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Cutting SALT From the Federal Tax Diet
In the quest for a better tax code, it shouldn't be difficult to agree that a tax deduction that mostly benefits rich people and subsidizes high-tax state and local governments must go. That's what the state and local tax, or SALT, deduction does, and it was rightly slated for termination in the tax reform framework by the "Big Six," to the displeasure of some in Congress. Resistance from these lawmakers, however, is misplaced, because a repeal of SALT — alongside other reforms in the plan — would most likely leave the vast majority of taxpayers better off and our tax code much fairer and simpler.
The ability to deduct state and local taxes from one's federal tax bill goes as far back as the income tax itself. According to the most recent Trump administration budget, it is the sixth-largest individual income tax expenditure and represents a loss of revenue of $100 billion annually.
That's a lot of money, considering it benefits the less than 30 percent of taxpayers who choose to itemize deductions, and even then, it's only those who aren't limited by the alternative minimum tax. Some argue that SALT is an expression of our federalist tradition to give priority to localized spending or is a way to avoid the double taxation of state and local taxpayers' income, but these arguments are overwhelmed by the fact that the targeted benefits mostly favor higher-income earners in high-tax states and are highly distortive.
Data show that the lion's share of the SALT flows to high-income taxpayers, who are most likely to itemize. According to the Tax Policy Center, "about 10 percent of tax filers with incomes less than $50,000 claimed the SALT deduction in 2014, compared with about 81 percent of tax filers with incomes exceeding $100,000."
SALT also benefits states that combine high incomes and high-tax environments. According to a Tax Foundation study, the majority of the benefits are concentrated in California, New York, New Jersey, Illinois, Texas and Pennsylvania. California alone claims 19.6 percent of the total cost of the tax expenditure. That's what I call concentrated benefits and diffuse costs.
Indeed, the deduction provides an indirect federal subsidy to state and local governments in high-income areas by decreasing the net cost of nonfederal taxes to those who pay them. As the Tax Policy Center notes, in some instances these state and local governments effectively "export a portion of their tax burden to the rest of the nation."
Estimates show that by sheltering state and local taxpayers from the spending decisions of their lawmakers, the deduction encourages anywhere between 2 and 20.5 percent more spending. Not surprisingly, the deduction distorts the financing decisions made by state and local lawmakers. In 2016, for instance, Alaska Gov. Bill Walker cited SALT as instrumental in proposing a hike in income taxes over a hike in the sales tax. He said, "We selected an income tax over a sales tax for a couple of reasons. ... State income taxes are deductible from your federal taxes."
Translation: "Thanks to SALT, we can increase your taxes without upsetting you as much as we should." You don't have to be a genius to understand that when taxpayers are less vigilant about policy changes and lawmakers' spending behaviors, we don't get the best policies implemented.
High-tax and big-spender states have already expressed their discontent. California and New York lawmakers in particular aren't eager to make the cost of their policies more visible. That said, taxpayers in these states shouldn't worry about the repeal of SALT. According to one estimate, the repeal, when combined with other features of the tax reform framework — such as lower individual income tax rates and the doubling of the standard deduction — would most likely result in a lower tax burden for all Americans who make less than $1 million, which is 99.7 percent of tax filers. The only potential losers are those who make more than $1 million a year. The degree to which they would pay more taxes depends on the impact that repealing the alternative minimum tax would have on these filers.
Finally, though I don't like the idea of paying for tax reform with more revenue, I'm fully behind getting rid of bad tax deductions to make the tax code fairer, simpler and less favorable to special interests and big-government policies. This is one of those instances. That it would raise money to pay for good tax reform is an added bonus.
opinion conservative income tax tax reform tax policy center deductions salt deduction state and local tax bill walker
About Veronique de Rugy
Contact Veronique de Rugy
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The Personal Injury Process
Protecting The Legal Interests Of Injured Hawaii Residents And Visitors Since 1973
Girl injured by tree will try new rehab
COURTESY OF ENGLE FAMILY
Julia Engle, 13, right, posed Wednesday with her sister, Christine, 10. Due to a brain injury suffered in March, Engle has been having trouble keeping up at Punahou School
The California clinic specializes in treating cognitive difficulties
By Rosemarie Bernardo
A MANOA girl who suffered brain trauma after she was struck by a tree that crashed into her home in March is having difficulty keeping up with her fellow students and experiencing changes in short-term memory, personality and relationships with family members.
Since coming out of a three-week coma, Julia Engle has made drastic improvements in physical and occupational therapy. Still, there are areas where she is having problems, said attorney Rick Fried yesterday at a news conference.
It is too early to determine whether Engle will fully recover, Fried said. "We're hopeful. She's had an awfully significant injury," he said. "I think she's going to have a permanent injury. How she copes with it is what we're hoping to maximize."
ON MARCH 15, Engle was sleeping in her bedroom when a 70- to 75-foot pine tree sliced through her home and struck her head. Surgeons removed blood clots and a 4-inch piece of her skull to reduce swelling. The piece was later put back with titanium screws.
After undergoing multiple surgeries, she was later transferred to the Rehabilitation Hospital of the Pacific from the Queen's Medical Center. Engle was released from the hospital in the first week of May and continues physical and occupational therapy at the rehabilitation hospital as an outpatient.
On Nov. 23, Engle will leave Hawaii for Casa Colina, a neurocognitive rehabilitation facility in Pomona, Calif. Her mother, Debbie, and father, Tom, will each take turns staying with her throughout her planned five-week stay at the residential facility.
"She's done dramatic improvements since the incident but still has quite a bit of high level cognitive improvement to go, and that's the purpose of this, which everybody seems to believe is probably the best place to maximize her improvement," Fried said.
Sometime in September, Engle, now 13, returned to Punahou School as an eighth-grader.
"Unfortunately, because the traumatic brain injury caused some damage, she was not able to keep up," Fried said.
ENGLE'S PERSONALITY has changed from bubbly to reserved since she suffered from the brain injury, he added, noting that her doctors diagnosed her with having a "flat affect," which means she is limited in expression and responsiveness.
Fried said Engle's short-term memory has also been affected. Recalling her studies involving the Civil War or which seat she was assigned to in various classes at Punahou has been tough, he said.
She is also experiencing problems in her relationships with family members and friends and focusing on a specific task. "She gets distracted easily, and these are some of the sort of things that they (rehabilitation facility) hope to provide some coping skills to deal with," he said.
Engle will continue physical and occupational therapy at the rehabilitation facility daily. Staff members will also hold daily counseling sessions and educational assistance. Fried said he is expected to receive a full assessment of Engle's progress at the rehabilitation facility sometime in January.
In May, Engle's parents filed a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against Nilasoni Landscape Co. The company was hired by the city to monitor disease and insect damage to certain types of pine trees that included trees along Beckwith Street, where Engle lives. A trial date has been scheduled for September.
Motor Vehicle And Pedestrian Accidents
Medical Malpractice And Birth Injuries
Serious Injuries And Wrongful Deaths
Airplane And Helicopter Accidents
Personal Injury Claims On Land And Sea
Alternative Dispute Resolutions
Injured In An Accident In Honolulu?
Cronin, Fried, Sekiya, Kekina & Fairbanks
841 Bishop Street, Suite 600
Honolulu Law Office Map
© 2019 by Cronin, Fried, Sekiya, Kekina & Fairbanks. All rights reserved. Disclaimer | Site Map
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`Pat the Bunny,' then...Guides for parents buying children's books
By Diane Manuel Special to The Christian Science Monitor
AS children's book editor of the New York Times Book Review, Eden Ross Lipson is besieged with questions from young, determined parents. ``They're always coming up to me and saying, `I need a book for so-and-so, aged such-and-such,''' she says, with a gust of laughter.
``I mean, have you talked to some of these yuppie parents? They are crazed, absolutely crazed.
``I find myself telling them ... that if a baby doesn't like `Pat the Bunny,' it doesn't mean that reform school is the next stop!''
With four children, aged 5 to 19, Mrs. Lipson has read her share of child-selected bedtime titles.
The enjoyment she gets from reading to her own and others' children, combined with four years' experience selecting the 300 children's titles that the Book Review covers each year, has contributed to the enthusiasm Lipson has poured into her recently published Parent's Guide to the Best Books for Children (Times Books, New York, $12.95, 421 pp.). An annotated list of almost 1,000 old and new titles, it is arranged in alphabetical order, according to reading level, with almost 100 pages of categorical indexes.
Some of the entries are single-sentence reviews, and many bear a characteristically breezy comment. Lipson is quick to point out that her listing is not intended to compete with the handful of well-respected books that introduce reading concepts and help parents choose books for their children.
As parents and interested friends and relatives begin the annual search for the perfect summer afternoon activity, a number of experts are standing by with low-key advice on time-tested titles. Bookstores and libraries ought to carry most of the following:
For Reading Out Loud!, by Margaret Mary Kimmel and Elizabeth Segel (Delacorte, New York, $16.95, 259 pp.), has recently been revised and expanded. The authors, both professors of children's literature, include a new list of 125 books recommended for reading to children from infancy through kindergarten, and have added 50 full annotations to their original titles.
Books are listed by type, length, and subject. Entries include time required for each reading session.
Choosing Books for Children, A Commonsense Guide, by Betsy Hearne (Dell, New York, $2.95 paperback, 150 pp.), is a parent-friendly standard. Advice about how to look at picture books from a child's point of view or what to look for in fantasy novels is combined with suggested lists of titles, by age groups.
Choosing Books for Kids, by Joanne Oppenheim, Barbara Brenner, and Betty D. Boegehold (Ballantine, New York, $9.95 paperback, 345 pp.), provides comprehensive reviews of more than 1,500 titles, along with explanations of child development. The authors are associated with the highly respected Bank Street College of Education.
A Parent's Guide to Reading, by Nancy Larrick (Westminster Press, Philadelphia, 1982, 271 pp.), is a longstanding classic that helps parents introduce reading and books to children. A founder of the International Reading Association, Ms. Larrick offers advice for preschool activities and assures parents that teen-agers can be expected to enjoy reading.
The RIF Guide to Encouraging Young Readers, edited by Ruth Graves (Doubleday, New York, $16.95, 324 pp.), was published last year under the auspices of Reading Is Fundamental, the largest reading-motivation program in the United States. In addition to a comprehensive listing of titles, the guide suggests more than 200 activities that help introduce children to reading.
The Read-Aloud Handbook, revised edition, by Jim Trelease (Viking Penguin, New York, $7.95 paperback, 240 pp.), includes more than 100 new titles from the man who wants to turn every child into a bookworm. Discussions of home-school connections and library strategies for promoting books are lively and well researched.
Difference Maker How a mother-daughter duo has helped inmates read with their kids
Chapter & Verse Making e-books even more kid-friendly: the Storia reading app from Scholastic
Chapter & Verse 'Harry Potter' director Chris Columbus takes on children's books
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'Not anything the crew did': TSB says fatal train derailment started on its own
Lauren Krugel, The Canadian Press
Published Tuesday, February 5, 2019 1:19PM EST
Last Updated Tuesday, February 5, 2019 11:22PM EST
CALGARY -- A Canadian Pacific freight train parked on a frigid night in the Rocky Mountains began to move on its own before a derailment that killed three workers and sent 99 grain cars and two locomotives hurling off the track.
The Transportation Safety Board says the westbound train had been parked on a grade with its air brakes applied for two hours near Field, B.C., just west of the Alberta-B.C. boundary, when it started rolling. The handbrakes were never applied.
"It was not anything the crew did," senior investigator James Carmichael said Tuesday. "The train started to move on its own."
He said the Calgary-based crew was taking over the train east of Field on Monday because the previous workers were nearing maximum work hours. The new crew was not yet ready to depart when the train started moving at about 1 a.m.
He said the train consisting of 112 cars and three locomotives was carrying grain to Vancouver and gained speed well in excess of the 32 km/h maximum for the tight turns in the mountain pass.
It barrelled along for just over three kilometres before it derailed at a curve ahead of a bridge over the Kicking Horse River. Only 13 cars and the tail-end locomotive remained on the tracks.
"The lead locomotive came to rest on its side in a creek and a number of derailed cars came to rest on an embankment," said Carmichael. "The remaining cars, including the mid-train remote locomotive, piled up behind."
The crew was in the lead unit, which was severely damaged. Carmichael said the data recorder had not yet been retrieved from that locomotive.
The railway identified the men who died as conductor Dylan Paradis, engineer Andrew Dockrell and trainee Daniel Waldenberger-Bulmer.
The derailment happened between the Lower and Upper Spiral Tunnels in Yoho National Park, which were built 110 years ago to help trains traverse the treacherously steep Kicking Horse Pass.
"This territory's among the most challenging railway territory in North America," said Carmichael. "Investigators and others are working hard under challenging circumstances to fully understand what went so terribly wrong."
Canadian Pacific said it has started its own investigation and will also fully co-operate with the Transportation Safety Board and Transport Canada.
Meanwhile, CP crews, contractors and agencies are working to remove the damaged rail cars and equipment, the company said in a statement Tuesday evening. The work is expected to last "a number of days."
"We continue to mourn the loss of our three CP family members," said president and CEO Keith Creel. "I spent the day at the derailment site yesterday, and I have not stopped thinking about this incident since it occurred."
A GoFundMe site to help Paradis's family said he is survived by his wife and two young daughters.
"He was kind, hilarious, hard working, easy going, and IN LOVE with his family. They were everything to him," said the page set up by Marie Armstrong.
Waldenberger-Bulmer's twin brother Jeremy -- also a CP Rail conductor -- said it feels like half of him is gone. He said his family is feeling an "emptiness in our home that is indescribable."
He said in a statement that his brother had just started working for the railroad in November.
"He was loving it and knew he would make a lifetime career out of it. We had big plans of living out our careers with CP Rail and retiring together to golf all over the world. He and I would go golfing any chance we got in the summer. That was our thing to do."
The derailment sounds "eerily similar" to the 2013 Lac-Megantic rail disaster in Quebec in that both involved a freight train rolling down a grade, said Garland Chow, a professor with transportation expertise at the University of British Columbia's Sauder School of Business.
But there's a big difference, he said, in that no one was on board when the Lac-Megantic train derailed, killing 47 people in the town. The Transportation Safety Board concluded not enough handbrakes were applied.
Chow noted that the transportation board said the crew in B.C. was not responsible for the train starting to move. As soon as it began rolling, the crew would have tried to stop it, Chow suggested, so it's possible the air brakes failed.
"It's either process or equipment or behaviour," he said. "If the processes were done right and the behaviour was right, it has to be the equipment. ... Something must have failed to allow the train to go down that hill."
-- With files from Kelly Geraldine Malone in Winnipeg and Laura Kane in Vancouver
CP Rail identifies three crew members killed in B.C. grain car derailment
TSB - Railway Investigation R19C0015
A train derailment is shown near Field, B.C., Monday, Feb. 4, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
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NewsCourt and Emergency
news, court-and-emergency,
Police are at the scene of a double fatal crash in the state’s Central West. About 11.30am today emergency services were called to the Newell Highway at Ardlethan about 70 kilometres south of West Wyalong. Local traffic diversions are in place and motorists are urged to avoid the area. The driver and a passenger in the car, died at the scene. A second passenger was released after being trapped for some time and airlifted to Canberra Hospital in a critical condition. A third passenger was treated by paramedics for minor injuries. The male truck driver was treated for minor injuries and taken to Wagga Wagga Hospital where he will also undergo mandatory testing. Officers from Riverina Police District and the Traffic & Highway Patrol Command attended and established a crime scene. Detectives will attend commence an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash. Police will prepare a report for the Coroner. Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Police have reminded the public that information provided would be treated in strict confidence and not to report crime via NSW Police social media pages.
https://nnimgt-a.akamaihd.net/transform/v1/crop/frm/ZQcr8ZcMFNnK6QJVYxN4cZ/115034e9-de09-4977-be63-3dd21c69bc8b.jpg/r3_1_1198_676_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg
August 15 2018 - 2:06PM
Emergency services attended the scene of a truck and car crash at Ardlethan near West Wyalong
Antonia O'Flaherty
Police are at the scene of a double fatal crash in the state’s Central West.
About 11.30am today emergency services were called to the Newell Highway at Ardlethan about 70 kilometres south of West Wyalong.
Local traffic diversions are in place and motorists are urged to avoid the area.
The driver and a passenger in the car, died at the scene. A second passenger was released after being trapped for some time and airlifted to Canberra Hospital in a critical condition. A third passenger was treated by paramedics for minor injuries.
The male truck driver was treated for minor injuries and taken to Wagga Wagga Hospital where he will also undergo mandatory testing.
Officers from Riverina Police District and the Traffic & Highway Patrol Command attended and established a crime scene.
Detectives will attend commence an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash.
Police will prepare a report for the Coroner.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au.
Police have reminded the public that information provided would be treated in strict confidence and not to report crime via NSW Police social media pages.
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Nimrod checks after fuel pipe dent found
Last updated at 17:16 23 February 2007
Checks are being carried out on the RAF's Nimrod MR2 planes after concerns were raised over possible problems with fuel pipes, it was revealed tonight.
The craft were grounded as a "precaution" after a dent was found in a pipe during a routine inspection on Wednesday, according to the Ministry of Defence.
A spokeswoman said: "The safety of our personnel is paramount. Following a routine check on 21 February, a dent was found in the fuel pipe of one of the Nimrod MR2 planes.
As a precautionary measure the fleet was grounded while the issue was investigated.
"These investigations are ongoing, but some of the aircraft have been cleared of this problem and we expect others to follow shortly."
There have been concerns over the safety of the Nimrod fleet of maritime reconnaissance aircraft since September, when one crashed in Afghanistan killing 14 British servicemen.
The cause of the crash near Kandahar on September 2 is being probed by a Board of Inquiry.
The MoD spokeswoman insisted the decision to ground the fleet was "precautionary", and did not imply any "prejudging" of the Board's conclusions regarding craft XV230.
The Nimrod MR2 was designed for sea patrol and anti-submarine work and entered service with the Royal Air Force in the UK more than 30 years ago.
Its design is based on the de Havilland Comet, the first commercial jet airliner.
Nimrod MR2s fly mainly from RAF Kinloss in Scotland, although a programme to replace them with an up-dated version - the MRA4 - is under way.
Twelve of those killed in the disaster last year were stationed at Kinloss with 120 Commando, while an Army soldier and a Royal Marine also lost their lives.
It is thought to have been caused by a technical fault rather than enemy action.
The MoD insisted after the crash that the Nimrod fleet had undergone a "very thorough" investigation.
The planes have since continued to fly operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.
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'Happy birthday Brian! Megan Rapinoe shares her moment in the spotlight with her brother as he recovers from a long-held meth addiction in a rehab center
Megan Rapinoe wished brother Brian, 38, 'Happy Birthday' after World Cup win
She has talked openly about his drug addiction, which began when he was 12
Brian has been in and out of prison, inked himself with swastika tattoos and pledged allegiance to white supremacy; he has since disavowed those beliefs
He resides at San Diego's Male Community Reentry Program, a rehabilitative program that will allow him to stay out of prison while he finishes a sentence
Brian, who introduced Megan to soccer as kids, has been clean for 18 months
Despite it all, the two have remained close with Brian saying she's his 'hero'
By Valerie Edwards For Dailymail.com
An ecstatic Megan Rapinoe couldn't help but share her winning moment with her biggest fan and brother, Brian, by wishing him a 'Happy Birthday' as he watched his sister lead the United States to victory against the Netherlands from a rehabilitation center.
The soccer star sent her brother well wishes and blew a kiss at the camera during her post-game interview.
Megan, who turned 34 on Friday, has talked openly about her brother's drug addiction, which began when he was just 12 years old.
Brian, 38, has been in and out of prison, inked himself with swastika tattoos and at one point pledged his allegiance to white supremacy.
But Brian, who has been clean for 18 months, disavowed those beliefs in 2010 and had all of those hate symbols either removed or covered up.
He currently resides at the San Diego's Male Community Reentry Program, which is a rehabilitative program that will allow him to stay out of prison while he finishes a sentence on drug offenses.
Megan also shared a photo of her brother on her Instagram page with the caption: 'Happy Birthday to this rose ( only a few thorns [sic]) I love you. so proud of you!'
An ecstatic Megan Rapinoe (pictured after her team's victory) shared her winning moment with her brother, Brian, by wishing him a 'Happy Birthday' as he watched his sister lead the US to victory from a rehabilitation center
The soccer star sent her brother well wishes and blew a kiss (pictured) at the camera during her post-game interview
Megan has talked openly about her brother's drug addiction, which began when he was just 12 years old. Brian (pictured with Megan as kids), 38, has been in and out of prison, inked himself with swastika tattoos and at one point pledged allegiance to white supremacy
But Brian (pictured), who has been clean for 18 months, disavowed those beliefs in 2010 and had all of those hate symbols either removed or covered up
Megan's brother first introduced her to soccer when she was a young girl and she idolized him.
But their lives took different paths when they got older.
Brian got involved in drugs and has spent nearly half of his adult life in prison.
He told DailyMail.com: 'I’m Megan’s biggest fan and I couldn’t be prouder of her.'
On Sunday, as Megan and the US team battled Holland for their 2-0 victory, Brian cheered her on alongside other inmates at the San Diego facility.
At the age of 12, Brian tried marijuana for the first time.
'Right from the start, I was hooked,' he told ESPN. 'One drug always led to the next.'
Brian was an idol to his younger sisters Megan and her twin Rachael, but by the time he was 15, he got in trouble for bringing meth to school.
Now they can REALLY celebrate! U.S women's soccer team wins... On the winning team! Proud parents and partners go wild in...
Fiery captain Megan Rapinoe REFUSES to sing the national...
Despite it all, the two have remained close with Brian telling the network: 'I have so much respect for her. And not just because she's the sh*t at soccer. It's her utter conviction in the things that she believes in and the stances she takes against injustices in the world.
'I was her hero, but now -- there's no question -- she is mine,' Brian said, especially after Megan became the first prominent white athlete to kneel to protest racial inequality in 2017.
Megan also told ESPN that her 'brother is special'.
'He has so much to offer. It would be such a shame if he left this world with nothing but prison sentences behind him. To be able to have him out, and to play for him, and to have him healthy, with this different perspective that he has now: This is like the best thing ever,' she added.
On Sunday, the United States won its record fourth Women's World Cup title and second in a row, beating the Netherlands 2-0 when Megan converted a penalty kick in the second half and Rose Lavelle added a goal.
Megan, the US captain who grabbed world-wide attention on and off the field, scored in the 61st minute after a video review determined Stefanie van der Gragt had fouled Alex Morgan with a kick to the shoulder in the penalty area.
She slotted the ball past goalkeeper Sari van Veenendaal for her 50th international goal, her sixth of the tournament to win the Golden Ball as scoring leader.
On Sunday, the United States won its record fourth Women's World Cup title and second in a row, beating the Netherlands 2-0 when Megan converted a penalty kick in the second half and Rose Lavelle added a goal
Megan, who is the oldest player to score in a Women's World Cup final, struck a familiar victorious pose with her arms outstretched
Rose Lavelle (right), at 24 the team's up-and-coming star, added a goal on an 18-foot left-footed shot in the 69th after a solo run up the center of the field
Megan, who is the oldest player to score in a Women's World Cup final, struck a familiar victorious pose with her arms outstretched.
Lavelle, at 24 the team's up-and-coming star, added a goal on an 18-foot left-footed shot in the 69th after a solo run up the center of the field.
Fans, many dressed in red, white and blue, chanted 'Equal Pay!' at the final whistle, a reminder that players sued the US Soccer Federation in March claiming gender discrimination.
Megan drew the ire of President Donald Trump during the tournament by saying she and teammates would refuse to visit the White House, part of the team's wider push for gender equity.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio needed just a few seconds after the final whistle to invite the team to a ticker-tape parade up the Canyon on Heroes in Manhattan on Wednesday.
The Americans never trailed in the tournament and set records with 26 goals and a 12-game World Cup winning streak dating to 2015.
US coach Jill Ellis became the first coach to lead a team to two Women's World Cup titles, and the US joined Germany in 2003 and 2007 as the only repeat champions.
With confidence and brashness that some called even arrogant - triggering a backlash that the angry response was sexist - this American team established a standard of excellence that will be a goal for other US teams and the rest of the world to match.
Megan Rapinoe's greatest heartbreak - and hope
Megan Rapinoe shares the winning moment with her brother Brian by wishing him a 'Happy Birthday'
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African leaders launch 'historic' free trade deal
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari signs onto the landmark African trade deal at the AU summit in Niamey
African nations officially launched a landmark trade agreement at the African Union summit in Niger on Sunday, with the long sought-after agreement hailed as a historic step towards "peace and prosperity" across the continent.
After 17 years of tough negotiations, the AU launched the "operational phase" of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in what AU commission chairman Moussa Faki had described as a "historic" moment.
"An old dream is coming true, the founding fathers must be proud," said Faki, adding that AfCFTA would create "the greatest trading area in the world".
Niger's President Mahamadou Issoufou hailed it as "the greatest historical event for the African continent since the creation of the Organisation of African Unity in 1963," referring to the AU's predecessor.
AU officials announced the launch of the five "operational instruments" of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Nations agreed to shared "rules of origin, the monitoring and elimination of non-tariff barriers, a unified digital payments system and an African trade observatory dashboard", the AU commission announced.
The agreement was given a boost when the presidents of Nigeria and Benin signed on to rapturous applause on Sunday morning at the two-day summit in Niger's capital Niamey.
With Nigeria and Benin on board, 54 of the 55 AU member countries have now signed onto the deal, with holdout Eritrea announcing it will consider joining the pact.
Niger's President Mahamadou Issoufou hailed the deal as "the greatest historical event for the African continent since the creation of the Organisation of African Unity in 1963"
Around 4,500 delegates and guests -- including 32 heads of state and more than 100 ministers -- attended the AU summit in Niamey, which has been revamped and boasts a brand-new airport, upgraded roads, and new hotels for the occasion.
- 'Game changer for Africa' -
The agreement was formalised at the end of April when the agreement crossed the launch threshold, which required ratification by at least 22 countries.
The zone will be operational from July 1st 2020, giving countries time to adapt to the agreed changes, Issoufou said.
Malawi's director of trade, Christina Chatima, told AFP the trade agreement as a "game changer for Africa."
"Most of us export with Europe and the US. It's about time we started trading more with each other," she said.
The trade deal signed at the African Union Summit in Niger took years to negotiate
However despite the launch, there are still key issues leaders have yet to resolve.
Leaders could not agree on a common criteria for rules of origin for some sectors.
"An agreement has not yet been reached on some of these issues," Chatima said. "On textiles, even the automotive sector. The AU secretariat is meant to come up with proposals on how we can agree," she added.
The AfCFTA commits the majority of countries to 90 percent tariff cuts within a five year period -- reducing barriers to trade on the continent.
Countries on a United Nations list of 'Least Developed Countries' will have 10 years to cut tariffs, whilst a group of six countries -- including Niger and Malawi -- will have at least 15 years, Chatima said.
Amaka Anku, Africa analyst at Eurasia group, described the deal as a positive step but said implementing the AfCFTA was still "a long way from taking off", with concerns on how many of the new regulatory agencies for the trade agreement would be funded.
The AU estimates that the deal will lead to a 60-percent boost in intra-African trade by 2022.
At the moment, African countries trade only about 16 percent of their goods and services among one another, compared to 65 percent with European countries.
- Security on the continent -
Also on the summit agenda is security -- an issue afflicting the Sahel in particular.
Summit host Niger has faced constant attacks by jihadist groups.
Its fellow members in the G5-Sahel security pact -- Chad, Mali, Burkina Faso and Mauritania -- will seek backing at the AU summit to push for a greater UN security force to address the terror threat.
Security in Niamey was tight for the summit
The countries hope to activate Chapter VII of the UN Charter, a Nigerien security source told AFP. The chapter allows for the UN Security Council to determine a threat to peace and propose measures, including military deployment, to deal with it.
"No prosperity, no integration is possible without peace," said Faki, who stressed the importance of an AU Peace Fund launched in 2018 to finance security activities and called on member states to fulfil their financial promises.
So far, only $116 million has been received for the envisaged $400-million fund.
The leaders are also set to discuss boosting intelligence cooperation and the global migration crisis.
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Insurance Claims Alleging Knowingly
Dallas insurance attorneys look for cases where they can be a “knowing” violation has been committed by an insurance agent or adjuster. A 1998, Texas Supreme Court opinion helps an attorney understand some of the ways courts look at “knowingly” allegations. The style of the case is, St. Paul Surplus Lines Insurance v. Dal-Worth Tank Co. Here is some of the relevant information.
Mission Butane Gas Co., a customer of Dal-Worth, notified Dal-Worth that it intended to sue Dal-Worth for several thousand dollars in damages caused when trucks it had bought from Dal-Worth had rolled over. Dal-Worth sent this notice to St. Paul and St. Paul opened a claim file. Mission’s insurer also contacted Dal-Worth. St. Paul concluded that Dal-Worth was not liable and refused to pay. Mission sued Dal-Worth. Evidence showed these lawsuit papers were forwarded to St. Paul. St. Paul heard conflicting accounts about the lawsuit papers from Missions insurer.
Dal-Worth did not answer Mission’s lawsuit and Mission obtained a default judgment in the amount of $794,100. Dal-Worth received a copy of the judgment but did not realize it’s significance and did not sent it to St. Paul. St. Paul did not hear of the judgment until 78 days after it was signed. Mission would have settled the claim at this point for $17,000, but no settlement offers were made. Four weeks later, St. Paul denied coverage, but offered to pay an attorney to handle an appeal for Dal-Worth, which Dal-Worth accepted. St. Paul refused to supersede the judgment and Dal-Worth was forced into bankruptcy.
Dal-Worth sued St. Paul and two insurance agents involved in the sale of the insurance. Dal-Worth settled with Mission for dismissal of the appeal, $50,000 in cash, $25,000 credit, 90% of up to $2,000,000 of any recovery by Dal-Worth against St. Paul, and 50% of an recovery over $2,000,000. During this time, Dal-Worth and Mission also settled with one of the agents for about $500,000 to be repaid out of any recovery against St. Paul.
At trial, the judge rendered judgment in favor of Dal-Worth and Mission finding liability under the Texas DTPA, the Texas Insurance Code, and negligence. The judgment awarded Dal-Worth and Mission $331,750 past lost profits, $2,160,000 future lost profits, $25,000 bankruptcy attorney’s fees, $507,000 increased business costs, $500,000 lost credit reputation, $607,921 pre-judgment interest, $1,117,219 on the Mission judgment, $2,000,000 statutory damages under the DTPA, $10,497,781 statutory damages under the Insurance Code, and $11,500,000 punitive damages for gross negligence. The judgment also awarded 40% of the total judgment as attorney’s fees on the statutory claims but not on the negligence claim. Dal-Worth elected to recover under the Insurance Code. St. Paul appealed and the appeals court reversed award of future lost profits but affirmed the rest.
The Texas Supreme Court said there was no evidence to support an award of lost of Dal-Worth’s credit reputation because there was no evidence Dal-Worth needed to use the credit and never tried to use the credit.
The court said there was no evidence that St. Paul acted “knowingly.” The DTPA defines this term as “actual awareness of the falsity, deception or unfairness of the conduct in question. Actual awareness may be inferred where objective manifestations indicate that a person acted with actual awareness.” Actual awareness does not mean merely that a person knows that what he is doing; rather, it means that a person knows that what he is doing is false, deceptive or unfair. In other words, a person must think to himself at some point, “Yes, I know this is false, deceptive or unfair to him, but I’m going to do it anyway.” Although there was evidence that St. Paul acted negligently and in violation of the DTPA and Insurance Code, there was no evidence that St. Paul was actually aware that its action towards Dal-Worth were false, deceptive or unfair. St. Paul did not do all it should have done to determine whether Dal-Worth had been sued. But, this is only evidence of negligence, not evidence that it knew it was harming Dal-Worth.
Posted in: Intentional Acts
Updated: October 25, 2014 7:36 am
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5 best sea view stays
Fowey Hall, Cornwall
From a lighthouse overlooking the Irish Sea to château in a fairytale setting, we highlight five of the best sea view stays in the UK
CHATEAU RHIANFA, ANGLESEA
While the Irish Sea technically begins a few miles further down the coast, only a pedant would complain about this fairytale venue’s waterfront views across the Menai Strait to the Snowdonia National Park beyond. Sir John Hay Williams, the 2nd Baronet of Bodelwyddan, commissioned the 1849 dower house for his wife, Lady Sarah. Her influence is evident throughout. The architecture was based upon her sketches of houses made during holidays in France’s Loire Valley and, when the Grade II-listed property underwent a multi-million pound refurbishment to re-open as a hotel in 2012, her original diaries were used as a reference. Couple that charming backstory with stylish suites and a private jetty and this is the perfect romantic seaside getaway.
IDLE ROCKS, CORNWALL
Sat across the Carrick Roads bay from Falmouth, the quaint coastal village of St Mawes has been a popular retreat for the royal family in recent years. It is easy to see why with the Tudor-era castle, lush Lamorran House Gardens and secluded beaches – once optimistically sold as a “British edition of St Tropez” – all helping to charm visitors.Idle Rocks was built on the harbourside site of an old bakery in 1913 and refurbished in time for the hotel’s centenary by current owners, David and Karen Richards. Several of the 19 rooms feature freestanding baths with views out to sea and the proximity to the water means the seafood is incredibly fresh – look out for the impressive oyster menu.
A stately seaside locale with literary links, Fowey Hall was frequented by The Wind in the Willows author Kenneth Grahame back when it was a private residence (Toad Hall, the iconic home of the book’s dashing Mr Toad, is thought to be based upon it). The house was built on a bluff overlooking the Polperro Heritage Coast in 1899 by Sir Charles Hanson, a local businessman who would later become Lord Mayor of London. A hotel since 1968, it has largely retained the same layout downstairs with wood-panelled rooms and velvet sofas creating an intimate atmosphere. Interconnecting rooms also make this an ideal destination for larger young families. Whether you spend much time indoors is debatable though, thanks to that spectacular view from the hotel terrace.
CORSEWALL LIGHTHOUSE, DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY
Corsewall Lighthouse, Dumfries and Galloway. Credit: John Peter Photography/Alamy
“The sea is everything,” wrote Jules Verne. “It is an immense desert, where man is never lonely, for he feels life stirring on all sides.” As the waves crash against the rocky outcrop upon which this lighthouse perches, it is impossible not to concur with the French author – a stay at this Stranraer hotel will invigorate the senses and lift the spirits. The lighthouse itself was built in 1815 and remains in operation, but visitors can still access the gallery for panoramic views across the Irish Sea – on a clear day one can spot the Isle of Arran and even Ireland’s north coast. The accommodation is housed in adjacent buildings and includes several suites with sea views, while the hotel’s 20 acres of private land is ideal for a morning stroll or spot of fishing.
THE HAMBROUGH, ISLE OF WIGHT
Warmed by the last vestiges of the Gulf Stream and blessed with more hours of sunshine than anywhere else in the UK, the Isle of Wight is already a balmy destination. The town of Ventnor is particularly sheltered, however, thanks to the peak of the nearby National Trust-maintained St Boniface Down. Further down the steep incline to the sea, The Hambrough is a gorgeous little boutique bed-and-breakfast with all bar one of the seven bedrooms overlooking the water. While you can’t go far wrong for accommodation on an island accustomed to catering for world-class sailing regattas, the homely décor and delicious buffet breakfasts make this particular spot something of a class apart.
Angelsea
Chateau Rhianfa
Corsewall Lighthouse
Fowey Hall
Idle Rocks
Sea view stays
The Hambrough
Lose yourself in Britain’s best mazes
Great mothers and daughters from history
Discover Cornwall’s magnificent Minack Theatre
Beautiful spring gardens
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What to Expect in Toronto in May
Spring has sprung and Toronto is starting to get a lot more fun with festivals, spectacles and other diversions to enjoy this month, so go out and have a blast!
Doors Open Toronto
The 20th annual Doors Open Toronto will let you see inside some of Toronto’s historically important, architecturally interesting, socially significant and other fascinating buildings, many of which aren’t normally open to the public.
May 25 and 26, various locations
This year sees in the 73rd edition of Mayfair, Rosedale’s annual get-together and fundraiser, and it once again features rides, food, bingo, contests, a beer tent and bands. Have a lovely day in the park! Take sunscreen!
May 10 and 11, Rosedale Park
Toronto Rib and Craft Beer Fest
The Northern Heat Rib Series promises some of the best rib teams in North America along with free admission, live music, a kids’ zone, backyard BBQ games and more.
May 18 to 20, Yonge Dundas Square
Canadian Music Week
One of Canada’s largest and most influential media and music conferences, Canadian Music
Week is a week-long program of performances and talks. This year’s not-to-miss acts are Danko Jones, Born Ruffians, Azealia Banks, The Dandy Warhols (bring it on, bring it on, yeah) and Perturbator, a French synthwave musician from Paris.
May 6 to 12, various venues
Inside Out LGBT Film Festival
For more than two decades, Inside Out has brought Toronto’s LGBT community together in
celebration of the best queer films from Canada and around the world, with the goal of
challenging attitudes and changing lives.
May 23 to June 2, various venues
CONTACT Photography Festival
The largest photography festival in the world, CONTACT brings photography from all over the globe to Toronto for the whole month of May. The work is shown in spaces ranging from major public museums to private galleries, and uses billboards and the facades of buildings to showcase brilliance.
May 1 to 31, various locations
Toronto Comic Arts Festival
Taking place at the Toronto Reference Library and other venues in the Bloor/Yonge neighbourhood, the Toronto Comic Arts Festival is a celebration of comics and graphic novels and their creators. It includes a two-day exhibition and vendor fair featuring hundreds of comic creators from around the world.
May 11 and 12, Yonge and Bloor
If you enjoyed this article we’d love you to share it!
Things To Do by Interest
Breakfast + Lunch Dinner Drinks Like a Local Shopping Shows Sports The Best Things To Do
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Implications of a 10-Minute Phone Call
DU professor explains significance of Trump’s call with Taiwan
Since becoming president-elect last month, Donald Trump has received calls from leaders all over the world. However, it’s his 10-minute phone call with the president of Taiwan on Dec 2 that everyone is now talking about.
“Many people see this as Trump breaking away from the diplomatic practices of the past 37 years, and they see that as a major change in policy,” says Sam Zhao, professor at DU’s Josef Korbel School of International Studies and director of the Center for China-U.S. Cooperation.
Since 1979, no U.S. president or president-elect has spoken directly with a Taiwanese president. That’s when the U.S. agreed to begin diplomatic relations with China and break off formal ties with Taiwan, a democratic island that China has long considered its own.
Over the last four decades, the U.S. has been a trade partner and weapons vendor to Taiwan. The question now is how will China react to any diplomatic changes between the U.S. and Taiwan.
Prof. Sam Zhao
“Many people in the U.S. and in Taiwan want to promote Taiwan’s democracy as evidence that it should be recognized and that the U.S. should have a good relationship with Taiwan despite China’s opposition,” Zhao says. “But in the real world, we cannot get what we want. If Taiwan pursues what it wants without considering consequences from China, then Taiwan will suffer.”
Zhao says he is surprised that China has remained low key and not issued any major protests. For now, China is placing the blame for the phone call on Taiwan, saying it was a “small trick.” However, Zhao says it takes two parties for a 10-minute phone conversation.
“At this moment, I don’t know how much Trump understands the complexity of this issue,” Zhao says. “He just goes by his gut, believing that this is the right thing to do. Yes, it is the right thing to do, but what are the consequences?”
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Lens Recommendation, Lens Review
Best lenses for the Canon EOS-1D X: Best primes and zooms
Posted on June 24, 2014 September 12, 2017 by Kevin Carter
Introduced in late 2011, the 18-Mpix EOS-1D X was a direct replacement for the 16-Mpix APS-H format EOS-1D Mk IV, and somewhat surprisingly, was the first full-frame model from Canon aimed at sports and press photographers.
It maintains the familiar design and control placement of the EOS-1D models but allows continuous shooting at up to 12 fps and has a completely new AF system. Although the Canon EOS 5D Mk III shares a similar 61 point AF module (with 41-cross type sensors) it lacks the power of an additional Digic 4 processor linking it to the RGB AE sensor in the viewfinder of the EOS-1D X to provide additional subject tracking.
Other professional level features include a large, high magnification viewfinder with approximately 100-percent coverage, 30 sec – 1/8000 sec shutter speed range with 1/250th X-sync, WiFi terminal and built-in RJ-45 (gigabyte ethernet) port and a weather sealed body. The EOS-1 D X also features extensive video features including 1920×1080 (30, 25, 24 fps) capture with a choice of recording formats, and has a powerful battery capable of 1020 shots per charge.
We’ve put the camera through its paces with over 130 different lens models from both Canon and third-party makers, ranging from the uniquely wide Canon EF 14mm f2.8L II through to the new yet equally extreme Zeiss Otus 1,4/55 and on up to the new and full-frame EF 600mm f/4 IS II USM and EF 200-400mm f/4 IS USM Extender 1.4x models.
Some of the more recent introductions analyzed by DxOMark include:
Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4x (extender on and off)
Canon EF 35mm f/2 IS USM
Sigma 35mm f1.4 DG HSM Art
Zeiss Otus 1,4/55
Best performing primes on Canon EOS-1D X
Zeiss has seen extraordinary success with their new Distagon-type T* Otus 1,4/55 and it performs exceptionally well on the Canon EOS-1D X. It’s rare to see an ultra-high speed lens like this that’s sharp out to the corners at the initial aperture – even Sigma’s highly regarded autofocus Art-line 50mm f1.4 DG HSM ranked in joint third place can’t match it – not at least till f2.
