayor said that dozens required medical treatment. The storm uprooted trees and tore the roofs off buildings.
“As a result of the storm wind in north-eastern, south-western and eastern Moscow, trees collapsed on passing residents. Five people died on the spot from the injuries they received. In addition, on the same day, a strong wind gust damaged a bus stop on Kirovogradskaya Street. An elderly man… died on the spot,” Yulia Ivanova, Investigative Committee representative, told RIA Novosti news agency.
“There are casualties as a result of the storm, more than 40 people applied for medical attention. My condolences to the relatives and loved ones of those who died,” Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin tweeted.
The mayor added that the authorities were taking the necessary measures to deal with aftermath of the disaster.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BUrV__CldNq/
Earlier, the Emergencies Ministry issued a warning, saying that “heavy rain, thunderstorms, hail, and gusts of wind reaching 17-22 meters per second” were expected in the capital from noon Monday until Tuesday morning.
Previous article ‘Ignore female singers!’ Chief rabbi tells Israeli soldiers to bury their faces in Torah
Next article 29 Slaughtered Coptic Christians By ISIS Refused To Deny Christ
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1785
|
__label__cc
| 0.733333
| 0.266667
|
The Philippine Star
Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Shellfish bulletin No. 29, Series of 2016, 10 October 2016
Request this article
Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)
PS20161013_B12
Based on the latest laboratory results of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and Local Government Units (LGUs), shellfishes collected at Irong-Irong and Cambatutay Bays in Western Samar; Matarinao Bay in Eastern Samar; Coastal Waters of Leyte; and Carigara Bay in Leyte are still positive for paralytic shellfish poison that is beyond the regulatory limit. All types of shellfish and Acetes sp. or alamang gathered from the area shown above are not safe for human consumption. Fish, squids, shrimps, and crabs are safe for human consumption provided that they are fresh and washed thoroughly, and internal organs such as gills and intestines are removed before cooking.
Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Shellfish bulletin No. 29, Series of 2016, 10 October 2016. (2016, October 13). The Philippine Star, p. B12.
Shellfish; Tests; Paralytic shellfish poisoning; Human food; Public health; Red tides; Biological poisons; Acetes sp.; Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR); Local Government Unit (LGU); Gongona, Eduardo
Pilar Bay still with red tide toxins
Sologastoa, Glenda (Panay News, March 9, 2016, on page 2-19)
Pilar Bay in Pilar; Capiz remains red tide-positive, according to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR). On the other hand, Sapian Bay also in Capiz, Batan in Aklan and Gigantes Island in Carles, Iloilo were ...
What you need to know about red tide
PN; Philippine Information Agency (PIA) (Panay News, December 13, 2015, on page 5)
A fisherman in New Washington dared the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) personnel in the province: he will eat talaba, or oysters, in front of them to prove that those harvested from the town are not ...
What we need to know about red tide
Villanueva, Venus G. (The Daily Guardian, December 9, 2015, on page 7)
More than two weeks after the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) announced that the fish-rich Batan Bay and its tributaries in three coastal towns are affected by red tide, a desperate fisherman challenged ...
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1787
|
__label__wiki
| 0.897155
| 0.897155
|
Sri Lanka raises black flags to protest murky Easter bombing investigation
J-P Mauro - published on 08/26/21 - updated on 08/26/21
Cardinal Malcom Ranjith suggested the lack of progress is a sign of a "great conspiracy."
Catholic communities across Sri Lanka participated in a silent protest on August 21. Churches, homes, and private businesses raised black flags in protest of the government’s ineffectual investigation into the Easter Sunday bombings of 2019.
The streets were lined with black flags as a new COVID-19 lockdown kept people in their homes. Church services organized to commemorate the victims of the coordinated attack were forced to go on without congregations. Still, this did not stop Cardinal Malcom Ranjith, Archbishop of Colombo, from speaking out.
Cardinal Ranjith
UCA News reports that the prelate said the attacks could have been prevented. He cited evidence that the government was aware that Christian communities were in imminent danger. Even after four separate warnings from the Indian Intelligence Service, however, nothing was done. Cardinal Ranjith said:
“The authorities were informed four times by the Indian Intelligence Service. Activities at Lacto estate in Wanathawilluwa and the attack on Buddha statues in Mawanella made it clear that something terrible was going to happen. The authorities covered them up and let people be killed,” he said.
Cardinal Ranjith went on to call the investigation a “great conspiracy,” further suggesting the slow progress is politically motivated. Cardinal Ranjith said:
“God reveals in various ways that there are other groups behind the great conspiracy. The authorities are trying to cover it up by misusing their power but God doesn’t allow them to hide. We pray to God to expose the conspiracy.”
New Indian Express reports that last week 23,270 charges were brought against 35 individuals connected to the bomings. None of these, however, have been identified as the organizers of the terror attack.
The Easter Sunday bombings were highly coordinated and allowed nine suicide bombers to detonate within three churches and hotels. The attack killed more than 270 people and injured at least 500 more.
The Catholic Church has called for action to be taken against former president Maithripala Sirisena and ex-prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. The two politicians have been ousted since 2019; however, no charges have been filed. A commission of inquiry has found them both culpable for their failures to prevent the attack.
According to New Indian Express, Cardinal Ranjith said:
“It is now clear that the government is not interested in revealing the truth, they want to sweep the whole attack under the carpet and wash off their hands,” Ranjith said, adding that people were protesting to express their “pain and disgust.”
Read more at UCA News.
Read more:Witnesses to Sri Lanka and Philippines bombings call for greater dialogue
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1789
|
__label__wiki
| 0.813144
| 0.813144
|
Among Us Takes Over the Internet
Erick Torres, Journalist|December 14, 2020
rxnokxmxra
Everywhere you look, everywhere you turn – TikTok pages, YouTube recommendations, Instagram memes, Reddit subreddits – you name it, it’s there, Among Us. Among Us took the internet by storm this Fall. With its initial release in June of 2018, it has exponentially grown to be one of the most popular games in all of the internet. But what exactly is Among Us?
WHAT IS AMONG US?
Among Us is a social deduction game with added aspects from stealth and puzzle games. The game takes all that and crams up to 10 people into one of three interactable-paranoia-inducing maps. It takes the fear of not knowing who to trust from Mafia, the ability to eliminate your targets with stealth from Hitman, and throws minigames at the player which bears some resemblance to minigames from Warioware.
The game allows users to play locally or online, although online seems to be the most popular approach. Players can either join a public lobby with total strangers or join a custom lobby with friends. The game reaches a higher level of competitiveness and excitement when playing amongst friends, especially when doing so with a form of voice chat like Discord, Facetime, or Instagram.
I believe the game’s replayability is one of its strongest aspects. With several rulesets to choose from, the possibilities seem endless. If you’re playing with your friends with two imposters, rounds will always have the added variability and randomness, making no two rounds the same despite playing with the same group of people. And even if you decide to play with one imposter, you can mess around with the rules to change the pace of the game by manipulating the player’s speed, amount of tasks, and even their field of view. One can heighten the suspense by making the votes anonymous and even removing the ejection confirmations to make the game more suspenseful.
The setting of the game is one of the several variables that can also be altered before the start of a round. By selecting a map, the host is able to modify the setting that the participants will play on.
The first and most recognizable of the three maps is a moving spacecraft named “The Skeld”. The spacecraft has a total of 14 rooms, 3 unique tasks, and cameras to function as the ship’s security system. It’s the simplest and least complicated of the three, but can still create interesting scenarios and gameplay.
The second of the three maps places the crew in a space station high above the Earth’s atmosphere. The station contains a total of 13 rooms, 5 unique tasks, and door sensors which function as this map’s security system. It’s roughly the same size as the previous map, but its change in layout offers a change in gameplay and strategy. Personally, this is my favorite out of the three maps.
The last of the three current maps place the crew on a research facility on the planet “Polus.” The map has 15 rooms and offers loads of space in-between them for the imposter to cover up their tracks. The map offers 11 tasks unique to the facility and brings back cameras, with a twist, behaving differently from the ones found in “The Skeld.” This is as of now the biggest of the three maps and gives the player more room for trickery and less room for claustrophobia.
The game itself is free on mobile and $5 on PC, but beyond that, the game offers smaller, optional transactions for features such as exclusive hats, costumes, and even pets. Besides that, in-app purchases don’t really affect gameplay and are solely for cosmetic purposes.
TO WRAP IT UP…
Among Us was like a sanctuary to us all this quarantine. It helped us get through boredom and helped us pass the time with friends. The idea, graphics, and overall premise of the game is very simple and not too complicated to comprehend. It has seemingly endless replayability with new content still being added. The only downside I can think of is that it’s not on more platforms. It’s by far one of the best things that the year has reintroduced to us and in my opinion one of the top games of this year, as to why I have no other choice but to give the game a 10/10
Macias awarded scholarship for Kendo
New cheer coaches look to raise spirits
Martinez’s resilience and perseverance pays off
Creating a Safe Place for LGBTQ+
Wishing, Hoping, and Planning for A Better Year
Christmas Pick Me Up
It’s Starting to Feel Like the Holidays
Making Your Voice Heard
Kitchen Nightmares: Holiday Edition
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1791
|
__label__wiki
| 0.964813
| 0.964813
|
Listen to new Max George solo single “Give yourself to me”
Following the singles “Paint by numbers” and “Hate you“, The Wanted former member Max George shared a brand new song called “Give yourself to me”.
Produced by Anton Hård af Segerstad & Joy Deb (Fifth Harmony, JoJo, Iggy Azalea), the pop track has potential to be a hit.
Meanwhile, Max is preparing to star in the BBC’s upcoming new series of Strictly Come Dancing. Other participants include : Caroline Quentin, Jason Bell, Ranvir Singh, Clara Amfo, Nicola Adams, Bill Bailey, JJ Chalmers, Maisie Smith, Jamie Laing, Rt Hon Jacqui Smith and HRVY.
Former The Wanted star Max George releases new track “Hate you”
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1792
|
__label__cc
| 0.561246
| 0.438754
|
Our Executive Committee is a ten- person board that collaborates to innovate and improve the Alpha Rho chapter at The University of Alabama.
2021-2022 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
mAX Egan, PRESIDENT
Max Egan is a senior mechanical engineering student with a minor in Spanish on the STEM to MBA Path. On campus, he also serves as an Ambassador for the College of Engineering and was previously involved with the Spanish Outreach Program. This past summer, he interned for Burns & McDonnell as an Energy Development Engineer and realized his passion for renewable energy and climate change mitigation! In his free time, Max enjoys tennis, coffee (a former barista, himself), and booking his next flight to see the world! This year, he looks forward to bringing the chapter back together and reinstating the traditions we shared before the pandemic.
Pledge Class: Fall 2018
STEVIE WHITE, VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS
Stevie White is a senior double majoring in finance and economics with a minor in computing tech and applications. She is the current Vice President of Finance for First Fellows and a previous director for UADM. This past summer, Stevie interned as a Coverage Analysis at Regions Bank in their healthcare group. Stevie spends all of her free time with her kittens Tito and Toby.
Pledge Class: Spring 2019
ANDRE TOPELIAN, VICE PRESIDENT OF FINANCE
Andre Topelian is a senior from Canton, Michigan studying finance with a minor in mathematical statistics. Andre has worked in various capacities for USAA, DTE Energy, and Mercedes-Benz US International. Andre looks forward to promoting the financial health of the chapter and affordability of membership while providing a robust professional and social experience to the brothers.
LINDSEY KARAM, VICE PRESIDENT OF MEMBERSHIP
Lindsey Karam is a senior from Metro-Detroit, Michigan majoring in finance and management. This past summer, Lindsey worked for DTE Energy in the Renewable Energy Solutions department in a project management role. She loves the tide, to cook, and all things Michigan. As the VP of Membership for Alpha Rho, she looks forward to welcoming new students during rush and strengthening the chapter’s brotherhood.
HADDEN LANGLEY, VICE PRESIDENT OF PLEDGESHIP
Hadden Langley is a senior from Tallassee, Alabama majoring in economics and management. He is a research assistant for the Culverhouse College of Business, and works closely with faculty of the Management Department. Hadden also interns with the American Nystagmus Network, which is a nonprofit that aims to provide resources and support for individuals and families impacted by a visual disability. Last summer, Hadden worked for DTE Energy as an intern on their renewable energy solutions product development team. He is an avid lover of the Tide, music, nature, and coffee.
AMANDA bUGOS, VICE PRESIDENT OF MARKETING
Amanda Bugos is a junior from Houston, Texas studying marketing in the Accelerated Masters Program. She is a Digital Marketing Intern for The University of Alabama Athletics Department, a Business Honors Program member, and a part of the SkiBama Water Ski Club. When she is not at the lake or watching her favorite teams play on tv, you can find her cooking new recipes in the kitchen or hanging outdoors playing tennis or golf. Through the AKPsi website and social media, Amanda hopes to show off how great our brothers of AKPsi are, and hopefully continue to grow our awesome chapter!
TOM KATSAROS, VICE PRESIDENT OF ALUMNI AFFAIRS
Tom Katsaros is a senior management information systems major, minoring in management. Tom is also involved in UA Language Partners, where he likes to help foreign exchange students feel welcome at UA. He is very happy to be partaking in Capgemini’s RISE program in the summer of 2021, where he hopes to improve his problem solving skills and learn more about tech consulting. This year, he looks forward to finalizing an alumni database for our brothers and creating more opportunities for alumni involvement in Alpha Rho than ever.
mICAH PRESLEY, VICE PRESIDENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Micah Presley is a senior from Florence, Alabama majoring in economics and political science while also pursuing a master’s degree in economics through the Accelerated Master’s Program. He is involved in a few different areas around campus, such as the Blackburn Institute, MARS, and SGA. He currently works as a business capture intern for General Dynamics Information Technology. He is a lover of all things government and spends his free time attempting (badly) at becoming fluent in Spanish, watching way too many TV series, and reading seemingly boring historical biographies. He is excited to get started on expanding Alpha Rho’s abilities to impact campus and the Tuscaloosa’s community.
PHILIP KINNEER, SECRETARY
Philip Kinneer is a senior from Cumming, Georgia majoring in Accounting with a minor in Political Science. On campus, he has served with the Culverhouse LIFT Program since Fall 2019. Philip is also involved with Beta Alpha Psi and YAF. Outside of school, some of his passions include cars, politics, and playing tennis. After graduation, Philip plans to attend law school with an end goal of practicing tax law. This year, he looks forwards to increasing brotherhood communication and engagement through his role as Secretary.
JACKIE MAKA, MASTER OF RITUALS
Jackie Maka is a junior from Homer Glen, IL double majoring in accounting and management information systems with a minor in global and cultural perspectives and a concentration in professional accounting. She is heavily involved with UADM where she now serves as the Director of Data Tracking and Insights and is an athletic tutor at the Bill Battle Academic Center. In the upcoming year, she will be working with Crowe and KPMG in the spring and summer of 2022 respectively. She loves to be outside, play any sport, and be able to hangout with friends. This year she looks forward to getting back in person with her current brothers and bringing in future brothers to have fun!
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1802
|
__label__cc
| 0.536877
| 0.463123
|
EE Launches New 4G LTE 30-Day SIM-Only Plans For UK Customers
Everything Everywhere (EE), the carrier which powers the United Kingdom's only 4G LTE network, has just announced a series of new SIM-only plans that allow customers to try out the network without having to commit to a year-long contract. Starting at £23 per month, the 30-day plans come with unlimited calls and texts, and can offer users as little as 500MB of data per month, or as much as 20GB. With one's data allowance the only variable, then, prices for EE's SIM-only plans are:
£23 per month for 500MB
£28 per month for 1GB
£63 per month for 20GB
Besides unlimited calls and texts, each plan also allows users to Internet tether with their mobile device. If you sign up for a one-year contract, however, the above allowances will cost a tempting £2 less per month, and in this aspect EE's 30-day plans follow those of numerous rival carriers. For more information on EE's 30-day SIM-only offerings, along with the option of purchasing one of the new plans, take a look at the carrier's website. Alternatively, see: Welcome A Brand New Day In The Atmospheric Side-Scrolling Platformer Badland, Grand Theft Auto 3 Receives A Much Needed Update, and Appington Launches New Voice Over Audio Service For App And Game Developers.
AT&T's 4G LTE Network Launches In 10 New US Markets
Verizon's LTE Network Keeps On Growing: Six New Markets Added
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1804
|
__label__wiki
| 0.708391
| 0.708391
|
Using Romney math, Obama added 3.7m jobs to economy during his term
The Washington Post's Greg Sargent explains how Mitt Romney is again lying, this time about President Obama's record on jobs' growth. Here Greg quotes the NYT:
Mr. Romney frequently says that Mr. Obama has presided over an economy that has lost hundreds of thousands of jobs. In a recent news release, the Republican campaign said, “Under President Obama, the nation has lost 552,000 jobs.”
But that statistic includes Mr. Obama’s first year in office, and especially the months of February, March and April, when monthly job losses from the economic collapse were at 700,000 or higher.
Just ignoring February of 2009, before any of Mr. Obama’s policies — including the economic stimulus — had been put into place, would wipe away all 552,000 lost jobs, giving the president a record of creating 172,000 jobs.
If Mr. Romney’s team were to ignore Mr. Obama’s first year in office — as Mr. Gillespie suggested should be done for Mr. Romney’s first year as governor — then the president would have added about 3.7 million jobs to the economy.
Of course, Mr. Romney’s campaign is unlikely to change its rhetoric or strategy. His bid for the White House depends on the idea that Mr. Obama has made the economy worse. Because the country has been adding jobs for nearly two years, Mr. Romney’s argument depends on the steep job losses in Mr. Obama’s first year in office.
So basically Mitt Romney is trying to blame President Obama for the jobs lost by George Bush.
More posts about: economic crisis, Jobs
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1807
|
__label__cc
| 0.622066
| 0.377934
|
An MP3 Player Could Rock Your World
An MP3 player is an electronic device used to transfer audio files. These devices are very common and, along with computers and cell phones, are now commonplace in our daily lives. The MP3 player is the most popular and convenient way for people to-download, listen and share music and files. The name “MP3″ is a trademark and it is applied to various kinds of these devices. This word refers to the ” ROBots, Movies and Music” files.
There are many kinds of music players available in the market like iPods, mobiles, MP3s and many more. Music lovers and users feel that MP3 players offer them the greatest convenience, security and enjoyment. They feel that no local music store will do. As music stores go out of business and elbow-to-face meet new technology, music download websites are getting new customers who opt to have access to unlimited music downloads for a paltry amount. Why pay a membership fee when free download is available in the several thousand music websites for a limited period of time?
Enjoy Free Download of Online Music
Here are the few popular music download websites which have achieved amazing success in the music industry. Yes, you got it right. It is not about the price but the uniqueness and the quality of the websites.
These music download websites are scientifically planned and are regularly kept up by music fanatics. หนังใหม่ชนโรง When you search for these music download websites, you will get exactly what you expect. Whether you are an artist, a song writer or simply a music lover, you are assured of finding your desired music in these websites.
Most of the music download websites or online music stores are updated with the changing music trends and requirements. Users are assured of finding the latest and the most unique music online. The sleek design and countdown to the track makes these sites exciting.
Downloading Music Online
Music download websites are unique in the sense that downloads are inexpensive. For a small fee that is normally less than $1, you get access to unlimited music downloads. จับเย็ดหี Music fanatics have the choice of selecting a number of music tracks or a whole album. Once you have downloaded the music, you can always select the desired track or album by its title.
How to Download Online Music
With all that unique music download websites, you must be thinking how to download online music in the shortest possible time? Well, that is altogether easier. All you have to is click “Download” button and you can select the desired track or album.
These online music stores are delivering free music to sonic devices. That is why users can easily download online music to their MP3 player. Once the music is downloaded, you can transfer it to your personal computer or MP3 player. แนะนำหนังใหม่ So, the question is how to download online music in the quickest possible time?
Let us understand the question in brief. In short, the “music download” is an artistic digital music format format called MP3 which was internationally standardised in 1991. It is based on compression, information compression, and bitonalization. The file of music consists of a number of parts – a start up (or starting point), data (hyper data), and anyways, audio. The audio is the main part of the file.
The Internet Experience
Online music has been facing strong competition from streaming online music and downloadable online music that has been available since the late 90s. เกย์โดนเย็ด The reasons for the lagging behind competition can be attributed to several factors – namely, the lack of effective strategies to deal with the competition, the late launch of competitive products, and the lack of fully realizeable strategies for victory.
For a period of five years, the Rhapsody music service and the Napster music service were the prime facing online music competition. The first was the Rhapsody which was launched in 1998 and offered a free service. The concept was similar to the iTunes music service, but the difference was that it provided music downloads of high quality. However, the Rhapsody was compatible for Sun and Local Time. However, the next provider of online music, Napster, also offered a free download service in exchange for a share of intellectual property. แอบถ่ายสาวไซด์ไลน์ The Napster download service faced a shut down by the Government after they were found to be copyright protected.
In recent years, there have been a lot of improvements for Napster. But, their service is still subject to a lot of Rain.
Where to download free music
Reabsorption of the Rainfire
Soon after the worldwide peer-to-peer Napster service went online, similar services were launched by The Rage Against the Machine, Dirty Dozen, and fine Rain. The fine Rain band had to request permission to use the name “Rain” and then were able to use “Rainforest” for their album.
The Exotic Day Lily
How To Find yourselves In The Music Industry
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1808
|
__label__wiki
| 0.603086
| 0.603086
|
Solar Sytem
Type: Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's five oceans (after the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Ocean, but larger than the Southern Ocean and Arctic Ocean). Four critically important access waterways are the Suez Canal (Egypt), Bab el Mandeb (Djibouti-Yemen), Strait of Hormuz (Iran-Oman), and Strait of Malacca (Indonesia-Malaysia). The decision by the International Hydrographic Organization in the spring of 2000 to delimit a fifth ocean, the Southern Ocean, removed the portion of the Indian Ocean south of 60 degrees south latitude. - The World Factbook
Physiographic
Bassas da India Atoll
Christmas Island Island
Cocos (Keeling) Islands Archipelago
Maldives Nation
Mascarene Islands Archipelago
Mayotte French Overseas Region
Ningaloo Reef
Seychelles Nation
Sri Lanka Nation
Body of water between Africa, the Southern Ocean, Asia, and Australia - The World Factbook
Particulars for Indian Ocean:
Physiographic Ocean
Creative Works »
Melmoth the Wanderer Book
1001 Book
1000 Nv
Chalres Maturin The Tale of the Indians tells of an island in the Indian Ocean which is rumored to be haunted.
The Twenty-One Balloons Book
1001 Kid
William Pene Du Bois In "The Twenty-One Balloons", Professor William Waterman Sherman crash lands on the volcanic island of Krakatoa.
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1811
|
__label__wiki
| 0.540583
| 0.540583
|
Orlando SlingShot and Orlando FreeFall now open on International Drive
by Brittani Tuttle January 5, 2022
written by Brittani Tuttle January 5, 2022
The world’s tallest slingshot and drop tower attractions, Orlando SlingShot and Orlando FreeFall, are now open at Icon Park on International Drive.
The Orlando SlingShot stands at 300 feet, making it the world’s tallest. The two-tower attraction launches two riders out of an “exploding volcano” approximately 450 feet straight up into the sky, reaching speeds of up to 100 miles per hour.
The Orlando FreeFall towers at 430 feet, making this attraction also the world’s tallest of its kind, a free-standing drop tower. Thirty riders at a time can take in the sights of Icon Park and International Drive as the ride vehicle rotates around the tower and rises high into the sky. Upon reaching the top of the tower, the ride vehicle will tilt forward 30 degrees and face the ground for a moment before free-falling nearly 400 feet at speeds reaching over 75 miles per hour.
“The SlingShot Group has created the ‘Land of the Giants,'” said Ritchie Armstrong, owner. “We now have three world record-setting attractions at Icon Park — The Orlando StarFlyer, SlingShot and FreeFall. We’re excited to welcome guests from all over the world and give them the thrill of a lifetime!”
Tickets for all three of The SlingShot Group’s attractions at Icon Park can be purchased onsite. Tickets for the FreeFall and StarFlyer are $12 each, while the SlingShot is $30. Combo packages are available as well, ranging from $20-$50. All prices include sales tax.
To learn more, visit OrlandoSlingShot.net. You can check out our videos of both the Orlando SlingShot and the Orlando FreeFall below:
SeaWorld Parks’ Inside Look returns for more behind-the-scenes experiences
Standby queue coming to Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure at Epcot
Disney invests in cast members’ futures with...
Expansion Drive podcast – Game of Thrones,...
Go ‘Over the Edge’ to support Give...
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1815
|
__label__cc
| 0.668442
| 0.331558
|
Japan was preparing bacteriological weapons against the USSR – FSB
World Today News.
The Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation declassified documents from which it follows that in March 1945 Japan was preparing for a bacteriological war against the USSR. On Friday, August 20, reports RIA Novosti.
It is noted that among the archival materials, including captured ones xe2x80x93 the interrogation protocol of the former second lieutenant of the medical service, an employee of the special detachment 731 of the Kwantung Army Sei Yamamoto (aka Tanako Masami).
According to Yamamotoxe2x80x99s confessionary testimony at the end of May 1950, he was looking for ways to maintain the long-term resistance of the tuberculosis and paratyphoid B bacteria xe2x80x9cfor use in bacteriological warfare.xe2x80x9d
xe2x80x9cAll research with the bacteria of tuberculosis and paratyphoidxe2x80x9d B xe2x80x9c, which I personally conducted, was carried out with the aim of using them as a weapon in the war against the Soviet Union, which, as I knew from the stories of Captain Shimizu and other military officials of the 731th detachment, who were present in March 1945 at a meeting held by General Ishii, should begin in June 1945, xe2x80x9c- he said.
The declassified documents were obtained as a result of the Manchurian strategic offensive operation of the Red Army, which ended on August 20, 1945. The main Japanese facilities for the development of bacteriological weapons were concentrated in the region.
Recall last year Russia declassified documents on the capture of Berlinxe2x80xa6 They tell about, among other things, German prisoners of war and ration cards for civilians.
nThe atomic horror in Hiroshima. The world is on the verge of repetition
nNews from <a href=”http://Correspondent.net” rel=”nofollow”>Correspondent.net</a> in Telegram. Subscribe to our channel https://t.me/korrespondentnet
← The Nazis’ Biowarfare Program at Dachau: Many of the critical documents were destroyed by the Germans and the Soviets. So it still remains an open question to what extent the entomological institute at Dachau was involved in developing biological weapons. → Annual German Carnival in Cologne Underway Despite Surging COVID Cases
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1816
|
__label__wiki
| 0.62277
| 0.62277
|
Banksters eating their own vomit
World production of gold, 2011
Dr Thomas Chaize
Demanding investors appreciate when the gold price is low, while the majority of the investors is depressed as gold production is declining in general indifference. In 2010, with an increasing gold price, an increasing gold production and an increasing interest of investors for gold; our demanding investors are concerned. Will the world be overwhelmed by gold as its production is increasing?
I. The major gold producing countries in 2010.
China gold production is increasing for the eleventh consecutive year. China is the world largest gold producer for the third time in history with 345 tons of gold produced this year. Furthermore among the gold-producing countries, China, with its increasing gold production, seems to go against the general trend.of decreasing gold production. China has already announced that its gold production is expected to increase up to 400 tonnes within the next three years.
Australia is the world second largest gold producer with a gold production of 255 tonnes in 2010 (+15%). However this remains 20% below its level of production of 1998.
The U.S. production of gold has been declining since 1998 (-37%) until it has stabilized around 230 tonnes/years in the last 4 years.
Gold production in South Africa on the other hand continues to decline. Until 2006, this country was the world top producer but after almost a century of hegemony,its ranking declined to the second position in 2007 and fourth in 2010. Gold production in South Africa has decreased by 80% within the last 40 years. It is however interesting to point out that the 2010 Chinese gold production represents only a third of the South African production in the late 60 ...
Russia maintains its gold production at the same level; about 190 tonnes .
Gold production in Peru is still below its peak production of 2005 (208 tons of gold) with 170 tonnes of gold produced in 2010. Although one can identify more than three hundred mines and gold producers in Perou, more than half of the production comes from two major gold mines (22% in 2010) located in a gold mining region of the Amazon rainforest ( 4% in 2010).
Indonesia produced 120 tons of gold in 2010, -27% since its peak production in 2006. Half of it, is produced by one single company which production has declined by 7% in 2010.
Canada remains well below its level of production of 1941 (166 tons of gold) and 1991 (177 tons of gold) with 90 tonnes of gold produced in 2010.
The share of small gold-producing countries (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ghana, Kazakhstan, Mali, Mexico, Morocco, Uzbekistan, Papua, Philippines, Tanzania, ...) accounts for more than a third of the world gold production in 2010 against less than 10% in 1969. To find new deposits of gold, mining companies must go deeper in hostile territories such as deserts, rainforests and polar region to find the last remaining gram of gold.
II. Production peak or just the end of a cycle?
Both in 2009 and in 2010, I announced the possibility of a temporary increase of the world gold production as a result of lower production costs due to 2008 crisis effects. I also confirmed you the peak of gold production in 2001. Since then, global production increased by 240 tonnes reaching 2 500 tonnes in 2010.
It is now legitimate to question the sustainability of this increase in the world gold production. In 1980, in a similar situation, when gold production increased, it brought down the price of gold during 20 years.
1: From 1970 to 1980 there has been a decline and then a stagnation in the world gold production resulting in higher gold price (positive divergence). The price was too low for several decades, forcing some gold mines to close as production costs were above the selling price.
Then from 1980 to 2001, for 20 years, the gold world production has increased resulting this time in a decrease of the gold price (negative divergence). Gold mines were producing more in order to compensate for the price decline from $ 850 to less than 250 dollars an ounce ...
2: From 2001 to 2008, we had a decline in gold production and higher prices from 2008 to 2010 (positive divergence). Gold production decreased by 340 tonnes while the gold price has tripled. The prices were too low to encourage the opening of new gold mines as well as exploration.
Since 2008, both the gold production and its price on the market has been evolving in the same direction. Usually in this case, as a "normal" cycle, we should eventually be in an oversupply situation and therefore worry for the market price of an ounce of gold. The increase in the price of gold for the last 10 years should lead to overproduction and inevitably to a reduction of the price (negative divergence). This should then be followed by a reaction of gold mining companies which would open new gold mines, producing more as well as exploring new areas.
But since 2001, the old models of cycles are obsolete, since gold has already reached its production peak. We are now in a sort of super cycle "terra incognita".
Production costs were slightly and temporarily stabilized in some gold producing countries after the 2008 crisis. With the slight decrease (or stabilization) of production costs for gold mines and the increase of gold price,we observe a temporary increase in the world gold production.
But this is a pause and not a change of trend, structurally nothing has changed. Within 1 to 3 years, the world gold production will decline again, just because no country will be able to produce 1000 tons of gold like South Africa did in the 60s.
III. Gold production in 2010, 2020 and 2030.
Gold production has increased by a factor 2.1 from 1959 to 2010. At the same time, the world population has been multiplied by a factor 2.2. Thus we produced more or less the same amount of gold per inhabitant as in 1959.
When one does the ratio of the gold world production and the world population, we can see that gold production was of about 0.36 grams per inhabitant in 2010, which is close to the average over the last 100 years (0.37 grams). According to estimation the world population should reach 7.2 billion in 2020 and 8.2 billion in 2030. This should indicate us a "necessary" gold production of 2803 tonnes in 2020 and 3034 tons in 2030. In the short term (1 to 3 years) as discussed previously, the world gold production could still increase slightly, but in the next 10 or 20 years it will definitely decrease because of the number of good quality gold reserve. A difference will appear between the increase in the world population and the decline of the gold production. The world will produce less gold with a growing population and an exponatial growth of the money supply.
U.S. money supply, M3, has increased by a factor 35 only between 1959 and 2006 (since March 2006 the U.S. federal bank does not communicate the amount of dollars printed).
We reach a point where the growth of the world population and the exponential growth of the money supply remains strong, while the growth of the gold production is seriously threatened. According to King Hubert, for whom the coexistence of the monetary system and resources is only possible when both systems keep pace:
" We are in a crisis in the evolution of human society. It is unique in both human and geologic history. It has never happened before and it can not possibly happen again. You can only use oil once. You can only use metals once. Soon all the oil is going to be burned and all the metals mined and scattered "
"And the time scale is not centuries, it's decades" February 1983 " Geophysics magazine".
Zombies are real
Tensions rise between Pakistan and US
Another night of clashes in Athens
Africa is the Prize
As mentioned on this blog before here & here, Africa is last remaining resources prize and all major nations will end up fighting over it.
Violence back on in Cairo's Tahrir Square
From: RussiaToday | Jun 29, 2011
There's been fresh unrest in Cairo where at least 50 protesters have been injured in clashes with police. Dozens were also injured on Tuesday as hundreds of protesters took first to the Interior Ministry, and then shifted to Tahrir square, the epicentre of the revolution in February. Protesters are angry about the slow process of prosecuting security officers, accused of causing the deaths of more than 800 people, during the uprising that toppled Hosni Mubarak.
Greeks continue to resist the Banksters
The Greek government last night passed the harsh austerity package on which its continued international funding depends, offering the nation and the euro zone a brief respite from crisis.
It faces a second, more complex vote tomorrow on laws to enforce the measures.
Observers warned that implementing the austerity program would be difficult, meaning the vote had bought breathing space but an eventual Greek default remained likely.
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/business/athens-adopts-austerity-plan-20110630-1grc1.html#ixzz1QhircW3f
On the street the people weren't happy about the outcome of the vote:
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1817
|
__label__cc
| 0.714316
| 0.285684
|
Home HOW-TOS What Does “SRSLY” Mean, and How Do You Use It?
What Does “SRSLY” Mean, and How Do You Use It?
Krakenimages.com/Shutterstock.com
Has someone texted you “srsly?” in response to some pretty huge news, but you’re not sure what it means? Read on to learn the definition of this common internet abbreviation.
Seriously Serious
SRSLY is an abbreviated form of the word “seriously” with all of the vowels removed. It’s often used as a shorter alternative to the term. For example, if someone does something you find rude, you might send them the message, “SRSLY?” However, given the context, it can take on an entirely new meaning.
You can write this abbreviation in a variety of ways. You can write it in the uppercase “SRSLY” or the lowercase “srsly.” If you’re using it as a complete sentence on its own, you could even write it in sentence case, such as “Srsly.”
Another variation is abbreviating the word “serious” as “SRS.” This is slightly less common and is often used with the phrase “R U SRS,” which you can say to clarify whether someone is kidding or not.
The History of SRSLY
SRSLY is slightly older than other internet slang terms that we’ve covered. It came to prominence in the early 2000s, the age of instant messaging and SMS texting. Most of the people using this term were teenagers, who shortened words to make them easier to type.
The first definition of SRSLY on Urban Dictionary dates back to 2005 and states that it’s “internet shorthand for seriously.” It eventually became more widely used in the early 2010s, thanks to the rise of social media and chat apps like Twitter and Snapchat. Nowadays, you can find it everywhere on the internet.
“SRSLY?” vs. “SRSLY.”
Dean Drobot/Shutterstock.com
Believe it or not, “srsly” can have a few different meanings depending on the context. Here are some of the most common ways to use this abbreviation.
First, you can use it as a simple replacement for the word “seriously.” For example, if you’re trying to say that you’re exhausted, you might say, “I’m srsly tired right now.”
When “SRSLY” is asked as a question, it means someone is in disbelief. You might tell your friend, “I found out yesterday that Adam is getting married.” If your friend finds that shocking because they didn’t even know that Adam was in a relationship, they might say, “SRSLY?” This particular way of using the term has a similar meaning to “R U SRS,” which we will discuss in the next section.
Another use is to clarify to someone that you’re not making a joke. For example, you might say, “I’ve been thinking about moving across the country. Srsly.” That tells the other person that you’re completely serious about your desire to move.
R U SRS
As we said earlier, another variant of this abbreviation is saying “R U SRS,” which you’d say when you’re in disbelief. You could also say “srs” on its own, but it’s much less common on the internet.
Compared to using just “SRSLY,” saying “R U SRS” is more intense. It’s generally reserved for situations when someone says or does something genuinely shocking. For example, if a friend tells you they were recently in a dramatic medical emergency, like getting bitten by a snake, you’d likely say “R U SRS?” to convey that the news is shocking to you.
How to Use SRSLY
Before you start using “SRSLY” in your texts to save you valuable typing time, don’t forget that this is a very informal acronym. Avoid using it in professional contexts, such as business e-mails or on your company’s communication channels.
Here are a few examples of SRSLY in action:
“Did you hear? Anna lost her engagement ring. Srsly.”
“Srsly? Why are you telling me this right now?”
“I broke my girlfriend’s vase. I am in srsly big trouble.”
“R U SRS???”
If you’re curious about other internet slang terms, we have plenty of pieces that you can read! Check out our guides on ICYMI, NGL, and BRB, and you’ll be an expert before you know it.
RELATED: What Does “ICYMI” Mean, and How Do You Use It?
Previous articleWhy 3D Pinball needs to come back in Windows 11
Next articleHow to add quick access to Task Manager on Windows 11
Wear OS Will Finally Support Left-Handed Users—But It’ll Cost You – Review Geek
How to Use Spoiler Formatting for Messages in Telegram
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1828
|
__label__wiki
| 0.660677
| 0.660677
|
Wednesday, Sep 26, 2007, 09:45
European biotech investments lagging behind US - study
European biotechnology companies are being outpaced by their US competitors in research investments and in the scale of their operations, according to a new study from the European Union.
The figures, published by the EU’s statistical service, suggested that the 57 highest-spending EU companies in terms of biotechnology research and development spent, on average, €21 million ($30 million) in 2005. Of those companies, 28 are situated in the UK, with seven in Sweden, and six in Germany. In terms of European investments in R&D, the UK also leads, accounting for 44% of the total, followed by Denmark with 17% and Sweden with 12%.
But while the average expenditure in Europe in 2005 was $160 million per company, US companies spent close to eight times more. “This gap in biotechnology R&D investment between the EU and US companies is unlikely to narrow in the near future because R&D funding in biotechnology is growing faster in the United States than in Europe,” the study said. The data assembled also showed that in 2003 Denmark was world leader in biotechnology patent applications to the European Patent Office, measured per capita. With more than 30 applications per million inhabitants, it produced nearly six times the EU average. It was followed by Iceland and Israel. Germany ranked first in Europe in absolute figures.
With 2,576 biotechnology patent applications submitted to the EPO, the EU ranked second worldwide in 2003, after the US (with 3,331) and ahead of Japan (with 1,035 applications). In Europe, Germany occupied first place with 901 applications, followed by the UK with 416 applications and by France with 370. In many countries, patent activity in biotechnology has been slowing down over recent years, the study said, with only Italy, Austria, Japan and some countries with very few patent applications showing accelerated activity.
In a ranking by biotechnology R&D intensity (a ratio of the expenditure in a sector compared with the value added in the same sector), Iceland was the clear leader in 2003, followed by Denmark and Switzerland. Across Europe, health is the main application field for biotechnology in most countries, often involving nearly half of all bio technologically active firms, the study claimed. In Germany two out of three biotech firms are working in the health care field - a situation broadly comparable to the US and China. European biotechnology-active firms are generally less active in agro-food applications than in other parts of the world (just 4% in Denmark and 6% in Switzerland), and the same is true for industrial-environmental applications of biotechnology, with the notable exceptions of Poland and Finland. (bioworld.com)
Wienerberger Group head gets Knight's Cross
Budapest Culture | Oct 19, 2021, 13:05
Erik Slooten named Expat CEO of the Year
Budapest Culture | Sep 24, 2021, 22:10
HIPA awards most prominent investors of 2020
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1829
|
__label__wiki
| 0.82223
| 0.82223
|
Thursday, Oct 19, 2006, 08:41
Europeans prefer saving money to shopping
Hungarians, more than half of whom said they don't enjoy the experience, get the least pleasure from shopping.
Most European consumers don't like spending money and would rather save for the future, according to a study by Metro AG, Germany's biggest retailer. Some 85% of 7,000 people questioned in February and May don't enjoy spending, Georg Fuhrmann, head of industry and consumer research at Metro, said yesterday at a press briefing in Berlin. Germans dislike spending more than any other nationality included in the survey, while Italians enjoy it the most. Consumers in the euro region saved 12% of their income in 2005, Metro said, compared with US residents, who spend more than they earn every month.
More than half of Europeans who were questioned said they are setting aside funds for unforeseen events and to provide for themselves in old age. „It seems that the consumer takes more pleasure in hoarding money than in spending it for consumption,” Fuhrmann said. The readiness to spend „is very weak throughout Europe,” he said. One in three Europeans could spend more than they do now, indicating that retail sales in the region still may advance, Dusseldorf, Germany-based Metro said. Britons and Germans said they could spend more if they wanted to. The European Commission on October 11 said the economy of the dozen euro nations may not grow at all in the first quarter of next year as higher interest rates and a slowdown in the US weigh on purchasing power. German Chancellor Angela Merkel will increase a value-added tax by 3 percentage points to 19% in January, further impairing growth in Europe.
Half of Europeans compare prices for everyday purchases such as shampoo, stockings or spaghetti sauce to help save money for retirement, according to Metro. Among nationalities surveyed, only Britons said they're saving money for vacations, rather than for old age. More than a quarter of European consumers don't like to shop, Metro found. Hungarians, more than half of whom said they don't enjoy the experience, get the least pleasure from shopping. „We just have to make shopping sexy again,” Metro CEO Hans-Joachim Koerber said at the briefing. Concern about saving for retirement was strongest among Germans, 81% of whom said they must put away more money for old age than they had thought, according to Metro. Still, some 69% of German respondents said they're satisfied overall with their lives.
Metro, which gets 55% of sales from outside its domestic market, returned to its roots by buying Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s German outlets this year. The company may make more acquisitions to gain market share in Germany and eliminate other rivals to its Real hypermarket chain, Koerber told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper on August 9. Metro surveyed 7,000 adults in Germany, the UK, France, Italy, Poland, Spain and Hungary. The company did not provide a margin of error for replies to the questions. (Bloomberg)
Bulgaria retail sales rise in November
Business Industry | Jan 12, 2022, 11:55
Romania retail sales rise in November
Retail sales up 3.8% y.o.y. in November
Balaton Agrár awarded HUF 464 mln grant for grape processing plant
Economy Agriculture | Jan 16, 2022, 12:00
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1830
|
__label__cc
| 0.711738
| 0.288262
|
Bible Wiki
Old Testament People
New Testament People
Israelites
Heavenly Host
Old Testament Cities
New Testament Cities
Israelite Cities
Canaanite Cities
God-designed structures
Major Prophets
General Epistles
Pauline Epistles
Articles by Book
in: NeedsVerses, Places, Bodies of Water
Great Sea
The Great Sea is the name of the body of water west (toward the sunset) of Canaan and Philistia. It's northern shores were populated by the descendants of Jephthah, the oldest son of Noah in the days of Peleg and the dispersion from Babel. It the south, the great Egyptian culture flourished.
First encountered by Abraham on his way to Egypt, the Great Sea was a place to avoid. Ever since the days of Noah the open sea had left a vivid image on the collective mind of his descendants.
Sunset from Jaffa
The Great Sea (Heb: הַיָּ֥ם הַגָּדֹ֖ול, "the Sea, the Great") was known as "great" in relation to all other bodies of water known to the writers of the Bible. It is also called the Hinder (Western) Sea (הַיָּם הָאַחֲרוֹן) being behind those accustomed to orienting themselves toward the east. It is once called "the Sea of the Philistines" (יָם פְּלִשְׁתִּים).
Though a vast body of water, the Great Sea is dwarfed by its neighbors to the west and the south, its central location may be a remnant of the "waters in one place" of the second day of creation. It was into its depths that much of the water of the Great Flood receded.
Years later, Abraham sojourned in Egypt, he would have seen the vast ocean sandy beaches reaching for miles. It would then be more understandable when God spoke of the "sand of the seashore." When the tribes moved to Egypt years later, they were located near the sea. Tradition has it that Zerah, Judah's son, was an explorer that took to the sea. It makes sense, but nothing in the Bible backs it up.
Though some of the tribes were given lands that bordered the Great Sea, it was not until the time of David that an alliance with the king of Tyre made the Great Sea necessary for trade. From the forests in the north, King Hiram was able to ship logs down to a port city to be processed before being moved to Jerusalem to prepare for the temple that Solomon would have built.
NeedsVerses
More Bible Wiki
1 Joshua (Son of Nun)
2 Cherubim
3 Jesus Christ
Bible Wiki is a FANDOM Books Community.
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1831
|
__label__wiki
| 0.84581
| 0.84581
|
Q1 result: Deposits under savings account rise while in current account slide
Private Banks reported higher savings account deposits despite interest rates hitting an all time low amidst a lower policy rate by the central bank.
by Syed Fasiuddin
Private lenders Axis Bank, HDFC Bank and Kotak Mahindra Bank have reported a steady rise in savings account deposit numbers, whilst however recording declining numbers of current account deposits. ICICI Bank for the first quarter reported a decline in deposits of both savings and current accounts, whilst Yes Bank posted declining savings bank deposits but rising current account deposits. Notably, the increase in savings account deposits come despite private banks repeatedly slashing interest rates on savings account in the first quarter of FY21, after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) slashed the repo rate twice. Contextually, certain public and private banks had also reported a rise in savings account deposits in the last quarter of FY20 following the Yes Bank crisis.
Axis Bank’s savings account deposits on a yearly basis grew by almost 16% from Rs 1.52 lakh crore to Rs 1.76 lakh crore, whilst on a quarterly basis growing marginally by 1.52%. Current account deposits which grew by 12.95% on a yearly basis from Rs 71211 crore to Rs 80439 crore, however declined by almost 11% from March during which Axis Bank current account deposits were reported to be Rs 90114 crore. On June 1, the lender had cut interest rates on savings deposits by 25 basis points after which account with balances of upto Rs 50 lakh receive a lower interest rate of 3.5%, on par with account with balances of above Rs 50 lakh.
Lender HDFC Bank also recorded a 32% increase in savings account deposits on a yearly basis to Rs 3.27 lakh crore, which also grew by 5.50% on a quarterly basis from Rs 3.10 lakh crore in March. Current account deposits, which increased by 22% on a yearly basis to Rs 1.50 lakh crore, however fell by almost 14% as compared to the last quarter of FY20 when the bank had Rs 1.74 lakh crore in deposits. HDFC Bank had on April 15 slashed interest rates on savings account by 25 basis points, following which account with deposits of upto Rs 50 lakh earn an interest rate of 3.25% whilst account with balances above Rs 50 lakh earn an interest of 3.75%.
Notably, ICICI Bank amongst all major private lenders reported declining savings and current account deposits for the first quarter of FY21. The private lender’s savings account deposits on a yearly basis grew by almost 12% to Rs 2.44 lakh crore, but declined marginally by 0.30% on a quarterly basis from Rs 2.45 lakh crore reported at the end of FY20 earlier. Current account deposits which had grown by 19% to Rs 95780 crore on a yearly basis, declined by 6.30% from Rs 1.02 lakh crore reported by the bank in March. ICICI Bank has in the first quarter of the fiscal slashed interest rates twice, first in April during which savings account with balances below Rs 50 lakh received a 25 basis point cut from 3.5% to 3.25%, whilst account with balances higher than Rs 50 lakh received a lower interest of 3.75%. In June, ICICI Bank again cut savings account interest rates by 25 basis points, after which deposits of less than Rs 50 lakh receive 3% interest whilst deposits above Rs 50 lakh fetch 3.50% interest.
Private lender Kotak Mahindra Bank also posted a rise in savings account deposits on both a yearly and quarterly basis. Savings deposits with the bank stood at Rs 1.09 lakh crore as on June 30, growing by almost 35% yearly from Rs 81580 crore reported in June 2019, and by almost 5% from Rs 1.04 lakh crore in March 2020. Current deposits on a yearly basis grew by almost 6% to Rs 38594 crore, however declining by 10.27% from the previous quarter, during which deposits were pegged at Rs 43013 crore. Kotak Mahindra Bank has since April slashed interest rates on savings account thrice, whilst also reducing the number of slabs for different categories of borrowers. Effective April 1, customers with balances above Rs 1 lakh received a 100 basis point cut from 6% to 5%, during which the bank also streamlined its slabs. Earlier, four slabs existed where account with balances of Rs 1 Lakh to Rs 10 Lakh earned an interest of 6%. Balances above Rs 10 Lakhs upto Rs 5 crore earned 5.5% interest; whereas account with balances above Rs 5 crore earned a rate of interest of 5.25%. Currently, Kotak Mahindra Bank only has two slabs which cover balances upto and above Rs 1 lakh, respectively. The lender on April 20 again slashed interest rates, following which customers with balances of above Rs 1 lakh earned 4.5%, a cut of 50 bps whilst customers with balances of upto Rs 1 lakh faced a 25 bps slash and earned 3.75%. In May, interest rates for customers received another 25 basis point cut. Currently, customers with balances of upto Rs 1 lakh receive 3.5% interest on their savings account whilst customers with balances of above Rs 1 lakh receive 4% interest.
Yes Bank in its results emerged as the inverse outlier, reporting a 1.33% decline in savings account deposits but a 27% rise in current account deposits on a quarterly basis. However, savings and current account deposits on a yearly basis declined heavily by 58% and 52% respectively. Yes Bank’s savings account deposits as of June 30 stood at Rs 18316 crore, down from Rs 18564 crore reported in March 2020. The current account deposits on the other hand increased from Rs 9499 crore to Rs 12009 crore in the first quarter of the fiscal. In June 2019, when the lender was under a different management, savings and current account deposits stood at Rs 43300 crore and Rs 24800 crore, gradually declining over previous quarters as reports of mismanagement and misgovernance emerged at the bank.
The lender had on June 1 reduced savings account interest rates by 100 basis points, from 5% to 4%, on account with balances of upto Rs 1 lakh. Customers with balances between Rs 1 lakh and Rs 10 lakh currently earn 5% whilst customers with balances between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 300 crore earn an interest of 6%.
Policy Cuts
The falling interest rates on savings account by private banks were preceded by two repo rate cuts by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. The RBI on March 27 reduced the repo rate from 5.15% to 4.40%, and on May 22 further reduced the repo rate to 4%.
BFSI Exclusive
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1838
|
__label__cc
| 0.64549
| 0.35451
|
Aston Villa Football Club Car Share Scheme
The Aston Villa Football Club Car Share Scheme provides a car sharing information service with the aim of enabling Members to make contact with each other for the purpose of sharing their vehicles thereby reducing the number of single passenger car journeys.
This Agreement applies between Users of this Web Site and the Aston Villa Football Club Car Share Scheme, and Aston Villa Football Club. Your agreement to comply with, and be bound by, this Agreement is deemed to occur upon your first use of the Web Site.
"Aston Villa Football Club"
means Aston Villa Football Club Limited incorporated and registered in England and Wales with company Number 3375789 whose registered office is at Villa Park, Birmingham B6 6HE
"Business Day"
means every day except a Saturday, Sunday or a public holiday.
"Car-Share"
means the practice of two or more people sharing a car from one destination to another.
"Collection Point"
means the place where a driver and a passenger agree to meet at the start of their journey.
"Collection Time"
means the time agreed between a driver and a passenger for collection at the Collection Point.
"Content"
means any text, graphics, images, audio, video, software, data and any other form of information capable of being stored in a computer that appears on, or forms part of, this Web Site.
"Driver"
means a Member of the Scheme who has agreed to drive other Members in a vehicle he or she is lawfully permitted to use.
"Member"
means a registered member of the Scheme.
"Passenger"
means a Member of the Scheme who has agreed to be a passenger in the vehicle of another Member who has agreed to be a Driver.
"Scheme"
means the Aston Villa Football Club Car Share Scheme.
"User"
means a person who visits this Web Site on one or more occasions.
"Web Site"
means http://www.AVFCCarShare.co.uk
"Jambusters Limited"
means the provider of the web-based car sharing facility and information service to "Aston Villa Football Club" via the "web site"
2.1 All Content of this Web Site is the property of Aston Villa Football Club. By continuing to use this Web Site you acknowledge that such material is protected by applicable laws.
2.2 You may not print, reproduce, copy, distribute, store or in any other fashion re-use Content from this Web Site without the express permission of Aston Villa Football Club, except where sub-clause 2.3 below applies.
2.3 Content of this Web Site may be re-used without express permission of Aston Villa Football Club where any of the exceptions detailed in Chapter III of the Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988 apply.
3. Links to Other Web Sites
3.1 This Web Site may contain links to other web sites. Unless expressly stated, these web sites are not under the control of Aston Villa Football Club. We assume no responsibility whatsoever for the content of such web sites and disclaim liability for any and all forms of loss, injury or damage arising out of the use of them. The inclusion of a link to another web site on this Web Site does not imply any endorsement of the web site itself or of those in control of it.
4. Links to this Web Site
4.1 Those wishing to place a link to this Web Site on other web sites may do so only to the home page of this Web Site without prior permission. Deep linking (i.e. links to specific pages within this Web Site) requires the express permission of Aston Villa Football Club.
5.1 Use of this Web Site is also governed by our Privacy Policy which is incorporated into this Agreement by this reference. To view our Privacy Policy, please click on this link Legal and Privacy Policy.
6.1 All personal information will be treated in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation. The only personal details that will be viewed by potential car sharers are forename, gender and where you are travelling to. The Aston Villa Football Club Car Share Scheme Administrator will have access to the personal details that you enter, but these will only be used for anonymous statistical analysis and administration duties. Jambusters Limited will also have access to this information for administration and anonymous statistical analysis purposes, and the data will be treated confidentially. No personal information will be passed on to third parties.
7.1 Aston Villa Football Club make no warranty or representation that this Web Site will:
7.1.1 meet your requirements;
7.1.2 be fit for a particular purpose; or
7.1.3 be compatible with all systems.
7.2 No part of this Web Site is intended to constitute advice and the Content of this Web Site should not be relied upon when making any decisions or taking any action of any kind, including participating in the Aston Villa Football Club Car Share Scheme.
7.3 Aston Villa Football Club gives no guarantee that Members will find a compatible Driver or Passenger and as such our inability to match Members will not be considered reason for compensation.
7.4 Personal security is the responsibility of each individual Member, and Aston Villa Football Club does not accept responsibility for the actions of the Scheme's Members.
7.5 Members are not vetted in anyway or asked to disclose any criminal convictions spent or unspent.
7.6 No warranty is given whatsoever as to the road worthiness or otherwise of any vehicles.
7.7 No warranty is given as to the validity or otherwise of Members' motor insurance policies
7.8 The information contained in this Web Site is not comprehensive and despite every effort, it may not be accurate, up-to-date or applicable to the circumstances of any particular case. Aston Villa Football Club cannot accept any liability for any inaccuracies or omissions (other than for fraudulent misrepresentation) in this Web Site, and any decisions you make based on information contained in this Web Site are your sole responsibility.
8. Availability of this Web Site
8.1 This service is provided "as is" and on an "as available" basis.
8.2 Aston Villa Football Club accepts no liability whatsoever for any disruption or non-availability of the Web Site resulting from external causes including, but not limited to: Internet Service Provider equipment failure; host equipment failure; communications network failure; power failure; fire; flood; violent storm; pestilence; explosion; malicious damage; armed conflict; acts of terrorism; nuclear, biological or chemical warfare; natural events; or any other natural or man-made disaster.
9.1 To the maximum extent permitted by law, Aston Villa Football Club accept no liability whatsoever for any direct or indirect loss, injury (physical or psychological) or damage, foreseeable or otherwise, including any indirect, consequential, special or exemplary damages arising from the use of this Web Site or from participation in the Scheme. Members should be aware that they use this Web Site and participate in the Scheme at their own risk.
10.1 Under this Agreement, Drivers shall:
10.1.1 hold a full, valid United Kingdom driving licence;
10.1.2 hold a valid certificate of insurance for the vehicle concerned;
10.1.3 inform their insurance company, and/or any other individual(s) or corporate body/bodies which may have an interest in the vehicle in question, of their participation in the Scheme, making specific reference to any contribution towards fuel which Drivers are to receive from their Passengers;
10.1.4 hold a valid M.O.T certificate for the vehicle concerned; and
10.1.5 produce the documentation referred to in 10.1.1, 10.1.2 and 10.1.4 to Passengers on request; and
10.1.6 refrain from eating, drinking or smoking whilst in the vehicle concerned
10.2 Under this Agreement, Passengers shall:
10.2.1 refrain from eating, drinking or smoking whilst in the vehicle concerned;
10.2.2 refrain from distracting or otherwise behaving in a way which compromises the Driver's general concentration; and
10.2.3 make a contribution towards fuel costs at a rate agreed between you, making payment on arrival at the agreed destination using the correct change.
10.3 Under this Agreement, all Members shall:
10.3.1 agree a mutually convenient Collection Point and Collection Time;
10.3.2 arrive at the Collection Point at the agreed Collection Time;
10.3.3 inform the Driver or Passenger(s) as the case may be of any delay, providing as much notice as is reasonably possible in all the circumstances;
10.3.4 refrain from telephoning other Members during unsociable hours; and
10.3.5 be at least 18 years of age.
10.4 Membership is at the discretion of Aston Villa Football Club and no reason will be given, or correspondence entered into, if an application for membership is refused or cancelled.
10.5 Members may cancel their membership at anytime.
11. No Waiver
11.1 In the event that any party to these Terms and Conditions fails to exercise any right or remedy contained herein, this shall not be construed as a waiver of that right or remedy in the future.
12.1 All notices and communications shall be given to us by e-mail to contact@avfccarshare.co.uk. Such notice will be deemed received on the day of sending if the e-mail is received in full on a Business Day and on the next Business Day if the e-mail is sent on a weekend or public holiday.
13.1 This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the Law of England and Wales and you agree to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Courts of England and Wales.
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1840
|
__label__wiki
| 0.976289
| 0.976289
|
Composer/arranger Burt Bacharach (born 1928) established himself in the 1960s as one of America's premier pop songwriters. After achieving considerable success with recordings by Dionne Warwick and B.J. Thomas, among many others, he found his style of music out of fashion during the 1970s and 1980s. In the late 1990s, he returned to active composing as a new generation discovered his music.
The sophisticated melodies of Burt Bacharach were among the defining sounds of American popular music in the 1960s and early 1970s. In an era when rock gained ascendancy, his elegant compositions echoed the heyday of the great Broadway and Tin Pan Alley songwriters. In tandem with lyricist Hal David, Bacharach created songs graced with complex rhythms and fresh harmonic patterns that were rich in color and mood. The Bacharach/ David team produced a remarkable body of work for the stage and screen as well as for the record-buying market. The Carpenters, Tom Jones, B.J. Thomas, Dusty Springfield and, most of all, Dionne Warwick were among the artists who popularized Bacharach's songs. The start of the 21st century found him increasingly productive, working with new collaborators and releasing retrospectives of his best work.
Burt Bacharach was born in Kansas City, Missouri, on May 12, 1928. His father, Bert Bacharach, was a syndicated columnist and men's fashion journalist. His mother, Irma, was an amateur singer and pianist who encouraged her son to study music. Moving with his family to Forest Hills, New York, Bacharach studied cello, drums and piano as a child. His first strong interest was in sports. However, by the time he reached high school his piano playing abilities began to make him popular at school functions and local dances. Beyond his classical training, Bacharach found inspiration by sneaking into Manhattan jazz clubs and absorbing the sounds of such bebop innovators as Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie. After high school, he studied music at McGill University in Montreal and at New York's Mannes School of Music. It was at the latter school that he came under the influence of composer Darius Milhaud, who encouraged his young student to develop his melodic talents.
During a stint in the armed services from 1950 through 1952, Bacharach was kept busy performing at army bases as part of a dance band. Back in civilian life, he became a New York nightclub pianist and arranger, working with such singers as Vic Damone, Steve Lawrence and the Ames Brothers. In 1953, he married vocalist Paula Stewart and began to find work in Las Vegas. His horizons broadened further when he signed on as actress/singer Marlene Dietrich's musical director in 1958. Bacharach began to become more serious about songwriting during this time. Exposure to the music of Brazilian bossa nova composers Antonio Carlos Jobim and Dori Caymmi helped him develop his style further.
First Recordings
Bachrach's first hit recordings included Marty Robbins' "The Story of My Life" (1957) and Perry Como's "Magic Moments" (1958). Undoubtedly his oddest early tune was "The Blob" (1958), the novelty theme song from the horror film of the same title. His songwriting partnership with lyricist Hal David was beginning to solidify, paving the way for the exceptional songs that would come out of them a few years later. David and Bacharach worked together in New York's legendary Brill Building, a haven for hardworking songwriters. Increasingly, Bacharach was taking chances with his music. Some of his more unusual melodic and harmonic ideas met resistance from record companies. "All those so-called abnormalities seemed perfectly normal to me," he commented in the liner notes to The Look of Love: The Burt Bacharach Collection, a CD retrospective released by Rhino Records in 1998. "In the beginning, the A and R [Artist and Repertoire] guys, who were like first lieutenants, would say, 'You can't dance to it' or 'That bar of three needs to be changed to a bar of four,' and because I wanted to get the stuff recorded, I listened and ended up ruining some good songs. I've always believed if it's a good tune people will find a way to move to it." His unorthodox but appealing work began to reach a wider audience with such tunes as "Baby It's You" (recorded by the Shirelles and, later, by the Beatles) and "(The Man Who Shot) Liberty Valance" (a 1962 hit for Gene Pitney).
The elements that would define the Bacharach sound began to fall into place in the early 1960s. "Make It Easy On Yourself," released as a single by pop/rhythm and blues singer Jerry Butler in 1962, displayed the melodic grandeur and bittersweet lyric sentiments that would become the hallmarks of later hits. An even more significant release that same year was "Don't Make Me Over," the first Bachrach/ David song recorded by Dionne Warwick. Her delicate phrasing and ability to convey both strength and vulnerability made her the ideal interpreter of the duo's songs. Warwick was able to handle the intricacies of Bacharach's demanding music with ease. The result was a series of enduring hit singles, among them "Anyone Who Had A Heart" (1963), "Walk On By" (1964), "I Say A Little Prayer" (1967) and "Do You Know The Way To San Jose" (1968). Bacharach arranged and co-produced his hits with Warwick, surrounding her voice with elegant strings, muted trumpets, tastefully-used background singers and other touches that became his trademarks.
Numerous other artists in both America and Britain found success with Bacharach/David songs, including Jackie DeShannon ("What the World Needs Now is Love"), Dusty Springfield ("Wishin' and Hopin"'), Herb Alpert ("This Guy's in Love With You"), and Sandie Shaw ("(There's) Always Something There to Remind Me"). Such films as What's New, Pussycat? Alfie, and Casino Royale featured the duo's material on their soundtracks. Bacharach and David made yet another leap when they wrote the score for the 1969 stage musical Promises, Promises, which enjoyed a long Broadway run and earned both a Tony and a Grammy Award.
In an era when songwriter/performers became the norm, Bacharach remained largely behind the scenes. His limited singing abilities were not seen as the best vehicles for his music. That being said, he did release a series of albums on his own, among them 1965's Hit Maker and 1967's Reach Out. These and subsequent efforts emphasized his arranging abilities as much or more than his vocal talents. The 1970s began on a high note for Bacharach when his score for the film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid won an Academy Award, with the Bacharach/David song "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" chosen as best theme song as well. The success of "One Less Bell to Answer" by the 5th Dimension" and "(They Long to Be) Close to You" by the Carpenters (both 1970) continued the songwriting team's winning streak into the new decade.
Collaboration with David Ended
Unfortunately, the chemistry between Bacharach and David began to sour after their music for the 1973 film Lost Horizon proved to be a critical and commercial failure. The songwriters sued each other over a publishing dispute and their years of collaboration ended. Bacharach's career went into decline and he was largely absent from the record charts for the remainder of the 1970s. He remained a familiar enough figure to appear in television advertisements for Martini and Rossi vermouth with his then wife, actress Angie Dickinson.
It wasn't until the early 1980s that Bacharach began to emerge from his career doldrums. A working relationship with lyricist Carole Bayer Sager led to the pair's marriage in 1982. Among the Bacharach/Sager songs of note from this period was "Arthur's Theme (The Best that You Can Do)," recorded by Christopher Cross for the 1981 film Arthur. Another tune of theirs, "That's What Friends Are For," was released as an AIDS research benefit recording in 1986 and featured vocals by Dionne Warwick and Elton John, among others. The song became a hit and led to further recordings with Warwick in the early 1990s.
Revival in 1990s
Remarkably, a Bacharach revival began in the mid-1990s, when a younger generation discovered the so-called "easy listening" music of the 1960s. Such notable young rock acts as Oasis and Stereolab began to perform Bacharach songs, reworking his classic melodies in a modern context. The composer was the subject of a British television documentary and his recordings were reissued in several CD anthologies. British singer/songwriter Elvis Costello, a long-time fan, collaborated with Bacharach on a song for the 1996 film Grace of My Heart, which led to an album's worth of songs together, Painted From Memory two years later. Bacharach and Costello went on a concert tour in 1998 as well. Enjoying his renewed celebrity, Bacharach shared the stage with Oasis at a 1996 London concert and made a cameo appearance in the 1997 film comedy Austin Powers.
Bacharach continued to remain active into the new century, performing occasional shows with symphony orchestras and working on stage musicals. In May 2001, he accepted the Royal Academy of Music award, presented by King Carl Gustav XVI in Stockholm. Such recognition confirmed Bacharach's stature as one of popular music's most distinctive and enduring songwriting talents.
Contemporary Musicians, Gale, 1997.
Gammon, Peter. Oxford Companion to Popular Music, Oxford University Press, 1991.
Stambler, Irwin, Encyclopedia of Pop, Rock and Soul, St. Martin's Press, 1977.
"Burt Bacharach Biography," Rolling Stone. com, http:www.rollingstone.com (November 15, 2001).
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1842
|
__label__cc
| 0.681174
| 0.318826
|
Doctor Who is a long running British science-fiction television series. It is the parent show of bisexual sci-fi Torchwood.
Bisexual content[]
Doctor Who introduced the omnisexual/bisexual Captain Jack Harkness as a recurring character in 2005. Jack later became the star of Torchwood. In Jack's home era, the 51st century, people are generally very open about sexual orientation, as dating alien species is not uncommon ("The Doctor Dances"). Presumably River Song ("Silence in the Library") is also omnisexual, as we know she has at least dated robots.
Mickey Smith meets himself from a parallel universe. The alternate Mickey (Ricky) is in a relationship with a man, although Mickey himself is heterosexual identified.
The show's protagonist, The Doctor has generally asexual attitudes towards his friends, though he has been kissed by both women and men ("Parting of the Ways"). There is also some speculation within fandom as to the nature of his relationship with adversary, The Master. In "The Time of the Doctor", the Doctor himself mentions creating an android boyfriend.
William Shakespeare appears in "The Shakespeare Code". He flirts with both Martha Jones, and The Doctor. The Doctor comments on Shakespeare's bisexuality, referencing the theory that some of Shakespeare's poems convey his bisexuality.
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1844
|
__label__cc
| 0.726108
| 0.273892
|
Hopscotch (book and film)
Hopscotch is an intelligent spy thriller, published in 1975, which won author Brian Garfield the Edgar Award for Best Novel from the Mystery Writer’s of America.
Description at MysteriousPress.com:
Bored with retirement, an ex-spy challenges his old agency to a game
Miles Kendig is one of the CIA’s top deep-cover agents, until an injury ruins him for active duty. Rather than take a desk job, he retires. But the tawdry thrills of civilian life—gambling, drinking, sex—offer none of the pleasures of the intelligence game. Even a Russian agent’s offer to go to work against his old employers seems dull. Without the thrill of unpredictable conflict, Kendig skulks through Paris like the walking dead.
To revive himself, he begins writing a tell-all memoir, divulging every secret he accumulated in his long career. Neither CIA nor KGB can afford to have it in print, and so he challenges them both: Until they catch him, a chapter will go to the publisher every week. Kendig’s life is fun again, with survival on the line.
Kendig sends the first chapter of his book to various publishers in many countries. Soon the hunt begins to find Miles Kendig and terminate him. Although most of the agents involved in the hunt are depicted as ruthless, self-serving, and unimaginative, there are some great characters in this book. The agent heading the hunt for Kendig is Cutter; Kendig was his mentor. He does not question the need to silence Kendig, but he does have a sympathetic role. Cutter brings in a younger agent (Leonard Ross) as his assistant in the chase; Ross learns a lot in the course of the book and has some scruples.
The book begins with these two quotes:
hopscotch, n. A children's game in which a player moves a small object into one compartment of a rectangular diagram chalked on the pavement, then hops on one foot from compartment to compartment without touching a chalk line, and picks up the object while standing on one foot in an adjacent compartment.
scotch (2), v.t. to crush or stamp out, as something dangerous; to injure so as to render harmless.
I saw the film first and that was what inspired me to read the book. I did not do much research about the book before reading it, so I was surprised to find that the book was very dark. Kendig is very serious about his self-imposed mission. He is angry and outraged at the CIA's behavior.
I love this two-part cover but there isn't really much gunplay (if any) in the book. The story is more a cat-and-mouse game in an espionage setting.
Kendig reviews what he has written so far.
The book was a brusque account of facts assembled in chains. It struck him now for the first time that what he was writing was essentially a moral outcry and that impressed him as a curious thing because he hadn’t had that in mind. Yet it was unquestionably an outraged narrative despite its matter-of-fact tone. When he made this discovery it caused him to realize that he must add something to the book that he had not intended including: there had to be a memoir, a self-history (however brief) to establish his bona-fides -- not his credentials or sources but his motives.
The book had become more than a gambit; it had been born of him and now claimed its own existence. In no way did that negate the game itself; but he saw that in order to maintain the illusion of freedom he had to complete the book not as a means but as an end. Otherwise it was only a sham -- toy money, counters on a game board. It had earned for itself the right to be much more than that; and if he failed in this new responsibility it made the game meaningless.
There is a side trip to Birmingham, Alabama, which was fun for me. I had left Alabama only a couple of years before the book was published.
But he'd need certain things when he began his run and they weren't obtainable in the backwoods. The nearest cities were Atlanta and Birmingham and he decided on Birmingham because he knew its workings.
It was September seventeenth, a Tuesday. The drive took nearly seven hours. At two in the afternoon he saw the industrial smudge on the sky and at half-past three he was parking the car against the curb on a hill as steep as anything in San Francisco. He spent the next hour buying articles of clothing, luggage, cosmetics, automobile spray-paint, a leather-workers sewing awl and a few other items. The city was acrid with coal fumes from the great steel furnaces. Its faces were predominantly black.
This is one of those books (and films) that I just want to gush about. I loved both but they were very different. The book has a dark and cynical tone; the film is a comic thriller. I thought both worked equally well. When I was reading the book, I thought the book was better; when I was watching the film, I preferred that version.
The film is much lighter in tone, even including added romance that fits into the story perfectly because of the change in tone. Walter Matthau is perfect as Miles Kendig. Glenda Jackson has a wonderful role as a former agent that Kendig had worked with and been quite fond of. That character did not exist in the book. There are other minor changes from book to film, but the essence of the book and the plot are there. It is just that the tone is very different. Cutter is played by Sam Waterston and his CIA boss by Ned Beatty. Bryan Garfield was one of the screenwriters for the film and was involved in filming.
There is a 21-minute introduction to the film included on the Criterion Collection disc that we have. It features Brian Garfield and the director, Ronald Neame, talking about the development and shooting of the film. The music in the film is very nice. Neame mentions that Mozart is a favorite of Matthau's; he suggested a piece for one of the scenes. Their stories of the making of the film are very interesting.
There is much more to read about the book and the film in this review of the book at Col's Criminal Library, and this review of the film at In So Many Words. Both of these posts have much more detail on what is so special about the book and the film.
Publisher: Fawcett Crest, 1976 (first published 1975)
Setting: USA, UK, France
Genre: Espionage Fiction
Source: I purchased my copy.
Labels: Book Reviews, Brian Garfield, Espionage Thrillers, Film review, Hopscotch (film)
Tracy, cheers for linking and the mention - so glad you enjoyed this one. It might be time for me to read some more by the author. I'm still on the look-out for a copy of the film.
I think I saw this a long time ago. Pretty sure I haven't read the book, I like the sound of that weird and complex setup.
Glad you enjoyed both book and film, Tracy, even though they are different. I do like an intelligent thriller that doesn't depend on gunplay to add suspense and move the plot forward.
Col, I want to read more by this author also. I will hope to find something at the book sale, and if not, I will do more research on some of his books.
As you can tell, Moira, I loved it. It exceeded my expectations. And the author is an entertaining person. In addition to the intro to the film, I read several interviews about his writing and his experiences with having his books adapted to movies.
As in any thriller, Margot, sometimes this does challenge one's disbelief, but since the book was 1975 and the film 1980, it was easier to both elude others and also to set up false clues to his whereabouts than it would be now. There is a great scene where he is using a typewriter for his writing.
Great stuff Tracy - I've only ever seen the film (which I like a lot) so am now very curious to read the book - thanks chum.
It's hard to believe that Brian Garfield, who was a very popular writer, has fallen into obscurity. I read HOPSCOTCH when it was published and saw the movie version when it was released. Fine works!
I think you would like it, Sergio, and I would be interested to hear what you think about it.
I agree George, I don't understand it either. I intend to try more of his books.
I was delighted to read this! I am a big fan of the movie, and wrote about it a while ago on my blog: http://lettersfromahillfarm.blogspot.com/2015/04/hopscotch.html
How did I miss your post on Hopscotch, Nan? (I have been getting email alerts of all your posts for several months, probably for that very reason.)
You mentioned Savannah (well the outskirts I suppose) as a location, and I meant to do that too. I would love to see the Savannah area, but not in the stars. Just a wonderful movie, with all the locations, and shot on location. It is a feel good movie, and the book is too, just in a more serious way.
I will look into the book, though I think the romance and humor are the main treats of the movie for me!
That romance is pretty good, Nan, and there is no romance in the book. Maybe not the best book for you, but still very good.
I'll have to find what book of Garfield's I already own. This sounds great.
I am going to be on the lookout for more of Garfield's novels, Keishon. I am definitely going to find Death Wish.
The Kindle edition of Romanov Succession (historical fiction, World War II, I think) is only $1.99 today at Amazon. I considered it, I think I would like it, but it is too long for me to enjoy in e-book format and I think I can find an old edition.
I've only seen the film. Loved it. Saw it years ago, but when Yvette wrote about in at her blog In So Many Words, I realized that I had to see it again. So I did so a few years ago and laughed myself silly. Loaned it to neighbors and they loved it, too.
May have to watch this film every few years. It's just one of those classics.
After watching that, I then found another movie with Walter Matthau and Glenda Jackson, and then more with either of them. Wonderful, but Hopscotch is best.
Was House Calls the other film? I haven't seen that but I will have to find it. Films are like books in our house, we have too many unwatched and will never catch up.
R.eaders I.mbibing P.eril X
Don't Lose Her: Jonathon King
Charity: Len Deighton
Shotgun Saturday Night: Bill Crider
Motor City Blue: Loren D. Estleman
Under the Dome: Stephen King
Reading in July and Crime Fiction Pick of the Month
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1845
|
__label__cc
| 0.693422
| 0.306578
|
Justice Assistance Data Survey
1971-79, 1985, 1988, 1990, 1997, 2006 and 2010
Latest Data Available
Data Experts
Alexia Coooper, Ph.D., BJS Statistician
Collection Period
1971-79, 1985, 1988, 1990, 1997, 2006, 2010
This direct survey of governments collects detailed justice expenditure data. These data are the basis for calculating variable pass-through estimates needed to distribute the formula funds of the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (Byrne JAG) Program administered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance. Less detailed annual expenditure and employment data are available in the Justice Expenditure and Employment Extracts series, which produces similar but not statistically comparable data. Comparability issues are described in appendix 2 of the 1992 Justice Expenditure and Employment Extracts report and in a text file provided with the zip archive for the 1993-99 and trends spreadsheets. Prior to 1997, this survey was called the Justice Expenditure and Employment Survey. It collected detailed employment data in addition to expenditure data.
In conjunction with the Justice Expenditure and Employment Statistics Program, BJS estimates the variable pass-through (VPT) data distributions by conducting the Justice Assistance Data Survey (JADS) periodically, most recently in 1997 and 2006. The VPT data are used in the Edward Byrne Memorial State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance Programs authorized by the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988, as amended (Public Law 90-351) and sponsored by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. The Byrne program helps tribal, state and local law enforcement and justice agencies to control and prevent violent and drug-related crimes. The Byrne program includes a discretionary grant program and a block grant program.
According to Public Law 90-351, the formula for distributing block grant funds to the states is based on each state's percentage of the total U.S. population; the VPT data indicate how funds are to be distributed to state agencies compared to the localities within each state. The JADS collects detailed data for three justice functions (police protection, judicial and legal services, and corrections) and for three character and object classes (current operations, capital outlay, and intergovernmental expenditure).
Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program, 2013
Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program
State Corrections Expenditures - Direct
Justice Variable Passthrough Data, 1997
Codebooks and Datasets
Date Created: May 26, 2009
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1846
|
__label__wiki
| 0.717305
| 0.717305
|
Mentors and Fellows
Introducing PEOPLE POWER
KATE BRUMAGE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Since 2011, Kate Brumage has served as the first Executive Director of San Francisco-based Butler Koshland Fellowships. Having been a Butler Koshland Fellow herself, Kate’s commitment to the program runs deep.
Following Kate’s 2006 Fellowship, with Malcolm Margolin at Berkeley’s Heyday Books, she was hired on as Heyday’s Director of Publishing Partnerships. In that role, she worked closely with Heyday’s Board of Directors on marketing and development, and served as managing editor for the Yosemite imprint, a joint project of the National Park Service and the Yosemite Conservancy. She brought a fresh perspective to park publishing, creating a best-selling line of multicultural children’s books with an editorial mission: to show women and girls being active in the outdoors, and to represent the great ethnic diversity in our connection to national parklands. She is the author of two children’s books on Yosemite—Baby Yosemite and Super Silly Yosemite—and a children’s activity book created in partnership with the Juan Bautista de Anza Trail National Park, Many Worlds: Indian Life Along the Anza Trail. Some of Kate’s passion projects at Heyday included developing the properties that became A California Bestiary (written by Rebecca Solnit and illustrated by Mona Caron) and the boundary-breaking civic geography/art book All the Saints of the City of Angels, by J. Michael Walker, which expanded into a featured exhibition at the Autry Museum of the American West.
Kate has a vocation for creating opportunities for leadership development. With BKF, she is dedicated to building an ethnically and economically diverse, intergenerational, and cross-sector leadership community. It is her conviction that a broad alliance of leaders working across traditional boundaries is best equipped to realize positive social change.
Outside of her work with BKF, Kate places an emphasis on volunteering. She has served on the Young Professionals Board of buildOn, mobilizing urban American teens to do community service; as a career coach for Summer Search, providing leadership development to low-income Bay Area high school and college students; on the Fundraising Advisory Committee for Groundwork Opportunities, supporting emerging leaders in the developing world as they launch community-based poverty solutions; and as a member of the San Francisco Fire Department’s Neighborhood Emergency Response Team.
Kate attended Seattle Community College where she participated in a trade program for Offset Lithography and earned an AA degree while proudly working in the restaurant industry to support her studies. She pursued further education at the University of Washington, graduating Phi Beta Kappa with an honors degree in English Literature, before earning an MA in the Humanities from the University of Chicago. Both her undergraduate and graduate work concerned critical race theory and gender studies, with a focus on literary representations of racist, sexist, and homophobic pseudo-scientific theories of evolution. Her literary studies embedded in her a profound respect for the power of representation, and drives her to create opportunities for people to speak their own truths.
LILLIAN FLEER, PROGRAM ASSISTANT
As the Program Assistant at Butler Koshland Fellowships, Lillian supports the Executive Director in the areas of development and communications. Previously, she was the Education and Outreach Director at Heyday, a nonprofit publisher, making sure books were not just published, but read, discussed, and debated. In that role, she coordinated hundreds of events per year, including the annual fundraising event, and served as Heyday’s representative at conferences around the state. She also served as the Editorial Assistant for News from Native California, Heyday’s quarterly magazine devoted to the cultures of California’s Indian peoples.
While at Macalester College where she graduated with honors in Linguistics and Anthropology, Lillian had the privilege of working with local Hmong and Somali immigrant communities, which sparked a life-long passion for working on projects that bring underrepresented voices to a broader audience. She is excited to be a part of Butler Koshland Fellowships and enthusiastically supports its mission to build a dynamic group of leaders from a variety of backgrounds.
Lillian loves exercising her left brain by applying her technology skills to support social justice causes. She recently completed a course with MotherCoders, a training program for moms who want to expand their understanding of the technology landscape and learn basic coding. She has also completed coursework at CCSF’s GIS Education Center. You’ll often find her geeking out in Salesforce and dreaming of the perfect nonprofit database.
A proud rural Vermonter, Lillian spends her free time outside in the woods, on the mountains, and at the beach with her wife and son.
Copyright © 2022 Butler Koshland Fellowships.
Butler Koshland Fellowships is a fiscally sponsored project of Community Initiatives.
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1847
|
__label__wiki
| 0.850957
| 0.850957
|
HALESTORM Has Begun Recording New Album
HALESTORM frontwoman Lzzy Hale spoke to "The MetalSucks Podcast" about the progress of the songwriting sessions for the band's follow-up to 2018's "Vicious" album. She said (hear audio below): "We started demoing for this record in the middle of our last record cycle, when we were still on tour. I was in our practice room every day on tour, with my amps and everything, I would just force myself to write something every day. So, when we finally got to the point where we were, like, 'Okay, let's see what we've got,' we all sit down and [go], 'That one beats that one.' It's very much like having this thousand-piece puzzle, and you dump it all out. And you're, like, 'Okay, I know it all goes together' [laughs], 'but I don't know what the picture it yet.'
"So we've been piecing stuff together," she continued. "We actually just — this week — ended up doing this socially distant version of getting into the studio with our producer. So we've actually begun recording. And so that's exciting. It was a much-needed change of routine. We're pulling in about 14-hour days. [Laughs] We go in and we're, like, 'All right. It's almost 11 o'clock. We probably should go home and get some sleep, so we can come and do it all over again.'
"So, yeah, it's exciting," Lzzy repeated. "We're working on a new record. I love this new material, and I'm super excited to get to the other side, whenever that may be."
This past September, Lzzy confirmed to U.K.'s Rock Sound that she has been using her coronavirus downtime to compose material for the new HALESTORM LP. "I've been writing, honestly, some of the best songs I've ever written, because I've just had the time, and there isn't any deadline and nobody's breathing down my neck, saying, 'Hey, where are those demos?'," she said.
"I haven't been home without a gig for this long in probably over 15 years, so that's a strange thing. I think in one way, I have the time, but in another way, I'm seeking that high out, I'm seeking that joy that I find from playing out live every night. I'm not writing for any other reason — I'm not writing for a deadline, I'm not writing for a record, even though technically I am; we are technically working on a new HALESTORM record. But I'm writing from such a position of joy right now, literally just getting excited about some small piece of music. And I'm taking more risks now, because I have the space and the time and I've settled into something. And I'm not even quite sure what that is, and I feel like it's gonna reveal itself maybe later, but right now, I'm in it, and it's exciting."
"Halestorm Reimagined", a collection of reworked HALESTORM original songs as well as a cover of "I Will Always Love You", the love ballad made famous by Whitney Houston and Dolly Parton, was made available in August.
Lzzy and her brother Arejay (drums) formed the band in 1998 while in middle school. Guitarist Joe Hottinger joined the group in 2003, followed by bassist Josh Smith in 2004.
In December 2018, HALESTORM was nominated for a "Best Rock Performance" Grammy Award for its song "Uncomfortable".
In 2012, the band won its first Grammy in the category of "Best Hard Rock/ Metal Performance" for "Love Bites (So Do I)". According to the Grammy web site, Lzzy became the first woman to earn a Grammy in the category.
Tags: halestorm
ICED EARTH's JON SCHAFFER Shares First Instagram Post In A Year
MAX CAVALERA Says He Harbors No Bitterness Toward Current SEPULTURA Lineup: 'I Really Don't Care'
MICHAEL POULSEN Says BLACK SABBATH Influence On New VOLBEAT Album Is 'Obvious'
Watch SEBASTIAN BACH Perform SKID ROW's 'Slave To The Grind' Album In Los Angeles
CANDLEBOX Announces Spring 2022 Acoustic Tour
10 Babymetal Budokan
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1848
|
__label__cc
| 0.664205
| 0.335795
|
avatar 2 Archives
8 Behind-the-Scenes Images and an Official Synopsis from Avatar 2
Avatar 2 and 578437589 sequels might be one of the most infamous productions to be hanging in out in development hell We have been waiting for these movies so long that people are wondering if there is any desire for them to get released in the first place The biggest topic of conversation that tends[...]
Avatar 2: Kate Winslet – Working With James Cameron Again Was Amazing
In a year of insanity, the idea that we might actually get Avatar 2 someday might be the most insane thing We've seen some concept art, and it is, of course, gorgeous For all of the many faults of Avatar, the movie is still stunningly beautiful, and there is no doubt that any of these[...]
Avatar 2: Sigourney Weaver Talks Intense Physical Underwater Prep
Joining Cameron to write Avatar 2 is Josh Friedman and is expected to release on December 16, 2022, for 20th Century Studios The third film will arrive in 2024. Sigourney Weaver has had a long-running working relationship with director James Cameron since Aliens (1986) She has since returned for his Avatar films, starting with the[...]
Avatar 2 Plot Details Shared By Producer Jon Landau
Avatar 2 is going back into production in the next few days The sequel to the second-biggest film of all-time has been in production for what seems like an eternity, along with at least two more sequels to follow Director James Cameron has done a good job keeping details about what to expect from our[...]
"Avatar 2": 4 New Pieces of Concept Art Show Off the Beautiful Visuals
#VISIONAVTR pic.twitter.com/57ewIeQUla — Avatar (@officialavatar) January 7, 2020 We might as well give him bonus points for earnestness at this point. Avatar 2, directed by James Cameron, stars Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Stephen Lang, Giovanni Ribisi, Joel David Moore, Dileep Rao, CCH Pounder, Matt Gerald Sigourney Weaver, Kate Winslet, Cliff Curtis, Edie Falco, Brendan Cowell, Michelle Yeoh, Jemaine Clement,[...]
Edward Norton Talks Opting For "Alita: Battle Angel" Over "Avatar"
Norton tells the publication, I am friends with Jim [Cameron], and actually enormously admire and kind of adore him… So when he wanted me to do something in Avatar 2, I basically told him, 'If I'm not a Na'vi, I'm not doing it I'm not being part of the industrial world, coming in to destroy Pandora[...]
Vin Diesel Joins James Cameron in 'Avatar 2', Possibly 3-5
There's been one person in Hollywood that I've wanted to work with and learn from, and all things come to be, I guess." "You will learn, grasshopper," Cameron says. "I am learning now," Diesel growls in character, possibly a tease of who he'll be playing? You can see the full vid here: View this post on Instagram And the journey[...]
James Cameron Talks Jake and Neytiri's Family in Avatar 2
He had to go to some dark places." There have been some reports that the back-to-back shoots of Avatar 2 and Avatar 3 were not wrapped entirely turned out to be true Cameron explained how the process worked for shooting a movie with so much performance capture animation. "[Performance-capture] is the vast majority of the characters, and[...]
James Cameron Says 'Avatar' Sequels are "More Realistic" Than 'Aquaman'
We're doing a lot of underwater in the Avatar sequels and it's going to have such a different feel." Oddly enough, EW had previously asked James Wan about possible feelings of compeition between Aquaman and Avatar 2: "If anything, I think [what Cameron is doing is] amazing Rule No 1 is don't ever compete with James Cameron[...]
James Cameron Addresses Those Rumored Avatar Sequel Titles
We'll have to see if all of those titles or just some of them end up panning out in the end. Avatar 2, directed by James Cameron, stars Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Stephen Lang, Giovanni Ribisi, Joel David Moore, Dileep Rao, CCH Pounder, and Matt Gerald It will be released on December 18th, 2020 Avatar 3[...]
James Cameron Provides an Update to CineEurope on the Avatar Sequels
We must continue to make movies to be seen out of the home." And to the exhibitors in the audience, she said, "Thank you for being by our side for 80 years." Avatar 2 will be released on December 18th, 2020 Avatar 3 will open December 17th, 2021, Avatar 4 is set of December 20th, 2024,[...]
Zoe Saldana Talks Avatar Sequels and James Cameron's Superhero Fatigue Comments
I know that all the Marvel producers did because they read it. Funny, pretty sure we suggested the exact same approach. In anycase, we're looking forward to seeing what Zoe Saldana does next. (Reminder- she really wants to be in Denis Villenueve's Dune reboot.) Avengers: Infinity War is in theaters right now, and Avatar 2 currently has a December 18, 2020[...]
Apple Developing Isaac Asimov Foundation Trilogy Series from David S. Goyer, Josh Friedman
Goyer (The Dark Knight) and Josh Friedman (Avatar 2) developed the project, which has been put into development for straight-to-series consideration In their exclusive reporting, Deadline Hollywood also states that Goyer & Friedman will serve as showrunners and will executive produce alongside Skydance's David Ellison, Dana Goldberg and Marcy Ross. Originally published as a short story series[...]
James Cameron Says He Can't Afford to "Screw up" with the Avatar Sequels
I've worked very hard to cast this, to find some new, young actors coming up that have incredible heart and that are just amazing." Avatar 2 will be released on December 18th, 2020 Avatar 3 will open December 17th, 2021, Avatar 4 is set of December 20th, 2024, and Avatar 5 will open December 19th, 2025. [...]
First Look At The Young Cast Of The Infinite 'Avatar' Sequels
That's genius! — Starwolf Oakley (@starwolf_oakley) September 27, 2017 Time to settle in for the long haul, folks. Avatar 2 will be released on December 18th, 2020 Avatar 3 will open December 17th, 2021, Avatar 4 is set of December 20th, 2024, and Avatar 5 will open December 19th, 2025. The James Cameron Avatar movies are happening one way[...]
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1850
|
__label__cc
| 0.547813
| 0.452187
|
Everything is Editorial: Why Algorithms are Hand-Made, Human, and Not Just for Search Anymore
information retrieval, search 3 Responses »
Artisanal Algorithms
Down here in Durham, NC, we have artisanal everything: bread, cheese, pizza, peanut butter, and of course coffee, coffee, and more coffee. It’s great—fantastic food and coffee, that is, and there is no doubt some psychological kick from knowing that it’s been made carefully by skilled craftspeople for my enjoyment. The old ways are better, at least until they’re co-opted by major multinational corporations.
Artisanal Cheese. Source: Wikimedia Commons
Aside from making you either hungry or jealous, or perhaps both, why am I talking about fancy foodstuffs on a blog about legal information? It’s because I’d like to argue that algorithms are not computerized, unknowable, mysterious things—they are produced by people, often painstakingly, with a great deal of care. Food metaphors abound, helpfully I think. Algorithms are the “special sauce” of many online research services. They are sets of instructions to be followed and completed, leading to a final product, just like a recipe. Above all, they are the stuff of life for the research systems of the near future.
Human Mediation Never Went Away
When we talk about algorithms in the research community, we are generally talking about search or information retrieval (IR) algorithms. A recent and fascinating VoxPopuLII post by Qiang Lu and Jack Conrad, “Next Generation Legal Search – It’s Already Here,” discusses how these algorithms have become more complicated by considering factors beyond document-based, topical relevance. But I’d like to step back for a moment and head into the past for a bit to talk about the beginnings of search, and the framework that we have viewed it within for the past half-century.
Many early information-retrieval systems worked like this: a researcher would come to you, the information professional, with an information need, that vague and negotiable idea which you would try to reduce to a single question or set of questions. With your understanding of Boolean search techniques and your knowledge of how the document corpus you were searching was indexed, you would then craft a search for the computer to run. Several hours later, when the search was finished, you would be presented with a list of results, sometimes ranked in order of relevance and limited in size because of a lack of computing power. Presumably you would then share these results with the researcher, or perhaps just turn over the relevant documents and send him on his way. In the academic literature, this was called “delegated search,” and it formed the background for the most influential information retrieval studies and research projects for many years—the Cranfield Experiments. See also “On the History of Evaluation in IR” by Stephen Robertson (2008).
In this system, literally everything—the document corpus, the index, the query, and the results—were mediated. There was a medium, a middle-man. The dream was to some day dis-intermediate, which does not mean to exhume the body of the dead news industry. (I feel entitled to this terrible joke as a former journalist… please forgive me.) When the World Wide Web and its ever-expanding document corpus came on the scene, many thought that search engines—huge algorithms, basically—would remove any barrier between the searcher and the information she sought. This is “end-user” search, and as algorithms improved, so too would the system, without requiring the searcher to possess any special skills. The searcher would plug a query, any query, into the search box, and the algorithm would present a ranked list of results, high on both recall and precision. Now, the lack of human attention, evidenced by the fact that few people ever look below result 3 on the list, became the limiting factor, instead of the lack of computing power.
A search for delegated search
The only problem with this is that search engines did not remove the middle-man—they became the middle-man. Why? Because everything, whether we like it or not, is editorial, especially in reference or information retrieval. Everything, every decision, every step in the algorithm, everything everywhere, involves choice. Search engines, then, are never neutral. They embody the priorities of the people who created them and, as search logs are analyzed and incorporated, of the people who use them. It is in these senses that algorithms are inherently human.
Empowering the Searcher by Failing Consistently
In the context of legal research, then, it makes sense to consider algorithms as secondary sources. Law librarians and legal research instructors can explain the advantages of controlled vocabularies like the Topic and Key Number System®, of annotated statutes, and of citators. In several legal research textbooks, full-text keyword searching is anathema because, I suppose, no one knows what happens directly after you type the words into the box and click search. It seems frightening. We are leaping without looking, trusting our searches to some kind of computer voodoo magic.
This makes sense—search algorithms are often highly guarded secrets, even if what they select for (timeliness, popularity, and dwell time, to name a few) is made known. They are opaque. They apparently do not behave reliably, at least in some cases. But can’t the same be said for non-algorithmic information tools, too? Do we really know which types of factors figure in to the highly vaunted editorial judgment of professionals?
To take the examples listed above—yes, we know what the Topics and Key Numbers are, but do we really know them well enough to explain why the work the way they do, what biases are baked-in from over a century of growth and change? Without greater transparency, I can’t tell you.
How about annotated statutes: who knows how many of the cases cited on online platforms are holdovers from the soon-to-be print publications of yesteryear? In selecting those cases, surely the editors had to choose to omit some, or perhaps many, because of space constraints. How, then, did the editors determine which cases were most on-point in interpreting a given statutory section, that is, which were most relevant? What algorithms are being used today to rank the list of annotations? Again, without greater transparency, I can’t tell you.
And when it comes to citators, why is there so much discrepancy between a case’s classification and which later-citing cases are presented as evidence of this classification? There have been several recent studies, like this one and this one, looking into the issue, but more research is certainly needed.
Finally, research in many fields is telling us that human judgments of relevance are highly subjective in the first place. At least one court has said that algorithmic predictive coding is better at finding relevant documents during pretrial e-discovery than humans are.
Where are the relevant documents? Source: CC BY 2.0, flickr user gosheshe
I am not presenting these examples to discredit subjectivity in the creation of information tools. What I am saying is that the dichotomy between editorial and algorithmic, between human and machine, is largely a false one. Both are subjective. But why is this important?
Search algorithms, when they are made transparent to researchers, librarians, and software developers (i.e. they are “open source”), do have at least one distinct advantage over other forms of secondary sources—when they fail, they fail consistently. After the fact or even in close to real-time, it’s possible to re-program the algorithm when it is not behaving as expected.
Another advantage to thinking of algorithms as just another secondary source is that, demystified, they can become a less privileged (or, depending on your point of view, less demonized) part of the research process. The assumption that the magic box will do all of the work for you is just as dangerous as the assumption that the magic box will do nothing for you. Teaching about search algorithms allows for an understanding of them, especially if the search algorithms are clear about which editorial judgments have been prioritized.
Beyond Search, Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Automated Research Tools
As an employee at Fastcase, Inc. this past summer, I had the opportunity to work on several innovative uses of algorithms in legal research, most notably on the new automated citation-analysis tool Bad Law Bot. Bad Law Bot, at least in its current iteration, works by searching the case law corpus for significant signals—words, phrases, or citations to legal documents—and, based on criteria selected in advance, determines whether a case has been given negative treatment in subsequent cases. The tool is certainly automated, but the algorithm is artisanal—it was massaged and kneaded by caring craftsmen to deliver a premium product. The results it delivered were also tested meticulously to find out where the algorithm had failed. And then the process started over again.
This is just one example of what I think the future of much general legal research will look like—smart algorithms built and tested by people, taking advantage of near unlimited storage space and ever-increasing computing power to process huge datasets extremely fast. Secondary sources, at least the ones organizing, classifying, and grouping primary law, will no longer be static things. Rather, they will change quickly when new documents are available or new uses for those documents are dreamed up. It will take hard work and a realistic set of expectations to do it well.
Computer assisted legal research cannot be about merely returning ranked lists of relevant results, even as today’s algorithms get better and better at producing these lists. Search must be only one component of a holistic research experience in which the searcher consults many tools which, used together, are greater than the sum of their parts. Many of those tools will be built by information professionals and software engineers using algorithms, and will be capable of being updated and changed as the corpus and user need changes.
It’s time that we stop thinking of algorithms as alien, or other, or too complicated, or scary. Instead, we should think of them as familiar and human, as sets of instructions hand-crafted to help us solve problems with research tools that we have not yet been able to solve, or that we did not know were problems in the first place.
Aaron Kirschenfeld is currently pursuing a dual J.D. / M.S.I.S. at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His main research interests are legal research instruction, the philosophy and aesthetics of legal citation analysis, and privacy law. You can reach him on Twitter @kirschsubjudice.
His views do not represent those of his part-time employer, Fastcase, Inc. Also, he has never hand-crafted an algorithm, let alone a wheel of cheese, but appreciates the work of those who do immensely.
Posted by kirschenfeld at 9:56 am
Next Generation Legal Search - It's Already Here
information retrieval, legal research, search, software innovation, User behavior information 4 Responses »
[Editor’s Note: We are pleased to publish this piece from Qiang Lu and Jack Conrad, both of whom worked with Thomson Reuters R&D on the WestlawNext research team. Jack Conrad continues to work with Thomson Reuters, though currently on loan to the Catalyst Lab at Thomson Reuters Global Resources in Switzerland. Qiang Lu is now based at Kore Federal in the Washington, D.C. area. We read with interest their 2012 paper from the International Conference on Knowledge Engineering and Ontology Development (KEOD), “Bringing order to legal documents: An issue-based recommendation system via cluster association”, and are grateful that they have agreed to offer some system-specific context for their work in this area. Their current contribution represents a practical description of the advances that have been made between the initial and current versions of Westlaw, and what differentiates a contemporary legal search engine from its predecessors. -sd]
In her blog on “Pushing the Envelope: Innovation in Legal Search” (2009) [1], Edinburgh Informatics Ph.D. candidate K. Tamsin Maxwell presents her perspective of the state of legal search at the time. The variations of legal information retrieval (IR) that she reviews − everything from natural language search (e.g., vector space models, Bayesian inference net models, and language models) to NLP and term weighting − refer to techniques that are now 10, 15, even 20 years old. She also refers to the release of the first natural language legal search engine by West back in 1993−WIN (Westlaw Is Natural) [2]. Adding to this on-going conversation about legal search, we would like to check back in, a full 20 years after the release of that first natural language legal search engine. The objective we hope to achieve in this posting is to provide a useful overview of state-of-the-art legal search today.
What Maxwell’s article could not have predicted, even five years ago, are some of the chief factors that distinguish state-of-the-art search engines today from their earlier counterparts. One of the most notable distinctions is that unlike their predecessors, contemporary search engines, including today’s state-of-the-art legal search engine, WestlawNext , separate the function of document retrieval from document ranking. Whereas the first retrieval function primarily addresses recall, ensuring that all potentially relevant documents are retrieved, the second and ensuing function focuses on the ideal ranking of those results, addressing precision at the highest ranks. By contrast, search engines of the past effectively treated these two search functions as one and the same. So what is the difference? Whereas the document retrieval piece may not be dramatically different from what it was when WIN was first released in 1993, what is dramatically different lies in the evidence that is considered in the ranking piece, which allows potentially dozens of weighted features to be taken into account and tracked as part of the optimal ranking process.
Figure 1. The set of evidence (views) that can be used by modern legal search engines.
In traditional search, the principal evidence considered was the main text of the document in question. In the case of traditional legal search, those documents would be cases, briefs, statutes, regulations, law reviews and other forms of primary and secondary (a.k.a. analytical) legal publications. This textual set of evidence can be termed the document view of the world. In the case of legal search engines like Westlaw, there also exists the ability to exploit expert-generated annotations or metadata. These annotations come in the form of attorney-editor generated synopses, points of law (a.k.a. headnotes), and attorney-classifier assigned topical classifications that rely on a legal taxonomy such as West’s Key Number System [3]. The set of evidence based on such metadata can be termed the annotation view. Furthermore, in a manner loosely analogous to today’s World Wide Web and the lattice of inter-referencing documents that reside there, today’s legal search can also exploit the multiplicity of both out-bound (cited) sources and in-bound (citing) sources with respect to a document in question, and, frequently, the granularity of these citations is not merely at a document-level but at the sub-document or topic level. Such a set of evidence can be termed the citation network view. More sophisticated engines can examine not only the popularity of a given cited or citing document based on the citation frequency, but also the polarity and scope of the arguments they wager as well.
In addition to the “views” described thus far, a modern search engine can also harness what has come to be known as aggregated user behavior. While individual users and their individual behavior are not considered, in instances where there is sufficient accumulated evidence, the search function can consider document popularity thanks to a user view. That is to say, in addition to a document being returned in a result set for a certain kind of query, the search provider can also tabulate how often a given document was opened for viewing, how often it was printed, or how often it was checked for its legal validity (e.g., through citator services such as KeyCite [4]). (See Figure 1) This form of marshaling and weighting of evidence only scratches the surface, for one can also track evidence between two documents within the same research session, e.g., noting that when one highly relevant document appears in result sets for a given query-type, another document typically appears in the same result sets. In summary, such a user view represents a rich and powerful additional means of leveraging document relevance as indicated through professional user interactions with legal corpora such as those mentioned above.
It is also worth noting that today’s search engines may factor in a user’s preferences, for example, by knowing what jurisdiction a particular attorney-user practices in, and what kinds of sources that user has historically preferred, over time and across numerous result sets.
While the materials or data relied upon in the document view and citation network view are authored by judges, law clerks, legislators, attorneys and law professors, the summary data present in the annotation view is produced by attorney-editors. By contrast, the aggregated user behavior data represented in the user view is produced by the professional researchers who interact with the retrieval system. The result of this rich and diverse set of views is that the power and effectiveness of a modern legal search engine comes not only from its underlying technology but also from the collective intelligence of all of the domain expertise represented in the generation of its data (documents) and metadata (citations, annotations, popularity and interaction information). Thus, the legal search engine offered by WestlawNext (WLN) represents an optimal blend of advanced artificial intelligence techniques and human expertise [5].
Given this wealth of diverse material representing various forms of relevance information and tractable connections between queries and documents, the ranking function executed by modern legal search engines can be optimized through a series of training rounds that “teach” the machine what forms of evidence make the greatest contribution for certain types of queries and available documents, along with their associated content and metadata. In other words, the re-ranking portion of the machine learns how to weigh the “features” representing this evidence in a manner that will produce the best (i.e., highest precision) ranking of the documents retrieved.
Nevertheless, a search engine is still highly influenced by the user queries it has to process, and for some legal research questions, an independent set of documents grouped by legal issue would be a tremendous complementary resource for the legal researcher, one at least as effective as trying to assemble the set of relevant documents through a sequence of individual queries. For this reason, WLN offers in parallel a complement to search entitled “Related Materials” which in essence is a document recommendation mechanism. These materials are clustered around the primary, secondary and sometimes tertiary legal issues in the case under consideration.
Legal documents are complex and multi-topical in nature. By detecting the top-level legal issues underlying the original document and delivering recommended documents grouped according to these issues, a modern legal search engine can provide a more effective research experience to a user when providing such comprehensive coverage [6,7]. Illustrations of some of the approaches to generating such related material are discussed below.
Take, for example, an attorney who is running a set of queries that seeks to identify a group of relevant documents involving “attractive nuisance” for a party that witnessed a child nearly drowned in a swimming pool. After a number of attempts using several different key terms in her queries, the attorney selects the “Related Materials” option that subsequently provides access to the spectrum of “attractive nuisance”-related documents. Such sets of issue-based documents can represent a mother lode of relevant materials. In this instance, pursuing this navigational path rather than a query-based one turns out to be a good choice. Indeed, the query-based approach could take time and would lead to a gradually evolving set of relevant documents. By contrast, harnessing the cluster of documents produced for “attractive nuisance” may turn out to be the most efficient approach to total recall and the desired degree of relevance.
To further illustrate the benefit of a modern legal search engine, we will conclude our discussion with an instructive search using WestlawNext, and its subsequent exploration by way of this recommendation resource available through “Related Materials.”
The underlying legal issue in this example is “church support for specific candidates”, and a corresponding query is issued in the search box. Figure 2 provides an illustration of the top cases retrieved.
Figure 2: Search result from WestlawNext
Let’s assume that the user decides to closely examine the first case. By clicking the link to the document, the content of the case is rendered, as in Figure 3. Note that on the right-hand side of the panel, the major legal issues of the case “Canyon Ferry Road Baptist Church … v. Unsworth” have been automatically identified and presented with hierarchically structured labels, such as “Freedom of Speech / State Regulation of Campaign Speech” and “Freedom of Speech / View of Federal Election Campaign Act / Definition of Political Committee,” … By presenting these closely related topics, a user is empowered with the ability to dive deep into the relevant cases and other relevant documents without explicitly crafting any additional or refined queries.
Figure 3: A view of a case and complementary materials from WestlawNext
By selecting these sets of relevant topics, a set of recommended cases will be rendered under that particular label. Figure 4, for example, shows the related topic view of the case under the label of “Freedom of Speech / View of Federal Election Campaign Act / Definition of Political Committee.” Note that this process can be repeated based on the particular needs of a user, starting with a document in the original results set.
Figure 4: Related Topic view of a case
In summary, by utilizing the combination of human expert-generated resources and sophisticated machine-learning algorithms, modern legal search engines bring the legal research experience to an unprecedented and powerful new level. For those seeking the next generation in legal search, it’s no longer on the horizon. It’s already here.
[1] K. Tamsin Maxwell, “Pushing the Envelope: Innovation in Legal Search,” in VoxPopuLII, Legal Information Institute, Cornell University Law School, 17 Sept. 2009. http://blog.law.cornell.edu/voxpop/2009/09/17/pushing-the-envelope-innovation-in-legal-search/
[2] Howard Turtle, “Natural Language vs. Boolean Query Evaluation: A Comparison of Retrieval Performance,” In Proceedings of the 17th Annual International ACM-SIGIR Conference on Research & Development in Information Retrieval (SIGIR 1994) (Dublin, Ireland), Springer-Verlag, London, pp. 212-220, 1994.
[3] West’s Key Number System: http://info.legalsolutions.thomsonreuters.com/pdf/wln2/L-374484.pdf
[4] West’s KeyCite Citator Service: http://info.legalsolutions.thomsonreuters.com/pdf/wln2/L-356347.pdf
[5] Peter Jackson and Khalid Al-Kofahi, “Human Expertise and Artificial Intelligence in Legal Search,” in Structuring of Legal Semantics, A. Geist, C. R. Brunschwig, F. Lachmayer, G. Schefbeck Eds., Festschrift ed. for Erich Schweighofer, Editions Weblaw, Bern, pp. 417-427, 2011.
[6] On Cluster definition and population: Qiang Lu, Jack G. Conrad, Khalid Al-Kofahi, William Keenan, “Legal Document Clustering with Build-in Topic Segmentation,” In Proceedings of the 2011 ACM-CIKM Twentieth International Conference on Information and Knowledge Management (CIKM 2011)(Glasgow, Scotland), ACM Press, pp. 383-392, 2011.
[7] On Cluster association with individual documents: Qiang Lu and Jack G. Conrad, “Bringing order to legal documents: An Issue-based Recommendation System via Cluster Association,” In Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Knowledge Engineering and Ontology Development (KEOD 2012) (Barcelona, Spain), SciTePress DL, pp. 76-88, 2012.
Jack G. Conrad currently serves as Lead Research Scientist with the Catalyst Lab at Thomson Reuters Global Resources in Baar, Switzerland. He was formerly a Senior Research Scientist with the Thomson Reuters Corporate Research & Development department. His research areas fall under a broad spectrum of Information Retrieval, Data Mining and NLP topics. Some of these include e-Discovery, document clustering and deduplication for knowledge management systems. Jack has researched and implemented key components for WestlawNext, West‘s next-generation legal search engine, and PeopleMap, a very large scale Public Record aggregation system. Jack completed his graduate studies in Computer Science at the University of Massachusetts–Amherst and in Linguistics at the University of British Columbia–Vancouver.
Qiang Lu was a Senior Research Scientist with Thomson Reuters Corporate Research & Development department. His research interests include data mining, text mining, information retrieval, and machine learning. He has extensive experience of applying various NLP technologies in various data sources, such as news, legal, financial, and law enforcement data. Qiang was a key member of WestlawNext research team. He has a Ph.D. in computer science and engineering from State University of New York at Buffalo. He is now a managing associate at Kore Federal in Washington D.C. area.
Posted by jgconrad at 9:13 am
LexML Brazil Project
elegislation, elegislation systems, information retrieval, Legal identifiers, Legal metadata, Legal ontologies, Legal text processing, Legal XML, Legislative information systems, open source software, search 2 Responses »
This post is divided into three topical sections. The first one is an introduction to the LexML Brazil Project and its unified search portal, after which some aspects related to semantic interoperability shall be presented and, at the end, we show the current work and future direction of the project.
Before going on to the aforementioned subjects, a few words about Brazil and its legislative and legal systems are necessary. Brazil is a country of continental proportions, composed of 27 states and more than five thousand municipalities, or cities, as in Brazil no distinction is made between town and city. As a federative system, each state and municipality has its own legislative chamber. While states and cities follow a unicameral system, the Federation itself has a bicameral system, with the National Congress divided into a Chamber of Deputies and the Federal Senate. These legislatures generate a great number of laws, or normative acts. The abundance of normative acts is very significant, considering that, in contrast with Common Law systems, Brazil’s legal system, based on the Civil Law, is characterized by the predominance of normative acts.