Carl Zeiss Distagon T* Otus 1.4/55 ZE Canon 3999 37 17
Carl Zeiss Apo Sonnar T* 2/135 ZE Canon 1600 36 18
Sigma 85mm F1.4 EX DG HSM Canon 969 34 17
Sigma 50mm F1.4 DG HSM A Canon 949 34 17
Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM 6599 31 18
Canon EF 35mm f/2 IS USM 850 31 16
Canon EF 100mm f/2 USM 440 31 15
Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T 100mm f/2 ZE Canon 1840 30 17
Canon EF 135mm f/2L USM 1070 30 17
Canon EF 85mm F1.2L USM 1599 30 17
Canon EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM 1550 30 16
Samyang 24mm f/1.4 ED AS UMC Canon 600 30 12
Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS II USM 10499 29 17
Carl Zeiss Distagon T 35mm f/2 ZE Canon 1030 29 15
Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L USM 1420 29 14
Samyang 85mm f/1.4 Aspherique IF Canon 285 29 13
Canon EF 24mm f/2.8 IS USM 800 28 16
Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T 50mm f/2 ZE Canon 1280 28 15
Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM 249 28 15
Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM 379 27 16
Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM 969 27 16
Carl Zeiss Planar T 85mm f/1.4 ZE Canon 1280 27 15
Sigma 70mm F2.8 EX DG Macro Canon 499 27 15
Samyang 35mm F1.4 AS UMC Canon 599 27 12
Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM 6000 26 17
It’s the best performer of all the EF mount lenses that we’ve seen. Peak sharpness is very good indeed but the Zeiss Apo Sonnar T* 2/135 is marginally sharper across the field at f2.8-5.6, and accounts for the maximum 18P-Mpix score.
In joint third place with the Sigma Art line 50mm is the firm’s 85mm f1.4 EX DG HSM. Both models perform to a similar level and at $949-969 are considerably more affordable than the Zeiss pair. Sigma’s Art line 35mm f1.4 comes in fourth place, narrowly behind the 50mm but several places in front of Canon’s aging but still widely respected 35mm f1.4L in joint 7th place.
Canon’s recently revamped stabilized 35mm f2 and film-era 100mm f2 achieve good scores at reasonable prices and the maker’s legendary 135mm f2L, 85mm f1.2L and 24mm f1.4L all perform exceptionally well, and have similar peak sharpness levels to the best performers, though they don’t have the uniformity at and close to the initial aperture.
Best performing standard primes on Canon EOS-1D X
Although designed for digital bodies, the Canon 50mm f1.2L is the oldest of the ultra-high speed 50mm models and with just 8 elements against the Zeiss’ 12 and the Sigma’s 13 elements it doesn’t test particularly well compared to the newcomers.
Don’t let that put you off though as it has a very attractive drawing style, even if it has quite high levels of CA and can’t quite match the sharpness of the Otus 1,4/55 and the new Sigma 50mm f1.4 and wider and mid-apertures. Stopped down the Canon performs very well in terms of sharpness, but peak levels are some way behind the newer models.
Both the Zeiss and Sigma excel throughout the aperture range, particularly at and close to the initial aperture.
Best performing wide-angle lenses on Canon EOS-1D X
Although the Samyang achieves the DxOMark score as the Canon EF 24mm f1.4L for its overall optical quality the Canon is sharper from the initial aperture and it’s superbly corrected for distortion which has added to the price substantially.
And lets not forget the Canon has autofocus and meters at full aperture, whereas you have to meter with the lens stopped down with the Samyang, in EF mount at least. Still the two models are impressive overall.
The stabilized Canon EF 24mm f2.8 IS USM has similar peak sharpness levels as the L-series model and is lighter, smaller and more accessibly priced though obviously that comes at the expensive of ‘brightness’ – nevertheless the built-in stabilizer will appeal to both stills and video users.
Full aperture performance is impressive with all three models.
Best performing moderate wide-angle lenses on Canon EOS-1D X
35mm wide-angle lenses remain popular, and Sigma’s new Art-line model is the best performer but it’s perhaps not so acutely obvious in the test results on the EOS-1D X. Both the new stabilized 35mm f2 and film-era 35mm f1.4L still perform very well indeed. The revamped f2 model even has the same measured peak sharpness as the Sigma. Both models draw slightly differently, but the appeal is subjective – neither are likely to disappoint in sharpness or uniformity.
The older f1.4 model has a unique drawing still even if the peak sharpness can’t quite match that the newer designs. It also has high levels of chromatic aberration, but in truth all three are solid performers.
Although the Sigma is the best 35mm optically, the two current Canon models aren’t far behind.
Best performing short telephoto on Canon EOS-1D X
Without doubt the best performing short telephoto is the Zeiss Apo Sonnar T* 2/135 with a DxOMark score of 33 points and an outstanding peak sharpness of 18P-Mpix. Optimum performance is at f2.8-4, but this lens is phenomenally sharp at full-aperture. The only negative point, apart from the price, is the lack of autofocus and that is arguable.
Canon users have a extremely wide range of options though, including the EF 135mm f2.0L which has blazingly fast AF and is no slouch optically. We’ve included the Sigma 85mm f1.4 in this comparison for its high DxOMark score and is one of the best performing models of any focal length. In overall performance it’s not far behind the Zeiss 2/135 and is a far better performer than the equivalent Zeiss 1,4/85 offering –particularly at full aperture where the latter is rather weak. Canon’s own EF 100mm f2 is a solid performer, but at this level the EF 85mm f1.2L II is more in keeping – it has similar sharpness to the Sigma at full aperture, which is no mean feat at f1.2, although peak performance is achieved at f5.6.
The Zeiss is outstanding at full aperture but both the Sigma and Canon perform excedingin well.
Best performing zooms on Canon EOS-1D X
The best performing zoom lens on the Canon EOS-1D X in our database is the recently revamped Sigma 120-300mm f2.8 DG OSM HSM S with a DxOMark lens score of 28 and peak sharpness of 16P-Mpix – though bear in mind optimum performance is at the shorter end and so the score isn’t directly comparable to the new Canon 300mm f2.8 model at 18P-Mpix.
Sigma 120-300mm F2.8 DG OS HSM S Canon 3599 28 16
Tamron SP 70-200mm F/2.8 Di VC USD Canon 1699 27 17
Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM 2299 27 15
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM 2499 26 17
Tamron SP 24-70mm F2.8 Di VC USD Canon 1299 26 15
Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4x 11800 24 17
Sigma 24-105mm F4 DG OS HSM A Canon 899 24 15
Canon EF 28-70mm f/2.8L USM 1269 24 14
Tamron SP AF 70-200mm F/2.8 Di LD (IF) MACRO Canon 770 23 15
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM 1300 23 14
Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM 1210 22 15
Tokina AT-X 16-28 F2.8 PRO FX Canon 849 22 15
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM 1695 22 14
Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 IF EX DG HSM Canon 899 21 15
Canon EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM 1500 21 14
Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 EX DG APO HSM Canon 880 21 13
Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM 1599 21 13
Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM 780 21 13
Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 EX DG APO Macro HSM II Canon 949 21 12
Tamron SP AF 28-75mm F/2.8 XR Di LD Aspherical [IF] Canon 499 20 15
Canon EF 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 USM 249 19 11
Sigma 17-35mm F2.8-4 EX DG Aspherical HSM Canon 350 19 10
Sigma 17-35mm F2.8-4 EX Aspherical HSM Canon 700 19 10
Canon EF 20-35mm f/3.5-4.5 USM 299 18 12
Tamron SP 70-300mm F/4-5.6 Di VC USD Canon 449 18 11
Sigma 120-400mm F4.5-5.6 DG APO OS HSM Canon 999 17 12
In second place is Tamron’s new stabilized SP-70-200mm f2.8 Di VC USD. At $1699 it’s considerably less pricey than the latest Canon EF 70-200mm f2.8L model which saw an increase in build and durability along with the addition of fluorite in the optical formula.
That is ranked in joint third place with the firm’s revised 24-70mm f2.8L II USM. Although a high watermark in standard zooms (the best performer of its type) the Tamron SP 24-70mm f2.8 Di VC USD is very good optically, even if it can’t quite match the Canon for uniformity.
Best wide zooms on the Canon EOS-1D X
While the choice of wide-angle zoom models is a bit limited Canon users can boast of two good L-series models and the often over-looked Tokina AT-X 16-28 f2.8 Pro FX. Although a big heavy lens and with a somewhat limited range it is a good performer – indeed it’s the best wide-zoom in our database on the EOS-1DX, albeit by a narrow margin. Despite being the most modern of the three performance at full-aperture is a little lack-lustre at the wider-end. In contrast it’s the wider-end where the two Canon models perform strongest, although they perform well when stopped down at least centrally, the edges are weak at most apertures – the 16-35mm f2.8L II more so than the 17-40mm.
Performance at the shorter focal lengths can’t quite match the two Canon models, but overall the Tokina is the best optically of three albeit only just.
In part II we’ll be looking at the best performing lenses for sports and action on the EOS-1DX.
If you have a Canon EOS-1D X and a favorite lens, we would very much like to hear from you. Please leave a comment below, stating what lens it is and why you like it.
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Home > Passive Components > Oscillators, Crystals, Saw Filters
This article was posted on 08/02/2011
TCXO vs. OCXO
Gain a better understanding on the differences between these two popular crystal oscillators
BY JEFFREY BAUSCH
A crystal oscillator is an electronic oscillator circuit that uses the mechanical reverberation of a vibrating crystal (typically a quartz crystal) to create an electrical signal with precise frequency. It is often used for stabilization applications, to help keep track of time, and to provide a stable clock signal for digital integrated circuits.
Environmental factors such as humidity, pressure, vibration and in particular, temperature, affect the precision of the crystal oscillator’s frequency. To limit their level of influence, modified crystal oscillators are offered. Two popular versions are the temperature-compensated crystal oscillator (TCXO — “XO” is the old acronym for “crystal oscillator”) and oven-controlled crystal oscillator (OCXO). Both offer excellent short-term stability, with limitations coming mostly from the electronic components that are included in the oscillator circuits, and affects brought on by aging of the crystal.
TCXO: A smart, affordable solution
TCXOs are used to provide a higher level of temperature stability than the standard crystal oscillator (XO). Power consumption is greater with the TCXO and the cost is more, too, but these matters are inconsequential when you consider the fact that it effectively addresses the aforementioned environmental factors, and delivers a much more reliable signal than a normal XO.
Due to their higher level of performance, you are likely to find TCXOs in many of today’s smart phones, GPS devices and other base station applications.
TCXOs use an element known as a voltage-controlled crystal oscillator (VCXO). Included is a temperature sensor that — when the temperature changes — will apply a small correct voltage to a varactor, which then produces a frequency that is equal and opposite to the change in frequency produced by the temperature. This counterbalance-based circuitry allows the TCXO to continue to provide a stable frequency without being influenced by environmental factors.
TCXOs require a short warm-up period (normally 100ms, or sometimes longer depending on the unit’s design). The warm-up allows all of the components to reach thermal equilibrium and ensures that the device delivers a precise signal. Those worried about power consumption will be pleased to hear that power used during this stage is for the most part, nominal.
To remove the affects of an aging crystal, TCXOs come with an external adjustment that enables the frequency to be reset periodically. Time between these calibration adjustments varies based upon the level of accuracy required, but average recommendations are every six months to a year. Shorter periods can be used if higher levels of accuracy are necessary.
It should be noted that making any other form of adjustment to the mechanical tuning of the TCXO (other than that which is approved by the manufacturer) can change the electrical tuning sensitivity in the TCXO’s design which, in turn, will cause it to under- or over-correct. Applying temperature compensation can be problematic, too, because the temperature coefficient of the crystal changes with temperature. These changes won’t be linear and will only result in complicating the design of the total compensation network.
OCXO: Higher price and bigger footprint, but a much better performance
OCXOs work on the theory that if you heat the crystal beyond a temperature which it would normally encounter in the working environment, then the temperature of the crystal can be maintained at a constant level (normally around 158–176°F, or 70–80°C), thus resulting in a far greater degree of frequency stability. This version of crystal oscillator is typically used with tasks that require precise frequency, such as controlling radio transmitter frequency, cellular base stations and military communications equipment.
To ensure that that it is optimized for a higher internal operating temperature, the crystal used in an OCXO is typically made from a special cut (AT- or SC-cut). The “oven” that is used is a thermally-insulated enclosure that contains the crystal as well as the oscillator assembly, buffering circuitry and supply voltage regulation. A thermistor temperature sensor is used to control the power of the heater and ensure that a precise temperature within the oven is maintained constantly.
While having a precisely regulated, temperature controlled environment all but guarantees top tier performance of the crystal, one should keep in mind that having everything together in an enclosed oven-like unit means that an OCXO is physically larger than a TCXO. As such, it cannot be used in many of the TCXO-appropriate miniature applications.
A longer warm-up period is required when using an OCXO because the oven will only begin to operate once it hits a precise temperature (some OCXO heaters actually require about an Amp of power during this time). Additionally, the on-going heat supply that the “oven” is maintained at requires a considerable amount of power, too. Such a high level of power consumption means that an OCXO cannot be run solely on batteries.
As with the TCXO, periodic calibrations are required every six months to a year. This is largely dependent upon the device’s design and requirements of the application for which it’s being used.
A summary of figures that both devices have to offer:
*Figures courtesy of "Tutorial Precision Frequency Generation Utilizing OCXO and Rubidium Atomic Standards with Applications for Commercial, Space, Military, and Challenging Environments IEEE Long Island Chapter March 18, 2004."
TCXOs are smaller and more economical than OCXOs. They are a terrific solution for portable units that necessitate a reasonably accurate source.
OCXOs, on the other hand, might be more expensive and come with a larger footprint, but the precision of their frequency signal can’t be beat. ■
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Research and Journals - Press Info - Press Releases
Children with Higher Intelligence Less Likely to Report Chronic Widespread Pain in Adulthood
New Study Tracked Nearly 7000 Men and Women from Age 11 to 45, Reports PAIN®
Philadelphia, PA, November 29, 2012 – A UK-based study team has determined that there is a correlation between childhood intelligence and chronic widespread pain (CWP) in adulthood, according to a new study published in the December issue of PAIN®. About 10-15 percent of adults report CWP, a common musculoskeletal complaint that tends to occur more frequently among women and those from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds. CWP is a core symptom of fibromyalgia and is one of the most common reasons for consulting a rheumatologist.
“One psychological factor that could potentially be a risk factor for CWP in adult life is lower cognitive ability in youth,” says lead researcher Dr Catharine R. Gale, MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, UK, and Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK. “Our hypotheses were that men and women who scored lower on the test of intelligence in childhood would have an increased risk of CWP in midlife and that some of this association would be mediated through socioeconomic status, mental health, or lifestyle factors in adulthood.”
The investigators used data from the National Child Development Survey, an ongoing cohort study originally based on over 17,000 live births in Great Britain during one week in 1958. When cohort members were aged 11 years, they completed a test of intelligence. At the age of 45 years, 6902 cohort members took part in a biomedical survey during which they completed a questionnaire to assess the presence of chronic widespread pain (CWP).
CWP was found among 14.4 percent of the participants. Men and women with CWP scored significantly lower on the test of intelligence at age 11. They were also more likely to have manual jobs, to be a current or ex-smoker, to have a higher body mass index, and to report higher levels of psychological distress.
The study concluded that men and women with lower intelligence at age 11 are more likely to report CWP.
Says Gale, “To our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the prospective relation between intelligence and CWP. Our results show that individuals with higher intelligence in childhood are less likely as adults to develop this common and disabling condition. We now need to understand the mechanisms causing this association.”
In a commentary accompanying the article, Eva M. Kingma and Judith G.M. Rosmalen of the Interdisciplinary Center Psychopathology and Emotion Regulation University Medical Center Groningen, The Netherlands say: “Although an association between chronic pain and cognitive ability has been shown before, the Gale et al. report is the first longitudinal study in a large general population cohort. Two important characteristics stand out in their study. First, its longitudinal design enabled the researchers to study causal direction as well as interesting explanatory mechanisms in the association between intelligence and pain. Second, the study used a population-based design, which contrasts with many previous etiological studies that compared patients to healthy controls. This approach is especially relevant because CWP is much more prevalent than clinical data on fibromyalgia suggest.
“Intelligence in childhood and chronic widespread pain in middle age: The National Child Development Survey,” by Catharine R. Gale, Ian J. Deary, Cyrus Cooper, G. David Batty (DOI: 10.1016/j.pain.2012.07.027).
“The power of longitudinal population-based studies for investigating the etiology of chronic widespread pain,” by E.M. Kingma and J.G.M. Rosmalen (DOI: 10.1016/j.pain.2012.09.001).
They appear in PAIN, Volume 153, Issue 12 (December 2012) published by Elsevier.
Full text of the articles is available to credentialed journalists upon request. Contact Christine Rullo at +1 215 239 3709 or painmedia@elsevier.com for copies. Journalists wishing to set up interviews should contact Dr Catharine Gale at +44 2380 764080 or +44 131 650 3348 and via email at crg@mrc.soton.ac.uk.
The University of Edinburgh Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Epidemiology (CCACE; www.ccace.ed.ac.uk) is funded by the Lifelong Health and Wellbeing programme, a collaboration between the UK’s Research Councils and Health Departments which is led by the MRC (www.mrc.ac.uk/LLHW).
About PAIN®
PAIN®, the official journal of the International Association for the Study of Pain® (IASP®), publishes 12 issues per year of original research on the nature, mechanisms, and treatment of pain. This peer-reviewed journal provides a forum for the dissemination of research in the basic and clinical sciences of multidisciplinary interest and is cited in Current Contents and MEDLINE. It is ranked 1st out of the 28 journals in the Anesthesiology category according to the 2011 Journal Citation Reports published by Thomson Reuters. www.painjournalonline.com
About The International Association for the Study of PAIN® (IASP®)
Founded in 1973, IASP® is the world's largest multidisciplinary organization focused specifically on pain research and treatment. It is the leading professional forum for science, practice, and education in the field of pain bringing together scientists, clinicians, health care providers, and policy makers to stimulate and support the study of pain and to translate that knowledge into improved pain relief worldwide. IASP currently has more than 7500 members from 130 countries and in 87 chapters. www.iasp-pain.org
Christine Rullo
painmedia@elsevier.com
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The Historic Landscape of the Mendip Hills
A chronological look at the historic landscape of the Mendip Hills
Explores both archaeological and architectural features in the landscape
Richly illustrated with photographs, maps, plans and reconstruction drawings
When travelling north-east across the Somerset Levels and Moors the eye is drawn to the dark mass of the Mendip Hills, a Carboniferous Limestoneridge which rises abruptly from the flatness of its surroundings. The spectacular chasm of Cheddar Gorge slices through the southern escarpment,the rock-cut recesses within bearing witness to thousands of years of human activity.
Bringing together a wide variety of new and past research, The Historic Landscape of the Mendip Hills explores the archaeology and architecture of this remarkable corner of England, beginning with evidence for the first hunting groups who passed through the region over half a million years ago. Succeeding generations have left their mark on the Hills, from the enigmatic ceremonial structures of the Neolithic and Early Bronze Age, to the ancient farming landscapes and brooding hill forts of the later prehistoric period. Field archaeology, combined with architectural and historical enquiry, has also allowed a complex narrative to be constructed for more recent periods of history. This is a story dominated by adaptation and change, evidenced by the developing architecture of manorial centres and the shadowy remains of earlier structures fossilised within village houses, or by flights of abandoned terraces of former strip fields and the unassuming ruins of farmsteads which bear testament to the people who once worked and occupied the land.
Richly illustrated with photographs, maps, detailed plans and reconstruction drawings, this volume presents a synthesis of the results of recentfieldwork undertaken by English Heritage and traces this region’s remarkable past, revealing ways in which it has shaped the landscape we see and value today.
Elaine Jamieson is an Investigator at English Heritage.
1. The Mendip Hills landscape
2. The Palaeolithic and Mesolithic
3. The Neolithic and Early Bronze Age
4. The later prehistoric period
5. The Romano-British and early medieval periods
6. The later medieval period
7. The post-medieval period
8. The 20th century and beyond
Size: 276x219mm Hardback
Author: Elaine Jamieson
Hillforts
Stonehenge in its Landscape
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In the context of the ongoing discussion regarding the publication of financial results according to International Accounting Standards (IAS) by companies listed on the Athens Stock Exchange (ASE), EFG Eurobank Ergasias notes that the Bank has been preparing its financial statements according to IAS since 1991, while since 2001the Bank has been publishing its financial statements simultaneously both under Greek GAAP and IAS on a quarterly basis.
This policy is based on the conviction that International Accounting Standards:
depict a full picture of the financial position of the Group as a whole
imposed a fair valuation of all assets and liabilities,
are in line with international best practice,
allow for comparisons with other financial institutions world - wide. The commitment of EFG Eurobank Ergasias in IAS reporting in the past few years, stems from the emphasis that the Bank places on sound corporate governance and, in particular, on the transparency of its financial results and on the dissemination of accurate information to the investment community, with the ultimate aim of safeguarding the interests of all its shareholders. Key highlights of the results of EFG Eurobank Ergasias in 2001, according to IAS were as follows:
Group net profit after tax and minorities amounted to € 206 million, increased by 3% compared to 2000,
Group shareholders equity amounted to € 2 billion. This amount is clean of goodwill from mergers and was burdened by the share buy back programme, which however does enhance shareholder value.
Group net profit according to Greek GAAP amounted to € 201 million, differing marginally from the figure reported under IAS (€ 206 million).Respectively, in the 1Q 2002 results announced on 25 April 2002, reported Group net profit after tax and minorities according to IAS was € 67 million, down 21.8% compared to 1Q 2001, while according to Greek GAAP, Group net profit amounted to € 61 million. As reported at the time, the comparative decline in profitability on a yearly basis was related to the non-repetition of the one – off extraordinary profit of € 22 million from the long – term lease of King George Hotel included in the 1Q 2001 results. EFG EUROBANK ERGASIAS GROUP NET PROFIT AFTER TAX AND MINORITIES
(in € million)
2001 1Q 2002
IAS 206 67
Greek GAAP 201 61
EFG Eurobank Ergasias plans to publish interim results for the first half of 2002 on August 7, 2002, both according to IAS and Greek GAAP. Initial estimates indicate that a smaller decline in profitability is expected in 1H 2002 over 1H 2001, as contrary to 1Q 2002, profits in the second quarter of 2002 are improved compared to the second quarter of 2001.
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Thunder crown Kings by 15
OKLAHOMA CITY — Kevin Durant tallied 30 points and nine assists to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 108-93 win over the Sacramento Kings from Chesapeake Energy Arena.
Durant shot 10-of-15 from the floor and added six rebounds and four steals as an encore to his career-best 54 points in Friday’s win over Golden State.
The 25-year-old has picked up his play of late with Russell Westbrook sidelined, averaging a league-high 36.1 points in the month of January.
Serge Ibaka donated 20 points in the Thunder’s third straight victory. Reggie Jackson scored 16 points while Thabo Sefolosha, Nick Collison and Jeremy Lamb all had 10.
The loss spoiled a career-high 38 points by Isaiah Thomas, who hit 12-of-13 from the stripe in the setback. DeMarcus Cousins added 16 points and 14 rebounds as the Kings fell to 1-3 on their current six-game road trip.
San Antonio 110, Milwaukee 82
SAN ANTONIO — Patty Mills had 20 points and seven assists as the San Antonio Spurs defeated the Milwaukee Bucks, 110-82, on Sunday. Tim Duncan added 11 points and 13 rebounds for the Spurs, who have won seven of their last eight games.
Marco Belinelli netted 14 points and Kawhi Leonard chipped in with 11 points and five boards in the triumph. The Spurs shot 56.6 percent from the field, sunk 11-of-18 from beyond the arc and outrebounded the Bucks, 55-37.
They limited Milwaukee to a 37.5 percent (33- of-88) clip from the field. Brandon Knight netted 21 points for Milwaukee, which has dropped nine in a row. John Henson registered 10 points and 11 rebounds in defeat.
Phoenix 117, Denver 103
PHOENIX — Channing Frye erupted for a season-high 30 points in the Phoenix Suns’ 117-103 win over the Denver Nuggets from US Airways Center. Frye shot 12-of-16 from the field, including 5-of-7 from beyond the arc, while falling just three points shy of his career-high, set in 2011.
Markieff Morris and Goran Dragic netted 16 and 15 points, respectfully, in the Suns’ third straight victory over Denver. Leandro Barbosa added 13 points off the bench. Anthony Randolph paced the Nuggets with a season-high 19 points while Ty Lawson, Wilson Chandler and Evan Fournier all notched 17 points. Lawson also handed out 14 assists in the setback.
LA Lakers 112, Toronto 106
TORONTO, Ontario — Nick Young scored 15 of his game-high 29 points in the fourth quarter to help the Los Angeles Lakers escape Air Canada Centre with a 112-106 comeback victory over the Toronto Raptors.
Toronto was poised to sweep the two-game season series for the first time in franchise history, as they led by as many as 19 points in the second quarter and held a 17-point cushion in the third.
Young and a balanced Lakers attack, however, rallied to post back-to-back wins for the first time since mid-December. Pau Gasol finished with 22 points and nine rebounds, Ryan Kelly added 17 points and Kendall Marshall netted 10 with 11 assists for the victors. DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry scored 23 and 21 points, respectively, for the Atlantic Division-leading Raptors, who had won four of five coming in and were riding a six-game home winning streak.
Orlando 93, Boston 91
ORLANDO, Fla. — Tobias Harris hit two free throws with 10.1 seconds left and the Orlando Magic snapped a 10-game losing streak with a 93-91 win over the Boston Celtics on Sunday at Amway Center.
With the game tied 91 apiece and under 30 seconds left, Jameer Nelson missed a 3-pointer, but Kris Humphries was called for a loose ball foul on Harris, who calmly sank two from the charity stripe for the game’s final points.
Arron Afflalo had 20 points, 13 rebounds and six assists, while Harris scored 18 with seven boards for the Magic, who picked up their first win of 2014.
Glen Davis added 17 points and seven rebounds, with Nelson netting 16 points and handing out 10 assists in the victory. Jeff Green poured in 22 points, while Avery Bradley and Humphries scored 18 apiece for Boston, which has lost 11 of its last 12.
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The Dravida Temple Style
Unlike the nagaratemple, the dravidatemple is enclosed within a compound wall.
The front wall has an entrance gateway in its centre, which is known as a gopuram.
The shape of the main temple tower known as vimanain Tamil Nadu is like a stepped pyramid that rises up geometrically rather than the curving shikharaof North India.
In the South Indian temple, the word ‘shikhara’is used only for the crowning element at the top of the temple which is usually shaped like a small stupikaor an octagonal cupola— this is equivalent to the amlak and kalasha of North Indian temples.
Whereas at the entrance to the North Indian temple’s garbhagriha, it would be usual to find images such as mithunas and the river goddesses, Ganga and Yamuna, in the south you will generally find sculptures of fierce dvarapalas or the door-keepers guarding the temple.
It is common to find a large water reservoir, or a temple tank, enclosed within the complex.
Subsidiary shrines are either incorporated within the main temple tower, or located as distinct, separate small shrines beside the main temple.
The North Indian idea of multiple shikharas rising together as a cluster was not popular in South India.
At some of the most sacred temples in South India, the main temple in which the garbhagrihais situated has, in fact, one of the smallest towers.
This is because it is usually the oldest part of the temple.
With the passage of time, the population and size of the town associated with that temple would have increased, and it would have become necessary to make a new boundary wall around the temple.
This would have been taller that the last one, and its gopuramswould have been even loftier.
So, for instance, the Srirangam temple in Tiruchirapally has as many as seven ‘concentric’ rectangular enclosure walls, each with gopurams.
The outermost is the newest, while the tower right in the centre housing the garbhagrihais the oldest.
Temples thus started becoming the focus of urban architecture.
Kanchipuram, Thanjavur or Tanjore, Madurai and Kumbakonam are the most famous temple towns of Tamil Nadu, where, during the eighth to twelfth centuries, the role of the temple was not limited to religious matters alone. Temples became rich administrative centres, controlling vast areas of land. Just as there are many subdivisions of the main types of nagaratemples, there are subdivisions also of dravida temples.
Image of Dravida Temple Style
These are basically of five different shapes: square, usually called kuta, and also caturasra; rectangular or shala or ayatasra; elliptical, called gaja-prishtaor elephantbacked, or also called vrittayata, deriving from wagon vaulted shapes of apsidal chaityaswith a horse-shoe shaped entrance facade usually called a nasi; circular or vritta; and octagonal or ashtasra.
Generally speaking, the plan of the temple and the shape of the vimanawere conditioned by the iconographic nature of the consecrated deity, so it was appropriate to build specific types of temples for specific types of icons.
It must, however, be remembered that this is a simplistic differentiation of the subdivisions.
Several different shapes may be combined in specific periods and places to create their own unique style.
The Pallavas were one of the ancient South Indian dynasties that were active in the Andhra region from the second century CE onwards and moved south to settle in Tamil Nadu.
Their history is better documented from the sixth to the eighth century, when they left many inscriptions in stone and several monuments.
Their powerful kings spread their empire to various parts of the subcontinent, at times reaching the borders of Odisha, and their links with South–East Asia were also strong.
Although they were mostly Shaivite, several Vaishnava shrines also survived from their reign, and there is no doubt that they were influenced by the long Buddhist history of the Deccan.
Their early buildings, it is generally assumed, were rockcut, while the later ones were structural.
However, there is reason to believe that structural buildings were well known even when rock-cut ones were being excavated.
The early buildings are generally attributed to the reign of Mahendravarman I, a contemporary of the Chalukyan king, Pulakesin II of Karnataka. Narasimhavarman I, also known as Mamalla, who acceded the Pallava throne around 640 CE, is celebrated for the expansion of the empire, avenging the defeat his father had suffered at the hands of Pulakesin II, and inaugurating most of the building works at Mahabalipuram which is known after him as Mamallapuram.
The shore temple at Mahabalipuram was built later, probably in the reign of Narasimhavarman II, also known as Rajasimha who reigned from 700 to 728 CE.
Now it is oriented to the east facing the ocean, but if you study it closely, you will find that it actually houses three shrines, two to Shiva, one facing east and the other west, and a middle one to Vishnu who is shown as Anantashayana.
This is unusual, because temples generally have a single main shrine and not three areas of worship.
This shows that it was probably not originally conceived like this and different shrines may have been added at different times, modified perhaps with the change of patrons.
In the compound there is evidence of a water tank, an early example of a gopuram, and several other images.
Sculptures of the bull, Nandi, Shiva’s mount, line the temple walls, and these, along with the carvings on the temple’s lower walls have suffered severe disfiguration due to erosion by salt-water laden air over the centuries.
The magnificent Shiva temple of Thanjavur, called the Rajarajeswara or Brihadiswara temple, was completed around 1009 by Rajaraja Chola, and is the largest and tallest of all Indian temples.
Temple building was prolific at this time, and over a hundred important temples of the Chola period are in a good state of preservation, and many more are still active shrines.
Bigger in scale than anything built by their predecessors, the Pallavas, Chalukyas or Pandyas, this Chola temple’s pyramidal multi-storeyed vimanarises a massive seventy metres (approximately two hundred feet), topped by a monolithic shikharawhich is an octagonal dome-shaped stupika.
It is in this temple that one notices for the first time two large gopuras (gateway towers) with an elaborate sculptural programme which was conceived along with the temple.
Huge Nandi-figures dot the corners of the shikhara, and the kalashaon top by itself is about three metres and eight centimetres in height.
Hundreds of stucco figures decorate the vimana, although it is possible that some of these may have been added on during the Maratha Period and did not always belong to the Chola Period.
The main deity of the temple is Shiva, who is shown as a huge lingamset in a two storeyed sanctum.
The walls surrounding the sanctum have extended mythological narratives which are depicted through painted murals and sculptures.
Examrace@YouTube: Indian Heritage and Culture - Dr. Manishika Jain
General Studies Study Material »
History for GS Study Material »
Indian Art & Culture Study Material »
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eSecurityPlanet > Network Security > 80 Percent of Organizations Experienced a Cyber Security Incident in 2015
80 Percent of Organizations Experienced a Cyber Security Incident in 2015
Still, 71 percent of IT pros expect their organizations to be more secure in 2016, a recent survey found.
According to the results of a recent Spiceworks survey of 197 IT professionals, 80 percent of respondents acknowledged having experienced a cyber security incident in 2015.
Fifty-one percent of respondents had experienced malware attacks in 2015, 38 percent experienced phishing attacks, and 34 percent experienced spyware attacks.
When looking ahead to the coming year, there were some disconnects between past experience and future concerns -- while 53 percent of respondents said they're concerned about ransomware in 2016, only 20 percent experienced a ransomware incident in 2015.
Similarly, while 39 percent of respondents expressed concern about data theft in 2016, only 5 percent experienced a breach resulting in data theft in 2015. And while 37 percent said they're concerned about a password breach in the coming year, only 12 percent experienced a password breach in 2015.
Fully 71 percent of respondents expect their organizations to be more secure in 2016.
"The results show that IT professionals feel responsible for the security of their organization's data, and in a world where technology is getting more complex and organizationally distributed, their jobs aren’t getting any easier," Spiceworks vice president of marketing Sanjay Castelino said in a statement.
"In reaction to these challenges, they're being more proactive about preventing security incidents and breaches by learning about new threats, regularly educating employees about risks, and investing in more advanced security solutions," Castelino added.
When asked what types of attackers they're most concerned about, 49 percent said they're concerned about independent hackers, 36 percent said rogue employees, 25 percent said organized crime groups, 12 percent said they're concerned about cyber-terrorist gropus and state-sponsored hackers, and just 10 percent said they're concerned about hacktivists.
Eighty percent of the IT professionals surveyed said end users represent the biggest challenge to their organization's cyber security.
In response to that concern, 73 percent of IT pros are enforcing end user security policies, and 72 percent regularly providing security training to employees on topics like malware and phishing scams.
Similarly, 66 percent of IT professionals are taking time to learn about new threats, and 60 percent say they regularly evalute new security solutions.
Recent eSecurity Planet articles have examined the benefits of providing security training to employees and offered advice on improving database security.
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Mapping Trans Canada Trail Adventures Online
You can download trail maps, plan activities, and share photos and stories using the Trans Canada Trail Interactive Map. You can create virtual hikes, too.
Canadians can use a new web mapping application to plan hikes, horseback rides, and other trips and post photos and stories of their adventures on the Trans Canada Trail (Trail).
Developed by Esri Canada Limited, the application at tctrail.ca/ maps a 16,800-kilometer network of interconnected trails. The Trans Canada Trail stretches from St. John’s, Newfoundland, west to Victoria, British Columbia, and north to Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories. By the time Canada celebrates its 150th anniversary of confederation in 2017, the completed Trail—built by volunteers—will total 23,000 kilometers and link more than 1,000 communities. It will be the longest multiuse recreational trail in the world.
Today, four out of five Canadians live within 30 minutes of the Trans Canada Trail, and tens of thousands get out on the trail network to stay fit, see the wildlife, and visit historic sites and scenic areas. The online mapping application from Esri Canada contains interactive features that can help them plan runs, hikes, bike trips, horseback and snowmobile rides, and cross-country ski trips.
Click on a portion of the Trail to get detailed information about that segment.
For example, users can create a route for an organized five-kilometer walk by placing pins on the points of the Trail where they want the walk to begin and end. In a pop-up window, they also can add the date, time, and a short description of the event. Alternatively, they can create a story about a trip they took on the Trail such as a snowmobile ride, upload their photos, and share the adventure with other users.
The application also lets people click on any segment of the Trail to get details such as its name; length in kilometers; and the recreational activities allowed such as hiking, cross-country skiing, horseback riding, and snowmobiling.
Interested in paddling a water trail? Check off canoeing from a list of activities, and only water trails will appear in yellow such as Path of the Paddle in Quetico Provincial Park in Ontario.
Esri Canada donated the app to honor its commitment as a member of Chapter 150, a circle of visionary and philanthropic business leaders that have joined forces to support the Trail’s development.
“Building the Trans Canada Trail is a significant achievement for Canada, and we’re proud to be part of this historic journey,” said Alex Miller, president, Esri Canada. “In the same way that the trail connects Canadians, our purpose for creating this web map is to give them a collaborative platform to connect through their trail experiences and help preserve our national heritage.”
Exploring the Great Outdoors, Virtually
By creating a free account, users can explore sections of the Trail to plan their next outing. The mapping application lets them select an activity such as horseback riding, canoeing, or snowmobiling; choose an environment such as urban, rural, or wilderness; and pick a surface such as paved, gravel, dirt, or water. Doing that brings up corresponding sections of the Trail.
You can type in the number of steps or kilometers you have walked on the Trail.
Available in both French and English, the app provides detailed, historical information on featured trails across the country. For example, the Cowichan Valley Trail on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, crosses a 187-meter-long repurposed rail trestle that was originally built in 1920. As one of the largest timber bridges in the world, the trestle offers a spectacular recreational route for hikers, runners, cyclists, cross-country skiers, and horseback riders.
In Whitehorse, Yukon, the Whitehorse Copper Trail is the main line of the Trans Canada Trail, running through a copper belt last mined in the 1970s. The Trail connects many of the major multiuse trail areas in and around the city and provides a paved surface that’s ideal for walking, hiking, and cycling.
In Nova Scotia, the Salt Marsh Trail is part of an abandoned railroad that was transformed into part of the Trans Canada Trail. It provides an urban/rural adventure for hikers and cyclists alike and is especially popular with Nordic skiers in the winter. Paddlers can also be spotted during the warmer months.
“This online map makes the Trans Canada Trail accessible to Canadians and our many international visitors,” said Deborah Apps, president and chief executive officer, Trans Canada Trail. “Before venturing out, they can use the map to choose the best Trail section for the activity they have in mind. Or, if they are visiting a new part of the country, they can locate the section closest to them. The interactive aspect of the online map also lets Canadians share their experiences; our map is one more way that the Trans Canada Trail connects Canadians from coast to coast to coast.”
The interactive map displays the locations of cultural sites such as museums, historical buildings, visitor centers, and accommodations.
Robust Features, Intuitive Functionality
In addition to locating sections of the Trail by activity, environment, or surface, users can search by nearest address or section name. They also can find visitor centers and places to stay and view the local temperatures. They can also walk the Trail virtually and measure distances from point to point. Once they begin their journey, users can track their progress by inputting the number of steps or kilometers traveled. Maps can be bookmarked and printed out as PDFs. KML and GPX files of trail sections can also be downloaded.
Users can choose how they view the Trail by toggling between four basemaps. One of the basemaps was generated through the Community Map of Canada Program, which includes authoritative content from more than 100 federal, provincial, and municipal governments. Satellite imagery, a hybrid map, and a light gray canvas map are also available.
“The cartography used resembles real topography, which is very intuitive for hikers and outdoor enthusiasts,” said Matt English, technology lead, Esri Canada. “We wanted to create an app that was simple to use, attractive, and clean and would mimic the actual Trail as closely as possible.”
Canoeists can follow this water route south of Thunder Bay, Ontario.
The app’s ability to integrate crowdsourced data lets users share photos and stories about their experiences on the Trail. Across Canada, users are documenting their bike rides, hikes, runs, and cross-country skiing adventures. For example, a group of senior citizens in Saskatchewan posted a story on the map, near the village of Macrorie, that said they had completed several weeks of walking the Trail, an “exciting and interesting” experience. A hiker in British Columbia reported that he had hiked up the lower part of the Trail from Caulfield, West Vancouver, and was planning a nine-kilometer hike to the Cypress ski area.
People have posted beautiful photographs on the map, including pictures of the world’s longest covered bridge in Hartland, New Brunswick, which stretches 391 meters (1,283 feet); a family of deer sloshing through a stream in Alberta; and paddlers on the South Saskatchewan River.
By integrating the mapping app with social media (such as Twitter, Facebook, and Flickr), hikers, Trail sponsors, and donors can submit comments and share photos of their experiences, which can then be accessed directly on the map.
You can use the interactive map to notify people of planned hikes and other events on the Trail.
The app was developed using ArcGIS for Desktop, ArcGIS for Server, and ArcGIS API for JavaScript. Esri Canada used ArcGIS for Desktop to create and maintain trail data in a geodatabase and then published the data to the web as a set of web services using ArcGIS for Server. The app consumes these services from Trans Canada Trail’s server in addition to basemap services from ArcGIS Online.
Since the Trans Canada Trail website launch in December 2011, nearly 5,500 users have created accounts to upload information to the map and use its various features. Esri Canada continues to collaborate with Trans Canada Trail staff on future enhancements for the app.
About the Trans Canada Trail
The Trans Canada Trail/sentier Transcanadien is a national nonprofit organization that supports the development and use of a national network of trails that links millions of Canadians from coast to coast to coast. Canadians and international visitors use the Trail to hike, cycle, ski, horseback ride, canoe, and snowmobile. Partnering with all levels of government, donors, and partners, the Trans Canada Trail supports the work of more than 400 local Trail organizations and thousands of volunteers across the country through Trail development grants and the promotion of their efforts to build and sustain one of the world’s longest and grandest recreational networks of trails. For more information, visit tctrail.ca.
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Louisiana to Receive $11.06 Million to Turn Around Its Persistently Lowest-Achieving Schools
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan today announced that Louisiana will receive $11.06 million to turn around its persistently lowest achieving schools through the School Improvement Grants (SIG) program. The funds are part of $546 million available to states for the School Improvement Grant program in fiscal year 2010. In fiscal year 2009, states received a total of $3.5 billion for the School Improvement Grant program.
"When a school continues to perform in the bottom five percent of the state and isn't showing signs of progress or has graduation rates below 60 percent over a number of years, something dramatic needs to be done," said Duncan. "Turning around our worst performing schools is difficult for everyone but it is critical that we show the courage to do the right thing by kids."
The $11.06 million made available to Louisiana is being distributed by formula to the state and will then be competed out by the state to school districts. Louisiana's application, which includes its list of persistently lowest-achieving schools, as defined by the state, can be found here: http://www2.ed.gov/programs/sif/summary2010/index.html.
School districts will apply to the state for the funds this spring. When a school district applies, it must indicate that it will implement one of four school intervention models in each of its persistently lowest-achieving schools for which it receives SIG funds, based on school needs:
TURNAROUND MODEL: Replace the principal, screen existing school staff, and rehire no more than half the teachers; adopt a new governance structure; and improve the school through curriculum reform, professional development, extending learning time, and other strategies.
RESTART MODEL: Convert a school or close it and re-open it as a charter school or under an education management organization.
SCHOOL CLOSURE: Close the school and send the students to higher-achieving schools in the district.
TRANSFORMATION MODEL: Replace the principal and improve the school through comprehensive curriculum reform, professional development, extending learning time, and other strategies.
Tags: LouisianaSchool Improvement GrantsRecovery ActP-12 ReformPress Releases
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Potential Immigration Changes in 2019
June 05, 2019 / Jason Finkelman
The Trump administration’s future immigration intentions were recently announced in their semi-annual Unified Agenda. The Unified Agenda lists possible regulations under development by federal agencies for the coming year. The announcement indicates the administration’s plans to impose tighter restrictions on employment-based immigration benefits, such as the H-1B, H-4, and Optional Practical Training (OPT) for F-1 students.
The agenda specifies the administration’s intent to make the following policy changes in connection with Trump’s “Buy American, Hire American” executive order:
H-1B Eligibility: Redefining what a “specialty occupation” is for H-1B visa purposes to “increase the focus on truly obtaining the best and brightest.” The proposal would also “revise the definition of employment and employer-employee relationship to better protect U.S. workers and wages.” This includes “additional requirements to ensure employers pay appropriate wages to H-1B visa holders.” The rule would also impose additional restrictions on H-1B dependent employers that rely on large H-1B workforces and those employers who have H-1B employees working off-site.
H-1B Lottery: Revising the H-1B visa lottery system to establish an electronic pre-registration program for cap-subject H-1B applicants.
H-4 Work Authorization: Elimination of the regulation that allows H-4 visa holders (spouses of H-1B visa holders) to apply for work authorization. The Trump administration has already proposed a rule to remove this Obama rule which has provided work permits to thousands of H-4 spouses.
Fee Increases: Increasing USCIS filing fees for employers and applicants filing for employment-based immigration benefits (including H-1B registration fees) and international students and U.S. universities.
Periods of Stay for F-1 Students: Limiting the maximum periods of stay for F-1 students and other nonimmigrants.
Adjustment of Status: Changing the process and procedures for foreign nationals to adjust from nonimmigrant status to lawful permanent resident status.
International Entrepreneur Rule: Eliminating President Obama’s International Entrepreneur Rule which allowed qualifying foreign startups and entrepreneurs to apply for U.S. work authorization to grow their startup and create jobs.
These announcements do not currently modify or rescind any of the above mentioned immigration programs, and any changes to immigration policy can only be accomplished through notice and comment of proposed rulemaking in the federal register. This means that individuals and companies that may be affected by potential policy changes will have an opportunity to submit comments to the government before the policy becomes effective.
As always, individuals and employers who may impacted by any of these potential changes should contact us with questions on how to best prepare.
June 05, 2019 / Jason Finkelman/ Comment
Employment, Citizenship, Entrepreneurs, Green Card, H-1B, H1B, Human Resources, Immigrant Visas, Immigration, Immigration Reform, International, Nonimmigrant Visas, Startups, Students, Travel, U.S. Immigration, Trump, Visas, Work
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Didn’t Get An H-1B Visa? Here Are Your Alternative Immigration Options.
April 17, 2019 / Jason Finkelman
U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that it reached the annual 85,000 H-1B visa cap in the first five days of April 2019. Specifically, USCIS received 201,011 H-1B cap cases (an increase from last year), which means that once again, USCIS will conduct a computer-generated lottery in the coming weeks to determine which petitions they will process. Employers who have their petitions selected in the lottery will receive a receipt notice from USCIS, and if approved, can have their employees begin working for them in H-1B status on October 1, 2019. Petitions that are not selected in the lottery will be returned to the employers with their money back.
USCIS will continue, however, to accept H-1B petitions year-round from employers who are exempt from the H-1B cap (such as universities, nonprofits affiliated with institutions of higher education, or nonprofit research organizations), as well as petitions to extend the status of those currently in H-1B status or for those in H-1B status seeking to change employers.
While no more new H-1B visas will be available for employers and foreign nationals seeking to apply in 2019, many candidates may be eligible for other alternative visa options. The following visa categories are available throughout the year, without numerical caps, for qualifying foreign nationals:
L-1 Visa: For intracompany transferees who have worked for a foreign entity for one year and are seeking to transfer to a U.S. subsidiary, affiliate, parent, or branch office in the U.S. in a managerial, executive, or specialized knowledge capacity
E-1/E-2 Visa: For international investors or traders from certain treaty countries looking to engage in substantial trade between the U.S. and their foreign country or to develop and direct the operations of an enterprise in which the foreign national has invested. The E-1/E-2 visa is a great option for foreign entrepreneurs seeking to work in an essential capacity for their U.S. entity.
O-1 Visa: For foreign nationals of extraordinary ability who have achieved national and international recognition for extraordinary achievements in their field of endeavor.
TN Visa: For Canadian and Mexican citizens employed in certain professional categories seeking to engage in U.S. employment. Examples of qualifying TN professional occupations include, but are not limited to Engineer, Accountant, Architect, Computer Systems Analyst, Geologist, Geophysicist, Graphic Designer, Management Consultant, Scientific Technician, Engineering Technicians, and many occupations in the medical and allied health field.
H-3 Visa: For foreign nationals coming to the U.S. to engage in a course of training.
E-3 Visa: For Australian citizens who will be employed in a specialty occupation in the U.S. (similar requirements to the H-1B visa).
Watch our immigration videos for additional information on these visas and to learn more about the eligibility requirements. As always, if you have questions about the H-1B visa cap or any of these work visa options, please contact our office.
April 17, 2019 / Jason Finkelman/ Comment
Employment, Entrepreneurs, Green Card, H-1B, H1B, Human Resources, Immigrant Visas, Immigration, Immigration Reform, International, Nonimmigrant Visas, Startups, Students, Travel, U.S. Immigration, Visas, Work
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A Guide For Winning The H-1B Visa Lottery
March 06, 2019 / Jason Finkelman
Starting April 1, 2019, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will begin accepting this year’s H-1B visa petitions. As in years past, if USCIS receives more than the available 85,000 H-1B visas in the first few days of April, they will use a computer-generated random lottery to select the petitions they will process. Even though the H-1B lottery selection process will change this year, based on the number of petitions received in the first few days of April last year (over 190,000) and the previous year (over 199,000), combined with the current market demand for high-skilled labor and reports of possible changes to visa programs in the future, many our anticipating that USCIS will receive over 200,000 H-1B petitions in the first few days of this April.
Accordingly, time is running out for employers to timely prepare their H-1B petitions for submission to play in this H-1B lottery on April 1st. Generally, it takes at least 10-14 days to prepare and file an H-1B petition, due to the prerequisite filing requirements of the Labor Condition Application (LCA), which takes up to 7 business days to certify. Therefore, if you are responsible for your businesses' immigration planning and processing and you have already identified your H-1B candidates, please initiate the H-1B visa process in the next two weeks to ensure it is timely filed.
In spite of recent reports of proposed changes to the H-1B work visa program by the Trump administration, the H-1B filing process and procedures will remain largely the same as it has in previous years. Nevertheless, as indicated by the massive increase of Requests for Evidence (RFE) and denials of H-1B petitions issued by USCIS over the past year, employers and foreign nationals should be prepared to evidence the following, in order to increase their chances of getting their visa petitions approved:
Document the specific scope and educational requirements for the position to show that the position is one which requires a Bachelor’s degree as a minimum to enter the occupation.
Review the prevailing wage rates for the occupation through the Department of Labor’s Wage Surveys to determine whether the wage level is appropriate for the professional position you are hiring for.
Document the nexus between the foreign national’s degree and the occupation they will be hired for.
Needless to say, the H-1B visa petition can be a technical and cumbersome application to file. Working with qualified counsel will help to ensure technical mistakes are avoided and that a comprehensive petition will have the best chance at winning in the H-1B visa lottery. If you have any questions about the H-1B visa process, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
March 06, 2019 / Jason Finkelman/ Comment
Employment, Entrepreneurs, H-1B, H1B, Human Resources, Immigration, Immigration Reform, International, Nonimmigrant Visas, Startups, Students, Trump, U.S. Immigration, Visas, Work
HR, human resources, Human Resources, H1B, h1b, hiring, H-4, H-1B, highly-skilled, tech, attorney, Department of Labor, foreign workers, immigration, immigration policy, immigrant, Immigration Reform, work authorization, jobs, employee, employers, employment, Trump, nonimmigrant, work, students, F-1, OPT, start up, startups
New H-1B Visa Lottery Process
December 03, 2018 / Jason Finkelman
U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced a proposed rule that will dramatically shift how H-1B visa petitions are selected in its H-1B cap lottery selection system. The proposed regulation would create a mandatory online preregistration system for employers to register each individual’s H-1B cap petition and reverse the order in which USCIS selects H-1B petitions under the H-1B cap and advanced degree exemptions.
Currently, the H-1B visa allows U.S. employers to temporarily employ foreign nationals with a bachelor’s degree or higher in occupations that require a theoretical and practical body of highly specialized knowledge. Each year, on April 1st, USCIS makes 85,000 H-1B visas available. If USCIS received more than 85,000 petitions, they institute a computer-generated lottery system to randomly select the petitions that will be adjudicated.
Employer Pre-Registration System
Under this proposed rule, USCIS would create a mandatory online preregistration process whereby those employers who intend to file H-1B cap petitions would be required to submit an online registration for each potential H-1B beneficiary, during a designated registration period before April 1st. USCIS would then conduct a lottery and select registrations to meet the H-1B visa cap. Those registrations that are selected will be notified and given a 60-day window in which to file their H-1B visa petition on behalf of the foreign worker named in the original registration. According to the proposal, an employer could potentially wait until they have been notified of selection before filing a Labor Condition Application and preparing the corresponding H-1B petition for the intended beneficiary.
The online registration would request information about the employer (i.e. company name, address, Federal Employer Identification Number, etc.), along with information about the intended H-1B worker (i.e. name, date of birth, citizenship, passport, and education credentials). There will be no fee to register an H-1B worker, but employers would be limited to one registration per individual per year.
The preregistration period would begin at least 14 days before April 1st and last for at least two weeks. USCIS would announce the dates for the preregistration period online at least 30 days before it starts.
New Lottery Selection Process
While the H-1B cap will remain at 85,000, USCIS intends to reverse the lottery order in which it selects H-1B petitions for adjudication, to increase the amount of H-1B visas awarded to foreign nationals with U.S. master’s degrees and higher. Currently, USCIS first conducts a lottery for 20,000 H-1B visas for individuals with a U.S. master’s degrees and higher (the “advanced degree cap”). Those individuals with advanced degrees not selected in that lottery are added to the pool of 65,000 H-1B visas (the “regular cap”), for another chance to be selected with individuals who only have a bachelor’s degree. Under the proposed rule, USCIS would conduct the regular cap lottery first and include all advanced degree holders. Those with advanced degrees not selected in the regular cap would be placed in a second lottery, if there are enough advanced degree holders to meet the advanced-degree lottery.
In accordance with the Trump administration’s previous announcements for employment-immigration reforms, USCIS believes this change to the lottery system would increase the chances of H-1B visas to be awarded to individuals with U.S. master’s degrees and higher.
Currently, these are only proposed rule changes. While USCIS has stated their intention to have these new rules in place before the April 1, 2019 H-1B visa season, the proposed regulations also would allow USCIS to temporarily suspend the registration process due to technical challenges with the registration process or online system. In the meantime, employers and foreign nationals should submit their public comments on this proposal HERE, before January 2nd.
What Employers & Foreign Nationals Should Do Now
Regardless of whether USCIS will be able to implement these changes before the April 1st H-1B filing deadline, employers and foreign nationals should begin preparing H-1B petitions NOW for the possibility that they will need to submit their complete H-1B visa petitions on April 1st.
For any questions on the H-1B visa process or these changes, please feel free to contact me.
December 03, 2018 / Jason Finkelman/ Comment
Employment, Entrepreneurs, H-1B, H1B, Human Resources, Immigration, Immigration Reform, International, Nonimmigrant Visas, Startups, Students, Visas, U.S. Immigration, Trump, Work
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Registration Information for Diversity Green Card Lottery
October 03, 2018 / Jason Finkelman/ Comment
Citizenship, Employment, Green Card, Immigrant Visas, Immigration, Immigration Reform, Travel, U.S. Immigration, Visas, Work
Green Card, lawful permanet residence, diversity lottery, immigrant, immigration policy, immigration, Family-Based Permanent Residence, Adjustment of Status, travel, visas, Immigrant Visa
Temporary Suspension & Increased Costs for "Premium Processing" of Visas
September 05, 2018 / Jason Finkelman
U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced two major changes to their "premium processing" programs, which allows employers and foreign nationals to pay an optional USCIS filing fee to guarantee a response on their petition within 15 days. The first announcement is an increase in the premium processing fee. Beginning October 1, 2018 the premium processing fee will increase from $1,225 to $1,410.
USCIS' second announcement is an extension of their ongoing suspension of “premium processing” for most H-1B visa petitions until February 19, 2019. USCIS had previously announced that they were temporarily suspending premium processing for new, cap-subject H-1B visa petitions until September 10, 2018. This new announcement, however, extends the previously annouced temporary suspension through February 19, 2019. Additionally, beginning September 11, 2019, USCIS will also stop accepting premium processing for any H-1B petition seeking new employment, transfer (i.e. “change of employer”), or amendment which are filed with either the Vermont or California Service Centers until February 19, 2019.
USCIS will, however, continue to accept premium processing for H-1B petitions filed at the Nebraska Service Center by an employer requesting a “continuation of previously approved employment without change with the same employer,” and premium processing for H-1B cap-exempt petitions (such as university, nonprofit research institutions, government research organizations) which are filed only with the California Service Center.
While this temporary suspension of premium processing now impacts most H-1B petitions, it does not affect premium processing for other nonimmigrant visa petitions (including L-1, O-1, TN, and others). Additionally, USCIS will continue to accept premium processing for H-1B petitions filed prior to September 11, 2018 (when the suspension goes into effect).
This announcement is likely to have a major impact on U.S. employers, international students, and most immigrants seeking U.S. work visas. First, this news likely means that USCIS processing times for all USCIS filings may increase, causing delays in visa issuance. Even though, in cases of an H-1B transfer, an H-1B employee can begin working with a new employer upon the filing of the transfer with USCIS, many H-1B employees prefer to wait until they actually receive their H-1B transfer approval notice from USCIS before starting employment with a new employer. As a result, this may cause delays for employers seeking to onboard new employees.
Additionally, international students currently availing H-1B “cap gap” extensions of their OPT and still awaiting USCIS approval of their cap-subject H-1B petition will need to be mindful of their authorized stay in light of USCIS’ recent unlawful presence memorandum for foreign students.
In light of this news, H-1B employers and foreign nationals seeking to file any H-1B petitions should plan accordingly. For assistance in preparing for these or delays, please feel free to contact us.
September 05, 2018 / Jason Finkelman/ Comment
Employment, Entrepreneurs, H-1B, H1B, Human Resources, Immigration, Immigration Reform, International, Nonimmigrant Visas, Startups, Students, U.S. Immigration, Visas, Work
H1B, H-1B, human resources, Human Resources, highly-skilled, H-4, hiring, h1b, HR, tech, work authorization, employee, Employment Authorization, students, start up, STEM, OPT, nonimmigrant, employment, employers, premium processing, economy, immigration, immigration policy, Immigration Reform, Cap-Gap, startups, foreign workers, F-1, Workforce Compliance, immigrant, jobs, visas, business, USCIS
New Immigration Policy to Deny Cases Without Issuing RFE or NOID
July 19, 2018 / Jason Finkelman
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has released a new policy that gives immigration adjudicators discretion to deny any and all visa applications or petitions without first issuing a Request for Evidence (RFE) or Notice of Intent to Deny (NOID) in cases where initial evidence is missing or does not establish eligibility. This new guidance, which becomes effective September 11, 2018, replaces a prior policy which instructed adjudicators to request additional evidence in a case, unless there was no possible way that additional evidence could fix a deficiency in the case.
The intent of this guidance is to provide immigration officers with more discretion to deny a visa application without requesting further information first. This policy has even greater implications in light of USCIS’ other recent announcement instructing officers to initiate removal (deportation) proceedings if, upon denial of an application or petition an individual is unlawfully present in the United States.
As USCIS continues to shift away from a focus on immigration benefits to a focus on immigration enforcement and stricter standards for approval of visa petitions, employers and foreign nationals should consider the following strategies to avoid consequences imposed by these new rules:
Take all precautions to ensure visa petitions and applications are filed with the requisite documentation and evidence. This includes overdocumenting how the employer and employee meet all of the visa eligibility requirements.
Applications to extend nonimmigrant visa status (including H-1B, L-1, O-1, and others) should be filed as early as possible (up to 6 months before expiration) to avoid any lapses in nonimmigrant status.
Employer’s should continue to extend the nonimmigrant status of their foreign national employees until their applications for lawful permanent residence are approved, in order to avoid situations where the employee is in unlawful presence and could be deported.
Employer’s should consider utilizing USCIS’s “premium processing” program when filing “change of employer” visa petitions to quickly obtain work authorization for a candidate and not have a candidate risk changing employers without an approval.
These new USCIS policies reinforce the importance of ensuring all visa petitions and applications include the required evidence to show the applicant meets the visa eligibility requirements. The chances of having a family or employment-based visa petition or application denied are significantly reduced when working with qualified immigration counsel to prepare a comprehensive application.
For more information or advice on how to navigate these or any other immigration policy changes, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
July 19, 2018 / Jason Finkelman/ Comment
Citizenship, Employment, Entrepreneurs, Green Card, H-1B, H1B, Human Resources, Immigrant Visas, Immigration, Immigration Reform, International, Naturalization, Nonimmigrant Visas, Startups, Students, Travel, Trump, U.S. Immigration, Visas, Work
immigration policy, immigration, Immigration Reform, Immigrant Visa, immigrant, nonimmigrant, Human Resources, H1B, HR, hiring, h1b, H-1B, human resources, highly-skilled, attorney, students, Spouse, start up, start-up, deferred action, deportation, USCIS, business, Adjustment of Status, unlawful presence, undocumented, university, O visa, O-1, labor, lawful permanet residence, L-1, Trump, politics, Green Card, president, premium processing, Employment Authorization, employers, EB-3, EB-2, trust, TN, work authorization, foreign workers, employment, employee, citizenship, naturalization, N-400
USCIS Policy Change Regarding Deportation Proceedings for Visa Applicants
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced a sweeping new policy, effective immediately, that instructs USCIS officers to initiate removal (deportation) proceedings if, upon denial of an application or petition, an individual is unlawfully present in the United States. This new policy requires USCIS to issue a Notice to Appear (NTA) – a document issued to a foreign national instructing them to appear before an immigration judge for removal proceedings – in the following circumstances:
Where fraud or misrepresentation are substantiated or where an applicant abused any program related to the receipt of public benefits;
Criminal cases where an applicant is convicted of or charged with a criminal offense, or has committed acts that are chargeable as a criminal offense, even if the criminal conduct was not the basis for the denial or the ground of removability;
Where USCIS denies an Application for Naturalization on good moral character grounds because of a criminal offense;
Upon the denial of an application or petition, when an applicant is unlawfully present in the U.S.
This new policy is expected to dramatically impact a wide range of foreign workers, students, and U.S. employers. While historically NTAs have rarely been issued to employment-based visa applicant’s after the denial of an application, this policy shift appears to fall in line with President Trump’s executive orders focused on immigration enforcement and prosecution.
Examples of employer-sponsored foreign nationals who may now be subject to removal proceedings include:
Individuals who have their application to extend or change to H-1B, L-1, or other nonimmigrant visa status denied, and whose visa status has expired while waiting for USCIS to adjudicate their application.
Individuals who have their application to change employers denied, and whose visa status has expired while waiting for USCIS to adjudicate their application.
Students who have their applications to extend their F-1 status or applications to change status to H-1B denied, and who have now fallen out of status under their student visa.
Individuals who have their application for either employment-based or family-based adjustment of status to permanent residence denied, and who now no longer have any nonimmigrant status.
While it is not clear how USCIS will implement these new guidelines, this change will nevertheless likely affect the lives of many individuals who have lived and worked in the U.S. lawfully for years. Foreign nationals that receive an NTA are advised to speak to qualified counsel to handle this sensitive matter. For questions on this or any immigration matter, please feel free to contact me.
Citizenship, Employment, Green Card, H-1B, H1B, Human Resources, Immigrant Visas, Immigration, Immigration Reform, International, Naturalization, Nonimmigrant Visas, Students, Travel, Trump, U.S. Immigration, Visas, Work
immigration policy, immigration, Immigration Reform, immigrant, Immigrant Visa, nonimmigrant, Trump, employment, employers, employee, students, Human Resources, highly-skilled, h1b, H-1B, H1B, HR, Adjustment of Status, Green Card, deportation, N-400, naturalization, citizenship, USCIS, business, president, executive order, extreme vetting, F-1, foreign workers, Family-Based Permanent Residence, lawful permanet residence, unlawful presence, Workforce Compliance, hiring, human resources, L-1, visas
Immigration Policy Changes for Foreign Students & Exchange Visitors
May 17, 2018 / Jason Finkelman
U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) has recently issued two updates that may have major consequences for foreign students and exchange visitors.
Most recently, USCIS issued a policy memorandum which changes the way USCIS will interpret and calculate unlawful presence for F-1 and J-1 visa holders (including their dependents). Generally, a foreign national who remains in the U.S. beyond the expiration date of their I-94 Arrival/Departure Record begins to accrue unlawful presence, and in certain circumstances, may be subject to a 3-year or 10-year bar to re-admission to the United States. Under the previous policy, however, foreign national students and exchange visitors who are granted duration of status (D/S) would not begin to accrue unlawful presence until either USCIS made a formal determination that a status violation had occurred or an immigration judge ordered a foreign national deported.
Under the new policy, starting August 9, 2018, F-1 and J-1 visa holders will begin to accrue unlawful presence on the earliest of the following:
The day after the student/exchange visitor no longer pursues the course of study or authorized activity, or the day after the person engages in unauthorized activity
The day after the grace period, after completing the course of study, program, or practical training (OPT/CPT)
The day after the person’s Form I-94 Arrival/Departure Record expires;
The day after an Immigration Judge orders the person deported or removed.
Simply put, this new policy, will have a dramatic impact on F-1 and J-1 nonimmigrants who are not vigilant with respect to maintaining valid status and/or are engaging in “unauthorized activity.”
Additionally, last month, USCIS updated its website regarding STEM OPT extensions , which allow F-1 STEM gradates to obtain an additional 24 months of Optional Practical Training (OPT) work authorization to work for employers that participate in the E-Verify program. The new USCIS guidance no longer permits students to engage in STEM OPT at third party worksite locations (even if the employer maintains the requisite employer-employee relationship with the STEM worker).
This new guidance changes previous policy which only required the student be a bona fide employee of the employer signing the I-983 training plan. Now, any employees performing duties at sites not controlled by the E-Verify employer could risk being in violation of their status.
These updates are very nuanced and complex, especially when it comes to when and whether someone is in violation of their status or engaged in unauthorized activities. As always, if you have questions on these issues or how to maintain status, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
May 17, 2018 / Jason Finkelman/ Comment
STEM, startups, start-up, start up, students, Employment Authorization, employee, unlawful presence, emp, empl, employment verification, employers, foreign workers, immigration, immigration policy, immigrant, nonimmigrant, Immigration Reform, Trump, economy, Workforce Compliance, work authorization, HR, human resources, Human Resources, employment, visas, labor, work, hiring, H-1B, H1B, OPT
H-1B Visa Cap Met. What Are Your Alternative Immigration Options?
U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that it reached the annual 85,000 H-1B visa cap in the first five days of April 2018. Specifically, USCIS received 190,098 H-1B cap cases (a 4% drop from last year), which means that once again, USCIS will conduct a computer-generated lottery in the coming weeks to determine which petitions they will process. Employers who have their petitions selected in the lottery will receive a receipt notice from USCIS, and if approved, can have their employees begin working for them in H-1B status on October 1, 2018. Petitions that are not selected in the lottery will be returned to the employers with their money back.
Citizenship, Employment, Entrepreneurs, Green Card, H-1B, H1B, Human Resources, Immigrant Visas, Immigration, Immigration Reform, International, Naturalization, Nonimmigrant Visas, Startups, Students, U.S. Immigration, Visas, Work, Trump, Travel
H1B, Human Resources, hiring, highly-skilled, HR, H-1B, human resources, H-4, tech, L-1, E-1, E-2, E-3, TN, O-1, H-3, employers, employment, employee, students, start-up, startups, work, work authorization, EB-2, Employment Authorization, Trump, travel, OPT, jobs, foreign workers, lawful permanet residence, lottery, immigration policy, immigration, citizenship, EB-3
USCIS Will Temporarily Suspend Premium Processing for New H-1B Petitions
U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) has once again announced that starting April 2nd, 2018 premium processing for new, cap-subject H-1B visa petitions will be temporarily suspended. With premium processing, employers can pay an optional USCIS filing fee to guarantee a response on their petition within 15 days. This temporary suspension is expected to last until September 10, 2018. While H-1B premium processing is suspended, petitioners will not be able request premium processing for new, cap-subject H-1B visa cases.
This suspension of premium processing (similar to the one last year) applies only to new H-1B petitions filed, generally, by for-profit companies that are subject to the 85,000 annual H-1B visa cap. Meaning, this will apply to ALL petitions filed for the FY19 H-1B regular cap and master’s advanced degree cap exemption (the “master’s cap”) and any of these petitions filed with a request for premium processing will be rejected.
The premium processing suspension will NOT, however, apply to petitions that may be cap-exempt (i.e. H-1B workers who will work for or at a university or affiliated nonprofit or research institute), nor will it apply to H-1B extension or change of employer petitions. This temporary suspension of premium processing does NOT apply to other eligible nonimmigrant classifications filed on Form I-129, either.
Even though premium processing is temporarily suspended, employers may still submit a request to expedite an H-1B petition if they meet the criteria on the Expedite Criteria webpage. The reason for the temporary suspension will allow USCIS to reduce overall H-1B processing times.
If you have further questions on the H-1B visa process, please feel free to contact me.
Employment, H-1B, H1B, Human Resources, Immigration, Immigration Reform, International, Nonimmigrant Visas, Students, U.S. Immigration, Visas, Work
H1B, H-1B, highly-skilled, h1b, human resources, HR, Human Resources, tech, premium processing, employment, immigration, immigration policy, nonimmigrant, employers, visas, Immigration Reform, work, foreign workers, students
Winning The H-1B Visa Lottery
Starting April 2, 2018, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will begin accepting H-1B petitions for Fiscal Year 2019. As in years past, if USCIS receives more than the available 85,000 H-1B visas in the first few days of April, they will use a computer-generated random lottery to select the petitions they will process. Based on the number of petitions received in the first few days of April last year (over 199,000) and the previous year (over 236,000), combined with the current market demand for high-skilled labor and reports of possible changes to visa programs in the future, many our anticipating that USCIS will receive over 200,000 H-1B petitions in the first few days of this April.
Accordingly, time is running out for employers to timely prepare their H-1B petitions for submission to play in this H-1B lottery on April 2nd. Generally, it takes at least 10-14 days to prepare and file an H-1B petition, due to the prerequisite filing requirements of the Labor Condition Application (LCA), which takes up to 7 business days to certify. Therefore, if you are responsible for your businesses' immigration planning and processing and you have already identified your H-1B candidates, please initiate the H-1B visa process in the next two weeks to ensure it is timely filed.
In light of recent reports of proposed changes to the H-1B work visa program by the Trump administration, USCIS has confirmed that it intends for the H-1B filing process and procedures to remain the same as it has in previous years. Nevertheless, as indicated by the massive increase of Requests for Evidence (RFE) and denials of H-1B petitions issued by USCIS over the past year, employers and foreign nationals should be prepared to evidence the following, in order to increase their chances of getting their visa petitions approved:
WATCH my conversation on how to overcome issues with H-1B RFEs
Employment, Entrepreneurs, Citizenship, Green Card, H-1B, H1B, Human Resources, Immigrant Visas, Immigration, Immigration Reform, International, Naturalization, Nonimmigrant Visas, Startups, Students, Trump, U.S. Immigration, Visas, Work
H1B, H-1B, human resources, hiring, HR, highly-skilled, H-4, h1b, Human Resources, tech, work authorization, work, lawful permanet residence, interview, economy, employee, entrepreneurs, Employment Authorization, employers, employment, students, start up, Green Card, Trump, visas, investors, Cap-Gap, foreign workers, F-1, citizenship, business, jobs, international, Immigrant Visa, Immigration Reform, immigration policy, immigration, immigrant, nonimmigrant, university
H-1B Visa Season Starts NOW
February 01, 2018 / Jason Finkelman
In light of recent reports of proposed changes to the H-1B work visa program by the Trump administration, U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) has confirmed several important details about the upcoming H-1B visa filing season, which will commence on April 2, 2018. Most importantly, USCIS intends for the H-1B filing process and procedures to remain the same as it has in previous years. This is to say that there will be no "preregistration system" and if the petitions received by USCIS exceed the 85,000 numerical cap, a lottery will be used to select the petitions for processing. USCIS also hinted that they may impose a "short" suspension of "premium processing" for H-1B cap petitions (but not non-cap H-1B petitions), as they did last year.
Demand by U.S. employers for H-1B visas on behalf of “highly-skilled” foreign employees was, once again, at high levels last year and is expected to remain high this year. Because it is expected that the 85,000 available H-1B visas will be gone within the first week of April, U.S. businesses should file their H-1B visa petitions on April 2, 2018. Due to prerequisite filing steps which must be completed before the H-1B petition can be submitted to USCIS, however, employers should begin preparing their petitions now to ensure they are ready to submit on April 2nd.
Despite rumors of potential changes to the H-1B visa program, the H-1B filing process and procedures will remain the same as they did in previous years. Therefore, employers should assess their upcoming workforce needs and identify whether any foreign national employees will require H-1B visa sponsorship. These individuals may include:
New graduating foreign students in the U.S.
Overseas individuals seeking to start work in the U.S.
Foreign individuals in the U.S. already working under a different nonimmigrant status for a different employer and are seeking to change jobs
Failure to file your H-1B petition on April 2nd may jeopardize your chance at securing an H-1B visa for your employee. After the 2018 H-1B visas are gone, employers will have to wait until April 1, 2019 to file H-1B petitions again, and foreign employees may lose their lawful status and authorization to work. The clock is ticking…don't delay!
If you have any questions about the H-1B visa process, contact me.
February 01, 2018 / Jason Finkelman/ 1 Comment
Employment, Entrepreneurs, H-1B, H1B, Human Resources, Immigration, Immigration Reform, International, Nonimmigrant Visas, Startups, Students, Travel, Trump, U.S. Immigration, Visas, Work
H1B, H-1B, HR, hiring, highly-skilled, human resources, H-4, Human Resources, tech, international, F-1, foreign workers, Workforce Compliance, STEM, students, start-up, startups, USCIS, immigration policy, immigration, nonimmigrant, business, entrepreneur, employment, extreme vetting, politics, president, entrepreneurs, Employment Authorization, employers, employee, Trump, Cap-Gap, university
Potential Changes to High-Skilled Immigration Programs in 2018
The Trump administration’s future immigration intentions were recently announced in their semi-annual Unified Agenda. The Unified Agenda lists possible regulations under development by federal agencies for the coming year. The announcement indicates the administration’s plans to undo Obama administration immigration benefits and impose tighter restrictions on nonimmigrant visa categories, such as the H-1B, H-4, and Optional Practical Training (OPT) for F-1 students.
H-1B Eligibility: Redefining what a “speciality occupation” is for H-1B visa purposes to “increase the focus on truly obtaining the best and brightest.” The proposal would also “revise the definition of employment and employer-employee relationship to better protect U.S. workers and wages.” This includes “additional requirements to ensure employers pay appropriate wages to H-1B visa holders.” The rule would also impose additional restrictions on H-1B dependent employers that rely on large H-1B workforces and those employers who have H-1B employees working off-site.
H-1B Lottery: Revising the H-1B visa lottery system to establish an electronic pre-registration program for cap-subject H-1B applicants, and tweaking the electronic lottery selection process to award visas to the “most skilled or highest-paid petition beneficiaries.”
H-4 Work Authorization: Elimination of the regulation that allow H-4 visa holders (spouses of H-1B visa holders) to apply for work authorization. The Trump administration has previously indicated its intent to remove this Obama rule which has provided work permits to thousands of H-4 spouses.
OPT for F-1 Students: Reforming the OPT program for foreign students (which allows international students to work in the U.S.) in order to reduce fraud and improve protections for U.S. workers who may be impacted by employment of foreign students. Plans include limiting student work opportunities and terminating Obama’s STEM-OPT extension rule, which provides extended work authorization for foreign students with U.S. STEM degrees, from 17 months to 24 months.
These announcements do not currently modify or rescind any of the above mentioned immigration programs, and any changes to immigration policy can only be accomplished through notice and comment of proposed rulemaking in the federal register. This means that individuals and companies that may be affected by potential policy changes will have an opportunity to submit comments to the government before the policy becomes effective. The notice/comment process can typically take in excess of 6 months, which means the administration may not have enough time to enact changes to the H-1B visa program in time for this year’s filing season (which begins on April 2, 2018).
immigration policy, immigrant, Immigration Reform, nonimmigrant, Trump, H-4, human resources, highly-skilled, Human Resources, hiring, HR, h1b, H-1B, work authorization, work, employers, Employment Authorization, economy, students, STEM, startups, foreign workers, F-1, OPT, immigration, president, tech, start-up, business, jobs, USCIS, executive order
Massive Workforce Compliance Inspections Coming
November 10, 2017 / Jason Finkelman
Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) has ordered the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) unit to “quadruple to quintuple” the current number of routine workplace investigations of U.S. employers in the coming year. While the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement efforts have thus far mostly focused on undocumented individuals, the goal of ICE’s new strategy is to target employers. In particular, these workplace investigations will focus on audits of employers Employment Eligibility Verification, Forms I-9 and other employment records to determine whether employees (be they U.S. citizens or foreign nationals) are lawfully work authorized.
ICE’s plan to ramp up worksite investigations increases the risk of significant civil penalties and possible criminal prosecution for employers who fail to comply with U.S. employment laws. Additionally, business owners, executives, and Human Resources staff may personally face increased risk for simple Form I-9 “paperwork” errors.
All U.S. employers must complete a Form I-9 for all of their employees in order to verify their identity and work authorization. An employer who fails to properly complete and retain a Form I-9 for each and every employee, faces fines and penalties ranging from $539 to $2,156 for each paperwork violation. Therefore, employers should take this opportunity to evaluate their current I-9 policies and procedures to ensure they are in compliance with the latest I-9 and E-Verify rules. In particular, employers should:
Review current I-9 policies and practices with qualified counsel. This includes careful analysis of all workforce compliance practices to mitigate errors and mistakes on the form;
Develop formal I-9 and E-Verify protocols for detecting, preventing, and improving against I-9 violations. For example, store an employee’s Form I-9 separate from other personnel records and separate current from terminated employees;
Mitigate historical I-9s with qualified counsel to help avoid against fines and penalties for certain technical or procedural errors on the forms. Only certain I-9 deficiencies can be mitigated, but must be done accurately so as not to make deficiency worse;
Develop, implement, and maintain compliance policies for worksite raids and for managing CE Fraud Detection & National Security (FDNS) visits for nonimmigrant visa employees.
For any questions on employment eligibility or workforce compliance issues, please feel free to contact us.
November 10, 2017 / Jason Finkelman/ Comment
Immigration, Immigration Reform, International, Employment, Entrepreneurs, H-1B, H1B, Human Resources, Nonimmigrant Visas, Startups, Students, Trump, U.S. Immigration, Visas, Work
I-9, employers, employment, employee, Employment Authorization, employment verification, E-Verify, Workforce Compliance, work, work authorization, foreign workers, nonimmigrant, visas, immigration policy, start-up, immigration, international, USCIS, Human Resources, HR
Visa Extensions Will Face Higher Scrutiny
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has annouced updated policy guidance, which now instructs immigration officers to apply the same level of scrutiny to both initial visa petitions and visa extension petitions in certain nonimmigrant categories, including the H-1B visa. This new policy rescinds the current practice which instructs officers to give “deference” to the findings of a prior approved visa petition when adjudicating petition extensions (i.e. visa renewals), as long as the key elements were unchanged and there was no evidence of a material error or fraud related to the prior determination.
This new policy will impact all employers who are seeking to file an extension of a nonimmigrant visa for any of their international employees. In particular, those individuals who may currently be on an H-1B, L-1A, L-1B, O-1, E-3, or other nonimmigrant visa will likely face increased scrutiny in the adjudication of their petition to extend/renew their visa. Based on this new USCIS guidance, employers should prepare to demonstrate and document each and every eligibility criteria for a particular visa, as if they are filing a new petition. This new policy, along with the recent announcement requiring in-person interviews for individuals seeking employment-based green cards, may also continue to lead to delays in visa processing.
This change, once again, appears to fall in line with President Trump’s “extreme vetting” immigration plans. Nevertheless, it should always be the practice of a qualified immigration attorney to file all visa petitions (including visa extensions) as a standalone petition, evidencing how the Beneficiary and Petitioner meet the eligibility criteria for the visa. Even more so now that USCIS may use this policy to essentially re-adjudicate the initial visa petition when adjudicating visa extension petitions. Employers and applicants should therefore work closely with counsel to provide substantial documentation of compliance with the current terms of employment (i.e. worksite information, salary, job duties, etc.), along with evidence of maintenance of immigration status and the job that will be performed during the requested visa extension time period. Our office will continue to monitor the rollout of this new policy. For questions or help in preparing your visa extension petition, please contact us.
Employment, Entrepreneurs, Green Card, H-1B, H1B, Human Resources, Immigrant Visas, Immigration, Immigration Reform, International, Nonimmigrant Visas, Startups, Students, Trump, U.S. Immigration, Visas, Work
immigration policy, Immigrant Visa, immigrant, immigration, nonimmigrant, Trump, tech, students, highly-skilled, h1b, H-4, H-1B, HR, hiring, H1B, Human Resources, human resources, Employment Authorization, work authorization, visas, O visa, L-1, labor, politics, lawful permanet residence, economy, employee, employment, entrepreneur, attorney, business, jobs, employers, president
Diversity Visa Green Card Lottery Is Accepting Applications
Citizenship, Green Card, Immigrant Visas, Immigration, Immigration Reform, International, U.S. Immigration, Visas, Work
diversity lottery, Immigrant Visa, Green Card, Family-Based Permanent Residence, Adjustment of Status, Spouse, immigration, immigrant, immigration policy, Immigration Reform, nonimmigrant, international, foreign workers, lawful permanet residence
USCIS Resumes Premium Processing for H-1B Cases
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that, it will resume “premium processing” for all H-1B visa cases, including pending H-1B visa cap-subject petitions. USCIS temporarily suspended premium processing of all H-1B petitions in April 2017, however, this new announcement means that all H-1B cases, including pending petitions pursuant to both the 65,000 “regular” H-1B cap and the 20,000 “advanced degree” cap, H-1B extension petitions, and H-1B change of employer petitions are now eligible to take advantage of premium processing.
With premium processing, employers can pay an optional USCIS filing fee to guarantee a response on their petition within 15 days. Employers seeking to expedite the processing of a pending H-1B cap-subject case, including cases which require responses to Requests for Evidence (RFEs) from USCIS, should contact an attorney to take advantage of this program.
immigrant, immigration, Human Resources, H-1B, H-4, highly-skilled, h1b, human resources, hiring, HR, H1B, tech, work authorization, Employment Authorization, employment verification, employee, employers, visas, work, Workforce Compliance, foreign workers, Cap-Gap, students, start up, start-up, employment, premium processing
Guidance for Trump's New Travel Ban
President Trump has rolled out a new travel ban, after the previous 90-day travel ban expired yesterday. This new policy continues the existing travel restrictions to the U.S. for most citizens of Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria and Yemen, and now adds the countries of Chad, North Korea and Venezuela. The new restrictions range from full travel bans on nationals from countries like Syria, Chad, and North Korea to more targeted restrictions for Venezuela, Iran, Libya, and Yemen. For example, the suspension of nonimmigrant visas to citizens for Venezuela, applies only to senior government officials and their immediate families. Iranian nationals will only be allowed to enter the U.S. using valid student and exchange visitor visas, but such visitors will have to undergo "enhanced screening and vetting requirements."