According to Edilenice Passos, “the proliferation of normative acts, of higher or lower hierarchy, eventually causes total chaos, for this big mass of juridical documents hampers the work of lawyers, of researchers, and of the very citizens, who are ruled by Brazilian laws.” Edilenice Passos also cites Arnoldo Wald, who, in 1969, was already alerting Brazilians that “the true legislative labyrinth created as a result of an inflation of statutes passed in recent years has turned the ruling Brazilian law into a patchwork, in which the mere legislative updating becomes a daily torture for a lawyer and a judge who are searching for the rules applicable to a specific subject, from among acts, supplementary acts, institutional acts, decree-laws, and other normative acts.”
Almost all Brazilian legal and legislative information is available through the Internet. However, this information is distributed among several thousand sites, each containing documents produced by a specific government institution. Thus, the relationships between acts of different institutions is not available explicitly, making it very hard to understand this “legal patchwork.”
Nowadays, much time is lost looking for this information, filtering the results of search engines. As Roy Tennant says, “Librarians like to search; everyone else likes to find,” and further adds: “People generally want to find everything they can on a topic, ranked by relevance and displayed in ways that make it easy to narrow in on their goal.”
Born to address these issues, LexML Brazil is an information network that aims to organize Brazil’s legislative and legal information. The project is an initiative of the “Comunidade TI Controle” (IT Control Community) and is being implemented by the Brazilian Federal Senate, through PRODASEN (the Senate’s special secretariat for information systems) and Interlegis (a virtual community of Brazilian legislatures).
LexML Brazil’s first product is the Legislative and Legal Information Portal, which opened on June 30, 2009, indexing 1.28 million documents. In September 2010, its index ranged through more than 1.5 million documents. By indexing the metadata collected from several institutions using the OAI-PMH protocol, the portal unifies access to a variety of legislative and legal information sources, which is a step toward the goal of guaranteeing Brazilians’ constitutional right of access to information.
LexML Portal
The LexML Portal home page layout is very simple and is similar to Google‘s main page. At this screen, it is possible to restrict the search to Legislation, Jurisprudence, or Bills.
The search results page allows the user to refine the search by using filters, according to his or her information requirements. Five filters are available: location, issuing authority, document type, date, and acronyms.
The detail page provides links to the official publication version of each document, and to other publications available in information systems of network participants, which, in this particular case, are: National Press, Presidency, Chamber of Deputies, and Federal Senate. General information about the document is available by clicking one of “Mais Detalhes (More details)” links, which directs the Web browser to the corresponding network participant’s metadata page. A service providing automatic identification of textual references can be activated by clicking the “Linker” label.
Semantic Interoperability
While systems interoperability and syntactic issues can be managed with the estabilished standards of representation, codification, and exchange (XML, METS, Unicode, OAI-PMH, etc.), structural and semantic interoperability demands the adoption of a reference model that allows the integration of several models and the use of a unified terminology for indexing different sources of information. According to Patel et al., the general purpose of semantic interoperability is “to support complex and advanced context-sensitive query processing over heterogeneous information resources.” Lack of semantic interoperability generates then the “information silos” problem, characterized by the lack of information integration and consequent inability to process complex queries.
The next section presents the design choices made by the LexML Brazil Project to address issues related to semantic interoperability using Ranganathan‘s “stratification planes” classification system, featuring: an idea plane, a verbal plane, and a notational plane.
Idea Plane
The idea plane is composed of the abstract entities of a domain, independently of how they are nominated or identified.
The metadata standards that propose to address interoperability issues do so either for a specific, restricted domain or for heterogeneous domains. Specialized metadata standards (MARC, EAD, MODS, etc.) allow different sources of information about specific domains (bibliographical or archival information) to be integrated and searched in an advanced form. On the other hand, the Dublin Core standard is one of the few that try to integrate arbitrarily heterogeneous sources using a minimum set of elements and qualifiers. Its characteristic simplicity enables easy adoption by multiple actors, but also hinders query processing, preventing the use of the rich chain of relationships among entities. The lack of generality or expressiveness of these standards precludes their use for achieving semantic interoperability of heterogeneous sources of legislative and legal information in Brazil.
An alternative is to use formal ontologies instead of metadata standards. According to Martin Doerr, “recently, more and more projects and theoreticians support the use of formal ontologies as common conceptual schema for information integration.” One such ontology, the CIDOC CRM model, was designed to help the integration, mediation, and interchange of heterogeneous cultural heritage information. It was developed in 1994 and has since been approved as the ISO 21127:2006 standard. The CIDOC CRM model is then a natural choice for conceptual schemas of legal and legislative information, if one considers that the text corpus consisting of a nation’s sources of law is a part of the nation’s cultural heritage information.
However, the CIDOC CRM “document” concept lacks the necessary detail needed to describe the relationships among the several information abstraction levels: work, expression, manifestation, and item. That requirement is fulfilled by the FRBRER entity-relationship model, which was considered as a reference model in earlier phases of the project (“An Adaptation of the FRBR Model to Legal Norms,” João Lima, Proceedings of the V Legislative XML Workshop, Florence, 2005) .
The FRBROO standard, an ontology created by a working group formed in 2003 by representatives of IFLA (International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions) and ICOM (International Council of Museums) for purposes of harmonizing both models, was adopted by the LexML project because it combines the advantages of both models while addressing their shortcomings. As such, FRBROO manifests a great affinity to the LexML domain (“A Time-aware Ontology for Legal Resources,” João Lima et al., Proceedings of the Tenth International ISKO Conference, 2008).
One of the great innovations of the CIDOC CRM model is the information structuring around temporal events, a central concept in the model. This contrasts with most other metadata models, which have resources as the central objects of interest. This innovative approach defines events as entities that connect actors, things (concrete and abstract), places, and time intervals.
This particular emphasis could be criticized on the ground that the user is generally interested in a specific resource, such as the text of a law. However, the result of a search for information about a law is much more relevant if it includes an organized list of events related to the resource, along with the resource itself.
The importance of choosing a suitable reference model is easily observable in the present discussion about what particular syntax to use to codify persistent identifiers — urn:lex, LegisLink, Akoma Ntoso, etc. Before reaching the syntax level, such discussions should focus first on the idea plane, where a greater potential for integration exists. A consensus reached at this level would allow great flexibility for the specification of diverse persistent identifier syntaxes.
Verbal Plane
The CIDOC CRM ontology separates the class of types and denominations from other classes. Multiple names, identifiers, and types can be attributed to all entities of the CRM, allowing any domain class to be classified by several taxonomies and be known by multiple names and identifiers.
This approach is used in LexML to represent different terms that identify the same concepts. Six classes form LexML’s uniform resource identifiers: place, authority, type of document, event, type of content, and language. To externalize the LexML vocabularies specification, we recommend, and use, the W3C SKOS (Simple Knowledge Organization System).
Notational Plane
The definition of uniform and persistent identifiers is fundamental for the creation and maintenance of an information chain. Identifiers are already part of the legal domain. For identification purposes, numbers are attributed to rulings, decisions, abridgments, and bills, allowing references by means of textual remissions. In the computational environment, the creation of persistent and uniform identifiers allows not only identification and reference, but also access to documents by means of textual hyperlinks.
Based on the experience of the Italian project Norme in Rete with respect to URN (Uniform Resource Name) identifiers, LexML defines a grammar for the construction of identifiers for legislative and legal documents in Brazil. As an example, the name “urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1993-06-21;8666” identifies, in a persistent and unique way, the “Federal Act No. 8666, of June 21, 1993.” If all information systems agree with respect to the identifiers, it is possible to share descriptive metadata, as well as information about semantic relationships, such as regulation, amendment, abrogation, etc.
The Linker service, accessible through the LexML Portal (see, e.g., Act 11.705 without linker and Act 11.705 with linker), creates hyperlinks automatically through a dynamic textual analysis that identifies textual remissions of [i.e., citations to] normative documents. These hyperlinks can be used to navigate through textual remissions.
Future Directions
LexML 1.0 consists of the Search Portal, the Resolution Service, the Persistent Identifier, and the Linker Service. The next version, LexML 2.0, will go further: it will involve the development of open source tools for managing the complete text of documents encoded according to the LexML Brazil XML Schema, which was derived from the schemas of the Akoma Ntoso Project.
The complete management of document texts in a structured form has been a goal of the project since its inception. In as early as 2000, the Federal Constitution Portal was implemented following this idea. This portal allows the user to see all the versions of the constitutional text through a timeline, with the option to see the list of historical changes [see, e.g., art. 12] and with the ability to navigate bi-directional links [for example, in art. 154, click on the blue arrows].
During the development of that portal, taking into account the various forms of XML used to encode normative texts in many countries, and especially the experience of the Italian project Norme in Rete, a decision was made to make a unified portal and a persistent identifier a priority of the LexML project. Presently, our efforts to build open source tools for management of document texts are being renewed. One of these tools, a LexML Document Editor, will enable the authoring of legal texts as if using a word processor, but producing a structured document at the end. Another tool is the Compiler, which will semi-automatically generate modified versions of documents that have been updated by other legal acts. The Consolidator will help to simplify the display of legal information — and users’ experience of the legal system — through the consolidation of several related normative acts into a single act. The Comparator will be used to display the differences between versions of a document. The last tool, the Publisher, will be used to render XML content in different formats, such as html, PDF, PDF-A, EPUB, etc., with the ability to choose different views of the same text, such as the original text, the updated text as of a specific date, etc.
Last but not least, the Information Management Committee, which is a community of practice composed of librarians, archivists, and information analysts of several institutions of the three Brazilian governmental branches, interested in the management of legal and legislative information, is responsible for the definition of the priority and long range planning of the LexML Brazil Project.
[Editor’s Note: For documentation, schemas, and controlled vocabularies respecting LexML Brazil, please see the LexML Brazil Project Website. For more information on these issues, please see the following VoxPopuLII posts: John Sheridan on Legislation.gov.uk, Ivan Mokanov on CANLII‘s innovative legal citation system, Joe Carmel on LegisLink, and Robb Shecter on OregonLaws.org.]
The LexML Brazil core team, from left to right: João Lima (joaolima at senado.gov.br) is the leader of The LexML Project. His Information Science Ph.D. thesis details many of the concepts presented here; João Holanda (jholanda at senado.gov.br) holds a BSc in History from UnB; João Rafael (jrafael at senado.gov.br) holds a MSc in Computer Science from UFMG and a BSc in Computer Science from UnB; Marcos Fragomeni (fragomeni at senado.gov.br) holds a BSc in Computer Science from UnB.
Posted by Lima Joao at 8:45 pm Tagged with: João Lima, Legal identifiers, Legal URNs, LexML Brazil, URN:LEX
Pushing the envelope: Innovation in legal search
e-discovery, information retrieval, information science, natural language processing, search 10 Responses »
To take the words of Walt Whitman, when it comes to improving legal information retrieval (IR), lawyers, legal librarians and informaticians are all to some extent, “Both in and out of the game, and watching and wondering at it“. The reason is that each group holds only a piece of the solution to the puzzle, and as pointed out in an earlier post, they’re talking past each other.
In addition, there appears to be a conservative contingent in each group who actively hinder the kind of cooperation that could generate real progress: lawyers do not always take up technical advances when they are made available, thus discouraging further research, legal librarians cling to indexing when all modern search technologies use free-text search, and informaticians are frequently impatient with, and misunderstand, the needs of legal professionals.
What’s holding progress back?
At root, what has held legal IR back may be the lack of cross-training of professionals in law and informatics, although I’m impressed with the open-mindedness I observe at law and artificial intelligence conferences, and there are some who are breaking out of their comfort zone and neat disciplinary boundaries to address issues in legal informatics.
I recently came back from a visit to the National Institute of Informatics in Japan where I met Ken Satoh, a logician who, late in his professional career, has just graduated from law school. This is not just hard work. I believe it takes a great deal of character for a seasoned academic to maintain students’ respect when they are his seniors in a secondary degree. But the end result is worth it: a lab with an exemplary balance of lawyers and computer scientists, experience and enthusiasm, pulling side-by-side.
Still, I occasionally get the feeling we’re all hoping for some sort of miracle to deliver us from the current predicament posed by the explosion of legal information. Legal professionals hope to be saved by technical wizardry, and informaticians like myself are waiting for data provision, methodical legal feedback on system requirements and performance, and in some cases research funding. In other words, we all want someone other than ourselves to get the ball rolling.
The need to evaluate
Take for example, the lack of large corpora for study, which is one of the biggest stumbling blocks in informatics. Both IR and natural language processing (NLP) currently thrive on experimentation with vast amounts of data, which is used in statistical processing. More data means better statistical estimates and the fewer `guesses’ at relevant probabilities. Even commercial legal case retrieval systems, which give the appearance of being Boolean, use statistics and have done so for around 15 years. (They are based on inference networks that simulate Boolean retrieval with weighted indexing by reducing the rigidness associated with conditional probability estimates for Boolean operators `and’, `or’ and `not’. In this way, document ranking increasingly depends on the number of query constraints met).
The problem is that to evaluate new techniques in IR (and thus improve the field), you need not only a corpus of documents to search but also a sample of legal queries and a list of all the relevant documents in response to those queries that exist in your corpus, perhaps even with some indication of how relevant they are. This is not easy to come by. In theory a lot of case data is publicly available, but accumulating and cleaning legal text downloaded from the internet, making it amenable to search, is nothing short of tortuous. Then relevance judgments must be given by legal professionals, which is difficult given that we are talking about a community of people who charge their time by the hour.
Of course, the cooperation of commercial search providers, who own both the data and training sets with relevance judgments, would make everyone’s life much easier, but for obvious commercial reasons they keep their data to themselves.
To see the productive effects of a good data set we need only look at the research boom now occurring in e-discovery (discovery of electronic evidence, or DESI). In 2006 the TREC Legal Track, including a large evaluation corpus, was established in response to the number of trials requiring e-discovery: 75% of Fortune 500 company trials, with more than 90% of company information now stored electronically. This has generated so much interest that an annual DESI workshop has been established since 2007.
Qualitative evaluation of IR performance by legal professionals is an alternative to the quantitative evaluation usually applied in informatics. The development of new ways to visualize and browse results seems particularly well suited to this approach, where we want to know whether users perceive new interfaces to be genuine improvements. Considering the history of legal IR, qualitative evaluation may be as important as traditional IR evaluation metrics of precision and recall. (Precision is the number of relevant items retrieved out of the total number of items retrieved, and recall is the number of relevant items retrieved out of the total number of relevant items in a collection). However, it should not be the sole basis for evaluation.
A well-known study by Blair and Maron makes this point plain. The authors showed that expert legal researchers retrieve less than 20% of relevant documents when they believe they have found over 75%. In other words, even experts can be very poor judges of retrieval performance.
Context in legal retrieval
Setting this aside, where do we go from here? Dan Dabney has argued at the American Association of Law Libraries (AALL) 2005 Annual Meeting that free text search decontextualizes information, and he is right. One thing to notice about current methods in open domain IR, including vector space models, probabilistic models and language models, is that the only context they are taking into account is proximate terms (phrases). At heart, they treat all terms as independent.
However, it’s risky to conclude what was reported from the same meeting: “Using indexes improves accuracy, eliminates false positive results, and leads to completion in ways that full-text searching simply cannot.” I would be interested to know if this continues to be a general perception amongst legal librarians despite a more recent emphasis on innovating with technologies that don’t encroach upon the sacred ground of indexing. Perhaps there’s a misconception that capitalizing on full-text search methods would necessarily replace the use of index terms. This isn’t the case; inference networks used in commercial legal IR are not applied in the open domain, and one of their advantages is that they can incorporate any number of types of evidence.
Specifically, index numbers, terms, phrases, citations, topics and any other desired information are treated as representation nodes in a directed acyclic graph (the network). This graph is used to estimate the probability of a user’s information need being met given a document.
For the time being lawyers, unaware of technology under the hood, default to using inference networks in a way that is familiar, via a search interface that easily incorporates index terms and looks like a Boolean search. (Inference nets are not Boolean but they can be made to behave in the same way.) While Boolean search does tend to be more precise than other methods, the more data there is to search the less well the system performs. Further, it’s not all about precision. Recall of relevant documents is also important and this can be a weak point for Boolean retrieval. Eliminating false positives is no accolade when true positives are eliminated at the same time.
Since the current predicament is an explosion of data, arguing for indexing by contrasting it with full-text retrieval without considering how they might work together seems counterproductive.
Perhaps instead we should be looking at revamping legal reliance on a Boolean-style interface so that we can make better use of full-text search. This will be difficult. Lawyers who are charged, and charge, per search, must be able to demonstrate the value of each search to clients; they can’t afford the iterative nature of what characterizes open domain browsing. Further, if the intelligence is inside the retrieval system, rather than held by legal researchers in the form of knowledge about how to put complex queries together, how are search costs justified? Although Boolean queries are no longer well-adapted, at least value is easy to demonstrate. A push towards free-text search by either legal professionals or commercial search providers will demand a rethink of billing structures.
Given our current systems, are there incremental ways we can improve results from full-text search? Query expansion is a natural consideration and incidentally overlaps with much of the technology underlying graphical means of data exploration such as word clouds and wonderwheels; the difference is that query expansion goes on behind the scenes, whereas in graphical methods the user is allowed to control the process. Query expansion helps the user find terms they hadn’t thought of, but this doesn’t help with the decontextualization problem identified by Dabney; it simply adds more independent terms or phrases.
In order to contextualize information we can marry search using text terms and index numbers as is already applied. Even better would be to do some linguistic analysis of a query to really narrow down the situations in which we want terms to appear. In this way we might get at questions such as “What happened in a case?” or “Why did it happen?” rather than just, “What is this document about?”.
Language processing and IR
Use of linguistic information in IR isn’t a novel idea. In the 1980s, IR researchers started to think about incorporating NLP as an intrinsic part of retrieval. Many of the early approaches attempted to use syntactic information for improving term indexing or weighting. For example, Fagan improved performance by applying syntactic rules to extract similar phrases from queries and documents and then using them for direct matching, but it was held that this was comparable to a less complex, and therefore preferable, statistical approach to language analysis. In fact, Fagan’s work demonstrated early on what is now generally accepted: statistical methods that do not assume any knowledge of word meaning or linguistic role are surprisingly (some would say depressingly) hard to beat for retrieval performance.
Since then there have been a number of attempts to incorporate NLP in IR, but depending on the task involved, there can be a lack of highly accurate methods for automatic linguistic analysis of text that are also robust enough to handle unexpected and complex language constructions. (There are exceptions, for example, part-of-speech tagging is highly accurate.) The result is that improved retrieval performance is often offset by negative effects, resulting in a minimal positive, or even a negative impact on overall performance. This makes NLP techniques not worth the price of additional computational overheads in time and data storage.
However, just because the task isn’t easy doesn’t mean we should give up. Researchers, including myself, are looking afresh at ways to incorporate NLP into IR. This is being encouraged by organizations such as the NII Test Collection for IR Systems Project (NTCIR), who from 2003 to 2006 amassed excellent test and training data for patent retrieval with corpora in Japanese and English and queries in five languages. Their focus has recently shifted towards NLP tasks associated with retrieval, such as patent data mining and classification. Further, their corpora enable study of cross-language retrieval issues that become important in e-discovery since only a minority fraction of a global corporation’s electronic information will be in English.
We stand on the threshold of what will be a period of rapid innovation in legal search driven by the integration of existing knowledge bases with emerging full-text processing technologies. Let’s explore the options.
K. Tamsin Maxwell is a PhD candidate in informatics at the University of Edinburgh, focusing on information retrieval in law. She has a MSc in cognitive science and natural language engineering, and has given guest talks at the University of Bologna, UMass Amherst, and NAIST in Japan. Her areas of interest include text processing, machine learning, information retrieval, data mining and information extraction. Her passion outside academia is Arabic dance.
VoxPopuLII is edited by Judith Pratt.
Posted by Maxwell Tamsin at 1:56 pm
Search Result Lists are Dead To Me
search, visualization 7 Responses »
Most legal publishers, both free and fee, are primarily concerned with content. Regardless of whether they are academic or corporate entities providing electronic access to monographs, the free providers of the world giving primary source access, Westlaw or Lexis (hereinafter Wexis) providing access to both primary and secondary sources, or any other legal information deliverer, content has ruled the day. The focus has remained on the information in the database. The content. The words themselves.
If trends remain stable, primary source content, at least among politically stable jurisdictions, will be a given. Everyone will have equal access to the laws, regulations, and court decisions of their country online. In the U.S., new free open source access points are emerging every day. Here, the public currently has their choice of LII, Justia, Public Library of Law, AltLaw, FindLaw, PreCYdent, and most recently, OpenJurist, to discover the law. And hopefully, that content will be official and authentic.
The issue then refocuses to secondary sources and user interfaces. These will be where the battle lines will be drawn among legal publishers. Both assist in making meaning out of primary sources, though in fundamentally different ways. Secondary sources explain, analyze, and provide commentary on the law. They can be highly academic and esoteric, or provide nuts and bolts instructions and guidance. They also include finding aids to primary sources, like annotations to statutes, indexes, headnotes, citator services, and the like. While access to government-produced primary sources is a right, access to secondary sources is not, although for lay persons and lawyers alike, primary sources alone are typically insufficient to fully understand the law. I leave the not insignificant issue secondary sources for another day, and focus here on content access and the user interface.
“The eye is the best way for the brain to understand the world around us.”
— Quote reported identically by multiple users on Twitter from a recent talk by Dr. Ben Shneiderman at the #nycupa.
Despite the advances made in adding legal online content, equal attention has not been given to how users may optimally access that content to fulfill their information-seeking needs. We continue to use the same basic Boolean search parameters that we have used for nearly fifty years. We continue to presume that sorting through search result lists is the best way to find information. We continue to presume that research is simply a matter of finding the right keywords and plugging them into a search box. We presume wrong. Even though keyword searching is beloved by many because it provides the illusion of working, it consistently fails.
There is, in fact, another method of finding information that is inherently contextual, and that educates the user contemporaneously with the discovery process. This method is called browsing. Wexis, through their user interfaces, encourage searching over browsing because they are profit centers whose essential product is the search. It is commonly assumed that their product is the database, i.e. the content, because they negotiate access to specific databases with their customers. And while some databases are worth more than others, they charge by the number of searches, not by the number of documents retrieved, not by the amount of content extracted. (This describes the transactional costs, which are probably most frequently employed. Of course, the per search charge varies by database. Users may alternately choose to be charged by time instead. )
Therefore, their profits are maximized by creating a search product that is not too good and not too bad. They are, in fact, rewarded for their search mediocrity. If it is too good, users will find what they need too quickly, decreasing the number of searches and amount of time spent researching, and profits will decline. If it is too bad, users will get frustrated, complain, and, perhaps eventually, try a different vendor. Though with our current two-party system, there is little real choice for legal professionals who have sophisticated legal research needs not satisfied by the open access options available. (And then there is the distasteful possibility that law firms themselves want to keep legal research costs inflated to serve as their own profit centers.)
As such, Wexis will not be optimally motivated to improve their user interfaces and enhance the information-seeking process to increase efficiency for their customers. This leaves the door wide open for others in the online legal information ecology to innovate and force needed change, create a better product themselves, and apply pressure on the Ferraris and Lamborghinis of the legal world to do the same.
The time is ripe to create a new information discovery paradigm for legal materials based on semantics. Outside the legal world, advances are being made in more contextual information discovery platforms. Instead of a user issuing keywords and a computer server spitting back results, adjusting input via trial and error ad infinitum, graphic interfaces allow the user to comprehend and adjust their conception and results visually with related parameters. These interfaces encourage an environment where research is more like a conversation between the researcher and the data, rather than dueling monologues.
Lee Rainie, Director of the Pew Internet & American Life Project, recently discussed the emerging information literacies relevant to the evolving online ecology. These literacies should inform how search engines adapt themselves to human needs. Their application in the legal world is a natural fit. Four literacies most applicable to legal research include:
• Graphic Literacy. People think visually and process data better with visual representations of information. Translation: make database interfaces and search results graphic.
• Navigation Literacy. People have to maneuver online information in a disorganized nonlinear text screen. This creates comprehension and memory problems. We want our lawyers and legal researchers to have good comprehension and memory when serving clients.
• Skepticism Literacy. Normally referring to basic critical thinking skills, this should apply to critically assessing user interfaces, particularly in a profit-seeking environment like Wexis where the interface can affect how and what you search, as well as your wallet.
• Context Literacy. People need to see connections both between and within information in a hyperlinked environment. Simply providing hyperlinks is good, but graphically visualizing the connections is better.
Some subscription databases and internet search features serve these literacies well. Many of these are in early stages and not necessarily fit for legal research, but can give an idea of possibilities. I’ll discuss a few, and consider how these might apply in the legal context.
Google has recently re-released their wonder wheel which helps users figure out what they are looking for. This is a frequent stumbling block for novices to legal research, and even for seasoned attorneys faced with a new subject. The researcher simply doesn’t know enough to know what exactly to look for. A tool like this helps the researcher find terms and concepts that they might not have otherwise considered (of course, secondary sources are excellent for this as well). Pictured here, the small faded hub at the bottom was for my original search of “legal research.” I then clicked on the “legal research methodology” spoke which expanded above the first wheel with different spokes and further ideas.
A common problem with keyword searching is finding the right words in the correct combination that exemplify a concept and are not over or under inclusive. Wexis offers thesauri which can be helpful, though they require actual searching to test. Some free sites, like PreCYdent, have this feature as well. They work to greater and lesser degrees. A recent search for “Title VII sex retaliation” resulted in a suggestion to also search for Title III, which is clearly not my intended subject. And while helpful, thesauri and other word and concept suggestors are still tied to the search paradigm which we want to move away from.
Factiva is a subscription database provider supplying news and business information. It provides a graphical “discovery pane” with “intelligent indexing” that clusters results by subjects related to search terms. This allows the user to select the most relevant results to their purpose. It also features word clouds (not pictured here) with text size indicating prominence of these terms in search results. Date graphs indicate when search results were published, so the user can visually assess when a topic is most frequently covered in the news.
Subject-based indexing is an excellent contextual tool to guide the user to relevant content without searching. Legal context literacy is supported by indexes to subject-based compilations, such as statutes and regulations. It’s great to have the full text of statutes available for free online, but some kind of subject-based entry port to that collection is needed to render it maximally useful. For databases like these, given the non-natural language used by legislators and lobbyists alike in constructing laws, keyword searching is frequently an inefficient and frustrating discovery method. Currently, Westlaw is the only legal information provider that provides online subject indexing to state and federal codes (though they like to hide that fact in their interface because their product is the search, not the content).
Weighting words, graphically represented by the size of the term, is another method users can employ to improve their results with keyword searching. Factiva uses weighted word clouds to indicate the frequency of terms in search results. SearchCloud allows users to manually weight search terms to indicate their importance within the search and adjusts results accordingly. For example, a researcher may need to find documents with five different words in them, but three are essential in symbolizing the idea sought, and the other two are needed, but not as important. As pictured here, I searched for copyright legal research guides, giving most importance to the words copyright and guide, and less to the words legal and research to ensure that I retrieved guides on copyright and not just any list of research guides that might mention copyright, and that it was in fact a legal research guide and not some other document that just mentions the word guide. Results were significantly more relevant here than the same un-weighted search on Google.
Weighted words can easily be employed in legal research. For example, with case law search results and citator reports, instead of a list of cases and other documents arranged either by date, jurisdiction, or algorithmic relevancy, citator information can be graphically indicated. Cases that are cited the most would appear near the top of the list in the largest fonts. Cases cited the least would appear in a smaller font at the bottom of the list. It adds immediate meaning-making visual cues to an otherwise non-contextual list, letting the researcher know at a glance which are the most important cases.
It would be a boon to researchers if the connection between results was made apparent graphically. KartOO attempts this with their search engine which links various web pages in results with associated terms and similar pages. Mousing over links allows the user a preliminary peek at the search result to further determine its relevancy. The benefits to lawyers for this type of graphic display of search results for cases could be enormous. To be able to tell at a glance how a body of law is interconnected would give immeasurable context and meaning to what would otherwise be a simple list, each result visually disconnected from the other.
Some type of contextual map like the wonder wheel or a concept chart like KartOO, potentially combined with weighted words, could be employed that would illustrate the interconnectedness between all the cites to the case at issue, or to search results of cases. The biggest, most precedential, most frequently inter-cited cases would live near the center of the web with large hubs, less important cases would live at the peripheries. Most cases are never cited and are jurisprudentially less significant. This should be made clear through visual cues. Westlaw just launched something similar for patents.
These are just a few examples, based on developing technology, of how the legal search paradigm might develop. The beauty of our legal corpus is its fundamental interconnectedness. The web of cites within and between documents gives semantic developers a preconstructed map of relevancy and importance so that they need only create a way to symbolize that pattern graphically.
“Semantics rule, keywords drool.”
— Quote at twitter.com/scagliarini. See also http://www.expertsystem.net/blog/?p=68.
The future of legal information discovery interfaces combines searching and browsing, text and context, graphics and metadata. Because content without meaning thwarts understanding. Laws without context do not serve democracy. We need “interactive discovery.” Which is why search result lists are dead to me.
Julie Jones, formerly a librarian at the Cornell Law School, is the “rising” Associate Director for Library Services at the University of Connecticut Law School, beginning later this month. She received her J.D. from Northwestern University School of Law, M.L.I.S. from Dominican University, and B.A. from U.C. Santa Barbara.
VoxPopuLII is edited by Judith Pratt
Posted by Jones Julie at 6:26 am
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1854
|
__label__wiki
| 0.589173
| 0.589173
|
Common mental disorders and its associated factors and mental health care services for Ethiopian labour migrants returned from Middle East countries in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Melkie Tilahun1,
Abdulhalik Workicho1 &
Dessie Abebaw Angaw ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0001-9827-22552
The migration of young Ethiopian men and women to the Middle East countries was mainly for economic reasons. The migration was largely irregular that posed a wide range of unfavorable life conditions for some of the migrants. The overall objective is to assess common mental disorders and its associated factors for Ethiopian migrants returned from the Middle East countries and to describe mental health care services targeting these migrants.
The study employed a mixed-methods approach. For the quantitative part, a systematic random sampling technique was used to select a sample of 517 returnees. An interviewer-administered questionnaire based on Self Report Questionnaire-20 was used to collect data from respondents. The qualitative study employed a phenomenological study design to describe mental health care services. Key informant interviews and non-participant observation techniques were used to collect qualitative data.
The prevalence of common mental disorder among Ethiopian migrants returned from the Middle East countries was found to be 29.2%. education (AOR=2.90 95%CI: 1.21, 6.94), physical abuse (AOR=12.17 95%CI: 5.87, 25.22), not getting salary properly and timely (AOR=3.35 95%CI: 1.47, 7.63), history of mental illness in the family (AOR=6.75 95%CI: 1.03, 43.95), detention (AOR=4.74 95%CI: 2.60, 8.62), guilty feeling for not fulfilling goal (AOR=9.58 95%CI: 4.43, 20.71), and denial of access to health care (AOR=3.20 95%CI:1.53, 6.67) were significantly associated with a common mental disorder. Shelter based and hospital-based mental health care services were rendered for a few return migrants with mental disorders. The services were primarily targeted, female return migrants.
The prevalence of common mental disorder was high among migrants returned from the Middle East countries. Despite the high burden of mental distress, only a small proportion of return migrants with mental illness is getting mental health care services.
People have migrated from one place to another since the start of human existence [1]. Even though human migration is not a new phenomenon, it has changed significantly in number and nature with the growth of globalization, including the ease of international transport and communication, the push and pull factors of shifting capital, effects of climate change, and periodic political upheaval, including armed conflict [2]. Migration has been increasing largely at the international level especially since the last decade [3]. Between 1990 and 2017, the number of international migrants worldwide rose by over 105 million, or by 69 percent. Globally, there were an estimated 258 million international migrants in 2017 [4]. Migration report estimates that if migration continues to increase at the same pace as in the last 20 years, the number of international migrants worldwide could be as high as 405 million by 2050 [5]. Africa is often seen as a continent on the move, with people escaping poverty, environmental disaster, or violent conflict. About 31 million Africans, or little more than 3 percent of the continent’s population, have migrated internationally [6].
There is evidence that outward migration has increased in Ethiopia in recent years [7]. Ethiopians leave their country either as regular or irregular migrants. Regular migration is defined by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) as "migration that occurs through recognized, authorized channels". IOM also defines irregular migration as "movement that takes place outside the regulatory norms of the sending, transit and receiving countries". Data from the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (MoLSA) indicate that approximately 460,000 Ethiopians migrated legally from their country between 2008 and 2013, mostly to the Middle East with the majority going to Saudi Arabia (79%), Kuwait (20%) and others to UAE and other countries [8]. The exact number of Ethiopian migrants to the Middle East is unknown as two-thirds of them migrate through irregular means [9]. It is estimated that up to 500,000 Ethiopian women are migrating to the Middle East for domestic work annually [10]. Ethiopian migrants to the Middle East are driven to migrate primarily for economic reasons [11]. The process of migration can lead to a whole spectrum of physical and mental health disorders [12]. There are numerous reports that many migrants are victims of fraud, forced labour, and physical, sexual, and psychological abuse by their employers or by traffickers, and a significant number develop psychological problems [7]. Many Ethiopian women working in domestic service in the Middle East face severe abuses, including physical and sexual assault, denial of salary, sleep deprivation, withholding of passports, confinement, and even murder [13].
Similar with the outward migration, return migration to Ethiopia has increased in the past decade [10]. Ethiopians return to their country due to various reasons such as to reunite with family or friends, investment, or repatriation and deportation [8]. The recent deportation of 170,000 Ethiopian migrants from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is one example of large-scale return migration in the country [14]. The deportation of the above-undocumented migrants was accompanied by severe human rights abuses, including arbitrary detention, theft of migrants' belongings, rape, beatings, and killings' that traumatized many of those who returned to Ethiopia [7]. Return migrants may have exceptional and increased mental health needs resulting from painful or traumatic experiences that they might face during the process of migration and/or during their stay in the country of destination [15]. A growing number of shreds of evidence show that Ethiopian returnees from different Middle East countries often have a variety of psychological disorders as they experience diverse problems at the various stages of their migration [16]. This, in turn, makes mental health to be a serious concern among Ethiopian migrants returning from the Middle East countries [9].
Studies suggest that mental health care and rehabilitation services are highly needed to be expanded to return migrants in Ethiopia [17]. However, return migration and mental health has received far too little attention in policy and crisis-intervention programs despite a large number of Ethiopian migrants with various mental health issues are returning from the Middle East countries. The National Mental Health Strategy which integrates mental health into primary health care systems to provide comprehensive, accessible and affordable mental health care for the public does not specifically address the special mental health care need of return migrants [18].
Even though hazards to general health and specifically to mental health rank among the top experiences of trafficking and migrant returnees, the services addressing health specifically mental health needs of returnees during the recovery phase of the migration process are sparse [9, 16, 17]. Therefore, this research aimed at studying the magnitude of common mental disorders and associated factors and mental health care practice that targets Ethiopian migrants returning in large number from Middle East countries.
The constructs of this conceptual framework were extracted from a bulk of literature written in the area. The framework depicts CMD or mental distress in return migrants is a result of socio-demographic characteristics, pre-departure risk factors, traumatic life experiences, goal-related perception, and access to health care in the destination country (Fig. 1).
Conceptual framework of the study
Study design and setting
The study employed a mixed-methods research approach. The cross-sectional study design was used in the survey to assess the prevalence of common mental disorder and its determinants among Ethiopian migrants returning from the Middle East countries. The qualitative research applied a phenomenological study design to describe the dimension of mental health care services, opportunities, and challenges that were aimed at providing mental health care services for return migrants.
The study was conducted in Addis Ababa city which was the main gate to Ethiopian returnees from different parts of the world including those from the Middle East region via Bole International Airport. It is the hub for various actors working on rehabilitation and reintegration of return migrants. The main organizations working on rehabilitation and reintegration of return migrants in Addis Ababa include Addis Ababa City Administration Social and Labour Affairs Bureau, International Organization for Migration, Agar Ethiopia, Good Samaritan Association, Nolawi Services and St. Amanuel Mental Specialized Hospital. The study was conducted in the period between November 10, 2017, and December 21, 2017.
The population for the quantitative study was Ethiopian labour migrants returning from Middle East countries who were staying in the provisional center in Addis Ababa and who was not unconscious and not critically ill. The population of the qualitative study was staff of Addis Ababa City Administration Labour and Social Affairs Bureau, Agar Ethiopia, Good Samaritan Association, Nolawi Services, St. Amanuel Specialized Mental Hospital and Ministry of Health which specifically work on mental healthcare of return migrants from the Middle East countries.
Sample size and sampling technique
The sample size was calculated using single population proportion formula with the prevalence rate of common mental disorder for the population (27.6%), which was based on a recent study conducted by Habtamu, Minaye, and Zeleke in 2017 [16]; d is the margin of error to be tolerated (4%) and \( {Z}_{1-\raisebox{1ex}{$\alpha $}\!\left/ \!\raisebox{-1ex}{$2$}\right.} \) is the reliability factor corresponding to the confidence level of 95% (1.96)\( n=\frac{{Z_{1-\raisebox{1ex}{$\alpha $}\!\left/ \!\raisebox{-1ex}{$2$}\right.}}^2P\left(1-P\right)}{d^2} \)
The computed sample size was 480 and with a 10% non-response rate, the final sample size became 528. A systematic random sampling technique was used to select samples from Ethiopian return migrants. A list of 1059 return migrants who arrived during the study period was obtained from a register of the National Disaster Risk Management Commission, the government body that coordinated tasks in the provisional center at that time. The sampling interval (k) was calculated by dividing the number of returnees (1059) by the sample size (528). The calculated sampling interval was 2. A lottery was drawn between the first two names of return migrants from the register to randomly select the first respondent. Then every other migrant’s names from the register were selected to be sampled and interviewed.
For the qualitative part, a purposive sampling technique was employed to select participants and institutions. Participants and institutions with relevant and rich information were selected deliberately for the study. Information about relevant staff for the study was obtained by asking the leaders of each organization. Information saturation was used to determine the point at which the data collection ends. Ten key informant interviews were conducted with staff of Addis Ababa City Administration Labour and Social Affairs Bureau, Agar Ethiopia, Good Samaritan Association, Nolawi Services, St. Amanuel Specialized Mental Hospital and Ministry of Health. The key informants were focal persons from each organization who had relevant and rich information about the matter. In the same way, three observations were conducted at Agar Ethiopia, Good Samaratian Association, and St. Amanuel Specialized Mental Hospital.
Study variables and data collection procedure
Our dependent variable was a common mental disorder with the presence of 8 or more symptoms of mental distress in return migrants out of 20 symptoms in the SRQ-20. Socio-demographic departure, the experience of a traumatic event, health care, and goal-related perceptions were assessed quantitatively. The qualitative study explored the depth and dimensions of mental health care services available. It also explored opportunities and challenges the actors encounter. Contents that were related to mental health care services, opportunities, and challenges were identified.
A face to face interview was used to collect data from respondents in the quantitative study. A structured questionnaire based on the WHO Self Report Questionnaire-20 (SRQ 20) was used to assess mental distress among sample respondents in the past 30 days. The questionnaire was translated into the Amharic language. Selected participants were asked for their willingness to participate in the study. Data was collected from migrants who fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The inclusion criteria for the study were: who was not unconscious, who were not critically ill, and who were not below 18 years old. Three data collectors with a bachelor's degree in psychology collected data from respondents.
Two different data collection techniques were used to collect qualitative data. These were key informant interviews and observation. The KI participants were mental health practitioners who had rich experience in providing mental health services for the return migrants’ Key informant interviews were conducted to collect rich information about mental health care services from highly relevant staffs in those organizations which provide rehabilitative and mental health care services for return migrants. The key informant interview process was guided by a key informant interview guide. The key informant interviews were tape-recorded to capture all information given by the interviewees. After completion of each key informant interview, the facilitators thanked each participant for his/her willingness and time. A non-participant observation technique was used for the observation. The observation aimed to gather first-hand information on mental health services by observing sites where actual service is rendered. The first-hand information gathered through observation was the general setting of the service provider site, types of mental health services provided at the site, availability of adequate spaces for each service, availability of required materials and facilities for each service, appearance, and condition of mental health care clients, and interaction between service providers and clients. A structured observation checklist was used to guide the observation. Field notes were taken immediately after each observation. The investigator gathered the qualitative data from study participants and institutions
Data quality management
For quantitative data quality, a standard WHO questionnaire with acceptable validity and reliability was used to collect data from respondents. The data collectors were trained for two days on data collection tools and data collection procedures. A filled questionnaire was checked for completeness and consistency by the investigator during data collection. Data entry was done in EpiData software to minimize data entry errors.
To enhance the trustworthiness of qualitative research, the triangulation of data collection methods was used to elicit information about the same issue using key informant interviews and observation. The data from the two methods were triangulated during interpretation. The researcher kept records on the process of conducting the research as it was undertaken for the audit trail at a later time to review different aspects of the research. The extensive description of the setting and participants of the study were provided. Besides, a detailed description of the findings with adequate pieces of evidence was provided in the form of quotes from participants’ interviews.
Data analysis procedures
Quantitatively collected data were entered into EpiData version 3.1. The data were edited and cleaned carefully. Then, the dataset was exported to SPSS Version 20 for analysis. Descriptive statistics were run to summarize the background characteristics of the respondents, to determine the prevalence of CMD, and to examine the distribution of specific symptoms contained in SRQ-20 among the respondents. Logistic regression models were fitted to identify factors associated with CMD. Analyses of associations for CMD focused on the presence and absence of the disorder taking the score of eight and above as a cut of a point on the score of SRQ-20. The screening criterion for variables to be included in the multivariable regression was the P-value <0.25 in the bivariate regression model. The level of significance of association in the logistic regression model was determined at P-value <0.05.
For qualitative data, tape-recorded key informant interviews were firstly transcribed in Amharic and then translated into English. The transcribed notes were edited, formatted, and saved as a text file. Then, the transcript notes saved in a text file were imported into OpenCode version 4 software. Codes were assigned to segments of the text. Then after the codes were categorized into four themes. The field notes taken during observations were summarized, categorized, and analyzed based on the site of observation. Finally, the findings from the two data collection techniques were triangulated.
Socio-demographic Characteristics
A total of 517 return migrants participated in the cross-sectional survey with a response rate of 97.9%. More than half (56.9 %) of the respondents were female. The mean age of the respondents was 27.5 (SD = +5.0) years. Regarding their religion, over half (56.3%) of them were Muslim followed by Orthodox (30.2%). In terms of respondents' education, 13.0% of them did not have formal education and 37.9% attended primary education. Most of the respondents were from Amhara (33.3%), Oromia (27.7%), and Tigray (22.4%) regions of Ethiopia where a little more than half (53.2%) of the return migrants were from rural areas of these regions (Table 1).
Table 1 Socio-demographic Characteristics of study participants
Pre-departure Factors
The majority (86.5%) of the respondents did not know the language of the destination country before their migration. Only a few (11%) of them claimed that they had had the required skill for the type of work they supposed to do in the destination country. Regarding family pressure to migrate, the vast majority (89.2%) did not mention family pressure as a reason for their decision to migrate to the Middle East countries. Nearly half (48.2 %) of the respondents or their families took a loan to cover the cost of their journey to the Middle East country (Table 2).
Table 2 Pre-departure Characteristics of the study participants
Experience of Traumatic Events and Access to Health Care
Nearly one-third (32%) of return migrants reported that they had experienced physical abuse during their journey or at the destination country in the Middle East. More than half (55.3%) of the returnees reported that they had encountered verbal abuse. Among the female returnees, 68 (23.1%) of them reported sexual abuse during their journey or at their stay in the destination country. Only one-fifth (20.7) of the respondents reported to get their salary timely and properly. Regarding confiscation of passport, 86.1% of the returnees reported their passport had been held forcefully by their employer. A third of the return migrants (32.9%) were refused to communicate their family through the telephone.
Among the total respondents, 36.4 % of them were detained either during their journey or at the destination country in the Middle East. More than sixty percent of the respondents reported that feeling guilty for unmet their primary goal of their migration. Slightly more than three-forth (76.8%) of the returnees were denied access to health care by their employer during their stay in the host Middle East country (Table 3).
Table 3 Traumatic Experience of study participants
Prevalence of Common Mental Disorders
The prevalence of common mental disorder among Ethiopian migrants returned from the Middle East countries was found to be 29.2% (95% CI= 25.3, 33.3). The most frequent symptoms of common mental disorder reported by the respondents were: frequent headache (40.6%), feel unhappy (40.4%), nervousness (40.2%), bad sleep (39.7%), poor appetite (39.3%), feel tired all the time (35.4%) and easily tired (34.8%). Slightly more than a fifth (21.5%) of the respondents reported that they felt worthless in the past 30 days and suicidal ideation was reported by 17.4 % of the return migrants who participated in the study (Table 4).
Table 4 Symptoms of Common Mental Disorder Reported by the study participants
Factors Associated with Common Mental Disorder
In the multivariable logistic regression model; Education (AOR=2.90 95%CI: 1.21, 6.94), experience physical abuse (AOR=12.17 95%CI: 5.87, 25.22), not getting salary properly and timely (AOR=3.35 95%CI: 1.47, 7.63), history of mental illness in the family (AOR=6.75 95%CI: 1.03, 43.95), experience detention (AOR=4.74 95%CI: 2.60, 8.62), guilty feeling for not fulfilling goal (AOR=9.58 95%CI: 4.43, 20.71), and denial of access to health care in the destination country (AOR=3.20 95%CI:1.53, 6.67) were significantly associated with CMD (see table 5).
Table 5 Multivariable logistic regression model for factors associated with common mental disorder among Ethiopian labor migrants returned from the Middle East Countries between November 10, 2017 and December 21, 2017
Qualitative Research Findings
A total of ten participants were interviewed in the qualitative interviews. Half of them were female. Four main themes were identified from the content analysis of qualitative research. These were (i) the mental health problems of return migrants through providers' eyes, (ii) mental health care services being rendered for return migrants (iii) the existing opportunities for mental health care providers, and (iv) the challenges encountered by mental health care providers. Direct quotes from transcripts are provided to illustrate these themes. Excerpts or quotations from interviews with participants are identified by a code corresponding to Table 6.
Table 6 Characteristics of key informant interview participants from mental health care service providing organizations between November 10, 2017 and December 21, 2017 Addis Ababa
The Mental Health Problems of Return Migrants through Providers’ Eyes
The mental health problem of return migrants was vast and increasing from time to time. Participants agreed that female migrants were more affected by mental illness than their male counterparts. Those with mental health problems were brought to service providers in disturbing health conditions. The majority of return migrants were suffering from anxiety and depression and few of them were diagnosed with a severe form of mental illness like schizophrenia. Among the participants a female psychiatric nurse from Amanuel mental hospital who was also working in Agar Ethiopia supported the above idea by expressing:
"In my understanding, almost all return migrants are affected by a mental health problem. The problem is immense and increasing from time to time. Most of the time, they are suffering from depression. They are also suffering from acute psychotic disorders. Few of them are suffering from a chronic psychotic disorder such as schizophrenia" (P4).
Another female participant from Good Samaritan Association agreed with the aforementioned idea by describing:
"Most of the returnees coming to us were disoriented and traumatized. Some of them were with physical injuries. Some were with bad odour from their mouths and blood in their urine… Few were tested positive for HIV and TB"(P2).
Many Ethiopian labor migrants took an unsafe route in their migration to the Middle East countries.
Some of the participants claimed the Ethiopian government's ban of migration to the Gulf Arab countries exacerbated the illegal migration to the region. Most of the migrants were poorly prepared for the working and living conditions in the destination countries making them prone to abuse and mistreatment during their journey and at their destination. For most of the migrants, their work and stay in the employer house were full of exploitation and violation of their rights. The Kafala sponsorship system that practiced in the region also played a role in the exploitation and right violations of Ethiopian labour migrants in the Gulf Arab countries. A male participant working in Nolawi Services explained the poor preparation of Ethiopian labour migrants for the supposed domestic work and life in the destination country:
"Ethiopian migrants do not have appropriate skills for the work they supposed to do. They do not have pre-departure orientation or training on the skill required for the work. They do not know the basic Arabic language. They are unaware of the culture of the destination country. They directly go to Arab countries without basic training and preparation. They are not aware of the working condition in the destination country" (P9).
A female psychiatric prescriber from Amanuel hospital also working in Good Samartian Association described the above abuse and mistreatment the Ethiopian labour migrants faced:
"Most of the time, the mistreatment and abuse are started from here in Ethiopia by traffickers. During their journey to the Arab countries, they face rape, torture, insult, and more. Once they arrive at the Arab country, the mistreatment and abuse are continued. They are not allowed to communicate with family and friends. They are starved. They are forced to drink unclean pipe water used for cleaning purposes" (P1).
Mental Health Care Services Being Rendered for Return Migrants
Ethiopian return migrants with mental health problems got mental health care services at two settings namely at the rehabilitation center and a mental hospital. According to the participants and observations by the investigator, there were only three organizations that provided mental health care services for return migrants. Two of them were providing a rehabilitation center or shelter-based mental health services. The remaining one provided hospital-based mental health care.
Rehabilitation Center or Shelter Based Services
The rehabilitation center based mental health care services were provided by Agar Ethiopia and Good Samaritan Association. The two organizations were providing basic mental health care and rehabilitation services to returnees with mental illness. The services provided by the two organizations were shelter, food, hygienic materials, clothes, medical service through referral, psychological counseling, recreational therapy even though not well organized, reunification with family, life skill training, vocational skill training, and economic strengthening through linking with micro-finance institutes. The rehabilitation centers were aimed at providing mental health care services for female return migrants only. Few female migrants with severe mental illness got the services. Among the participants, a staff of Agar Ethiopia explained about the services his organization was providing:
"We are providing a range of mental health care related services to return migrants with mental problems. The services we are providing to them are food, shelter, counseling, recreational therapy, life skill training, vocational skill training, reunification with family, and economic empowerment. We provide mental health care services for only female returnees at our rehabilitation center. Only a few of the returnees with mental problems are brought to our rehabilitation center as most of them do not show apparent signs of severe mental illness. The majority of returnees with mental illness are left on the street."(P3)
During observation of Agar Ethiopia's rehabilitation center, the investigator observed 8 return migrants with mental illness. All of them were female and one of them had a baby. The middle size premise of the center was neat and free from bad odor and hazardous objects at the time of observation. Similarly, while observing the Good Samaritan Association's rehabilitation center, the investigator observed 5 mentally ill return migrants. All of them were female. The investigator observed paintings made by mentally ill return migrants hanged on one side of the wall. The center was a one-floor building with a small size compound.
Hospital-Based Services
St Amanuel hospital provided outpatient and inpatient medical services for the general public with mental illness. The hospital rendered mental health care services for return migrants with mental illness who were mainly brought by Agar Ethiopia, Good Samaritan Association, and Ethiopian Airports Enterprise. These services were: psychiatric assessment, prescription of medication or biological therapy, psychological counseling, ward admission, and reunification with a family. A female psychiatric nurse of Amanuel hospital described the type of services the hospital rendered for return migrants:
"Amanuel hospital is providing a range of mental health care services for return migrants with mental illness. The hospital provides psychiatric assessment, counseling services, prescription of medication, inpatient services through ward admission, outpatient services, and reunification with family" (P6).
The observation in Amanuel hospital revealed that it was situated in one of the most bustling areas of the city. The investigator observed so many mentally ill male and female patients wearing a hospital gown. There were separate wards for male and female patients. The hospital compound was crowded with many outpatient and inpatient clients and their families/relatives. The waiting areas around examination rooms and registration/card rooms were full of patients and their families and relatives.
The Existing Opportunities for Mental Health Care Providers
There were limited opportunities for organizations working on mental health care of return migrants. The increased attention is given to mental health globally and nationally was considered as an opportunity for the expansion of mental health care services. Limited support provided by the government was helping to strengthen the capacity of the actors working on mental health care of return migrants. The presence of Amanuel mental hospital in Addis Ababa was an opportunity to diagnose and treat mentally ill return migrants brought by the two organizations working on mental health care of return migrants. Participants said that the dedication of staff and leaders in handling the challenging task of caring for mentally ill return migrants was an opportunity for organizations working on the area. Among the participants' Agar Ethiopia staff described the support his organization got from the government as worth mentioning opportunity:
"The city government is supporting us in a limited way. For instance, AA BOLSA is working closely with us as it is part of their responsibilities. The Addis Ababa City Civil Society Agency has donated us a vehicle. Addis Ababa City Disaster Preparedness Bureau has granted us an emergency fund of one and a half million birr. Addis Ababa City Council is on the process of providing us 3 hectares of land for construction of rehabilitation center" (P3).
A male staff of Amanuel hospital who was also serving as psychiatric staff in Agar Ethiopia explained the attention the Ethiopian government gave to mental health:
"The government is working to improve mental health care services in the country. It trains a large number of mental health professionals. Also, it decentralizes mental health care services to different levels of government health facilities" (P5).
The Challenges Encountered by Mental Health Care Providers
Mental health care providers shave encountered many challenges in their effort to deliver mental health care services to return migrants. Inadequate funding to expand services for all needy returnees was a major challenge for most of the providers. The limited capacity to expand mental health care services for all needy return migrants was another challenge of the actors in the area. Overcrowding and a shortage of beds in the hospital was a chronic problem for providing mental health care services for returnees and the general public. Almost all return migrants came to the hospital unaccompanied by family or relatives so that it posed a challenge to assess, treat, and follow them. Lack of awareness about mental illness and stigma against a mentally ill person was also one of the challenges that mental health care providers encountered. Lastly, the exaggerated need for economic support of return migrants recovered from mental illnesses posed a challenge for the actors struggling with meager resources. Agar Ethiopia staff alluded that lack of adequate space was a bottleneck for them to provide service for all needy return migrants:
"We do not have enough space to provide mental health care service for all needy return migrants including male returnees" (P3).
One of Amanuel hospital staff also described the aforementioned challenge as follow:
"There is a shortage of bed to admit all needy return migrants with severe mental illness even though efforts to admit this group of the society are in place" (P5).
The prevalence of CMD among Ethiopian labour migrants returned from the Middle East countries was found to be 29.2% (95% CI= 25.3, 33.3). A similar study reported a prevalence rate of CMD to be 27.6 % among Ethiopian migrants returned from the Middle East and South Africa [16]. However, the prevalence of CMD in the current study is higher than that in the general population and working adults in the country which was ranging from 11.7% to 17.7% [19,20,21]. Findings of the qualitative research of this study indicated that the majority of return migrants are suffering from depression and anxiety disorders and few of them were diagnosed with a severe form of mental illness like schizophrenia. The findings of this study were in line with the study conducted in Nepal with repatriated migrants from the Gulf Arab countries and Asian countries which found that Nepalese foreign labor migrants were predominantly affected by depressive disorder and anxiety disorder [22].
The study revealed that the migrants were vulnerable to traumatic experiences and migration and adjustment related stressors. They were exposed to abuses, mistreatment, exploitation, and right violations. This was in line with a study from Sri Lanka conducted on women migrant workers returned from Middle East countries [23]. The participants in this study experienced a high level of abuse during their journey or at their stay in the Middle East countries. About 23.1%, 32%, and 55.3% of return migrants experienced sexual, physical, and verbal abuses respectively. A study conducted in Lebanon found that sexual, physical, and verbal abuses were detected in 12.5%, 37.5%, and 50.0 % of female foreign domestic workers respectively [24]. In the same way, a study from Nepal reported that 40.9% of return migrants had faced abuses at their workplace in the Middle East countries [25]. Labour migrants in the Middle East countries often encounter barriers to accessing appropriate health care [26]. In this study, only 23.2% of migrants had access to health care while they were in the Middle East countries. Similarly, a study from Nepal shows that only 12.9% of respondents reported that they had received health services after falling ill whilst in domestic work abroad [25].