These news restrictions, which will take effect on October 18, 2017 and will be in place for an indefinite period of time. The order does not apply to lawful permanent residents, existing visa-holders, or foreign nationals currently within the United States. The Department of Homeland Security may also grant waivers on a case-by-case basis for students and workers with significant U.S. ties who happened to be outside the country when the order was enacted, among others.
Once again, as a result of these actions, many in the immigrant community are confused and scared – I understand! Despite all that you read or hear in the news or from your friends and family, this is not a time to panic or to make hasty decisions. It is a time for calm, rational thinking and for informed, conservative and proactive planning. In that regard, I suggest the following:
If you are a citizen of one of the countries listed in this new travel ban, do not travel out of the U.S. The Executive Order does not apply to you if you merely visited one of these countries.
If you have a non-immigrant visa and you plan to travel out of the U.S. please consult with an Immigration Attorney first. In this climate of enhanced enforcement it is prudent to be able to document your status as much as possible in the event you are subject to additional scrutiny by an overly aggressive immigration officer upon your return.
Consideration should be given to accelerating any immigration planning (i.e. extensions of status, green card processing, etc.) in order to take advantage of the existing laws and regulations. It is possible that these policies may continue to become more restrictive.
As evidenced by the prior travel bans, the current administration is intent on restricting travel to the U.S.. Once again, I sympathize with the fear and uncertainty many may be feeling right now - I come from a family of immigrants. It pains me that the country whose doors gave my family refuge in their time of need is now trying to close those same doors to others. I believe that these times too shall pass and that better times lie ahead. Until then I will do everything I can to ease your fears and help you through this difficult period.
Please sign up for updates on the current situation and I will provide you with developments as they take place. In the interim, please feel free to call me any time to discuss any of your concerns.
Employment, Green Card, H-1B, H1B, Human Resources, Immigrant Visas, Immigration, Immigration Reform, International, Nonimmigrant Visas, Students, Travel, Trump, U.S. Immigration, Visas, Work
travel, travel ban, Trump, attorney, immigration, immigrant, immigration policy, Immigration Reform, nonimmigrant, students, Immigrant Visa, Human Resources, human resources, HR, hiring, h1b, H-1B, employment, employers, employee, Green Card, foreign workers, lawful permanet residence, work, executive order, president, business, border, consulate, extreme vetting, Executive Action
What DACA Recipients & Employers Need to Know About The End of DACA
President Trump has announced his plans to terminate the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which provides “temporary relief from deportation” and work authorization for certain undocumented immigrants who arrived in the U.S. when they were minors. There are over 800,000 DACA beneficiaries across the country, the majority of whom are legally employed by U.S. employers.
As of September 6, 2017, U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) will no longer be accepting new DACA applications, however, current DACA recipients will be permitted to retain both the period of deferred action and their employment authorization until they expire. Individuals who currently have an initial DACA request pending with USCIS will have their cases adjudicated on a case-by-case basis. Those individuals with their deferred action expiring before March 5, 2018 must apply to renew their DACA (for a two-year period) before October 5, 2017. After March 6, 2018 no more DACA renewal applications will be accepted by USCIS.
Through the DACA program, beneficiaries receive Employment Authorization Documents (also known as “work permits” or “EAD” cards) which provide lawful work authorization with U.S. employers. These cards are issued for limited periods of time and have expiration dates. Despite this new policy which will terminate the ability to renew EAD cards, current valid EAD cards will continue to provide lawful work authorization for those beneficiaries, until the EAD expires. This means DACA beneficiaries are allowed to legally continue working for U.S. employers with their EAD card until the expiration date on the card. While employers may not be aware of their employees who are on DACA until it comes time to reverify an employee’s work authorization in the Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification process, employers are not legally obligated to terminate an employee until after their EAD card has expired.
SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS, DRIVER’S LICENSES, AND ADVANCE PAROLE CARDS
Social security numbers for DACA recipients will remain valid and can continue to be used for banking, education, housing, and other reasons. Driver’s licenses should also remain valid until the expiration date of the card (but double check with your State’s motor vehicle department to confirm). While the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has indicated they will still honor valid Advance Parole documents, which provide immigration officers with discretionary authority to permit an individual to return to the U.S. after foreign travel, DACA beneficiaries are advised not to travel internationally, due to the risk of being denied re-entry into the U.S. upon return.
IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT
Information which DACA recipients provided to DHS in their DACA applications will not be proactively provided to Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), or shared with other law enforcement entities for the purpose of immigration enforcement proceedings, unless an individual poses a risk to national security or public safety. ICE has said that it has no plans to target DACA holders as their permits expire and that they will continue to remain low enforcement priorities.
OTHER IMMIGRATION OPTIONS
DACA recipients may be eligible for other immigration relief either through family or employment. Employers with overseas offices may be able to employ affected individuals abroad. DACA recipients may be able to obtain work authorization and/or lawful residence in another country and may even be able to do so from within in the United States.
Individuals and employers should contact qualified legal counsel to understand their options. As always, we will continue to monitor this recent DACA update and continue to provide additional analysis as information continues to become available. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.
Employment, Entrepreneurs, Human Resources, Immigration, Immigration Reform, International, Nonimmigrant Visas, Startups, Students, Travel, Trump, U.S. Immigration, Visas, Work
DACA, daca, deferred action, Trump, work authorization, work, Workforce Compliance, foreign workers, Employment Authorization, employment verification, employment, employee, extreme vetting, employers, immigrant, undocumented, immigration policy, immigration, Immigration Reform, attorney, hiring, Human Resources, HR, executive order, Executive Action, labor, politics, parole, economy
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Tag Archives | Canyon
Arizonans Concerned About Tusayan Developments
By Kevin Bertram on January 2, 2012 in Business
For years, Flagstaff and Williams have billed themselves as the gateways to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon – the conduits through which tourists must stop, rest, eat and, most importantly for local businesses, spend money. However, as the tiny town of Tusayan gears up for a big residential and commercial development that will […]
Uranium Mining Appeal for Mine Near Grand Canyon
By admin on November 29, 2011 in Local News
Conservation groups and American Indian tribes today filed an appeal in the 9th Circuit Court challenging a lower court ruling that allowed a uranium mine near Grand Canyon National Park to re-open without updating decades-old environmental reviews. The Arizona 1 uranium mine is located near Kanab Creek immediately north of Grand Canyon National Park. In 2010, […]
By Constance DeVereaux on November 18, 2011 in Columnists
Whenever colleagues from abroad tell me they are planning a trip to the east coast, I urge them to add Arizona as a detour destination. “We have the Grand Canyon,” I tell them. “If this is your only trip, you can’t leave without taking one look.” Those who make the trek are eternally grateful. There’s […]
Flooring Business Serving Flagstaff
By admin on October 22, 2011 in Business
Canyon Carpet One on Butler Avenue in Flagstaff is a full service flooring store. With 20 years of experience in the flooring industry, Canyon Carpet One also does business as Canyon Carpet Cleaners, Inc. and Canyon Flooring. Owners Ted and Trish Meredith say their business is unique because they belong to the largest buying group […]
Controversy Over Uranium Mining Heightened
By Theresa Bierer on October 12, 2011 in Local News
SENATORS AND CONGRESSMEN INTRODUCE THE NORTHERN ARIZONA MINING CONTINUITY ACT Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators John McCain (R-AZ), Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Mike Lee (R-UT) and U.S. Congressmen Trent Franks (AZ-02), Rob Bishop (UT-01), Jeff Flake (AZ-06), Paul Gosar (AZ-01), David Schweikert (AZ-05) and Ben Quayle (AZ-03) today introduced the Northern Arizona Mining Continuity Act […]
Chamber Music Sedona Presenting Native Voices
By admin on September 28, 2011 in Sedona
Chamber Music Sedona is presenting Native Voices, October 8th. Native Voices brings together two legendary performers from America’s indigenous peoples—Native American flutist R. Carlos Nakai and Hawaiian Slack Key guitarist Keola Beamer. Long regarded as trend-setting musicians and articulate spokesmen for their cultures, Nakai and Beamer will be appearing together for the first time to promote […]
Free Entry to Grand Canyon Saturday
By admin on September 23, 2011 in Tourism
Grand Canyon National Park will be joining national park units across the country in celebrating National Public Lands Day (NPLD) with fee free entry into the park. National Public Lands Day began in 1994 and is intended to encourage shared stewardship of our nation’s public lands. Today, NPLD is the nation’s largest hands-on volunteer effort […]
Group Supporting Uranium Mining Moratorium
By admin on September 22, 2011 in Local News
Just days before the annual celebration of National Public Lands Day, 50 Arizona business associations and small businesses have sent a letter to Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, voicing support for a proposed 20-year moratorium on new uranium mining near Grand Canyon National Park. The state’s national parks, monuments and other public lands they say are […]
Following a Passion for Fine Art
There’s an old saying, don’t give up your day job,” said Dick Arentz, who did not leave his first career until his passion for photography had developed into a full-time business. “I had three little mouths to feed.” The Flagstaff octogenarian is a world-renowned fine art photographer and author. His book, “Platinum & Palladium Printing,” is considered by experts in the field to be the definitive text on the subject. The monochromatic (black and white) photo processing technique uses platinum or palladium instead of the usual silver gelatin. Platinum printing yields an expanded variety of mid-tone grays as well as warm blacks or reddish browns. The process was utilized by photographers such as Edward Curtis and Alfred Stieglitz, husband of Georgia O’Keeffe, at the turn of the century and is still en vogue with fine art photographers today. Arentz was recruited to Flagstaff as an oral surgeon in 1973 and opened an office in the Malpais Annex of the old Flagstaff hospital. Later, he was one of the investor-builders of the Flagstaff Doctor’s Village on Beaver Street between Sullivan and Hunt Streets and moved there in 1975. All the while he juggled his “day job” with his large-format photography enterprise, which earned him recognition by the Arizona Arts and Humanities Commission as one of “Twenty Arizona Artists” for an exhibition, which opened at the Phoenix Art Museum in 1978.
Caring for Body and Mind
There is no denying the connection between the mind and body. A large number of doctor visits in the United States are related to behavioral health needs, as well as physical needs.
Critical Components to the CCC Mission: Partnering, Lifelong Learning
Although the Arizona Legislature showed a commitment to education by supporting public community colleges with one-time funding in the 2019-20 state budget, there is still work for us to do. The temporary nature of that limited funding emphasizes the importance of creating new and expanding partnerships with individual volunteer supporters we call “champions,” businesses, non-profits and government organizations in the communities that Coconino Community College serves.
Considering Naturopathic Oncology for Treating Breast Cancer
Think about our biggest choices in life…a car, a house, who we want to spend our lives with…. with those, do people generally rush into a decision and hope for the best?
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Choreography (M.A.)
Movement Notation / Movement Analysis (M.A.)
Interpretation (M.A.)
Organisation & Contact
Rodolpho Leoni | Brazil
If and only if
Rodolpho Leoni was born in Campo Grande (Brazil) in 1963 where he started to study dance in 1978; in 1981, together with eleven other dancers, he founded the first modern dance company in this region.
He went to São Paulo in 1983 to study the Graham technique and spent the next two years dancing at the Teatro Brasileiro de Danca. A grant brought Leoni to the “Martha Graham Center for Contemporary Dance” in New York in 1985.
Rodolpho Leoni has lived and worked in Germany since 1988, first teaching in Aachen and at the Werkstatt Düsseldorf. The following year he won the choreography competition of the city of Cagliari (Italy). From 1990 to 1994, Leoni worked with various choreographers in Germany and Belgium. He also contributed choreographies to two film productions. He has been creating his own choreographies since 1992 and founded the company “Rodolpho Leoni dance” in 1996 with the production “Foggy”.
Leoni produced two new choreographies in 1997, “M” and “Erfurt, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Magdeburg”, followed by the production “Din Quatro” in 1999.
His pieces “Sarara Tangled” and “The Thread” premiered at the Tanzhaus NRW in Düsseldorf and have been performed at various national and international venues.
His choreography “Speak” was awarded the Deutsche Produzentenpreis für Choreographie (German Producer Award for Choreography, DPC) 2005/2006. He created numerous choreographies for various dance companies including the Ballet Nürnberg, the Tanzkompanie St. Gallen (Switzerland), and the Tanztheater Bremen. Rodolpho Leoni has worked regularly as head trainer for various dance companies including Bremer Tanztheater, Tanztheater Münster, Ballett Schindowski, Folkwang Tanzstudio.
In December 2006 Rodolpho Leoni was appointed professor of modern dance/dance choreography at the Folkwang Hochschule in Essen.
As a guest choreographer at the Folkwang Tanzstudio Rodolpho Leoni produced the piece “If and only if” which premiered at PACT Zollverein in Essen in December 2006.
Jens ThomasRodolpho LeoniMichèle Anne & Thierry De MeyEun Me AhnDietrich HahneSanna MyllylahtiGabrio Leonida GabrielliManuel Quero CastellanoMui Cheuk Yin
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Nonprofit Kick-Starts Water Data Gathering In Nepal Valley
By Mindy Cooper on October 13, 2017
The MobileTracker program calculates discharge measurements from photos off staff gauges. (Credit: S4W-Nepal)
For the first time, citizens of the Kathmandu Valley in Nepal have free access to local water data. The data is the result of a water quality monitoring pilot project started by the California-based nonprofit SmartPhones4Water (S4W).
SmartPhones4Water, an idea developed by Ph.D. student Jeff Davids and the late Dr. Peter-Jules van Overloop from Delft University of Technology (Netherlands), was started in California in 2014. The goal of the organization is to leverage smartphone technology to gather water data in countries where such data is scarce. The method is simple: a network of local citizens use their smartphones to capture and upload the data to an online server and database.
Put in action, the idea has proven to be an effective way to gather data where little previously existed.
The effort was kicked into high gear in 2015 when SmartPhones4Water founder Davids, along with his family, moved to the Kathmandu Valley to start what is now called S4W-Nepal. Water monitoring is critical for the area because the nine rivers running through the area have been greatly impacted by increasing demand, land use changes, industry, and illegal waste dumping. During his first year in Nepal, Davids dedicated himself to developing a strong professional network and formed partnerships with the Himalayan Biodiversity and Climate Center (HimBioCliC), the Tribhuvan University Institute of Engineering, Kathmandu Institute of Applied Sciences (KIAS), Delft University of Technology, the Swedish International Development Agency, and Stockholm University.
“An important part of our effort is community education. A good deal of work has been done in the west to learn how to motivate citizen scientists, but there is a lack of literature in Asia,” explained Davids.
The organization invested time in reaching out and educating Kathmandu Valley citizens.
“We’ve hosted workshops and symposiums for a range of audiences from rural villagers in the outskirts of the valley to highly educated graduate students and professors,” said Davids. “We’re excited to see a great interest in learning more about water.”
S4W-Nepal founder Jeff Davids discusses water measurements with a volunteer. (Credit: S4W-Nepal)
The monitoring effort started with regular water level measurements of five locations in perennial streams surrounding the Kathmandu Valley. Measurements were taken by S4W-Nepal staff, interns, and volunteer citizen scientists using meter sticks installed in the rivers called staff gauges. The measurements, including images, GPS coordinates, and date and time, are captured with an open source Android smartphone application called Open Data Kit (ODK).
“We have seen steady interest in our research from young Nepali researchers and 100 of our citizen scientists are undergraduate science or engineering students,” said Davids.
With the ever-growing interest, the effort has continued to expand. Currently, water level measurements are being captured in 10 streams. The organization hired two full-time interns and expanded monitoring efforts to include measuring precipitation at over 100 locations, shallow groundwater levels at 60 locations, and stone spout flow and water quality at over 100 locations. In cooperation with HimBioCliC, the organization began conducting biological monitoring, pre- and post-monsoon stream flow, water quality, and rapid stream assessment data from 50 locations on the perennials stream around the Kathmandu Valley.
While the monitoring efforts have expanded, the organization has kept the required equipment simple. Along with locally made one-meter staff gauges used to capture stream water levels, the scientists use handheld SonTek Flow Tracker Acoustic Doppler Velocimeters, Zeal thermometers, and GHM-Greisinger instruments to measure conductivity.
Perhaps the most interesting tool used are the rain gauges made from recycled two-liter bottles, a ruler with millimeter graduations, and a small amount of concrete. The top of the bottle is cut and inverted so that it acts as a funnel and a means to trap evaporation. A small amount of concrete is prepared and placed in the bottom of the bottle to provide a level measurement reference and as a weight to hold it in place wherever it is installed. The ruler is attached to the side of the bottle with the 0 millimeter mark exactly at the surface of the concrete.
S4W-Nepal volunteers record measurements from a handmade rain gauge. (Credit: S4W-Nepal)
The bottle is then a functioning rain gauge. It is installed at an unobstructed location. As precipitation falls on the outside of the inverted bottle top, it will run down into the bottle and accumulate within the bottle. After placing the gauge on a flat surface, the amount of precipitation in millimeters can then be easily read from the ruler attached to the side of the bottle.
The devices have proved useful for measuring rain during monsoon season. The high spatial resolution of the gauges has improved understanding of the differences in precipitation within the relatively small Kathmandu Valley (i.e. 227 mi2). The devices currently measure rainfall within seven percent of the standard government gauge. All readings are captured by a smartphone app called ODK, including pictures of the measurement, GPS coordinates, and the date and time.
“The Kathmandu Valley is a bowl-shaped watershed with no surface or groundwater inflow; the only inflow of water in the valley comes as precipitation,” explained Brandon Ertis, a scientist with S4W-Nepal. “Measuring water inflow is absolutely essential for water management in any area. Think about water supply as a bank account. If you don’t know how much money is coming into the account, you will not be able to safely and responsibly manage the outflows of money from that account.”
All of the S4W-Nepal data is freely available to the public online through Google Sheets. The group is developing a user-friendly web app for end users to interact with and download the data in the future. Sharing the data is an important aspect of Davids’ vision for S4W-Nepal. Part of that vision is the hope that the new wealth of data can be used to help make better water management decisions for the region.
A S4W-Nepal volunteer takes water measurements in the Kathmandu Valley. (Credit: S4W-Nepal)
“We aim for S4W-Nepal to be a research hub for young Nepali researchers by providing open source environmental data, research supervision, and technology for collecting, storing and organizing large amounts of data,” said Davids. “We are also contributing to the economy of the region.”
S4W-Nepal currently employs eight full-time Nepali scientists and engineers. The organization also provides small incentives to over 50 citizen scientists in the rural areas of the Kathmandu Valley.
“A few citizen scientists in particular are taking on greater responsibilities by measuring stream water levels, temperatures, and precipitation. In some cases, citizen scientists are even managing other citizen scientists in their areas,” said Davids. “In these cases, we are able to provide compensation that often accounts to a substantial portion of their total income.”
With full-time Nepali researchers and a network of citizen scientists in place, Davids will be moving to the Netherlands in the summer of 2018 to finish his Ph.D. at Delft University of Technology. The Nepali team is currently in the process of forming a Nepali non-government organization to continue the work.
“S4W has a three-pronged approach that includes research, education, and employment,” said Davids. “We have helped generate data, improved the understanding of rainfall, and supplied jobs and incentives to local scientists and citizen scientists. By making the data open source, we are encouraging a new generation of Nepali researchers to rise up and face the challenges before them with fact-based water management approaches.”
Top image: The MobileTracker program calculates discharge measurements from photos off staff gauges. (Credit: S4W-Nepal)
citizen sciencefeaturednews tickerRivers & Streams
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Let Slip the Dogs of War: Carillon’s Canines
A veteran of the 1758 Battle at Carillon, Charles Lee was so fond of dogs that he preferred them to most people. Major Genl Charles Lee Alexander Hay Ritchie after B. Rushbrooke, c.1840-1895 (Collection of the Fort Ticonderoga Museum, 2002.0153)
In 2016, Fort Ticonderoga invited guests to bring their leashed dogs onto our campus to enjoy the remarkable scenic beauty and historic significance of the grounds. In recent years, more and more animals have been finding their way back to Ticonderoga with the beginning of our own historic breeds program in 2015.
Animals have formed a part of the Ticonderoga landscape from the beginning of its military occupation in the eighteenth century. Horses and oxen were used by the French military to haul timber and artillery. Captain Charles Osbone of the 44th Regiment of Foot kept cattle at the fort during his tenure here in 1764, and hired the wife of a soldier to tend to them. William Delaplace, the Captain of the 26th Regiment of Foot who commanded the fort when it was taken by Benedict Arnold and Ethan Allen in May of 1775, kept a considerable quantity of livestock around the fort. These included a horse, an ox, a heifer, six cows, and forty-four sheep. These animals were here for draught purposes, riding, milk, or meat, not as pets. But, what of man’s best friend? Dogs are known to have accompanied some officers and soldiers during the wars of the 18th century. During his service as a General in the Continental Service, the Englishman Charles Lee (a veteran of the July 8, 1758 Battle of Carillon as a Captain in the 44th Regiment of Foot) was known to have a pack of his dogs with him. Dogs had been kept and used by Native Americans in Canada for centuries. During the French and Indian War, French officers were actually provided with dogs for use in towing toboggans loaded with provisions in winter, although these were clearly more for work than companionship.
Found in the ruins of Fort Ticonderoga, the dog’s owner was only recently identified as Lieutenant John de Birniere of the 44th Regiment of Foot, which garrisoned the fort from January of 1764 to June of 1765. The collar is pierced with a series of holes where leather would have been sewn over the rim. Lieutenant John de Birniere’s Dog Collar, c.1764-65(Collection of the Fort Ticonderoga Museum)
There is, however, at least one dog that may not have been a working animal that can be documented at Fort Ticonderoga. Early in the 20th century, workers recovered fragments of a broken dog collar in the ruins of the fort. Made of brass, the collar has an iron loop that passed through a corresponding slot on the opposite side of the collar to close it against the animal’s throat. The collar bears an engraving indicating the dog’s owner, although the fragment does not include the entire name, which left the owner’s identity and affiliation in question for over a century. New research into the peacetime garrisons of Ticonderoga conducted in the winter of 2017 has finally revealed his identity. The engraving “DzLieut Jno De Bdz” is all that is legible on the collar, but when searched against the British Army Lists held in Ticonderoga’s archives a match was found in Lieutenant John de Birniere. De Birniere served in the 44th Regiment of Foot, receiving his Lieutenant’s commission on August 9, 1760. The collar must have been lost at the fort between January of 1764 and June of 1765. During that time, a detachment of the 44th Regiment garrisoned Ticonderoga as well as Fort William Augustus and Oswegatchie on the Saint Lawrence River in Northern New York and Crown Point. We do not know how Lieutenant de Birniere’s dog lost its collar, nor what kind of breed it was, although given the size of the collar, it was likely a rather large dog. Its presence suggests that at least in time of peace, some officers may have kept animals with them for companionship as well as work.
You can see Lieutenant de Birniere’s dog’s collar on display during the February 16, 2019 living history event in the Mars Education Center. Your dogs are welcome to enjoy the grounds with you, just remember that unlike the 18th century, they may not go inside the buildings within the fort.
Posted in Books, Collections, Education, Exhibits, Landscape, Life Long Learning, Living History & Material Culture, Programs, Public Programs
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Grandpa’s Memory Box
Grandpa's Memory Box with support from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission
More From Grandpa’s Memory Box
Involvement of the British Empire
Poppy and Joe find out about the Empire’s contribution to the British Armed Forces, whose dead are buried in CWGC cemeteries.
The photograph shows Indian soldiers fighting with the British for their King – King George V.
At the time of the Great War, Britain had an Empire. Australia, Canada, India were all part of the Empire. So when Britian went to war, soldiers from across the Empire came along to fight with Britain.
Hidden dangers underwater in quarries!
Drones and self-driving cars!
Shaping where you live!
The British Empire sent over two and a half million men to fight during the First World War.
Bikes were sometimes used to get to the battlefields or to carry important messages. They weren’t actually used during the fighting. Soldiers could also carry equipment and supplies on their bikes.
India played a crucial role in both world wars, sending over 1.5 million soldiers.
The Neuve Chapelle Memorial in France remembers 4,700 Indian soldiers and labourers that died on the Western Front and have no known graves. The memorial is in the style of early Indian shrines – a sanctuary enclosed within a circular wall. There’s a 15 foot high column, with carved tigers on either side to guard the temple.
There’s also a memorial in India. It’s called the Delhi Memorial – or India Gate – and commemorates all Indian soldiers who died in the First World War.
The Commission also has burial sites for those from other countries who didn’t fight but who contributed to the war in other very important ways.
As well as soldiers fighting on the front line, others from the Empire helped keep them stocked up with supplies – you know food, clean clothes, ammunition – you name it! But as more and more soldiers were killed, soldiers who worked on the supply lines were sent to the front line.
So to make sure that supplies kept coming, the Britain Government recruited a labour force from other countries to help out.
The Chinese sent over 140,000 labourers to help in France and Belgium. They were known as the Chinese Labour Corps and were attached to the British Army.
They built camps, salvaged weapons and munitions from the battlefields, and carried out important repairs to roads, railways and airfields. Now whilst they weren’t here to fight, over 2,000 still died during the war.
Members of the Chinese Labour Corps are commemorated at the Noyelles-sur-Mer Chinese Cemetery at the estuary of the Somme, as well as in Plymouth, Liverpool and near Folkestone in Kent.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s memorials and cemeteries remember all the servicemen and women from all the Commonwealth countries that fought with Britain.
You can hear Grandpa’s Memory Box every weekday afternoon from 6pm!
Grandpa’s Memory Box was scripted by Tracey Mullins
Find out more about War Graves with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
> Visit the Grandpa’s Memory Box homepage
> Download the free Grandpa’s Memory Box podcast from iTunes
Playing: hesitate by jonas brothers
Why can't you build houses anywhere?
Find out why your town was built!
Kaleidoscopic Antibiotics
Different types of infections
Download the Meter Motivator checklist!
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Saling The World: Wii Fit Plus Cleans Up in Debut Week
October 9, 2009 | By Danny Cowan
More: Console/PC, Columns
Gamasutra's weekly column, "Saling The World", covers the top five sellers for every available platform in the United States, Japan, and Europe, providing an important update of sales patterns worldwide.
This week's charts, with data taken from October 8th, 2009, find Wii Fit Plus heading multiplatform software sales in the United States, as Pokemon Heart Gold and Soul Silver continue to lead in Japan.
Data for "Saling The World" comes courtesy of the public sales information on Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, and Amazon.co.jp, with sales split out for each platform and territory, and pre-orders disregarded. This results in a true sense of what games are selling worldwide on the real-time updated service, as follows:
North America: 1. Wii Fit Plus (Nintendo), 2. Wii Fit Plus with Balance Board (Nintendo), 3. Mario Kart Wii (Nintendo), 4. Wii Sports Resort (Nintendo), 5. Wii Play (Nintendo).
Japan: 1. Wii Fit Plus (Nintendo), 2. Wii Fit Plus with Balance Board (Nintendo), 3. Wii Sports Resort (Nintendo), 4. Valhalla Knights: Eldar Saga (Marvelous), 5. Forever Blue 2: Umi no Yobigoe (Nintendo).
UK: 1. Mario Kart Wii (Nintendo), 2. Wii Sports Resort (Nintendo), 3. Wii Fit (Nintendo), 4. Toy Story Mania (Disney), 5. FIFA 10 (EA Sports).
Nintendo's recently released Wii Fit Plus heads this week's North American multiplatform software sales numbers, with both the standalone edition and the Balance Board bundle outselling all competition on all platforms.
Wii Fit Plus also leads this week's sales results in Japan, while the Marvelous-published RPG Valhalla Knights: Eldar Saga finishes just behind Wii Sports Resort at fourth place.
North America: 1. Halo 3: ODST (Microsoft), 2. Red Faction: Guerrilla (THQ), 3. NBA 2K10 (2K Sports), 4. Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising (Codemasters), 5. Dead Space (EA Games).
Japan: 1. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (Square Enix), 2. Left 4 Dead -- Xbox 360 Platinum Collection (EA Games), 3. Halo 3: ODST (Microsoft), 4. Gears of War 2 -- Limited Edition (Microsoft), 5. Dream C Club (D3 Publisher).
UK: 1. FIFA 10 (EA Sports), 2. Halo 3: ODST (Microsoft), 3. Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising (Codemasters), 4. Need for Speed: Shift (EA Games), 5. Batman: Arkham Asylum (Eidos).
NBA 2K10 and Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising make a good sales impression in their first week of release in the United States, but both titles come up short against reigning chart champion Halo 3: ODST.
Red Faction: Guerrilla and Dead Space also make appearances in this week's top five, following recent price drops at Amazon. Call of Duty 4 leads in Japan, meanwhile, as EA Sports' soccer simulation franchise update FIFA 10 tops the UK charts.
North America: 1. Demon's Souls -- Deluxe Edition (Atlus), 2. Demon's Souls (Atlus), 3. Uncharted: Drake's Fortune -- Greatest Hits (SCEA), 4. NBA 2K10 (2K Sports), 5. Batman: Arkham Asylum (Eidos).
Japan: 1. Tales of Vesperia (Namco), 2. Uncharted: El Dorado no Hihou -- PlayStation 3 the Best (SCEI), 3. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (Square Enix), 4. Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 (Tecmo), 5. Demon's Souls (SCEI).
UK: 1. FIFA 10 (EA Sports), 2. InFamous (SCEE), 3. Need for Speed: Shift (EA Games), 4. Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising (Codemasters), 5. LittleBigPlanet (SCEE).
The strategy guide-bundled Deluxe Edition of Demon's Souls emerges as this week's top PlayStation 3 seller in the United States. The regular edition follows close behind at second place, as Uncharted continues to do brisk business in the weeks leading up to the release of its sequel title.
NBA 2K10 and Batman: Arkham Asylum round out this week's U.S. top five, as Tales of Vesperia, Uncharted, and Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare lead the week's results in Japan.
North America: 1. Metal Gear Solid: The Essential Collection (Konami), 2. Kingdom Hearts II -- Greatest Hits (Square Enix), 3. Madden NFL 10 (EA Sports), 4. Kingdom Hearts -- Greatest Hits (Square Enix), 5. Shadow of the Colossus (SCEA).
Japan: 1. Hakuouki: Zuisouroku (Idea Factory), 2. Clannad: Best Version -- Premium Box (Interchannel), 3. Okami -- PlayStation 2 the Best (Capcom), 4. Amagami (Enterbrain), 5. Sengoku Basara 2 -- Best Price! (Capcom).
UK: 1. FIFA 10 (EA Sports), 2. SingStar: ABBA (SCEE), 3. SingStar: Take That (SCEE), 4. SingStar: Motown (SCEE), 5. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (Rockstar).
The recent release of Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days for the Nintendo DS has spurred new interest in the franchise's first two entries for the PlayStation 2. Both titles finish among the platform's top sellers in the United States this week.
Metal Gear Solid: The Essential Collection continues to head domestic sales, meanwhile, as Madden NFL 10 remains a consistent seller from week to week.
North America: 1. StarCraft Battle Chest (Blizzard), 2. WarCraft III Battle Chest (Blizzard), 3. Diablo Battle Chest (Blizzard), 4. Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising (Codemasters), 5. The Sims 3 (EA Games).
Japan: 1. Monster Hunter Online Season 6.0 Premium Package (Capcom), 2. Nobunaga no Yabou: Tendou (Koei), 3. SimCity 4 Deluxe (EA Games), 4. BioHazard 5 (Capcom), 5. Ultima Online: Stygian Abyss (EA Games).
UK: 1. Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising (Codemasters), 2. The Sims 3 (EA Games), 3. Risen (Deep Silver), 4. Empire: Total War (Sega), 5. World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King (Blizzard).
Blizzard's StarCraft, WarCraft III, and Diablo Battle Chests finish among this week's top PC sellers in North America, thanks to a recent Amazon "Deal of the Day" promotion that dropped the prices of all three compilations.
Operation Flashpoint makes an impressive debut on PC platforms this week. The title takes fourth in domestic sales, and finishes at the top of the PC charts in Europe.
North America: 1. Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story (Nintendo), 2. Kingdom Hearts: 358/2 Days (Square Enix), 3. Scribblenauts (Warner Bros.), 4. Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box (Nintendo), 5. Mario Kart DS (Nintendo).
Japan: 1. Pocket Monsters: Soul Silver (Nintendo), 2. Pocket Monsters: Heart Gold (Nintendo), 3. Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey (Atlus), 4. Love Plus (Konami), 5. Tomodachi Collection (Nintendo).
UK: 1. Professor Layton and Pandora's Box (Nintendo), 2. Professor Layton and the Curious Village (Nintendo), 3. Scribblenauts (Warner Bros.), 4. MySims: Agents (EA Games), 5. Club Penguin: Elite Penguin Force (Disney).
Scribblenauts' popularity wanes slightly this week, as Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story and Kingdom Hearts: 358/2 Days climb to the top of this week's domestic Nintendo DS sales chart.
In Japan, Pokemon: Soul Silver and Heart Gold lead the week's overall software sales numbers across all platforms, while Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey finishes its debut week at third place.
North America: 1. Dissidia Final Fantasy (Square Enix), 2. Gran Turismo (SCEA), 3. God of War: Chains of Olympus (SCEA), 4. Resistance: Retribution (SCEA), 5. Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories (Rockstar).
Japan: 1. Macross Ultimate Frontier (Bandai), 2. Gran Turismo (SCEI), 3. Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G -- PSP the Best (Capcom), 4. Jikkyou Powerful Pro Yakyuu Portable 4 (Konami), 5. Ys Seven (Nihon Falcom).
UK: 1. Gran Turismo (SCEE), 2. FIFA 10 (EA Sports), 3. MotorStorm: Arctic Edge (SCEE), 4. Dissidia Final Fantasy (Square Enix), 5. Resistance: Retribution (SCEA).
Sony's PSP version of Gran Turismo manages a second-place finish in its first week of release in North America and Japan, and tops the week's results in the UK.
Dissidia Final Fantasy continues to head sales in the United States, while in Japan, Macross Ultimate Frontier leads over popular recent releases like Jikkyou Powerful Pro Yakyuu Portable 4 and Ys Seven.
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Difference between revisions of "Barkman, Bernard G. (1917-1990)"
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Nalos, Judy Barkman. “Dr. Bernard G. Barkman: The Story of a Country Doctor.” 2009. Web. November 2010. [http://dnalos.weebly.com http://dnalos.weebly.com].
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[[Category:Doctors]]
Latest revision as of 23:58, 14 November 2018
Dr. Bernard G. Barkman (1917-1990)
Bernard G. Barkman: family physician; born 23 March 1917 in Littlefield, Texas, USA, the second child of Martin F. Barkman (1890-1969) and Anna (Goossen) Barkman (1893-1920). On 15 December 1945 Bernard married Eva Toews (1918-2000), daughter of Peter G. Toews (1882-1972) and Katharina (Toews) Toews (1883-1977) of Steinbach, Manitoba, Canada. They had four daughters. Bernard died 22 July 1990 in Abbotsford, British Columbia (BC), Canada.
Bernard’s great-grandparents were Mennonite pioneers who came to south-eastern Manitoba in 1874. Although he was born in Texas, Bernard was raised in Clearsprings, Manitoba.
In 1945, Bernard Barkman graduated from the School of Medicine at the University of Manitoba. At that time he received an invitation from the Bethesda Mennonite Health Society, which was looking for a German speaking doctor to serve the growing Mennonite community at Abbotsford, BC. In December of that year Bernard married Eva Toews. Eva had graduated as an Registered Nurse from St. Boniface Hospital in Winnipeg. Bernard and Eva moved to Abbotsford in 1946.
His prairie farming background and early life experiences shaped who Bernard was as a person and influenced the unique way in which he practiced medicine. He was an avid student and kept up with the latest developments in medicine, but his personal style was that of an earlier time when doctors made house calls and were more involved in the lives of their patients. Bernard was in a solo practice, never had a secretary, and answered all of his own calls. When asked about this, he claimed no one would want to work the hours he worked, but in fact he enjoyed the independence of working alone. Bernard cherished his family and in spite of his busy schedule, found creative ways to spend time with them.
Bernard loved people. His patients were his friends. Bernard was always curious about their personal stories and circumstances. He had a great memory for details and people were often surprised when he would bring up things they had discussed sometimes years earlier.
Many people over the years have told stories of how Dr. Barkman prayed for them or directed them to God in the midst of their troubles. He was outspoken about his faith. Bernard had a very generous spirit and stories of his kindness and generosity abound. Before socialized medicine, he would cancel the bills of pastors, widows, missionaries, and anyone who was unable to pay. He often gave food and assistance to people in need and supported many mission causes.
Eva Barkman supported her husband faithfully behind the scenes, often giving nursing advice if he was unable to be reached. She made Bernard’s medical life possible by providing a stable loving home base and working around his busy and often unpredictable schedule.
Bernard Barkman appreciated nature and often commented on the amazing beauty of the Fraser Valley, from the surrounding mountains to roadside wild flowers. He was especially fond of roses and planted a large climbing rose bush at his office door.
Dr. Bernard G. Barkman served his community faithfully for forty-four years. During that time he delivered over 1,500 babies. His legacy lives on in the lives he touched as he ministered to the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of his many patients.
Nalos, Judy Barkman. “Dr. Bernard G. Barkman: The Story of a Country Doctor.” 2009. Web. November 2010. http://dnalos.weebly.com.
Judy Nalos
Nalos, Judy. "Barkman, Bernard G. (1917-1990)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. November 2010. Web. 16 Jul 2019. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Barkman,_Bernard_G._(1917-1990)&oldid=162430.
Nalos, Judy. (November 2010). Barkman, Bernard G. (1917-1990). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 16 July 2019, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Barkman,_Bernard_G._(1917-1990)&oldid=162430.
©1996-2019 by the Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. All rights reserved.
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'Unconscionable': Spouses vulnerable to sexual abuse under Kansas law
By Hailey Dixon, Special to The Capital-Journal
Michelle McCormick has a first-hand understanding of the physical abuse, coercive control and sexual violence that occurs within some marriages.
McCormick, program director at the YWCA Center for Safety and Empowerment in Topeka, has worked with individuals who have suffered sexual battery at the hands of their spouse, which is a growing problem across the country. According to data compiled by the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, 51.1 percent of women victims reported being sexually assaulted by an intimate partner.
Marital rape is illegal under Kansas law, but spouses are still vulnerable to other sexual abuse at the hands of a legal partner.
“As we’ve started to come to grips in our country with how much trauma and abuse occurs due to the lack of understanding or misguided beliefs about consent, it seems unconscionable to me to allow this law to stand,” McCormick said.
The Legislature failed to act on a bill this session that would have addressed this problem. House Bill 2079, sponsored by Rep. Brett Parker, D-Overland Park, would have removed a spousal exception for sexual battery in the state of Kansas.
Parker said he felt compelled to draft the bill after hearing concerns from a representative of the Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault, an organization serving six counties in Kansas and Missouri.
“They had just mentioned a few of the things that they were looking at policy-wise,“ Parker said. “They had just said, ‘Hey, this is a statute that really needs to be changed so we correct this.’ ”
The proposed legislation sends a message of support to domestic violence victims, Parker said.
“Marriage should not absolve offenders of guilt nor deprive victims of justice,” Parker said. “It is time to make this law reflect our values as Kansans.”
Rep. Stephanie Clayton, D-Overland Park, said the current law is old-fashioned.
“I think that it is a very antiquated notion that marriage equals consent,” Clayton said. “Marriage does not equal sexual consent. It does not equal that. I did not consent to my husband doing God only knows what to me when I said ‘I do.’ That wasn’t in my vows. But according to the state of Kansas, I was essentially consenting to be open to that.”
Clayton said she doesn’t think Kansans are aware of these various implications when signing a marriage certificate.
“I don’t think that people realize that when they’re planning their weddings and their receptions and sitting down with their clergymen,” she said. “They don’t realize that they are consenting to that sort of thing. So that’s the problem.”
Instead of deterring people from marriage, Clayton said, she would rather encourage Kansans to enter into a safe institution of marriage with this change.
Mary Stafford, a Kansas social worker and advocate for domestic violence survivors, said the bill would have protected people within a marriage from potential violent acts.
“House Bill 2079 sends a clear message to survivors that they are entitled to bodily autonomy, sexual boundaries and safety, and that a marriage license is not a forfeiture of their basic human rights,” Stafford said.
Victoria Pickering, MOCSA director of advocacy, said the proposed change to the law is long overdue.
“The importance of removing this language is both practical and symbolic,” she said. “Passing HB 2079 sends a clear message to Kansans — that violence is no less harmful when it happens at the hands of someone a victim loves and trusts. It sends the message that the state of Kansas has a vested interest in ensuring that our citizens are safe in their homes. I believe this is a message that truly represents our values and our priorities.”
Kate Heinen, MOCSA coordinator of community engagement, said victims often share that a partner or spouse was their abuser.
Current law is problematic, Heinen said, because a spouse can’t be charged with sexual battery, even when marriage is the only thing preventing the abuse from being a crime. She encouraged married individuals who suffer abuse to use sexual assault response centers such as MOCSA for assistance.
Parker said there were no opponents to the bill in committee hearings. He plans to reintroduce a bill centered around this consent law in the next legislative session.
“My plan is probably to get a bipartisan group to sponsor it,” Parker said.
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Armed Non-State Actors and the Human Rights Council
Completed in December 2016
As armed non-state actors play a crucial role in contemporary situations of armed violence, the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC), its special procedures and commissions of inquiry have increasingly examined their activities and accountability. However, this has been inconsistent, mirroring the different views among legal scholars as to whether to what extent and under what circumstances armed non-state actors have obligations under international law. There is thus a need to clarify the international legal obligations of armed non-state actors.
Launched in 2016, this project aimed to identify whether to what extent and under what circumstances armed non-state actors incur obligations under international humanitarian law (IHL) and international human rights (HR) law. It will thus provide guidance for a more systematic approach when addressing HR abuses and violations of IHL by those actors.
This research project was carried out by Annyssa Bellal.
Human Rights Obligations of Armed Non-State Actors: An Exploration of the Practice of the UN Human Rights Council
The publication Human Rights Obligations of Armed Non-State Actors: An Exploration of the Practice of the UN Human Rights Council highlights the current challenges related to the Human Rights Council (HRC)’s approach to armed non-state actors (ANSAs) and proposes recommendations to better address this phenomenon.
The great majority of contemporary armed conflicts are fought between states and armed non-state actors (ANSAs) or between ANSAs. Against this background, the HRC has increasingly reported on ANSAs both in country and thematic resolutions. In some sessions, the HRC has adopted resolutions that directly address one or more ANSAs. For instance, resolution S-22/1 of September 2014 specifically covered the organisation known as ‘Islamic State’ and associated groups in Iraq, and in May 2015 resolution S-23/1 considered Boko Haram in ‘affected States’.
The terminology used in these resolutions is inconsistent. It sometimes speaks of violations of human rights law and violations of international humanitarian law and at other times speaks of human rights abuses and violations of humanitarian law. The use of the term ‘abuse’ rather than ‘violation’ reflects the unclear legal regime applicable to ANSAs involved in situations of armed conflict and violence. Indeed, while the law of armed conflict also binds ANSAs, the applicability of human rights law to these actors has been controversial, given the alleged objective of human rights treaties, understood as being a body of norms only meant to regulate the relationship between states and individuals living under their jurisdiction.
The publication describes the current legal framework applicable to ANSAs. It explores the practice of the HRC and makes recommendations that may be of interest to States, NGOs, and other stakeholders, including when they negotiate resolutions at the HRC.
‘This publication demonstrates that the practice of intergovernmental organizations such as the UN strongly suggests that ANSAs must also respect human rights law when they exercise elements of governmental functions or have de facto control over territory and a population’ underlines Dr Annyssa Bellal, Strategic Adviser on International Humanitarian Law at the Geneva Academy and author of the In-Brief.
As a consequence, the In-Brief recommends not using the distinction between the terms ‘abuses’ v. ‘violations’ when assessing or denouncing the behavior of ANSAs with regard to human rights, thereby avoiding giving any impression that all categories of ANSAs, including de facto authorities, might be free of human rights obligations.
It also recommends the HRC to avoid branding ANSAs as ‘terrorist’, regardless of their nature and motivation, as this all-encompassing denomination may create difficulties and dilemmas on a both legal and policy plane.
Finally, it suggests that more research is needed to develop a shared and more comprehensive understanding of the notion of de facto authorities, and identify the content of human rights norms that might be binding on ANSAs.
An Expert Seminar to Discuss the Human Rights Responsibilities of ANSAs
Academics, civil servants and governmental representatives discussed the human rights responsibilities of ANSAs, building upon our In-Brief No. 7 Human Rights Obligations of Armed Non-State Actors: An Exploration of the Practice of the UN Human Rights Council and the Harvard Law School Program on International Law and Armed Conflict (PILAC) study on Armed Non-State Actors and International Human Rights Law: an analysis of the practice of the UN Security Council and UN General Assembly.
Participants debated selected human rights issues and ANSAs, including the prohibition of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, the right to life, non-discrimination against women, the sources of obligations, the value-added of human rights obligations by ANSAs, the role of states and international institutions like the HRC andn the UN Security Council, accountability and ANSAs' perception and engagement. The report of the seminar provides a summary of the main issues discussed, compiled thematically.
Reactions to Norms Armed Groups and the Protection of Civilians
Alice Priddy
Armed Non-State Actors: Our Work
Our Strategic Adviser on International Humanitarian Law, Dr Annyssa Bellal, participated on 28 and 29 July 2016 to the 'Transatlantic Workshop on International Law and Armed Conflict'.
How the UN Human Rights Council Addresses Armed Non-State Actors: Key Challenges and Way Forward
Ten years after the establishment of the UN Human Rights Council, our new publication highlights the current challenges related to the Council’s approach to armed non-state actors and proposes recommendations to better address this phenomenon.
Armed Non-State Actors and the Protection of Civilians
Completed in March 2010
This research project looked at the reactions to norms of more than 30 armed groups worldwide.
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Home / Sports / Miscellaneous Sports / Sports Art, Pelota, Basque Village, Spain, John Groth, Vintage Watercolor, 20th Century
⊕ Click main image below to view enlargements and captions.
Sports Art, Pelota, Basque Village, Spain, John Groth, Vintage Watercolor, 20th Century
John Groth (1902-1988)
Basque Village Pelota
American: 1970
Signed and titled upper right in image: “John Groth [19]70 Basque Village Pelota”
Stamped verso: “Copyright John Groth”
Titled Verso: “Basque Village Pelota — 2”
38.25 x 25.75 inches, image
40 x 26.5 inches, overall
Provenance: A Fort Lauderdale Collector
To see other John Groth watercolors on our site, search our site.
Colorful, freely painted watercolor on an unusually large sheet of paper, showing a game of pelota in the churchyard of a Basque village, played by Catholic priests wearing cassocks. The painting is in the typical style of John Groth, an American illustrator who worked in a loose, sketchy style he called “speed line,” stressing light and motion, not details.
For further information page down to Product Description below.
Sports Art, Pelota, Basque Village, Spain, John Groth, Vintage Watercolor, 20th Century quantity
Categories: Europe, Russia Maps & Views, Miscellaneous Sports Tags: Basque, John Groth, Pelota, sports, watercolor
This work is closely related to one appearing in John Groth’s World of Sport, a book published in 1970 and featuring Groth’s illustrations of 43 sports from around the world that are each part of a particular regional folk culture. One section depicts Basque games and includes a two-page spread of a detail from a painting titled Churchyard Pelota, dated 1969, that was done on the same size sheet of paper but as a horizontal rather than a vertical. The placement of buildings and people is virtually identical, but the one offered here appears to take place under a midday sun, while the book version is darker and bluer with strong shadows, as if in late afternoon. The accompanying text explains the subject matter: “In the summer, when Spain’s fierce sun blasts the villages, Catholic priests wrapped in their heavy cassocks can often be seen catching the hard little ball against the wall of the local church. … Certainly they play for enjoyment and for exercise, but also play to seem less remote to the young men of their parishes.” Given that the painting offered here is titled Basque Village Pelota – 2 it may be surmised that Groth produced this alternate version to try the composition in both a horizontal and a vertical format with two different lighting situations, perhaps to have both possibilities available for the book.
The Basque people inhabit a region of the Pyrenees mountain range in France and Spain. Pelota is the Spanish name for a variety of court sports popular in various parts of Europe, Mexico and South America, also known as pilota and pelote. The game shown here is a traditional Basque version, played outdoors with a wooden bat called a pala and a small rubber ball, on a court formed by the exterior wall of a building.
John August Groth was a painter and illustrator best known for his sports and war subjects. Born in Chicago, he studied at the Art Institute of Chicago. He was discovered at the age of 25 by Arnold Gingrich, founding editor of Esquire magazine, who happened by Groth’s work at an outdoor art fair and hired Groth to fill out the first issue with 17 pages of illustrations and gave him the title of art director. Groth held that position for the next four years, until he left Chicago for New York. From the beginning, Groth gravitated toward depictions of men in action, in a style he called “speed line,” in which he made gestural line renderings based on on-site sketches and fleshed out the form with freely brushed watercolors.
An adventurous spirit, Groth was an artist-correspondent during World War II, the Korean and Vietnam wars, drawing battlefield scenes from sketches made on site, and impressing no less than Ernest Hemingway, who said: “He gets to the essence of war.” Yet he was by all accounts a nonviolent man and was among the artists attending the First Congress of American Artists Against War and Fascism in 1936, along with Stuart Davis, Peter Blume and Margaret Bourke-White. In 1945, he published Studio: Europe, a collection of drawings made during World War II with an introduction by Hemingway. This book included front line battle scenes, villages, and Picasso’s studio. In 1952, Groth published Studio: Asia, a narrative and pictorial document of the Korean War and his travels to Japan, China and Indochina.
His sporting subjects included everything from boxing and baseball to the unusual sports from farflung corners of the world depicted in his book John Groth’s World of Sport (1970). These included Thai kite fighting and an assortment of chaotic and dangerous contests involving men on horseback in the Middle East, Asia and Africa. Groth’s works are in the collection of the National Portrait Gallery, the U.S. Army Center of Military History and the Naval Historical Center in Washington, the United States Air Force Collection, as well as the National Art Museum of Sport, Indianapolis.
Condition: Generally very good, the paper and colors uniformly toned overall, but still bright. Approximately one inch or less of mat burn where formerly matted, and tape residue on outer edge, all to be matted out when reframed. Formerly drymounted, with wax residue therefrom on the back, apparently stable and not affecting the work.
“Arnold Friedman.” AskArt.com. http://www.askart.com/artist/F/arnold_aaron_friedman.asp?ID=29165 (20 April 2004).
Groth, John, Pat Smith and Arnold Gingrich. John Groth’s World of Sport. New York: Winchester Press, 1970. pp. 5-10, 36-39, 150.
“John Groth.” NationalArt Museum of Sport. http://www.namos.iupui.edu/artists/groth.htm (3 March 2003).
“John Groth.” United States Air Force Collection. http://www.afapo.hq.af.mil/artists/artistsdetail.cfm?Letter=G&value=251 (20 April 2004).
“Pilota.” Wikipedia. 13 December 2006. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelota (14 December 2006).
View, New York City, by Alice Thevin, Vintage Prints
Sculpture, Male Athlete, Le Defi, The Challenge, by Eutrope Bouret, French, Antique, late 19th Century
Boxing Print, Tom Cribb, Champion of England, Prizefighter Portrait, London: 1842
Fine Art, Portraits of French Actors, 6 Antique Watercolors, 18th Century
Games & Pastimes
Sporting, Hunting, Fishing
Yachting, Sailing
Archive: Sold Sports
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Did Negligence Play A Role In Your Loved One's Death?
If you have lost a loved one due to the negligent or reckless behavior of another, you may have questions about how to pursue a wrongful death lawsuit.
At The Law Office of George O. Haskell, IV, in Macon, Georgia, we are here to explain the legal options available to you and help you pursue them to achieve compensation for your loss. To learn more, please contact us today to schedule a free initial consultation.
When Does a Wrongful Death Claim Exist?
In Georgia, a claim for wrongful death exists when a death is caused by the negligent, reckless, or intentional conduct of another person or business.
Who Has the Right to Bring the Wrongful Death Claim?
The right to bring a wrongful death claim is governed by statute (See O.C.G.A. §§ 51-4-2, 19-7-1 and 51-4-5). If the deceased was married, the right to bring the wrongful death claim belongs to the surviving spouse. If the deceased had children, the surviving spouse must also act as a representative of the children and share any recovery or settlement proceeds with the children equally, per capita; however, the surviving spouse must at least receive one-third of the proceeds, regardless of the number of children.
If the deceased was divorced or if there is no surviving spouse, then the surviving children may be permitted to bring the wrongful death claim.
If there are no surviving spouse and no surviving children, then the wrongful death claim would ordinarily pass to the parents of the deceased. If there are no surviving spouse, no surviving children, and no surviving parents, then the wrongful death claim may be brought by the executor or administrator of the deceased's estate for the benefit of the next of kin. As your wrongful death lawyer , I can help you through these steps.
What Is the Measure of Damages?
Wrongful death claims provide for monetary damages equal to the "full value of the life of the deceased." These damages would include the economic value or projected lifetime income of the deceased, as well as intangible elements such as enjoyment of life. Earning potential, life expectancy and quality of life are all important factors that must be considered when assessing damages in a wrongful death claim.
In addition to the wrongful death claim, the estate of the deceased would have a separate claim for pre-death medical expenses incurred as a result of the negligent conduct which ultimately caused the wrongful death, as well as conscious pain and suffering prior to the death and funeral expenses. This can result from a fatal car accident, a defective product or an injury sustained on other's property, such as a hotel. Contact us today to schedule a free initial consultation to discuss your options.
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Pre-existing Conditions And Personal Injury Compensation Claims
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A Track Record Of Obtaining Results
© 2019 by The Law Office of George O. Haskell, IV. All rights reserved. Disclaimer | Site Map
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New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand officially jumps into 2020 race, teases speech at Trump hotel
Posted: 9:15 AM, Mar 17, 2019
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand officially jumped in the 2020 presidential race on Sunday by declaring her Democratic candidacy with a campaign video titled "Brave Wins."
The New York Democrat launched an exploratory campaign in January, announcing it on CBS' "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," and has spent the past two months traveling to key states.
Toward the end of the two-minute long video released on Sunday , Gillibrand, speaking directly to the camera, announces she's running for president.
The video ends with an invitation to join Gillibrand at the Trump International Hotel on March 24, where she plans to deliver "her positive, brave vision of restoring America's moral integrity straight to President Trump's doorstep," her campaign said in an announcement accompanying the video.
"Our anthem calls America the home of the brave, but we don't realize that the lyrics first pose it as a question ... It asks, 'will brave win?' Well it hasn't always and it isn't right now," Gillibrand says in the video.
"Brave doesn't pit people against one another. Brave doesn't put money over lives. Brave doesn't spread hate, cloud truth, build a wall. That's what fear does," Gillibrand says over news footage, including of President Donald Trump.
"We need to remember what it feels like to be brave," she adds. "We launched ourselves into space and landed on the moon. If we can do that, we can definitely achieve universal health care. We can provide paid family leave for all, end gun violence, pass a Green New Deal, get money out of politics and take back our democracy. None of this is impossible."
"Americans are brave every day. ... And its these brave choices that inspire me to take on the fights others won't," Gillibrand says.
Gillibrand, 52, is one of six women seeking the Democratic nomination and one of six senators running for president.
She'll begin her official campaign with a trip to Michigan, a once solidly blue state that Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton lost to Trump.
Her first week as a declared candidate will include a visit to the early voting states of Iowa and Nevada, and culminate with her speech on March 24 in front of the Trump International Hotel.
Gillibrand -- whose first name is pronounced "Keer-sten" -- was a former US House representative in a heavily Republican district in New York. She was tapped in 2009 to fill Clinton's US Senate seat in New York when Clinton was named Secretary of State.
She was re-elected to the Senate in 2018 and rose to national prominence as an outspoken critic of Trump, an advocate for women's issues, and a forceful proponent of the #MeToo movement -- all of which will be central to her 2020 campaign.
In 2017, she was the first senator to call for former Minnesota Democrat Al Franken to resign from the Senate after allegations that he touched women inappropriately.
But earlier this week, Gillibrand faced claims that she mishandled allegations of sexual harassment in her Senate office.
A female Senate staffer for Gillibrand resigned in 2018 after she accused a male senior adviser of sexual harassment and felt the investigation was "poorly" handled. The accused staffer was not fired at the time for the allegations.
Gillibrand defended her office's handling of the allegations, saying that her office looked into the accusations "immediately and did a professional and thorough investigation."
Her past conservative record on immigration, guns, and gay marriage is also being scrutinized by the left and attacked by Republicans who seek to paint her as a flip flopper.
Currently, Gillibrand has yet to reach the 1% marker in polls, a Democratic National Committee requirement to be included in the upcoming 2020 debates.
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Rep. Adam Kinzinger: Iran has crossed a line – Here’s how US can respond forcefully without starting a war
By Adam Kinzinger | Fox News
Rep. Kinzinger on Iran: This is a failing country that's lashing out
As Iran threatens to breach their nuclear limit, House Foreign Affairs Committee member Rep. Adam Kinzinger says patience is needed while the regime continues to play their games.
America is currently suffering from a crisis of confidence. People are terrified that the recent rising tensions with Iran will result in World War III. The conspiracy theories do what they always do and blame America first. This doubt in the capabilities of our military and the internal divisions over the role America plays on the world stage is deeply disappointing.
Iran has crossed a line with their latest attack on the United States over international airspace, and it’s time we let the regime know that these egregiously misguided actions have very real consequences.
Some have speculated that the escalations with Iran are a direct result of President Trump’s decision to leave the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) with Iran, which was agreed upon by the Obama administration. The so-called Iran Deal of 2015 was a terrible agreement for the United States, and a treasure trove for the corrupt Iranian regime to grow in wealth and feel an emboldened sense of power to threaten our national security.
US CALLED OFF RETALIATORY STRIKE AGAINST IRAN IN LAST MINUTE: SOURCE
I fully supported the decision to leave the JCPOA and urged the Trump administration to deliver a comprehensive plan to hold Iran accountable, protect our own national security, and firmly restrict Iran’s ballistic missile weapons and nuclear program.
In the year that’s passed, Iran has been significantly weakened – from a shrinking economy to falling oil production. This downturn for Iran has clearly left the regime angry and desperate, as made evident by the series of provocations and lashing out against the United States, and our interests. But let’s remember, this is just the latest chapter in our 40-year history of Iran’s attacks on the United States and our allies.
Iran is the world’s largest state-sponsor of terrorism, with proxies operating on their behalf in Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, Iraq, and many others even in our own hemisphere. Without question, the Iranian regime continues to target the U.S. and our allies and has done so for decades.
A significant number of American troops were killed in the Iraq War directly because of Iran. A recent Pentagon report confirmed that at least 603 U.S. troops were killed in Iraq from 2003 until 2011 because of Iran-backed militants, Iranian-made IEDs, and other improvised rockets funded by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) – Iran’s military force.
Since then, Iranian-backed militias have significantly expanded in Iraq, intentionally attacking U.S. forces and targeting innocent Iraqi civilians. Their true intentions are blatant, and yet, the United States has shown incredible restraint through it all.
But now, Iran has crossed a line.
We have the ability to execute a proportional response without leading American troops to war. The U.S. could start by taking out surface-to-air missile sites, and let Iran know that we are not playing around.
The provocations by Iran are aimed at sowing chaos, both here in the U.S. and around the world. The Iranian regime took a diplomatic issue over sanctions and nuclear arsenal and responded with military actions. They felt the pressures and lashed out, and it’s time the United States show Iran that their dangerous games will not be tolerated any longer.
The U.S. military can end this desperate escalation by Iran pretty quickly, and while that’s not what we want to do, the military option must remain on the table. I certainly hope the military operation scheduled in retaliation was not called off because of a change in mind, but rather because of a tactical need. In 2013, then-President Obama notoriously canceled a strike on Syria and the ramifications from that decision are still being felt.
It’s time the people of this country remember the strength of our military and the freedoms we enjoy – freedoms and interests that are worth protecting and standing up to defend.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE BY REP. ADAM KINZINGER
Adam Kinzinger was first sworn into the U. S. House of Representatives in January 2011. He serves as the Representative for the Sixteenth Congressional District of Illinois and is a member of the House Energy & Commerce Committee. In addition, he served on the House Foreign Affairs Committee during the 113th Congress.Kinzinger served in the Air Force in both Iraq and Afghanistan. He has served in the Air Force Special Operations, Air Combat Command, Air Mobility Command, and Air National Guard. He has the current rank of Major.
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Wife of NHL great Brian Leetch, sister back in court in bar brawl case
By Ryan Gaydos, ,
Mary Beth Leetch, right, appeared in court after an alleged bar brawl. (Getty Images)
A four-month-old dispute about a $33 bar tab -- and the alleged resulting brawl -- continued this week to play out in the New York City courts for the wife of NHL great Brian Leetch and the woman's sister.
Mary Beth Leetch, 49, and Tracy Murphy, 44, are charged with attacking three Brandy’s Piano employees during a May altercation that began after Leetch and Murphy refused to pay their tab, the New York Post reported.
Prosecutors filed additional paperwork and the case was adjourned so the defendants' lawyers could file motions, according to the New York Daily News. Prosecutors appeared to still be interviewing potential witnesses to the incident.
“Hopefully when they hear both sides of the story we’ll be in good shape and we’ll get a disposition we can live with,” Murphy’s lawyer, Arthur Aidala, told the New York Daily News.
The brawl occurred May 12 when Leetch, Murphy and a third woman were asked to leave the bar, the New York Post reported. After being ejected, the group reportedly refused to pay a $33 bar tab.
When bartender Greg Goodbrod and waitress Maria Gentile attempted to usher the trio out of the bar, a clash ensued, the New York Post reported.
Goodbrod, who, with Gentile, complained of being injured in the fracas, filed a lawsuit against Leetch and Murphy, according to the New York Daily News.
Aidala said the women were also injured in the brawl.
“Both of them have bruises, scratches, lacerations, and the exact same type of injuries that the complaining victims have,” he told the New York Daily News.
Joseph Mure, Leetch’s attorney, said he was asking the district attorney’s office to investigate.
Leetch and Murphy were charged with assault, attempted assault, criminal mischief and harassment. It’s unclear whether the third woman faced any charges.
https://www.foxnews.com/sports/wife-of-nhl-great-brian-leetch-sister-back-in-court-in-bar-brawl-case
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Jordan Charges Al-Zarqawi for Terror Plot
AMMAN, Jordan – Jordan's military prosecutor indicted Abu Musab al-Zarqawi (search), one of the most wanted insurgents in Iraq, and 12 other alleged Muslim militants Sunday for an alleged Al Qaeda linked plot to attack the U.S. Embassy in Amman and Jordanian government targets with chemical and conventional weapons, government officials said.
The foiled plot was first revealed by Jordan in April.
Lt. Col. Mahmoud Obeidat summoned nine of the 13 terror suspects who are already in custody and read them the charges in the indictment, the officials told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.
Four suspects, including al-Zarqawi, are still at large and will be tried in absentia, the officials said. The trial was expected to begin in early to mid November.
Al-Zarqawi and his Tawhid and Jihad (search) group are blamed for a string of bombings and other attacks in Iraq and kidnappings and slayings of foreign hostages, including three Americans who were beheaded.
Security officials have said the militants were plotting to attack the Jordanian prime minister's office, the secret service agency, the U.S. Embassy in Jordan and other sites. Security officials and some of the detainees, in televised confessions, have said the plot was linked to Osama bin Laden's Al Qaeda network.
Azmi al-Jayousi (search), the alleged mastermind of the cell who was captured in April, has confessed to military prosecutors the group was planning a chemical attack, the officials said.
The military court is expected to grant a 10-day grace period this week for the four fugitives to surrender — a process which precedes the opening of the trial. In Jordan, charges become formal when read aloud at the opening of the trial.
The charges on seven counts include conspiring to commit terror attacks in Jordan, possessing and manufacturing explosive material and affiliation with a banned group, the officials said.
The group in question has been identified as Kata'eb al-Tawhid, Arabic for the Battalions of Monotheism, a previously unknown cell said to be linked to Al Qaeda (search).
If convicted on all counts, the defendants could be sentenced to death.
Jordan first announced in April it had foiled the terrorist plot blamed on al-Zarqawi. On April 20, four additional suspects were killed in a police shootout and most members of the Jordanian cell were arrested.
Jordanian authorities said then the suspects had plotted to use chemicals and explosives to blow up vital institutions, including Jordan's intelligence department — an attack that could have killed thousands.
Al-Jayousi, the alleged mastermind, and some other detained suspects had said in televised confessions the plot was hatched and financed by al-Zarqawi.
In an audiotape posted on the Internet in May, a man who identified himself as al-Zarqawi acknowledged his group was behind the plot in Jordan but he denied it involved chemical weapons.
U.S. officials have offered a $25 million reward for al-Zarqawi's capture. He is suspected in about a dozen high-profile attacks in Iraq, including last year's bombing of the U.N. headquarters in Baghdad. Moroccan authorities believe he may have helped guide the Madrid train bombings.
His group is believed to be behind the killings and beheadings of foreign hostages in Iraq including three Americans. U.S. and Jordanian authorities say he funded the Oct. 2002 assassination of a U.S. diplomat in Jordan.
Jordan, a key Arab ally of the United States and a peace partner to Israel, has been targeted by Al Qaeda and other terrorists. Twenty-two Islamic extremists were convicted of plotting to attack U.S. and Israeli tourists during the kingdom's millennium celebrations.
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Appeals court to weigh challenge to revised Trump travel ban
FILE - This Tuesday Sept. 27, 2016 file photo shows Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, Chief Justice Roger Gregory during an interview in his office in Richmond, Va. Gregory will preside over the full 15-judge court will hear the a lawsuit challenging President Trump's travel ban. (AP Photo/Steve Helber) (The Associated Press)
This Tuesday, May 2, 2017 photo shows the US 4th Circuit Court of Appeals building, the site of a full 15-member court hearing on President Donald Trump's revised travel ban targeting six Muslim-majority countries in Richmond, Va. (AP Photo/Steve Helber) (The Associated Press)
FILE - This Tuesday Sept. 27, 2016 file photo shows Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, Chief Justice Roger Gregory, during an interview in his office in Richmond, Va. Gregory will preside over the full 15-judge court will hear the a lawsuit challenging President Trump's travel ban. (AP Photo/Steve Helber) (The Associated Press)
RICHMOND, Va. – After a series of stinging legal defeats, President Donald Trump's administration hopes to convince a federal appeals court that his travel ban targeting six-Muslim majority countries is motivated by national security, not religion.
The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Monday will examine a ruling that blocks the administration from temporarily barring new visas for citizens of Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. It's the first time an appeals court will hear arguments on the revised travel ban, which is likely destined for the U.S. Supreme Court.
Pointing to the Republican's promises on the campaign trail to bar Muslims from entering the country, a federal judge in Maryland found in March that the policy appeared to be driven primarily by religious animus.
Attorneys for the U.S. Justice Department say the court shouldn't rely on Trump's statements, but on the text of the policy, which they say is necessary to protect the country from terrorism. The banned countries represent just a fraction of the predominantly Muslim countries worldwide, they note.
"The court should have focused on official acts, not perceived subjective motivations," the attorneys say in court documents.
The American Civil Liberties Union and National Immigration Law Center say Trump wants the courts to "blind themselves to the ample, public, and uncontested evidence" that the policy targets Muslims.
"The basic question in this case is whether the mountain of evidence that exists as to the improper motive is going to be looked at by this court or swept under the rug," said Omar Jadwat, director of the ACLU's Immigrants' Rights Project, who will argue the case Monday.
In an extraordinary move signifying the importance of the case, the 4th Circuit decided to bypass the three-judge panel that typically first hears appeals and go straight to the full-court hearing.
While the 4th Circuit was long considered one of the most conservative appeals courts in the country, it moved to the center under President Barack Obama, who appointed six of the 15 active judges.
Now, nine judges are Democratic appointees and five judges are Republican appointees. Chief Judge Roger Gregory was given a recess appointment to the court by President Bill Clinton and was reappointed by President George W. Bush.
It will likely be weeks before the 4th Circuit issues a decision. And even if the court sides with Trump, the travel ban will remain blocked unless the president also wins in another appeals court.
A federal judge in Hawaii has also blocked the six-country travel ban as well as the freeze on the U.S. refugee program. A three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals will meet next Monday to hear arguments in that case.
Audio of the 2:30 p.m. EDT 4th Circuit will be broadcast live on C-SPAN. The court will also provide a link to the audio feed on its website.
Follow Alanna Durkin Richer at http://twitter.com/aedurkinricher
Read more of her work at http://apne.ws/2hIhzDb
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Free entry to new Saatchi gallery after sponsor deal
By System Administrator February 18, 2008 12:35 pm January 29, 2015 11:58 pm
More details of the new Saatchi gallery in London have emerged over the weekend, with a sponsorship tie-up involving design art auction house Phillips de Pury.
The auction house, which has established its first London headquarters in Victoria, SW1, has, according to reports, agreed to be a sponsor of the Saatchi gallery, so that entry for visitors will be free.
The Saatchi gallery, which was previously located at County Hall, Westminster, will be re-housed at the Duke of York’s barracks, off the King’s Road in Chelsea.
It is understood that the new gallery will be dramatically different from the County Hall gallery, which critics said was unsuitable for contemporary art, with its small rooms and dark wood paneling.
The new gallery, with ‘large well-proportioned rooms and high ceilings’, will occupy the entire 6500m2 building, giving the gallery scope for a book shop, educational facilities and a café/bar.
Allford Hall Monaghan Morris has been confirmed as the architect working on the exterior and interiors of the main gallery, while Paul Davis & Partners is working on the basement.
The gallery is scheduled to open in late spring, though no official date has yet been confirmed.
Its first exhibition will be The Revolution Continues: New Chinese Art, showing more than 100 pieces by 30 contemporary Chinese artists.
February 2008 Online Projects Exhibition Interior
Hot fifty – Dame Anita Roddick
Heinz revamps desserts range
Hot fifty – Robin Levien
Hot fifty – Sir John Sorrell
Hot fifty – Sir Michael Bichard
Roger Beckett leaves DW
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About Montenegro
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Visit Cetinje
Cetinje is the symbol of Montenegrian nation and state, made in the middle ages during the war for independence and freedom. The city of honor, bravery, and loyalty towards ones country!
Since the year 1946 the official capital of Montenegro has been the city of Podgorica - a modern, dynamic, and fast-developing place situated close to the countries center, however the cultural and spiritual heart of Montenegro has always been Cetinje.
The city situated at the foot of Lovcen mountain was founded in 1482, when the ruler of that time had to find a more safe capital during the war with the Turks. The name of the city comes from the name of the river Cetina flowing through the valley. With time the city became the center of the Orthodox Church in Yugoslavia, and also the main place of the opposition against the Turkish invaders. The city was developed the most during the ruling of king Nikola I Petrovic Negus.
Nowadays Cetinje is the historical and cultural center of Montenegro. Many museums are located here, along with historical monuments, the ministry of culture and the official residence of the countries President. Three faculties of the Montenegrian University are also situated here – the faculty of fine arts, the faculty of dramatic art and the musical academy along with the oldest school of the city (1834) – the primary school of Peter II Petrovic Negus.
Unlike the coastal cities, Cetinje isn’t the center of Montenegrian tourism, however that doesn’t make its value less. There are so many things to see here for the searchers of spiritual and splendid!
The oldest point of interest is the Vlaska church, built in 1405. Old Greek frescos are held here, and the churches fence was made from 2000 trophy guns captured by the montenegrians during the battles with the Turks. An important historical monument is the Palace of king Nikola – it is now a museum with thousands of pieces of archeological, ethnographical, historical value, among which are the collection of awards, weapons, stamps, coats of arms, flags and pictures. The palace of Biljarda – a former residence of Peter II Petrovic Negus, built in 1838 – now a collection of compositions written by this famous Montenegrian ruler, poet are held here. You can also see his personal belongings, books, money and weapons.
The main sight of the city is the monastery of Cetinje. It is a place where former Montenegrian rulers sat. It was built in 1483. Here the right hand of John the Baptist is held and also the fragment of the Holy Christ along with the relics of Saint Peter of Cetinje.
The museums, archives, galleries and the art academies make Cetinje one of the most attractive places in Montenegro. A must see is the mausoleum on Lovcen mountain. It is situated 1660 m above sea level, within 15 km from Cetinje. Here lies the most famous Montenegrian ruler – Peter II Petrovic Negus. The mausoleum was created by the sculptor Ivan Mestrovic and from here opens a fantastic view of the country!
Another place with a beautiful view of Cetinje is the Eagle Mountain – here lies the founder of the Petrovic dynasty prince Danilo I. Have a look at the sculptured map of Montenegro situated not far from the monastery of Cetinje. The map was made by the Austrian officers in 1917 and you can see the detail of almost every building of that time!
One of the most picturesque small towns of Montenegro is located within 15 km from Cetnje. It is called Rijeka Crnojevica by the name of the river it stands on. The first book on Cyrillic alphabet was written here.
Cetinje is the symbol of Montenegrian nation and state, made in the middle ages during the war for independence and freedom. The city is a symbol of honor, bravery, and loyalty towards ones country!
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New York Kicks Spectrum Out Over Broken Customer Promises
By Joel Hruska on July 27, 2018 at 4:41 pm
The United States has generally allowed ISPs to run roughshod over customers. From the ISP-sponsored legislation that made building municipal broadband networks illegal in many states to Ajit Pai and the GOP’s decision to dismantle net neutrality, companies like Spectrum, Comcast, and AT&T have largely had the run of things — even though these companies are some of the most despised in the United States. But at the state level, things have just gotten surprisingly ugly, with New York State telling Spectrum to pack up and get out.
New York State has withdrawn its approval of the Charter Communications / Time Warner Cable merger because Charter (which now does business as Spectrum) has “made clear that it has no intention of providing the public benefits upon which the Commission’s earlier approval was conditioned.” The company stands accused of failing to meet deadlines, attempting to skirt its requirement to bring new service to rural addresses, its unsafe practices in the field, failure to commit to the obligations it agreed to as part of the 2016 merger, and its purposeful and deliberate attempt to obfuscate its failure to meet those obligations.
It’s about the only thing they didn’t throw.
“Charter’s repeated failures to serve New Yorkers and honor its commitments are well documented and are only getting worse,” said Commission Chair John B. Rhodes:
After more than a year of administrative enforcement efforts to bring Charter into compliance with the Commission’s merger order, the time has come for stronger actions to protect New Yorkers and the public interest…Charter’s non-compliance and brazenly disrespectful behavior toward New York State and its customers necessitates the actions taken today seeking court-ordered penalties for its failures, and revoking the Charter merger approval.
Charter has admitted that it failed to extend service to the 145,000 rural homes it was required to serve, missing its 2018 goal by more than 40 percent. It has missed every network rollout date since the merger was improved despite claiming otherwise in its own advertising.
Passing Problem
The reason Charter is in such hot water with New York State is related to the requirement that the company extend its service by 145,000 homes. In order to qualify as a newly passed home, the previous service at the address had to be either unserved (less than 25Mbps down) or underserved (less than 100Mbps) down. The individual also had to live in a less-populated area of the state. Charter first failed to meet its milestones in May 2017. A new agreement was reached and Charter submitted its progress report for all of 2017 on January 8, 2018.
Unfortunately for Charter, further investigation of its report found 18,363 addresses that Charter listed as newly passed didn’t qualify for that status. Charter was also required to remove all ineligible addresses from its reports in the future. It submitted its latest report on July 9 — and a further 22,000 ineligible passings were found in this report as well. It is not clear if there were any duplicates between the first set of 18,363 and the later set of 22,000.
Charter, in response, claims that it has done extensive work in New York City and submitted evidence of this work in quarterly filings to the Department of Public Service Staff. As the Public Service Commission notes, however:
At no point in the quarterly plan update process, or otherwise, except as now recently being contested by the Company, has Charter provided any indication that the Company has actually constructed, or ever intended to construct, any passings in the NYC area, until after it has submitted a quarterly filing.
In short, Charter seems to “find” these NYC addresses when it needs to attempt to fulfill requirements from the PSC as opposed to planning the buildouts there (and said buildouts don’t satisfy the demands of its original agreement in the eyes of the PSC itself). The company continues to insist that New York has no authority to penalize it in this fashion and that it has fulfilled the terms of its 2016 agreement.
Spectrum is required to continue to operate its buildouts in New York State for 60 days to avoid service disruptions as the state seeks another provider to take over the business.
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Gearing Up for the All-New Moon Knight in March - Part 3 of 3
Posted by Orion Petitclerc Friday, January 17, 2014
Hello once more, Fanboys and Fangirls! Welcome to the end of Dan's and my (Orion's) Moon Knight article series, and congratulations for sticking it out this far! In Part 1, we introduced you to Marvel's Fist of Khonshu, and in Part 2, we talked about our absolute favorite Moon Knight stories for you to check out in preparation for March 5th's all-new Moon Knight monthly ongoing comic book series by creative all-stars Warren Ellis, Declan Shalvey, and Jordie Bellaire. Finally, we'll get to talk about a few of Moon Knight's mention-worthy appearances in other comics and entertainment avenues and present our individual perspectives on a fan debate that has long plagued the legacy of Moon Knight. Let's get to it, then!
The Mentionables
by Orion
After everything we just went over, there's more? Oh yes, there's a lot more to Moon Knight that what we've covered in this article series, but we can't cover it all—and not all of the stories and series are sure fan favorites. There are series worth—and not worth—an honorable mention, despite their relative inferiority to Dan's and my favorites.
For instance, we have Moon Knight's run in the Secret Avengers (first series). Just as with the main Shadowland event book, Moon Knight is pushed to the side of the team to make room for a core group of characters in the spotlight. I only followed Secret Avengers in its early days for Moon Knight (and later on for Agent Venom in the team's second roster), so you can imagine how miffed I was when he got only one or two lines in per issue and little to no development. There may have been a few redeeming factors about his inclusion in the series, and I liked the series overall, but Secret Avengers just doesn't rank up there with the likes of the third series and Vengeance of the Moon Knight.
Additionally, Brian Michael Bendis' twelve-issue monthly Moon Knight (fourth series) deserves another honorable mention. At the time this series was coming out, I hated it. I firmly believe that Bendis can't write Moon Knight or Venom, and the pace at which this story was told over the span of its monthly publication didn't do it justice.
Having reread it, though, I'll give Bendis some credit. He presents a solid story, and it's enjoyable when read in one or two sittings. It loses points, however, in the classic Moon Knight department. None of Moon Knight's supporting characters were present; the setup that Bendis intended the series to do for the "Age of Ultron" cross-title event was completely unused within that event, which was a catastrophe in and of itself; Marc's struggle with Khonshu felt completely forgotten about; and all of his main alternate personalities besides Marc Spector—including Jake Lockley and Steven Grant—were utterly replaced by Spider-Man, Captain America, and Wolverine mimic personalities. He even had Buck Lime (a new supporting character) create web swingers, a star-spangled energy shield, and retractable claws for whenever he switched personalities in combat. I like my Moon Knight to stay as he is and not try to copy other heroes, thank you very much, Bendis.
Aside from the comics, though, Moon Knight has three video game appearances worth a mention, plus an upcoming appearance that will surely impress. Moon Knight's very first appearance in video games was as a playable character in the first Marvel Ultimate Alliance game, exclusively for the Xbox 360, PS3, and Wii. Unlike other playable characters, Moon Knight only got three alternate costumes as opposed to four (including his neoclassical silver suit, the Ultimate Moon Knight suit, and the Fist of Khonshu suit; see above). This game is definitely worth picking up if not for the playable Moon Knight, though.
Moon Knight also makes an awesome appearance as an NPC ally in Spider-Man: Web of Shadows for the Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, and PC, complete with his Moon Copter and craziness for Khonshu. He has a pretty bad-ass design for this game, too and was planned to have been possessed by a symbiote like other supporting heroes and villains in the game, but only the concept art for symbiote Moon Knight made the cut and was featured in the game's end credits.
The Lunar Crusader also got his own themed table for Marvel's Pinball FX 2 and Zen Pinball 2 game app series for Android, Xbox Live, Microsoft Windows, Wii U, PS3, PS4, and PS Vita as a part of the Marvel Pinball: Vengeance and Virtue expansion pack. The game features some of Moon Knight's classic villains, including Bushman, Midnight (the son of Midnight Man), Morpheus, and the Black Spectre, as well as the Vengeance of the Moon Knight design of Khonshu. The table is incredibly fun and full of classic Moon Knight dialogue and banter.
Moon Knight is set to make his debut in Marvel's second MMO game, the Marvel Ultimate Alliance-esque Marvel Heroes, on the PC as a purchasable hero. No details about the character have been released yet, but you can preorder him as part of a Deluxe Advance Pack for $129.99 or a Standard Advance Pack for $99.99, depending on how many other yet-to-be released playable characters you're willing to preorder. I'm going to wait until late February—his estimated release date in line for Game Update 2.3, and most definitely after their next hero release: Nightcrawler—and hopefully he'll only cost 400 Eternity Splinters (in-game collectible currency), which I have already accrued thanks mostly to the recent Holiday Event.
Other honorable mentions include Moon Knight's unlockable and playable minifigure in LEGO Marvel Superheroes for pretty much every last- and next-gen gaming platform on the market, and his playable character in Marvel Super Hero Squad Online for PC and OS X. The former appearance is only exciting for Moon Knight's minifigure design and unique crescent throwing darts, but otherwise he didn't get his own voice actor or any special moves outside of throwing his darts (he was pretty much your basic brawler). I can't attest to his gameplay in Marvel Super Hero Squad Online as I don't care to even try it (even if it has my two favorite Marvel vigilantes—Venom and Moon Knight—as playable characters).
Moon Knight doesn't appear in any TV shows, movies, or animations, but Marc Spector was mentioned by name as an expert on werewolves in the short-lived 2006 Blade: The Series TV show. A Moon Knight TV series was announced in 2006 as being in production, but the project fell through, and there has since been no news on the subject. Hopefully Marvel's deal with Netflix will shine a light on our Lunar Avenger for any future live-action show plans, but outside of TV, video games, and comics, you'll find little else across entertainment sources.
Now to the end of our exhaustive article series. Before we release you, though, there's a small debate we'd like to address about a stereotype concerning…
Moon Knight vs Batman
Dan's Perspective
One argument that I've seen raised quite a lot is the comparison between Moon Knight and DC's original emo child, Batman. I really must say that having paid more attention to the tone in which the subject was raised, I have no sympathy for those sorts of temper tantrums. By all means have your own preferences, but don't berate the preferences of others, right? So, when Orion suggested that we should make our own comparisons as completely biased judges on the matter, I agreed in a heartbeat!