Results from the multivariable analysis show that education, physical abuse, detention, salary earning, history of mental illness in the family, guilty feeling for not fulfilling expectation, and denial of access to health care were significantly associated with CMD adjusting for other possible confounding factors. In the same way, the qualitative findings identified mal-adaptation, individual susceptibility, severe abuses, painful experiences, and guilty feeling for not fulfilling the goal of the migration as causes of mental distress in Ethiopian labour migrants returned from the Middle East countries. A qualitative study done on return migrants in Ethiopia revealed that sexual violence, physical violence, emotional abuse, starvation, imprisonment, and difficulty adapting to a different culture were sources of mental trauma of Ethiopian labour migrants in the Middle East countries [17].
The study identified that only few organizations were providing rehabilitation and reintegration services for mentally ill female returnees with a very limited resource reaching a small segment of the larger population of migrant returnees [21]. Increased focus for mental health nationally and internationally, training of a relatively large number of mental health professionals, decentralization of mental health care services, support from the government, presence of St. Amanuel mental hospital, and dedication of mental health care staff are existing opportunities for the actors working on mental health care of return migrants. The major challenges of the actors identified in this study are lack of adequate funding, limited capacity to expand services, difficulty of assessing and following unaccompanied cases, low awareness, and stigma towards mental illness and high need for economic support. Some of these challenges are also reported by other studies. One study reported that mental health care actors are struggling to find consistent funding to maintain their services and only provide assistance to those in dire need [27]. Another study indicated that these organizations are overwhelmed by huge demand with limited capacity [21].
Strength and limitations of the study
The strength of this study lies in the mixed-method design that enables it to assess the magnitude of mental distress of return migrants and different dimensions of mental health care service available to them using quantitative and qualitative approaches. The study has also a limitation. The findings of the study may not reflect the situation among all migrants returning from elsewhere as it focused only on those returned from Middle Eastern countries and during a specific time period.
The prevalence of CMD is high among Ethiopian migrants who returned from the Middle East countries. Lack of pre-migration preparation and unsafe migration along with Kafala sponsorship system exposes Ethiopian labour migrants to abuses, mistreatment, exploitation, and right violations. The high proportion of Ethiopian labour migrants to the Middle East countries experienced traumatic events including physical abuse, verbal abuse, sexual violence, detention, and denial of salary.
The factors that found to be significantly associated with CMD in return migrants were education, physical abuse, salary earning, history of mental illness in the family, detention, guilty feeling for not fulfilling expectation, and denial of access to health care. Despite the high burden of mental disorder among return migrants, only a few organizations were working on mental health care targeting returnees with a very limited resource that reaching a small segment of return migrants with a mental health problem. The mental health care services were primarily targeted at and provided for female return migrants and male return migrants with mental disorders are neglected. Lack of adequate funding, limited capacity to expand services, difficulty of assessing and following up of unaccompanied patients, low awareness and stigma towards mental illness, and returnees’ high need for economic support are main challenges for the organizations working on the area.
The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
CMD:
Common mental disorder
MoLSA:
Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs
SRQ-20:
Self Report Questionnaire-20
Bhugra D, Gupta S, editors. Migration and Mental Health. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press; 2011.
Zimmerman C, Kiss L, Hossain M. Migration and Health: A Framework for 21st Century Policy-Making. PLoS Med. 2011;8(5):e1001034. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1001034.
Virupaksha HG, Kumar A, Nirmala BP. Migration and mental health: An interface. J Nat Sc Biol Med. 2014;5:233–9.
United Nations. Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. International Migration Report 2017 (ST/ESA/SER.A/403). New York: United Nations; 2017.
IOM WHO, UNHCR. International Migration, Health and Human Rights. Geneva: International Organization for Migration; 2013.
ECA & AU. International Migration in Africa: Framing the Issues- an Issues Paper Prepared for the Ninth Joint Annual Meetings of the African Union Specialized Technical Committee on Finance, Monetary Affairs, Economic Planning and Integration and the Economic Commission for Africa Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development Addis Ababa, 31 March – 5 April 2016. Addis Ababa: Economic Commission for Africa. p. 2016.
Carter B, Rohwerder B. Rapid fragility and migration assessment for Ethiopia (Rapid Literature Review). Birmingham: University of Birmingham; 2016.DRC & RMMS. Ethiopia Country Profile. Nairobi: Danish Refugee Council and Regional Mixed Migration Secretariat; 2016.
DRC & RMMS. Ethiopia Country Profile. Nairobi: Danish Refugee Council and Regional Mixed Migration Secretariat; 2016.
Zeleke W, Minaye A, Kygana G. Mental Health and Somatic Distress among Ethiopian Migrant Returnees from the Middle East. Int J Ment Health Psychiatry. 2015;1:2.
Kuschminder K. Female Return Migration and Reintegration Strategies in Ethiopia. Unpublished doctoral dissertation. Maastricht: Maastricht University; 2013.
JonesN P-ME, Tefera B. Rethinking girls on the move: The intersection of poverty, exploitation and violence experienced by Ethiopian adolescents involved in the Middle East ‘maid trade’. London: Overseas Development Institute; 2014.
Bhugra D, Gupta S, Schouler-Ocak M, Graeff-Calliess I, Deakin NA, Qureshi A, Dales J, Moussaoui D, Kastrup M, Tarricone I, Till A, Bassi M, Carta M. EPA Guidance mental health care of migrants. Eur Psychiatry. 2014;2014(29):107–15.
US Department of State. Trafficking in Persons Report. Washington. D.C: United States Department of State; 2014.
US Department of State. Trafficking in Persons Report. Washington. D.C.: United States Department of State; 2015.
Ayalew M, Minaye A. Mental Health Status of Returnee Ethiopian Women from the Middle East Vis -A- Vis Women in the Process of Migration: Implication for Intervention. EC Psychol Psychiatry. 2017;2.4(2017):139–49.
Habtamu K, Minaye A, Zeleke WA. Prevalence and associated factors of common mental disorders among Ethiopian migrant returnees from the Middle East and South Africa. BMC Psychiatry. 2017;17:144.
Getnet B, Fekadu A, Getnet A, Wondie Y. Trauma and Depression in Ethiopian Women Returning From Middle Eastern Countries. Am J Psychiatry. 2016;173:330–1. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.2015.15101281.
Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Ministry of Health. National Mental Health Strategy (2012/13- 2015/16). Addis Ababa: Ministry of Health; 2012.
Kebede D, Alem A, Rashid E. The prevalence and socio-demographic correlates of mental distress in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Acta Psychiatr Scand Suppl. 1999;397:5–10.
Gelaye B, Lemma S, Deyassa N, Bahretibeb Y, Tesfaye M, Berhane Y, Williams MA. Prevalence and correlates of mental distress among working adults in Ethiopia. Clin Pract Epidemiol Ment Health. 2012;8(1):126–33.
Abera W. Psycho-social Conditions of Migrant Returnees from Middle East Countries up on Arrival at Bole International Airport: Implication for Intervention-Unpublished Master Thesis. Addis Ababa: Addis Ababa University; 2014.
Chapagai M, Pant SB, Tulachan P, Dhungana S. Psychiatric morbidity among repatriated Nepalese foreign labor migrants-a hospital based study. J Institute Med. 2017;39(1):33–7.
Arachchi SH. Violation of Migrant Women Worker’s Rights in Middle-East. Int J Arts Commerce. 2013;2(2):332–47.
Zahreddine N, Hady RT, Chammai R, Kazour F, Hachem D, Richa S. Psychiatric Morbidity, Phenomenology and Management in Hospitalized Female Foreign Domestic Workers in Lebanon. Commun Mental Health J. 2013. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-013-9682-7.
Simkhada P, Teijlingen E, Gurung M, Wasti SP. A survey of health problems of Nepalese female migrants workers in the Middle-East and Malaysia. BMC Int Health Hum Rights. 2018;18:4. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12914-018-0145-7.
Priebe S, Giacco D, El-Nagib R. Public health aspects of mental health among migrants and refugees: a review of the evidence on mental health care for refugees, asylum seekers and irregular migrants in the WHO European Region (Health Evidence Network Synthesis Report 47). Copenhagen: WHO Regional Office for Europe; 2016.
Kuschminder K. Shattered Dreams and return of Vulnerability: Challenges of Ethiopian Female Migration to the Middle East. IS Academy Policy Brief | No. 18. Maastricht: Maastricht University; 2014.
We would like to thank Jimma University for supporting the study financially and the data collection team for their dedication. We would also like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the study participants.
This research work was fully funded by Jimma University.
Department of Epidemiology, Institute of health, faculty of public health, University of Jimma, Jimma, Ethiopia
Melkie Tilahun & Abdulhalik Workicho
Department of Epidemiology and biostatistics, institute of public health, college of medicine and health science, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
Dessie Abebaw Angaw
Melkie Tilahun
Abdulhalik Workicho
MT, AW and DA conceived of the study and were involved in design of the study, in the coordination and reviewed the article, analysis, report writing and drafted the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
All authors are public health specialists.
Correspondence to Dessie Abebaw Angaw.
The study was approved by the Institutional Review Board, College of Health Sciences, Jimma University. Written permission was obtained from Addis Ababa City Administration Labour and Social Affairs Bureau. Permission to conduct the study in each organization was asked through a letter. Written consent was obtained from all study respondents and participants after adequate information about the study had been provided. The collected data were treated and kept confidential.
No potential conflict of interests with respect to the research, authorship and/or publication of this article.
Tilahun, M., Workicho, A. & Angaw, D.A. Common mental disorders and its associated factors and mental health care services for Ethiopian labour migrants returned from Middle East countries in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. BMC Health Serv Res 20, 681 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-020-05502-0
Common mental disorder, migrants, Ethiopia
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1856
|
__label__cc
| 0.718246
| 0.281754
|
Doing away with “labour”: working and caring in a world of commons
By Daniela Gottschlich
Presentation Keynote Daniela Gottschlich Working and Caring
Download the full keynote including the mentioned literature here and the accompanying presentation here. Illustration: Yen Sulmowski
Daniela Gottschlich
It is a great pleasure for me to speak at a conference that is designed to search for an alternative livelihood provisioning system that aims at a good life for everybody. The focus of this thematic stream is to rethink the notion of the economics of “labor” or “work” and, to ask in very practical terms, how to organise and manage the “whole (of) work” for the “whole (of) life”. It is very inspiring for me to see how this ties in with the history of feminist economic thought. Feminist economy is the academic and political environment I come from, and my specific academic focus is on the care economy. This is the perspective from which I approach the commons debate and the commons movement.
While preparing for this keynote presentation in the past few weeks, I realised that the care economy and commons, that “caring” and “commoning” have a lot in common (see also Wichterich 2013).
Both concepts criticise the prevailing economic rational (such as maximising profits or a culture of competition).
Both concepts strongly emphasize the human dimension, i.e. wealth is generated to meet the livelihood needs of the people rather than to ”serve the markets” or to increase the GDP and accelerate growth.
Both concepts are based on cooperation and responsibility.
Both concepts are relational. They must be constantly created and recreated. They can only persist if we constantly renew our efforts.
Both concepts have ethics (the care economy has ethics of care and commoning has ethics of reciprocity) that point to a variety of alternatives out of the social and ecological crises.
While preparing for this presentation together, Heike Löschmann and Silke Helfrich discussed with me the difference between caring and commoning. These ideas and concepts seem from a structural perspective so similar that they might even be interchangeable. But they are not. There are important differences which deserve a closer look.
One main difference is that the commons based peer production, for example, is a cooperation between people with equal rights and equal status. It is based on voluntary commitment and self-determined choice.
Care work, or using a different terminology “reproductive” activities, are activities that a society cannot exist without. Humans are dependent and fragile beings that depend on the help of one another for half of their lives, first at a very young age and then again at an old age, when they are in need of care (Gottschlich 2012). Caring has a variety of emotional aspects. Similar to commoning, caring is based on attention, mindfulness and cooperation. However, the cooperation between caregiver and carereceiver is asymmetrical (Jochimsen 2003: 85). Caring is therefore based on a different type of reciprocity. Furthermore, it is difficult or even impossible to withdraw from caring, whereas it is much easier to leave a community of peers. It is mainly due to these differences that this conference stream raises the question how to combine caring and commoning in order to ensure the reproduction of society as a whole and thus providing for our social and ecological livelihood support systems.
Let’s now take a step back and look at the links between the organisation of care work and of commons. I would like to start by giving you a short introduction into the thinking of Feminist Economists (e.g. Biesecker 2012; Biesecker & Gottschlich 2013; Biesecker & Hofmeister 2010; Gottschlich 2012; Perkins & Kuiper (2005); Plonz (2011); Schnabl 2005; Tronto 2003; Wichterich 2012, 2013; Winker 2012). Then, I will illustrate some essential ideas by presenting four stories from everyday life.
2. Feminist Economics and the Care Economy: Theoretical basis and normative orientation
Feminist Economics criticises the fact that there is only one dimension to the prevailing understanding of economics: Based on this understanding, economics is restricted to market processes, following a purely monetary definition. Unpaid care activities as well as the productivity/ the services of nature are considered as “uneconomics”, worthless, and “just reproductive”, even though these activities are the foundation and the prerequisite of all economic activities.
Feminist Economics criticises the fact that there is this differentiation between care and the market economy, the human system and the ecosystem as well as between productive and “reproductive” economic processes including their inherent gender-specific hierarchies.
This externalisation is inextricably linked with the devaluation of the “reproductive” and causes its excessive and carefree exploitation. The result is the destruction of our livelihood support system and a progressing alienation hereof worldwide. The processes of externalisation, devaluation and exploitation are the underlying common cause for our current social and ecological crises. They are all an expression of one and the same crisis: “the crisis of the reproductive” (Biesecker & Hofmeister 2010).
Feminist Economics, however, stresses the productivity of “reproductive” activities – commoners might say the inherently generative power of “reproductive” activities – and the unity of production and reproduction, actively calling for the conscious design of “(re)productive” activities. Shaping the whole of economics and the whole of (necessary) work to ensure the “whole of our livelihood provisioning” means much more than just add-ing up or taking into account notions of economics and ways of working that up to now have been externalised or ignored. This is not only about taking these aspects out of the shadow into the limelight. The “whole of work” concept also contains criticism of paid work/gainful employment that has been subject to very little analysis and is still considered to be a fixed integral part of the labour concept. Criticism of alienated and precarious employment is also something that is shared by Feminist Economics, the Commons debate (Brigitte Kratzwald will take this up in her speaker’s corner) and trade unions’ ideas and calls for decent work.
It is just as obvious for feminists or proponents of subsistence economies to stress the productivity of what is supposedly purely reproductive as it is apparent for commoners to underline the generative productivity of the commons. The prevailing economic system, however, makes these realities invisible. The wealth generated through commoning and caring as well as the productivity of the ecosystem are immense and yet they cannot be measured. This wealth is for a long time neither been reflected nor appreciated. (To make it clear, the latest attempts to monetize eco system services are no answer to the problem.)
This means that attempts to restructure work can no longer prioritise the reconciliation of the separated spheres, including the reconciliation of the contradicting rationales of the market logic and the care logic. What we need instead is a system that enables social reproduction without social and ecological destruction. And this is my answer: It will only be possible by switching perspectives, by using the principles of care economics and commons economics to transform the current economic system as a whole. Because it is this kind of work that contributes to maintaining social and ecological qualities. The less of this work is done, the more severe the social and ecological crisis gets. In order to enable a transformation process that promotes sustainability, we need a new social standard practice and that is more caring and more commoning. Caring and commoning help to bring about prevention (rather than aftercare), cooperation (rather than competition), focussing on the necessities of livelihood provisioning (rather than growth rates).
It is going to be a huge challenge for all of us to see and fully understand human and natural reproductive activity as an integral part of all commoning. But this is the only way to successfully bring about cultural change. This is the only way to slowly overcome the dominance of the prevailing economic rationale and finally fully replace it.
Changing our ways of life and work does not only require rethinking and reevaluating but also a new language. We have to part with old terms and invent new ones because otherwise their inherent meanings will never stop reproducing themselves in our minds.
3. Stories
The following stories shall illustrate the crisis of the “(re)productive” that needs to be overcome. They also include visions for transformation and the attempt to combine the practices of caring and commoning.I am going to tell these stories from the perspective of realities here in Germany and as a European. I am very pleased to see so many different life worlds and related practical experiences represented in this international audience, which will surely enrich and broaden my own approach and understanding.
I hope that by telling these stories it becomes clearer, that the (re)productive is the basis for all economic activities so that it is no longer ignored, belittled or exploited. We will wind up by discussing questions that must be raised if we are really serious about “Doing away with labour: working and caring in a world of commons“.
3. 1. First story: Jan, Hung Shung and the duck.
Or: How to succeed in autonomous work with and in Commons (e.g. p2p) without social and ecological blind spots
This is Jan. He studies Business Information Technology and Politics at the Leuphana University of Lüneberg in Germany. He loves to share music and films. He is currently writing a paper that examines the different debates on the issue of intellectual property rights for seeds, drugs and software. He got more then once into an argument with one of his professors who considers people sharing music or films as criminal software pirates. So Jan works even harder to explain why it is of vital importance for a society to fight for free access to knowledge and against any restrictions or privati-sation – that is the Knowledge Commons. He thinks Marcin Jakubowski’s Open Source Ecology is just brilliant. After graduating from university he would like to work as independently as possible. He wants to be a freelancer sharing office facilities with others in a co-working space. Developing free software in self-managed projects would be right up his street. But will he earn enough money to have a good life?
If there was a basic income for all, he could give it a try without having to fear for his very existence. Jan likes these new ways of working, independently on the one hand whilst seeking to network with others on the other. No big boss calling the shots. That would save him from the stress he knows from his parents. But he also likes the idea of being able to better overcome the constraints of the market. What Jan finds particularly exciting is that he can use a 3D printer for custom-made parts, even vital ones, instead of buying them at the supermarket. He appreciates very much the awareness of having a self-determined life and job, which means being a prosument, a producer and consumer at the same time. Jan is getting hungry. He has forgotten to go shopping. His roommates are also out, so there is no one who might have cooked a delicious meal. The fridge is completely empty. Jan decides to order his favourite dish at a Chinese restaurant. This dish is also very cheap: duck sweet and sour.
This is Hung Shung. He will meet Jan for no more than two minutes, collecting the cash: 5.50 EUR. He is paid less than 3 EUR per hour. Usually he does not work as a delivery boy, since he does not speak a word of German. But his colleague is running a fever, so Hung needed to fill in for him. Hung Shung was hired in China as a chef for specialities in a German restaurant. Chefs for specialities are subject to special entry requirements. He has paid 10.000 EUR for employment services and is now in debt. The German Aliens Department approves visa applications only if these contracts provide an appropriate salary. The German employment contract that Hung Shung had signed but which he didn’t understand provides for a monthly gross salary of EUR 1,433.00 including decent accommodation and appropriate food. However, Hung Shung signed a second contract in Chinese, differing from the German contract. Hung Shung works seven days a week at the restaurant, more than 10 hours a day. He sleeps on a mattress in the cellar of the restaurant. He cannot permit himself to have an argument with his boss since his boss took away his passport. His visa is only valid for working at the restaurant of his boss. This is not what Hung Shung had in mind when coming to Germany for work. People told him that you can earn a lot of money if you just work hard.
Jan does not know that Hung Shung is a victim of trafficking. He is just one amongst millions of people who are being exploited in the global production chains. What Jan doesn’t know either is where the meat in his meal comes from.
It is the meat from a nameless Peking duck. This duck did not lead a happy life on a farm. It has never seen the sun. And although Peking ducks are water birds, it has never swum in a pond. It was raised in a fattening house in Vechta in Emsland, a region in northern Germany, which has become synonymous with industrialised poultry farming. Its life lasted for no more than six weeks. Towards the end of its life it could no longer stand on its feet, since muscle growth was promoted for maximum weight gain.
Neither Jan nor Hung Shung know that animal rights activists call this kind of breeding torture breeding.
This first story is based on the following references: Cyrus, Vogel & de Boer (2010); http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux#Entwicklung_heute, http://opensourceecology.org/; KTBL (2009); Moldenhauer (2004, 2005); PETA (2012); Statistisches Bundesamt (2012); Wassermann & Winter (2001).
Jan’s vision of a good life reflects many aspects that are of vital importance to large-scale trans-formations. And that is: working independently together with others, focusing on the practical value of one’s work without any alienation, his commitment to Global Knowledge Commons, his enthusiasm for Open Source Ecology, which is also about establishing a new relation between people/society and nature.
Thus, by mixing open source permacultural and technological cycles, people like Marcin Jaku-bowski intend to provide for basic human needs while being good stewards of the land, using resources sustainably, and pursuing sustainable livelihoods. Openly shared information is a gift that enables us to manufacture industrial products locally, using open source design and digital fabrication.
Although Jan is fighting for a better world, caring has been neglected (so far). Caring in the sense of caring for people that depend on him and the responsibility that comes with it, that is to make an individual contribution and to actively look for structures of collective responsibility. Jan is young. He has no children yet and there are no relatives or friends in need of care.
This begs the question: Do all people with their different biographical backgrounds have the same opportunities to become a Commoner? I will use the third story to elaborate on this aspect.
The story of Jan, Hung Shung and the duck, however, illustrates that we are still nowhere near this vision of a good life in harmony with nature. Hung Shung and the nameless duck represent the destructive components of the prevailing production processes. The aliveness is subordinated to making and maximising profits.
The market considers reproductive activities such as preparing a meal as a service of usually little value, involving low costs.
I have to say that this example is not an exaggeration: The story of Hung Shung was reported to a Berlin human rights’ organisation (Cyrus, Vogel & de Boer 2010). This is not an isolated case.
The aim of this conference is to create a vision of “working and caring in a world of commons”. I believe that creating a vision also means expressing criticism. That is why I think that it is essential to draw attention to the fact how hostile to life the current system is. I am convinced that it is equally important to identify the reasons for this hostility. They can be found in the market logic.
Based on this criticism we can forge alliances and look for common ground between trade unions and human rights’ activists. I can very well imagine that calling for “doing away with labour” may sound strange to trade unionists. We may bridge this gap by calling for decent work, thus paving the way for reflecting on this issue together. We may also want to have a common debate answering the question: What kind of paid activities would we like to promote because they can contribute to a good life? This will shift the focus to the question of quality and purpose, which provide the sense of working.
Partners teaming up for a world, in which everything that is alive will be respected and appreci-ated, are a phenomenon that we know from animal or ecological movements or animal studies. In the highly industrialised agricultural sector of the Global North, there is no room left for animals as creatures, as living beings with their own rights. In a world of caring and commoning, we need to create a new relation between people/society and animals/nature.
3.2 Second story: Sonja, her mother and a Polish nurse. Or: The economisation and ethnicisation of transnational care chains
This is Sonja. She is a carer for the elderly working for an outpatient nursing service. She doesn't earn much and working with elderly, sometimes slightly confused and lonely people, can be emo-tionally challenging. But she has never regretted taking on this job. In the past few years, however, she has grown increasingly concerned whether this is still the right job for her given the changing circumstances. The requirements for nursing care are getting ever stricter. All activities are expressed in time. And time is what they don’t have. As if it was possible to feed and wash people or change diapers ever more rapidly. This leaves her hardly any time to talk to elderly people, because if she talks to them, she will not be able to finish work in time. It was only last month that following the advice of a controlling agency the head of the nursing service asked Sonja and her female colleagues (at the moment there is not a single male colleague) to draw up a list with all “hidden” activities. They were categorised and then banned from their daily working routine to save time and money and to be more efficient. These activities also included retrieving the mail from the letter box and giving it to the person in need of care because they themselves were no longer able to do so. Sonja and the other nurses, however, have continued to fetch the mail. But now this is an additional, hidden activity they are not paid for.
Sonja often thinks of her own mother who is suffering from dementia but lives far away with her sister in southern Germany. They couldn’t bring themselves to put their mother into a home, pre-cisely because Sonja knows how little time is left for the staff to take loving care of the patients. However, she cannot work full-time and take care of her ill mother. Her mother needs care 24/7. Sonja is therefore very grateful to her sister that she takes care of her mother and also to her brother-in-law who is now the only breadwinner in the household. Sonja often feels bad about it, because of her mother who gave her a carefree childhood, because of her sister who is no longer able to make time for herself and because of her brother-in-law who used to share the financial burden with her sister and is now even forced to be the only breadwinner.
Sonja gets very worried when thinking of what it would be like when she is old and needs to be taken care of. She hasn’t met anyone yet she can imagine to share a flat with when being old. Maybe a multigenerational house would be a better idea. Because if all flatmates were old and probably ill, who would be helping whom? But is it really possible to provide care in a multigenera-tional house? What is most definitely out of the question is hiring a Polish nurse to care for her at home like her elderly neighbour did. Sonja has a vivid memory of meeting Ola in the hallway. She was very sad because it was her little daughter’s birthday and she could not be with her and her family in Poland. Sonja has only very recently learned of a more promising approach on TV. The report was entitled “Getting older in community”. It was about the community Bürgergemeinschaft in Eichstetten that has agreed by contract with the people living in the community that the village „puts the intergenerational contract into practice in everyday life“. This means that those who so wish are guaranteed to be able to grow old at home. Sonja is thrilled at this new idea of care which is based on a combination of voluntary and social work. The community arranges for social and basic public services. However, she has quickly realised that similar to her nursing service this type of care model involves again mainly female carers.
This second story is based on the following references: Biesecker & Gottschlich (2005); Brenssell (2012); Çağlar, Gottschlich & Habermann (2012); Gottschlich (2012); Lang & Wintergerst (2013); Wichterich (2013).
This is an example from Germany, where care for the elderly is a big issue due to demo-graphic change. This is another example illustrating very well the following: It is the under-lying principle of the existing economic system to externalise reproductive activities/ care services. This leads to depreciation and underestimation of care work provided by the mar-ket (in our story: paid care for the elderly): It is poorly paid, working conditions are getting worse and it is mainly provided by women.
In market terms, the reason for low pay is: low productivity. In fact, the productivity and efficiency of these activities cannot be increased. As long as market criteria are used to evalu-ate care work, it will always remain undervalued since there are no or only restricted possi-bilities to make these activities more profitable (Wichterich 2013).
Caring for other people's lives thus goes against the logic of profit maximisation and efficiency dominating the market economy. There is less and less time for care and nursing of people. Nursing has been transformed into accounted piece work based on listed unit prices. This short-term rationale of maximising (financial) benefits has nothing to do with human dignity or quality of life. Since paid care work (in the form of personal services) has also the aim to support old and ill people or those who are in need of assistance in coping with eve-ryday life. These are time-consuming activities. Care givers are required to be alive and hu-man. Transferring capitalist economic principle to care work has a destructive impact on care receivers as well as on care givers who take their care work very seriously (Gottschlich 2012).
When care work is provided privately, other aspects of the crisis of reproductive activities are prevalent. Care givers are under great psychological and physical stress, they cannot provide for themselves financially because they give unpaid care to others. This problem is often solved privately by falling back to traditional, gendered division of labour (women give care, men earn money).
That’s why it is of vital importance to recognise care work as a challenge to be addressed by the whole of society: This, however, means that a paradigm shift is required, i.e. we need different evaluation criteria in society for activities that make a contribution to reproductive activities benefiting the whole of society, in intangible terms (appreciation) as well as tangi-ble terms (providing a livelihood).
We have to critically reflect on the emerging transnational ethnicised care chains (Polish female carer). For the individual this may mean that there is empowerment of foreign women who work as household workers or domestic carers (strengthening their independence and freeing them somehow from the economic, social, cultural and religious constraints of their home country.) Just as often, though, this comes at a high price for individuals because they are separated from their families and friends. This means in structural terms that gendered division of work (between women and men) will continue to exist in the area of reproductive activities, compounded by a division of work between women according to their ethnic origin. The problem of lacking caregivers in Germany is “solved” by hiring women from Poland. And the lack of caregivers in Poland is “compensated” by carers from Ukraine. Christa Wichterich (2013) called this the “imperial reproduction process”.
In the example of the citizen´s community in the South German City of Eichstetten caring is commoning. This may seem as the most normal thing in the world to people with a different cultural background, similar to the saying: “It takes a village to bring up a child.” However, this is a small (institutional) revolution by German standards. But even in this case of commoning, the feminisation of care work continues to exist, as this model almost exclusively relies on women as well (Lang & Wintergerst 2013; Wichterich 2013). But aren´t we all re-sponsible for maintaining and ensuring the generative productivity of our society?
3.3 Third story: Marlin, Neela and care work for children. Or: Livelihood provisioning work and the difficulty to bridge the gap between life and work
Marlin went to the playground to meet other parents. The weather is fine and they want to continue the debate that was raised at last night's parents meeting. Should you pay for domestic work? And if so, how much money should you earn? Marlin feels like travelling back in time. She remembers her mother having a similar debate in Germany in the late 1970s. The aim, however, was not to monetise all activities. The idea was rather to raise awareness for domestic work. Domestic work has been excluded from the economic system so far and it has been mainly women carrying out his work, which can be identified as being the other half of capitalist exploitation. Only very recently, her Indian friend Neela told her on the phone that the women’s movement in India initiated a campaign with the slogan “all wo/men are workers”, no matter whether people work in the productive sector or in care services. This campaign too has expressed a general criticism of the economic system. It is about joining forces to provide a counterbalance to the increasingly corporate-driven growth paradigm that tends to overexploit common pool resources, and denies recognition and valuation of all livelihood provisioning work. Neela made it very clear: The issue is not to pay for housework and be done with it, but to enable societies to evolve forms of mutual and collective forms of support and respect for care work.
Marlin can very well understand why. She has made the same experience. Since their children were born, she and her husband have taken on the traditional roles performed by man and women. Before that they shared all reproductive activities, be it cleaning, washing or cooking. She loves spending time with her children but she also misses her work as a journalist. She used to love writing articles for Wikipedia. But now after putting her children to bed, she is much too tired to do so. But all parents she knows have too little time. Too little time for themselves, too little time for political engagement. It's the same for all parents, even for those who are trying hard to equally share all reproductive activities like her friends Kristin and Murat. They would like to spend as much time with their children as possible but they also love to being (gainfully) employed. Not to mention the fact that both of them have to earn money given their lifestyle. Living on one income would not be possible. At the same time, however, she feels stuck between a rock and a hard place. Her life is dic-tated by the requirements relating to gainful employment. Reproductive activities must be adjusted to meet these requirements. It is always a problem when institutions such as kindergartens or schools are closed for holidays and neither she nor her husband have sufficient leave days. But it is also a problem when her children fall ill or are dawdling in the morning and Murat misses his train for work.
Marlin couldn't think of anyone she knows who has been able to bridge the gap between life and work, who works in different areas forming a harmonious whole, who does not have to fear for their very existence and actively participates in shaping a world providing a good life for everyone. Tomorrow she will attend a lecture. She has already asked a childminder to look after her children. The Housework Commons: Choosing to do Domestic Work in Community. That sounds interesting. The speaker will talk about his experience of organising time-based economics that is being practiced in intentional communities in the US. This might be inspiring. Change may be possible...
This third story is based on the following references: Biesecker & Gottschlich (2013); Dalla Costa & Jones (1973); König & Jäger (2011); Winker (2012; Allen Butcher, 2013).
As different as realities may be on this planet, domestic work and childcare are underestimated almost everywhere, offering no or too little socioeconomic security to those who per-form care work or domestic work. And almost everywhere in the world, this issue is closely linked to gender injustice.
From a feminist perspective, monetising these activities that combine living and working is not an option. How to measure it? Playing with children and cleaning up afterwards, washing their clothes, comforting them when they get injured, putting them to bed and reading bedtime stories? This will be obvious to people familiar with the Commons discourse. Commons cannot be measured either, but they are of immeasurable value. They are common wealth.
But the critical question remains: Who cares for us in a world in which we care for others but still need money to survive? We need a transition strategy. For example, we need to discuss whether a basic income might be worth considering to provide a temporary solution to the problem.
At the moment, it is an interdependent and hierarchical relation between paid and unpaid work. As I said in my opening remarks, unpaid care work is the basis for paid work. At the same time, it is paid work with its tight schedule, its efficiency requirements, its logics based on competition and maximisation of financial benefits that makes it so hard to perform unpaid work and care.
There is another problem that is striking and needs to be discussed. The problem of being involved in the existing structure of the market and the structure of care economy, i.e. the necessity to earn money while providing care to others. So there is little time and space left to think of and put alternatives in place. There is no time for self-development and leisure. There is no time for political involvement. There is no time for commoning. Biographically speaking, people start to feel the effect of these interdependent crises of gainful employment and reproductive activities when having children and/or caring for ill, elderly relatives. The gendered division of work often starts or intensifies with the birth of the first child. However, there are some exceptions indicating new coping strategies. People often seek more gainful employment to pay for support in the reproductive area, especially for cleaning (and this is where the ethniciting processes of global reproduction chains kicks in. In Germany, many people who are poorly paid to do the cleaning in other people’s homes have a migrant background).
We need a vision of how to establish a framework for a good life. We need to answer the question of how to reduce all those activities that do not promote a good life while increasing the quantity and quality of those activities that will help us to turn our vision of a good life into reality. No matter whether we will get paid for those activities or not.
3.4 Fourth story: Veronica, the maize and the destruction of subsistence farm-ing. Or: the relation between financial markets and empty pots
It is not the news form the finance markets that makes Veronica Díaz worry about how to provide for enough food to feed her three children tonight. But in the end, it is the stock exchange news that is at the root of it. After all, the price for maize also depends on these reports and tortillas, which are key basic foodstuff in Mexico, are made from maize. Like millions of other Mexicans, so called Campesinos, who are mostly but not only subsistence farmers, Campesinos, Veronica had lost out in the competition with international agribusinesses and was thus forced to leave her village and live in the slums of a big city in the North: Tijuana. Veronica Díaz still has a job at a world market factory, a Maquiladora. She knows, however, that at the age of almost 30 she risks losing her job because the factory prefers hiring very young workers who are not so quick in fighting bad working conditions. But today she is facing another problem: So far her wage has been hardly enough to pay for transport and food, but what to do in the face of rapidly increasing maize prices?
Yesterday she talked to her neighbour about how destructive this world is: a world, in which investing in the real economy seems much less profitable than investing in financial businesses, a world, in which it is allowed to bet on prices for maize, wheat and other food. As if the world was just one big casino. Many people living in the Global North are involved in the speculation in agricultural commodities without even being aware of it. When investing into pension funds or life insurances to provide for old age, there money is sometimes invested in the speculation on foodstuffs. After, it are these prices that decide whether Veronica’s children will get tortillas tonight or not.
Investing in the real economy, however, is not per se desirable either. Veronica has only worked with this contact lenses production company for a few years but the destruction of her skin caused by her dealing with toxic substances on a daily basis is already visible. The exploitation of workers – most of them are women due to lower wages and the inhumane working conditions offered by many multinational firms – is real but not ethical.
Veronica believes that we need fundamental change in the way business is done today. But even new ideas, such as the Green Economy concept, don’t touch upon existing inequalities, sometimes they even make them worse.
Subsistence farming in the Global South, for example, is constantly being destroyed because so much land is needed for renewable energies. In terms of the Green Economy, this is just a conversion measure. Her friend Bettina Cruz Velázquez was touring Europe in spring 2012 to tell people that they had to give the agricultural land in her village to an electricity company for the erection of wind turbines. People in Mexico, however, fought very hard for this land during the Mexican Revolution in 1910, which was then granted to them as inalienable common land. But since the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) came into force, these areas have been privatised again. At the same time, the forest where edible fruits are growing (such as Pitayas) has also been cleared for this purpose. And also the sea with the fish they eat to survive, is full of offshore installations. Deprived of all natural resources to ensure their livelihood, people here and elsewhere are often only left with one option: moving to the slums, where they need money and are much worse off than before.
This fourth story is based on the following references: Çağlar, Gottschlich & Habermann (2012); Foodwatch (2011); Oxfam Deutschland (2012).
The story focuses on subsistence farming, which cannot be found in official economic data but helps provide a livelihood. The increasing destruction of subsistence farming is also a result of the crisis of the (re)productive. Free trade agreements and policies of liberalisation have reduced maize diversity and increased prices as we heard yesterday in the keynote speech delivered by Silke Helfrich and David Bollier.
Another big issue is the fact that subsistence farming is threatened by the competition overr land. The land is not needed for growing subsistence crops but for renewable energies, that is energy crops, but also for wind parks, as it was mentioned in the beginning.
Under the current economic system, the “issue of land” refers to the fact that what we call common goods (and now I am really referring to goods) is subjected to the logic of a rentier state. Just owning something or having property rights leads to monetary profit. And this does not only apply to oil and sometimes to knowledge but also to land (including the land used for wind parks). The rentier benefits from his monopoly and the blockade.
Nature is privatised and overexploited, which leads to the destruction of its productivity. The Commons, however, would lose out on this productivity of nature that otherwise could be used for a good life.
What we need is the separation of these resources - that do not belong to one person alone - from the logic of the rentier state.
An article written by Armin Falk, a German professor of economics, was published in the latest edition of the journal “Science”. This article has turned the world of many economists upside down: He made an experiment to see whether the market tempts people to commit immoral deeds. And indeed it does. Many people tend to ignore their own moral values if the anonymity of the market enables them to either save or earn money. The market creates a distance between us and the conse-quences of our own actions. We see neither the working conditions under which people like Hung Shung or Veronica Diaz have to suffer in the global production chain nor do we see the factory farming in Northern Germany when buying cheap food. “Others do it too, so the individual seems to have only little influence. It seems to be an “infringement” that is socially accepted.” (Heuser 2013: 21).
While the market seems to take away responsibility due to the distance it creates, Caring and Commoning require proximity and responsibility (care is relational work), thus strengthening moral values and social norms.
Hence, we can conclude that the aim of developing a new way of living and working is twofold:
Expressing radical criticism of the destructive market logic and making efforts to push it back.
Working on a vision and (re)thinking the role of human (re)productive activity and its inherent nature in a generative commons network beg the question of how to ensure a fair balance of responsibility: between individual and collective responsibility, between men and women, between people of different “ethnic origin”, between the Global North and the Global South etc.
Yet, we have to differentiate between the different levels of discussion: criticism or vision, transition strategy or options that have already been implemented or those that are still evolving in our imagination.
Creating new working environments as I have described in the first story of Jan as a networker helps us to blur the distinction between producer and consumer leading us to the notion of the prosumer. But prosumption does nevertheless not yet mean that we have fully overcome the separation of these two spheres of production and reproduction. Yet, they remain two sides of one and the same coin, namely “(re)productivity” (Biesecker & Hofmeister 2010).
The aim is to shape the whole of all those activities that are required for a resilient livelihood provisioning system. This leads us, amongst others, to the vision of (re)prosumption. We will have to use this combined vision to reorganise work (see working page to frame the "working and caring stream" by Heike Löschmann).
Reduction in working hours, minimum wages, decent working conditions, social and ecological standards are all essential on the way to bringing about change.
But: All of these actions refer to the remodelling of gainful employment/paid labour. This is undoubtedly very important. But there will only be room for gainful employment in this vision of new working environments if it promotes the means for a good life for each individual, for the society and for nature. Gainful employment will no longer be at the heart of work since it also includes alienated work, which is part of the problem. And last but not least it is up to trade unions to face up to the challenge of redefining their activities to embrace this new trend: re-organising work not just for, but as a good life.
For this vision to be realised we need:
new alliances,
a variety of strategies to match the complexity of the various transformation requirements since there is no blueprint for transformation.
Room for collective thinking and experimenting.
On the road to changing thoughts, perceptions, values and judgements, there are still more questions than answers. We will have to explore them, one by one and find answers and solutions.
I finally like to invite you to our expeditions into (re)thinking the role of human (re)productive activity and its inherent nature in a generative commons network in the coming days.
Daniela Gottschlich, Leuphana University Lüneburg, Germany.
Download the full keynote including the mentioned literature here and the accompanying presentation here.
Economics and the Common(s): From Seed Form to Core Paradigm
The international conference took place from May 22nd to May 24th and opened up some new vistas in politics, economics and culture by exploring the commons as an alternative worldview and provisioning system, as well as a coherent field of inquiry and action. more»
The commons is about reclaiming, sharing and self-governing resources that belong to everyone. As a form of governance it is defending traditional or building new systems for managing our resources, based on the principles of equity and sustainability. The commons is a practical means for re-inventing society in ways that markets and governments are unable or unwilling to entertain. » Dossier
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1858
|
__label__wiki
| 0.931929
| 0.931929
|
Joseph J. Wilder Q.C.
Belva and Joe Wilder
L to R: Joshua, Sheri, Belva, Joe, Kenny and David
L to R: Kenny, Joe, Joshua, Belva, David and Sheri
Joseph Wilder
Joe Wilder signs his Endowment Book of Life story
Joe Wilder was born on November 3, 1935 in Winnipeg's renowned North End - Isabel and Alexander to Jack and Rose (Garfinkel) Wilder. Arriving in Winnipeg in the 1920's Jack was from Bessarabia Romania, the only boy in a family of five daughters. Rose also arrived in that same era from Mezirich Poland, one of three children. After marrying, Jack and Rose eventually moved to the west- end of the city to operate a small grocery store.
Being raised in a predominantly non-Jewish neighbourhood was to have a profound life-long effect on Joe. His parents ensured that he was very aware of his ethnicity and faith, and encouraged him always to defend it. They promoted a strong sense of connection with the Jewish community, and instilled a love for all things Jewish. From a young age, and particularly once he started at Laura Secord School, he was very conscious of being Jewish and learned to confront anti-semitism.
In his youth, community participation centered primarily around the old "Y" on Albert Street, but his involvement took on a life of it's own when he was elected a youth delegate to the Canadian Jewish Congress Plenary in Montreal in 1953. He has now been involved with the CJC for almost 50 years, including several terms on the National Executive, a term as Vice-President, and one term as honourary legal counsel. Much of his energy at CJC has been devoted to the defense of the Jewish people. His activity over the years both at the local and national level led to the position of Chairman for Canada of the CJC's Community Relations Committee (1989-1992). Under his leadership, for the first time a network of regional offices of the Community Relations Committee was established in every major city in Canada, to identify and combat anti-Semitism. This committee, among its many activities also monitored and assisted in the prosecution of James Keegstra, Ernst Zundel, Malcolm Ross and other known protagonists. It continues to this day and is one of the few national committees in the Jewish community with venues in every region of the country.
Joe has the record as the longest serving board member of the Jewish Federation of Winnipeg and its predecessors (Jewish Welfare Fund, Winnipeg Jewish Community Council). He has been a board member of the Canada Israel Committee, the Jewish community's National Advocacy Committee and now serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors for Canada. He has served on the Board of the Canadian Council of Christians & Jews, Canadian Friends of the Hebrew University, UIA Federations Canada, and in June 2001 was elected as a Board member of The Jewish Foundation of Manitoba.
In 1956, Joe graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree, and in 1960 with his L.L.B. from the University of Manitoba. He was an honours student in each year. During university days he held such positions as President of Sigma Alpha Mu Fraternity, President of B'Nai Brith Hillel Foundation and Vice-President of the University of Manitoba Students' Union. In 1960 he was awarded the UMSU gold ring as one of two outstanding graduates of the University of Manitoba. After graduating, he practiced with Walsh Micay for seven years and then commenced his own practice. He was joined by his brother Sam a year later and they continue in practice under the name Wilder, Wilder & Langtry.
The general community has also been the benefactor of Joe's community volunteerism. He has served as President of the Winnipeg Football Club (Blue Bombers) Governor of the Canadian Football League, President and long-time member of the Board of Directors of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Member of the Board of the Winnipeg Folk Festival, Member of the Board of Victoria General Hospital, and he was on the board of directors of the 1999 Pan Am Games. In addition, he has served as Honourary Counsel for such organizations as the 1990 Western Canada Summer Games, the 1991 Grey Cup Festival Committee, the 1999 Pan American Games Bid Committee, Folk Arts Council of Winnipeg, and the Winnipeg Football Club.
In August, 1959 Joe married Belva Cham, the daughter of Leon and Clara Cham. Together they had four children ... Sheri (1960), Kenny (1963), David (1965) and Joshua (1973). Joe suffered a grievous loss when Belva, who had always supported him in all his endeavours passed away in 1996. Joe speaks of Belva as a gentle soul who was "loved by all". Belva distinguished herself as a selfless volunteer with the Canadian Mental Health organization for which she was duly recognized on several occasions.
Joe remembers 1967 as "a tremendous time to be a Jew". The Six-Day War renewed feelings of pride in being a Jew, and the Winnipeg Jewish community stood together in solidarity for Israel. "Through the years this community has distinguished itself," he says, "and all that we have accomplished must be maintained". Joe feels that the Winnipeg Jewish community has much to be proud of and feels that our community must constantly educate our younger members so that they have a sense of their roots and traditions. We have something here of great value."
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1859
|
__label__wiki
| 0.857664
| 0.857664
|
Home › Biography and Memoirs › Campaign Hawaii
Campaign Hawaii
For more than a half-century, Rick Tsujimura has been one of the true believers who work behind the scenes to get out the vote—the campaign staff and volunteers who canvass neighborhoods and stuff envelopes and hold signs at the side of the road, tirelessly supporting their candidates during election season. In Campaign Hawai‘i, Tsujimura shares stories of life on the campaign trail—the backroom strategizing, ethnic voting and mud-slinging, the exhilaration of victory and the disappointment of defeat on election night. It’s an inside view sharpened by Tsujimura’s long years spent toiling in the trenches for Jack Burns, George Ariyoshi, John Craven and Ben Cayetano, and running campaigns for Eileen Anderson, Arnold Morgado, Jeremy Harris, Randy Iwase, Neil Abercrombie and Kirk Caldwell.
“I hope these stories bring some life to events that voters may have heard about, but whose details have faded with time,” the author says. “This book is not so much a historical account of events, but a record of the lessons learned during my years of exposure to the political process in Hawai‘i.” Campaign Hawai‘i is a primer for campaign workers and candidates alike, and a great read for anyone who follows politics, Hawaiian-style.
Rick Tsujimura earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science from the University of Hawai‘i and a Juris Doctor from the Loyola Law School. He is of counsel to the law firm Ashford & Wriston and serves on the boards of the Queens Health Systems, the East-West Center and Global Hope Networks International in Geneva, Switzerland.
“With equal measures of intelligence and humility, Tsujimura explicates both victories and defeats. Students of politics, take out your notebooks and sharpen your pencils.” —Dan Boylan, Emeritus Professor of History, University of Hawai‘i − West O‘ahu.
Author: Rick Tsujimura
Softcover, 240 pp
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1861
|
__label__cc
| 0.693942
| 0.306058
|
Home › Art Books › Cornelia Parker
Cornelia Parker
Cornelia Parker is one of the most thoughtful and profound artists working in Britain today. Exploring everything from ghosts and gravity to relics and the unconscious, she transforms everyday, ordinary objects into compelling works of art. Parkers projects which have included blowing up a shed, steamrolling musical instruments, exploding a firework made from a pulverised meteorite, and suspending charcoal taken from a church struck by lightning have captured the public imagination since she first came to prominence in the 1990s. This monograph, now available in paperback, traces the development of her art from the late 1970s to the present day. Organised chronologically to show the development of her thinking and practice, the book also features five thematic essays by curator and writer Iwona Blazwick. Over 175 works are illustrated, each accompanied by a commentary from the artist herself. The book features a preface by Yoko Ono and an introduction by Bruce Ferguson, which places Parkers work in context.
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1862
|
__label__wiki
| 0.703868
| 0.703868
|
Duke Robillard throws a swinging “Blues Bash”
November 30, 2020 Jim WhiteLeave a comment
The first time I saw Michael John “Duke” Robillard, to the best of my fading recollection, was about 42 years ago, in the late 70s, at a club called the Decade in Pittsburgh. He was fronting the band he had founded about ten years before that — the jumping, swinging music of Roomful of Blues.
Since then, Duke has carried his guitar and his expert musical chops through scores of albums, and seemingly almost as many musical styles and genres — all rooted deeply in the blues.
All of which leads to Robillard’s (& Friends) latest album, “Blues Bash” (Stony Plain Records), a tasty throwback to some traditional blues styles. There’s tough guitar, some rollicking piano (the best kind), and enough horns to satisfy the horniest of musical desires. Some of the Friends include, from Roomful, saxmen Rich Lataille, Greg Piccolo and Doug James.
The opening tracks kick off with two fine blues, the exuberant “Do You Mean It” with Chris Cote shouting big vocals, and the scorching “No Time,” laced with tough harp lines.
“What Can I Do” rolls in on that rollicking piano from Bruce Bears, kicked along by some spiffy sax work, and the bash continues until things take a double entendre turn with Michelle “Evil Gal” Willson singing “You Played On My Piano (and now you wanna beat my drums…”) surrounded by sinuous guitar. “I Ain’t Gonna Do It” follows with furious boogie woogie.
There are more, of course, in the same swinging style, a vintage treat from a vintage Duke. And at the end, after you’ve jiggled yourself into a blues frenzy, pour a couple fingers of bourbon over a big ice cube and unwind into Duke’s gently swinging closer, “Just Chillin.”
All of this adds up to a fine ensemble effort, from a group of excellent musicians, all comfortable within themselves, and masterfully woven together by Robillard.
Or, as Duke describes “Blues Bash”: “Packed with plenty of bright sounding Fender guitar a la Ike Turner, Lefty Bates, etc. Just a good listening or dancing record like the blues records I bought when I was a kid. It was pretty much a reunion of sorts and I wanted the material to be simple, straight-ahead ‘50s style blues and R&B… Basically it’s a blues party album and that feeling is what I wanted to convey.”
Indeed it is. Enjoy the party.
Here’s a promotional video of the lead track, “Do You Mean It”
“Blues Bash” track list:
1. Do You Mean It (featuring Chris Cote)
2. No Time
3. What Can I Do (featuring Chris Cote)
4. Everybody Ain t Your Friend
5. Rock Alley
6. You Played On My Piano (featuring Michelle “Evil Gal” Willson)
7. I Ain t Gonna Do It
8. You Don t Know What You re Doin (featuring Chris Cote)
9. Give Me All The Love You Got
10. Just Chillin
Happy Thanksgiving from the Roadhouse
November 26, 2020 November 26, 2020 Jim White1 Comment
At the risk of revealing that I’m no longer a young person, I’m happy to say that I saw Arlo debut the song at the Newport Folk Festival in 1967. It was magical. And very funny when you hear it for the very first time.
Blues Grammy album nominees announced — all 10 of them
November 24, 2020 November 24, 2020 Jim WhiteLeave a comment
Well, the Grammy nominees were announced today, and since I know you are all on the edge of your thoroughly disinfected seats awaiting the list, I thought I’d share the ten albums that earned Grammy’s attention in the blues category. Two categories, actually, traditional and contemporary.
Here they are, for your amusement or consideration:
Best Traditional Blues Album
For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new vocal or instrumental traditional blues recordings.
ALL MY DUES ARE PAID
Frank Bey
Don Bryant
THAT’S WHAT I HEARD
Robert Cray Band
CYPRESS GROVE
Jimmy “Duck” Holmes
RAWER THAN RAW
Best Contemporary Blues Album
For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new vocal or instrumental contemporary blues recordings.
HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND YET?
Fantastic Negrito
LIVE AT THE PARAMOUNT
Ruthie Foster Big Band
THE JUICE
G. Love
UP AND ROLLING
And if you have broader interests, here is a link to every Grammy nominee in all of the 83 categories.
John Lee Hooker: New vinyl, old photo, “I’m in the Mood”
Just recently, I noticed a new release of John Lee Hooker music, a double vinyl album titled “Live at Montreux – 1983 & 1990,” on Eagle Records.
I might not have mentioned it, since it’s a double album in vinyl, but I know that more and more music is being released in this great old format for its sound quality, and also so you can have those nice big album covers to hang on the wall for artwork. Like we did in the ’60s. With beads.
This is a live album (I know, that should be obvious), and as far as I can tell, not yet streaming. On the other hand, the music has been previously released on two earlier, separate albums, which are streaming, at least on Amazon Music. So what’s new here is the double set, the vinyl, and a pair of video packages for each concert.
If you’ve ever paid any attention to the blues, and maybe if you haven’t, you’ve heard of John Lee Hooker, one of the all-time greats. He left the Mississippi Delta when he was 14, apparently never looked back, and after performing a while in Memphis, moved around until he settled in Detroit, and was working as a janitor in a steel mill when he recorded “Boogie Chillen” in 1948.
He wrote and recorded prolifically, and like many bluesmen of his era, recorded under different names to avoid label contract problems while trying to earn more money. He sometimes recorded under the names John Lee Booker, Johnny Lee, John Lee, John Lee Cooker, Texas Slim, Delta John, Birmingham Sam and his Magic Guitar, Johnny Williams, and the Boogie Man.
His music was unusual — he often played with his own beat and tempo, making changes to suit the song, or maybe even his mood. It was sometimes repetitive, often hypnotic. Plus, he always looked really sharp. Usually with a fine fedora.
Another reason for wanting to write about this new release is that I’ve been looking for a chance to show off some of my blues photography. I don’t come anywhere close to the massive and creative body of work of my favorite blues boxman, Joe Rosen, but I do have a few things that I like, and which generate fond memories.
Jim White photo
This Hooker photo is one of them. It was taken around 1980, in a club called Mancini’s Lounge, in the town of McKees Rocks, just outside Pittsburgh, where the blues flourished for a few years.
Hooker was starting his set, and as fans kept coming up to the stage and popping their flash cameras in his face (yes, Virginia, there was a time before cell phones existed), he quickly grew annoyed. So he told everyone to cut it out, or he would cut out – no more Hooker.
Well, I was standing around with my camera and long lens, and I didn’t usually use a flash anyway, but I didn’t want my big lens to scare him away. But I did want a photo. So I hid behind one of the speaker towers at the side of the stage, poked my lens around the front, and snapped off a few pics with the stage light available. Which happened to be red. And this red profile is the result.
It’s a decent photo, but it brings back great memories as well.
Hooker’s blues are unique and memorable, but one song I find among the most memorable is his duet recording of “I’m in the Mood” with Bonnie Raitt for the 1989 album, “The Healer.”
It’s about as sexy and sensual as the blues gets, and as much fun as it is to listen to, here’s a video that gives you a good idea of the interplay. Raitt has described the 1989 recording as “one of the highest erotic experiences of my life.”
Here are the tracks on the new double album:
1983 – LP 1
1. “It Serves Me Right To Suffer”
2. “I Didn’t Know”
3. “Hi-Heel Sneakers”
4. “If You Take Care Of Me, I’ll Take Care Of You”
5. “Boom Boom”
1. “Worried Life Blues”
2. “I’m Jealous”
3. “Crawlin’ King Snake”
4. “Boogie Chillen’”
1. John Lee Hooker Introduction
2. “Mabel”
3. “I’m In The Mood”
5. “Baby Lee”
3. “The Healer”
Reviews in brief: Kim Wilson, Chris Smither, Crooked Eye Tommy
November 17, 2020 March 4, 2021 Jim WhiteLeave a comment
Here are a few recent albums I’ve noticed that seem worthy of some attention.
Kim Wilson — “Take Me Back – The BigTone Sessions” M.C. Records
Wilson has been the lead singer and harp man for The Fabulous Thunderbirds for about 30 years now, but sometimes steps out on his own, This album is a nice throwback to a more traditional blues framework than the T-Birds often provide (not that the T-Birds aren’t still tuff enuff). This is more of a deep-blue, down-home album, with music steeped in the bubbling cauldron of Chicago blues. The harp work is fine and the vocals tough, and the old-fashioned mono and “live” recording need only a whiskey chaser to feel more authentic.
Chris Smither — “More from the Levee” Signature Sounds
Chris Smither may not be your idea of the typical bluesman, but his 50 years of writing, recording and performing his very personal brand of introspective music have always seemed to be well-informed by the blues. This album picks up where his 2014 retrospective “Still on the Levee” left off, with tracks that missed out on the earlier sides. It’s. is always worth a listen to see what Chris has to say about our world. This is an excellent example.
Here’s one of the tracks:
And here’s a video of Chris performing his now-classic “Love You Like a Man,” which people seem to associate more with Bonnie Raitt, who made it a big hit. She, of course, reversed the gender roles, and the song became “Love Me Like a Man.” I have no objection to that, but I have always been a little miffed because Bonnie also decided to change the first line of the song from:
“These men you’ve been seeing got their balls up on the shelf….”
To the somewhat more ethereal:
“Men that I’ve been seeing, baby, got their soul up on a shelf… “
Crooked Eye Tommy: “Hot Coffee and Pain” Blue Heart Records
Brother guitar duos are a rare and special commodity in the music world, with such a bond resulting in historic acts like AC/DC, The Kinks, CCR, The Everly Brothers and Stevie Ray and Jimmie Vaughan. Ventura County brothers Tommy and Paddy Marsh formed Crooked Eye Tommy in 2010, becoming six-time Ventura County Music Award winners and two-time International Blues Challenge semi-finalists (2014 and 2019) and in 2020 reached the IBC finals as a duo act.
Their new album (just their second), “Hot Coffee and Pain,” is a tasty blend of blues, rock and roots tracks, including six originals. Their style ranges from a high-intensity version of Son House’s “Death Letter Blues” on the opening track, to the soulfully sensual “Baby Where You Been,” a duet written by Tommy Marsh that features Teresa James on piano and vocals. These very talented and creative brothers deserve a listen.
Here’s the title track:
Buddy Guy and Son House featured on a 1968 TV show
More blues history from the vault — or at least from the depths of the world wide web.
Maybe this is newer to me than to some of you, but I thought it was still a striking pair of performances. The film is from an old TV show devoted to the arts called Camera Three, which ran from 1956 to 1980 on CBS and then PBS. This clip is one of the CBS episodes.
In some ways, 1968 doesn’t sound all that long ago. But on the other hand, some of you might not have been born yet. Or, looked at another way, more than a half-century ago. Or, on yet another hand, it was just one year after the Summer of Love. I know you remember that!
The show features a segment by Son House, then 66, and a set by Buddy Guy, then 32. Then, the best moments, a duet between the two — an all-too-brief pairing.
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1865
|
__label__wiki
| 0.743359
| 0.743359
|
History Brooklyn Boro
Kaufman’s Brooklyn: Seven photos of ‘Buildings: ‘New’ and older’
July 27, 2020 Phil Kaufman
Photos courtesy of Phil Kaufman
My father, Irving Kaufman (1910 – 1982), was a professional photographer who started in Brooklyn in the mid 1930s working for the Brooklyn Daily Eagle. He captured thousands of images of Brooklyn through the 1950s. I have recently digitized a great many of them. My father’s profile can be found here.
This week’s theme:
I’ve called this week’s theme “Buildings: ‘New’ and older.” Since the photos I’m displaying were taken at least 80 years ago, none of them qualify as new today. But many of them were fairly new at the time these photos were taken. Since these “new” buildings are already old today, the other ones have to be called “older.”
Once past my confusing attempt at accurate language, what remains is a display of interesting Brooklyn buildings from the 1930s. In most cases, the buildings were not incidental or in the background, but were the reason for the photograph. Some were meant for the Eagle, to display an interesting or important new site. Others were for a specific client who wanted a record of their property before or just after rebuilding or relocating. Finally, some shots were taken simply because they appealed to my father, as evidenced by his identifying many as taken on “One Sunday Afternoon.”
Today’s photos:
I’ll start the week’s examples with a number of buildings that were large and brand new or fairly new at the time these photos were taken. Most are still in place, often prominent and familiar, though they don’t look new to today’s observer, and are surrounded by much different scenes than they were so many years ago.
“New” Central Courts Building, c. 1935
My father identified this as the “New Central Courts Building,” which it was in 1935. It’s still the Central Courts Building, but it’s not still New. My father further describes it, in his notes for the Eagle, as the “site of the old Germania Club,” no doubt a familiar reference for many Brooklynites of the time. It was built from 1929 to 1932 between Schermerhorn, Smith and State streets. It currently houses the Criminal and Supreme Courts, and various city offices.
Inland icon, Williamsburg Savings Bank Tower, c. 1940
The first image of the week, appropriately, is the most visible and identifiable building in Brooklyn for most of the 20th century and into the 21st, second only to the Brooklyn Bridge in iconic stature. It was constructed from 1927 to 1929, and stands near the intersection of Atlantic, Flatbush and Fourth avenues. At 37 stories and 512 feet (156 meters) tall, it was the tallest building in Brooklyn from its opening until 2010. Another sign of the times, in addition to being surpassed in height, was its conversion into luxury condominium apartments beginning in 2007. It was designated an official city landmark in 1994.
Three landmarks: Brooklyn Trust, People’s Trust and National Title Company
Bank Row
The top picture shows a close view of three buildings. I included the second picture, from the other direction and showing a much wider view, to provide perspective. The three buildings are on Montague Street, at the corner of Clinton Street. Each has been designated a landmark by the NY Landmarks Preservation Commission. Strictly speaking, only the third building in from the corner — the National Title Company — was “new”-ish in 1940. It was designed and built in the popular Art Deco style in 1929 and 1930.
The second building from the corner, the neoclassical structure with four columns, is the People’s Trust Company Building. It was built considerably earlier, in 1904, but was designated a NY landmark in 2017 together with its Art Deco neighbor.
On the corner, the Brooklyn Trust Company Building dates to 1919, just between the ages of the other two. It became a NY landmark in 1996, 21 years before its two neighbors. Today the buildings, starting at the corner, are a Chase branch, followed by a Citibank branch, and a building that houses medical and other office spaces. Nevertheless, this stretch of three buildings is central to the Montague Street group known, appropriately, as “Bank Row.”
From Hotel to Witnesses to Watermark, The Towers Hotel, c. 1940
The Towers Hotel in Brooklyn Heights was opened in 1928. It served as a high-end hotel for almost half a century. Among its famous guests and part-time residents were the Brooklyn Dodgers when they were at home. It declined by the 1970s and was sold to the Jehovah’s Witnesses, who used it for decades to house its local staff. In 2017 the building was sold to a private equity real estate firm that has converted it into a high-end assisted living facility for seniors, named the Watermark at Brooklyn Heights. Like the Hotel St. George Tower on the next block, its roof remains a beautiful amenity with spectacular views of surrounding Brooklyn, the river, bridges, and lower Manhattan.
New home for hospital, Jewish Hospital and Sanitarium for Chronic Diseases, 1940
In the mid-1920s a group of Jewish philanthropists recognized the need for an institution to house long-term patients with chronic illnesses or conditions and who could not be cared for adequately in their homes. The result, in 1929, was a 300-bed facility. By the late 30s, the trustees recognized a need for updated and expanded facilities, leading to the construction of the new Jewish Hospital and Sanitarium for Chronic Diseases, which opened on June 29, 1940. My father covered the construction of this new building from 1937 to 1940, with many pictures of the building and grounds as the work progressed. This picture shows the main building, completed but not yet occupied.
The facility has been updated and expanded many times since, and is now the Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center, still at its original campus at Rutland Road and East 49th street in East Flatbush.
Sunday afternoon mystery, unknown building, c.1940
A frustrating number of my father’s photographs have been hard or impossible to identify. This is one of them. It comes from an envelope marked “One Sunday Afternoon.” Pictures labeled that way were generally of quiet, empty streets, usually leaving buildings as the prime attraction. Again, this fits the bill.
Sometimes there’s a hint: a street sign, a familiar building or landmark nearby, etc. But there’s no help in this one. The building looks new – in fact, most of the windows don’t seem to be present yet. Despite not knowing anything about it, I still find the building interesting and the composition of the scene appealing. Maybe my father felt the point was to leave the information out – even for his own future reference – and just let the scene speak for itself. But it would be nice to know what this building is, or was, so if you recognize it, please let me know.
An index of Kaufman’s Brooklyn posts may be found here.
Irving Kaufman’s profile may be found here.
I invite you to submit comments, memories, images of Brooklyn, and especially any additional background information you can supply about the photos posted here to [email protected] I’d also be glad to supply information about buying prints of any of the images seen here. Many of my father’s images are also available for viewing and purchase at http://yourartgallery.com/irvingkaufmanstudios. All prints purchased will be the product of professional scanning and editing.
Weekly collection 13: Photos of ‘Buildings: ‘New’ and older’
John Krevitt August 7, 2020
I do not know the building labelled “unknown c. 1940” but I believe the building to the left of this building in the picture is the main building of Kings County Hospital Center. This would also make sense if the picture of the building in question was stored near the picture of what is now Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center since they are in the same physical proximity.
https://brooklyneagle.com/articles/2020/07/27/kaufmans-brooklyn-photos-of-buildings-new-and-older/
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1867
|
__label__cc
| 0.554718
| 0.445282
|
Consolidation tales in the semiconductor industry: NXP buys Freescale
Published by BSIC on 7 March 2015 7 March 2015
NXP Semiconductor NV; Market Cap (as of 06/03/15): $22.7bn
Freescale Semiconductor Ltd; Market Cap (as of 06/03/15): $12.3bn
On March 2, NXP Semi announced it will acquire Freescale Semi in a $11.8bn transaction. Amalgamating the Eindhoven-based chip manufacturer with its American rival will create the leader in both Auto and MCU (Multi-Chip Unit) semiconductors, with combined revenues of more than $11bn and an enterprise value of $40bn.
About NXP
Founded in 1953 as a division of Phillips, NXP (NXPI) specializes in technology for cars, cyber security and the Internet of Things – an ultra-connected world of technology devices. Phillips then sold 80.1% of NXP to a private equity consortium (KKR, Bain, Silver Lake, Apax and AlpInvest Partners) in 2006 for $9.4bn. However, following cumulative losses of $5bn, NXP was re-listed on the NASDAQ in 2010. With revenues of $5.6bn in 2014 (+17.3% yoy), NXP is a top-twenty global seller of chips. NXP’s recent strategy has been to position itself in the mobile payment sector by providing Apple’s IPhone 6 with secured communication chips to complete transaction through Apple Pay.
About Freescale
Freescale was founded in 1948 as a division of Motorola with a portfolio of applications similar to NXP (i.e. MCU’s and automotive & communications chips), but is also specializes in radio frequency devices. Similar to NXP, Freescale was taken private by a consortium led by Blackstone for $17.6bn in 2006 and floated in 2011. Freescale generated $4.6bn of revenues in 2014 (+10.7% yoy).
Sector Overview
The semiconductor sector is currently undergoing concentration. Three acquisitions have already been announced this year: Avago Technologies acquisition of Emulex for $600m, Maxlinearpurchase $287m of Communication Inc, and Lattice Semiconductors $600m acquisition of Silicon Image. In 2014, Qualcom took over CSR for £1.56bn and Infineon Technologies acquired International rectifier for roughly $3bn.
Price competition, coupled with increasing R&D costs, has deteriorated the industry’s return on capital. To face this challenge, the only solution semiconductor companies have is to cut their operating expenses, which would only be effectively attainable through economies of scale. Additionally, the Internet of Things, which connects cars, houses, and other devices, has increased the demand for chips, especially in the mobile sector. However, chip manufacturers are facing a loss of bargaining power against Apple, Samsung and Nokia and the pressure to restructure before mobile payments become overwhelmingly attractive is rising.
Furthermore, as the companies in this sector are highly cyclical, they constantly face the risk of an economic downturn. This is the main reason private equity companies, which invested in NPX and Freescale in 2006, faced losses. They were not able to predict that their investment was made at the peak of the economic cycle. Back in 2006, the net debt/EBITDA ratios of NPX and Freescale were 5 and 6 respectively; this was a bet that the economic cycle was not going to turn. Downturns like that do not happen often and are difficult to predict. That is why the risk inherent in cyclical companies does not disappear and companies prefer to operate at lower debt ratios.
Strategic Rationale
Following the acquisition, NXP will occupy a leading position in the fragmented markets for both auto and broad-based MCU semiconductors with 13% and 14% market share respectively. As customers seek supply chain consolidation, requesting different semiconductor parts come together rather than individually, a dominant market share in both of these areas will strategically position NXP to maximize potential revenue synergies. As a result, NXP’s management has estimated that the combined entity will grow more than 1.5x faster than the market.
Additionally, the acquisition develops a broader and more diversified customer base for NXP. By cross-selling solutions, NXP can improve its presence in the USA, China and the EU while capturing emerging growth in the Smarter World – an idea encompassing the key ‘megatrends’ in Energy Efficiency, Connected Devices, Security and Health.
The deal structure
The deal values Freescale’s equity at $11.8bn, implying an enterprise value of $16.7bn when $4.9bn of net debt is taken into account. As a result, the P/E (TTM) stands at 47.0x. When compared with a sector average of 19.7x, according to Thomson Reuters, the deal appears relatively expensive for NXP. However, the implied P/E is only marginally higher than the trading multiple before the announcement of the transaction, which was approximately 44.0x, implying a very narrow premium (ca. 5%) as markets already valued Freescale richly. Moreover, the estimated 2015 P/E stands at 18.7x, in line with the sector. When analyzing EV/EBITDA ratios, the deal implies a multiple of 15.3x. Although slightly higher than average multiples of precedent transactions in the sector, the significant expected cost synergies should reduce realized ratio of the acquisition in the future.
According to the agreement, the deal will be settled through a combination of cash and shares. For each Freescale share, shareholders will receive 0.3521 of an NXP ordinary share and $6.25 in cash, implying an 83% shares and 17% cash deal structure. Hence, the total consideration will entail 115m NXP ordinary shares, $1bn of new debt and $1bn of cash from NXP’s cash-in-hand balance. As a result of the merger, NXP will have to face a high net debt burden since its net debt/EBITDA ratio, currently at ca. 1.5x, will increase to almost 3.0x. Therefore, the firm has committed to a disciplined FCF management in order to decrease the ratio to ca. 2.0x by Q3-2016. Moreover, notwithstanding the expected accretion effect on both EPS and FCF from year 1, mainly due to $200m in cost savings in the first full year after closing and $500m of annual cost synergies thereafter, the repayment of debt may negatively influence pay-out ratios in the future until 2016/2017.
Market Reaction & Closing
The market reacted positively to the announcement, showing genuine interest from investors in the deal. NXP share price jumped 17.3% to $99.56 from $84.895, while Freescale’s share price rallied 11.8% from $36.11 to $40.36 on the day of the announcement. Since Freescale shareholders benefit from interesting upside potential due to their 32% stake in the combined entity, with price movements set above the value implied by NXP’s offer.
The deal is expected to close in the second half of 2015, subject to regulatory approvals, customary conditions and approval from both companies’ shareholders.
Credit Suisse, which will provide financing for the deal, has been appointed as the exclusive financial advisor to NXP. Morgan Stanley acted as the exclusive financial advisor to Freescale.
[edmc id= 2454]Download as PDF[/edmc]
Categories: Corporate FinanceDebt DealsEquity DealsM&A Deals
Tags: AcquisitionAlpInvest PartnersApaxBainconsolidationcredit suissecyclical industrydebt ratiosFreescaleFreescale Semiconductor LtdkkrM&AMCUmergermorgan stanleyNXPNXP Semiconductor NVsemiconductorsilver lake
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1868
|
__label__wiki
| 0.840528
| 0.840528
|
Share this Story: Choice locations in the heart of the community
Choice locations in the heart of the community
Embrace all that inner-city living has to offer with the latest offerings by Landmark Homes.
Landmark Homes has been building in some of the most desirable inner-city communities since 2010 and has great response from the public, says area sales manager Sergio Russo.
Russo says people are choosing to move from the suburbs or outlying areas of Calgary back to the inner city for the convenience. “They’re tired of driving all the time and they want the convenience of being close to everything.”
Russo says Landmark Homes is currently building in Winston Heights, Crescent Heights and Mount Pleasant.
He says the company focuses only on choice locations within the heart of each community, such as near parks, and not on busy streets.
The homes being built have tended toward very modern and contemporary designs, and average about 1,900 square feet in size.
Yet they include all the features and high level of finish as Landmark’s larger homes, says Russo.
“We call them mini mansions. They have all the luxury, just a bit smaller.”
Homes are turn-key and include fully developed basements, landscaped yards and garages.
Landmark is known for its sustainable building practices, and its inner-city homes are no different.
Many have an Energy Guide rating of 86, compared with only 74 on a typical new home, thanks to the use of things like spray foam insulation, triple-pane windows and a high-velocity furnace.
In addition to building single-family and duplex homes in the inner city, Landmark also currently has an eight-unit townhome development called Concepts available in Crescent Heights.
Russo says the townhomes range from 1,490 to 1,776 square feet and include a single-car garage.
They are in a choice location about a 10-minute walk to downtown and near shops, restaurants and stores including a Safeway and Chinese grocery store.
For more information on a new inner-city home or townhome from Landmark Homes, contact Sergio Russo at 403-241-8594 or 403-512-3051 (cell).
Visit a show home in Mount Pleasant at 2220 5th St. N.W. Hours are Monday to Wednesday from 4 to 8 p.m., and weekends from noon to 5 p.m.
Choice locations in the heart of the community Back to video
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1873
|
__label__cc
| 0.688574
| 0.311426
|
IBEX Reports Results for the Year Ended July 31, 2021
IBXNF
IBEX Technologies Inc.
MONTRÉAL, Québec, Nov. 11, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- IBEX Technologies Inc. (“IBEX” or the “Company”) (TSX Venture: IBT) today reported its financial results for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2021.
“IBEX had another very good year, with EBITDA reaching a record level”, said Mr. Baehr, IBEX President & CEO. “The strong financial performance resulted from near-record revenues and a reduction in expenses, due mainly to the closure of the Iowa production facility. The increase in revenues was driven by strong sales of heparinase-based products.” He further stated: “We were particularly pleased by the strong fourth quarter sales which may be an indicator of a return to more normal purchasing patterns by our customers in the hemostasis diagnostics market segment.”
Note: All figures are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise stated. The Company’s audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended July 31, 2021 and the accompanying notes and the related management’s discussion and analysis is found on the Company’s website at www.ibex.ca or under the Company’s profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
FINANCIAL RESULTS FOR THE YEAR
Revenues for the year ended July 31, 2021 totaled $5,306,187 compared to $5,209,809 in the prior year, an increase of 2%. Revenues in constant dollars ($US) increased 8%.
Operating Expenses at $4,340,867 were down $85,248, due mainly to a decrease in SG&A because of the closing of the Iowa facility as well as the favorable impact of receipt of the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) and Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS), offset by a negative effect of foreign exchange.
As a result, the Company recorded EBITDA of $1,369,638 vs a $1,250,690 EBITDA in the same period year ago. Net earnings decreased to $761,503 compared to net earnings of $965,689 in the prior fiscal year attributed mainly to a one-time $498,368 positive non-cash adjustment in FY2020 relating to the Cumulative Translation Adjustments reclassified to earnings, offset by a decrease in income taxes and an increase in revenues and subsidies as explained above.
It should be noted that “EBITDA” (Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation & Amortization) is not a performance measure defined by IFRS, but we, as well as investors and analysts, consider that this performance measure facilitates the evaluation of our ongoing operations and our ability to generate cash flows to fund our cash requirements, including our capital expenditures program. Note that our definition of this measure may differ from the ones used by other public corporations.
FINANCIAL RESULTS FOR THE FOURTH QUARTER OF FISCAL 2021
Revenues for the quarter ended July 31, 2021 totaled $1,360,949 and were down by $85,580 (6%) from $1,446,799 in the same period of the prior year with currency changes having a negative impact.
Expenses before taxes were $1,123,801, down $201,201 vs $1,325,002 in the comparable quarter a year ago, due mainly to a positive effect of foreign exchange and the positive impact of the sale of our Iowa production facility in June 2020. Offsetting these decreases, IBEX received less subsidies this quarter as compared to the same quarter last year.
The company recorded net earnings of $29,424 down $274,368 vs. net earnings of $303,792 on a comparable basis in Fiscal 2020. This variance is mainly due to a one-time, non-cash adjustment in FY2020 of $498,368 relating to a cumulative gain on a translation adjustment reclassified to earnings. Offsetting this variance, foreign exchange had a positive impact for the quarter-end FY2021 of $204,516.
The decrease in expenses, despite a slight decrease in revenues for the quarter, led the Company to record an EBITDA of $343,000 versus $229,768 in the same period year ago.
EBITDA for the three months ended
July 31,
Net earnings (loss)
Depreciation of property, plant, equipment and intangible assets
Depreciation of right-of-use assets
Impairment of property, plant and equipment
($1,508
Interest – Net
Cumulative translation gain adjustments reclassified to earnings
($498,368
Earnings (loss) before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization
Financial Summary for the year ended
Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation & amortization (EBITDA)
Net earnings
EBITDA for the year ended
Interest - Net
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization
Cash and cash equivalents increased by $728,384 during the year ended July 31, 2021 as compared to the year ended July 31, 2020. Net working capital increased by $926,294 during the year ended July 31, 2021 as compared to the year ended July 31, 2020.
Balance Sheet Summary as at
Outstanding shares at report date (common shares)
As always, the future financial results of the Company are difficult to predict as the Company’s customers have significant variations in their purchasing patterns, as has been reported in our quarterly results over the past few years. The impact of COVID-19 adds further uncertainty to the picture.
Adding to uncertainty has been the rapid and unexpected drop in the in the US dollar from an annual average of CA$1.3460 per USD at July 31st year ago to CA $1.2742 per USD on average this year. Unfortunately, we expect the unfavorable rate of exchange to persist in Fiscal 2022.
The Company continues to work on a number of new heparinase-containing clinical device projects with its key customers, some of which resulted in additional revenues in Fiscal 2021. However, as with all developmental projects, we cannot give assurances that any of these customer-driven projects will come to market and produce significant revenues.
We have also advanced our enzyme DiaMaze® (diamine oxidase) into the development phase DiaMaze is an enzyme targeted to persons suffering from histamine intolerance and will be marketed as a nutraceutical. While we continue to make good progress, development of this product relies on a number of third-party suppliers whose deliverables have been slower than desired due to COVID-19 constraints.
ABOUT IBEX
IBEX manufactures and markets proteins for biomedical use through its wholly owned subsidiary IBEX Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Montréal, QC). IBEX Pharmaceuticals also manufactures and markets a series of arthritis assays, which are widely used in osteoarthritis research.
For more information, please visit the Company’s website at www.ibex.ca.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
All of the statements contained in this news release, other than statements of fact that are independently verifiable at the date hereof, are forward-looking statements. Such statements, as they are based on the current assessment or expectations of management, inherently involve numerous risks and uncertainties, known and unknown. Some examples of known risks are: the impact of general economic conditions, general conditions in the pharmaceutical industry, changes in the regulatory environment in the jurisdictions in which IBEX does business, stock market volatility, fluctuations in costs, and changes to the competitive environment due to consolidation or otherwise. Consequently, actual future results may differ materially from the anticipated results expressed in the forward-looking statements. IBEX disclaims any intention or obligation to update these statements, except if required by applicable laws.
In addition to the risk factors identified above, IBEX is, and has been in the past, heavily reliant on three products and five customers, the loss of any of which could have a material effect on its profitability.
Paul Baehr
U.S. manufacturing output unexpectedly falls in December on autos
Production at U.S. factories unexpectedly fell in December, pulled down by a decline in output at motor vehicle plants amid an ongoing global semiconductor shortage. Manufacturing output dropped 0.3% last month after increasing 0.6% in November, the Federal Reserve said on Friday. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast factory production rising 0.5%.
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1878
|
__label__cc
| 0.627303
| 0.372697
|
Staff Physician (Per Diem) - Emergency Medicine
Academic Dermatologic Surgeon
Hauppauge, New York
Research and Residency Position in Therapeutic Medical Physics
Location: Hershey, Pennsylvania
Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
Location: US:PA:Hershey
Work Type: PRN
FTE: .001
Shift: Varied
Hours: Varied
Recruiter: Please contact Heather Peffley at hpeffley@pennstatehealth.psu.edu for additional information
Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center is offering a rewarding opportunity for a PRN Emergency Medicine Physician at our Hershey, PA campus.
What we're offering:
Competitive salary and generous benefits
A collaborative environment rich with diversity
Participation in resident and medical student education
A high quality program with a national reputation for teaching, research, and state of the art patient care
Interaction with dynamic clinicians across departments and participation in innovative educational approaches
Rank commensurate with experience
What we're seeking:
M.D., D.O., or foreign equivalent
Completion of accredited training program
Ability to acquire a license to practice in the State of Pennsylvania
BC/BE in emergency medicine
Must be able to obtain valid federal and state narcotics certificates
About Penn State Health:
Penn State Health is a multi-hospital health system serving patients and communities across 29 counties in central Pennsylvania. It employs more than 16,800 people system-wide. The system includes Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Penn State Children's Hospital, and Penn State Cancer Institute based in Hershey, Pa.; Penn State Health Holy Spirit Medical Center in Camp Hill, Pa.; Penn State Health St. Joseph Medical Center in Reading, Pa.; Penn State Health Hampden Medical Center in Enola, Pa., and more than 3,000 physicians and direct care providers at more than 90+ unique medical office locations. Additionally, the system jointly operates various health care providers, including Penn State Health Rehabilitation Hospital, Hershey Outpatient Surgery Center, Hershey Endoscopy Center, Horizon Home Healthcare and Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute. In December 2017, Penn State Health partnered with Highmark Health to facilitate creation of a value-based, community care network in the region. Penn State Health shares an integrated strategic plan and operations with Penn State College of Medicine, the University's medical school. With campuses in State College and Hershey, Pa., the College of Medicine boasts a portfolio of more than $100 million in funded research and more than 1,700 students and trainees in medicine, nursing, other health professions and biomedical research.
This job description is a general outline of duties performed and is not to be misconstrued as encompassing all duties performed within the position. All individuals (including current employees) selected for a position will undergo a background check appropriate for the position's responsibilities.
Penn State Health is fundamentally committed to the diversity of our faculty and staff. We believe diversity is unapologetically expressing itself through every person's perspectives and lived experiences. We are an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, national or ethnic origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, veteran status, and family medical or genetic information. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please call 717-531-8440 between the hours of 8:30 AM and 4:30 PM, Eastern Standard Time, Monday – Friday, email hrsolutions@pennstatehealth.psu.edu or download our Accommodation Instructions for Job Applicants PDF for more detailed steps for assistance.
Union: Non bargained
About Penn State Health - Physician Recruitment
Penn State Health is fundamentally committed to the diversity of our faculty and staff. We believe diversity is unapologetically expressing itself through every person's perspectives and lived experiences. We are an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, national or ethnic origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, veteran status, and family medical or genetic information.Penn State Health is a multi-hospital health system serving patients and communities across central Pennsylvania.The system includes Penn State Health St. Joseph Medical Center in Reading, Pa., Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Penn State Children’s Hospital, Penn State Cancer Institute, and Penn State Health Rehabilitation Hospital (jointly owned), based in Hershey, Pa., as well as more than 1,300 physicians and direct care providers at 78 medical office locations. The system also has jointly owned health care providers, including Hershey Outpatient Surgery Center, Hershey Endos...copy Center, Horizon Home Healthcare and the Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute.Penn State Health shares an integrated strategic plan and operations with Penn State College of Medicine, the University’s medical school.
Connections working at Penn State Health - Physician Recruitment
https://careers.patient-experience.org/jobs/16078803/staff-physician-per-diem-emergency-medicine
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1882
|
__label__wiki
| 0.9171
| 0.9171
|
All State & Fed.JX
Sign UpGet a DemoGet a Demo
OpinionCase details
Ebert v. Thompson
Citing Cases
Mitchell v. Norman James Construction Co.
As a consequence, no breach of any statutory duty on the part of St. Paul was alleged by the plaintiff, and…
Budnick Converting, Inc. v. Nebula Glass Int'l, Inc.
"Attorneys fees cannot be awarded to successful litigant in courts of law or equity in the absence of an…
2 Citing Cases
Full title:REGAN D. EBERT, Indiv. and as Trustee on Behalf of the Town of Maine…
Court:Appellate Court of Illinois, First District, Fourth Division. Judgment affirmed
Date published: Jun 28, 1996
Copy Citations
668 N.E.2d 184 (Ill. App. Ct. 1996)
668 N.E.2d 184
From Casetext: Smarter Legal Research
Appellate Court of Illinois, First District, Fourth Division. Judgment affirmed
No. 1-95-3185
Opinion filed June 28, 1996.
Appeal from the Circuit Court of Cook County; the Hon. Thomas P. Durkin, Judge, presiding.
David F. Platek, of Chicago, for appellant.
Segal, McCambridge, Singer Mahoney, Ltd., of Chicago (Gregory E. Rogus and Michael W. Drumke, of counsel), for appellees.
JUSTICE CAHILL delivered the opinion of the court:
Plaintiff Regan Ebert, an elected trustee of the Town of Maine, filed a complaint for injunctive relief against the town's supervisor and administrator. Ebert sought access to lists of participants in social programs funded by the Town of Maine. She alleged that, as an elected trustee of the Town of Maine, she had a right of access to the lists. Defendants Mark Thompson, the supervisor of the Town of Maine, and Pamela Anderson, the administrator of the Town of Maine, contended the records sought by plaintiff were confidential and exempt from dissemination, even to an elected trustee, under section 7(1)(b)(i) of the Illinois Freedom of Information Act ( 5 ILCS 140/1 et seq. (West 1994)). The parties filed cross-motions for summary judgment.
The trial court ruled: "The plaintiff is an elected public official. Part of the duties of the plaintiff as an elected public official [is] to audit. As such, the elected public official is entitled to reasonable access to the books and records necessary to perform that function." The court then granted plaintiff's request for injunctive relief and ordered the records turned over to her. Defendants did not appeal this order.
Plaintiff subsequently filed a petition in the same proceeding for attorney fees under section 11(i) of the Freedom of Information Act. That section reads:
"(i) If a person seeking the right to inspect or receive a copy of a public record substantially prevails in a proceeding under this Section, the court may award such person reasonable attorneys' fees if the court finds that the record or records in question were of clearly significant interest to the general public and that the public body lacked any reasonable basis in law for withholding the record." 5 ILCS 140/11(i) (West 1994).
The trial court denied plaintiff's petition and stated: "There is no statutory authority here for the fees. FOIA was incidental insofar as having been raised by the defendants. The action was not brought under FOIA, so it's not a basis for fees." The court also denied plaintiff's request for sanctions under Supreme Court Rule 137 (134 Ill.2d R. 137), because "[g]ood faith was found by the court."
Plaintiff appeals this ruling and argues the trial court erred when it denied her petition for fees. She admits in her brief that "no mention was made anywhere within the body of the pleading claiming any particular statute or other authority as the basis for the relief sought." She argues, however, that she is "entitled to recover attorney fees pursuant to the Illinois Freedom of Information Act and no special pleading requirement is necessary in order to vest the trial court with jurisdiction to make an award of fees under the Act." We disagree.
Supreme Court Rule 133 reads: "(a) Statutory Duty. If a breach of statutory duty is alleged, the statute shall be cited in connection with the allegation." 134 Ill.2d R. 133(a). Plaintiff did not allege in her complaint that defendants breached a duty under the Freedom of Information Act. She admits the "complaint filed in this case stated a cause of action for injunctive relief based upon the unlawful acts of the defendants in denying the plaintiff's request for access to public records that she was clearly and obviously entitled to possess in the performance of her official duties as a trustee of the Town of Maine." She argued in her motion for summary judgment, in response to the defenses raised by defendants under the Freedom of Information Act, that "the Act simply does not apply in this case since plaintiff is an elected official of the Town of Maine." She also argued "[t]here is no suggestion whatsoever anywhere in the complaint that the plaintiff has made any request for information pursuant to the Illinois Freedom of Information Act." The trial court rulings make clear that the court agreed with the original position of the plaintiff.
It is undisputed that plaintiff failed to plead a statutory cause of action as is required by the supreme court rules. See also Harney-Morgan Chevrolet Olds Co. v. Rabin, 118 Ill. App.3d 602, 455 N.E.2d 130 (1983). We also note the language in section 11 of the Act allowing a court to award fees where "a person seeking the right to inspect or receive a copy of a public record substantially prevails in a proceeding under this Section." (Emphasis added.) 5 ILCS 140/11(i) (West 1994). Plaintiff maintained throughout the litigation that she was not proceeding under the Freedom of Information Act.
The issue of the Freedom of Information Act was injected by defendants, in their motion for summary judgment, based upon the nature of the records sought. The trial court ruled that plaintiff was entitled to the records in her role as an elected official, rejecting the defense argument based upon the nature of the records. Defendants did not appeal that order. Since the relevancy of the Freedom of Information Act was resolved in the trial court and not appealed, plaintiff cannot now claim that remedies under the Act are relevant on appeal.
Attorney fees cannot be awarded to a successful litigant in courts of law or equity in the absence of an authorizing statute or contract. Verni v. Imperial Manor of Oak Park Condominium, Inc., 99 Ill. App.3d 1062, 425 N.E.2d 1344 (1981). The trial court correctly denied plaintiff's petition for attorney fees.
We further find no abuse of discretion in the court's refusal to impose sanctions under Rule 137 (134 Ill.2d R. 137), based upon its finding that defendants acted in good faith.
HOFFMAN, P.J., and THEIS, J., concur.
Summaries of
Case details for
Make your practice more effective and efficient with Casetext’s legal research suite.
Casetext research
Parallel Search
Big firm
Partnerships and Resources
Law school access
Bar associations
© 2021 Casetext Inc.
Casetext, Inc. and Casetext are not a law firm and do not provide legal advice.
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1889
|
__label__wiki
| 0.83313
| 0.83313
|
Corbie Abbey
657 by Saint Bathilde
Benedictine abbey in Picardy, France. Founded with monks from Luxeuil. Under Saint Adelhard the monastic school became famous and sent a colony to establish Corvey abbey in Saxony. The buildings were destroyed by fire in 1137, but were later restored. Mazarin was among the commendatory abbots of Corbie. At the incorporation of the abbey into the Congregation of Saint-Maur in 1618 its declining fortunes revived. At its suppression in 1790 during anti–Christian excesses of the French Revolution, the buildings were partly demolished, but the church still remains with fine portal and towers; the library was transferred to Saint-Germain-des-Pres in 1624.
Profiled Monks of Corbie
Saint Adalard the Younger
Saint Adelard of Corbie
Saint Adelmann of Beauvais
Saint Ansgar
Saint Gerald of Sauve-Majeure
Saint Hildemar of Beauvais
Saint Martin of Arades
Saint Paschasius Radbertus
“Corbie Abbey“. Gazetteer of the Faith. CatholicSaints.Info. 26 November 2018. Web. 16 January 2022. <>
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1890
|
__label__wiki
| 0.707364
| 0.707364
|
Cat's Cradle & WUNC Music Present
This show is co-presented with WUNC Music.
DRAMA is the multicultural collaboration between producer Na’el Shehade’s chic Chicago house-infused production style, and vocalist Via Rosa whose soulful delivery is inspired by the improvisational nature of jazz and playful patterns of hip-hop and bossa nova. The duo play to the complementary dynamics of their unlikely pairing by blurring the lines between R&B and dance-pop, heartbreak and bliss.
Rosa grew up in a musical household; her parents played in a reggae band and toured as a family, homeschooling Rosa into her early teens and limiting her listening primarily to Sade, oldies, Brazilian and Afrobeat music. She kept poetry journals and by high school started writing songs and making beats. After moving to Chicago in 2010, Rosa connected with THEMPeople, a collective at the center of the city’s sprawling hip-hop scene.
Meanwhile, Shehade inherited a strong work ethic from his immigrant parents. Born in Chicago, he fell in love with DJ culture as a kid and took up music production and engineering; his interest eventually led to professional opportunities, including early studio work with Chance the Rapper, Kanye West, and music projects for MTV and Bravo. Since a chance meeting in 2014 lead to the creation of DRAMA, the duo has bootstrapped a subtle rise on their own terms, self-releasing several EPs and mapping multiple tours with Midwestern grit.
In early jam sessions the chemistry was clear; Rosa’s soulful delivery interlocked with Shehade’s chic Chicago house-infused production style. A lovesick sound emerged over two EPs, Gallows in 2016 and Lies After Love in 2018, and continued on to their debut album Dance Without Me in January 2020.
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1891
|
__label__wiki
| 0.64242
| 0.64242
|
Free Books / Reference / The American Cyclopaedia /
Bergonzi
This section is from "The American Cyclopaedia", by George Ripley And Charles A. Dana. Also available from Amazon: The New American Cyclopædia. 16 volumes complete..
Bergonzi, the name of a family of Italian stringed instrument makers. I. Carlo, born and died at Cremona. He was a pupil of Stradi-varius, and was actively employed in the construction of violins, violas, and violoncellos from 1716 to 1755. He often imitated his master's style, especially in the purfling and the form of the sound hole. He had also the secret of the varnish which lent so much beauty to the violins of that maker. He was chiefly renowned for the excellence of his violoncellos. His instruments are quite rare and very valuable, as he ranked probably third in merit among the Cremona makers,* that is, next after Guar-nerius, Stradivarius holding undoubtedly the first position. II. Michel Angela, son of the preceding, was also a violin maker, but greatly inferior to his father in workmanship and finish, as also in varnish. His instruments bear date from 1750 to 1780. III. Nicolo, son of Michael Angelo, born in 1758, died in 1838. The earliest of his known instruments, a viola, is dated 1780. He formed the connecting link between the days of Stradivarius and our own, remembering and pointing out the house where the great violin maker lived.
prev: Bergen-Op-Zoom, Or Berg-Op-Zoom
next: Berks
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1895
|
__label__cc
| 0.71199
| 0.28801
|
Editorial: Support the child
The Marlborough Express 07/07/2010
OPINION: Should parents have the right to know their teenage daughter has had, or is about to have, an abortion? Tough question and such an emotional debate.
Abortion is legal in New Zealand if two consultants agree that the pregnancy will harm a woman’s physical or mental health. The Abortion Supervisory Committee reports that 98 per cent of abortions performed in 2008 were based on mental health grounds. What a girl needs most when her mental stability is at risk is love and understanding and who better to give her that – all things being equal – than her parents.
Initial shock and hurt feelings aside, good parents will do everything they can to support their child through a decision to terminate a pregnancy. Of course there will be times when parents are the last people who need to know, but that should be the exception rather than the rule.
Not so, according to Christchurch youth health physician Sue Bagshaw, who says having to tell parents could discourage girls from going to a doctor and turn them, instead, to back-street abortionists or more unwanted babies. Most importantly, unintended young mothers-to-be must have easy access to good medical help and experienced counselling services. These must be trained professionals able to help make the right decision for the teenager and the baby based on individual circumstances.
Pro-life groups argue there is never a choice to make: nothing comes before the rights of the unborn child. Pragmatists take a more holistic approach and weigh up the needs of the girl against the rights of the foetus. The views of anyone who sees abortion as a form of contraception should be discounted by any intelligent debate.
Family First and Prolife New Zealand have been campaigning for parents to have the legal right to be told when their daughter is considering a termination. While a law change was rejected in 2004, a poll commissioned by Family First found 80 per cent of people thought parents had the right to know.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/marlborough-express/news/opinion/3892358/Editorial-Support-the-child
Liberalised Abortion Laws Will Undermine Child Abuse Message
Are 18,382 abortions in a single year not enough?
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1903
|
__label__cc
| 0.688018
| 0.311982
|
1 Therefore, Abram ascended from Egypt, he and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, toward the southern region.
2 But he was very wealthy by the possession of gold and silver.
3 And he returned by the way that he came, from the meridian into Bethel, all the way to the place where before he had pitched his tent, between Bethel and Hai.
4 There, at the place of the altar he had made before, he again called upon the name of the Lord.
5 But Lot also, who was with Abram, had flocks of sheep, and cattle, and tents.
6 Neither was the land able to contain them, so that they might dwell together. Indeed, their substance was so great that they could not live in common.
7 And then there also arose a conflict between the shepherds of Abram and of Lot. Now at that time the Canaanite and the Perizzite lived in that land.
8 Therefore, Abram said to Lot: "I ask you, let there be no quarrel between me and you, and between my shepherds and your shepherds. For we are brothers.
9 Behold, the entire land is before your eyes. Withdraw from me, I beg you. If you will go to the left, I will take the right. If you choose the right, I will pass to the left."
10 And so Lot, lifting up his eyes, saw all the region around the Jordan, which was thoroughly irrigated, before the Lord overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. It was like the Paradise of the Lord, and it was like Egypt, approaching toward Zoar.
11 And Lot chose for himself the region around the Jordan, and he withdrew by way of the east. And they were divided, one brother from the other.
12 Abram dwelt in the land of Canaan. In truth, Lot stayed in the towns that were around the Jordan, and he lived in Sodom.
13 But the men of Sodom were very wicked, and they were sinners before the Lord beyond measure.
14 And the Lord said to Abram, after Lot was divided from him: "Lift up your eyes, and gaze out from the place where you are now, to the north and to the meridian, to the east and to the west.
15 All the land that you see, I will give to you, and to your offspring even forever.
16 And I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth. If any man is able to number the dust of the earth, he will be able to number your offspring as well.
17 Arise and walk through the land in its length, and breadth. For I will give it to you."
18 Therefore, moving his tent, Abram went and dwelt by the steep valley of Mamre, which is in Hebron. And he built an altar there to the Lord.
Abram and Lot Separate
1Abram went north out of Egypt to the southern part of Canaan with his wife and everything he owned, and Lot went with him. 2Abram was a very rich man, with sheep, goats, and cattle, as well as silver and gold. 3Then he left there and moved from place to place, going toward Bethel. He reached the place between Bethel and Ai where he had camped before 4and had built an altar. There he worshiped the Lord.
5Lot also had sheep, goats, and cattle, as well as his own family and servants. 6And so there was not enough pasture land for the two of them to stay together, because they had too many animals. 7So quarrels broke out between the men who took care of Abram's animals and those who took care of Lot's animals. (At that time the Canaanites and the Perizzites were still living in the land.)
8Then Abram said to Lot, “We are relatives, and your men and my men shouldn't be quarreling. 9So let's separate. Choose any part of the land you want. You go one way, and I'll go the other.”
10 # Gn 2.10 Lot looked around and saw that the whole Jordan Valley, all the way to Zoar, had plenty of water, like the Garden of the Lord#13.10: Garden of the Lord: A reference to the Garden of Eden. or like the land of Egypt. (This was before the Lord had destroyed the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.) 11So Lot chose the whole Jordan Valley for himself and moved away toward the east. That is how the two men parted. 12Abram stayed in the land of Canaan, and Lot settled among the cities in the valley and camped near Sodom, 13whose people were wicked and sinned against the Lord.
Abram Moves to Hebron
14After Lot had left, the Lord said to Abram, “From where you are, look carefully in all directions. 15#Ac 7.5 I am going to give you and your descendants all the land that you see, and it will be yours forever. 16I am going to give you so many descendants that no one will be able to count them all; it would be as easy to count all the specks of dust on earth! 17Now, go and look over the whole land, because I am going to give it all to you.” 18So Abram moved his camp and settled near the sacred trees of Mamre at Hebron, and there he built an altar to the Lord.
Good News Translation® (Today’s English Version, Second Edition)
Bible text from the Good News Translation (GNT) is not to be reproduced in copies or otherwise by any means except as permitted in writing by American Bible Society, 101 North Independence Mall East, Floor 8, Philadelphia, PA 19106-2155 (www.americanbible.org).
LICENSEE shall reproduce the following trademark and trademark notice on the copyright page of each copy of the Licensed Products: ®
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1904
|
__label__wiki
| 0.609393
| 0.609393
|
You are currently browsing the daily archive for August 29, 2016.
Donald Trump’s brand of Christianity
August 29, 2016 in Presbyterian, Protestant | Tags: Christianity, Donald Trump, Norman Vincent Peale, Presbyterian, Protestant | 2 comments
A great many Americans despise Donald Trump.
An ex-Hillary supporter from 2008 is supporting Trump this year. He is a retired lawyer who is flummoxed by anti-Trump sentiment. This is what he said during the primaries (emphases mine):
For me it all boils down to this: Trump is a gamble. The establishment is a certainty.
The establishment will destroy this nation. That is a fact.
Trump may save it, provided it is not too late. That is the gamble.
I ran into a young lady who wants Bernie, but will not go to the polls to vote for him.
But if Trump is the Republican nominee, then she will go to the polls and vote against him.
She admitted the reasons she would do this[:] because Donald is not nice.
In other words it is a matter of style–NOT SUBSTANCE.
Would it matter to you if he gave you a better future, even though he is not nice?
Would it matter to you if someone who was nice, condemned you to a negative future?
Echo answereth not. Neither did she.
This is the same drivel I got from another young woman eight years ago.
She said she did not want Hillary because Obama was so full of hope.
Like the show title: Just shoot me.
Keeping such sentiments in mind, it is now time to write about Donald Trump’s Christian upbringing. Like him, it won’t be perfect enough or orthodox enough for some. Nonetheless, it deserves to be known.
In April 2015, before he launched his bid for the presidency, Trump gave an interview to CBN. He was confirmed at the First Presbyterian Church in Jamaica, Queens. He brought his Confirmation picture to the interview.
(Image credit: First Presbyterian Church)
Founded in 1662, it is the oldest continuing Presbyterian congregation in the United States. While the buildings have changed over the centuries, it remains on its original site. It is likely that, when the Trump family — Mary, Fred and their five children — were members, the Revd Andrew Magill was pastor:
He was a dynamic minister and an extraordinary leader. During that time, church membership flourished to more than one thousand as it continued to provide a safe and spiritual environment for the community it served.
The Trumps then began attending the Revd Dr Norman Vincent Peale’s Marble Collegiate Church in Manhattan. The Federalist found quotes from Mary Trump on the importance she attached to Christian belief:
Trump’s mother hoped that the pastor’s teaching would stick in her children: “I tried to get it into their heads that they had to believe,” she said. “Whether it shows or not, it’s in there because I put it in there.”
Although Marble Collegiate Church is affiliated with the Reformed Church in America, many members attending were, or at least self-identified as, Presbyterians. The Trumps were one such family.
Norman Vincent Peale was an unorthodox preacher and the first to promote popular psychology over the Bible. He was Robert Schuller’s mentor. That said, he also took traditionally Protestant perspectives on social issues. My parents’ friends, Protestants, loved his books. My Catholic mother said that the Pope forbade reading them.
Dr Michael Horton, writing for Christianity Today (CT), explains Peale’s style (emphases mine):
Blending pop-psychology and spirituality, Peale’s The Power of Positive Thinking (1952) remained on The New York Times bestsellers list for 186 weeks. Nicknamed “God’s Salesman,” Peale was criticized for trivializing Christianity. Reinhold Niebuhr said that he “corrupts the gospel,” and that he helps people “feel good, while they are evading the real issues of life.”
In the 1952 election, Peale declared presidential candidate Adlai Stevenson unfit because he was divorced. For his part, Stevenson quipped, “Speaking as a Christian, I find Paul appealing and Peale appalling.” During the Kennedy-Nixon campaign, which began his long relationship with the Nixon White House, Peale declared, “Faced with the election of a Catholic, our culture is at stake.”
He caught flak afterwards. In 1982, he told People magazine:
“I made a mistake,” said Peale, “You couldn’t get me near a politician now. Government isn’t moral or immoral. It’s just plain amoral.”
Horton says that the Trumps attended Marble Collegiate Church every Sunday. Later, Peale officiated at three Trump weddings, his and those of his two sisters. He also baptised one of Trump’s two sons by Ivana. Trump also threw a 90th birthday party for the minister.
At the time the Trumps began attending, Peale had already transformed Marble into ‘the businessman’s church’. The Washington Post explains:
Fred Trump, then a successful developer in Brooklyn and Queens, began attending the services with his wife, drawn as many business executives were to Peale’s can-do theology and his belief that faith could lead to greater success.
“I know that with God’s help,” the minister wrote, “I can sell vacuum cleaners.”
“He was the embodiment of the salesman’s spirit,” [Michael] D’Antonio [a Trump biographer] said of Peale. “And Fred was at bottom a salesman. It’s not a surprise that Fred Trump would gravitate towards the church.”
The American Spectator quoted Donald Trump on Peale:
I go to church and I love God and love my church. And Norman Vincent Peale. The great Norman Vincent Peale was my pastor. The Power of Positive Thinking.
Everybody’s heard of Norman Vincent Peale? He would give a sermon. You never wanted to leave. Sometimes we have sermons and every once in a while we think about leaving a little early, right? Even though we’re Christian.
Dr. Norman Vincent Peale would give a sermon. I’m telling you I still remember his sermons. It was unbelievable. And what he would do is bring real life situations, modern day situations into the sermon. And you could listen to him all day long. When you left the church you were disappointed that it was over. He was the greatest guy.
And Peale thought highly of Trump. First Things tells us:
In 1988, Peale predicted that Donald Trump would become “the greatest builder of our time—he’s a very ingenious man.” Peale also saw in Trump not only kindness and courtesy but also a trait some others have missed—“a profound streak of honest humility.”
I read elsewhere that when Peale married Donald and Ivana, Trump practically melted in the pastor’s presence. It seemed that only Peale could bring him to heel in the gentlest of ways, just by standing in front of him.
The Federalist summed up their similarities and success this way:
Both men successfully cultivated a popular and populist image by convincing Americans that they were hoi polloi even as they hobnobbed with the power elite. Of course, the elite never really accepted either man, but it was willing to tolerate their pandering so long as they didn’t make naked appeals to the worst prejudices of their fans.
Peale was, in a way, a Trump for his church and many Protestants in the second half of the 20th century. The People interview says:
his passionate eloquence, legendary optimism and accessible style, has turned Marble Collegiate from the near-insolvent midtown New York parish it once was into a popular, hot-ticket attraction. Each Sunday there are two sold-out services. (For those who can’t find a pew in the large Romanesque nave, closed-circuit TV is available elsewhere in the church.) People line up 15 minutes beforehand. “You’d think God was holding His closeout sale,” observes a policeman surveying the crowd. Just before the sermon, Peale calls for an intermission. The service is being recorded for TV and radio. Cameramen have to reset their videotape. It feels like the commercial time-out at a pro football game. Marble Collegiate is as up-to-date as space medicine.
His wife, Ruth Stafford Peale, was equally involved in the ministry, which included Guideposts magazine and The Foundation for Christian Living, based in Pawling, NY. Mrs Peale told People:
“I’m here nearly every day,” says Ruth Peale. “Norman has an office here too. But I have the veto power. And I believe the foundation should be run on the strictest principles of efficiency and organization.”
The Peales did very well for themselves:
At present he and Ruth have a nine-room church-owned apartment on Fifth Avenue as well as their extraordinary homestead in Pawling. On Hill Farm’s 200 rolling acres, Dr. and Mrs. Peale can indulge in their favorite pastime, walking, and their indoor pool is close by. But there are no servants on the estate. “I’m chief cook and bottle washer,” Ruth will tell any guest. She is also chauffeur; the license plate on her Cadillac reads RSP5, and she doesn’t trust Norman to drive.
Their children turned out well, too:
The Peale children—Margaret Ann, 48, married to a Presbyterian minister, Paul F. Everett; John, 45, a professor of philosophy at Longwood College in Farmville, Va.; and Elizabeth, 39, whose husband, John Allen, is a vice-president at Reader’s Digest—have shown no sign of rebellion or unseemly negativism.
Peale summed up his Christian belief this way:
“That’s to persuade as many people as I can that the only rational way to live is to follow the greatest thinker who ever thought, namely Jesus Christ. That’s the way to peace—within the individual, within the family, within the world. And it’s the way to serenity, excitement, enthusiasm and the real values of life. I’ve been preaching this now for half a century, and there’s still a few people I haven’t persuaded. So I’ve got my work cut out for me.”
If Peale’s message has, at times, seemed rather subjective and materialistic, he doesn’t hesitate to answer that criticism. “Love thy neighbor as thyself,” he says. “That’s one of the most subtle statements in the Bible. The more you esteem yourself, the more you’ll consider your neighbors with esteem.”
This is what the Trumps would have heard and read:
The way to happiness: keep your heart free from hate, your mind from worry. Live simply, expect little, give much. Fill your life with love. Scatter sunshine. Forget self, think of others. Do as you would be done by. Try this for a week and you will be surprised.
They would also have recognised these gems that Politico pulled from The Power of Positive Thinking:
“Believe in yourself!” Peale’s book begins. “Have faith in your abilities!” He then outlines 10 rules to overcome “inadequacy attitudes” and “build up confidence in your powers.” Rule one: “formulate and staple indelibly on your mind a mental picture of yourself as succeeding,” “hold this picture tenaciously,” and always refer to it “no matter how badly things seem to be going at the moment.”
Subsequent rules tell the reader to avoid “fear thoughts,” “never think of yourself as failing,” summon up a positive thought whenever “a negative thought concerning your personal powers comes to mind,” “depreciate every so-called obstacle,” and “make a true estimate of your own ability, then raise it 10 per cent.”
Trump family thinking and Peale thinking went hand in hand. Politico explains:
Long before this self-esteem guru codified his canon, Donald’s grandfather Friedrich used Peale-like confidence and tenacity to make the first Trump fortune during the Klondike gold rush. A few decades later, Donald’s father, Fred, deployed proto-Peale thinking to become a multimillionaire real estate developer in Brooklyn and Queens. And Donald Trump himself has cited Peale’s advice many times in his own career.
in a 2009 interview with Psychology Today he gave Peale’s book credit for his survival. Citing his father’s friendship with Peale and calling himself “a firm believer in the power of being positive,” he said, “what helped is I refused to give in to the negative circumstances and never lost faith in myself. I didn’t believe I was finished even when the newspapers were saying so.”
Trump also incorporated Peale’s style into his own means of communication:
Peale spoke extemporaneously during sermons, in simple, folksy language, a technique Trump uses at his rallies. Peale delivered his message through books and magazines, and even appeared on popular TV shows such as “What’s My Line?” Trump starred in his own reality-television series and is a ubiquitous presence on Twitter and talk shows.
“I can see the similarities,” said Carol V.R. George, a historian who wrote a biography of Peale titled “God’s Salesman.” “The very enthusiastic way Trump communicates. The lack of notes. Peale said you need to know what you’re going to say. He could talk off the cuff for an hour.”
Ultimately, The Federalist says:
This—not an orthodox Christianity or principled conservatism—is the faith that animates Donald Trump and his many followers. It is nostalgic and self-affirming, unconcerned with doctrine but defensive about identity.
Adlai Stevenson once quipped that he found “Paul appealing and Peale appalling.” Those who find Trump similarly appalling should remember that their reaction, like Stevenson’s, is not shared by a great number of Americans. Faulting Trump for his lack of consistency as a Christian or conservative will do nothing at all to dampen the enthusiasm of his supporters.
John Peale, the late minister’s son and a retired philosophy professor, is now 79. He and Trump do not know each other. He told the Washington Post that he sees no reflection of his father’s theology in what Trump says or does:
Peale said he became upset last fall after reading a Politico article that claimed that Norman Vincent Peale helped shape Trump.
The article in question is from an October 2015 edition of Politico magazine.
Two months earlier, in August, Trump said he was still attending Marble, but the church issued a statement clarifying that he is not a member of the congregation. I have read that, in recent years, the church has shifted its theology from self help to progressive social justice, which indicates that Trump is unlikely to have been there lately.