I like Batman, I really do, but it would be false of me to say that I know my DC comics. It would otherwise be a more accurate statement if I were to say that I prefer the concept of Batman to many past series that have used it. I love some of the comics, and I love the Keaton and Bale movies. To compare Bats with the White Knight, however, is nothing more than a pissing contest.
First, the opposing Knights have completely different origins. Bruce Wayne may have been guided onto the path of vigilantism after the murder of his parents, but he wasn't a mercenary, and he didn't die at the hands of a tyrant in order to be resurrected by an ancient Egyptian god and become a living specter of bloody vengeance. Batman may be the alter ego of Bruce Wayne, but Marc Spector himself is almost mythical, like The Usual Suspects' Keyser Söze, as the alter ego of Moon Knight has come to dominate his own reality.
In favor of Moon Knight having similarities to Batman, yes, he has several vehicles resembling Batman's; you could compare the Crescent Dart to the Batarang. Ooohh, and he has a cape (actually a cloak). Well, take a look around the comic book industry. Capes and cloaks are very bloody fashionable, as are signature weapons. You won't be seeing Batman carrying a pistol, a pair of spiked brass knuckles, or a set of Hellraiser-style hooks and chains anytime soon, though. Plus, Batman dresses to blend in with the shadows; Moon Knight wants you to see him coming.
As a friend once defined the Rocky movies: it may not be the very first boxing/blood sport movie, but it's the first of its kind—a successful blueprint that has been drawn upon ever since by other filmmakers looking to ensure popularity and success. Unlike Marvel's Deadpool being compared with DC's Deathstroke (because Wade is way more entertaining and successful than Slade), Moon Knight being called a second-rate Batman is damaging to his reputation.
There will always be similarities in comics, and you can't just thank Superman and Batman. Much of the source material in this grand arena has come from ancient legend and mythology since day one. Such is the fantasy element of comic book superheroes. However, Moon Knight is truer to those sources than Batman, and he always has been. If anything, I'd compare similarities with Spawn and Grendel Prime.
So as for aesthetic similarities, there are very few! Superhuman similarities? Also very few. One of the few instances in which Batman would prove superior to Moon Knight is that although Moon Knight may be impervious to most things when the moon is full, Batman's plot armor makes him untouchable. Just as well, Moon Knight had the ability to see into the future, and he'd have seen his fans laughing off troll nerds so long as this silly argument continues to exist!
Orion's Perspective
There's so much that could be said in Moon Knight's defense against this accusation. I could write a whole essay on the topic, but I think we've tested your patience and eyesight long enough, so I'll try to keep this short for sanity's sake.
Okay, they do look like twins in these examples.
I'll give you that much.
I think the biggest issue for accusers to get past is the appearance of similarity between Moon Knight's and Batman's alter egos. When he's not dressed in black, Batman is Bruce Wayne: a millionaire playboy philanthropist (to borrow from Marvel's The Avengers film). When he's not dressed in white, Moon Knight is usually (classically) one of two characters, the most predominant being Steven Grant: a millionaire philanthropist (playboy exclusively to Marlene—not counting Echo in the fourth series). It's easy to say Steven—who is the younger of the two in publication history—is Marvel's copy of DC's Bruce, but that's where their similarities in alter egos end.
Bruce was born into his family wealth and almost naturally developed his philanthropy from it; Marc Spector wasn't born Steven Grant, nor was he born into wealth and philanthropy. Marc grew up relatively poor in a highly religious household, which he had selfishly rejected for violence and fortune. It wasn't until after his experience in the desert with Khonshu that he decided to turn his life around. He created Steven to be the man he knew Marc could never be: a caring, cultured, honorable man. He invested his riches as Steven (initially)—a false identity—not as Marc.
When it all boils down, the Moon Knight versus Batman debate is just silly. To say one copies the other is equivalent to throwing stones in a glass house. You want to talk about characters copying other characters? Batman was influenced heavily by pulp classic characters like the Shadow, Zorro, and the Black Bat—from whom he also borrows his thematic vigilantism! It all comes down to influence, not blatant imitation. Even Moon Knight borrows influence from the Shadow: they're both men with regrettable, violent pasts that define them and their mission to better themselves. They both become grim vigilantes with low-level superhuman abilities derived from their defining origin stories. No matter what they do, though, they can't seem to shake the violent history, and they both have a singular, attractive love interest as partners in (and victims to) their vigilantism. Also, that whole thing about the New 52 Joker cutting off his own face and wearing it? Totally a Moon Knight move.
Granted, Marc was wearing Bushman's face.
Influence: it defines every mainstream and derivative character in pop culture. Get over it.
In Closing: Defining the Character of Moon Knight
There are a lot of contrasts between Moon Knight’s solo series and his spells with Heroes for Hire and the Secret Avengers, and that's because, quite frankly, so many so-called heavy hitters are intellectually so far behind that Moon Knight would make most of their solo adventures look like child's play. They often are, but that's the biggest reason I can think of why you want to pick up Ellis' Moon Knight series this year. When a legend such as this states that he's going to redefine a character he’s loved from an early age, you know you have a lot to look forward to, and something that will be a serious contender with Marvel's big-name superhero books. Moon Knight will not be the watered-down version you may see in team features such as the ones I've mentioned.
Another comparison I wanted to make, and another reason I've enjoyed Moon Knight so much, is in regard to the villains of Moon Knight's colorful yet shady history. With Moon Knight being the ray of sunshine that he is (sarcasm), it's only sensible that a hero of any kind has a contrasting villain. True to character, Moon Knight, Marc Spector, Jake Lockley, and Steven Grant all seem to have had their own defining nemeses, but four stick out in my mind: Shadow Knight, the Profile, Midnight, and Bushman. All of them are intriguing and uniquely dangerous characters in their own right, especially in the eyes of our titular hero.
When you look at Shadow Knight specifically, he is a personal demon of the highest order: he's Marc's own brother, psychotically driven to find ways to kill him and take his place and power. For how crazy and sometimes demonic as Moon Knight may appear to the heroes of Marvel, he's a sweetheart in comparison to the religiously-brainwashed Randall, but the theatrical similarities and contrasts make for great comic mythology. That's a villain who cuts closer to the bone than the likes of Red Skull, Loki, or Norman Osborn could ever hope to achieve, and one who perfectly defines the necessity for a dark hero such as Moon Knight. I was reminded of that scene in the Michael Shannon movie, The Iceman, where Richard visits his brother in prison, who tells him he'll never be a true father and husband because of the monster that he really is underneath. That may ring very true of Steven Grant because of Marc Spector.
2014 could be a great year for Marvel fans, and I hope that Ellis's Moon Knight #1 marks the beginning of a long ongoing series. The chances are that if you've never read a Moon Knight comic in your life, you'll be able to start here and never look back. However, I recommend that you do look back. Moon Knight really has so much to offer, especially if you're looking for that perfect medium between glorified heavy-hitters and non-powered street-level characters; a dark and troubled personality that shines brighter than some of your most popular heroes!
Sound off, Fanboys and Fangirls! Did you survive to the end of this article? Are you excited to jump into Moon Knight's world? What are some of your favorite Moon Knight moments? Drop us a comment below, and let us know how we did! If you missed out on reading Parts 1 and 2, you can reach them here and here. Thanks again for sticking with us, and we hope you've found a new legacy to follow with us!
comics, review
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Startup Nation in Gaza? That’s the Goal of a High-tech ‘Incubator’ in the Strip
The program, supported by Google, helps Gazan geeks turn their ideas into companies that attract Arab investors
A digital rendering of a Palestinian flag sits on the screen of a laptop computer in the offices of Gaza Sky Geeks in Gaza City, on Thursday, June 25, 2015. Bloomberg
Why can't Israeli Arabs find jobs in high-tech?
The Gaza effect: In shaky economy, Arab businesses hit hardest
Israelis ignore the Gaza ghetto until the war drums are heard
Gaza may be physically cut off from the world under a blockade imposed by Egypt and Israel, but that hasn’t quashed the enthusiasm of young entrepreneurs who are getting guidance on their startups from the likes of Microsoft and Google.
Since 2011, a program called Gaza Sky Geeks has helped identify and nurture high-tech startups in Gaza, with the “incubator” launching 16 businesses, including an AirBnB-style office space app and an online publishing platform.
In a strip of land where the economy is in turmoil, with 43 percent unemployment, Gaza Sky Geeks receives a steady stream of ideas from the large number of young, tech-savvy people among the territory’s 1.95 million population.
Initially set up with the help of Mercy Corps, a U.S.-based charity, the program is supported by Google.org and pulls in experts from other companies to offer guidance and advice, such as Facebook and YouTube.
“We provide mentorship and connections to investors for their companies to grow,” said Ryan Sturgill, the program director who spends the week working in Gaza and weekends in Jerusalem with his family.
“[It’s] coaching day to day to help develop ideas into companies that can scale across the region and world,” he said.
Last year, the incubator took 22 projects under its wing, five of which were successful enough to attract wider Arab investment and one of which is now a registered company.
TebCare is a “doctors on demand” service for the Arab world, while Walk and Charge has developed a wearable insole that lets someone charge their mobile phone as they stroll along.
Tim Park, a principal software engineer at Microsoft who was recently in Gaza to provide guidance at the incubator, said many of the ideas he encountered were aimed to resolve specific shortages or challenges faced in Gaza.
Israel has restricted the passage of goods into the Gaza Strip since 2007 when it was taken over by Islamist group Hamas. The two sides have fought four wars in Gaza in the past 10 years. Egypt also keeps its single crossing with Gaza largely closed.
Lack of fuel causes blackouts for up to eight hours a day and hospitals complain of shortages in medicine and medical equipment.
Park said most of the apps developed by Gaza Sky Geeks addressed problems found in other parts of the Arab world.
“The startups are all focused on solutions that could help not just Gaza but also the pan-Arabic speaking region,” Park told Reuters. “This is great — it really helps them get to a commercially viable scale.”
So popular has Gaza Sky Geeks become among young graduates – around 60 percent of whom are estimated to be unemployed – that it has more than 2,000 people registered on its database.
One of the success stories is Baskalet (Arabic for bicycle), a studio that develops games for the Arabic-speaking world. Its first game secured more than 100,000 downloads in the first three weeks and it aims to release six new games a year.
“We want to preserve the Arab nature, the Arab culture shared by 300 million people in the Arab world,” said Basil al-Madhoun, who is in charge of public relations.
As part of that effort, Baskalet has developed a game that is akin to an Arabic version of Spider Man. But rather than Peter Parker catching the crooks, the hero is called Hanafi.
When Park and his team at Microsoft gave a talk at Gaza Sky Geeks’ offices a few days ago, dozens of would-be entrepreneurs, including many women, crammed into the space to listen.
He told them that Internet-based businesses can reach anywhere in the world and that the Arab world is a rich source of business.
“All of the companies I talked with showed the potential to become a larger enterprise given their focus on the larger Arabic speaking markets,” Park said later via email.
Required was a good education system, access to capital and a culture that accepts that many ideas will fail. Gaza has plenty of the first and third, he said, but lacks access to capital.
Israel, which borders Gaza on two sides, has earned the nickname “startup nation” for the number of high-tech businesses it has brought to market.
“The key thing that has made Israel successful is access to capital and government policies that make it very attractive to invest,” Park said. “This is the main thing that differentiates the Gaza environment from the Israeli environment.”
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Los Angeles Woman Detained After Making Bomb Threat
Arash Hashemi June 1, 2015 0
On May 20th a woman was detained on the steps of a Federal Building after telling authorities she had a bomb and triggering device. The LAPD dispatched the bomb squad and the SAWT team and a standoff ensued. A robot was dispatched to the scene and was used to deliver a phone to her but she was seen pointing and yelling at the police and pushed the phone away. The building contains a number of offices for a few federal agencies including Immigration, Homeland Security, and the IRS. The building and surrounding area were evacuated. The standoff started around 11:00 AM and ended about 2:00 PM.
The police eventually had to use force in the form of a beanbag shotgun. The woman was found to have no bomb or any other explosive device and was taken away in an ambulance. There were no details about what if anything she had been agitated about. It seems she will be facing numerous State and Federal charges and the threat to a building housing an office for Homeland Security could possibly be highlighted by authorities. There has been an increase in false claims by people made to police to get a SAWT team sent to a crime supposed crime scene. However, this does not appear to be an example of what has become known as “Swatting”. Early evidence seems to point to a mental issue of some type. Still this woman will be facing serious criminal charges and she will need an attorney to assist her.
At the Law Offices of Arash Hashemi, we provide clients with passionate and experienced representation. If you have been charged with a serious crime, such as making a bomb threat, and would like to schedule an initial consultation with a lawyer at our firm, contact us by phone at (310) 894-8548 or contact us online. We promptly return phone calls and emails. Our office is conveniently located in the Westside Towers in West Los Angeles, within minutes of Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, and Westwood. We have flexible and weekend office hours, and we will visit you in jail to discuss your case.
Picture: Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times
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Mid Century Modern Designer in Rio del Mar, CA
Looking for a Mid Century Modern Designer in Rio del Mar?
We make you re-live Nostalgia in a modern context!
About Mid-century modern
Mid-century modern (MCM) is the design movement in interior, product, graphic design, architecture, and urban development from roughly 1933 to 1965. The term, employed as a style descriptor as early as the mid-1950s, was reaffirmed in 1983 by Cara Greenberg in the title of her book, Mid-Century Modern: Furniture of the 1950s (Random House), celebrating the style that is now recognized by scholars and museums worldwide as a significant design movement.
The Mid-Century modern movement in the U.S. was an American reflection of the International and Bauhaus movements, including the works of Gropius, Florence Knoll, Le Corbusier and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe.[1] Although the American component was slightly more organic in form and less formal than the International Style, it is more firmly related to it than any other. Brazilian and Scandinavian architects were very influential at this time, with a style characterized by clean simplicity and integration with nature. Like many of Wright’s designs, Mid-Century architecture was frequently employed in residential structures with the goal of bringing modernism into America’s post-war suburbs. This style emphasized creating structures with ample windows and open floor plans, with the intention of opening up interior spaces and bringing the outdoors in. Many Mid-century houses utilized then-groundbreaking post and beam architectural design that eliminated bulky support walls in favor of walls seemingly made of glass. Function was as important as form in Mid-Century designs, with an emphasis placed on targeting the needs of the average American family.
About Rio del Mar, California
Rio del Mar is an unincorporated community in Santa Cruz County, California, United States. It is identified as one of several small communities with a combined population of 24,402 forming the unincorporated town of Aptos by the local Chamber of Commerce along with:
For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau has defined Rio del Mar as a census-designated place (CDP). The census definition of the area may not precisely correspond to local understanding of the area with the same name. The population was 9,216 at the 2010 census.
Rio del Mar to Go2 Design Studio
Mid Century Modern Design
Rio del Mar, CA
Mid Century Modern Design in Rio del Mar, CA
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Namibia to issue visa on arrival for certain countries
inke - 17. juin 2019 - Tourism
Hosea Kutako International Airport, Windhoek, Namibia. Photo: Ji-Elle
Brigitte Weidlich
Namibia will soon start issuing visas to visitors on arrival as a pilot phase. The Minister of Information and Communication Technology (MICT) Stanley Simataa announced this on Thursday, 13 June 2019. “The Cabinet has approved a submission of the Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration”, Simataa told reporters at a press conference. The exact date of commencement will be disclosed at a later stage.
The pilot will start at the Hosea Kutako International Airport (HKIA) and visitors from the following European, Arab and Asian countries can obtain their visa on arrival: Belarus, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Chile, Czech Republic, Hungary, Mexico, Moldova, Nicaragua, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, South Korea, Venezuela, Vietnam, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, Singapore and Ukraine. Visitors will be charged N$1000 (about 60 Euros) for the visa upon arrival at the HKIA.
Nationals from the following African countries can also obtain a visa on arrival at the HKIA: Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cape Verde, Cameroon, Central African Republic (CAR), Chad, Comoros, Cote d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Madagascar, Mauritania, Niger, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principé, Sierra Leone, Togo, Tunisia, Western Sahara Republic and Uganda.
Namibian authorities have however already exempted foreign nationals from visa requirements several years ago if they are travelling to Namibia on holiday. These include Angola, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Botswana, Brazil, Canada, Cuba, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Liechtenstein and Lesotho.
The same visa exemption applies for tourists from Luxemburg, Malawi, Malaysia, Mauritius, Moldova, Mozambique, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Russian Federation, Seychelles, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Kingdom, USA, Uzbekistan, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
In a second phase Namibia will phase in visa applications on arrival at the border posts of Ariamsvlei, Noordoewer, Oranjemund, Trans-Kalahari (Buitepos), Wenela, Oshikango and Walvis Bay.
The governments of Namibia and Botswana are currently also in discussions to exempt citizens of both countries from visa requirements when travelling between these two countries.
Hosea Kutako International Airport in Windhoek. Photo: FlyByNight
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Richard J. Callahan, Jr., Ph.D.
Lecturer of Religious Studies
Dr. Richard J. Callahan, Jr., is interested in the intersections of religion, cultures of work, natural resource extraction, and comparative studies of religions and globalization. He received his PhD in Religious Studies at the University of California,...
Humanities Building, Room 313
callahan@gonzaga.edu
Dr. Richard J. Callahan, Jr., is interested in the intersections of religion, cultures of work, natural resource extraction, and comparative studies of religions and globalization. He received his PhD in Religious Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and his MA in Folklore and Folklife Studies at Western Kentucky University. Dr. Callahan is the author of Work and Faith in the Kentucky Coal Fields: Subject to Dust, and editor of New Territories, New Perspectives: The Religious Impact of the Louisiana Purchase. His latest research explores a religious history of the nineteenth-century American whaling industry and its global networks of exchange in the spaces of the ocean. He is currently a fellow in Yale University’s Material and Visual Cultures of Religion program.
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S. 1847 (115th)
S. 1847 (115th): Homeland Security for Children Act
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A bill to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to ensure that the needs of children are considered in homeland security, trafficking, and disaster recovery planning, and for other purposes.
The bill’s titles are written by its sponsor.
Steve Daines
Sponsor. Junior Senator for Montana. Republican.
115th Congress, 2017–2019
Died in a previous Congress
This bill was introduced on October 4, 2017, in a previous session of Congress, but was not enacted.
Ordered Reported
A committee has voted to issue a report to the full chamber recommending that the bill be considered further. Only about 1 in 4 bills are reported out of committee.
Read Updated Text » See Changes »
Reported by Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
A committee issued a report on the bill, which often provides helpful explanatory background on the issue addressed by the bill and the bill's intentions.
Read Report »
S. 1847 (115th) was a bill in the United States Congress.
A bill must be passed by both the House and Senate in identical form and then be signed by the President to become law.
This bill was introduced in the 115th Congress, which met from Jan 3, 2017 to Jan 3, 2019. Legislation not enacted by the end of a Congress is cleared from the books.
GovTrack.us. (2019). S. 1847 — 115th Congress: Homeland Security for Children Act. Retrieved from https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/s1847
“S. 1847 — 115th Congress: Homeland Security for Children Act.” www.GovTrack.us. 2017. July 15, 2019 <https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/s1847>
Homeland Security for Children Act, S. 1847, 115th Cong. (2017).
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What Jemele Hill's Critics Don't Realize About Themselves
The ESPN anchor was admonished by the White House for telling the truth about the president and white supremacy.
Bruce Yeung/Getty Images
A lot of things died off once and for all when Donald Trump was elected president. American exceptionalism, common decency, the slightest pretense that we don’t live in a racist and sexist police state. But another major, if underrated, casualty was language itself. Forget about The Discourse; words themselves have ceased to hold their meaning, with context and connotation shifting ceaselessly at the whims of the news cycle.
That’s why it’s so hard to pin an adjective to Jemele Hill’s tweets without minimizing them. “Controversial” implies that Hill’s words weren’t dead-on. “Infamous” or “notorious” robs them of their dignity. “Explosive” describes their reception, not their substance. “Inflammatory” decries them when they in fact deserve praise. “Stinging” turns them into a burn. “Provocative” makes them all for show when their message couldn’t have been more urgent. “Political” suggests that both sides have a point. If everything is a matter of perspective, there’s no room left for simply telling the truth.
All we can agree on is that the ESPN anchor got a lot of people’s attention, including the White House press secretary, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who when asked about Hill’s comments described them as “a fireable offense.” Before Sanders’s comments—which could very easily have come at the behest of her brain-addled boss, who seems to think he has nothing better to do than fret over bad press—Hill’s had caused a stir in the world of sports. Sanders, who knew exactly what she was doing, put her in the administration’s crosshairs and made Hill national news. Special shouts to Washington Post reporter David Nakamura, who teed up Sanders with a question that was at best irrelevant, at worst inimical.
At a time when language fails us so utterly, it’s notable that Hill did nothing more than state the plain truth. Donald Trump campaigned on bigotry and xenophobia; since taking office, he’s tried to ban Muslims, ended DACA, and coddled white supremacists. This week, he refused to sign a bipartisan resolution that roundly condemned hate groups. While he may not himself be a full-fledged Nazi (a statement that passes for reassurance these days), Trump’s words and actions do nothing to disprove, and everything to back up, Hill’s plain statement of fact. This is, conveniently, what journalists are supposed to do: report and convey facts.
In our current age of alternative facts and fake news, it’s never been more difficult to make public truth-claims. The collapse of language is both symptomatic of and responsible for this epistemological crisis. You see it even from Hill’s defenders, who pointed to the First Amendment and dared her employer to fire the SportsCenter anchor and set off a debate about free speech versus workplace norms. There’s been a good deal of “why is only some people’s speech vociferously defended by the right?” but this also misses the point: Jemele Hill didn’t voice an opinion or share a perspective. She asserted the freedom of the press—a formal entity, not a wayward individual—to report (and opine) as it sees fit.
Of course, there are millions of Americans who would never admit that Jemele Hill isn’t just right but also accurate. They will tell you that Hill, and other members of the anti-Trump media, are engaged in a prolonged campaign of slander. Trump himself is endlessly fond of suing, or at least threatening to sue, publications whose coverage he perceives as hostile, as if any negativity is a violation of the public trust. In theory, it’s chilling that the White House would advocate, however offhandedly, for Hill’s dismissal. But what we really have here is a window into an administration so petty, misguided, and myopic that dressing down Jemele Hill amounts to a national priority.
In an effort to invalidate Hill’s larger point, her “critics” invoke the “stick to sports” doctrine. Athletes, coaches, and members of the media like Hill, especially African-Americans, are cast as too stupid to step outside their area of expertise. There’s also scorn for anyone who violates the safe space of sports-as-entertainment. Except at this point, Jemele Hill couldn’t “stick to sports” if she wanted to. Outspoken asshats like Clay Travis, who leads the crusade against ESPN’s so-called “liberal bias,” see the very presence of Hill—a black woman who isn’t afraid to speak her mind—as an affront. The very people insisting that Jemele Hill stay in her lane are the ones who insist on casting her as a symbol in a culture war.
"Those threatening Hill aren’t just defending the honor of their president, they’re also trying to preserve their self-image and distance themselves from Hill’s accusations."
The last thing a racist wants is to be called a racist. It blows their cover and ejects them from the mainstream; they become a liability to the cause. Even the Klan touted itself as a civic organization and neo-Nazis fomented “white pride.” The online hoards queueing up to harass and threaten Hill aren’t just defending the honor of their president, they’re also trying to preserve their self-image and distance themselves from Hill’s accusations. Ask Richard Spencer if he’s a racist and he’ll issue a full-throated denial. Admitting it would paint him as an extremist, which is a bad thing for someone who feeds off a collective need to sanitize (and gussy up) raw bigotry.
If people are outraged by Jemele Hill, it says less about their patriotism or standards for journalism than it does their desire to evade condemnation and maybe even hide from themselves. Trump supporters want to keep racism off the table because anyone who voted for Trump is, to paraphrase Ta-Nehisi Coates, either is either a white supremacist, sympathetic to white supremacy’s cause, or fine with letting white supremacy slide. In calling out Trump, Hill called out his supporters as well.
Hill had no incentive to mince words when she is already cast as an on-air firebrand; she was simply telling the truth. While it’s doubtless that Hill has long dealt with racism and sexism in her professional life, Clay Travis and his ilk—and now, the White House press secretary—have made it absolutely central to her public role. “Stick to sports,” in particular, falls apart because it’s trying to beat back the inevitable. If the right insists on using sports as a site of cultural production and a metaphor for society writ large, they’re practically demanding the other side follow suit. Like Colin Kaepernick, Jemele Hill isn’t transgressing boundaries. She’s taking up arms in a fight that’s all too often one-sided. And at this point, it’s one that’s never been more necessary.
Related Stories for GQESPNDonald TrumpPolitics
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August 01, 2013 3:32pm PT by Kimberly Nordyke
Bravo Renews 'Million Dollar Listing New York'
Million Dollar Listing
The reality show was picked up on the heels of its season finale, which drew a series-high 1.6 million total viewers Wednesday night.
Bravo has ordered a third season of Million Dollar Listing New York.
The news comes on the heels of Wednesday night's season two finale, which hit a series high of 1.6 million total viewers and 829,000 adults 18-49. Those figures mark increases of 41 and 46 percent, respectively, over the previous week's episode.
PHOTOS: Hollywood Reporter Names 10 Most Popular NYC Hotels for Entertainment Biz
Overall, the second season averaged 1.1 million total viewers and 578,000 adults 18-49, up 16 and 19 percent, respectively, from season one.
The unscripted series, produced by World of Wonder, centers on the lives and careers of real estate agents Fredrik Eklund, Luis D. Ortiz and Ryan Serhant. The trio also appeared on Andy Cohen's Watch What Happens Live on Wednesday night, drawing 920,000 total viewers and 520,000 adults 18-49. That marked the highest-rated Wednesday episode of the season to date for WWHL.
STORY: 'Million Dollar Listing New York': Fredrik Eklund Previews Wedding Episode
Bravo also said that Top Chef Masters rose 16 percent from its season premiere last week, drawing 1.1 million total viewers. In the demo, it averaged 579,000 viewers, up 18 percent.
Bravo Million Dollar Listing
Kimberly Nordyke
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Home Africa How a former hedge funder built a life-changing school in the world’s...
How a former hedge funder built a life-changing school in the world’s No. 1 failed state
How a former hedge funder built a life-changing school in the world's No. 1 failed state
By:Jonathan Starr
This idea had been with me for a long time: to start a school for really talented kids who have great potential that will otherwise go wasted. Over a decade earlier, when I was still in college, I’d entertained the idea of finding the brightest inner-city children in America and providing them a great school where they could excel. I’d even dreamed up a business plan. The significant expense of this school was to be repaid by taking a percentage of the students’ future income. This was the plan of an economics student looking to put the principles I was learning into action. I thought it was an investment beneficial to all sides. The students would know the school had every incentive to make them great because their success was required for its own survival. That it was probably “indentured servitude” and illegal was not relevant because I had just been an undergraduate tossing around ideas with my friends during a summer break.
The Abaarso School started as a blank sheet of paper I could fill in however I wanted. On the asset side, it had me, my starting donation of $500,000, more if necessary, and all my passion. That’s really all I knew I could count on. Among the liabilities was my impatience. I was set on a September 2009 start, which was just sixteen months away from my decision to build it. As there were infinite directions that I could take a school—starting grade, size, students per class, background of teachers, boarding school versus day school, curriculum selection, just to name a few—I needed to choose one.
A favorite author of mine, John Irving, once said he couldn’t begin any book until he knew the last line. From there, he worked backward to the last couple of paragraphs. He needed to know how the book sounded at the end so he could know how to get there. That’s how I filled in my blank sheet. I started at the conclusion and worked backward.
Somehow, I already knew my last line. I wanted an institution that produced great future Somali leaders for decades and even centuries to come. I wasn’t interested in a large school, and I wasn’t interested in mediocre quality. Working backward, this meant developing all-around excellence of academics and character. Given what I’d seen and heard about the Somaliland universities, this could only be fully accomplished if my students were able to continue their education abroad. The long-lasting institution part of the plan also had implications. It meant financial sustainability and independence, meaning that the school could not rely on me forever. I had my last couple of paragraphs, and with that ending the rest of the plan would fall into place. I just needed to fill in my knowledge gaps so I could write it.
There are people who get PhDs in education and work for years before running a school. I had taken one undergraduate education class at Emory, which meant I had a lot to learn. Hopefully, I could accomplish this by talking to experts. I consulted with many individuals and groups, starting with someone I knew and then following his connections as far as I could. I had a professor friend at Boston College, Gil Manzon. Gil set me up with people there. Those people led me to people at other New England colleges, and then to talented teachers at New England high schools.
One day, I gathered a group of reputable science teachers to talk through all aspects of that curriculum. Other days, I talked to college admissions officers about how they look at admissions and financial aid for international students. All of these meetings filled in my knowledge base and ultimately helped me build the business plan. I was listening to their ideas and deciding which parts contributed to reaching my specific goals, and which were legitimate ideas but not for my school.
People would like to think that there are easy right and wrong answers about best practices in education. While there were no doubt some, I was realizing that the vast majority weren’t so black-and-white, which was not to say that there weren’t right answers for your situation. New Hampshire’s Phillips Exeter Academy, a very prestigious prep school, had its own math curriculum that did not involve a single textbook. There weren’t any explanations for how to solve problems, nor did the teacher start with an instructive lecture. Rather, students learned by taking on various problems that challenged them to discover the mathematical principles.
Such “discovery learning” was a wonderful way to understand the essence of math, and it developed critical thinking throughout. On the other hand, it took longer to cover material, required a motivated student, and could only be pulled off by an excellent teacher. It also was far easier in Phillips Exeter’s small, twelve-students-per-class setting than it would be in a thirty-student-per-class public school. “Phillips Exeter Math” wasn’t the right answer for every school, but it was the right answer for Phillips Exeter. I had to consider what approach would work best for us.
I loved the idea of discovery learning, particularly because future Somali leaders were going to need great critical thinking skills. My meeting with the science teachers stressed this point, as they noted the common conflict of pushing through more content versus understanding scientific concepts. These teachers were generally against the Advanced Placement tests in science, which they believed took the joy out of science. I took this point but also needed to balance it with my desire to send students abroad for college. APs were a way to prove their ability on an international exam.
While pedagogical planning was critical, I had many other things to do. During this time of preparation, I was reading my Somali language book, studying up on Islam, and communicating with Somalis I’d met on my trip, including one who promised to take care of all local issues. From these conversations, I was planning all of the nonacademic components critical to a school, from the daily menu to student life. Here I used my end goals to produce a general framework. First I asked, “Does this contribute to developing the future leaders of the country?” Then, “What does this do to our finances?” One early conclusion from this was that our students would be eating a lot of beans.
In general, “bells and whistles,” such as gourmet food, a fancy student center, and really nice dorms, would not contribute to creating future leaders. They did, however, most definitely create a financial burden, nixing them on both of my criteria. Private schools were often heavy on the perks and extravagant “curb appeal” facilities; even SOS Sheikh School had more expensive food than I was interested in offering.
My new students would not have those perks. Even if fancy dorms and a student center were free, I didn’t want them, as I considered them more distracting than beneficial. Students should be spending time in the classroom, studying, doing extracurricular activities, playing sports, and performing community service. At the end of those activities, they could pass out in their pedestrian dorm rooms.
In the course of my investigations, I sifted through plenty of information that did not fit my end goals. I met with a woman at Harvard Business School who had been involved with the funding of schools in the Middle East. When I outlined my plan, she advised me that I was on the wrong track, saying that for $20,000, she could build a school and pay for five years of its operations. As I dug in, I realized that her financial model would essentially add another public school to the system, great for students trying to gain access to some education but impossible for the academic excellence I sought.
One clear direction was the need for highly educated teachers. I knew we needed them, but could we afford them? Finding such teachers would provide the first major challenge to my plan, pitting my goals of educational excellence and financial sustainability against each other.
The average salary for teachers in the United States was about $60,000 annually, which was completely untenable for my budget. After running various numbers, I decided that I could afford to pay only $3,000, which essentially made them volunteers at under $1/hour. In addition to this, I would cover their main expenses, flights, food, medical insurance, and housing, so the $3,000 could go toward paying down college loans or providing a little bit of savings. It wasn’t a lot of money to offer, but it was necessary to keep our costs low so that we could maximize our impact and be financially sustainable. I was sacrificing, they’d be sacrificing, and we would expect the students to respect this and give us their all. My zero-dollar salary and the teachers’ volunteer salaries would set the tone.
I didn’t fully realize it at the time, but I had stumbled onto a “virtuous cycle” financial model, which directly contrasted with the “vicious cycle” of education costs occurring in the United States today. Many in the United States have heard about and possibly gone into a panic about the rapidly increasing costs of tuition. Many colleges are also in a panic, as they know they are becoming less and less affordable. Their answer, which has its logic, is to add all the features that help compete for full-paying students. That’s why we see the five-star cafeterias, the environmentally conscious LEED certified buildings, the state-of-the-art gyms, and all the other amenities that didn’t exist a few decades ago. Of course this all leads to higher costs, which once again push up the tuition rates. The answer of college administrators is to go after the full-paying students—and the vicious cycle runs again.
What I proposed was the opposite: pay very low salaries to keep the school’s costs down and use the low costs to ensure that we get the most deserving students without worrying about their financial impact on the school. This will help the students and teachers excel, which will make it a satisfying job for teachers. Such a satisfying job means they’ll continue to take low salaries. The model could be great if I could get just a handful of takers in the first year. And if I couldn’t, well, then I figured I’d take fifteen students and teach every class myself.
There were many decisions colored by financial constraints, and I was quickly getting the sense that financially I was mostly going to be on my own for a while. At this point, potential donors just weren’t believers. I thought I could run the school for under $2,000 per student per year, which was off-the-charts low when compared to high-end international schools, but even at this low price I couldn’t imagine that the school could ever break even from tuition. Even a few hundred dollars per child was a lot for a Somali family to afford, especially since Somali families had many children.
Monetary considerations were the main reason I decided to start in ninth grade. From the standpoint of developing future leaders, I would have preferred to start younger, but I knew it would take until our students reached twelfth grade before I could show convincing results. To my knowledge, no Somaliland or Somali citizen had gotten a scholarship to a U.S. college since the ’80s. Every donor was a skeptic now, but I was betting that that would all change once the first Abaarso student stepped off the plane in America.
This post has been adapted from IT TAKES A SCHOOL: THE EXTRAORDINARY STORY OF AN AMERICAN SCHOOL IN THE WORLD’S #1 FAILED STATE by Jonathan Starr. Copyright © 2016 by Jonathan Starr. Excerpted with permission of Henry Holt & Co. For more, visit ItTakesASchool.net
Abaarso boarding school
Jonathan Starr
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Next articleSomalia president says no quick fix for nation’s woes
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Role of family unit crucial for migrant integration
Michaela Kreyenfeld and other Advisory Committee members to hold panel discussion on family integration policies.
Successful integration of refugees is only possible when the family as a unit is taken into consideration, according to a new report issued by the Advisory Committee for Family Affairs at the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth. Members of the Committee will discuss their findings in detail in a public panel discussion on January 28th, at the Hertie School of Governance.
Hertie School Professor Michaela Kreyenfeld serves as a member of the Committee, and will be participating in Thursday’s panel. She hopes to ignite conversation about the crucial role of family within the integration process. “In the debates on migration and integration up until now, there is not enough emphasis put on the families or partnerships of refugees and migrants,” she says. “Ultimately, integration into society and the workforce is only going to be successful if the family as a comprehensive entity is taken into consideration.”
For more information on the report, visit the homepage for the Committee for Family Affairs (in German).
The panel discussion will be recorded by Inforadio rbb and broadcast on Sunday, March 6th at 11:05 and 20:05, as a part of the Forum series. Additional information can be found on the event website (all in German).
About the Committee for Family Affairs
The Advisory Committee for Family Affairs at the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth has been advising Germany on policy issues related to families since 1970 through independent research projects and reports.
Michaela Kreyenfeld selected to join prestigious German sciences academy BBAW
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The gap between ambition and action in tackling global warming
Scientists and innovators must move quickly or or we will miss our climate goals, says Jan Minx.
The Paris Agreement on Climate Change has been a big surprise to many. All countries agreed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, keeping the world “well below” 2°C or even at 1.5°C of warming. By including the 1.5°C target, the Agreement has become more ambitious than many observers had expected. And the party is still not over: against the odds, countries required less than a year for the Agreement to enter into force. This seems a triumph for climate diplomacy.
However, there is to date not a good understanding of how the world could swiftly enter into a period of substantial and sustained emission reductions. Therefore, the adoption of the 1.5°C target went along with an invitation to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) to map out the state of the scientific knowledge on the 1.5°C goal in a report due in autumn 2018. A scoping meeting in Geneva in August of this year convened more than 60 experts and government officials to determine the outline of such an assessment.
While the IPCC had a pivotal role in generating a shared understanding of the nature and risks of climate change, it now needs to be more focused on responses to climate change. The costs, benefits and risks of political decisions need more systematic analysis and evaluation.
The science so far suggests enormous challenges: the remaining net amount of CO2 that can still be released to the atmosphere in order to keep temperature rise below 1.5°C is at best 200 Gigatons of CO2. With yearly emissions at around 40 Gt CO2, this leaves no more than five years at current rates of emissions. After this point, every single ton of carbon released by households, factories or cars would need to be taken back out of the atmosphere. Furthermore, countries’ pledges to reduce emissions in the short-term – the intended nationally determined contributions (INDCs) – are insufficient. In fact, the new energy infrastructure that is already in the pipeline for the coming years – most importantly coal-fired power plants – will quickly eat up the remaining budget.
The suggested outline for the IPCC Special Report on the 1.5°C goal, which is currently under discussion at the IPCC’s plenary in Bangkok, includes a separate chapter that deals with the matter of how we can address these challenges. This would mean that finally the dissonance between ambition and action would be tackled. This dissonance is especially prevalent in three areas:
First, achievement of the 1.5°C target is fundamentally dependent on our ability to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere at large-scale: the available science suggests that 10 to 25 years of current emissions will need to be stored under the Earth’s crust. If possible at all, this will require a range of CO2 removal technologies. Despite agreeing on highly ambitious climate targets, policymakers and negotiators show limited awareness of this technological dependence: none of the INDCs mentions negative emissions or carbon removal and very few have plans for advancing carbon capture and storage (CCS). So far, science has not come forward with systematic explorations of the role of carbon dioxide removal technology portfolios in climate change mitigation. How much carbon dioxide removal we need depending on alternative policy packages is still largely unexplored. For example, slower decarbonization in key sectors like transport, industry and agriculture will likely lead to a larger dependence on CO2 removal.
Second, negative emissions technologies such as carbon capture and storage and other large-scale climate change mitigation strategies have been subject to intense criticism, mostly due to the pressure on land that is needed for food and shelter for a growing world population.
Above all, however, the IPCC will need to make progress in evaluating climate and energy policies. The entire focus of the climate debate is now shifting towards the question of how the required emission reductions can be achieved quickly enough. A precondition for supporting short-term action with robust science is to learn fast what policies work well and what policies do not. Unless the IPCC manages to put a new emphasis on solving the climate change challenge right at the core of its assessments, it risks becoming increasingly irrelevant. Given the immense, almost inconceivable challenges imposed by the 1.5°C, the Special Report is the ideal starting point for this shift.
The risk is that the report will be business-as-usual, shedding little light on policy performance: the short-term features of mitigation and development pathways are present in the suggested outline, but are not prominent. It is therefore critical for the approval of the report outline to keep in mind that the Special Report does not only cover what would be needed in the second half of the century, but also takes into account the short term, including the amount of carbon-intensive infrastructure currently planned or under construction.
For the IPCC – a hybrid organization that brings together scientists and policymakers in a well-formalized dialogue – conducting insightful policy assessments will bring new challenges. Rather than deepening conflict between scientists and policymakers, finding ways to synthesise knowledge without blaming and shaming countries needs to be the focus now.
The IPCC Special Report on 1.5°C is an opportunity for the scientific community to deliver the insight needed by negotiators. An adoption of the suggested outline in Bangkok will already send the right signals to scientists and negotiators at when they meet next month in Marrakech. The time has come to bridge the gap between ambitions and action.
This article was first published on 17 October, 2016 by The Guardian.
Podcast: Making Germany's energy policy more efficient and climate-friendly
Post-Paris: Rethinking climate-related displacement
The Paris Agreement seen through a sustainability lens
The 1.5°C climate goal on the scientific test bench
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REGISTER FOR WORKSHOP
Join poets Rajiv Mohabir and Aimee Nezhukumatathil for a two-hour writing workshop during the Sunken Garden Poetry Festival’s Indian Poetry, Culture and Music Celebration, July 21.
Adults | $70
College Students | $45
Rajiv Mohabir and Aimee Nezhukumatathil will be reading at the Sunken Garden Poetry Festival in the evening.
Please note: Admission to the festival requires a separate ticket. See A Celebration of Indian Poetry at the Sunken Garden Poetry Festival for details.
For additional poetry events, see Poetry in our Calendar.
Rajiv Mohabir is an Indo-Caribbean American author of two acclaimed poetry collections — The Taxidermist’s Cut and Cowherd’s Son — and four chapbooks. He is winner of the 2015 Kundiman Prize, a 2015 PEN/Heim Translation Fund Grant, a finalist for the 2017 Lambda Literary Award in Gay Poetry, and has received fellowships from Voices of Our Nations Arts Foundation, Kundiman, The Home School, and the American Institute of Indian Studies language program. He received his MFA in Poetry and Translation from Queens College, CUNY and his PhD in English from the University of Hawai`i. Rajiv is currently on staff at Auburn University in Alabama, GA.