He, Melania and Barron, age 10, definitely attend church at Easter. Melania’s Twitter feed had a photo of the church they went to in 2015: the Catholic one in Palm Beach. (She did not say, but I recognise it, having been there twice with my mother for Mass.) This year, a Trump supporter took a photo of them on Easter Day in a Protestant church in New York. Trump also attended a Presbyterian service earlier this year during the primaries and read the lesson from ‘Two Corinthians’. He told CBN in 2011 that he also attends every Christmas and when he can.
It should come as no surprise that none of the writers of the articles approves of Donald Trump.
But … and it’s a big BUT
Dr Horton, who wrote the Christianity Today article, is a professor, minister and theologian I greatly respect. I have several posts citing his wisdom on Reformed theology.
However, here, by only criticising, Horton’s not helping.
It is evident that the Republican candidate has a flawed, incomplete knowledge of the Bible and Christian teaching. Trump receives the Supper — the ‘cracker’, as he puts it — as a means of forgiveness, forgiveness which he says he has never requested because he doesn’t need it.
A few days ago, Trump spoke in Iowa and told his supporters how much the Evangelical vote meant to him. He then quoted Robert ‘Crystal Cathedral’ Schuller. Peale was Schuller’s mentor. Therefore, it would appear that Trump connects all Evangelicals with the self-help-prosperity gospel.
That would be wrong, but, for his purposes, Trump probably did the right thing in citing Schuller, who was born and raised in Iowa. There was no shortage of applause.
Trump does not realise that most Evangelicals know the Bible well and have a deep relationship with Jesus Christ. The prosperity gospel does not enter into their way of thinking; in fact, they shun false teaching.
The prosperity gospel is the only teaching — false as it is, by Peale — that Trump knew post-Confirmation.
For that reason, someone as Christian as Horton might have offered to end his article by asking that everyone reading it pray for Trump. However, he did not.
Nor do some people reading this post.
I have not seen one anti-Trump person on here view him with pity or advocate that we pray for his return to a proper church and Christian teaching.
Yet, these same people readily preach forgiveness and pardon of others.
Is that Christlike? Or is it a sin of omission?
I would be interested in seeing Hillary Clinton’s application and practice of Methodism dissected the way Donald Trump’s Presbyterianism has been in the media. But that day will never come.
However, as a nun put it to me about Mitt Romney’s Mormonism in 2012, ‘You’re not appointing him pastor of your church or to another ecclesiastical position, you’re voting for him for president.’
Returning to the retired lawyer’s comment at the beginning of this post, we should be focussing on Donald Trump’s ability to lead the United States and the free world, rather than his knowledge of Christian theology.
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1909
|
__label__wiki
| 0.958588
| 0.958588
|
Home › All Posts › Nigerian ‘health tourist’ flew to UK for caesarean birth on NHS (U.K.)
Nigerian ‘health tourist’ flew to UK for caesarean birth on NHS (U.K.)
By Ralph Turchiano on August 23, 2012 • ( 0 )
A heavily-pregnant woman from Nigeria flew thousands of miles to have her baby at a Manchester hospital costing the taxpayer around £10,000, it has emerged.
The ‘health tourist’ travelled more than 3,000 miles from her home country to the cash-strapped Wythenshawe Hospital for an emergency caesarean.
It is understood the woman, who was educated at top US university Harvard, flew to Manchester Airport and went directly to the hospital where she told doctors she required the procedure after a scan in Nigeria revealed complications in her pregnancy.
Health minister Simon Burns said the NHS is not there to ‘serve the health needs of the globe’ and said the government is reviewing the system to prevent inappropriate access to NHS resources.
Shadow health secretary Andy Burnham, the MP for nearby Leigh, also called for an inquiry into the case.
Nationally the NHS treats thousands of patients from outside the European Union who are not entitled to free care and in 2010/11 NHs hospitals charged overseas visitors over £23m for treatment and wrote off under £7m of debts.
Hospitals often struggle to recoup their costs and seek help from Embassies. They can inform Border Agency which can block the return of any health tourist who leaves bills of more than £1,000 unpaid.
Foreign patients are charged the same standard flat rate for each treatment they receive as the NHS would pay.
The woman arrived at the hospital and told staff that she had undergone an ultrasound scan which revealed complications and she was advised to have a caesarean.
It is understood she made the journey because she believed she would be in safer hands in Britain.
Nigeria offers free maternity care but it is of poor quality and there is a high mortality rate where a woman has a one in 13 chance of dying during pregnancy or childbirth, according to statistics.
A hospital source labelled her a ‘health tourist’ and said she had required vast resources, including midwives, two urology consultants, a radiology consultant, two obstetric consultants and two anaesthetists in the delivery room.
Mother and baby recovered well and were discharged this week, it is understood. She is thought to have since returned to Nigeria.
The hospital will now try to bill the woman for her treatment but has no powers to force her to pay or to prevent her leaving the country.
The hospital trust has seen a steady increase in the number of non-EU patients it has treated recently, up from 78 in 2008/9 to 133 last year.
A hospital spokesman said: “At Wythenshawe, as with all hospital trusts across the UK, the care we deliver to all patients is free at the point of delivery.
“If a patient is a non-UK resident and treatment is considered necessary or urgent then treatment would never be withheld.
“In regards to reclaiming costs from non-UK residents who use our services, we adhere to guidelines issued by the Department of Health.
“As soon as a non-UK patient arrives our finance team are alerted and the individual is made aware, where applicable, of the costs they are liable for as outlined in the Department of Health’s national tariff.
“Every effort is then made to pursue any monies owed.”
A hospital source said Wythenshawe is targeted by health tourists because of its close proximity to the airport just over two miles away.
Last year, the government announced a crackdown on ‘health tourism’ and guidelines on how to curb the practice were published by the Department of Health.
It said hospitals could bill foreign patients for their care but the debts of people who leave the country after being treated remain almost impossible to recover.
Mr Burns said: “We won’t tolerate abuse of our national health service. The NHS has a duty to anyone whose life or long-term health is at immediate risk but it is not there to serve the health needs of the globe.
“There are comprehensive rules and procedures to charge visitors for hospital treatment but we know that the system needs to be improved.
“That is why we are currently reviewing those arrangements to prevent inappropriate free access to the NHS and provide a fairer more balanced system. Hospitals have a legal duty to recover any charges made to overseas patients.”
Mr Burnham said: “We need a full inquiry into the circumstances and how the hospital has been left in this position.
“There are clear rules about health tourism and the NHS must be able to recover its costs.”
Graham Stringer, MP for Blackley and Broughton, added: “This is simply a foreigner choosing to effectively steal off the NHS and the government should use whatever powers it has to get the money back.”
University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust – which runs the hospital – is having to cut £17.5m over the current financial year, bringing its total savings for the past three years to £47m.
‹ US risks losing out to Asia in medical research, U-M team warns
Mystery AIDS-like disease discovered by scientists in patients over 50… but it is NOT contagious ›
Tags: Andy Burnham, Department of Health, Medical tourism, National Health Service, NHS, NHS foundation trust, Nigeria, Simon Burns
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1912
|
__label__wiki
| 0.796103
| 0.796103
|
‘Clickbait’ Creator Tony Ayres on Creating a Viral Event & Catfishing
UNIPORT Student Allegedly Arrested After His Girlfriend Died In His House
Paulo Dybala’s Contract Situation
Tobi❤
SPOILER ALERT: Do not read if you have not yet watched “Clickbait,” streaming now on Netflix.
In the first episode of Netflix’s new limited series, “Clickbait,” a husband and father named Nick (Adrian Grenier) is kidnapped and filmed holding a sign that says he abuses women and will be killed when the video reaches 5 million views.
Unsurprisingly, the video goes viral and Nick’s fate is sealed. Perhaps a bit surprisingly, though, that all happens within the first episode — and who kidnapped him isn’t who ends up killing him.
A tangled web unravels that makes it seem like Nick was a serial cheater, on every dating site under a new name, having relationships with women in multiple cities. When one of those women kills herself and uncaring messages from Nick’s profile are found on her phone, her brother wants him to pay. But that #MeToo revenge fantasy still isn’t the whole story.
Nick ends up paying for the mistakes of his assistant Dawn (Becca Lish), who was the one behind all of the dating profiles. Dawn was a catfish who started out communicating with these women out of sheer curiosity. Things turned much darker, though, when her secret was found out.
While Nick was being help captive, he looked at some of the “proof” of his online relationships and realized the images were photoshopped. (Why women would want their online boyfriend to photoshop them into an image with him, rather than meet in person and take a real one, was never discussed.) Eventually he realized that the woman who had set up his work station knew his password and therefore had access to the original photos. He left his kidnappers alive, but confronting Dawn — and her husband — did him in. And when his son (Jaylin Fletcher) turned up on Dawn’s door, the same fate almost befell him.
With so much going on in the series, Variety spoke with co-creator Tony Ayres to break down the decision-making behind the whodunnit.
At what point when you were developing “Clickbait” did you decide who was really going to be responsible for the deceit surrounding Nick?
Christian [White] and I created the show from two or three real things that we had read about this new class of crimes on the internet. One of them was obviously catfishing, and we were particularly baffled and intrigued by the instances of women impersonating men. So, we knew that that was going to be part of it.
At what point did you decide the culprit was going to be this particular woman, Dawn?
We knew from the start that she had done something; she had opened Pandora’s box — and quite innocently, as well. That was always the intention because I think that that’s what happens in real life: people can fall down these quite innocent rabbit holes, particularly with the internet, particularly now, and unleash surprising and sometimes tragic real world consequences.
Speaking to the innocent intentions, why was it more important that the willingness to kill to protect a secret be circumstantial, rather than an inner darkness that was lurking the whole time?
One of the things I wanted to do most of all was create a thriller that didn’t rely on psychopathy or sociopathy; I was interested in how ordinary people get into these circumstances. And so, I feel like, what happens in the final episode, it was really important for me to try to understand what happened from Dawn’s point of view. It was really important for me to understand her psychology and the feelings that she got from impersonating Nick and how that somehow kicked into something sexual and then how it completely unravels in the worst possible way. And weirdly enough, I think that the couple at the end, I think of them as innocence misled — misguided innocence.
Thinking that way, even after how far they’ll go — including almost killing a child — seems to require a large amount of empathy.
One of the things about trying to tell a story from eight different points of view is that when you’re in the point of view of a character, they never see themselves as bad people. And so, I was trying to help audiences at least understand the motivation. We all make judgments of good and bad behavior and where our moral lines [are] — that’s what we do as audiences — but I just wanted to make those judgments at least more informed. I’m less interested in the black-and-white and much more interested in shades of grey. And I think everyone, in some way or other, behaves badly in the show. We tried to create a show where there were no simple heroes and villains.
Those multiple points of view also inherently come with complications for the audience because if you’re tracking someone’s behavior so closely, you could be reading into some small things. Knowing that, how did you work out exactly how many actual red herrings you wanted to put into the plot versus just leaving room for interpretation based on a character’s mannerisms or shifty line reading?
You can’t do a murder mystery without red herrings, so we planted a couple of fairly obvious ones, like Nick’s work colleague, who genuinely misbehaves. Early on we also planted an obvious red herring, which is pointing toward something untoward with Nick’s wife, and then after that we pointed toward Nick himself. And so, there are major, deliberate red herrings in the show. But I think you’re right: audiences will always kind of look in every direction and turn over every stone, and we wanted to keep the audience guessing and thinking. Ideally, what we wanted to do was create both a whodunnit and a whydunnit in the process.
And the story order influences that as well because, just intellectually, we know that we’re not going to get the answers until the end.
I think you’re absolutely right. When you’re creating these kinds of shows, sometimes you can tell who the murderer is by the billing! [Laughs.] Of course the biggest red herring is the brother, and I was absolutely cognizant that if you put the brother in Episode 6, you’re telling the audience that this is not the end of the story. The other red herring is the person that the son is texting, and that was a deliberate plan across the entire series, and that’s, I thought, the person who audiences would go to as the real culprit. That’s the person I would have picked. In creating these shows, you are cognizant of how sophisticated audiences are, and this is a tried and true genre, and so, you have to know the genre as much as you can.
Going back to knowing Dawn was going to be the one to really be guilty and put all of these things in motion, how did that then influence the kind of character you needed Nick to be? Did you want audiences to assume he could be capable of something terrible, and to what degree?
When we were creating Nick, I think we were relying on the trope of the good guy with secrets and, in that sense, felt that the audience would kind of go along with that, straightaway. He needs to appear innocent, but in some senses, I think it’s credible for anyone these days to be someone with secrets. I don’t actually think we had to work too hard to make it credible because I think, in the age of the internet in particular, everyone has secret lives. Sometimes those secrets are more untoward, sometimes they’re quite benign, but there are bits of ourselves which do show and bits of ourselves that we don’t show. And I think that the big difference now is there’s a real blurring of those two things, and that’s what was interesting. I didn’t feel we had to work too hard to make him credible.
What did you need from Adrian playing Nick to assist with that?
What was great about having Adrian as Nick is that he can have a quality which makes you wonder what’s going on underneath that nice exterior. He has his very public, warm persona, but there are layers of mystery to him as an actor, and there’s something about him that makes you also believe that he could be a bad guy.
You mentioned Nick needs to appear innocent, but because of the way the show starts — with him getting so irate with his sister and grabbing her physically — the audience may think he’s not a good guy from the jump. What made you decide to start there?
I guess I read it as, there was a terrible fight at the beginning and even though he’s quite angry, I also think that when you start Episode 1 with [his sister] Pia, you realize very quickly she’s quite a tricky character herself. She’s not necessarily a sweet, likable character; she’s prickly and she’s abrasive and she’s judgmental. And so, I hadn’t thought of him in that way. I had thought of him as a brother who had reached the end of his tether with a difficult sister who is always pushing and prodding and attacking his wife, who she clearly doesn’t like. So that was my intention in starting that way, but it’s interesting that can be read in other ways, which I think works in our favor.
It certainly shows the tension and conflict within the family, and therefore the tension and conflict that will come when trying to get to the bottom of what happened to Nick and what Nick really did — especially when his wife and sister have to work together.
That’s the central journey of the series, in a way.
Which is deeper than the title suggests. Can we talk about the choice of “Clickbait” as the title? What did you want to invoke with it?
We had a lot of discussions around the title and what the title should be. Hopefully people will understand that there is something ironic in it because the show is talking about, “How is clickbait constructed?” There is a meta narrative through the series about how these stories turn viral — what is the sequence of events that have to happen?
The video of Nick after he was kidnapped would, of course, go viral, but some shows might have slowed down the timeline of the episodes so characters were racing against the clock to get to the bottom of where he is and why he’s being accused before he was killed.
Very early on [in drafts], it took a lot longer. [Laughs.] And then we did almost a timeline graph in the room, trying to work out how long it would be. For narrative purposes, it makes more sense for us to really raise the stakes at the end of Episode 1. It’s almost a rule of thumb these days — because there’s so much material and so many viewing choices, you really want to try to hook the audience in early.
Share your thoughts on this post
Related Topics:AyresCatfishingClickbaitCreatingCreatorEventTonyviral
Mark Duplass, Sterling K. Brown to Star in ‘Biosphere’ Sci-Fi Movie
Safaree Tells Lil Nas X to Leave Satan Worshipping to the KKK
Tobi is a reserved individual, loves making friends and a top-notch web developer. Currently, he's working as a freelancer for cmatrends.com
Who Is Amy Wood Daughter Gracie Wood? Check Viral Racist Video Controversy
Barry Mehler The Professor Rant Against Students Video Goes Viral On Social Media!
Boris Johnson Dancing & Downing Street Party Video Goes Viral on Twitter >
Belatung Tiktok Video Goes Viral On Twitter Leaked Link Explained
Sports World10 mins ago
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1917
|
__label__wiki
| 0.658483
| 0.658483
|
When Does Pregnancy Begin?
In order for a woman to become pregnant, she must release an egg from her ovary — ovulation. Next, the egg and sperm must meet and form a single cell — fertilization. Then pregnancy begins when and if the fertilized egg attaches to a woman’s uterus and begins to grow — implantation.
During the first two weeks of a woman’s menstrual cycle she has her period. This usually lasts 3–7 days. After that, hormones make eggs mature in her ovaries, and the lining of her uterus thickens.
Ovulation happens about two weeks before a woman’s next period would take place. The egg enters a fallopian tube and starts moving toward the uterus.
After vaginal intercourse or alternative insemination, several hundred sperm travel up through the uterus and into the fallopian tubes. An egg may be in one of the tubes. One sperm may fertilize the egg. The millions of other sperm seep out of the vagina or are absorbed by the woman’s body.
The joining of egg and sperm is called fertilization. It is most likely to occur from sexual intercourse that happens during the five days before the egg is released or on the day of ovulation.
Millions of sperm are released when a man ejaculates. About half of them have a gene that could produce a boy. The other half have one that could produce a girl.
The fertilized egg moves down the fallopian tube and divides into more and more cells, forming a ball. The ball of cells reaches the uterus about 3–4 days after fertilization.
The ball floats in the uterus for another 2–3 days.
Pregnancy begins if the ball of cells attaches to the lining of the uterus. This is called implantation. It usually starts about six days after fertilization and takes about 3–4 days to be complete. The embryo will develop from cells on the inside of the ball. The placenta will develop from the cells on the outside of the ball.
Up to half of all fertilized eggs never implant. They pass out of women’s bodies during menstruation.
Twins?
It is possible for the developing ball of cells to split up until about the end of week four. If it splits into two, for example, identical twins can develop. It is also possible for two eggs to be released at ovulation. Fraternal — not identical — twins can develop if both eggs get fertilized by sperm and implant in the uterus.
Gestational Age
Pregnancy is measured using “gestational age.” Gestational age starts on the first day of a woman’s last menstrual period (LMP).Gestational age can be confusing. Most people think of pregnancy as lasting nine months. And it’s true that a woman is pregnant for about nine months. But because pregnancy is measured from a woman’s last menstrual period — about 3–4 weeks before she is actually pregnant — a full-term pregnancy usually totals about 40 weeks LMP — roughly 10 months.Many women do not remember the exact date of their last menstrual period — that’s OK. The surest way to tell gestational age early in pregnancy is with ultrasound.
How Do Women Get Pregnant?
Women can get pregnant in a variety of ways.
It is also possible — but less likely — for women to become pregnant through any kind of sex play in which semen, or ejaculate, comes in contact with the vulva. The sperm can travel through the moisture on the vulva into the vagina.
Another way for a woman to get pregnant is through alternative insemination. During alternative insemination, sperm are inserted into a woman’s vagina or uterus using a syringe or other device. The sperm may come from a woman’s male partner, or from a donor. When a sperm donor is used, the procedure is sometimes called donor insemination. Alternative insemination is an option for single women, women who have women partners, or for couples who are dealing with infertility.
A woman who is dealing with infertility may also get pregnant through other fertility treatments like in vitro fertilization. To do this, a woman’s eggs are taken out of her body and combined with sperm. Then, one or more of the fertilized eggs are implanted back into the uterus.
When Is Getting Pregnant Most Likely?
A woman’s fertile days depend on the life span of the egg and the sperm. Her egg only lives for about a day after ovulation. Sperm can live inside her body for about six days. The egg and sperm are most likely to join when intercourse happens during the five days before the egg is released or on the day of ovulation. It is also possible for a day or two after ovulation — even though it’s less likely to happen then.
How Can I Avoid Pregnancy?
Using birth control consistently and correctly is the best way a sexually active woman can avoid pregnancy. There are many safe, effective birth control options.
How Can I Plan a Pregnancy?
Knowing when your fertile days will happen can help you plan your pregnancy. The key is to figure out when you will ovulate. This will let you figure out the other fertile days that come before you ovulate. Then you can track your fertility pattern — the days of the month when you are fertile and the days of the month when you are not. You must do this carefully. Women don’t all have the same fertility pattern. And some women have different patterns from one month to the next.
One way is to chart your menstrual cycle. The average menstrual cycle is 28 days long, but many women have cycles that are shorter or longer, and some women have irregular cycles. If you have an irregular cycle, it can be hard to predict ovulation.
You can also determine your fertile days by tracking your temperature, charting the consistency of your cervical mucus, using beads to keep track of your cycle, or using a combination of these methods to predict ovulation.
Ovulation Predictors
Test kits that attempt to predict ovulation are available for home use. They may be useful for planning pregnancies. But they are not reliable for preventing pregnancy.
Learning about your fertility pattern is just one step in choosing to become pregnant. There are many other issues to think about when considering pregnancy — including your emotional and financial readiness, and your health. One way to have the best pregnancy you can have is by planning for it ahead of time.
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1918
|
__label__wiki
| 0.667671
| 0.667671
|
Clinical and laboratory profile of children with primary immunodeficiency - Perspective from a developing country
Sushma Krishna1, Ranjini Srinivasan1, Anand Prakash2, Sagar Bhattad3, CK Indumathi1
1 Department of Pediatrics, St. Johns Medical College Hospital, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
2 Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, St. Johns Medical College Hospital, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
3 Department of Pediatrics, Aster CMI Hospital, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Date of Submission 26-Jul-2021
Dr. Ranjini Srinivasan
Department of Pediatrics, St. Johns Medical College Hospital, Bengaluru - 560 034, Karnataka
DOI: 10.4103/cmrp.cmrp_74_21
Aim: The aim of the study was to describe the clinical and laboratory features of children diagnosed with primary immunodeficiency from India.
Background: Primary immunodeficiency disorders (PIDs) are a diverse group of conditions with heterogeneous presentation.
Materials and Methods: A retrospective chart review of clinical and laboratory data of 40 children with primary immunodeficiency between 1 month and 18 years of age was carried out. A diagnosis of primary immunodeficiency was made based on the standard criteria.
Results: Among the 40 children reviewed, males were more affected than females (1.8:1). Seventy per cent of the patients had onset of symptoms before 1 year of age. Recurrent fever (50%) was the most common presentation. Various infections included pneumonia (45%), gastrointestinal infections (18%), oral thrush (15%), recurrent otitis media (7.5%) and recurrent skin infections (5%). Non-infective complications included neurological manifestations such as developmental delay and seizures (10%), growth failure (38%) and cytopenia. Patients were categorised into combined humoral and cellular immunodeficiency (30%), predominant antibody deficiencies (12%), diseases of immune dysregulation (32%), congenital deficiencies in phagocytes (10%) and deficiencies in innate and intrinsic immunity (15%). A genetic confirmation of the immunodeficiency could be obtained only in half of all patients (49%).
Conclusions: Children with PIDs can present with typical manifestations such as recurrent life-threatening infections or may have more unusual presentations such as cytopenia or unexplained growth failure.
Keywords: Genotype, immune system, infections, malnutrition
Krishna S, Srinivasan R, Prakash A, Bhattad S, Indumathi C K. Clinical and laboratory profile of children with primary immunodeficiency - Perspective from a developing country. Curr Med Res Pract 2021;11:262-8
Krishna S, Srinivasan R, Prakash A, Bhattad S, Indumathi C K. Clinical and laboratory profile of children with primary immunodeficiency - Perspective from a developing country. Curr Med Res Pract [serial online] 2021 [cited 2022 Jan 16];11:262-8. Available from: http://www.cmrpjournal.org/text.asp?2021/11/6/262/334582
Primary immunodeficiency disorders (PIDs) are a heterogeneous group of disorders caused by genetic defects in the immune system. These disorders are not as rare as they were previously thought to be. To date, there are more than 400 identifiable PIDs that have been classified into nine categories by the International Union of Immunological Societies (IUIS) based on the clinical and immunological phenotypes. The prevalence of these disorders is on the rise and is known to affect 1 in 1200–2000 individuals.[1] Newer modalities such as flow cytometry and genetic analysis have aided in confirming the diagnosis of these conditions.
Based on the incidence of PID in other countries being 1 in 1000, it is estimated that the possible number of patients with PID in India is roughly around 1 million.[2] South India with its higher rates of consanguinity potentially has a higher rate of PID diagnosis. However, in resource-limited countries, the prevalence of PID continues to be low as they are underdiagnosed. Limited awareness of the magnitude of the problem and lack of availability of technical assistance including newer available diagnostic aids to establish a diagnosis are some of the possible explanations for the low prevalence. Second, the endemic nature of infections and coexisting nutritional deficiencies may confound the diagnosis even further. As a result, the majority of patients in India continue to remain undiagnosed and untreated.[3]
In general, there is a paucity of data from the developing world on the spectrum of PIDs seen and also the outcomes. This is a retrospective study where we have reviewed the clinical manifestations, investigations and the treatment options including transplant in a cohort of children diagnosed with PID. We compare our experience with other case series from both developed and developing countries to describe differences in clinical presentation, challenges to diagnosis and barriers to treatment in the developing country context.
The study was carried out at a tertiary level teaching hospital in South India with a 90-bedded paediatric department. Clinical and laboratory data of children from new-borns to 18 years of age between January 2012 and May 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. All those who were diagnosed with primary immunodeficiency as per the IUIS were included in the study.[4] Institutional ethics committee approval was obtained. Demographic data, clinical and radiological features and laboratory investigations including complete blood counts, peripheral smear, flow cytometry reports, immunoglobulin levels, complement levels, nitro blue tetrazolium and dihydrorhodamine tests, workup for infections including tuberculosis and genetic tests were obtained from medical records and analysed. Bone marrow aspiration was done in cases of prolonged fever, cytopenia or when haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis was suspected. Descriptive statistics was applied to obtain the results in our study.
Data of 40 children with suspect/confirmed primary immunodeficiency were collected. Of these, 26 (65%) were male with a sex ratio of 1.8:1 (M:F). Almost two-third of patients (70%) had onset of symptoms before 1 year of age. The mean age of onset of symptoms was 17 months (±22.5 months). The youngest age at diagnosis was in the neonatal period where a new-born with severe combined immunodeficiency was diagnosed at birth. Average time lag between onset of symptoms and age of diagnosis was 31.5 months (±48.33 months). Almost half of affected children (53%) were born out of non-consanguineous parentage. Twenty-seven per cent children had history suggestive of PID among the first-degree relative/family members. Recurrent fever (50%), pneumonia (45%) and failure to thrive (37%) were the most common clinical features at presentation. Other manifestations included oral thrush, chronic diarrhoea, recurrent ear infections, development delay and seizures. Infections that the patients presented with included pneumonia (45%), gastrointestinal infections (18%), oral thrush (15%), recurrent otitis media (7.5%) and recurrent skin infections (5%). Few children also presented with bleeding problems in the form of skin and oral bleeds (10%). Findings on examination included rash, generalised lymphadenopathy, Bacille Calmette Guérin (BCG) adenitis, pallor, clubbing and facial dysmorphism [Figure 1]. Organomegaly was seen in 42% of the children. 65% of patients with PID had anaemia out of which 35% had severe anaemia that required transfusions. Almost half the patients (55%) had a normocytic blood picture and 32% had microcytic hypochromic anaemia. Direct Coombs test was positive only in one patient. The anaemia was due to one or more factors including micronutrient deficiencies, anaemia of chronic disease and bone marrow infiltration/suppression. Other abnormalities seen in blood counts were Leukopenia (17%), leucocytosis (40%), neutropenia (22%) and thrombocytopaenia (30%). Mycobacterium bovis was isolated from all the patients diagnosed with Mendelian susceptibility to mycobacterial diseases (MSMD). The organisms isolated from patients with other types of PIDs were Staphylococcus aureus, Nocardia, and Aspergillosis. Some unusual sites of infection were temporal bone osteomyelitis (congenital neutropaenia) and testicular abscess (hyper-immunoglobulin E syndrome).
Figure 1: The clinical features of the various classes of primary immunodeficiency disorders
[Table 1] depicts the demographic characteristics, clinical and laboratory features of children with PID and the various classes of PIDs.
Table 1: Demographic characteristics of different classes of primary immunodeficiency disorders
Using the IUIS classification (4), the PIDs were classified into those affecting cellular and humoral immunity and combined immune deficiencies (30%), predominant antibody deficiencies (12.5%), diseases of immune dysregulation (32.5%), congenital deficiencies in phagocytes (10%) and deficiencies in innate and intrinsic immunity which included patients with MSMD (15%). Genetic confirmation was obtained in 17 patients (42.5%) as represented in [Table 2] which depicts the results of next-generation sequencing in our patients. However, there were differences between the clinical phenotype and the genetic diagnosis in 5 (29%) of our patients who had genetic testing done as depicted in [Table 3]. Among those with genetic confirmation, the baseline workup for immunodeficiency including flow cytometry and immunoglobulin levels was normal in 3 patients (17.6%) and the condition was diagnosed only by molecular analysis. More than half of all the patients (57%) were lost to follow-up, and only one patient underwent stem cell transplant. Among those who had genetically confirmed PIDs, 8 patients died (47%) and 3 patients were lost to follow-up.
Table 2: Primary immunodeficiencies diagnosed based on genetic analysis
Table 3: Depicting the phenotypic and genomic differences
Clinical presentation of PIDs can vary from relatively benign forms such as IgA deficiency to life-threatening ones such as severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID).[5] The complex nature of the illness, limited diagnostic facilities and need for resource-consuming treatment in developing countries are the common obstacles in the effective management of these patients. The above deficiencies may also explain the possible reasons for lack of published data in resource-limited countries.
In the present study, it was noted that males were affected predominantly which could be partly due to gender bias in seeking medical care, an unfortunate reality in some parts of the world. However, this pattern of male predominance has been reported in other PID registries as well.[6],[7] This male preponderance holds good even if the immunodeficiency diseases with X-linked forms of inheritance are excluded. Overall, the reason for this difference is not clear but may be partly explained by genetic susceptibility.[6]
Age of onset of symptoms varied based on the type of PID. Seventy per cent of the patients had onset of symptoms before the age of 1 year. Most of these patients had combined cellular and humoral immunodeficiencies, phagocytic defects or disorders of immune dysregulation. In a study by Gupta et al. on a cohort of 120 children with PID, 86% had varied age of presentation ranging between 3 months and 17 years of age.[8] In a retrospective study on 112 Chinese children, it was observed that those children with SCID and Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome presented earlier with the median age of onset of symptoms being 1 month and 4 months respectively, while primary antibody-related deficiencies had a later presentation at a median age of 26.5 months.[9] In our cohort, the diagnosis of SCID in one patient was obtained even before the onset of symptoms in view of a significant family history of multiple sibling deaths as a result of which flow cytometry done at birth clinched the diagnosis.
Almost half the patients were born of consanguineous parentage and nearly one-third had an affected family member. In a study done in North India by Gupta et al.,[8] consanguinity was seen in 80% of patients and 23% of patients had a history of previous sibling death. In another similar retrospective study conducted in Iran on 59 patients with PID, consanguinity was observed in 61% of patients and family history was positive in 34% of the affected patients.[10] On the other hand, data obtained from a United Kingdom PID registry reported consanguinity in 2.9% of 4097 cases and 24% were identified as familial cases.[11] This is probably because consanguinity rates, in general, vary between populations due to differences in religion, culture and geography, with higher levels being reported in Middle East and Western Asia, Arab and African Countries and South India.[12]
The most common symptom in our patients was that of recurrent fever which was most likely due to an infectious process. The various infections that the patients presented with included pneumonia (43%), diarrhoea (16%), thrush (16%), ear infections (11%) and skin infections (2%). BCG adenitis was reported in 21% of the patients. This was predominantly seen in patients diagnosed with MSMD. In a similar study done by Mirzaee et al. in Iran, out of 80 patients with immunodeficiency, pneumonia (30%), diarrhoea (18.8%) and otitis media (15%) were the most common infections encountered in these patients.[13] Neurological manifestations in the form of developmental delay and seizures were seen in around 10% of our patients. In our study, growth failure was seen in 38% of children at the time of diagnosis and was noted predominantly in those children with combined immunodeficiencies and disorders of immune dysregulation. Khalilzedah et al. reported growth failure in 69% of patients in their cohort of 59 PID patients.[14] Causes for growth failure in PIDs are usually multifactorial due to recurrent infections, chronic inflammation increasing the resting energy expenditure and a hyper-catabolic state, anorexia or malabsorption. In the developing world, growth failure due to under-nutrition and recurrent infections may be overlooked as malnutrition itself is not an uncommon feature in many children admitted for infections. Hence, a high index of suspicion to consider PID as a possibility rather than only nutrition-related growth failure may help identify more children with PIDs. In addition to the above, the association of genetic syndromes with PIDs or the presence of secondary endocrinopathies as a result of autoimmunity in children with PID may also contribute to short stature in these patients.[15]
Haematological features such as anaemia were present in nearly two third of our patients. Out of these, almost half the patients presented with severe anaemia requiring transfusion. Almost 40% of the anaemic patients had pancytopenia. Thrombocytopaenia was seen in one-third of our patients. In our study, anaemia and thrombocytopaenia were predominantly seen in patients with combined immunodeficiencies. Majority of patients had normocytic normochromic anaemia on the peripheral blood smear. Bleeding manifestations were noted in 8% of children. Data obtained from 80 patients with PID from a registry in Iran revealed that anaemia was predominantly seen in patients with phagocytic disorders and thrombocytopenia was mainly seen in those patients with humoral immunodeficiencies.[13] The most common autoimmune manifestations in PIDs are immune thrombocytopenic purpura followed by autoimmune haemolytic anaemia. However, autoimmune haemolytic anaemia was not as commonly seen in our study as reported in literature. This may be because one-third of the patients in our study had disorders of immune dysregulation who predominantly presented with pancytopenia. Leucocytosis was observed to occur more commonly than leukopenia in our study. This could be due to the presence of a concomitant infectious process as majority of our patients presented with recurrent fever.
Among the various immunodeficiency syndromes, nearly one-third of our patients presented with diseases of immune dysregulation. Further, India has been witnessing among physicians, an increasing awareness regarding haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis and its association with various infectious and autoimmune processes as evidenced by a rising trend in published literature regarding the same. Thirty per cent of children presented with features of combined immunodeficiencies. Predominant antibody deficiencies, phagocytic defects and defects in innate and intrinsic immunity were each seen in 12%, 11% and 15% of the patients, respectively. This finding was similar to what was seen in a study conducted by Chinnabhandra et al. who presented the data of 47 patients from a hospital-based registry.[6] In this study, 29% of the patients presented with immune dysregulation, 28% with B and T cell abnormalities, 23% with antibody deficiencies, 15% with other well-defined immunodeficiency syndromes and 4% with phagocytic defects. Data available in the literature from other studies in India and elsewhere show wide variation in the prevalence of various subclasses of immunodeficiency syndromes.[6],[13],[16]
The diagnosis was confirmed by genetic testing in half the patients in our study. In the study by Chinnabhandra et al., molecular testing was possible only in 25% of their patients.[6] In a study carried out in Kuwait by Al-Herz et al. that looked into the genetic causes of primary immunodeficiencies, the diagnostic yield of genetic analysis was around 70%.[17] In resource-limited countries like India, the main obstacles to molecular diagnosis are the availability of only few testing centres and the high cost. Benefits of genetic analysis include early reliable diagnosis, prognostication of the disease and early initiation of treatment such as antibody replacement and haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Genetic testing not only helps in discovering novel disease-causing genes but may also uncover new inheritance patterns of known genes which may be associated with new or unexpected clinical phenotypes.
In our study as well, we noticed genotypic and phenotypic discrepancies in a few patients whose clinical presentation and genetic diagnosis did not go hand in hand. Targeted therapies such as immunosuppression, usage of monoclonal antibodies or specific molecule inhibitors are facilitated once molecular diagnosis is established. Furthermore, genetic counselling and prenatal diagnosis can be offered only after the genetic confirmation of the disease.[10]
About 43% of patients are on follow-up. All children on follow-up are on symptomatic treatment including intravenous immunoglobulin and prophylaxis based on the underlying diagnosis. However, as only less than half the patients are on our follow-up, it was not possible to obtain the overall mortality data. The expenses incurred both from diagnosis and treatment of a child with PID including haematopoietic stem cell transplant contribute to morbidity and mortality as it prevents timely care and medical treatment from being administered.
There were few interesting observations in our study. Although consanguinity is very common in South India, we would have expected a larger number of patients to have presented with problems of immunodeficiency. This may be due to lack of awareness and timely referrals. Almost one-third of our patients presented with failure to thrive. The endemic nature of many infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and high prevalence of malnutrition in the country may be some of the reasons why immunodeficiency as a possibility might have been overlooked. Although autoimmunity is the main cause for cytopenia in children with immunodeficiency, it was not a predominant manifestation observed in our cohort of patients. It may therefore be reasonable to suspect immunodeficiency as one of the possibilities in a child presenting with unexplained anaemia or pancytopenia against a background of recurrent infections or growth failure when other causes have been ruled out. Although less than half the patients in our study had a genetically confirmed diagnosis, it was interesting to note that in a subset of patients, there were discrepancies between the clinical phenotype described and the immunodeficiency syndrome confirmed subsequently by molecular technique. It is therefore important to attempt to get a genetic confirmation for every patient with a clinical diagnosis of primary immunodeficiency so that therapy is more targeted.
The findings from the present study are compared with other studies done in developing and developed countries as depicted in [Table 4].[11],[18],[19],[20],[21],[22] The mean lag time to diagnosis in our study is comparable with that of developing countries. However, the genetic diagnosis, follow-up and long-term prognosis remain still challenging in most countries.
Table 4: Comparative studies: Primary immunodeficiency disorders studies from India and other countries
There are certain limitations in our study. Given the retrospective nature, data capture was limited to case notes and no prospective data analysis was done. Similarly, a sizeable proportion of patients were lost to follow-up, so outcomes could not be studied. The costs incurred in the treatment of these children subsequently as well as the prognosis of many of these conditions without transplant could be a deterrent for sustained follow-up. Another drawback is that only 50% of patients could have genetic confirmation of PID.
The suspicion and detection of PID are on the rise. Clinical manifestations are heterogeneous, and apart from recurrent infections, PID should be suspected in a child with unexplained growth failure and cytopenia. Increasing awareness, early diagnosis, prompt referral and initiation of timely treatment are the cornerstones in effectively managing patients with these disorders. Lack of diagnostic facilities and overbearing costs incurred in the treatment of these patients are some of the challenges faced in resource-limited countries. Efforts should be made to facilitate access to genetic diagnosis in as many centres as possible for genotype confirmation and to plan therapeutic interventions. This warrants a collective contribution from healthcare personnel, parents and government to provide more affordable and easily available therapeutic options to improve the quality of life of children with PID.
Medgenome Laboratory Ltd, Bangalore, Dr. Casanova, Dr. Jacinta & team from Laboratory of Human Genetics of Infectious Diseases, France were acknowledged.
Chinn IK, Orange JS. Immunodeficiency disorders. Pediatr Rev 2019;40:229-42.
Gupta S, Madkaikar M, Singh S, Sehgal S. Primary immunodeficiencies in India: A perspective. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2012;1250:73-9.
Jindal AK, Pilania RK, Rawat A, Singh S. Primary immunodeficiency disorders in India – A situational review. Front Immunol 2017;8:714.
Tangye SG, Al-Herz W, Bousfiha A, Chatila T, Cunningham-Rundles C, Etzioni A, et al. Human inborn errors of immunity: 2019 update on the classification from the International Union of Immunological Societies Expert Committee. J Clin Immunol 2020;40:24-64.
Abolhassani H, Azizi G, Sharifi L, Yazdani R, Mohsenzadegan M, Delavari S, et al. Global systematic review of primary immunodeficiency registries. Expert Rev Clin Immunol 2020;16:717-32.
Mirzaee AZ, Darougar S, Chavoshzadeh Z, Mesdaghi M, Mansouri M, Babaie D, et al. Registry of clinical data and laboratory findings in 80 patients with primary immunodeficiencies in Mofid Children Hospital. J Compr Pediatr 2018;9:e62446.
Chinnabhandar V, Yadav SP, Kaul D, Verma IC, Sachdeva A. Primary immunodeficiency disorders in the developing world: Data from a hospital-based registry in India. Pediatr Hematol Oncol 2014;31:207-11.
Lougaris V, Pession A, Baronio M, Soresina A, Rondelli R, Gazzurelli L, et al. The Italian Registry for primary immunodeficiencies (Italian Primary Immunodeficiency Network; IPINet): Twenty years of experience (1999-2019). J Clin Immunol 2020;40:1026-37.
Gupta D, Thakral D, Kumar P, Kabra SK, Lodha R, Kumari R, et al. Primary immunodeficiency disorders among north Indian children. Indian J Pediatr 2019;86:885-91.
Abolhassani H, Kiaee F, Tavakol M, Chavoshzadeh Z, Mahdaviani SA, Momen T, et al. Fourth update on the Iranian National Registry of primary immunodeficiencies: Integration of molecular diagnosis. J Clin Immunol 2018;38:816-32.
Shillitoe B, Bangs C, Guzman D, Gennery AR, Longhurst HJ, Slatter M, et al. The United Kingdom primary immune deficiency (UKPID) registry 2012 to 2017. Clin Exp Immunol 2018;192:284-91.
Bener A, Mohammad RR. Global distribution of consanguinity and their impact on complex diseases: Genetic disorders from an endogamous population. Egypt J Med Hum Genet 2017;18:315-20.
Wu J, Zhong W, Yin Y, Zhang H. Primary immunodeficiency disease: A retrospective study of 112 Chinese children in a single tertiary care center. BMC Pediatr 2019;19:410.
Khalilzadeh S, Boloorsaz MR, Baghaie N, Sadeghi SM, Hassanzad M, Velayati AA. Primary immunodeficiency in children: Report of seven years study. Tanaffos 2011;10:38-43.
Goudouris ES, Segundo GR, Poli C. Repercussions of inborn errors of immunity on growth. J Pediatr (Rio J) 2019;95 Suppl 1:49-58.
Boyle JM, Buckley RH. Population prevalence of diagnosed primary immunodeficiency diseases in the United States. J Clin Immunol 2007;27:497-502.
Al-Herz W, Chou J, Delmonte OM, Massaad MJ, Bainter W, Castagnoli R, et al. Comprehensive genetic results for primary immunodeficiency disorders in a highly consanguineous population. Front Immunol 2018;9:3146.
Boton Pereira DH, Primo LS, Pelizari G, Flores E, de Moraes-Vasconcelos D, Condino-Neto A, et al. Primary immunodeficiencies in a Mesoregion of São Paulo, Brazil: Epidemiologic, clinical, and geospatial approach. Front Immunol 2020;11:862.
Benjasupattananan P, Simasathein T, Vichyanond P, Leungwedchakarn V, Visitsunthorn N, Pacharn P, et al. Clinical characteristics and outcomes of primary immunodeficiencies in Thai children: An 18-year experience from a tertiary care center. J Clin Immunol 2009;29:357-64.
Qureshi S, Mir F, Junejo S, Saleem K, Zaidi S, Naveed AB, et al. The spectrum of primary immunodeficiencies at a tertiary care hospital in Pakistan. World Allergy Organ J 2020;13:100133.
Kilic SS, Ozel M, Hafizoglu D, Karaca NE, Aksu G, Kutukculer N. The prevalences [correction] and patient characteristics of primary immunodeficiency diseases in Turkey-two centers study. J Clin Immunol 2013;33:74-83.
Sivasankaran M, Munirathnam D, Balasubramanian S, Agrawal S, Deshpande S, Bharadwaj R, et al. Diagnostic spectrum and clinical profile of primary immunodeficiency disorders at a tertiary care children hospital in Southern India. Indian Pediatr 2021;58:246-9.
[Table 1], [Table 2], [Table 3], [Table 4]
Krishna S
Srinivasan R
Prakash A
Bhattad S
Indumathi C K
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1919
|
__label__cc
| 0.556965
| 0.443035
|
11aug(aug 11)9:00 am12(aug 12)5:00 pmInternational Congress on Software Engineering 2022ICSE 2022
International Congress on Software Engineering 2022 (ICSE 2022) is a part of the International Congress 2022 which is scheduled to happen from 11 August 2022 to 12 August 2022 at
International Congress on Software Engineering 2022 (ICSE 2022) is a part of the International Congress 2022 which is scheduled to happen from 11 August 2022 to 12 August 2022 at Hong Kong both Physically and Virtually.
The purpose of ICSE 2022 is to bring together researchers, mathematicians, engineers, and practitioners interested in various aspects related to Software Engineering.
The papers will be made to appear in a book to be published by ASDF HQ, India in EDLIB (www.edlib.net). All the published papers will be indexed by Google Scholar and various other search engines.
11 (Thursday) 9:00 am - 12 (Friday) 5:00 pm
Hong Kong [VIRTUAL/PHYSICAL]
Health Guidelines for this Event
Temperature Checked At Entrance
Physical Distance Maintained
Event Area Sanitized
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1930
|
__label__cc
| 0.708594
| 0.291406
|
Breakfast Epiphany with Troy Monroe
2011-09-20 08:30:00 2011-09-20 10:00:00 America/New_York Breakfast Epiphany with Troy Monroe Victoria Station Cafe AIGA Connecticut annagallo@connecticut.aiga.org
If you are passionate about something, find a way to pursue it. Just know that the path isn't always defined, never-mind smooth or straight. Giving shape to conviction is truly a labor of love.
In this Breakfast Epiphany, Troy Monroe, founder of Design is Love, will lead a discussion about having a passion and a plan. What does it take to shift your focus (even when you're not always able) to make great things happen? How do you work with the necessary and continual evolution of ideas as they are put into practice? Show up ready to discuss passion, pain and the resolve it takes to pave the way for what's on the horizon.
Troy Monroe is the founder of Design is Love and Design Director at CO:LAB in Hartford. His diverse experiences and perspectives are reflected in his open and confident leadership style. His passion for and commitment to doing good are evident in everything he does. Previously, Troy worked as assistant art director at Connecticut Magazine, and as a senior designer for both Group C and Outthink. He is also a past President of the Connecticut Art Directors Club. Troy received his undergraduate degree in Visual Communication Design from the Hartford Art School at the University of Hartford. His work has been featured in numerous regional, national and international design competitions.
Victoria Station Cafe
91 Main Street, Putnam, CT 06260
www.victoriastationcafe.com
Tue, Sep 20, 2011 8:30 AM - 10:00 AM EDT
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1932
|
__label__wiki
| 0.868716
| 0.868716
|
Larry David Uninvited From Barack Obama’s 60th Birthday Party
The 475-person guest list was dramatically pared down due to the rise in COVID cases
Larry David (HBO)
August 6, 2021 | 6:19pm ET
Barack Obama is celebrating his 60th birthday this weekend, but due to the recent rise in coronavirus cases the former president has been forced to dramatically scale back the festivities.
Of the 475 people originally on the guest list, several prominent names have now been uninvited, according to The New York Times. Among those left out in the cold: Curb Your Enthusiasm star Larry David, whose snubbing may have more to do with his disrespect for wood than the pandemic.
Former late-night talk show hosts David Letterman and Conan O’Brien were also cut from the guest list, as were many former staff members of Obama’s White House administration.
There will still be plenty of star power present at Obama’s shindig, which goes down at his family’s residence in Martha’s Vinyard. JAY-Z and Beyoncé are still expected to attend. So too are George Clooney, Steven Spielberg, John Legend, Chrissy Teigen, Dwayne Wade, and Gabrielle Union, according to TMZ. And Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder will also be hand to provide the musical entertainment.
But as for Larry — he’ll have to find someone else’s party to sabotage.
Tie-Dyed, Embroidered Beanies for the Pop Culture Head
R.I.P. Fred Parris, "In the Still of the Night" Songwriter Dead at 85
Judas Priest Welcome Andy Sneap Back Five Days After Dropping Him from Touring Lineup
Ed Sheeran Wants to Build a Crypt on His Estate
Larry David Uninvited From Barack Obama's 60th Birthday Party
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1933
|
__label__wiki
| 0.823759
| 0.823759
|
Kiluanji Kia Henda: Memorial to Enslaved People, Lisbon. Foto: Kiluanji Kia Henda
Inside the Library
C& Projects
C& Artists’ Editions
C& Commissions
C& Center of Unfinished Business
Show me your shelves!
C& Education
Critical Writing Workshops
Lectures / Seminars
GO TO C& AMÉRICA LATINA
C& On Tour
In Conversation with Beatriz Dias
Memorial in Lisbon: Recovering History That Was Made Invisible
"Plantation – Prosperity and Nightmare,” a project by the Angolan artist Kiluanji Kia Henda, was selected for the construction of the Memorial in Homage to Enslaved Persons in Lisbon. Beatriz Dias, the founder of Djass – Association of Afro-descendents, Associação de Afrodescendentes, as well as an assemblywoman and an activist, talks about the Memorial that will be constructed, the legacy of slavery and the importance of collaborating with curators advocating for a decolonial thinking.
By Gisele Navarro Fernandes
C&AL: The idea to establish a Memorial to Enslaved People in Lisbon includes designing a work of art to be exhibited in the public space. Could you talk about the process involved in making this choice?
Beatriz Dias: The idea is for the Memorial, through its symbolism, to be a work created by an African or Afro-descendent artist, from a Portuguese-speaking country, whose profile matches the conceptual and contemporary nature of the project and whose work in some way serves as a vehicle for reflection and a position on questions of slavery, colonialism and post-colonialism. Similarly, in March of 2018, Djass created a Consulting Group made up of activists with links to the black and antiracist movement and researchers specializing in history, post-colonial studies, art and museology, to participate in defining the concept of the Memorial and in the selection process of the artists.
The Memorial should use a contemporary artistic language – conceptually and symbolically – that is capable of ensuring a meaningful urban presence and of representing slavery broadly, including the aspects of memory, resistance and the legacies and historical continuities, to establish a link between past and present. Based on these criteria, five African and Afro-descendent artists were invited, three of whom presented proposals: Grada Kilomba, Jaime Lauriano e Kiluanji Kia Henda, the latter of whom was selected, having received the most votes tallied over six public sessions that we organized across several locations around Lisbon where there is a strong presence of Africans and Afro-descendants. One of our objectives was to make this a participatory process from the beginning. We have to remember that this came from a proposal that Djass had proposed to the Participatory Budgeting of Lisbon and it was one of the winning proposals of this initiative of the Lisbon City Council.
C&AL: The selected work will be placed in a symbolic space in the city. Could you talk about the choice of this space?
BD: One of the aspects we thought was extremely important to ensure was that the work be placed in a privileged space, downtown, so as to break with the segregation that the African and Afro-descendent populations are subjected to in the city of Lisbon. We know that populations have a pendular movement; they come downtown to perform professional tasks, where they work, build, clean the city, and afterward are sent back to the periphery, through processes of clear territorial segregation, along with segregated housing.
So we wanted to break this process of territorial segregation and we wanted there to be a monument downtown that celebrates enslaved people. Initially, we had chosen Ribeira das Naus, a central location, in the Cais do Sodré – Campo das Cebolas area. This area was identified by historians as a zone where ships docked having transported enslaved people who had been abducted from African territories occupied by Portugal. We also wanted it to be in an area that is easily accessible, that people could get to via public transportation, and we didn’t want it to be out in the suburbs, in a far-off place, where nobody goes, that no one sees; it had to be a place where people visit and go often…
From the outset, we thought it was important for the memorial to have an Interpretive Center. We thought it was absolutely crucial for the Memorial to have this type of facility, where there could be exhibits, lectures and discussions, with regular programming, and an educational service that would include guided visits. It would be a place for us to go to take root in our memories and tell this history that has been made invisible in our public space.
C&AL: Portugal, unlike other countries such as England or France, does not yet have a strong culture of remembering persons who were victims of slavery. What movements are emerging to change this situation?
BD: The denial of racism and racial discrimination in Portugal is one of the main factors that makes it difficult to have an in-depth discussion about the causes of the structural and systemic racism that exists in Portuguese society. As a result, it also impedes a deep analysis of the memory of people who were victims of slavery, of Portugal’s role in trafficking enslaved persons and of the contributions that these populations, these people, made to knowledge in Portugal, to the culture and to technological development. And how does this negation take shape? This negation is the result of a national identity that is based on a hegemonic discourse, a fictional narrative, a fantasy that celebrates discoveries as being the most important enterprise of Portuguese society.
There is an entire fabrication around the discoveries that reifies some of the myths of national identity. The myth of Luso-tropicalism – the Portuguese are a people with a natural propensity for miscegenation, a capacity for dialogue and mixing with indigenous populations from occupied African countries. The myth of Portugal’s civilizing mission, in other words, that Portugal played a crucial role in the civilization of populations, contributed to them being able to come out of the darkness, the obscurantism they were in and to be enlightened, to rise up to the level of European civilization, fighting primitivism and making those people more technologically developed, more civilized. And, above all else – and I think this is the deepest root of Portuguese denial –, the idea that Portuguese colonialism was a benign colonialism, and that, therefore, Portugal was a good colonizer.
C&AL: And Djass is emerging precisely in the context of the decolonization of Portuguese thought?
BD: Since it was founded in 2016, Djass has aimed to examine the decolonization of knowledge. We based our work on the investigative works of historians, sociologists and anthropologists who are also reflecting on this decolonization. On one side, epistemological decolonization, bringing knowledge produced by other authors to think about how knowledge is produced and how we can alter existing dominant Eurocentric conceptions and bring to the discussion other ways of knowing.
We sought out US, African and Afro-descendant black thinkers and the contributions they made to freedom movements. All those ideas are modeling our discourse, are influencing it and the way we are thinking what is necessary to do in order to decolonize thought in Portugal, to give centrality to racism and racial discrimination and to understand that racism crosses different dimensions of our collective life with an impact on the life of Black women and men, but also on the hegemonic ideas of mainstream society.
C&AL: You all defend the inclusion of African peoples’ contributions in school curriculums. Is the aim of this to recover the African continent’s art history?
BD: In Portugal, school textbooks continue to disseminate a Eurocentric vision of knowledge, which is making diversity and the richness of African cultures invisible or paints them as stereotyped or subaltern. We need to dismantle this vision, inscribing in our curriculums and textbooks the contribution of African civilizations to the scientific, technological, economic, social and cultural development of Humanity. The Interpretive Center – part of the Memorial – will also be essential to affirm this decolonial thinking. We want to look at the contributions of African civilizations to knowledge, to technology, to social development, in a way that allows us to dispute and confront the narrative that treats these civilizations and these cultures as being backward, uncivilized, primitive and which establishes a hierarchy that qualifies these civilizations, always in comparison to European civilization. We want to fight Eurocentrism in order to bring this very important information to write this incomplete history that is told about these civilizations, about these cultures. We are planning for the Interpretive Center to have regular programming, to collaborate with art curators who are not only reflecting on decolonial and post-colonial thought, but who also have knowledge about the different cultural manifestations of various African civilizations over this whole historical moment – while colonialism was happening as well as the pre-colonial and post-colonial periods.
We’re also counting on community participation. We want to create a museology community where curatorship of the exhibitions are made in partnership and coordination with associations that are locally based and with the Afro-descendent social movement, in a way that will not only allow us to construct a fluid dialogue with the communities, but also a robust narrative that confronts the national hegemonic narrative, where these communities are always depicted as subaltern in the production of knowledge and we want to dispute this narrative. Additionally, we want to establish an articulation between different facilities that exist in European cities that deal with the same themes, like memory and colonial history, memory of African populations and Afro-descendants in European countries as well as in Afro-European memory. It is important to think of Europe as a plural space, with multiple cultures.
Beatriz Dias is a black Portuguese woman. She was born in Dakar, Senegal, in 1971, and lives in Lisbon, Portugal. She has taught Biology and Geology on the elementary and secondary levels since 1994. An activist against racism and the founder of Djass – Association of Afro-descendants, she is also a militant, the leader of the Left Block and served as Mayor of Lisbon from 2009 to 2019. She is currently an assemblywoman on the National Assembly (Portuguese parliament).
Gisele Navarro Fernandes is a Brazilian who has lived in Lisbon since 1996. She is a psychologist involved in Portuguese social movements. She is also a member of the association for anti-racism, Djass, and the Andorinha Collective – the Brazilian Democratic Front of Lisbon.
Translated from Portuguese by Sara Hanaburgh.
This interview was initially published on C& América Latina on 30 March 2020.
C& Opens a New Office and Reading Room in Nairobi!
Brazilian Artist enorê Explores the Creative Language of Data
C&’s Highlights of 2021 You Might Have Missed
Wilfred Timire and Franklyn Dzingai Win artHARARE Africa First Art Prize 2021
Grada Kilomba and the Venice Biennale 2022
Barack and Michelle Obama Official Portraits Unveiled
Curriculum of Connections
Conscious Codes
Located in one of Nairobi's first mall buildings, the office will host artists, writers…
enorê, whose work challenges the idea of fluidity by connecting digital and non-digital art,…
From the restitution of the Benin Bronzes to the overdue celebration of female artists…
Zimbabwean emerging artists Wilfred Timire and Franklyn Dzingai are joint winners and will present…
The international arts and culture scene condemns the judging irregularities at the Venice Biennale’s…
Let us Mourn in Peace
Global Grief 2021: The Year in Review
Enos Nyamor looks back at a year in the arts marked by collective mourning…
Contemporary And (C&) is a dynamic platform for reflecting and connecting ideas and discourses on contemporary visual arts.
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1934
|
__label__cc
| 0.568998
| 0.431002
|
Don't worry, we speak : Español (Spanish), too!
Market MapNews
While Some Currencies Depreciate in LatAm, Cryptocurrencies Gain Popularity
The use of cryptocurrencies has given greater financial security to users who live in countries where their currency is depreciating.
Sandra Perez
You may not want to hear another word about the pandemic caused by Covid, but it is impossible not to when it has impacted multiple areas of life. More than one country can show that the financial area is one that has been majorly affected, as political changes and constant uncertainty moved currency markets.
Latin America was one of the most affected regions at the end of 2021. Four of its currencies are in the top five of the most depreciated against the dollar worldwide: the first was the Turkish ira (-94.85%); followed by the Argentinean peso (-20.49%), Chilean (-18.68%), Colombian (-17.05%), and Peruvian sol (11.93%), according to Alianza Valores.
On the other hand, despite these drops in traditional currencies, the region also closed 2021 as one of the main adopters of cryptocurrencies, above China and the United States. Why this contrast?
More Crypto for Latin America
The region has a market with a growing adoption of cryptocurrencies, EBANX detailed. “They have become an instrument of financial inclusion in LatAm, as a way of transferring funds at a lower cost”.
Thus, the countries that have best received these digital currencies, according to Statista, are: Peru (16%), Colombia (15%), Argentina (14%), Brazil (13%), Chile (12%), Dominican Republic (10%) and Mexico (10%).
Notably, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, and Peru top both lists; this is not a coincidence at all. Argentina ended 2021 with a 52% inflation rate; Chile is facing the uncertainty of a new government; Colombia has experienced multiple violent protests; and Peru is also facing a new governmental mandate. To this must be added the economic instability and health crisis caused by the pandemic.
All these factors affect the foreign exchange market. In this regard, José Rodríguez, director of Blockchain Land, told Contxto that many people in these countries do not trust their currency, the government nor the central bank. He noted that one reason that they are adopting cryptocurrencies is because they are fleeing traditional currencies and economies. “People are looking for other investment options.”
Other reasons that Latin America have stood out here is that “people are looking for safer alternatives to keep their money in the face of economic instability”. José Luis González Birlain, cryptocurrency analyst at Bitso, told Contxto that the region made a huge leap with crypto adoption.
In other words, there was a generational leap. While other countries and regions were gradually adopting cryptocurrencies, Latin America had more tools that facilitated their use, and more players in the market. This has led the region to show a remarkable rise in a short period of time.
Cryptocurrencies vs Traditional Currencies
According to EBANX, individual consumers in Latin America represent the majority of cryptocurrency users (more than 80%). The rest are businesses and investment institutions.
The reason for this difference is that individuals are reaping multiple benefits. For example, in the region cryptocurrencies are largely being used by immigrant communities.
Both González Birlain and Rodríguez agree that other benefits of cryptocurrency that people in Latin America are finding are:
Sending remittances: not as many intermediaries are required as in traditional banking, so commissions are much lower. This action has been booming in Mexico.
Maintaining savings: this is achieved through the use of stable currencies linked to the dollar. This can’t happen with many local currencies since they often depreciate due to external factors. In Argentina this has greatly helped people maintain the value of their savings.
Cross-border trade: it allows us to eliminate barriers and move money from one point to another easily.
Investing with returns above inflation: cryptocurrency investment platforms are increasingly friendly. They allow investments from US$5 to obtain more capital with returns above those of a traditional bank, and are protected against inflation.
Financial freedom: people have more control over their assets and how they use them.
Loans: if you have cryptocurrency, you can put it as collateral (as if it were pawned) in a decentralized fund. In exchange, you will receive a stable currency that can represent dollars and thus obtain a source of funding (money) immediately. Once the loan is repaid, the user will get their cryptocurrencies back.
Here’s the Outlook between 2022 and 2025
While El Salvador was a pioneer in adopting Bitcoin as legal tender, the Bank of Mexico (Banxico) announced the creation of its own digital currency. These are clear signs of steadier crypto adoption in the region.
González Birlain expressed no doubt that the adoption of cryptocurrencies in countries where local currencies have depreciated will continue. They are being perceived as a refuge for economic stability in the face of inflation; and as some totem of trust due to the general disappointment in the traditional financial system.
He also noted that there will start to be real use cases well beyond just a storage of value. For example NFTs, concepts such as metaverse, video gaming and decentralized finance.
In addition, he said that financial inclusion will have to be measured in a different way. It will no longer just be about whether you have a bank account or not. Other indicators will have to be taken into consideration, such as if whether people have access to the cryptocurrency ecosystem.
Rodríguez sees that despite its short-term volatility, Bitcoin will have an upward trend in the medium to long term. He stressed that there is no way for other currencies to sustain their value. The past year had the highest amount of new money printed in a majority of countries in the world, which reduces a currency’s value.
Both experts agreed that central banks will start creating their own digital currencies. Rodríguez emphasized that this will give more transparency and people will be able to see the management of these assets. González Birlain pointed out that this could be complementary to evolve towards an inclusive digital economy.
“We are going to be interacting with cryptocurrencies without knowing it, just as we do today with the Internet,” says the Bitso analyst.
Thus, up to the close of last year, the cryptocurrency platforms that stood out in Latin America were: Mercado Bitcoin (Brazil), Bitso (Mexico), Ripio (Argentina), Coinbase (Brazil), Binance (Brazil), LocalBitcoins (Finland), Paxful (USA), Gemini (NYC) and Kraken (USA).
Why is Latin America the most crypto-friendly region in the world?
Criptocurrencies
Previous articleThree Steps Towards More Female Entrepreneurship in Latam
Next articleUber Eats Exits Brazil; Cornershop Takes Center Stage
Uber Eats Exits Brazil; Cornershop Takes Center Stage
Paola Villarreal - January 11, 2022 0
Uber, which launched its Uber Eats home delivery platform in August 2014, recently announced that they will discontinue this service in Brazil.
Tribal Includes Stablecoins in Its New Debt Round
Delivery Hero Sells Most of Its Rappi Shares
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1938
|
__label__cc
| 0.633423
| 0.366577
|
Devenez membre de la SCRO
À propos de la SCRO
Officiers de la SCRO
Pourquoi adhérer?
Comment devenir membre de la SCRO
Le Diplôme de la SCRO
Concours du meilleur article par un étudiant
Financement des étudiants diplômés
Prix Harold Larnder
Prix Omond Solandt
Prix du mérite
Prix de services Eldon Gunn
Le Concours sur la pratique de la RO
Programme de conférenciers itinérants
Congrès de la SCRO
Congrès connexes
Micro-événements
La revue INFOR
Bulletin de la SCRO
Programmes de RO
Liste des programmes de recherche opérationnelle (RO) au Canada
Programmes de premier cycle (B.Eng, B.Tech, B.com, BBA)
Undergraduate (Operations Management), Department of Accounting, Operations, and Information Systems, Alberta School of Business, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta.
Minor in Supply Chain Management, Faculty of Mgmt, Comp Science, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta.
B.Com (Operations Management), Haskayne School of Business, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta.
B.Com (Supply Chain Management Major), Decision Sciences Department, School of Business, MacEwan University, Edmonton, Alberta.
BSc, MSc, PhD (Operations Research), Department of Mathematics, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, British Columbia.
BBA (Business and Management), Faculty of Management, Vancouver Island University, Nanaimo, British Columbia.
B.Com in Entrepreneurial Management, Operations management, School of business, Royal Roads University, Victoria, British Columbia.
Undergraduate program, Logistics and supply chain management, Operations Research/Management, Asper School of Business, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba.
BBA (Gestion des opérations), Faculty of Management, Université de Moncton, Moncton, New Brunswick.
BBA Major in Supply Chain management, Shannon School of Business, Cape Breton University, Sydney, Nova Scotia.
BBA Enterprise Systems, Faculty of Business, Gerald Schwartz School of Business, St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, Nova Scotia.
Minor and a Concentration in Applied Statistics, Mathematics Department, Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
B.Eng, Deptt of Industrial Engineering, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
B.Com, Rowe School of Business, Supply Chain and Logistics Management, Faculty of Management, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
BSc Math with Data Analytics, Maths and Statistics, Acadia University, Wolfville, Nova Scotia.
BBA, Operations Management and Information Systems, Schulich School of Business, York University, Toronto, Ontario.
B.Eng (Industrial Engineering), Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Ryerson University, Toronto, Ontario.
B.Sc and B. Management in Applied and Industrial Mathematics, Data Science Faculty of engineering and applied science, Faculty of Science, Ontario Institute of Technology, Oshawa, Ontario.
B.Econ (Bachelor of Economics), Optional Concentration in Data Science, Department of Economics program, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario.
Undergraduate program, Department of Management and Economics, Royal Military College of Canada, Kingston, Ontario.
B. Tech in Management, Business Administration (BBA) and Financial Mathematics (BA) – Dual degree program, Lazaridis School of Business and Economics, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario.
Undergraduate program, Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario.
Undergraduate Bachelor of Applied Science (BASc) degree in Management Engineering, Department of Management Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario.
BBA Technology Management, Courses on Operations Management, Administrative Studies, Nipissing University, North Bay, Ontario.
B.Com (Economics & Management Science), B.com (Information Technology Management), Ted Rogers School of Management, Ryerson University, Toronto, Ontario.
BBA, Supply Chain Management option, BBA with Financial Mathematics, BA, Business Administration BBA with Mathematics BMATH, Business Technology Management BBTM, Lazaridis School of Business and Economics, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario.
B.Eng, Département de mathématiques et de génie industriel, École Polytechnique de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec.
B.Eng (Industrial Engineering), Department of Mechanical Engg (Sub-division Industrial Engg), Université Laval, Ville de Québec, Quebec.
B.Com, Faculté des sciences de l’administration, Département d'opérations et systèmes de decision, Université Laval, Ville de Québec, Quebec.
Baccalauréat en génie des opérations et de la logistique, Département de génie de la production automatisée, École de technologie supérieure, Montreal, Quebec.
Baccalauréat en administration with a major in logistics, École de gestion, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, Quebec.
Undergraduate program (B.Sc), Computer Science and Operations Research department (DIRO), Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec.
B.Com, John Molson School of Business, Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec.
B.Com, Department of Management Sciences/subdivision – Logistics and Operations Management, Decision sciences, HEC Montréal, Montreal, Quebec.
B.Com, Ecole de gestion, Département de systèmes d'information et méthodes quantitatives de gestion, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec.
B.A. Major in Business, Williams School of Business, Bishop's University, Sherbrooke, Quebec.
B.Com - Operations Management program, MBA program and MSc-Finance program, Edwards-school-of-business, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan.
Programmes de cycles supérieurs (M.Eng, MASc, PhD, MBA, M.Com)
PhD (Operations and Information Systems), Department of Accounting, Operations, and Information Systems, Alberta School of Business, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta.
Master of Business Analytics, Masters of Management in OR, PhD in Business Administration Operations and logistics division, Sauder school of business, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia.
MSc in Operations Excellence and Business Analytics (forthcoming), Operations & Supply Chain Management /Innovation & Technology Management, Faculty of Management, Royal Roads University, Victoria, British Columbia.
MBA, Master of Science in Business Administration (MSc.BA), School of Business, Faculty of Management, University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George, British Columbia.
MBA (Advanced topics in operations management), School of Business, Trinity Western University, Langley, British Columbia.
MBA (Business and Management), Faculty of Management, Vancouver Island University, Nanaimo, British Columbia.
Masters in Management, Course in operations and supply chain management, Faculty of Business and Economics chain management, University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, Manitoba.
MSc (Gestion), Faculty of Business, Université de Moncton, Moncton, New Brunswick.
MBA, Project Mgmt, Enterpreneurship and Technology Management, Faculty of Business, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, and St John’s, New Brunswick.
MBA, Faculty of Management, Université de Moncton, Moncton, New Brunswick.
Masters of Technology, Management and Entrepreneurship, Faculty of Engineering, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, and St John’s, New Brunswick.
M.Eng, MASc, PhD, Department of Industrial Engineering, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Masters, PhD (Industrial Engg), Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario.
Master of Applied Science (MASc), Department of Management Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario.
Master of Management Sciences (MMSc), Department of Management Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario.
Master of Management Sciences online (MMSc online), Department of Management Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario.
MSc (Data Science and Analytics), MEng, MASc, PhD, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Ryerson University, Toronto, Ontario.
MSc in Applied and Industrial Mathematics, Department Mathematics and Statistics, York University, Toronto, Ontario.
Master of Business Analytics, Schulich School of Business, York University, Toronto, Ontario.
MSc in Management (Spec: Analytics), Smith School of Business, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario.
MSc in Management (Business Analytics), PhD (Operations Management, Management Science), Ivey School of Business, Management Science Area, Western University/University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario.
Master of Management in Logistics and Supply chain management, Odette School of Business, Management Science, Windsor University, Windsor, Ontario.
M.Eng, MASc in Engineering Management, PhD in Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering, Mechanical, Automotive and Materials Engineering (contains industrial engineering), Windsor University, Windsor, Ontario.
MBA, Operations Management, Goodman School of Business, Brock University, St. Catharines, Ontario.
MBA, DeGroote School of Business, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario.
MBA Concentration in Business Analytics, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario.
MBA (Operations Management and Statistics Electives), PhD (Operations Management), Rotman School of Management, Operations Management and Statistics Area, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario.
Management, Masters Program in Applied and Industrial Mathematics, Data Science, Faculty of engineering and applied science, Faculty of Science, Ontario Institute of Technology, Oshawa, Ontario.
MA (Economics) with specialization in data science, Systems and Computer Engineering, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario.
Masters in Engineering Management (Joint program between faculty of engineering & Management Program), Telfer School of Management, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario.
Ph.D program, Department of Management Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario.
MSc in Operations Management and Information Systems , Goodman School of Business, Brock University, St. Catharines, Ontario.
Maitrise, École de gestion, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, Quebec.
M.Sc, PhD, Computer Science and Operations Research department (DIRO), Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec.
M.Eng (Industrial Engineering), Department of Mechanical Engg (Sub-division Industrial Engg), Université Laval, Ville de Québec, Quebec.
M.Eng, PhD, Département de mathématiques et de génie industriel, École Polytechnique de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec.
Maîtrise en informatique (profil recherche), Maitrise Project Management, Département de mathématiques, informatique et genie, Université du Québec à Rimouski, Rimouski, Quebec.
MBA, Faculté des sciences de l’administration, Département d'opérations et systèmes de decision, Université Laval, Ville de Québec, Quebec.
Masters in Management Science, Project Management, MBA Technology Management, École des sciences de la gestion, Department Management and Technologie, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, Quebec.
M.Eng, MASc, PhD, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec.
MASc, John Molson School of Business, Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec.
MBA, Desautels Faculty of Management, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec.
MBA, Department of Management Sciences/subdivision – Logistics and Operations management, Decision Sciences, HEC Montréal, Montreal, Quebec.
MBA, Ecole de gestion, Département de systèmes d'information et méthodes quantitatives de gestion, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec.
Masters, PhD (Industrial Systems Engineering), Industrial Systems Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan.
Diplômes et certificats
Diploma in Business Operations Management, International Business Management - Global Supply Chain, Operations Management Department, School of Business, British Columbia Institute of Technology, Burnaby, British Columbia.
Business Studies Certificate - Operations Management, Okanagan School of Business, Okanagan University College, Kelowna, British Columbia.
Graduate diploma in data analytics (GDDA), University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario.
Course on Decision analysis and modelling (BUSN 6250), MBA, School on business and economics, Thompson Rivers University, Kamloops, British Columbia.
Courses in Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Management, Royal Roads University, Victoria, British Columbia.
Course in Operations Management (B.Com), Peter B. Gustavson School of Business, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia.
Industrial engineering/OR related courses, department of Finance & Operations, Faculty of Management, Laurentian University of Sudbury, Sudbury, Ontario.
Undergraduate level:
Business Statistics, Management Science, Management Information Systems, Operations Management, Process and capacity analysis, Simulation of Business Operations, Supply Chain Management, Logistics: Principles and Applications, Purchasing and Sourcing Management, Project Management.
Graduate level-MBA:
Business Statistics, Management Science, Operations Management, Management Information Systems, Project Management.
Courses in OR, Department of Computing and Software, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario (No dedicated IE/OR program but enough content in the department courses).
OR related courses, Master of Science in Management, Information Technology Management (BComm), Ted Rogers School of Management, Ryerson University, Toronto, Ontario.
Courses in operations management, BBA (Bachelor in Business Administration), B.A. (Major in Business), Williams School of Business, Bishop’s University, Sherbrooke, Quebec.
Avis de non-responsabilité : Cette liste est produite à partir de renseignements accessibles au public et fournis par les représentants des universités. Comme les cours et les programmes changent au fil du temps, nous recommandons aux lecteurs intéressés de consulter les sites Web des universités pour obtenir une information à jour (15 novembre 2018).
S’il vous plaît envoyer vos questions, vos commentaires à : info@cors.ca
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1941
|
__label__cc
| 0.634163
| 0.365837
|
Subscribe to our newsletter Click Here
Subscribe and listen to people, places, and things making a difference in the opioid epidemic.
Live Free
Podcast Playlist
On Stitcher
Quick Response Teams
Drug Free Clubs of America
Safe Stations
D.A.R.T
NaloxBox
Phoenix Multisport
Suboxone Pilot Program
Uber Pilot Program
PAARI
Inspiration Chips
Ep. 274 – Treatment Breakthrough: The ER Addiction Stabilization Unit
Treatment Breakthrough: The ER Addiction Stabilization Unit
In June 2017, Dr. Belma Andric, Chief Medical Officer of the Health District of Palm Beach County, Florida, joined Greg on the Cover2 podcast. She shared a unique pilot program that started Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) for overdose victims right in the emergency room (ER). Unlike previous MAT addiction programs, the pilot program included 8 days of house calls to deliver medication and monitor patient progress.
The success of that program inspired a new treatment initiative in Palm Beach County, an ER Addiction Stabilization Unit (ASU) specially designed for those struggling with substance use disorder (SUD). Since its inception, the ASU has treated over 350 patients. Similar to regional centers of excellence that address conditions such as heart, stroke, or cancer care, Palm Beach County now has the first center for evidence-based addiction care.
Just two weeks after the ribbon-cutting ceremony officially opening the ASU, Greg met with Dr. Andric and her team. Together, they introduced this ground-breaking program that, through a public-private partnership, leading the way in overdose treatment, life-long addiction care, and reducing the stigma surrounding addiction and addiction treatment.
Join us on this week’s podcast as Dr. Andric and her team share how they helped create the first ASU in Palm Beach County, Florida.
Related Episodes:
Ep. 108 – Removing Obstacles for Recovery: Capt. Park, Dr. Andric, & Dr. Schlosser, Palm Beach
Ep. 121 – A Direct Line to Treatment: Thom Olmstead, Orlando Howard, St. Vincent Charity Medical Center
Ep. 130 – Treating Opioid Addiction as a Medical Disorder, Not A Moral Failing: Dr. Darin Neven
Dr. Belma Andric
Belma Andric, MD, MPH is the Chief Medical Officer and Vice President and Executive Director of Clinic Services of the Health Care District of Palm Beach County, a diverse public health care system. Dr. Andric is responsible for quality and patient safety across the system and supervises the District’s Quality and Patient Safety departments, with indirect oversight of the District’s other physician leaders.
Dr. Andri? is also responsible for the overall medical, administrative and regulatory leadership of the C. L. Brumback Primary Care Clinics, the Health Care District’s Federally Qualified Health Centers. Over 46,000 clinic patients received primary, dental and behavioral health services last year. Additionally, Dr. Andric oversees operations of the Palm Beach County Trauma System, Trauma Agency, Aeromedical Program and Pharmacy Program. She serves as Chair of the Trauma Quality Improvement Committee for Palm Beach County and is a member of the county’s Sober Home Task Force and EMS Council.
In 2020, Dr. Andric was instrumental in the successful rollout of the county’s first-of-its-kind Addiction Stabilization Unit, a specialized emergency facility designed to curb the opioid epidemic. She played a key role in implementing and expanding a successful Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) Program for patients with substance use disorders. The Palm Beach County Medical Society recognized her as a Physician Hero in Medicine in 2019. Her leadership resulted in the Heath Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) honoring the clinics in 2019 as a gold-level Health Center Quality Leader (ranking among the top 10% of health centers nationally for clinical quality), Access Enhancer and Health Disparities Reducer. In 2018, Dr. Andric oversaw the launch of a mobile health clinic that provides medical and behavioral health services for the county’s homeless. Dr. Andri? was honored in 2017 when the American Cancer Society’s National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable (NCCRT) recognized the clinics’ innovative approach in achieving a colorectal cancer-screening rate that is twice the national average for community clinics. Dr. Andri? played a key role in the clinics receiving NCQA Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) recognition in 2016.
Dr. Andric joined the Health Care District in 2013 after serving as the Medical Director of the Lantana Health Center for the Palm Beach County Health Department since 2009. She holds a Doctor of Medicine degree from College of Medicine, University of Novi Sad in Serbia. Dr. Andric received her residency training in Preventive Medicine/Public Health from the Palm Beach County Health Department as well as residency training in Surgery from Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach. Dr. Andri? is board certified in Preventive Medicine and earned a Master of Public Health from Florida International University.
About Dr. Belma Andric
Addiction Stabilization Unit at JFK Medical Center Officially Opens with Ribbon Cutting Ceremony — Healthcare District Palm Beach County
Health Care District of Palm Beach Countys Response to Countys Opioid Crisis
Dr. Courtney Rowling
Courtney Rowling, M.D., is a board certified psychiatrist with extensive experience in Addiction Psychiatry. She is the Director of Behavioral Health for the Health Care District of Palm Beach County’s C. L. Brumback Primary Care Clinics (Federally Qualified Health Centers) in Florida and oversees behavioral health as well as the Medication Assisted Treatment program. Within general psychiatry, Dr. Rowling worked in many settings including inpatient, outpatient, consults, psychiatric emergency medicine, community mental health, psychotherapy, and integrated care. With substance use disorders, she has experience with Medication Assisted Treatment for alcohol and opioid use disorders (including buprenorphine maintenance, methadone, and naltrexone), detoxification, dual diagnosis, and abstinence- based treatment.
Dr. Rowling attended medical school at Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit, Michigan. She completed her internship and residency in general adult psychiatry at the University of Michigan Health System/VA Ann Arbor. Dr. Rowling is certified in General Adult Psychiatry (ABPN) and is Board eligible for addiction medicine. She is a member of the American Society of Addiction Medicine, the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry, and the American Psychiatric Association. Her areas of professional interest include dual diagnosis, Medication Assisted Treatment, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, psychotic disorders, and integrative care.
The Brumback Clinics provide medical and dental care for adult and pediatric patients with or without insurance at nine locations throughout Palm Beach County. The Brumback Clinics also operate a technologically-advanced Mobile Health Clinic staffed by a team that delivers medical and behavioral health services to the county’s chronically homeless and other underserved adult patients.
About Dr. Courtney Rowling
Dr. Ana Ferwerda
Ana Ferwerda, MD serves as the Medical Director of the ten C. L. Brumback Primary Care Clinics, Federally Qualified Health Centers owned and operated by the Health Care District of Palm Beach County. Dr. Ferwerda joined the Health Care District in 2016 and developed the OB/GYN program. She served as Director of Women’s Health and was instrumental in increasing access to Women’s Health Services for the C. L. Brumback patients.
Dr. Ferwerda earned her Doctor of Medicine from Ponce Health Sciences University in Ponce, Puerto Rico. She completed her residency at Allegheny Health Network in Pittsburgh, PA where she served as Chief Resident in her final year. Before moving to Florida, she practiced general OB/GYN at MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland, OH and was an instructor for Case Western Reserve University.
Dr. Ferwerda is a member of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the American Medical Association, the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists and the Florida Medical Association. Her areas of interest include disparities surrounding contraception and sterilization, improving access to prenatal care and patient-centered quality of care. She is committed to providing every patient the highest quality of care.
The Brumback Clinics provide medical, dental, pharmacy and behavioral health services for adult and pediatric patients, regardless of their ability to pay, and offer a sliding fee scale. A Mobile Health Clinic provides medical care and behavioral health services to the homeless and underserved patients. The Brumback Clinics also provide a Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) program for patients with substance use disorders and play a lead role in the county’s new and innovative Addiction Stabilization Center. Over 46,000 clinic patients across the county received care at the clinics last year.
Thanks to the efforts of Dr. Ferwerda and the medical team, the Brumback Clinics were honored in 2019 as a gold-level Health Center Quality Leader, ranked among the top 10% of health centers nationally for clinical quality. In 2017, the Brumback Clinics received an “80% by 2018 National Achievement Award” from the National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable (NCCRT) for achieving a colorectal cancer-screening rate that is twice the national average for community clinics and one of the highest in the country. In 2016, the clinics received NCQA Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) recognition.
About Dr. Ana Ferwerda
Dr. Ingrid Barlett
Ingrid Barlett serves as a Behavioral Health Coordinator with the C. L. Brumback Primary Care Clinics, Federally Qualified Health Centers owned and operated by the Health Care District of Palm Beach County. Ms. Barlett initially served as a member of a successful pilot project that provided substance users who overdosed access to Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT). She is currently part of a team of psychiatrists, primary care physicians and counselors specialized in treating addiction and other licensed professionals. The MAT Program for patients with substance abuse disorders combines the administration of FDA-approved medication along with psychiatric services, individual and group therapy, individualized care coordination and links to other health and social services to help restore patients’ overall health and lives. The Brumback Clinics throughout the county provide medical, dental, pharmacy and behavioral health services for adult and pediatric patients, regardless of their ability to pay, and offer a sliding fee scale.
Ms. Barlett joined the Health Care District in 2013 as a Registration Specialist in the Lantana Clinic. She advanced to a newly created position of Patient Navigator where she played a key role in implementing and executing a program that facilitated colorectal cancer screenings. Thanks in large part to her efforts, the Brumback Clinics increased the colorectal cancer-screening rate among age-eligible patients from 37% in 2014 to 75% in 2016. Her work resulted in the Brumback Clinics being recognized by the American Cancer Society’s National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable as an honoree recipient of the 2017 “80% by 2018” National Achievement Awards for having one of the highest screening rates among community health centers in the country.
Ms. Barlett was born in Slovakia, formerly Czechoslovakia, where she graduated with a Master of Science in Banking and Investment. Her passion for health care flourished when she worked as a registration specialist with the Florida Department of Health. Ms. Barlett has dedicated herself to her career helping patients access the care and resources they need to heal and stay healthy.
About Ingrid Barlett
Elaine Esplin
Elaine Esplin, LCSW, CAP serves as an Addiction Counselor with the C. L. Brumback Primary Care Clinics, Federally Qualified Health Centers owned and operated by the Health Care District of Palm Beach County. Ms. Esplin joined the Health Care District in 2013 as part of an integrated medical and behavioral health model of care. In 2017, in response to the county’s opioid epidemic, Ms. Esplin served as a member of a pilot project that provided substance users who overdosed access to Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT). Ms. Esplin is continuing on the success of that evidence-based program, providing care to patients with substance use disorders by treating the whole patient to stop the cycle of repeat overdoses. She is part of a team of psychiatrists, primary care physicians and counselors specialized in treating addiction. MAT services include medication-assisted treatment (Buprenorphine, Naltrexone and Vivitrol), individual and group therapy, psychiatric services, individualized care coordination, pharmacy services and links to other health and social service resources.
Ms. Esplin received her Bachelors of Social Work from Ryerson University in Toronto, Canada. As a young social worker in Toronto, she was witness to the AIDS epidemic, which at that time was claiming lives daily. Ms. Esplin was involved with the formation of the AIDS committee of Toronto and began a career helping those infected and affected with HIV and AIDS. Ms. Esplin earned her Master of Science at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and became a Licensed Mental Health Counselor. She was trained at Hazelden in addictions and she is a Certified Addictions Professional. Her passion is to help those underserved receive needed treatment.
The Brumback Clinics provide medical, dental, pharmacy and behavioral health services for adult and pediatric patients, regardless of their ability to pay, and offer a sliding fee scale. The Brumback Clinics played a lead role in the county’s new and innovative Addiction Stabilization Center. A Mobile Health Clinic provides medical care and behavioral health services to the homeless and underserved patients.
About Elaine Esplin
Calaisa Olivier
Calalisa Olivier, LPN is an MAT (Medication Assisted Treatment) Nurse at the C. L. Brumback Primary Care Clinics in West Palm Beach. The Brumback Clinics are Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC’s) that provide medical, dental, pharmacy and behavioral health services for adult and pediatric patients, regardless of their ability to pay, and offer a sliding fee scale. Ms. Olivier joined the Health Care District of Palm Beach County, which owns and operates the Brumback Clinics, in 2017 when the MAT pilot program was launched. Following the success of the program, she continued as a member of the MAT Program’s team of psychiatrists, primary care physicians, counselors specialized in treating addiction. The MAT Program for patients with substance abuse disorders combines the administration of FDA-approved medication along with psychiatric services, individual and group therapy, individualized care coordination and links to other health and social services to help restore patients’ overall health and lives.
Ms. Olivier is currently pursuing her RN degree at Palm Beach State College while working full-time. She has worked in the field of substance use disorder treatment for the past decade. She has a passion for the behavioral health field and thrives on helping patients with mental health or addiction issues.
About Calaisa Olivier
Greg McNeil2020-03-03T16:47:58-05:00February 25th, 2020|Education, Harm Reduction, Podcasts, Recovery, Recovery Stories, Treatment/Programs|0 Comments
You’re not alone. The opiate epidemic is larger than any one of us, and lack of education is claiming lives senselessly. We can’t let that go on. That’s why we founded Cover2 Resources. Our mission is to spread awareness, educate and advocate for those touched by the opioid epidemic while helping eliminate the stigma and dramatically improving the probability for long term recovery.
© 2016 | Cover2 Resources | designed and developed by 216digital.com | All Rights Reserved
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1943
|
__label__wiki
| 0.601625
| 0.601625
|
http://dapmalaysia.org
Truancy is a school and not criminal problem – Hishamuddin should not pass the buck to police on what is basically a test of the success of the educational system
Media Statement (2)
by Lim Kit Siang
(Ipoh, Monday): The first month of the new Abdullah Cabinet, despite its slogan of “cermerlang, gemilang, terbilang”, has not distinguished itself in any spurt of “excellence, glory or distinction”, but the reverse, particularly in the important portfolio of education.
Datuk Hishammuddin Tun Hussein started as the new Education Minister with the horrific murder of Form IV student, Farid Ibrahim, 16, following assaults by seniors at the hostel of SM Agama Datuk Klana Putra Ma’amor in Seremban on 28th March 2004, the second day of his new Cabinet appointment.
Despite a lot of “sound and fury”, he has not impressed Malaysians that he is serious about discipline and gangsterism in schools as he continued to evade the issue of holding the school principal and hostel wardens responsible for their dereliction of duties which must be regarded as one of the causes resulting in the series of events in the hostel culminating in the murder of Farid
Eight students have been charged for Farid’s murder, while another six, though cleared of the charge of killing Farid, had been expelled from the school for being guilty of planning and abetting their other friends in the murder. Why weren’t the school principal, the hostel warden and assistant warden suspended for their neglect of duties resulting in the murder of Farid, which will be a powerful salutary lesson to all principals, hostel wardens and teachers about their responsibilities?
Hishammuddin’s response to Farid’s murder is the knee-jerk reaction to establish a task force at the ministry level to monitor and overcome discipline problems in schools, which is most disappointing, as it is a route of failure which had been taken by the previous Education Minister, Tan Sri Musa Mohamad to address the problem of school indiscipline and gangsterism.
Hishammuddin is repeating what the Education director-general Datuk Dr. Abdul Shukor Abdullah had lambasted school principals five years ago in 2000 for sweeping problems of school indiscipline under the carpet – except that the problem of gangsterism and crime involving students has now become an even bigger national problem. Last year, there were 5,320 crime cases involving students – such as drug abuse, thievery, robbery, extortion, rape and murder – or a 22.7% increase from the 2,002 figure of 4,200.
Hishammuddin’s warning that there will be no place in the country’s schools for school bullies who behaved like gangsters is no real solution – as their expulsion would only export the problem of school gangsterism to become gangsterism in society at large, without addressing and resolving the problem of a school environment which has become such a fertile ground to breed gangsters!
Hishamuddin is ending his first month as Education Minister today with another mishandling of an educational disaster – trying to pass off the problem of school truancy as a criminal problem by bringing in the police when Hishamuddin should not pass the buck to the police on what is basically a test of the success of the educational system.
Hishammuddin should resist the temptation for “quick fixes” to problems in his Ministry by “passing the buck” to another Ministry or department but should be more creative and imaginative to address the long-standing and deteriorating problem of school indiscipline and gangsterism by inviting all political parties and relevant organizations and representatives of the civil society, particularly the parents, to seek solutions to restore a safe and crime-free environment in our schools, colleges and educational institutions for the young generation of Malaysians.
* Lim Kit Siang, DAP National Chairman & Member of Parliament for Ipoh Timor
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1953
|
__label__wiki
| 0.639158
| 0.639158
|
enrolment (2)
completion (1)
distance-education (1)
full-time equivalent (1)
Tags <none> students - 9 government schools - 4 secondary - 4 primary - 3 aboriginal - 2 enrolment - 2 age - 1 completion - 1 distance-education - 1 full-time equivalent - 1 gender - 1 hsc - 1 language - 1 lbote - 1 NAPLAN - 1 non-government schools - 1 numeracy - 1 part time - 1 reading - 1 record of school achievement - 1 sa4 - 1 selective - 1 statistical-bulletin - 1
Formats <none> CSV - 8 PDF - 3 ZIP - 1
Tags: students Organisations: NSW Department of Education
From NSW Education Selective high schools minimum entry scores (2021)
Entry into these schools in Year 7 is determined by the students’ results in the Selective High School Placement Test1 in English (including reading and writing), mathematics...
From NSW Education Schools and students: statistical bulletin (1997-2020)
This annual statistical publication presents tables and charts about New South Wales schools and students. Data is from the census of both government and non-government...
From NSW Education Proportion of NSW students at or above the NMS for reading and numeracy (2008...
The National Assessment Program—Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) tests are conducted in May for all students across Australia in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9. The national minimum...
From NSW Education Primary students in NSW government schools studying a language other than Eng...
Data Notes: The table includes data from the K-6 Community Languages Program (CLP) and the K-6 Languages Program (non-CLP) collections. Students may study more than one...
From NSW Education Number of students achieving the Record of School Achievement (2012-2020)
In 2012, the School Certificate was discontinued and replaced by the Record of School Achievement (RSA). The RSA is a record of a student’s achievements from Year 10 until they...
From NSW Education NSW government school HSC completions by aboriginality (2004-2019 and 2016-2020)
The Higher School Certificate is the highest educational award in secondary education in NSW. It is awarded to students who have satisfactorily completed Years 11 and 12 at...
From NSW Education Full-time enrolments in distance education by year of schooling (2011-2020)
Since 1993 some students have enrolled part-time . All enrolments are reported in full-time equivalent units (FTEs) and include full-time and part-time students. Data Notes:...
From NSW Education Enrolment of LBOTE students in NSW government schools by SA4 groupings (2013-...
Data Notes: LBOTE and total (headcount) enrolment figures are collected in March of each year. Most other collections use enrolment data that are collected as part of the Mid...
From NSW Education Age distribution of part-time secondary students in NSW government schools (2...
Data Notes: Data is collected mid-year from government schools. Data excludes support students. Students in Years 11 or 12 can enrol to study as a part-time or full-time...
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1954
|
__label__wiki
| 0.9539
| 0.9539
|
Home /UK man linked to coronavirus cases speaks out
UncategorizedFebruary 11, 2020
UK man linked to coronavirus cases speaks out
A British man linked to 11 coronavirus cases has spoken for the first time, saying he is “fully recovered” from the illness.
Steve Walsh, who remains quarantined in hospital, says his thoughts are with others who have contracted the virus.
He said his family have been asked to isolate themselves “as a precaution”.
The gas salesman, from Hove in East Sussex, caught the virus in Singapore and is thought to have infected 11 others at a French ski resort.
Five of the cases linked to Mr Walsh are in England, five are in France and one is in Majorca, Spain.
It takes the total number of people infected in the UK to eight.
There have now been more than 40,000 global cases of coronavirus, which has been declared a global health emergency. The death toll in China stands at 1,016.
Two of the new UK cases are understood to be GPs – one of whom works at the County Oak medical centre, in Brighton, East Sussex, which was temporarily closed on Monday.
Health officials are urgently tracing patients who might have been infected.
Meanwhile, Patcham Nursing Home in Brighton confirmed on Tuesday that it has “closed to all visitors” after one of the infected GPs visited a patient there.
A spokeswoman for the care home said: “It is important to state that no-one at the home is unwell.
“However, following the closure of the local GP surgery, as a precaution we have closed the home to all visitors.”
She added that the care home had conducted checks on residents and staff, which Public Health England was happy with.
Last month, two other people – who are related – were confirmed as having coronavirus after being taken ill at a hotel in York.
It was later revealed that one is a student at the University of York.
Mr Walsh contracted the coronavirus at a work conference in Singapore, before travelling to a French ski resort for a holiday on his way back to the UK.
In a statement from quarantine in Guy’s Hospital in London, Mr Walsh thanked the NHS for their care.
He said he contacted his GP, NHS 111 and Public Health England, on learning he had been exposed to a confirmed case of coronavirus.
He added: “I was advised to attend an isolated room at hospital, despite showing no symptoms, and subsequently self-isolated at home as instructed.
“When the diagnosis was confirmed I was sent to an isolation unit in hospital, where I remain, and, as a precaution, my family was also asked to isolate themselves.”
He thanked friends, family and colleagues for their support, adding: “I ask the media to respect our privacy.”
What are the symptoms of coronavirus and what can help stop its spread?
The main signs of infection are fever (high temperature) and a cough as well as shortness of breath and breathing difficulties.
Frequent hand washing with soap or gel, avoiding close contact with people who are ill and not touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands, can help cut the risk of infection.
Catching coughs and sneezes in a tissue, binning it and washing your hands can minimise the risk of spreading disease.
Anyone experiencing symptoms, even if mild, after travelling from mainland China, Thailand, Japan, Republic of Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia or Macau, is advised to stay indoors and call the NHS 111 phone service.
In a statement, Servomex, Mr Walsh’s employer, said it continues to “provide support” to him and his family.
A company spokesperson added: “We are working with public health authorities to ensure the welfare of our staff and communities and wish anyone with the virus a quick and full recovery.”
Servomex said it had “acted quickly” to put “preventative measures” in place, including introducing travel restrictions and enforcing self-isolation for employees who attended the Singapore conference or who have shown symptoms of the virus.
It comes as a second GP surgery in Brighton closed on Tuesday following confirmed cases of coronavirus in the city.
The County Oak Medical Centre was closed on Monday after a member of staff tested positive for the virus.
Now a second branch – located in Deneway, less than two miles away – has also shut.
Have you been affected by any of the issues raised here? You can get in touch by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways:
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1955
|
__label__cc
| 0.693353
| 0.306647
|
A YES! Conversation: Evolving Into an Ecologically Civilized State of Mind
Home/Ecological Civilization/A YES! Conversation: Evolving Into an Ecologically Civilized State of Mind
Zenobia Jeffries Warfield, executive editor of YES! Magazine, engaged David in a conversation for the Spring 2021 issue of YES! The theme for this special 25th anniversary issue is “What an ecological civilization looks like.” With permission, their conversation is published here.
Zenobia’s introduction:
It was my pleasure to converse with YES! co-founder David Korten in our weeks-long preparation for an interview that spans his 83 years on the planet and all the experiences and ideas that led him to co-found YES! Magazine 25 years ago. David evolved from a self-described “conservative young Republican” who traveled the world hoping to “save” other cultures from communism, to a collaborative thought leader who calls out the outsized influence of corporations and passionately advocates for global societies to move toward an ecological civilization. On that subject, he is the author of many books, including When Corporations Rule the World. The way in which David has opened himself over the past several decades to unfolding, emerging, and relearning offers a model for all of us.
She begins the conversation…
A lot of folks have referred to 2020 as an unprecedented time. But we can look to recent history, even, and see that there’s much precedent for what’s going on right now. Though there is this convergence where all the things are happening at once. How would you describe it?
David: One of the things we need to get clear on is that for a long time, we have been going in a direction as a species that no sane person should want to be going. But we hide it under a lot of statistics, and basically a lot of media distortion coming from the system that is driving us actually in the direction of human self-extinction, but which doesn’t want anybody to see that because the system is working for a very few people who control most of our media and education and our conversation.
We have these findings from science — massive consensus of the world’s brightest scientists calling attention particularly to the climate issue, as you know, essentially terminally serious for the species. It’s very hard for the scientists to get everybody’s attention. But that little bug we call the coronavirus, man, that’s got our attention.
Read the interview published in the print magazine HERE…
For more inspiring food for thought – and action – check out the entire special Ecological Civilization issue.
Kat2021-06-01T18:31:01-07:00April 5th, 2021|Categories: Ecological Civilization|
Ecological Civilization – The Vision
How 9/11 Set Progressive Causes Back – and How We Rebounded
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1957
|
__label__wiki
| 0.940488
| 0.940488
|
Anti-honour killing bill: Deadlock persists between PML-N, JUI-F
Imran Mirza April 6, 2016 Anti-honour killing bill: Deadlock persists between PML-N, JUI-F2016-04-06T05:51:37+02:00 No Comment
ISLAMABAD: The deadlock between the ruling Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) and Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) has persisted over the anti-honour killing bill to be taken up by parliament during its joint sitting on April 11.
A senior JUI-F official told The Express Tribune on the condition of anonymity that negotiations between the JUI-F’s legal team and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Barrister Zafarullah Khan remained inconclusive as the former insisted that the government not change the clauses related to non-compound offences in the anti-honour killing bill.
PM Nawaz vows to eradicate honour killings after Oscar nod
Non-compoundable offences are serious in nature and private parties as well as society at large are affected by such offences and no compromise is allowed. Even trial courts do not have the authority to compound such offences.
The official said that the JUI-F’s legal team accompanied by Kamran Murtaza, former president of the SCBA, advocate Muhammad Jalal, Senator Hafiz Hamdullah and Naima Kishwar, member national Assembly JUI-F, held a meeting with the government’s team headed by Barrister Zafarullah Khan. Minister for Law and Justice Zahid Hamid was also present at the meeting.
The official who attended the meeting said that JUI-F continued to insist that the government not remove the ‘reconciliation element’ from the clauses of the bill and asked the ruling team to leave it at the discretion of judges. However, Barrister Zafarullah remained reluctant to amend the clauses.
Punjab Assembly unanimously passes protection of women bill
JUI-F lawmaker Naima Kishwar confirmed to The Express Tribune that the deadlock still persists over the honour killing bill adding that “negotiations remained inconclusive as the government seems reluctant to amend those clauses which are against Islamic injunctions,” she added.
However, regarding the anti-rape bill the government assured that they would amend all clauses which affected Islamic laws, explained the lawmaker, who was part of the JUI-F’s legal team.
Sources within JUI-F said that after the deadlock the government team called upon Fazlur Rehman and sought his time to make consensus over the issue before the passage of the bill by the joint sitting of Parliament. However, Maulana Fazl was out of the city on Tuesday and further development could not take place. Repeated attempts were made to contact Barrister Zafarullah Khan. However, he was not available for comment.
The Anti-Honour Killings Laws (Criminal Laws Amendment) Bill, 2015, and the Anti-Rape Laws (Criminal Laws Amendment) Bill, 2015, was presented in the joint session of Parliament last month. However, JUI-F had raised objections over the bill citing that few clauses of the bills were against the Islamic injunctions which need to be reviewed.
Women protection bill challenged in sharia court
Initially the bills were introduced by former PPP Senator Sughra Iman as private members bills passed by the senate two years back. However, government could not get these laws passed by the National Assembly within the stipulated 90 days and had to bring it before the joint sitting of Parliament held on March 15.
« SRK, Kapil leave us in fits in ‘The Kapil Sharma Show’ promo
Opposition tightens the screws on Nawaz »
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1961
|
__label__wiki
| 0.810557
| 0.810557
|
An audiobook (or a talking book) is a recording of a book or other work being read out loud. A reading of the complete text is described as "unabridged", while readings of shorter versions are abridgements.
Spoken audio has been available in schools and public libraries and to a lesser extent in music shops since the 1930s. Many spoken word albums were made prior to the age of cassettes, compact discs, and downloadable audio, often of poetry and plays rather than books. It was not until the 1980s that the medium began to attract book retailers, and then book retailers started displaying audiobooks on bookshelves rather than in separate displays.
The term "talking book" came into being in the 1930s with government programs designed for blind readers, while the term "audiobook" came into use during the 1970s when audiocassettes began to replace records.[1] In 1994, the Audio Publishers Association established the term "audiobook" as the industry standard.[1]
Caption reads: "The phonograph at home reading out a novel." From Daily Graphic (New York), 2 April 1878. Less than a year after the invention of the phonograph, this drawing offered a future vision. Novels however would remain impractical for phonographs until the 1930s.
Spoken word recordings first became possible with the invention of the phonograph by Thomas Edison in 1877.[1] "Phonographic books" were one of the original applications envisioned by Edison which would "speak to blind people without effort on their part."[1] The initial words spoken into the phonograph were Edison's recital of "Mary Had a Little Lamb", the first instance of recorded verse.[1] In 1878, a demonstration at the Royal Institution in Britain included "Hey Diddle Diddle, the Cat and the Fiddle" and a line of Tennyson's poetry thus establishing from the very beginning of the technology its association with spoken literature.[1]
Beginnings to 1970
Many short, spoken word recordings were sold on cylinder in the late 1800s and early 1900s,[2] however the round cylinders were limited to about 4 minutes each making books impractical;[1] flat platters increased to 12 minutes but this too was impractical for longer works.[1] "One early listener complained that he would need a wheelbarrow to carry around talking books recorded on discs with such limited storage capacity."[1] By the 1930s close-grooved records increased to 20 minutes making possible longer narrative.[1]
In 1931, the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) and Library of Congress Books for the Adult Blind Project established the "Talking Books Program" (Books for the Blind), which was intended to provide reading material for veterans injured during World War I and other visually impaired adults.[1] The first test recordings in 1932 included a chapter from Helen Keller's Midstream and Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven".[1] The organization received congressional approval for exemption from copyright and free postal distribution of talking books.[1] The first recordings made for the Talking Books Program in 1934 included sections of the Bible; the Declaration of Independence and other patriotic documents; plays and sonnets by Shakespeare; and fiction by Gladys Hasty Carroll, E. M. Delafield, Cora Jarrett, Rudyard Kipling, John Masefield, and P. G. Wodehouse.[1] To save costs and quickly build inventories of audiobooks, Britain and the United States shared recordings in their catalogs. By looking at old catalogs, historian Matthew Rubery has "probably" identified the first British-produced audiobook as Agatha Christie’s The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, read by Anthony McDonald in 1934.[3]
Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic (RFBD, later renamed Learning Ally) was founded in 1948 by Anne T. Macdonald, a member of the New York Public Library's Women's Auxiliary, in response to an influx of inquiries from soldiers who had lost their sight in combat during World War II. The newly passed GI Bill of Rights guaranteed a college education to all veterans, but texts were mostly inaccessible to the recently blinded veterans, who did not read Braille and had little access to live readers. Macdonald mobilized the women of the Auxiliary under the motto "Education is a right, not a privilege". Members of the Auxiliary transformed the attic of the New York Public Library into a studio, recording textbooks using then state-of-the-art six-inch vinyl SoundScriber phonograph discs that played approximately 12 minutes of material per side. In 1952, Macdonald established recording studios in seven additional cities across the United States.
Caedmon Records was a pioneer in the audiobook business, it was the first company dedicated to selling spoken work recordings to the public and has been called the "seed" of the audiobook industry.[4] Caedmon was formed in New York in 1952 by college graduates Barbara Holdridge and Marianne Roney.[4] Their first release was a collection of poems by Dylan Thomas as read by the author.[4] The LP's B-side contained A Child's Christmas in Wales which was added as an afterthought - the story was obscure and Thomas himself couldn't remember its title when asked what to use to fill up the B-side - but this recording went on to become one of his most loved works, and launched Caedmon into a successful company.[4] The original 1952 recording was a selection for the 2008 United States National Recording Registry, stating it is "credited with launching the audiobook industry in the United States".[5] Caedmon used LP records, invented in 1948, which made longer recordings more affordable and practical, however most of their works were poems, plays and other short works, not unabridged books due to the LP's limitation of about a 45-minute playing time (combined sides).
Listening Library[6] was also a pioneering company, it was one of the first to distribute children's audiobooks to schools, libraries and other special markets, including VA hospitals.[7] It was founded by Anthony Ditlow and his wife in 1955 in their Red Bank, New Jersey home; Ditlow was partially blind.[7] Another early pioneering company was Spoken Arts founded in 1956 by Arthur Luce Klein and his wife, they produced over 700 recordings and were best known for poetry and drama recordings used in schools and libraries.[8] Like Caedemon, Listening Library and Spoken Arts benefited from the new technology of LPs, but also increased governmental funding for schools and libraries beginning in the 1950s and 60s.[7]
Though spoken recordings were popular in 33⅓ vinyl record format for schools and libraries into the early 1970s, the beginning of the modern retail market for audiobooks can be traced to the wide adoption of cassette tapes during the 1970s.[9] Cassette tapes were invented in 1962 and a few libraries, such as the Library of Congress, began distributing books on cassette by 1969.[9] However, during the 1970s, a number of technological innovations allowed the cassette tape wider usage in libraries and also spawned the creation of new commercial audiobook market.[9] These innovations included the introduction of small and cheap portable players such as the Walkman, and the widespread use of cassette decks in cars, particularly imported Japanese models which flooded the market during the multiple energy crises of the decade.[9]
In the early 1970s, instructional recordings were among the first commercial products sold on cassette.[9] There were 8 companies distributing materials on cassette with titles such as Managing and Selling Companies (12 cassettes, $300) and Executive Seminar in Sound on a series of 60-minute cassettes.[9] In libraries, most books on cassette were still made for the blind and handicapped, however some new companies saw the opportunity for making audiobooks for a wider audience, such as Voice Over Books which produced abridged best-sellers with professional actors.[9] Early pioneers included Olympic gold medalist Duvall Hecht who in 1975 founded the California-based Books on Tape as a direct to consumer mail order rental service for unabridged audiobooks and expanded their services selling their products to libraries and audiobooks gaining popularity with commuters and travelers.[9] In 1978, Henry Trentman, a traveling salesman who listened to sales tapes while driving long distances, had the idea to create quality unabridged recordings of classic literature read by professional actors.[10] His company, the Maryland-based Recorded Books, followed the model of Books on Tape but with higher quality studio recordings and actors.[10] Recorded Books and Chivers Audio Books were the first to develop integrated production teams and to work with professional actors.[11]
By 1984, there were eleven audiobook publishing companies, they included Caedmon, Metacom, Newman Communications, Recorded Books, Brilliance and Books on Tape.[9] The companies were small, the largest had a catalog of 200 titles.[9] Some abridged titles were being sold in bookstores, such as Walden Books, but had negligible sales figures, many were sold by mail-order subscription or through libraries.[9] However, in 1984, Brilliance Audio invented a technique for recording twice as much on the same cassette thus allowing for affordable unabridged editions.[9] The technique involved recording on each of the two channels of each stereo track.[9] This opened the market to new opportunities and by September 1985, Publishers Weekly identified twenty-one audiobook publishers.[9] These included new major publishers such as Harper and Row, Random House, and Warner Communications.[9]
1986 has been identified as the turning point in the industry, when it matured from an experimental curiosity.[9] A number of events happened: the Audio Publishers Association, a professional non-profit trade association, was established by publishers who joined together to promote awareness of spoken word audio and provide industry statistic.[9] Time-Life began offering members audiobooks.[9] Book-of-the-Month club began offering audiobooks to its members, as did the Literary Guild. Other clubs such as the History Book Club, Get Rich Club, Nostalgia Book Club, Scholastic club for children all began offering audiobooks.[9] Publishers began releasing religious and inspirational titles in Christian bookstores. By May 1987, Publishers Weekly initiated a regular column to cover the industry.[9] By the end of 1987, the audiobook market was estimated to be a $200 million market, and audiobooks on cassette were being sold in 75% of regional and independent bookstores surveyed by Publishers Weekly.[9] By August 1988 there were forty audiobook publishers, about four times as many as in 1984.[9]
By the middle of the 1990s, the audio publishing business grew to 1.5 billion dollars a year in retail value.[12] In 1996, the Audio Publishers Association established the Audie Awards for audiobooks, which is equivalent to the Oscar for the audiobook industry. The nominees are announced each year by February. The winners are announced at a gala banquet in May, usually in conjunction with BookExpo America.[13]
With the spread of the Internet to consumers in the 1990s, faster download speeds with broadband technologies, new compressed audio formats and portable media players, the popularity of audiobooks increased significantly during the late 1990s and 2000s. In 1997, Audible pioneered the world's first mass-market digital media player, named "The Audible Player",[14] it retailed for $200, held 2 hours of audio and was touted as being "smaller and lighter than a Walkman", the popular cassette player used at the time.[15] Digital audiobooks were a significant new milestone as they allowed listeners freedom from physical media such as cassettes and CD-ROMs which required transportation through the mail, allowing instead instant download access from online libraries of unlimited size, and portability using comparatively small and lightweight devices. Audible.com was the first to establish a website, in 1998, from which digital audiobooks could be purchased.