Aimee Nezhukumatathil is the author of four books of poetry: Oceanic; Lucky Fish, winner of the Hoffer Grand Prize for Prose and Independent Books; At the Drive-In Volcano; and Miracle Fruit. With Ross Gay, she co-authored Lace & Pyrite, a chapbook of nature poems (Organic Weapon Arts). She is the poetry editor of Orion magazine and her poems have appeared in the Best American Poetry series, American Poetry Review, New England Review, Poetry, Ploughshares and Tin House. Awards for her writing include an NEA Fellowship in poetry and the Pushcart Prize. She is professor of English and creative writing in the MFA program of the University of Mississippi.
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Barwell FC swoop to capture Guy Hadland from Nuneaton Town
A SIGNIFICANT notice of intent on the Evo-Stik Southern Premier title next season was made by Barwell FC manager Jimmy Ginnelly with the signing of vastly experienced central defender Guy Hadland from Nuneaton Town.
Mitch Irving
Hadland, 33, joins younger brother Scott, 31, for the fourth time after spells together previously at Hinckley United, Bedworth United and Brackley, the last of which they helped to the Southern division title four years ago when - as next season - Guy played under the captaincy of his sibling, a midfielder.
Guy began his career at Aston Villa and then after spells with the clubs mentioned above was with Evesham United before joining Boro in 2009.
He is described on the Nuneaton website as “definitely a big presence in the changing room and a firmly committed clubman”.
Ginnelly said: “Signing Guy is a monumental achievement for Barwell, Boro tried everything they knew to keep him.
“He will tighten things up at the back and having one in the changing rooms is bad enough but with two Hadlands it will be party time in there.”
Guy said: “I’ve had some great times at Nuneaton but joining Barwell is absolutely fantastic.
“It was an easy decision to make. Wherever I play I have to have a challenge.
“Jimmy has told me he wants to make a big push to win the league this year and I want to be part of that. This is something that Scott and I have talked about.
“It will be good working with Jimmy.”
Hinckley United FC
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The End of an Era: India Shutters its Telegraph System
After more than 160 years, India is set to shut down all telegraph services due to the rising ubiquity of smartphones, email and texting.
Sarah Pruitt
Telegraph services in India date back to 1850, when the first experimental telegraph line was established between Calcutta and Diamond Harbour. The British East India Company started using the telegraph a year later, and by 1854—when the system opened to the public—telegraph lines had been laid across the country. The telegraph continued to thrive, in India and around the world, even after Alexander Graham Bell patented the telephone in 1876. For more than half a century, telegrams were sent over cable lines, but in 1902 (capitalizing on the work of Italian inventor Guglielmo Marconi) the Indian system went wireless.
In India, as in the rest of the world, a trend toward digital communications that began with the advent of the digital computer in the 1960s, increasingly threatened the continued relevance of the telegraph. By the 1980s, the analog facsimile telegraph, perfected in the 1930s and used to send information over telephone and telegraph lines, was replaced by the digital fax machine. Fax—and later email—began to eclipse telegrams, regular mail and other earlier communications systems, a process that only accelerated with the rise of the Internet.
In the 1990s, Indian telecommunications company Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. (BSNL) took over the country’s telegraph system from the Indian postal service. But the increasing dominance of email and SMS continued to take its toll on the newly privatized telegraph. Two years ago, faced with declining revenues, BSNL instituted the first telegram price hike in some 60 years. From three or four rupees (U.S. $0.05 to $0.07) for 50 words, the price of taar shot up to 27 rupees (U.S. $0.47) for 50 words. Last March, in a last-ditch effort to cut costs, the company ceased international telegraph service. Despite these efforts to make the telegraph business financially viable, BSNL still posted losses of some 17 million rupees (U.S. $290,000) during the last two years.
When BSNL then asked the Indian government to support the telegraph again, the company was told to evaluate whether the system was still necessary. As a result, in consultation with the Department of Posts, BSNL decided to cease all services beginning July 15. A senior BSNL official told the Times of India that: “The telegram had lost its relevance. The basic idea of a taar was to send a message fast. Now SMS, fax and emails do that job. With smart phones, people send and receive emails on the move. So when we sought government support to keep the telegram alive, we were asked to decide its fate on a commercial basis and hence will now be discontinuing the service.” The company plans to shift telegraph staff members to work with its modern-day successors, including mobile services, landline telephony and broadband.
An official from India’s National Federation of Telecom Employees criticized the decision to shut down the telegraph, arguing that people in poorer areas of the country, who are unable to afford the Internet, computers or phones, still rely on telegrams. In addition, Indian courts had previously accepted only telegrams and telegram receipts as proof of evidence in civil or criminal suits.
In the age of smartphones, India is only the latest country to bid goodbye to the telegram. Western Union, the dominant telegraph company in the United States since its founding in 1856, was reorganized as the Western Union Corporation in 1988 and refocused on handling money transfers and related services. In 2006, the company shut down its telegraph services for good. On the other hand, correspondents in Sweden and the United Kingdom still use telegrams for nostalgia purposes, and a dwindling number of countries—including Russia, Canada, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, Mexico, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Bahrain—continue to offer full telegraph services.
https://www.history.com/news/the-end-of-an-era-india-shutters-its-telegraph-system
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Surfers balk at state's closure of popular Kakaako parks
By Rick Daysog and Jobeth Devera | October 10, 2017 at 8:51 PM HST - Updated August 14 at 8:11 AM
(Image: Hawaii News Now)
KAKAAKO, OAHU (HawaiiNewsNow) - The Kakaako homeless sweeps are creating an unexpected conflict on the waterfront, pitting the state's duty to ensure public safety in its parks with the public's right to access the shoreline.
On Sunday night, the state closed the entrances and parking lots to popular surf breaks at Point Panic, Kewalo Basin and Kakaako Gateway Park.
"I didn't know (Kewalos) was going to be closed. When I showed up with the gates closed, I was taken aback. I didn't expect no trespassing signs. I didn't expect that indefinite closure sign," said Rafael Bergstrom, an avid surfer and Oahu Chapter coordinator for the Surfrider Foundation.
"Those are highly used areas for recreation in the water and we want to make sure it's not closed for long."
Bergstrom worries that the shutdown will prompt surfers or paddlers to cross the Kewalo channel to access their favorite surf spots.
"If there's more and more people swimming through a channel where there are boats coming in and out, absolutely that is a safety issue," he said.
The Hawaii Community Development Authority closed the three Kakaako parks, with no clear date for reopening, saying they are no longer safe for the public.
Hawaii News Now visited the parks Tuesday afternoon. The gate to the entrance at Kewalo Basin was closed, and a deputy sheriff was guarding the entrance.
Surfer Josh Echemendia parked blocks away and walked, surfboard in hand, only to be turned away.
"It's a remarkable denial of access to such a precious resource, even for a week or two, why would they do this?" he said.
Closed gates also greeted would-be visitors to Kewalo Basin. But a few surfers were able to enter its waters by walking from the Ala Moana Beach.
"It's a hassle," said surfer Reed Nishimoto. "Normally we park 10 feet away, jump in the water and paddle out."
Others took the shutdown in stride.
"For me it doesn't bother me to clean it up but for others it's a pain and that's why it's kind of empty today," said Jenna Ishii, a North Shore native now living in San Jose, Calif.
Rick Daysog
Award-winning investigative reporter for Hawaii News Now, with focuses on banking, energy, real estate and campaign finance laws.
Jobeth Devera
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All Hepatology
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The March Toward Elastography for Assessing Fibrosis in HCV
HCV Next, April 2016
There are a number of ways to assess fibrosis in HCV, but none are perfect. The long-time mainstay of measuring fibrosis — liver biopsy — may eventually fall out of fashion in the wake of advances in noninvasive measures. The clinical community has been seeking its replacement for two decades, and has largely turned to imaging techniques. Magnetic resonance and transient ultrasound elastography have become the twin pillars of the field. HCV Next spoke with a handful of experts regarding elastography, and it became clear that addressing serum biomarkers and other scoring systems along with ongoing use of biopsy is necessary. Each method comes with drawbacks. The arguments against these various non-invasive ways of assessing fibrosis range from cost, to small sample size, to limited ability to view the liver in its entirety.
Richard L. Ehman, MD, professor of radiology and Blanche R. & Richard J. Erlanger Professor of Medical Research at the Mayo Clinic, shared the basics in an interview with HCV Next. “The main problem with biopsy is that you only sample a small section of the liver,” he said. “If the fibrosis in the liver is not homogeneous then that small sample may overestimate or underestimate the overall level of fibrosis.”
He added that different pathologists may evaluate the same biopsy specimen differently. “Plus, liver biopsy is expensive and uncomfortable for the patient,” he said.
In the mid-1990s, researchers developed a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) technique that can visualize micron-level mechanical waves propagating through soft tissue, according to Ehman. This led to development of a technology called Magnetic Resonance Elastography (MRE), which uses mechanical vibrations and MRI to generate images showing the stiffness of tissues in the body. In parallel, researchers have developed similar techniques using ultrasound technology. The most common of these devices is known as Fibroscan (Echosens).
“These are techniques for measuring the stiffness of liver. A healthy liver is very soft, while cirrhotic liver is very hard,” Ehman said. “By measuring the stiffness of liver tissue, we can detect fibrosis and estimate its severity. The importance of these techniques is that most patients with liver fibrosis do not have any anatomic changes that could be detected with conventional imaging techniques until the disease is very advanced.”
Clinicians in the U.S. rely heavily on magnetic resonance elastography (MRE), whereas various forms of ultrasound elastography are used abroad, according to SimonTaylor-Robinson, MD, PhD, clinical consul for the Faculty of Medicine at Imperial College of London. “Ultrasound contrast agents are the gold standard outside the U.S., largely because access to MR machines is less common in other parts of the world,” he said. “In the U.S., people tend not to use ultrasound.”
Even in the U.S., though, there is great variability in access to technology and approaches to assessing fibrosis, Zarine Shah, MD, MBBS, assistant professor in the Division of Abdominal Imaging, Department of Radiology at The Ohio State University Wexler Medical Center, said in an interview. “At Ohio State, we are familiar with both techniques — MR elastography and transient ultrasound elastography,” she said. “Patients with a higher clinical concern — maybe a tumor or portal hypertension — are coming in for a comprehensive evaluation, including MR elastography. But ultrasound-based elastography techniques are much more available in community centers. That seems to be the primary method outside of major academic centers.”
It is not hard to imagine, though, a time when clinicians in the U.S., and even outside the U.S., will reach that goal of accurately and consistently assessing that tricky middle stage of fibrosis. It is with this in mind that HCV Next hopes to provide an overview of where we stand in measuring liver stiffness today.
Magnetic Resonance Elastography
“We have been using MRE at the Mayo Clinic since 2007,” Ehman said. “After the FDA approved this technology in 2009, GE, Philips and Siemens produced MRI scanners that have been made available all over the world. There are about 600 centers around the world that have this technology.”
Shah acknowledged, though, that MRE is an involved procedure. “The patient is in the MRI scanner,” she said. “We place a drum or instrument on the upper quarter of the abdominal wall that creates sound waves that travel through the liver. This shows how the liver responds and how elastic it is.”
Zarine Shah
The measurement comes with an image, which is one significant advantage of this approach. “Another advantage is that we get a really large sample, a much better representation of what is really going on in the liver,” Shah said. “This procedure is not inhibited by ascites or the thickness of the abdominal wall, so we can use it in larger patients.”
MRI technology also offers advantages beyond measuring stiffness of the liver, according to Shah. “We can look at focal conditions in the liver, including tumors and underlying causes of cancers.”
Shah also discussed emerging MR technology to assess fat in the liver and how this may have implications for primary care physicians and hepatologists. “We see so many patients with underlying obesity and diabetes, conditions that lead to fatty liver disease,” she said. “We can use MR to diagnose NASH and NAFLD and then follow up to see how they improve with treatment. If we can use MRI fat quantification technology and measure the stiffness of the liver with MRI elastography, we can triage patients with simple fatty liver and those with fatty liver with inflammation (NAFLD). Those with fatty liver but no increased stiffness could then be treated by primary care providers. Patients with advanced disease (NAFLD) need subspecialty care with hepatology. This can free up hours for busy hepatologists.”
A key disadvantage of MRE over ultrasound techniques is that the procedure is more time consuming and expensive. “Also, patients who have non-MRI compatible cardiac pacemakers, aneurysm clips or other devices that are not MRI safe are not candidates for MRI,” she said.
Perhaps the biggest obstacle is cost and difficulty securing coverage, according to Shah. “There is currently not a code available to charge a patient for elastography,” she said. “This makes it challenging for the clinicians to order these studies, as this procedure may not be reimbursed by insurance.”
That said, MRE is effective. Ehman was a researcher on a study (Yin et al.) that retrospectively assessed the technical success rate and diagnostic performance of MRE. The analysis included 1,377 consecutive procedures performed in 1,287 patients from 2007 to 2010. Results indicated that hepatic MRE was associated with a success rate of 94.4%, observed in 1,300 of 1,377 cases. The researchers also reported that elastography yielded reproducible measurements (P < .0001) with a complex patient profile and multiple interpreters. No significant association was reported between BMI and success rate.
The study also included 289 patients who underwent liver biopsy within a year of undergoing elastography. Patients in that group with F3 or F4 fibrosis had significantly higher mean liver stiffness than those with F0 to F2 fibrosis (5.93 kPa ± 2.31 [standard deviation] vs. 3.35 kPa ± 1.44; P < .0001). It was reported that many factors other than fibrosis may be associated with liver stiffness, including the cause of fibrosis (viral HCV vs. NAFLD; P = .025), inflammation (severe vs. mild to moderate; P = .03) and hepatic metabolic and synthetic function (no fibrosis vs. intermediate fibrosis; P .01), according to the results. “In [a] general clinical practice environment, hepatic MRE is a robust imaging method with a high success rate in a broad spectrum of patients,” the researchers concluded. “It also shows the complex association between liver stiffness and hepatic pathophysiology.”
“This article describes our experience with clinical use of this technology since 2007,” Ehman said. “We can take a number of broad observations from these results, including that the rate of technical failure is low.”
Transient Ultrasound Elastography
Taylor-Robinson noted that a number of manufacturers, including ElastoPQ from Philips in the Netherlands and acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) elastography from Siemens in Germany, make similar devices as the FibroScan. “They resonate the liver at a different frequency and are not exactly the same as FibroScan, but the net result is the same, the outcomes are the same,” he said. “They have slightly different bells and whistles but they are still measuring liver stiffness.”
A typical scan will measure the thickness of a space 6 inches below the surface of the skin, according to Ehman. This measurement is taken 10 times.
“The FibroScan equipment does not have an imaging capability to indicate exactly where the measurement is obtained,” he said. “The newer ultrasound-based elastography technology provides cross-sectional imaging, as well as stiffness measurements.”
The addition of the image has proven of great importance, according to Ehman. “The image with ARFI is an improvement over FibroScan,” he said. “It is still a spot measurement, but you can at least see where it is being made.”
Simon Taylor-Robinson
The widespread commercial availability of ultrasound technology is a key advantage, according to Shah. “Also, it is a quick technique, relatively less expensive, and can be done without the screening measures needed for MRI safety,” she said.
Taylor-Robinson noted that ultrasound can also measure fat in the liver. “FibroScan measures fat with the CAP, or continuous attenuation parameter,” he said. “This measures diffraction across the liver. The diffraction is scattered more if there is more fat. The angles radiate differently. This is actually a surrogate measure of fat.”
An important disadvantage of ultrasound is that it can be difficult to obtain a reading in overweight or obese patients. “The most accurate reading is taken at least 2 cm deep to the surface of the liver,” Shah said. “If you have a larger patient, it’s difficult to get a reading at adequate depth. The size of the patient can be a prohibiting factor.”
Readings can also be compromised if there are ascites or fluid in the liver, according to Shah. She added that another disadvantage is that although it can measure a liver that is very soft or very stiff, it does not provide more nuanced findings. “This technology is not good at grading the level of fibrosis,” she said.
MR vs. Transient Elastography
Ehman believes that each of the techniques has a place in medical care. “They are just different ways of achieving the same goal,” he said. However, he stressed that ultrasound-based techniques have been associated with about a 15% failure rate, whereas MRI failure is 5% or less. “Essentially all of the literature shows that MRE has a higher diagnostic performance.
“That said, there are many situations where an ultrasound-based elastography technique may be very appropriate,” Ehman said. “For example, it might be used in an HIV clinic as a screening tool with low cost.”
In terms of comparisons, magnetic resonance will show a larger portion of the liver than ultrasound, while ultrasound will show a larger portion than a biopsy. “As you show more of the liver, the diagnosis gets more accurate,” Ehman said.
Portability is another advantage of the ultrasound machine, according to Ehman. “However, cost is a more complex issue than it would seem on the surface,” he said. “It will cost more to buy a FibroScan machine than it will to upgrade an MRI machine.” “Plus, an MRI machine has more capabilities. You can rule out portal hypertension and cancer, for example. It just takes a bit more imaging time to include those capabilities.”
“Something else to consider is that if you have a FibroScan, there is a standard billing code,” he added.
Serum Biomarkers
There are a number of scoring systems that clinicians use independently or in conjunction with imaging techniques to paint a clearer portrait of fibrosis. The Aspartate Aminotransferase-to-Platelet Ratio Index (APRI) model is calculated using the patient’s aspartate aminotransferase level and platelet count, along with the upper limit of normal of aspartate aminotransferase level. Like many other scoring systems, this model is not completely accurate in differentiating between intermediate from mild or severe fibrosis. “This is a good, cheap marker that is being used in the developing world,” Taylor-Robinson said.
The Fibrosis-4 score (FIB-4) is calculated using the patient’s age, AST, alanine aminotransferase, and platelet count. This, too, requires another measure — ideally an image — to be accurate. The FibroIndex uses the patient’s AST, platelet count and gamma globulin. This method has been associated with high specificity for mild or significant fibrosis, but has low sensitivity. “These are relatively simple indices,” Ehman said.
For the Forns Index, clinicians calculate the patient’s age, gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), cholesterol and platelet counts. Although this method has good predictive value in selecting patients who are not at high risk for significant fibrosis, it is unreliable in predicting advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis. It may predict response to therapy. Also, this method is not useful in patients with genotype 3 HCV.
Next is the HepaScore — also known as the FibroScore — that includes the patient’s age, sex, total bilirubin, GGT, alpha-2-macroglobulin and hyaluronic acid levels. This can be used to exclude significant fibrosis but may not be useful in predicting cirrhosis.
Richard L. Ehman
The enhanced liver fibrosis, or ELF test, is in development by Siemens and measures hyaluronic acid, procollagen III amino terminal peptide and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1.
“There is always work going on in this area,” Taylor-Robinson said. “People are looking at a number of different markers. There are biomarkers in the urine that signify cirrhosis, for example.”
To that point, Trovato and colleagues described emerging tools in assessing fibrosis in HCV, which included a cross-section of interventions, from elastography to in vitro urinary nuclear MRI. “Some of the techniques and tests described are already suitable for more widespread clinical application, as is the case with ultrasound-based liver diagnostics, but others, such as urinary metabonomics, requires a period of critical evaluation or development to take them from the research arena to clinical practice,” they wrote.
“Magnetic resonance spectroscopy in vivo is not a standard, everyday diagnostic technique,” Taylor-Robinson said. “It is primarily used for looking at underlying mechanisms at the moment. This is currently in the domain of research. We are many years from using it in primary care.”
El-Asrar and colleagues evaluated serum YKL-40, an inflammatory glycoprotein involved in endothelial dysfunction, in a cohort of 50 children and adolescents with beta-thalassemia major. They compared these findings with serum YKL-40 in 35 healthy controls, with the aim of determining the relationship of this glycoprotein to liver stiffness as assessed by elastography, markers of hemolysis, iron overload and various hemolysis-associated complications.
The results indicated a correlation between YKL-40 and liver stiffness, with the degree most pronounced among patients with F4 fibrosis (P < .001). YKL-40 also showed a positive correlation with transfusion index, ALT, lactate dehydrogenase, serum ferritin and liver iron concentration. “YKL-40 is a promising marker of cardiovascular disease and liver siderosis in [beta-thalassemia major] patients,” the researchers concluded. “The combination of YKL-40 and [transient elastography] provides a reliable method to assess hepatic fibrosis in young [beta-thalassemia major] patients.”
“In general, this is an area that is unfolding,” Ehman said. “There is a place for all of these indices, even in the North American population where elastography techniques are leading the charge.”
For Taylor-Robinson, the ultimate goal would be a panel of markers that are 100% discriminatory. “There have been a lot of papers exploring this, but nothing has been fully validated,” he said.
Other Comparisons
Much of the literature in this field involves comparing and combining various imaging modalities and scoring systems. Dyvorne and colleagues prospectively compared MRI to transient elastography and serum markers for the detection of fibrosis in a cohort of 60 patients with liver disease. MRE yielded the strongest correlation with the stage of fibrosis (r = 0.66; P < .001), inflammation grade (r = 0.52; P < .001) and collagen content (r = 0.53; P = .036). For the detection of F2 to F4 fibrosis, MRE was most effective, followed by transient elastography, dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI, diffusion weighted MRI and APRI score. MRE was also most effective in detecting F3 to F4 fibrosis.
“You have to think about it in terms of what you are looking at,” Shah said. “Can you assess advanced fibrosis or not? Ultrasound does a pretty good job of it, but can it provide level of detail? It just doesn’t match up with MRI in that scenario.”
Cabibi and colleagues studied correlations between histochemical stainings and transient elastography in assessing fibrosis in a cohort of 111 consecutive patients with chronic HCV. The staining methods included Masson’s trichrome, Sirius Red and orcein stainings. The three staining methods demonstrated concordant results for 89.6% of cases in staging HCV. This result included no significant difference in semiquantitative and quantitative evaluations of fibrosis, according to the findings. Transient elastography findings were concordant with orcein levels in 86.5% of patients and concordant with Masson’s trichrome and Sirius Red in 77.5% (P < .001). The researchers concluded that the three staining methods are almost concordant with transient elastography, but that when there is discord, orcein staining is the closest to the ultrasound technique. “This suggests that elastic fibers play a more important role than reticular or collagenous ones in determining stiffness values in [HCV],” they wrote.
The Future of Liver Biopsy
All of this raises the question of whether biopsy has been left behind, or will be left behind. “The rates of biopsy have gone down considerably, but there is still a need for it,” Ehman said. “Typically it is used when other tests don’t provide a clear answer, when there is still some question as to what is going on.”
Shah took a slightly different stance. “There is so much strong evidence moving in the direction of [magnetic resonance] and ultrasound elastography,” she said. “Let’s not biopsy patients if we have a way around it.”
She added that the cost of biopsy is comparable to the cost of MRI. “But this is an invasive procedure with a whole list of complications, so you have to expect some downstream costs associated with biopsy,” she said.
Kucharska and colleagues explored avenues beyond biopsy for assessing liver disease in hemophiliacs who acquired the disease in the 1980s. “It is therefore highly likely that many of them, more than 20 years after the infection, have developed advanced liver disease,” they wrote. “Until recently, in order to assess its severity, it was necessary to perform a liver biopsy.” They described the developments in noninvasive measures of this disease, including elastography and algorithms based on blood parameters. They concluded that the ease of use of these methods can help direct patients efficiently into an appropriate course of therapy.
“It is important to remember the ultimate goal of all of this intervention,” Taylor-Robinson said. “We are trying to achieve [sustained virologic response] in patients with HCV.”– by Rob Volansky
Cabibi D, et al. Anal Cell Pathol (Amst). 2015; doi:10.1155/2015/431750.
Dyvorne HA, et al. Liver Int. 2016; doi:10.1111/liv.13058.
El Asrar MA, et al. Blood Cells Mol Dis. 2016; doi:10.1016/j.bcmd.2015.09.006.
Kucharska M, et al. Adv Clin Exp Med. 2015; doi:10.17219/acem/22913.
Trovato FM, et al. World J Hepatol. 2015; doi:10.4254/wjh.v7.i26.2664.
Yin M, et al. Radiology. 2016; doi:10.1148/radiol.2015142141.
Richard L. Ehman, MD, can be reached at 200 First St. SW, Rochester, MN 55905; email: ehman.richard@mayo.edu.
Zarine Shah, MD, MBBS, can be reached at 395 W. 12th Avenue, Room 476, Department of Radiology, Columbus, OH 43210; email: zarine.shah@osumc.edu.
Simon Taylor-Robinson, MD PhD, can be reached at Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, 10th Floor QEQM Building, St. Mary’s Hospital, Praed Street, London W2 1NY; email: s.taylor-robinson@imperial.ac.uk.
Disclosures: Ehman serves as president and CEO of Resoundant Inc., a company established by the Mayo Clinic to produce MRE technology available to patients around the world. The Mayo Clinic and Ehman have intellectual property rights and financial interest in the technology. Shah and Taylor-Robinson report no relevant financial disclosures.
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Laura Hogensen
Behind the Scenes at HSG
In 2019, HSG Campaigns created multiple mail pieces for United Teachers Los Angeles in support of Jackie Goldberg. This was a special election for an open seat on the Board of the Los Angeles United School District. After winning the primary, Jackie Goldberg moved on to the runoff election. Both candidates were Caucasian in a majority Latino district. We created a unique mail piece entitled: “We Support Jackie.”
For the front, we used pictures of Latino leaders Maria Elena Durazo, Dr. Cynthia Gonzalez, and Dolores Huerta. This was an extremely low turnout election, and it was critical to engage the high propensity Latino voters with direct mail. On the back of the piece, we featured quotes by all three figures, along with their Spanish translations.
Jackie Goldberg won the special election in a landslide, with 71.6% to 28.4%. Latinos were a key voting demographic and effective voter contact was central, and bilingual direct mail was necessary.
"Why I Chose HSG Campaigns"
“We hired HSG Campaigns as subcontractors on a big project. They were fantastic to work with: thorough in their approach to the campaign; communicated well; and maintained a positive attitude throughout. We ended up increasing their role in the project. I look forward to the next time I will get to work with them.”
— Rick Ridder, President and Co-Founder, RBI Strategies’’
This week Mike is recommending the miniseries "Chernobyl" available on Amazon Prime and HBO.
“Chernobyl” is a historical drama that tells the story of the 1986 nuclear disaster. The series reveals the complexities and corruption of Soviet Union politics, and the struggle to reveal hard truths against censorship. “Chernobyl” is also heavily science based and explains in detail the operations of a nuclear power plant and the devastating biological effects of radiation. This series is probably the closest to an apocalyptic horror film that a true story can be.
-Eric, Mike, and Matt
Is Biden Bound to Win?
Former Vice President Joe Biden has finally entered the race and for the first time this year, we have a true front runner for the Democratic nomination.
The former Vice President is well known for delivering his message to audiences in a blunt and straightforward style that many voters appreciate. He also has a unique backstory that highlights his rise from the working class, the same type of voters that turned away from the Democratic Party in 2016.
In the primary, Joe Biden has distinct advantages and weaknesses. As the Vice President to Barack Obama, Biden developed a close relationship with the African American community. In 2020, this will be a strong advantage in the Southern primary states. In addition, Biden’s strong establishment support can give him an advantage in the early states.
Biden’s road to victory in 2020 could be a repeat of Hillary Clinton’s in 2016: Winning the big states plus states with high numbers of minorities.
However, because of Biden’s decades of experience in Washington, he also faces the disadvantage that comes with it. Several of Biden’s past positions on the economy, criminal justice, and social issues are clearly out of step with today’s Democratic Party. Many on the political left do not see Joe Biden as one of them, and that a “return to normal” does not go far enough. Also, he is currently 76 years old, and would be the oldest President ever elected. Some of the younger candidates may counter that although they have respect for Joe Biden, these politically tense times call for a new generation of leadership.
For more reading on Joe Biden's primary campaign, click here
“Why I Chose HSG Campaigns”
"Blending innovative products with top-notch service, HSG Campaigns has the experience every candidate needs to help shape their winning campaign. When I ran for Los Angeles City Council, Eric and his team went above and beyond to support my campaign from Day One to Election Day. With that level of dedication and service, I strongly recommend them for your campaign."
— Joe Buscaino, Los Angeles City Council Member, District 15
This week Mike is recommending the book "What If" by Robert Cowley.
"Imagine if the Americans lost the Revolution, or if the Allies lost World War 2. Or if the outcome of major battles swung the other way or if important leaders died too early? “What If” is a fascinating collection of multiple essays that play out the game of history to see what could have happened. The book covers a wide range of time, from ancient history to the 20th century, and the essays differ in scope from amusing results to troubling outcomes. For any lover of history, “What If” is a great read for those who wonder if fate was just a bit different."
So, let me start this off with an introduction of myself. My name is Ali Brown, and I was born and raised in Indiana. I am a queer, feminist, pro-union, pro-equality, Hoosier Democrat. We exist, and yes, there are more of us than just Mayor Pete and myself. I am running for City-County Council in Indianapolis. And I have been friends with Pete Buttigieg for more than a decade.
I want to tell you why I am an enthusiastic Pete Buttigieg supporter and have been for a very long time.
Pete and I first met in 2008 when we both worked for former Congresswoman Jill Long Thompson on her historic run for Governor. She was, and sadly the only, woman to ever receive a major party’s nomination for Governor in Indiana. I was a Regional Field Director and Pete worked on economic development policy. I was 22 and Pete, just 25.
My first impression was that he was nice, but a little shy and very smart. I didn’t know how smart at the time (he speaks 9 languages, plays 12 instruments, and is a Rhodes Scholar), but when you first meet Pete, there is a confidence in the way he answers questions that someone only develops because they have studied the material. He drove the policy for the campaign. It was, and still is, one of the most progressive policy platforms that has ever been put together in Indiana.
In 2010, I really saw Pete blossom. He ran for State Treasurer to both move our state forward and to advocate for much needed transparency in our one party dominated state, and to fight for our auto workers. Indiana has more than 100,000 people working in jobs directly tied to the auto industry and our Treasurer at the time had sued to stop President Obama’s auto bailout. Pete made the livelihoods of those workers the centerpiece of his campaign. He became a champion for the worker. He didn’t win that race — 2010 was really, really bad for Democrats in Indiana — but he traveled the state, met tons of people, and developed his calm, confident style.
Pete ran for mayor of South Bend the next year. He won a crowded primary that included a state representative and people who were much better known in the community. Pete won because he talked with everyone, he made everyone feel heard, and he brought a bold vision to a city that had been decimated after so many industrial jobs left. He gave them hope.
Pete has been an excellent mayor. The people of his city really like him. The people of Indiana really like him. He represents the best in Hoosiers. He’s smart and of good character. Most of all, he is kind. That’s what leads me to be a strident Pete supporter: his kindness.
In the summer of 2016, the Indiana Democrats had their annual weekend gathering in French Lick (yes, it’s a real place). It’s one of those gorgeous old hotels that makes me think of the hotel in Dirty Dancing. There are a lot of social events that happen during the weekend and party work is done. I was 5 months pregnant with my son at the time meaning I was very uncomfortable and very hot. I decided to go to the pool by myself and try and cool off.
I was standing alone in a crowded pool, just chilling and letting my belly float, when I hear “Hey Ali!” come from behind me. It was Pete, holding a virgin strawberry daiquiri. He said he could tell I was hot and wanted to bring me something. We stood there in the pool, chatting. He introduced me to his boyfriend at the time, Chasten. He wouldn’t let me buy the next round.
That’s Pete in a nutshell. He saw me, looking uncomfortable and hot, and thought “how can I make her life better?” and he did. He asked for nothing in return.
I will always be there for Pete, because Pete was and is there for me. He took time from his busy tour to catch up with me and make a video endorsing my run for office, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jy_QT6R0iaY.
I’m very excited for you all to meet Pete.
Ali Brown is a candidate for Indianapolis City-County Council District 5 and a client of HSG.
Brown is running to be a voice for working parents and to fight for access to affordable childcare, public safety and complete streets, workforce development, and mass transit. As City-County Councilor, Brown will prioritize issues effecting Indy’s workforce development, families, and children, in order to ensure that working parents have a champion on the Council.
Brown lives with her husband, Zach, their son, Dylan, and their dog Franklin, in Northeast Indianapolis. To learn more about Ali Brown and her campaign, visit www.aliforindy.com.
When we wanted to get the word out about two important ballot measures, we went to HSG Campaigns. They worked with us to develop a great plan that included digital advertising and texting, allowing us to reach tens of thousands of voters in a short amount of time. They were very responsive and proactive. Both measures successfully passed. I highly recommend HSG Campaigns for your next ballot measure campaign.
— Alyssa Gutierrez, Executive Director, Economic & Policy Impact Center
This week Matt is recommending the television series "Ozark," available on Netflix.
"This is one gripping thriller that always has me on the edge of my seat. Jason Bateman does a phenomenal job with his acting throughout the story. He portrays a financial planner from Chicago who ends up laundering money to appease a drug cartel from Mexico. There are also many twists and turns throughout the show that make you want to stay engaged until the very end. I definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys a dark drama."
- Matt
Text Messaging For Campaigns
In today’s political campaigns, the use of text messaging has become a common tool. Not only is text messaging fast and easy, but it can be cheaper than other forms of communication. Over the past decade, text messaging has been used to remind voters to get out and vote, send event alerts, organize volunteers, and mobilize the youth vote. However, with many different options and software available for text messaging, it can be challenging to choose one that works best for your campaign. Here are some options we like.
ThruText
ThruText is a texting program that allows you to upload lists of numbers to text and lists of volunteers who can message them. The program is not an app, but web-based, and so can be used on a computer or on a phone. ThruText allows you to write texts and create automated replies. Also, you can include survey questions to measure the support of a candidate or to ask if they are able to volunteer. ThruText charges .08 cents for each outgoing text. Lastly, ThruText can easily export the messaging data and the survey questions for useful analysis.
Ten More Votes
Ten More Votes is an application for your smart phone that allows volunteers and staff to effortlessly canvass, text, and call voters directly without any formal training needed. The application allows you to either upload your own data to be used or Ten More Votes can provide you with the necessary information. Also, Ten More Votes charges a flat monthly fee for unlimited text message usage. With a simple and clear interface to use on the app, text messages can be sent at a high rate of 10 messages per minute.
The Risks of Texting
Although texting can be an efficient tool for campaign outreach, texting can also be misused. Recently in Wisconsin, an individual recently sent out mass texts to support a specific candidate for Alderman. These texts included false information about the candidate’s opponent as well as racist comments to others causing issues in the campaign. Read more here: https://www.theroot.com/crazy-wisconsin-candidate-claims-racist-text-messages-w-1833000686
“HSG Campaigns is a great resource for campaigns and organizations to use in a grind. They are able to do a wide scope of work and give you the tools you need to make the right decisions. When it comes to direct mail, digital ads, or scripts, HSG is among the best in creative, on-target content. I know from working with them that I can trust them to work through nearly any time constraint and limitation. I highly recommend them for your next campaign or project.”
— Jeff Gozzo, California Senate Democrats
This week Eric is recommending the television series "The Expanse," available on Amazon Prime.
"Game of Thrones in space isn't a bad description of this interesting and addicting show. Set mostly in space 200 years from now, this show was a welcome distraction from the daily grind. There's also first contact with a new life form called the protomolecule that really puts the show into Lost territory. It's on Amazon Prime and worth checking out if you need a good distraction. I enjoyed it."
- Eric
California: The Battleground Primary
With the first presidential primaries already less than a year away, it’s no secret that candidates are eyeballing ways to influence and capitalize on voters and delegates in the first voting states. With California’s primary being moved up to Super Tuesday, this makes for an interesting fight in a state that has traditionally been non-competitive for presidential candidates.
Here are three trends to watch as all-important California presidential primary develops.
1. Mass Communication
California has 500 delegates to acquire and because California’s geography is so diverse, it takes more resources use mass communications such as TV and digital ads. This kind of political spending can be extremely costly for any candidate low on resources early in the primary season. How and when to start media communication in a state with the most expensive media market will be a critical development to watch.
2. Ballot Harvesting
Ballot harvesting is another practice that California’s unique political landscape now allows for. This tactic can be extremely beneficial for any candidate who has a well-organized operation that can target voters, collect their ballots, and keep track of how many their operation needs to capture to hit their mark. This practice is new to California and could play a significant role in the 2020 presidential primary.
3. Progressives vs. Moderates
California - like many other states - has had a divide between the progressives moderate Dems. This divide has complicated the Democratic Party and will be a key factor for the presidential candidates looking to gain support in California.
“As a new candidate, HSG Campaigns was so helpful to my campaign. They helped coach me and show me how a campaign should be run, and they produced great mail and other media to support me. HSG Campaigns knows how to win!”
— Marisol M. Uribe, Board Member, Montebello Unified School District
This week Mike is recommending “Through the Language Glass” by Guy Deutscher.
"How much does your language influence the way you think? By looking at the history of linguistics, author Guy Deutscher analyses how we have thought about language’s power over time. He compares words and grammar to show how the way we think is either restricted or improved by the language we happen to use. This is a fun and interesting read that alters the way you think about the world."
The 2020 Democratic Primary Begins
1) Kamala Harris
The media is ready to jump-start the 2020 campaign tonight by featuring a CNN town hall with Kamala Harris. The Senator from California entered the race with a bold launch, raising $1.5 million in the first 24 hours. As an African American/Asian woman, she has a unique appeal to multiple groups. Since California is an early primary state, Kamala Harris has a strong path toward becoming a front-runner.
2) The Women’s Vote
The women’s protest and movement against President Trump has undoubtedly inspired many women to seek higher office. For the first time in U.S. history, there will be more than one major female candidate running for office in a presidential primary. Kamala Harris, Elizabeth Warren, and Kirsten Gillibrand are all high-profile Senators who will make the first debate more diverse than before.
3) The Biden Factor
A big question for the 2020 Democratic primary is: Will Joe Biden run? In 2016 he took a pass due to the seemingly inevitability of Hillary Clinton, but many believe that he would have easily defeated Donald Trump. However, his 1988 and 2008 campaigns were lackluster, and Joe Biden would be 77 on Election Day 2020.
4) Elizabeth vs. Bernie
Ever since his surprisingly strong performance in 2016, Bernie Sanders has been considered the next frontrunner for the party’s left. But Elizabeth Warren is actively appealing to his base with strong arguments against inequality and detailed plans to tax the wealthy. Sanders’ entry in the race could decide who will be the Democratic Party’s “true leftist.”
“Running for office is a lot of work, and there is a lot of negativity you will have to face. Eric and his team are up for the challenge if you are. I can tell you from experience that they will work hard, organize quickly, and will collaborate closely with you. I cannot recommend them enough.”
— Keri Kropke, Board Member, Brea Olinda Unified School District
This week Mike is recommending "The World Until Yesterday." by Jared Diamond.
“The advances in technology have happened so quickly that we forget that it was ‘only yesterday’ that we all lived in traditional societies. These cultures had radically different practices on how they raised children, cared for the elderly, resolved conflicts, and more. Jared Diamond doesn’t glorify the past or champion the present; instead he explains valuable lessons that we can learn from traditional societies.”
Our Take on the Midterms
With the 2018 elections behind us, it's time to reflect on what happened, what didn't happen, and what it all means for our country going forward.
(1) Pay no attention to the spin: Democrats were the winners.
Donald Trump went into full media-narrative combat mode Wednesday to convince us that it was a good night for Republicans. And in a few races it was. But overall, Democrats were the clear winners Tuesday night, taking back the House with a strong margin as well as many wins in key state races. We also padded our bench with fresh new talent for elections to come.
(2) The "Blue Wave" rhetoric lost us the expectations game.
Election Night pundits made comments about how the blue wave "crashed early", and it was underscored by a few disappointments in the Senate and in Florida. But the expectations pundits had were frankly ridiculous. Beto O'Rourke and Stacey Abrams weren't long shots, they were full-court shots, and they both hit the rim. Democrats won plenty of races they wouldn't have in most years, including House races in Kansas and Utah.
(3) The real victories were in the statehouses.
The period of redistricting after the 2010 Census and midterms had a devastating impact on our party's performance these last eight years. Taking back the U.S. House of Representatives was important, but the long-term victory will be the flipping of 6 state legislative chambers and several governor's mansions. But we're going to need more statehouse victories in 2020. Besides defeating Trump, this should be our top priority moving forward.
(4) There's a geographic divide over #MeToo.
On the coasts and in urban areas, the Kavanaugh hearings were seen very differently than they were seen in the South and the agricultural Midwest. Their votes against Kavanaugh cost Claire McCaskill, Heidi Heitkamp, and Joe Donnelly their Senate seats. The one Democrat who voted for him was re-elected in West Virginia. Throughout October, we heard even Republicans in coastal states take Ford's side and even Democrats in rural states take Kavanaugh's. While we're far from understanding this divide, we see it clearer than ever.
(5) There's a clear realignment taking place.
Every election cycle, political scientists like to ask themselves if a "realignment" in the electorate is underway, and it happens basically anytime a chamber or office changes parties. But it really does seem to be happening under Trump. Rural districts across the country have been gradually going red over the last few decades, but until recently many could still reliably elect Democrats. Now suburban districts are starting to consistently go to Democrats. Most surprisingly, southern suburban seats, like those around Atlanta, Houston, and Dallas, flipped blue last week. Higher education levels in a district used to correlate with higher Republican support. Now it's the opposite. This may be the most significant legacy of Donald Trump.