Another innovation was the creation of LibriVox in 2005 by Montreal-based writer Hugh McGuire who posed the question on his blog: "Can the net harness a bunch of volunteers to help bring books in the public domain to life through podcasting?" Thus began the creation of public domain audiobooks by volunteer narrators. By the end of 2021, LibriVox had a catalog of over 16,870 works.[16]
The transition from vinyl, to cassette, to CD, to MP3CD, to digital download has been documented by Audio Publishers Association in annual surveys (the earlier transition from record to cassette is described in the section on the 1970s). The final year that cassettes represented greater than 50% of total market sales was 2002.[17] Cassettes were replaced by CDs as the dominant medium during 2003-2004. CDs reached a peak of 78% of sales in 2008,[18] then began to decline in favor of digital downloads. The 2012 survey found CDs accounted for "nearly half" of all sales meaning it was no longer the dominate medium (APA did not report the digital download figures for 2012, but in 2011 CDs accounted for 53% and digital download was 41%).[19][20] The APA estimates that audiobook sales in 2015 in digital format increased by 34% over 2014.[21]
The resurgence of audio storytelling is widely attributed to advances in mobile technologies such as smartphones, tablets, and multimedia entertainment systems in cars, also known as connected car platforms.[22][23] Audio drama recordings are also now podcast over the internet.[24]
In 2014, Bob & Debra Deyan of Deyan Audio opened the Deyan Institute of Vocal Artistry and Technology, the world's first campus and school for teaching the art and technology of audiobook production.[25]
In 2018, approximately 50,000 audiobooks were recorded in the United States with a sales growth of 20 percent year over year.[26] U.S. audiobook sales in 2019 totaled 1.2 billion dollars, up 16% from the previous year. In addition to the sales increase, Edison Research’s national survey of American audiobook listeners ages 18 and up found that the average number of audiobooks listened to per year increased to 8.1 in 2020, up from 6.8 in 2019.[27]
The evolution and use of audiobooks in Germany closely parallels that of the US. A special example of its use is the West German Audio Book Library for the Blind, founded in 1955. Actors from the municipal theater in Münster recorded the first audio books for the visually impaired in an improvised studio lined with egg cartons. Because trams rattled past, these first productions took place at night. Later, texts were recorded by trained speakers in professional studios and distributed to users by mail. Until the 1970s recordings were on tape reels, then later cassettes. Since 2004, the offerings have been recorded in the DAISY Digital Talking Book MP3 standard, which provides additional features for visually impaired users to both listen and navigate written material aurally.[28]
Audiobooks in India started to appear somewhat later than in the rest of the world. Only by 2010 did Audiobooks gain mainstream popularity in the Indian market. This is primarily due to lack of previous organized efforts on the part of publishers and authors. The marketing efforts and availability of Audiobooks has made India as one of the fastest growing Audiobooks markets in the world.[citation needed]
The lifestyle of urban Indian population and one of the highest daily commute time in the world has also helped in making Audiobooks popular in the region. Business and Self Help books have widespread appeal and have been more popular than fiction/non-fiction.[citation needed] This is because Audiobooks are primarily seen as an avenue for self-improvement and education, rather than entertainment.
Audio books are being released in various Indian languages. In Malayalam, the first audio novel, titled Ouija Board, was released by Kathacafe in 2018.[29] Now Indian companies are working towards Audio Books generation in the Indian Vernacular Languages. Listen Stories By Sahitya Chintan is an Android audio book library allowing listing 1000+ Hindi Audio Books. They are offering ample audio books freely. To access the entire catalog they are charging nominal membership of Rs. 199/ Year for Indian audio book listener and $5.99/Year for Rest of World.
Producing an audiobook consists of a narrator sitting in a recording booth reading the text, while a studio engineer and a director record and direct the performance.[30] If a mistake is made the recording is stopped and the narrator reads it again.[30] With recent advancements in recording technology, many audiobooks are also now recorded in home studios by narrators working independently.[31] Audiobooks produced by major publishing houses undergo a proofing and editing process after narration is recorded.
Narrators are usually paid on a finished recorded hour basis, meaning if it took 20 hours to produce a 5-hour book, the narrator is paid for 5 hours, thus providing an incentive not to make mistakes.[30] Depending on the narrator they are paid US$150 per finished hour to US$400 (as of 2011[update]).[30] Many narrators also work as producers and deliver fully produced audiobooks, which have been edited, mastered, and proofed. They may charge an extra $75-$125 per finished hour in addition to their narration fee to coordinate and pay for the post-production services. The overall cost to produce an audiobook can vary significantly, as longer books require more studio time and more well known narrators come at a premium. According to a representative at Audible, the cost of recording an audiobook has fallen from around US$25,000 in the late 1990s to around US$2,000-US$3,000 in 2014.[32]
See also: Timeline of audio formats
An audiobook collection in a library. A mix of cassette tape and CD-ROM formats.
Audiobooks are distributed on any audio format available, but primarily these are records, cassette tapes, CDs, MP3 CDs, downloadable digital formats (e.g., MP3 (.mp3), Windows Media Audio (.wma), Advanced Audio Coding (.aac)), and solid state preloaded digital devices in which the audio content is preloaded and sold together with a hardware device.
In 1955, a German inventor introduced the Sound Book cassette system based on the Tefifon format where instead of a magnetic tape the sound was recorded on a continuous loop of grooved vinylite ribbon similar to the old 8-track tape. Even though the original Tefifon upon which it was based ran at 19 CPS and could hold a maximum of 4 hours, one Sound Book could hold eight hours of recordings as it ran at half the speed or 9.5 CPS. However, just like the Tefifon, the format never became widespread in use.[33]
A small number of books are recorded for radio broadcast, usually in abridged form and sometimes serialized. Audiobooks may come as fully dramatized versions of the printed book, sometimes calling upon a complete cast, music, and sound effects. Effectively audio dramas, these audiobooks are known as full cast audio books. BBC radio stations Radio 3, Radio 4, and Radio 4 Extra have broadcast such productions as the William Gibson novel Neuromancer.[34]
An audio first production is a spoken word audio work that is an original production but not based on a book. Examples include Joe Hill, the son of Stephen King, who released a Vinyl First audiobook called Dark Carousel in 2018. It came in a 2-LP vinyl set, or as a downloadable MP3, but with no published text.[35] Another example includes Spin, The Audiobook Musical (2018), a musical rendition of Rumpelstiltskin narrated by Jim Dale, and featuring a cast of Broadway musical stars.[36]
Audiobook used to disseminate information among farmers in Kenya.
Audiobooks have been used to teach children to read and to increase reading comprehension. They are also useful for the blind. The National Library of Congress in the U.S. and the CNIB Library in Canada provide free audiobook library services to the visually impaired; requested books are mailed out (at no cost) to clients. Founded in 1996, Assistive Media of Ann Arbor, Michigan was the first organization to produce and deliver spoken-word recordings of written journalistic and literary works via the Internet to serve people with visual impairments.
About 40 percent of all audiobook consumption occurs through public libraries, with the remainder served primarily through retail book stores. Library download programs are currently experiencing rapid growth (more than 5,000 public libraries offer free downloadable audio books). Libraries are also popular places to check out audio books in the CD format.[37] According to the National Endowment for the Arts' study, "Reading at Risk: A Survey of Literary Reading in America" (2004), audiobook listening increases general literacy.[38]
Listening practices
See also: Spoken word album
Audiobooks are considered a valuable tool because of their format. Unlike traditional books or a video program, one can listen to an audiobook while doing other tasks. Such tasks include doing the laundry, exercising, weeding and similar activities. The most popular general use of audiobooks by adults is when commuting with an automobile or while traveling with public transport, as an alternative to radio. Many people listen as well just to relax or as they drift off to sleep.
A recent survey released by the Audio Publishers Association found that the overwhelming majority of audiobook users listen in the car, and more than two-thirds of audiobook buyers described audiobooks as relaxing and a good way to multitask. Another stated reason for choosing audiobooks over other formats is that an audio performance makes some books more interesting.[39]
Common practices include:
Replaying: Depending upon one's degree of attention and interest, it is often necessary to listen to segments of an audiobook more than once to allow the material to be understood and retained satisfactorily. Replaying may be done immediately or after extended periods of time.
Learning: People may listen to an audiobook (usually an unabridged one) while following along in an actual book. This helps them to learn words that they may not learn correctly if they were only to read the book. This can also be a very effective way to learn a new language.
Multitasking: Many audiobook listeners choose the format because it allows multitasking during otherwise mundane or routine tasks such as exercising, crafting, or cooking.
Entertainment: Audiobooks have become a popular form of travel entertainment for families or commuters.[40]
Charitable and nonprofit organizations
Founded in 1948, Learning Ally serves more than 300,000 K-12, college and graduate students, veterans and lifelong learners – all of whom cannot read standard print due to blindness, visual impairment, dyslexia, or other learning disabilities. Learning Ally's collection of more than 80,000 human-narrated textbooks and literature titles can be downloaded on mainstream smartphones and tablets, and is the largest of its kind in the world.
Founded in 2002, Bookshare is an online library of computer-read audiobooks in accessible formats for people with print disabilities.
Founded in 2005, LibriVox is also an online library of downloadable audiobooks and a free non for profit organisation developed by Hugh McGuire. It has audiobooks in several languages. Most of their languages are typically Western European languages. [41]
Calibre Audio Library is a UK charity providing a subscription-free service of unabridged audiobooks for people with sight problems, dyslexia or other disabilities, who cannot read print. They have a library of over 8,550 fiction and non-fiction titles which can be borrowed by post on MP3 CDs and memory sticks or via streaming.[42]
Listening Books is a UK audiobook charity providing an internet streaming, download and postal service to anyone who has a disability or illness which makes it difficult to hold a book, turn its pages, or read in the usual way, this includes people with visual, physical, learning or mental health difficulties. They have audiobooks for both leisure and learning and a library of over 7,500 titles which are recorded in their own digital studios or commercially sourced.
The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) is a UK charity which offers a Talking Books library service. The audio books are provided in DAISY format and delivered to the reader's house by post as a CD or USB memory stick. There are over 30,000 audio books available to borrow, which are free to print disabled library members. RNIB subsidises the Talking Books service by around £4 million a year.[43]
Example of an audio studio for professional readings. The studio is surrounded in sound baffle panels to mitigate reverberation from the speaker, allowing the microphone to pick up clearer audio.
Assistive Media
National Audio Theatre Festival
Pingshu
Radio drama
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Matthew Rubery, ed. (2011). "Introduction". Audiobooks, Literature, and Sound Studies. Routledge. pp. 1–21. ISBN 978-0-415-88352-8.
^ "Cylinder Recordings". Cyberbee.com. Retrieved 2 August 2012.
^ Rubery, Matthew (5 November 2018). "Britain's First Talking Book: An Update". Audiobook History. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
^ a b c d "Caedmon: Recreating the Moment of Inspiration". NPR Morning Edition. 5 December 2002. Archived from the original on 7 March 2014. Retrieved 6 March 2014.
^ "The National Recording Registry 2008". National Recording Preservation Board of the Library of Congress. The Library of Congress. Archived from the original on 24 March 2012. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
^ "Kids and Teens". Archived from the original on 4 November 2016. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
^ a b c Shannon Maughan (7 March 2005). "Sounds Like Celebration". Publishers Weekly. Archived from the original on 19 March 2014. Retrieved 19 March 2014.
^ "Arthur Klein, 81. Made Literary Recordings". The New York Times. 21 April 1997. Archived from the original on 30 March 2014. Retrieved 19 March 2014.
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v Virgil L. P. Blake (1990). "Something New Has Been Added: Aural Literacy and Libraries". Information Literacies for the Twenty-First Century. G. K. Hall & Co. pp. 203–218. Retrieved 5 March 2014.
^ a b John Blades (21 May 1991). "The Olivier Of Books On Audio Tape". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on 13 January 2014. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
^ "A Brief History of Audio Books". Booksalley.com. 18 September 2007. Archived from the original on 28 October 2011. Retrieved 2 August 2012.
^ Hendren, John (29 August 1995). "Recorded Books: Winning War With Rush-Hour Traffic : Commuting: Henry Trentman says his audio books are the 'world's greatest tranquilizer' for stressed-out drivers". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 12 January 2014. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
^ "Audie Award". Booksalley.com. Archived from the original on 28 October 2011. Retrieved 2 August 2012.
^ "Progressive Networks and Audible Inc. Team Up to Make RealAudio Mobile". Audible.com. 15 September 1997. Archived from the original on 18 January 1998. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
^ "The Audible Player". Audible.com. 1997. Archived from the original on 18 January 1998. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
^ MaryAnnSpiegel (1 January 2022). "LibriVox stats". LibriVox. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
^ Audio Publishers Association Fact Sheet Archived 26 October 2010 at the Wayback Machine (also includes some historical perspective in the 1950s by Marianne Roney)
^ Kaitlin Friedmann (15 September 2008). "More Americans Are All Ears To Audiobooks" (PDF). Audio Publishers Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 February 2015. Retrieved 19 March 2014.
^ The Audio Publishers Association (21 November 2013). "Audibooks Industry Showing Enormous Growth" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
^ "Industry Data". Audio Publishers Association. Archived from the original on 19 March 2014. Retrieved 19 March 2014.
^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 June 2016. Retrieved 9 September 2016. CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) APA, 23 May 2016
^ Roose, Kevin (3 October 2014). "What's Behind the Great Podcast Renaissance?". New York. Archived from the original on 15 July 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
^ Kang, Cecilia (25 September 2014). "Podcasts are back — and making money". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 23 July 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
^ Purcell, Julius (27 March 2015). "The resurgence of audio drama". Financial Times. Archived from the original on 23 July 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
^ Mary Burkey (13 March 2014). "Elevating the Art of the Audiobook: Deyan Institute of Voice Artistry & Technology". Booklist. Archived from the original on 13 June 2014. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
^ Fitzpatrick, Molly (30 May 2018). "Portrait of the Voice in My Head". The Village Voice. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
^ https://www.audiopub.org/uploads/pdf/2020-Consumer-Survey-and-2019-Sales-Survey-Press-Release-FINAL.pdf
^ Sabine Tenta: The Audible Gate to the World: The West German Audio Book Library for the Blind (Goethe-Institut, 2009) online Archived 27 January 2011 at the Wayback Machine (in English) retrieved 26 May 2012
^ "First Malayalam audio novel 'Ouija Board' launched". newindianexpress.com. Archived from the original on 17 April 2018. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
^ a b c d ALLEN PIERLEONI. "The right voice can send an audiobook up the charts", McClatchy Newspapers, 29 June 2011.
^ "Narrator Resources". Audio Publishers Association. Archived from the original on 28 October 2014. Retrieved 28 October 2014.
^ "From Papyrus to Pixels". The Economist. December 2014. Archived from the original on 3 January 2015. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
^ "Grooved Tape Recording Plays For Eight Hours." Archived 7 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine Popular Mechanics, July 1955, p. 141.
^ "William Gibson's Seminal Cyberpunk Novel, Neuromancer, Dramatized for Radio (2002)". Open Culture. Archived from the original on 6 February 2018. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
^ Michael Kozlowski (20 February 2018). "Joe Hill is creating a Vinyl First Audiobook". Good E-Reader. Archived from the original on 21 February 2018. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
^ Michael Kozlowski (17 December 2018). "Global Audiobook Trends and Statistics for 2018". Good E-Reader. Archived from the original on 21 February 2018. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
^ "New Audio". Hclib.org. 15 June 2012. Archived from the original on 15 February 2012. Retrieved 2 August 2012.
^ National Endowment for the Arts (June 2004). "Reading at Risk: A Survey of Literary Reading in America (Research Division Report #46)". Archived from the original on 1 July 2014.
^ "Audiobooks: Billion-Dollar Industry Shows Steady Growth". PW's Audiobook Blog. 25 February 2013. Archived from the original on 28 October 2014. Retrieved 28 October 2014.
^ "What Kind of Listener Are You?". Random House Audio. Archived from the original on 28 October 2014. Retrieved 28 October 2014.
^ "About Librivox". Librivox.org. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
^ "Calibre services". calibre.org.uk. 28 March 2013. Archived from the original on 28 March 2012. Retrieved 28 March 2012.
^ "RNIB Talking Books Service". Rnib.org.uk. 8 June 2012. Archived from the original on 24 July 2012. Retrieved 2 August 2012.
Alexandra Alter (1 August 2013). "The New Explosion in Audio Books". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
Jeremy Olshan (8 December 2015). "Why some audiobooks sell four times as well as their print versions". Marketwatch (WSJ)'. Retrieved 8 December 2015.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Audiobooks.
Illuminated manuscripts
advance copy
Typesetting
Volume (bibliography)
Collection (publishing)
Bibliomania (tsundoku)
book towns
Bookworm (insect)
Print culture
Book packaging
Book swapping
History of books
List of best-selling books
Dog ears
World Book Capital
Accessible information
Blindness equipment
1930s neologisms
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1963
|
__label__wiki
| 0.917742
| 0.917742
|
Jack Wink
Wink from 1944 Michiganensian
(1922-08-03)August 3, 1922
September 16, 1995(1995-09-16) (aged 73)
St. Cloud, Minnesota
Playing career
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
New London HS (WI)
Wayne State (NE)
Stout / Stout State
St. Cloud State
Head coaching record
54–73–7 (college football)
69–69–2 (college ice hockey)
13–25 (college baseball
Accomplishments and honors
1 NCC (1949)
Jack S. Wink (August 3, 1922 – September 16, 1995) was an American football player and coach. He played college football at the University of Wisconsin–Madison (1942, 1946–1947) and University of Michigan (1943). He served in the United States Marine Corps during both World War II and the Korean War. He later served as a teacher and coach at Wayne State College, University of Wisconsin–Stout, and St. Cloud State University.
Wink was born in 1922 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He was the son of Elmer and Jane (Florscyzk) Wink.[1] His father was a city fireman.[2] Wink attended Milwaukee Boys Tech High School.
Wink attended the University of Wisconsin and played quarterback for the 1942 Wisconsin Badgers football team. The following season, he played at the University of Michigan as a marine trainee. Wink started two games as quarterback for the 1943 Michigan Wolverines.[3] After World War II, he returned to Wisconsin, lettering for the 1946 and 1947 Wisconsin football teams. As a senior in 1947, he was named the team's honorary captain at a postseason banquet.[4]
Coaching and teaching career
Wink served in the United States Marine Corps during World War II from 1943 to 1946 before returning to Wisconsin to complete his master's degree. After graduating from Wisconsin, he served as the head football coach and a physical education teacher at New London High School in New London, Wisconsin during the 1948 season.[5][6]
In July 1949, Wink was hired as head football coach by Wayne State Teachers College in Wayne, Nebraska.[7] He served as the head football coach at Wayne State from 1949 to 1951,[5] compiling a record of 21–6 with an undefeated 9–0 season and a conference championship in 1949.[8][9]
In April 1952, Wink was hired as the head football coach at The Stout Institute, now known as the University of Wisconsin–Stout, in Menominee, Wisconsin.[10][11] He held that position for four years and also coached the baseball team at Stout.[5]
In May 1956, Wink was hired as head football coach by St. Cloud State Teachers College, now known as St. Cloud State University, in St. Cloud, Minnesota.[12] He was the head football coach at St. Cloud for nine years from 1956 to 1964, compiling a record of 25–45–5. Wink also coached the men's ice hockey team at St. Cloud State from 1956 to 1968, tallying a mark of 69–69–2. In April 1968, Wink resigned his coaching position at St. Cloud, though he continued to serve as director of intramural athletics. He also continued until 1984 as an instructor in the department of health, physical education and recreation.[1][5][13]
Family and later years
Wink was married to Virginia Warnecke in 1948. They had two daughters, Deborah and Wendy.[1] He died in September 1995.[1]
Bowl/playoffs
Wayne State Wildcats (Nebraska College Conference) (1949–1951)
1949 Wayne State 9–0 8–0 1st
1950 Wayne State 6–3 5–2 T–2nd
1951 Wayne State 6–3 5–2 3rd
Wayne State: 21–6 18–4
Stout / Stout State Blue Devils (Wisconsin State College Conference) (1952–1955)
1952 Stout 3–5 2–3 6th
1953 Stout 1–7 0–5 T–9th
1954 Stout 2–5–1 1–3–1 8th
1955 Stout State 2–5–1 0–4–1 T–8th
Stout / Stout State: 8–22–2 3–15–2
St. Cloud State Huskies (Minnesota State College Conference / Northern Intercollegiate Conference) (1956–1964)
1956 St. Cloud State 6–2–1 2–1–1 2nd
1957 St. Cloud State 0–7–1 0–3–1 5th
1959 St. Cloud State 2–6 1–4 5th
1960 St. Cloud State 3–5 2–3 T–3rd
1962 St. Cloud State 5–3–1 2–2–1 3rd
St. Cloud State: 25–45–5 10–27–5
National championship Conference title Conference division title or championship game berth
^ a b c d "Jack Wink, 73, St. Cloud". St. Cloud Times. September 18, 1995. p. 4.
^ 1930 and 1940 U.S. Census entries for Elmer Wink and family identify him as a fireman. These records are available through Ancestry.com.
^ "1943 Football Team". University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library. Retrieved June 15, 2011.
^ "Jack Wink is Named Captain of the Badgers". Telegraph Herald. Associated Press. December 10, 1947. Retrieved June 15, 2011.
^ a b c d "Wink's Resignation Announced by State". St. Cloud Daily Times. April 3, 1968. p. 29.
^ "Jack Link to Coach At New London High". Wisconsin Rapids (Wis.) Daily Tribune. May 29, 1948. p. 6.
^ "Jack Wink Named Grid Coach at Wayne State". Wilmington (DE) Morning News. July 26, 1949. p. 20.
^ King Grundman (August 28, 1956). "King's Corner". The St. Cloud Daily Times. p. 17.
^ "Ex-Badger Ace Jack Wink Completes Unbeaten Year". The Sheboygan (Wis.) Press. November 8, 1949. p. 14.
^ "Wink Named Coach At Stout". The Daily Telegram, Eau Claire, Wisconsin. April 29, 1952. p. 12.
^ "Jack Wink, Badger Grid Star, Back in Wisconsin". The Daily Telegram, Eau Claire, Wisconsin. August 4, 1952. p. 9.
^ "Wink Named New Grid Coach at TC". The St. Cloud Daily Times. May 25, 1956. p. 5.
^ "Wink 'Enjoyed' 9 Seasons: Tenure as Huskies' Coach Comes to End". St. Cloud Daily Times. November 13, 1964. p. 13.
Jack Wink at Find a Grave
Michigan Wolverines starting quarterbacks
Barmore (1880)
Horton (1881)
McNeil (1883–1885)
Morrow (1886)
Farrand (1887)
F. Smith (1888)
Abbott (1889)
Holden (1890)
Sherman (1891)
Sanderson (1892)
Greenleaf (1893–1894)
Baird (1893–1895)
Richards (1895–1897)
Drumheller (1896)
Felver (1896–1897)
Talcott (1898)
Street (1898–1899)
McGinnis (1900)
Weeks (1901–1902)
James (1903)
Norcross (1904–1905)
Barlow (1905)
Workman (1906)
Wasmund (1907–1909)
McMillan (1910–1911)
Huebel (1912)
Hughitt (1913–1914)
Roehm (1915)
Sparks (1916, 1919)
Knode (1918)
Bank (1920–1921)
Uteritz (1921–1923)
Rockwell (1924)
Friedman (1925–1926)
Hoffman (1927)
Rich (1928)
Simrall (1929)
Tessmer (1930–1931)
Newman (1930–1932)
Fay (1933)
Jennings (1934)
Renner (1935)
Barclay (1936)
Farmer (1937)
Evashevski (1938–1940)
Ceithaml (1941–1942)
Wiese (1943)
Wink (1943)
Ponsetto (1944–1945)
Yerges (1945–1947)
Elliott (1948)
Ghindia (1949)
Putich (1950)
Topor (1951–1952)
Baldacci (1953–1954)
Maddock (1955)
Van Pelt (1956–1957)
Ptacek (1958)
Noskin (1959)
Glinka (1960–1961)
Timberlake (1962–1964)
Gabler (1965)
Vidmer (1965–1967)
Den. Brown (1967–1968)
Moorhead (1969–1970)
Slade (1971)
Franklin (1972–1974)
Leach (1975–1978)
Dickey (1979)
Wangler (1979–1980)
S. Smith (1981–1983)
Zurbrugg (1984)
Harbaugh (1984–1986)
Dem. Brown (1987–1988)
Taylor (1987–1989)
Grbac (1989–1992)
Collins (1993–1994)
Dreisbach (1995–1996)
Griese (1995–1997)
Brady (1998–1999)
Henson (2000)
Navarre (2000–2003)
Henne (2004–2007)
Mallett (2007)
Sheridan (2008)
Threet (2008)
Forcier (2009)
Robinson (2010–2012)
Gardner (2012–2014)
Morris (2013–2014)
Rudock (2015)
Speight (2016–2017)
O'Korn (2016–2017)
Peters (2017)
Patterson (2018–2019)
Milton (2020)
McNamara (2020)
Wayne State Wildcats head football coaches
Frank Martin (1912)
Clyde Keckly (1913–1914)
John Gross (1915–1916)
No team (1917–1918)
Arthur C. Serfling (1919)
Talmadge Marston (1920)
Fred G. Dale (1921–1927)
Ray Hickman (1928–1937)
Jim Morrison (1938–1945)
Don Emery (1946–1947)
Bob Kahler (1948)
Jack Wink (1949–1951)
Marvin Lewellyn (1952–1957)
Russell Young (1958)
Gwynn Christensen (1959–1961)
John Jermier (1962–1968)
Del Stoltenberg (1969–1982)
Pete Chapman (1983–1988)
Dennis Wagner (1989–1996)
Kevin Haslam (1997–1999)
Scott Hoffman (2000–2004)
Dan McLaughlin (2005–2019)
John McMenamin (2020– )
Wisconsin–Stout Blue Devils head football coaches
No coach (1911)
Earl Quigley (1912–1914)
Parks Bailey (1915–1916)
Student coaches (1917)
No team (1918)
George P. Miller (1919–1927)
Sylvester E. Paulus (1928–1929)
Earl Burbridge (1930–1934)
Mush Crawford (1935–1937)
Ray C. Johnson (1938–1942)
Tony Storti (1948–1951)
Joe Gerlach (1956–1957)
Bob Bostwick (1958–1962)
Max Sparger (1963–1969)
Sten Pierce (1970–1976)
Lyle Eidsness (1977–1979)
Bob Kamish (1980–1985)
Rich Lawrence (1986–1992)
Ed Meierkort (1993–2003)
Todd Strop (2004–2006)
Duey Naatz (2007–2009)
Clayt Birmingham (2010– )
St. Cloud State Huskies head football coaches
George Lynch (1920–1928)
John Weisman (1929–1932)
Warren Kasch (1935–1942)
Ed Colletti (1946–1949)
William C. Heiss (1950)
Les Luymes (1951–1955)
Rod Anfenson (1965–1971)
Mike Simpson (1972–1982)
Noel Martin (1983–1998)
Randy Hedberg (1999–2007)
Scott Underwood (2008–2019)
St. Cloud State Huskies men's ice hockey
St. Cloud Municipal Athletic Complex (1972–1989)
Herb Brooks National Hockey Center (1989–present)
Ralph Theisen (1931–1932)
Ludwig Andolsek (1932–1935)
Robert DePaul (1935–1936)
Walter Gerzin (1936–1937)
Benedict Vandell (1937–1938)
Roland Vandell (1946–1950, 1951–1952)
Ray Gasperline (1950–1951)
George Martin (1952–1953)
Brendan McDonald (1953–1954)
Jim Baxter (1954–1956)
Charlie Basch (1968–1984)
John Perpich (1984–1986)
Herb Brooks (1986–1987)
Craig Dahl (1987–2005)
Bob Motzko (2005–2018)
Brett Larson (2018–Present)
Conference affiliations
NCHA (1981–1987)
Independent (1987–1990)
WCHA (1990–2013)
NCHC (2013–present)
Culture & lore
North Star College Cup
Ryan Lasch (183 Points)
Mark Hartigan (86 Goals)
Brian Leitza / Dávid Hrenák (66 Wins)
Frozen Four appearances
NCAA Tournament appearances
Conference Tournament titles
WCHA: 2001
Hobey Baker winners
Drew LeBlanc (2013)
American football quarterbacks
Michigan Wolverines football players
St. Cloud State Huskies football coaches
St. Cloud State Huskies men's ice hockey coaches
Wayne State Wildcats football coaches
Wisconsin–Stout Blue Devils baseball coaches
Wisconsin–Stout Blue Devils football coaches
Wisconsin Badgers football players
High school football coaches in Wisconsin
Sportspeople from Milwaukee
Players of American football from Wisconsin
United States Marine Corps personnel of World War II
United States Marine Corps personnel of the Korean War
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1964
|
__label__cc
| 0.583784
| 0.416216
|
Natural Resources Conservation Service
Preceding agency
Soil Conservation Service, Soil Erosion Service
Approx 11,000
Agency executive
Terry Cosby, Acting Chief
Parent agency
www.nrcs.usda.gov
Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), formerly known as the Soil Conservation Service (SCS), is an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) that provides technical assistance to farmers and other private landowners and managers.
Its name was changed in 1994 during the presidency of Bill Clinton to reflect its broader mission. It is a relatively small agency, currently comprising about 12,000 employees.[1] Its mission is to improve, protect, and conserve natural resources on private lands through a cooperative partnership with state and local agencies. While its primary focus has been agricultural lands, it has made many technical contributions to soil surveying, classification and water quality improvement.[2][3] One example is the Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP), set up to quantify the benefits of agricultural conservation efforts promoted and supported by programs in the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (2002 Farm Bill). NRCS is the leading agency in this project.
Members of the Little River Soil Conservation District, Columbia County, Georgia, 1957
The agency was founded largely through the efforts of Hugh Hammond Bennett, a soil conservation pioneer who worked for the Department of Agriculture from 1903 to 1952.[4] Bennett's motivation was based on his knowledge of the detrimental effects of soil erosion and the impacts on U.S lands[5] that led to the Dust Bowl in the 1930s. On September 13, 1933, the Soil Erosion Service was formed in the Department of the Interior, with Bennett as chief. The service was transferred to the Department of Agriculture on March 23, 1935, and was shortly thereafter combined with other USDA units to form the Soil Conservation Service by the Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act of 1935.[6][7]
The SCS was in charge of 500 Civilian Conservation Corps camps between 1933 and 1942. The primary purpose of these camps was erosion control.[8]
Bennett continued as chief until his retirement in 1952.[4] As part of the Federal Crop Insurance Reform and Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994, the agency was renamed the Natural Resources Conservation Service during the tenure of Chief Paul Johnson.[7][9]
NRCS offers technical and financial assistance to farmers and ranchers. The financial assistance is authorized by the "Farm Bill", a law that is renewed every five years. The 2014 Farm Bill consolidated 23 programs into 15.[10] NRCS offers these services to private land owners, conservation districts, tribes, and other types of organizations. NRCS also collects and shares information on the nation's soil, water, air, and plants.
The "Conservation" title of the Farm Bill (Title II in the 2014 bill) provides the funding to agricultural producers, and a conservation plan must be included. All of these programs are voluntary. The main programs include:
Environmental Quality Incentives Program
An alfalfa farm in Montana implementing an Irrigation Water Management Plan with assistance from the Environmental Quality Incentives Program
The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) provides assistance to landowners to help them improve their soil, water and related natural resources, including grazing lands, wetlands, and wildlife habitat. Congress established the program in the 1996 farm bill to provide primarily cost-sharing assistance, but also technical and educational assistance, aimed at promoting production and environmental quality, and optimizing environmental benefits.[11][12]
Conservation Stewardship Program
The Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), established by the 2008 Farm Bill, is targeted to producers who maintain a higher level of environmental stewardship.[13]
Regional Conservation Partnership Program
Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) consolidated four programs from the 2008 Farm Bill. It aims at more regional or watershed scale projects, rather than individual farms and ranches.[14]
Agricultural Conservation Easement Program
The Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) was another consolidation effort of the 2014 Farm Bill, which includes the former Grasslands Reserve Program, Farm, and Ranch Lands Protection Program, and Wetlands Reserve Program. ACEP includes technical and financial help to maintain or improve land for agriculture or environmental benefits.[15]
Healthy Forests Reserve Program
(HFRP) Landowners volunteer to restore and protect forests in 30 or 10 year contracts. This program hands assisting funds to participants. The objectives of HFRP are to:
Promote the recovery of endangered and threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA)
Improve plant and animal biodiversity
Enhance carbon sequestration[16]
NRCS National Ag Water Management Team
(AGWAM) Serves 10 states in the Midwest United States in helping to reduce Nitrate levels in soil due to runoff from fertilized farmland. The project began in 2010 and initially focused on the Mississippi Basin area. The main goal of the project is to implement better methods of managing water drainage from agricultural uses, in place of letting the water drain naturally as it had done in the past. In October 2011, The National "Managing Water, Harvesting Results"[17] Summit was held to promote the drainage techniques used in hopes of people adopting them nationwide.[18]
Snow Survey and Water Supply Forecasting
Includes water supply forecasts, reservoirs, and the Surface Water Supply Index (SWSI) for Alaska and other Western states. NRCS agents collect data from snowpack and mountain sites to predict spring runoff and summer streamflow amounts. These predictions are used in decision making for agriculture, wildlife management, construction and development, and several other areas. These predictions are available within the first 5 days of each month from January to June.[19]
Conservation Technical Assistance Program
(CTA) Is a blanket program which involves conservation efforts on soil and water conservation, as well as management of agricultural wastes, erosion, and general longterm sustainability. NRCS and related agencies work with landowners, communities, or developers to protect the environment. Also serve to guide people to comply with acts such as the Highly Erodible Land, Wetland (Swampbuster), and Conservation Compliance Provisions acts. The CTA can also cover projects by state, local, and federal governments.[20]
Gulf of Mexico Initiative
Is a program to assist gulf bordering states (Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas) improve water quality and use sustainable methods of farming, fishing, and other industry. The program will deliver up to 50 million dollars over 2011–2013 to apply these sustainable methods, as well as wildlife habitat management systems that do not hinder agricultural productivity, and prevent future over use of water resources to protect native endangered species.[21]
The NRCS (formerly SCS) has been involved in soil and other conservation issues internationally since the 1930s. The main bulk of international programs focused on preventing soil erosion by sharing techniques known to the United States with other areas. NRCS sends staff to countries worldwide to conferences to improve knowledge of soil conservation.[22] There is also international technical assistance programs similar to programs implemented in the United States. There are long-term technical assistance programs in effect with one or more NRCS staff residing in the country for a minimum of one year. There are currently long-term assistance programs on every continent. Short-term technical assistance is also available on a two-week basis.[23]
These programs are to encourage local landowners and organizations to participate in the conservation of natural resources on their land, and lastly, landscape planning has a goal to solve problems dealing with natural resource conservation with the help of the community in order to reach a desired future outcome.[24]
There is a long history of the federal Soil Survey Program,[25] including federal scientists and cooperators working through the National Cooperative Soil Survey (NCSS).[26] Soil survey products include the Web Soil Survey,[27] the NCSS Characterization Database [28] and many investigative reports and journal articles.[29] In 2015 NRCS began broad support of soil health, which incorporates less tillage and more cover crops to reduce erosion and improve the diversity of the soil.[30] Information is maintained in the Soil Survey Geographic database (SSURGO) dataset.[31]
Water pollution related to agricultural practices is addressed in several NRCS programs which provide financial and technical assistance.[32] Nutrient pollution caused by excessive nitrogen and phosphorus in farm surface runoff depletes oxygen levels and creates algal blooms in lakes, streams and rivers, harming aquatic life.[33] Excessive sedimentation and pathogens from agricultural pollution can also have major impacts on water quality, and some NRCS projects focus on these problems with land owners and their water systems.
The practice of water management focuses on the efficiently controlling the flow of water while causing the least amount of damage to life and property.[34] This helps to provide protection in high risk areas from flooding. Irrigation management is the most efficient way to use and recycle water resources for land owners and farmers.[34] Drainage management is the manipulation of the sub-surface drainage networks in order to properly disperse the water to the correct geographical areas.[35] The NRCS engineering vision is constantly making improvements to irrigation systems in a way that incorporates every aspect of water restoration.[36]
A team of highly trained experts on every aspect of water is employed by the NRCS to analyze water from different sources. They work in many areas such as: hydrology and hydraulics, stream restoration, wetlands, agriculture, agronomy, animal waste management, pest control, salinity, irrigation, and nutrients in water.[37]
Watershed program
See also: Emergency Watershed Program
Under watershed programs the NRCS works with states, local governments, and tribes by providing funding and resources in order to help restore and also benefit from the programs.[38] They provide: watershed protection, flood mitigation, water quality improvement, soil erosion reduction, irrigation, sediment control, fish and wildlife enhancement, wetland and wetland function creation and restoration, groundwater recharge, easements, wetland and floodplain conservation easements, hydropower, watershed dam rehabilitation.[38]
Plants and animals play a huge role in the health of our ecosystems. A delicate balance exists between relationships of plants and animals. If an animal is introduced to an ecosystem that is not native to the region that it could destroy plants or animals that should not have to protect itself from this particular threat. As well as if a plant ends up in a specific area where it should not be it could have adverse effects on the wildlife that try to eat it. NRCS protects the plants and animals because they provide us with food, materials for shelter, fuel to keep us warm, and air to breathe.[39] Without functioning ecosystems we would have none of the things mentioned above. NRCS provides guidance to assist conservationists and landowners with enhancing plant and animal populations as well as helping them deal with invasive species.[39]
NRCS for years has been working toward restoration, creation, enhancement, and maintenance for aquatic life on the nearly 70% of land that is privately owned in order to keep the habitats and wildlife protected.[40] NRCS with a science-based approach, provides equipment to wildlife and fish management. They also do this for landowners who qualify .[40]
Insects and pollinators
Pollination by insects plays a huge role in the production of food crop and flowering plants. Without pollinators searching for nectar and pollen for food the plants would not produce a seed that will create another plant. NRCS sees the importance of this process so they are taking measures to increase the declining number of pollinators.[41] There are many resources provided from the NRCS that will help any individual do their part in conservation of these important insects. Such as Backyard Conservation which tells an individual exactly how to help by just creating a small habitat in minutes. There are many others such as: Plants for pollinators, pollinators habitat in pastures, pollinator value of NRCS plant releases in conservation planting, plant materials publications relating to insects and pollinators, PLANTS database: NRCS pollinator documents.[41] All of these are valuable resources that any individual can take advantage of.
Invasive species and pests
Invasive species cause America's reduction in economic productivity and ecological decline.[42] NRCS works in collaboration with the plant materials centers scattered throughout the country in order to get a handle on the invasive species of plants. These centers scout out the plants and take measures to control and eradicate them from the particular area.[43]
Livestock management is an area of interest for the NRCS because if not maintained valuable resources such as food, wools, and leather would not be available. The proper maintenance of livestock can also improve soil and water resources by providing a waste management system so that run off and erosion is not a problem.[44] The NRCS provides financial assistance to land owners with grazing land and range land that is used by livestock in order to control the run off of waste into fresh water systems and prevent soil erosion.[44]
Plants are a huge benefit to the health of ecosystems. NRCS offers significant amounts of resources to individuals interested in conserving plants. From databases full of information to financial assistance the NRCS works hard to provide the means needed to do so. The plant materials program, Plant materials centers, Plant materials specialists, PLANTS database, National Plant Data Team (NPDT) are all used together to keep our ecosystems as healthy as possible.[45] This includes getting rid of unwanted species and building up species that have been killed off that are beneficial to the environment. The NRCS utilizes a very wide range of interdisciplinary resources.
The NRCS also utilizes the following disciplines in order to maximize efficiency:
Air Quality and Atmospheric Change
Animal Feeding Operations and Confined Animal Feeding Operations
Conservation Innovation Grants
Field Office Technical Guide
Range and Pasture
Soils, and Water Resources
These Science-Based technologies are all used together in order to provide the best conservation of natural resources possible.[24]
Great Basin Plant Materials Center based in Fallon, Nevada.[46]
Established in 2006, the GBVPMC serves Nevada, California, and parts of Utah and Oregon. The main purpose of the center is to combat damage done by invasive plant species in the area, which have done great damage to ecosystems in the Great Basin. They also aid in restoring ecosystems damaged by fires, climate change, drought, or other natural disasters. The centers provides native plants to help restore these damaged areas. They also do work developing plant organisms and technologies that are suited for the dry, high salt content soil of the area.[47]
National Association of Conservation Districts
(NACD) A non-profit agency which serves 3,000 conservation districts across the United States. There about 17,000 individuals who serve on the governing boards of conservation districts. Local conservation districts work with landowners to help manage land and water resources. The mission of NACD is to provide leadership and a unified voice for natural resource conservation in the United States.[48] The NACD grew in the 1930s from a statewide operation in Oklahoma, and many independent districts, to a unified National organization in 1946.
Arlen Lancaster
Conservation technical assistance
Resource Management System
Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations
Dust Bowl
Honey Hollow Watershed
^ "People". Natural Resources Conservation Service. Archived from the original on 2017-08-04. Retrieved January 27, 2018.
^ U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Washington, DC. "Soil Survey Programs." Archived 2011-07-26 at the Wayback Machine Accessed 2009-06-05.
^ NRCS. "National Conservation Practice Standards." Archived 2011-06-11 at the Wayback Machine National Handbook of Conservation Practices. Accessed 2009-06-05.
^ a b Cook, Maurice. "Hugh Hammond Bennett: the Father of Soil Conservation". Department of Soil Science, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. North Carolina State University. Archived from the original on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 30 September 2011.
^ "Biography of Hugh Hammond Bennett". NRCS. Archived from the original on 2007-12-27. Retrieved 2008-01-10.
^ Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act, P.L. 74-46, 49 Stat. 163, 16 U.S.C. § 590(e), April 27, 1935.
^ a b "Records of the Natural Resources Conservation Service". NARA. Archived from the original on 2007-12-07. Retrieved 2008-01-10.
^ Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). Archived 2013-05-30 at the Wayback Machine U-S-History.com, Online Highways LLC. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
^ Federal Crop Insurance Reform and Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994, 108 Stat. 3223, October 13, 1994.
^ United States. Agricultural Act of 2014. Pub.L. 113–79 (text) (PDF) "Title II—Conservation." Approved 2014-02-07.
^ United States. Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996. Pub.L. 104–127 (text) (PDF) Approved April 4, 1996.
^ "Environmental Quality Incentives Program". NRCS. Retrieved 2020-10-14.
^ "Conservation Stewardship Program". NRCS. Retrieved 2020-10-14.
^ "Regional Conservation Partnership Program". NRCS. Retrieved 2020-10-14.
^ "Agricultural Conservation Easement Program". NRCS. Retrieved 2020-10-14.
^ "USDA NRCS - Natural Resources Conservation Service". Nrcs.usda.gov. 2013-09-30. Archived from the original on 2013-11-05. Retrieved 2013-10-31.
^ "Ag Water Management Summit | NRCS". Nrcs.usda.gov. Archived from the original on 2013-11-04. Retrieved 2013-10-31.
^ "Water Management | NRCS". Nrcs.usda.gov. Archived from the original on 2013-11-04. Retrieved 2013-10-31.
^ "USDA NRCS - Natural Resources Conservation Service". Nrcs.usda.gov. Archived from the original on 2013-11-05. Retrieved 2013-10-31.
^ "Purpose of the CTA Program | NRCS". Nrcs.usda.gov. Archived from the original on 2013-11-04. Retrieved 2013-10-31.
^ "Gulf of Mexico Initiative | NRCS". Nrcs.usda.gov. Archived from the original on 2013-11-04. Retrieved 2013-10-31.
^ "International Programs | NRCS". Nrcs.usda.gov. Archived from the original on 2013-11-04. Retrieved 2013-10-31.
^ "International Technical Assistance | NRCS | NRCS". Nrcs.usda.gov. Archived from the original on 2013-11-04. Retrieved 2013-10-31.
^ a b "USDA NRCS - Natural Resources Conservation Service". Nrcs.usda.gov. Archived from the original on 2013-11-02. Retrieved 2013-10-31.
^ "Soil Survey". NRCS. Retrieved 2020-11-01.
^ "National Cooperative Soil Survey". NRCS. Retrieved 2020-11-01.
^ "Web Soil Survey". NRCS. Retrieved 2020-11-01.
^ "National Cooperative Soil Survey Soil Characterization Database". NRCS. Retrieved 2020-11-01.
^ "NRCS Soils". NRCS. Retrieved 2020-11-01.
^ "Soil Health". NRCS. Retrieved 2020-11-01.
^ "Description of SSURGO Database". nrcs.usda.gov. NRCS. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
^ "Water". NRCS. Retrieved 2020-11-01.
^ Oenema, Oene; van Liere, Lowie; Schoumans, Oscar (2005). "Effects of lowering nitrogen and phosphorus surpluses in agriculture on the quality of groundwater and surface water in the Netherlands". Journal of Hydrology. 304 (1–4): 289–301. doi:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2004.07.044.
^ a b "USDA NRCS - Natural Resources Conservation Service". usda.gov. Archived from the original on 2 May 2018. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
^ "Drainage | NRCS". Nrcs.usda.gov. Archived from the original on 2013-11-04. Retrieved 2013-10-31.
^ "Conservation Engineering Division (CED) | NRCS". Nrcs.usda.gov. Archived from the original on 2016-01-08. Retrieved 2013-10-31.
^ "USDA NRCS - Natural Resources Conservation Service" (in Greek). Nrcs.usda.gov. Archived from the original on 2013-11-05. Retrieved 2013-10-31.
^ "Great Basin Plant Materials Center". USDA NRCS. Archived from the original on 8 October 2010. Retrieved 22 October 2010.
^ "Great Basin Plant Materials Center | NRCS Plant Materials Program". Plant-materials.nrcs.usda.gov. Archived from the original on 2013-11-04. Retrieved 2013-10-31.
^ "About NACD". Nacdnet.org. Archived from the original on 2012-10-20. Retrieved 2013-10-31.
Natural Resources Conservation Service - Official site
TheUSDANRCS YouTube channel
Wikidata has the property: USDA PLANTS ID (P1772) (see uses)
Wikidata has the property:
USDA PLANTS ID (P1772) (see uses)
United States government agencies involved in environmental science
Global Change Research Program
Bureau of Indian Affairs
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
United States Fish and Wildlife Service
United States Geological Survey
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Insular and International Affairs
Office of Surface Mining, Reclamation, and Enforcement
Geodetic Survey
Marine Fisheries Service
Ocean Service
Oceanic and Atmospheric Research
Weather Service
Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Office of Environmental Management
Office of Science
National Laboratories and Technology Centers
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Foreign Agricultural Service
Natural Resources Conservation Service (National Water and Climate Center)
Rural Utilities Service
Science and Technology Directorate
and Human Services
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
Air Force Research Laboratory
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
Office of Naval Research
Combat Capabilities Development Command
Headquarters: Jamie L. Whitten Building
Tom Vilsack, Secretary of Agriculture
Jewel H. Bronaugh, Deputy Secretary of Agriculture
Under Secretary of Agriculture for
Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs
United States Codex Office
Under Secretary for Rural Development
Rural Housing Service
Rural Business-Cooperative Service
Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services
Food and Nutrition Service (Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion)
Food Safety and Inspection Service
Research, Education, and Economics
Agricultural Research Service (National Agricultural Library)
National Agricultural Statistics Service
Office of the Chief Scientist
Marketing and Regulatory Programs
Agricultural Marketing Service
Farm Production and Conservation
Farm Service Agency (Commodity Credit Corporation)
Risk Management Agency (Federal Crop Insurance Corporation)
Farm Production and Conservation Business Center
National Finance Center
*Reports directly to the Secretary of Agriculture
Irrigation in the United States
United States Department of Agriculture agencies
Natural resources agencies in the United States
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1965
|
__label__wiki
| 0.501553
| 0.501553
|
Pop Culture Reviews
Review: Dark Dungeons: The Movie
We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post.
I feel like I need to start with some disclosures. I first played Dungeons & Dragons in something like fourth grade and have been a gamer ever since. Hell, I even started a game company.
I’ve also been fascinated by Jack Chick for at least 20 years. I have a binder full of Chick comics I’ve collected over the years. I’d like to own the whole collection, but I can’t bring myself to order them. Giving Chick Publications money (much less my address) seems…icky. I’ve watched the God’s Cartoonist documentary read Daniel Raeburn’s excellent IMP issue about Jack Chick. I’ve written articles about him.
I’ve even used Chick as inspiration for RPGs. I wrote an adventure that uses the afterlife as imagined by Jack Chick as a starting point (Waxman’s Warriors). And have you ever thought that “The Death Cookie” is a weird name for a gaming website? That’s because we got it from a Chick tract. The short version is that Leighton and I used to do dramatic readings from the Chick website. We’ve got special voices for recurring characters and everything.
In other words, I am the precise target audience for a Dark Dungeons movie, and that’s important. This is not a movie for a general audience. If you’ve played role-playing games or read Jack Chick’s work, you probably won’t hate it and might even get a few laughs out of it. To really appreciate this movie, though, you need at least some familiarity with both (the more the better). If you’ve never played D&D and have no idea who Jack Chick is, you’ll probably find Dark Dungeons utterly baffling.
A Reasonably Faithful Adaptation
The movie makes a few changes, like making Marcie and Debbie college students rather than high school kids and giving one of the other players (Nitro) a minor role, but mostly sticks to the plot of the tract. It’s important to understand that Dark Dungeons is not, technically, a parody. Jack Chick gave producer JR Ralls the rights to make the film and he upheld his end of the bargain by making a faithful adaptation. Except for a few Easter eggs, everything in the movie that seems like comedy–the stylized “50s educational film” dialog; the delusional conspiracy theories; the willful ignorance about “RPGers” and “RPGing”; even the barely-repressed lesbian subtext–are all there in the original tract. Of course, any attempt to faithfully adapt Chick’s work is going to seem like parody, and I think the filmmakers knew that.
Other than expanding the events of the comic panels out into full scenes and adding some framing and padding, the main addition to the plot concerns the activities of the cult who only appear as shadowy figures in the tract. This provides a sort of secret history for the tract, where we find out that the cult is orchestrating everything (even Marcie’s suicide) in order to summon a certain tentacley fellow whose inclusion was, if I’m not mistaken, one of the stretch goals of the Kickstarter campaign. The other major addition is a nod to Mazes & Monsters in which Debbie goes down into the steam tunnels to fight the monsters that she’s inadvertently released by playing D&D instead of accepting Christ.
The DVD
When I first opened my copy of the DVD, I was a little disappointed to see that the movie’s run time is only 40 minutes, but after watching it (twice), I don’t think that stretching it to feature length would have added anything. The script is perfect. The acting, directing and other aspects of production fall somewhere in between slickly-produced amateur movie and low-budget indie flick. With the possible exception of the creature effects (which have their own charm for an 80s horror fan like me), nothing about the movie’s production is bad. It’s just obviously done on a limited budget.
The DVD extras are less impressive. In addition to the commentaries (which I haven’t watched yet), there are two features. The first is “How to Make a Movie for $1000 (But Not Really).” In it, Ralls shares his extensive expertise (from making one movie) at length over high-speed clips of the filming. The second is “A Lifelong Dream: The Making of Dark Dungeons.” It features interviews, behind the scenes stuff, and a few random bits that don’t seem to serve any real purpose. There’s some interesting stuff there, but it’s badly organized and there are a lot of pointless clips. I lost interest quickly. I think they just copied the “maybe use for behind the scenes extra” folder directly to the DVD without a bit of curating.
As I said at the beginning, this movie was made for a very specific audience, and for that audience it’s very close to perfect. If you’ve ever uttered the words “I don’t want to be Elfstar any more. I want to be Debbie!,” preferably at a table covered with rulebooks and funny dice, this movie is required viewing. The farther removed you are from that demographic, the less likely you’ll enjoy, or even understand, Dark Dungeons.
D&D, Jack Chick, Movies
Previous Post Previous post: Happy D20 Adventures #1
Next Post Next post: How the Death Cookie Got Its Name
Steve Johnson is the co-creator of QAGS (the Quick Ass Game System) and the Operations Director of Hex Games. He has written, co-written, or otherwise contributed to numerous RPG supplements, including Spooky: The Definitive Guide to Horror Gaming, Sharktoberfest, and the ENnie Award-winning Hobomancer. He writes a (more-or-less) weekly gaming blog at www.deathcookie.com. For more about QAGS and other fine products from Hex Games, visit www.hexgames.com. Steve also publishes (mostly really dumb) books that aren’t about gaming through Brainfart Press. These include Obscure Early Bluesmen (Who Never Existed), a chapbook about not-so-famous blues musicians who happen to be completely made up; The Callipygian Grimoire: A Discordian Activity and Spell Book; and Dispatches From The MGT.: Curious Signs From The American Workplace. You can find out more at www.brainfartpress.com.
Follow Steve Johnson on:FacebookTwitterGoogle Plus
How the Death Cookie Got Its Name
Steve JohnsonOctober 28, 2016February 6, 2020Leave a reply
One thought on “Review: Dark Dungeons: The Movie”
Pingback: How the Death Cookie Got Its Name — The Death Cookie
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1967
|
__label__cc
| 0.556818
| 0.443182
|
Home Electronic Betrayed by partners: Sony official website leaked PS5 release date
Betrayed by partners: Sony official website leaked PS5 release date
Electronic die casting — 2022-01-04 · 0 Comment
Sony quickly denied the leaked news of the recent PS5 release date and blamed the inaccurate date on the official website. According to Sony, they attributed the leak of the PS5 release date to an error in the recruitment website Rikunavi NEXT, where the initial recruitment information was posted. “This is due to an error in the recruitment website, not the content provided by our company.”
It is worth mentioning that today some foreign media also gave news that it is expected that the price of PS5 will not exceed 4,000 yuan. Of course, the possibility of Sony’s later price increase is not ruled out. If this is the case, it will still be cheaper than previously expected.
Before this, Sony officially stated that it has expanded the number of PS5 compatible games to more than 4000, and also promised to add support for higher frame rates and resolutions to these games to allow users to get a better gaming experience.
PS5 uses a custom AMD 8-core 3.5GHz Zen 2 CPU, a custom RDNA 2 GPU with 36 sets of CU units, a floating-point computing capability of 10.28 TFLOPs, 16GB GDDR6 memory, a custom 825GB SSD, and a 4K UHD Blu-ray drive.
It is reported that Sony will also reveal a large wave of escort debut masterpieces for the new host. Although the specific list is not yet known, the source revealed that it is definitely much more exciting than the outside world expected.
The Links: G238HAN010 G050VINO11
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1969
|
__label__cc
| 0.512062
| 0.487938
|
Hutchings, A. S. (x) ›
Cavalry (x) ›
Van Vliet, Wilbur (x) ›
College students (x) ›
Canadian Officers Training Corps fonds (x) ›
Canadian Officers Training Corps fonds
With the outbreak of World War I, the University Council appointed a Committee on Military Instruction which authorized the teaching of military science and tactics. A university corps was organized in the fall semester of the 1914-1915 year with 64 students taking extra classes to qualify as officers. On March 1, 1915, the Canadian Officers Training Corps (C.O.T.C.) of the University of Manitoba was established. Eight companies of 60 men of all ranks were formed with Professor E.P. Fetherstonhaugh as captain and adjutant. In 1915, the Western Universities Battalion was formed with the University of Manitoba contributing one company and one platoon. With the introduction of conscription legislation in 1917, military training was made compulsory for all male students. After the First World War, the C.O.T.C. program was reorganized, in 1920, by Lt. Col. N.B. Maclean, but it continued in relative obscurity for almost twenty years. With the outbreak of World War II, the C.O.T.C. was quickly revitalized and its membership mushroomed, from its peace time level of 150 to 800. The Senate also passed regulations relating to academic credits or bonuses for students who joined the C.O.T.C. By 1942, all male students were once again required to enlist in a compulsory programme of military training. The C.O.T.C. continued the work of military training on a voluntary basis after World War II with new modernized and attractive programmes, but with the return of peace its popularity rapidly declined.
|
cc/2022-05/en_head_0000.json.gz/line1970
|
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.