"As a new candidate, HSG Campaigns was so helpful to my campaign. They helped coach me and show me how a campaign should be run, and they produced great mail and other media to support me. HSG Campaigns knows how to win!"
— Marisol M. Uribe, Board Member-Elect, Montebello Unified School District
We have been proud to work with the Monetebello Teachers Association over the years, as well as their endorsed candidates in 2018. Among them was Marisol, who took first-place in her first election last week. The Montebello Unified School District has had its share of problems these last few years, which is why we are proud to have helped elect an educator and reformer. Good luck, Marisol!
This week Dave is recommending "The Storm Before the Storm: The Beginning of the End of the Roman Republic" by Mike Duncan.
"I am excited to be starting my first podcast in 2019. One of the podcasters who got me interested in the medium was Mike Duncan, whose book comes from the many notes he compiled for his History of Rome podcast.
The book focuses on the generations that came before the fall of the Republic, and the politics of that time (which eerily mirror our politics today): '...rising income inequality, dislocation of traditional ways of life, increasing political polarization, the breakdown of unspoken rules of political conduct, the privatization of the military, rampant corruption, endemic social and ethnic prejudice, battles over access to citizenship and voting rights, ongoing military quagmires, the introduction of violence as a political tool, and a set of elites so obsessed with their own privileges that they refused to reform the system in time to save it.'"
Thank You, Dave!
If you have worked closely with HSG Campaigns in the past, you have probably worked with our Managing Director, Dave Broker, who is moving on after ten terrific years at our firm. Dave has been a tremendous asset to us, and I wish him all the best of luck moving forward.
Dave will soon be launching a podcast about the Industrial Revolutions and the world-upending impact they've had on our society, our politics, our work lives, and all other facets of our lives. He's a smart guy with interesting stories, so I am really looking forward to hearing it!
If you would like to receive information about the Industrial Revolutions Podcast when it becomes available, please click here to email Dave and let him know.
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IAS ABHIYAN II UPSC IAS ONLINE PREPARATION > Environment Special > Connect4Climate
July 9, 2018 July 9, 2018 IAS ABHIYAN
Connect4Climate is a global partnership program launched by the World Bank Group and the Italian Ministry of Environment, Land and Sea, together with the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, that takes on climate change by supporting ambitious leadership, promoting transformative solutions and empowering collective action.
The Connect4Climate community connects about 500 partners around the world including civil society groups, media networks, international organizations, academic institutions, youth groups, and the private sector.
Communication for Development has a key role to play in raising awareness and in building coalitions that amplify advocacy efforts among policy-makers, the private sector, and grassroots communities. It is a fundamental tool for sharing knowledge in a culturally sensitive manner and appropriate language, managing expectations, and changing perceptions and attitudes, toward the necessary behavior change.
It was with these principles in mind that the Ministry of Environment and Territory of the Government of Italy established the Communication for Climate Change Multi-Donor Trust Fund (CCC MDTF) at the World Bank in January 2009. In 2014, the CCC MDTF was honored to announce the addition of a new donor to the Trust Fund program; The Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) of Germany.
Note: “Connect4Climate” and “Communication for Climate Change Multi-Donor Trust Fund (MDTF)” are used interchangeably
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Current: Dr. Franklin L. Miles
Dr. Franklin L. Miles
Location: 403 West Franklin Street, Elkhart (Elkhart County, Indiana)
Installed: 2007 Indiana Historical Bureau, Elkhart County Historical Society Radiology Inc., and Ruthmere Foundation Inc.
ID# : 20.2007.2
Born circa 1845 in Ohio. Graduated from Rush Medical College 1874. Moved medical practice from Chicago to Elkhart 1875. Began The Dr. Miles Medical Company 1885 to sell Dr. Miles' Nervine, Restorative Nerve and Liver pills, and other medicines; Miles was a Director and President of company. Purchased land here, on corner of Fourth and Franklin, 1900.
Began Dr. Miles New U.S. Weather Almanac and Handbook of Valuable Information 1902. Incorporated Grand Dispensary Medical Company 1904; sold drugs and diagnosed patients by mail. Miles moved to Florida 1906; became a farmer. Medical Company's original incorporation was dissolved 1912. Miles died 1929; is buried in Grace Lawn Cemetery, Elkhart.
Business, Industry, and Labor , Medicine
Annotated Text
Born circa 1845 in Ohio. (1) Graduated from Rush Medical College 1874. (2) Moved medical practice from Chicago to Elkhart 1875. (3) Began The Dr. Miles Medical Company 1885 to sell Dr. Miles' Nervine, Restorative Nerve and Liver pills, and other medicines; Miles was a Director and President of company. (4) Purchased land here, on corner of Fourth and Franklin, 1900. (5)
Began Dr. Miles New U.S. Weather Almanac and Handbook of Valuable Information 1902. (6) Incorporated Grand Dispensary Medical Company 1904; sold drugs and diagnosed patients by mail. (7) Miles moved to Florida 1906; became a farmer. (8) Medical Company's original incorporation was dissolved 1912. (9) Miles died 1929; (10) is buried in Grace Lawn Cemetery, Elkhart. (11)
(1) Franklin Lawrence Miles was born November 15, 1845 in Olmsted Falls, near Cleveland, to Charles Julius and Electa Lawrence Miles. "Dr. Miles Dead in Florida, " Elkhart Truth, April 1, 1929 (B050288); Martha M. Pickrell, Dr. Miles: The Life of Dr. Franklin Lawrence Miles: 1845-1929 (Carmel, Ind., 1997) (B050023) cited U.S. Census, school records, and County histories (B050198), (B050201), (B050206), (B050207) as having conflicts on birth date, but 1845 appears to be correct.
Miles moved to Indiana circa 1860 to live with his father, a storeowner in Elkhart. Pickrell, 5 (B050023) cited Family correspondence.
(2) Thirty-Second Annual Announcement of Rush Medical College (Chicago, 1874), p. 16 (B051093). Arthur W. Hafner, Fred W. Hunter, and E. Michael Tarpey, eds., Directory of Deceased American Physicians: 1804-1929, Vol. 2 (Chicago, 1993) (B051094).
(3) Miles began a private eye and ear practice in Chicago, 1874, then in Elkhart, 1875. "Round Town, " Elkhart Observer, May 6, 1874 (B050372) and "Round Town, " Elkhart Observer, May 12, 1875 (B050373).
(4) The Dr. Miles Medical Company, of Elkhart, was incorporated on October 28, 1885 initially to sell Dr. Miles' Nervine, Restorative Nerve and Liver Pills, Tonic, and Blood Purifier. Incorporation Papers, The Dr. Miles Medical Company, Indiana State Archives, 58-D-2, Box 51, packet 1103-18 (B051061); William C. Cray, Miles, 1884-1984: A Centennial History (Elkhart, Ind., 1984), 266 (B050167); Elkhart City Directory, 1890 (B050294), 1904-1905 (B050295). Cray's book carries many illustrations (drawings and photographs) of Dr, Miles' offices and factories in Elkhart, on pp. 3, 11, 14, 16, 17, 19, 20, 22, 32, 40. It also provides, mostly unsourced, historical background for his medical business ventures.
Perhaps the widest known drug manufactured by the company that Miles founded was Alka-Seltzer. The first use of the drug was December 20, 1930. The Alka-Seltzer name was registered as a trademark with the United States Patent and Trademark Office June 9, 1931. United States Patent and Trademark Office, http://tess2.uspto.gov, accessed December 5, 2006.
(5) Elkhart County Recorder, Deed Record, 103, p. 380 (B051095). The deed shows that Miles purchased lot 211 of Second South and Western Addition to the town of Elkhart on September 17, 1900 for $9, 500 subject to the payment of taxes. Ogle, George A., Standard Atlas of Elkhart, Indiana (Chicago, 1915), p. 19. The atlas confirms that lot 211 is the same as 403 W. Franklin, Elkhart, IN. This is the address where the marker will be installed.
(6) To support advertisements for his companies, provide weather service, and dispense advice and information on various topics, Dr. Miles published his Dr. Miles New U.S. Weather Almanac and Handbook of Valuable Information, 1902-1938.
The 1904 edition of the Dr. Miles New U.S. Weather Almanac (B050332) and William C. Cray, Miles 1884-1984: A Centennial History (Englewood Cliffs, NJ, 1984) 265 (B050167) claimed the first edition of the Almanac appeared in 1902.
Publication of the Almanac ended in 1942. Cray, 265 (B060167) and National Library of Medicine, Time, Tide, and Tonics: The Patent Medicine Almanac in America: Almanacs at NLM, www.nlm.nih.gov/hmd/almanac/almanacs.html#M (accessed 2/19/2007) (B051098).
Dr. Miles New Weather Almanac, 1904-1938 issues in Indiana State Library (B050332).
(7) Miles founded The Grand Dispensary Co., of Elkhart and Chicago; it was incorporated in 1904 to dispense drugs and medical advice through the mail; it closed in 1922. Index to Articles of Association and Incorporation on file in the Office of Secretary of State, Indiana State Archives (B051063); Nostrums and Quackery, 3 vols. (Chicago, 1912-1936), 2:147-48, 521-24 (B050281); Pickrell, 85 (B050023), Cray, 4 (B050167).
(8) Miles and his family moved to Florida in 1906 to regain his health. Pickrell, 65-66 (B050023); Pickrell cited Lee County Recorder, Fort Myers, Closed Grantee Index to Deeds, 1887-1922, p. 75. "Dr. F. P. Miles Dies in Florida, " Miami Herald, April 2, 1929 (B050319).
For accounts of what Miles farmed and certain techniques he used, consult, Franklin L. Miles, personal papers (copies), formerly in the Miles Corporate Archives, Notes on his Florida Farms, Ruthmere Museum Archives, Elkhart, IN.
(9) Incorporation Papers, The Dr. Miles Medical Company, Indiana State Archives, 58-D-2, Box 51, packet 1103-18 (B051061).
The 1911 Corporation Report to the Indiana Secretary of State stated the corporation changed to a co-partnership June 1, 1911 and that the corporation would relinquish the charter to its original charter soon. Ibid. (B051061).
On November 22, 1911, Franklin Miles granted power of attorney to Charles F. Miles to attend all meetings relating to the dissolution of the company. Ibid. (B051061).
On December 15, 1911, the Board of Directors voted to dissolve the company. Ibid. (B051061).
On December 27, 1911, Franklin Miles through Charles F. Miles, along with the five other stockholders consented that the Dr. Miles' Medical Company be dissolved. Miles had the most stock, owning 164 shares. Ibid. (B051061).
On February 19, 1912, 2nd Vice President Herman Compton and Secretary Andrew Beardsley provided papers to the State of Indiana certifying the board had settled the affairs of the corporation, dissolving the company. Secretary of State L.G. Ellingham filed the report February 20, 1912. Ibid. (B051061).
Bayer AG (West Germany) acquired Miles Laboratories, Inc. (West Germany) in the period of 1977-1979. Bayer AG website: http://bayer.com/about-bayer/history/1974-1988/page121 (B050299); Cray, 266-69 (B050167).
The name Miles was dropped in 1995. Ibid.
In 1911, The Dr. Miles Medical Company was involved in a U.S. Supreme Court decision regarding price fixing. Dr. Miles Medical Company v. John D. Park & Sons Company, No. 72. Supreme Court of the United States, 220 U.S. 373; 31 S. Ct. 376; 55 L. Ed. 502; 1911.
The case was argued January 4, 1911 and decided April 3, 1911. It is considered to be a classic anti-trust case.
(10) Miles died in Fort Myers, April 1, 1929. Elkhart Truth, April 1, 1929 (B050288); Miami Herald, April 2, 1929 (B050319).
(11) Miles' body was returned to Elkhart and is buried in the Grace Lawn Cemetery. Elkhart Truth, April 2, 1929; Patricia K. Johnson, Jeffrey L. Klein, compilers, Grace Lawn Cemetery, Elkhart, Elkhart County, Indiana (Elkhart, Ind., [2000]), 256 (B050354).
Search the digital collection of Indiana's Statehood documents
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Holding the Fort (Fort Reno #1) (Paperback)
By Regina Jennings
Bethany House Publishers, 9780764218934, 352pp.
Library Binding, Large Print (2/21/2018)
Jennings Winningly Combines Humor, History, and Romance
Louisa Bell never wanted to be a dance-hall singer, but dire circumstances force her hand. With a little help from her brother in the cavalry, she's able to make ends meet, but lately he's run afoul of his commanding officer, so she undertakes a visit to straighten him out.
Major Daniel Adams has his hands full at Fort Reno. He can barely control his rowdy troops, much less his two adolescent daughters. If Daniel doesn't find someone respectable to guide his children, his mother-in-law insists she'll take them.
When Louisa arrives with some reading materials, she's mistaken for the governess who never appeared. Major Adams is skeptical. She bears little resemblance to his idea of a governess--they're not supposed to be so blamed pretty--but he's left without recourse. His mother-in-law must be satisfied, which leaves him turning a blind eye to his unconventional governess's methods. Louisa's never faced so important a performance. Can she keep her act together long enough?
Regina Jennings is a graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University with a degree in English and a history minor. She is the author of numerous novels, including For the Record, A Most Inconvenient Marriage, Sixty Acres and a Bride, and Caught in the Middle, and contributed a novella to A Match Made in Texas. She has won a National Readers' Choice Award and been a finalist for the Oklahoma Book of the Year. She now lives outside Oklahoma City with her husband and four children and can be found online at www.reginajennings.com.
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Court rejects proposed punishment for INEC official
by Tope Alabi
Justice Mohammed Idris of the Federal High Court in Lagos on Thursday rejected the offer of N500,000 fine made by an official of the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC), Mr. Christian Nwosu, who was convicted of taking N30m bribe to compromise the 2015 general elections.
In a ruling on a plea bargain agreement between Nwosu and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Thursday, Justice Idris held that the N500,000 fine agreed between Nwosu and the anti-graft agency was far too low compared to the punishment prescribed for money laundering.
According to the judge, Section 16(2)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, under which Nwosu was charged, prescribed a minimum of two years imprisonment or a fine of N10m for anyone convicted under the Act.
He said he could not, therefore, endorse the N500,000 fine agreed between Nwosu and the the EFCC because the amount was at variance with the provision of the law.
Justice Idris held, “I have read carefully the plea bargain agreement and I have reviewed the content of same. By Section 270 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, a plea bargain agreement is allowed as in this case, wherein the first defendant has provided relevant information to aid the prosecution of this case…it appears to me that by the above provisions of the ACJA, under a plea bargain agreement, the appropriate sentence to be recommended should be within the appropriate range of punishment stipulated for the offence charged.
“The first defendant was found guilty of an offence contrary to sections 1(a) and 16(b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Amended Act, 2012 and punishable under Section 16(2)(b) of the same Act.
“Section 16(2)(b) of the Act provides as follows: A person who commits an offence under Section subsection 1 paragraph A is liable, on conviction, to imprisonment or a prison term not less than two years or a fine of not less than N10m…The provisions of Section 16(2)(b) is clear and unambiguous…It is for the above reason that I find the proposal in paragraph of the plea bargain agreement, filed on 5th April, 2017, inadequate.”
Source: ( Punch Newspaper )
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Hope Vere MacLennan
Hope Vere MacLennan (c1875-1947)
"HOPE VERE MACLENNAN, whose death occurred on 9th May 1947, in his seventy-second year, was associated with water supply engineering during almost the whole of his career. He was educated at the Royal Technical College, Glasgow, and after serving his apprenticeship from 1892 to 1897 with Messrs. Alley and MacLennan he was engaged for another year by the same firm to take charge of outside erection of a varied nature.
In 1898 he went to South Africa and for the remainder of his life was closely connected with that country. His first appointment, which he held for many years, was that of chief mechanical engineer and later assistant general manager of the Kimberley Water Works Co. Subsequently he acted in the same capacity in connection with the Kalkfontein Dam Irrigation Works and in 1942 he took up his final engagement as chief mechanical and electrical engineer at an internment camp. Mr. Maclennan had been an Associate Member of the Institution since 1903."
Retrieved from "https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/index.php?title=Hope_Vere_MacLennan&oldid=763768"
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Abolitionist - The Vicious Rumor LP - Blue Vinyl
1859 Records (2017)
This is the second album I've had the opportunity to review by Abolitionist. I have to say that I was pretty excited when this came in the mail the other day. This is a band that I'm pretty confident I may not have ever heard of if I didn't do this website. The last Abolitionist LP was actually the very first full length vinyl record that anyone had ever sent me to review. Fast forward a few years later and this new one is certainly among the review records I'm most excited about listening to. This and Zapiain are probably my favorites of the most recent batch I've been going through.
Abolitionist harvest the most raw and angry grains of pop punk. Every song has a subtle catchiness to it, but the hooks are often somewhat obscured by the sheer energy that the band is able to project. Much like Dillinger Four or Off With Their Heads, Abolitionist can take gravely vocals about depressing topics and still wrangle a song that has me nodding my head along.
As usual, I tend to favor the songs that lean the most heavily towards straightforward pop, but even the more incendiary burners on this album are pretty damn good. Every so often it's nice to have an angry album you can just be pissed off with. Might I recommend Abolitionist for your next time.
Abolitionist - The Vicious Rumor:
https://1859records.bandcamp.com/album/abolitionist-the-vicious-rumor-lp
ABOLITIONIST - "The Vicious Rumor" LP by 1859 Records
Labels: 1859, abolitionist, lp, record, the vicious rumor, vinyl
Cozy - Button By Button LP
HoZac (2014)
I absolutely dragged my feet on writing this review. HoZac sent this album to me quite a while ago. They didn't send it to me in 2014, but I've probably had this close to a year. Apologies for the delay, although I am still curious why they chose to send me this one random record from their back catalog.
Anyway, I did go into Button By Button with some trepidation based on the artwork. I mean, look at those haircuts. Luckily the album isn't as bad as the hairstyles would indicate, but it also isn't particularly great either. Cozy has churned out the very definition of a middle of the road power pop album. It has the sneering vocals and tight chord progressions you'd expect. It even has some solid hooks and choruses.
Where the album is lacking is in originality and energy. I never feel like the band is really firing on all cylinders. They can't capture the magic that a band like Barreracudas is able to. On the other side of the spectrum, they never hit the polish or smoothness of a band like The Knack. Cozy is treading a middle ground and their album is totally fine, it just never really exceeds that mark. Ultimately it's decent enough background music, but not really something I'd go out of my way to listen to.
Cozy - Button By Button:
https://ilovecozy.bandcamp.com/album/button-by-button
Button By Button by COZY
Labels: button by button, cozy, hozac, lp, record, vinyl
Radiation Risks - Goodbye Money 7"
Lumpy (2017)
This 7" is one of the more recent things I've been sent for review (I really am making a concerted effort to get through everything). I can't say that the artwork led me to believe this was something that I would like, but I did go in what an open mind. What I ended up with are mixed emotions. There are certainly things I like about these songs, but over all I don't think I can say I'll ever listen to this 7" again.
First off we'll discuss the positive; the music of the band. The actual playing of instruments and structure of the songs are fun and unique. They've got a somewhat nasty rock and roll streak to them with strong guitar riffs and a saxophone wailing along. There are tiny moments where the band gives off a Rocket From The Crypt vibe, especially with the way the sax interacts with the rest of the band.
Unfortunately, Radiation Risks aren't an instrumental band. Once you add the vocals to the mix, everything just comes crashing down for me. The singer has a drawn out growl that sounds completely out of place with the upbeat nature of the music. There's lots of unnecessary yelling and at the end of the day, I just don't like it. It's a shame, the band is on to something. If they could lock down a shit hot soul singer or something, they could be a force to be reckoned with.
https://radiationrisks.bandcamp.com/album/goodbye-money
Goodbye Money by Radiation Risks
Labels: 7, goodbye money, lumpy, radiation risks, record, vinyl
Pissing Match - Break The Seal 7"
Feral Kid (2016)
Let's get out the hardcore checklist out. Band is called Pissing Match. Check. 7" has fifteen songs on it. Check. The longest song is thirty-eight seconds long. Check. Song titles are written in that Crass font. Check.
I do not understand this sort of thing. It sounds like Anal Cunt, but less metal and not as funny. If you like growly shouting, maybe you'll like this. I don't.
For future hardcore band and label people, I appreciate the sentiment, but it's a waste of a record to send stuff like this to me. I'm just not going to enjoy it like you do. Let's call it a shortcoming on my end and an inability to broaden my horizons. I like pop.
One last thing, does anyone know why the monsters on the record cover are so mad at that tire?
Pissing Match - Break The Seal 7":
https://pissingmatch.bandcamp.com/album/break-the-seal-3
Break the Seal by Pissing Match
Labels: 7, breat the seal, feral kid, pissing match, record, vinyl
The Schizophonics - Ooga Booga 10" - Orange Vinyl
Pig Baby (2017)
I don't review nearly enough 10"s on this site. It's one of my favorite wacky formats, but it's not used nearly as often as it could be. As someone that's put out records and price checked the cost of the 10" format, I completely understand why. It's just as expensive as putting out a full length, but it's tougher to justify the cost to the rest of the world for fewer songs. Regardless, I applaud those that take the leap and I'm happy that Pig Baby records decide to send over a copy of this Schizophonics EP.
I've been hearing about The Schizophonics for quite some time from some friends out in California. The consensus is that they put on one hell of a live show. If the high angle suplex the guitar player appears to have given himself on the cover of this 10" is any indication, it seems like it would be an interesting show. I'd only previously heard the band's contribution to the Swami Hardcore Matinee compilation, so it was nice to finally hear some more from them.
The band definitely has a late 60s/early seventies rock and roll vibe. We're talking the gritty MC5 type stuff. A more modern comparison that I see is The Dirtbombs. The guitars are fuzzy and the vocals have the sort of howling in a cave distortion that really works when applied just right. I'll always give extra credit to bands that throw in "wooos" and "uhhs"as exclamations during song fills.
The highlight for me is "Venus Transit." It has a super catchy escalating chord progression that only lets up briefly for the chorus or the occasional nasty guitar lick. Ooga Booga is a fun EP and a nice introduction to the band. I'm curious to see what else they have out there.
The Schizophonics - "Two Thousand Seventeen":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQKc0ycrTks&t
Labels: 10, ep, ooga booga, pig baby, record, the schizophonics, vinyl
Ned Garthe Explosion - Flashlight Tan LP - Red Vinyl
Sad Pad (2017)
This was another album sent to me to review. I was struck by the artwork when I opened up the package, particularly the prevalent use of primary red. It's very eye catching. The quality of the packaging is quite nice too. Thick cardstock, hefty opaque vinyl and nicely done insert. You can tell a lot of thought and effort went into it. As far as the sounds contained in this package, it's more of a mixed bag.
Things start out with "Smooth Escalator." Over a very "Billie Jean"-esque bassline, this little funk outbreak plays like a joke that I'm not in on. Maybe as an album closer it could have worked but it seems odd to lead off the album with a song that sounds so unlike the rest of the album that follows. Once you've cleared that hurdle, the bulk of the album plays like a pretty interesting punk/garage guitar showcase. The songs are tight, snappy and don't overstay their welcome.
Vocally Ned Garthe Explosion remind me a bit of Needles//Pins especially when the choruses kick in. I can't go so far as to say I really dig this, but it's totally fine rock and roll. Aside from the first track and the song "Flashlight Tan" that closes out the album, it's a pretty good listen. The two bookends strike me as a weird way to start and end and record full of crunchy guitar rock, but the middle bit is perfectly serviceable.
Ned Garthe Explosion - Flashlight Tan:
https://nedgarthe.bandcamp.com/album/flashlight-tan-2
Flashlight Tan by Ned Garthe Explosion
Labels: flashlight tan, lp, ned garthe explosion, record, sad pad, vinyl
Beasteater - Beasteater LP - Green Vinyl
Big Neck (2016)
I've been letting a few review records pile up, so I'm going to try to clear those out over the next few days. I haven't been dragging my feet on them for any reason other than I just have had so many records from Japan to get through. Just a warning, I'm no where near close to done with those either.
Beasteater was sent to me by the folks over at Big Neck records. I was pretty excited to get a package from them as I had really enjoyed the Danger Signs album they had put out. I wasn't familiar with Beasteater prior to putting the record on, so I wasn't exactly sure what to expect. I definitely don't think I was expecting something so loud, though I guess with the word beast in their name I should have been expecting some sort of roar.
The album starts off with "The Night Air," which I can only describe as fury crammed into two minutes. The sheer chaos and energy of this opener was pretty eye opening, not just for the ferocity, but because the song still managed to retain some semblence of a hook that drives the song forward. It reminded me a bit (just a bit) of some of the noisier, freakout moments of Rocket From The Crypt.
From there, the band takes their foot off the gas, just a little. I don't think an entire album's worth of songs at the level of "The Night Air" would be healthy. Beasteater churns out a respectable set of songs that are on the noisier side of the garage rock spectrum. Primitive pounding drum beats mesh with thick, chunky guitar riffs with wailing vocals guiding everything. If you're into some of the noisier things I write about from time to time, this would be up your alley.
Beasteater - Beasteater:
https://bigneckrecords1.bandcamp.com/album/beasteater
Beasteater by Beasteater
Labels: beasteater, big neck, lp, record, vinyl
Zapiain - Giantnormous LP - Blue Vinyl
All In Vinyl / Bombed Out (2017)
From the very second album opener "My New Home" starts off, it's immediately apparent that Giantnormous is going to be my kind of album. I could really use one too as 2017 has been stultifyingly mediocre over all for new records. I'm not saying there hasn't been anything worthwhile, but as a whole we're way behind on the amount of good records that have been released at this point in the year than I can recall in a very long time. Luckily Giantnormous shakes things up a bit.
Zapiain is plying the trade of my UK punk rock heroes. A little Hooton 3 Car mixed in with some Leatherface and maybe just a bit of the Great St. Louis join together into a potent blast of melodic rock and roll. Each of the albums first four songs blast forward with a scorched earth guitar blast tempered ever so slightly by the sheer amount of toe tapping hooks crammed into every chorus. Once we get to "Shotgun," the band takes it down a notch showing a mastery of a slower tempo song similar to how Broccoli was able to do with one of their masterpieces "Defence."
From there Giantnormous just keeps rolling along and building momentum. It's absolutely my kind of punk rock and I couldn't be more thrilled that it was sent over to me to check out. The best part is that it's the band's second album, so now I have an older album to go hunt down. It's worth your time to listen.
Zapiain - Giantnormous:
https://bombedout.bandcamp.com/album/giantnormous
&lt;a href="http://bombedout.bandcamp.com/album/giantnormous"&gt;Giantnormous by Zapiain&lt;/a&gt;
Labels: all in vinyl, bombed out, giantnormous, lp, record, vinyl, zapian
Dulac - Four Summers 7"
It's A Sic Life (2015)
This is the third Dulac release I've reviewed on this site. I think I now have everything the band has released, but I thought that before only to find a rogue 7" I didn't know about. Previously, I'd compared Dulac very favorably to bands like The Estranged and Red Dons. I'm not sure exactly what has happened on this release, but those comparisons are out the window. Gone are the dark, chunky downstrokes, replaced by a cheerful jangly guitar chime.
At first, I was taken aback by this change in direction. However, I think Dulac really took the title of this 7" to heart and have cranked out three summer appropriate hits. Make no bones about it, these are great songs. They're full of the sort of catchy and breezy pop hooks that make you really want a glass of lemonade. "Summertimin'" starts things off with a catchy melody and bright upbeat chord progressions. Again, very different from prior Dulac songs, but every bit as good.
When we move on to "Drawing Blanks" the band adds in the soothing tones of Hammond style organ to mix in with their sunny tune. Lastly we have "Street Scene" It's probably my least favorite of the bunch as I'm not as into the vocal melody, but it still has a lot to offer with its big drum fills in the bridge and harmonica laden solo. At the end of the day, I probably like it more when Dulac is playing music that's a bit faster and fuzzy. Though if the next Dulac full length was full of songs like this, I'd buy that too. They just have a knack for writing great songs.
Dulac - Four Summers 7":
https://dulacdulacdulac.bandcamp.com/album/four-summers-ep
Four Summers EP by DULAC
Labels: 7, dulac, four summers, it's a sic life, record, vinyl
Sleep Like A Log - Sleep Like A EpiLog CD
Fixing A Hole (2012)
I don't know quite as much about Sleep Like A Log as I would like. They're one of those bands that existed at the edge of my knowledge of Japanese punk rock, but I had a harder time keeping tabs on them than some of the bands that would wind up on Snuffy Smiles or other labels I was more familiar with. I had their split 7" with Rumspringer and their third CD demo, but that was all until I went to Japan and was finally able to find more of their records.
Sleep Like A EpiLog is a compilation of their non album tracks. It includes the aforementioned split 7" and demo along with the bands two additional CD demos. Ten songs in total and what a batch of songs it is. Fast and blistering guitars mix with melodic vocals and hooks everywhere you look. While they certainly fit in quite well with their compatriots on Snuffy Smile, Sleep Like A Log, to me, is a bit closer to UK style melodic punk with a sound that reminds me of Hooton 3 Car, but with a bit more of an edge.
No matter how you want to mix your "sounds like" adjectives, one thing that's undeniable is that this is a great record. Every time I hear an album like this I'm exhilarated and a little bummed out at the same time. Exhilarated because it's another amazing record to listen to. Bummed out because there are so many bands in Japan playing the exact kind of music I want to listen to. It feels like the scene I enjoy the most is just going on without me a little too far away. At least I have the records.
Labels: CD, fixing a hole, sleep like a epilog, sleep like a log
Charly Bliss - Soft Serve 7"
Father/Daughter (2014)
After being so completely and utterly blown away by the Charly Bliss full length, I wanted to jump backwards and pick up their only other release, this three song 7" from 2014. Being so much older than their new record, I was wondering what I was going to think as I've read a few times that the band made a pretty significant change in sound while working on Guppy.
I can report that this older 7" is still pretty good. It does not reach the heights of what they eventually achieved with their album, but it contains two pretty solid and catchy songs. "Love Me" has a strong hook and some pretty good melodies, but it's much fuzzier and more raw than anything on the album. Usually I would prefer that in most bands, but Charly Bliss is one of those rare animals that benefits from a cleaner, more polished sound.
On the B side, "Urge To Purge" falls in line more with their recent hits. It brings a huge wallop of 90's nostalgia with a big chorus and some dynamic guitar work. "Strings" is a total outlier as it's not sung by usual singer Eva Hendrix, who is relegated to backing vocals on this one. I can't say it works as it's probably the weakest song I've heard by the band. It just sort of plods along and doesn't have any of the band's usual barely contained energy. As a whole, the 7" is a fun listen, but it doesn't come close to what the band achieved on Guppy. Start there if you're new to the band.
Charly Bliss - Soft Serve 7":
https://charlybliss.bandcamp.com/album/soft-serve
Soft Serve by Charly Bliss
Labels: 7, charly bliss, father/daughter, record, soft serve, vinyl
Against Me - Stabitha Christie Spicture Disc 7" (RSD 2017)
Total Treble (2017)
Let's face it, I've drastically lost interest in Record Store Day the past few years. It's not so much that I lost interest in waking up at 3am or standing outside of a record store for 5 hours before it opens, but the releases themselves haven't been very interesting in a while. You've got your lazy cash grab reissues and your overpriced exclusives. Bands that I care about seem to be giving up on the day, so my enthusiasm has waned.
I could say similar things about Against Me. Since the album New Wave, I've been losing interest. Each record being less engaging than the one before. It's not to say any of them are bad, they're not and I own them all, but I don't really go back to them repeatedly like the first few. So many bands get like that after a while so it's even not a criticism leveled exclusively at Against Me. Nonetheless, it really felt like I was just going through the motions when I went over to Vintage Vinyl at the crack of four pm this year and picked up this record.
That being said, this Against Me Record Store Day 7" is pretty good all things considered. Despite it's stupid song title, "Stabitha Christie" is a bouncy little song with an old time rock and roll bassline and a surprisingly poppy hook. To the surprise of no one, I have always gravitated to the poppier Against Me songs. B side "First High of the Morning" isn't quite as strong. It's a little slower and more reflective, but it's totally fine. Worth a nine dollar picture disc? That's debatable, but there's a better chance of me going back to this 7" than some of the other Against Me records in the pile.
Against Me - "Stabitha Christie":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58ec2UjNA1g
Against Me - "First High of the Morning":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICrWxWIz7dc
Labels: 7, against me, picture disc, record, Record Store Day, record store day 2017, stabitha christie, total treble, vinyl
Skimmer - Baby Dinosaur CD
Waterslide / Heroic Failure (2015)
When you talk about glory days or musical scenes that were influential to me, there are few that have been as impactful as the mid-late 90's punk rock scene in the UK. Based around Crackle records, this first batch of Leatherface and Snuff influenced bands blew my mind when I was younger. This crew of bands like Broccoli, Chopper, Hooton 3 Car, Crocodile God, Travis Cut and Skimmer jumped out at me like few bands have before or since. That Skimmer is still putting out records all these years later is a wonderful thing to me.
This was another album picked up while in Japan. I have to admit that I haven't kept up on Skimmer quite as much as I once did. They fell off my radar a bit and I didn't realize this album had come out. I'm happy to report Skimmer is as great as they've always been and their new songs are every bit as good as the ones they put out in those aforementioned glory days.
It's tough for me to describe Skimmer by comparing them to other bands as they are often the band I would compare others too. I suppose there's certainly a slice of Mega City Four and Senseless Things buried in there as Skimmer has a way with melody very reminiscent of those bands, but Skimmer has a full bore fuzzed our guitar attack guiding them through their songs. They're soul mates with Japanese bands like Navel, but still have elements that are wholly unique to them. Chances are if you've listened to Skimmer in the past and enjoyed them, this record will be right up your alley. If you've never heard them before, this is album is as good an album as any to start with. Oh, their singles compilations Compitoenail should be next on your list.
Skimmer - "October Flowers":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcW0qpD_QVg
Skimmer - "She's Gone Again":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aw7sNdOIuQs
Labels: baby dinosaur, CD, skimmer, waterslide
Ron Ron Clou - First Album LP
K.O.G.A. (2003)
While in Japan, my number one record shopping goal was to pick up the three Ron Ron Clou LPs. I'm not sure why I set that as my top priority (aside from obviously wanting the records), but I ended up only finding one of the three. This lit a fire under me to track down the other two at all costs. For whatever reason, as soon as it seems like I can't have something, it just makes me want it even more. Luckily I was able to find a kind soul on Discogs who not only had both LPs I was looking for, but was also based in America. I managed to pick them up at a nice price and didn't have to pay for shipping them overseas. Bonus.
Of the three Ron Ron Clou albums, I think First Album is the strongest. It has a very clear Odd Number-esque mod-pop vibe. Cross that with some Vacant Lot style hooks and you've got an album I can really sink my teeth into. I really love the little things about this album like the backing vocals and "oohs" in album opener "Annoying Kids Are" and the quick guitar riff wedged into the breaks of "It's Not Everything."
I would have never heard of Ron Ron Clou if it weren't for the split 7" they did with Samantha's Favourite that came out on Snuffy Smile many years ago. That may be why I especially gravitate to the song "Stage" which appears on this album, but was also on that split 7". It's probably my favorite Ron Ron Clou song and I just can't get enough of the melody and energy the band has wrangled into it. It was worth the wait tracking down this album. It has been a long hunt, but finally being able to sit back and put it on the turntable is such a rewarding thing.
Labels: first album, k.o.g.a., lp, record, ron ron clou, vinyl
Color TV - Demo 7"
Drunken Sailor (2016)
This 7" is the vinyl pressing of a demo tape I reviewed about a year and a half ago. I'm pleased it was released on vinyl as I can only take so many cassettes in my life. Although I did miss the colored variant, I was able to pick this up through a US distro. Sometimes you have to weigh postage vs. colored wax I guess. Postage won this battle.
The reason Color TV first came across my radar was because I was trying to find more information about the band W.H. Walker. Sadly, they had split up, but Color TV is carrying on the tradition of creating good music, even though it's not particularly similar to WH Walker. Color TV is a much more straightforward catchy punk band. They remind me a bit of the Marked Men, but with a heavier lean on garage-y sounds and guitar leads.
The four songs on this 7" are all strong, with lots of fast paced, downstroke heavy riffs and upbeat choruses. I'll admit to missing the party vide of W.H Walker, but judged on their own merits, Color TV is a tight little combo cranking out some big tunes.
Color TV - Demo 7":
https://drunkensailorrecords.bandcamp.com/album/demo-7
Demo 7" by Color TV
Labels: 7, color t.v., color tv, demo, drunken sailor, record, vinyl
Treepeople - Guilt Regret Embarrassment Promo LP - Clear Vinyl
Toxic Shock (1991)
This LP is another fun oddity I pulled from a friend's collection that he was downsizing. I've had other versions of this album for quite some time. Both the full artwork LP on Toxic Shock and the original CD version on Toxic Shock that had a bunch of extra songs from 7"s that weren't on the K records reissue. As a lot of people did, I started trying to listen to Treepeople albums because I was a big Built To Spill fan. What I've learned over the years is that Treepeople's output is more than enough to stand on its own.
I could make the argument that Guilt Regret Embarrassment is the best Treepeople album. It certainly has the most upfront presence of Doug Martsch, but it also has two of my very favorite songs leading off this album. "No Doubt" into "Andy Warhol" is the sort of one-two sonic punch that other bands would kill for. Killer pop sensibilities mixed with ultra dynamic guitar work and blistering solos that never dip into feeling like self indulgent wanking.
Those two songs on their own are reason enough to pick this album up, but the entire thing is packed with great songs. Even simpler, straightforward punky songs like "Transitional Devices" have a little extra something that keeps them above the fray. Just a great, great album. This particular version seems to be a promo LP of some sort. It's in a black DJ sleeve with little paper cutouts of the artwork glued on. It does come on clear vinyl, which is a nice little treat as well. I can't say I know too much about it and the internet isn't a ton of help, but it's a cool version to add to the collection.
Treepeople - "No Doubt":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZI4itH5yKc
Treepeople - "Andy Warhol":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLQF9bSQ_P0
Treepeople - "Transitional Devices":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0s5fQ3LbF4
Labels: guilt regret embarrassment, lp, record, toxic shock, treepeople, vinyl
Ned Garthe Explosion - Flashlight Tan LP - Red Vin...
Against Me - Stabitha Christie Spicture Disc 7" (R...
Treepeople - Guilt Regret Embarrassment Promo LP -...
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Seoul: Over 60 officers of Special Warfare Command attend lecture on IHL
Officers and commanders of Special Warfare Forces attend a talk on humanitarian activities of the ICRC and international humanitarian law (source: ROK Special Warfare Force)
Over 60 special military officers and commanders attended a lecture on Global Humanitarian Activities of ICRC and International Humanitarian Law at Seoul on 10 April. The lecture was part of a series being organized by the Republic of Korea's Special Warfare Command with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to improve the understanding of the ICRC activities and the rules of war.
Charles Sabga, head of the ICRC mission in Seoul, former head Georgios Georgantas and the ICRC's armed forces delegate from the regional delegation for East Asia Jean-Jacques Gacond also participated in the event.
"Founded in 1863, the ICRC is one of the oldest humanitarian organizations in the world and operates on the principles of strict neutrality and mutual trust," Georgantas addressed the group.
It is our mission to save those who are exposed to war and violence and to protect human dignity.
Kim Hwi-yeon, an officer in charge of military operations who attended the lecture, said, "The interaction helped me understand how important it is for a soldier to know the rules of war. In case of armed conflict, we have to comply with the international humanitarian law, which consists of rules that protect people and limit the means and methods of war."
The lecture was based on a 2017 Memorandum of Understanding between the Special Warfare Command and the ICRC to promote cooperation between civil affair units, NGOs and international organizations. The series of lectures continued till 10 June.
The ICRC has been working in the Republic of Korea since 2015, engaging with the armed forces, universities and supporting the Republic of Korea National Red Cross, as well as fostering support for the ICRC activities in the region.
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The Interview: Standing Up for Freedom of Speech in America
Mr. Liberty | June 22, 2015
Recent events have sparked awareness of freedom of speech in America and how it can be preserved. These events include The Interview, a satirical movie about a plot to assassinate the ruthless dictator of North Korea, Kim Jong-Un.
On November 24, 2014, supporters of Kim Jong-Un hacked Sony Entertainment Pictures’ computer databases and made violent threats against Americans who might see the movie in theatres. They attempted to censor our freedom of expression protected by the U.S. Constitution.
The Interview and Free Speech
In The Interview, Seth Rogen and James Franco play characters that star in a popular entertainment news show. They schedule an unprecedented interview with Kim Jong-Un and are recruited by the CIA to “take him out”.
The movie portrays Kim Jong-Un as a master manipulator who relies on propaganda to trap North Koreans in a prison of false information and poverty. Not only does the film remind us of the tragedy that is North Korea, it sends an important message to American patriots: we are free to satirize; we are free to speak out against evildoers; we can, and must, exercise our Constitutional right to freedom of speech.
As fellow filmmakers and defenders of the U.S. Constitution, we stand by this essential freedom. Our own movie showcases this very issue and many others.
Why The Interview was Pulled from Theatres
Sony’s databases were hacked by a group calling itself “Guardians of Peace.” It demanded Sony cancel the release of The Interview under threats of violent attacks and of releasing sensitive information about Sony employees. “We will clearly show it to you at the very time and places The Interview be shown, including the premiere, how bitter fate those who seek fun in terror should be doomed to…The world will be full of fear.”
Major theater chains dropped the film, but independent theaters stepped up for freedom. Some said Sony was weak to give in to threats. Others said the company was right to protect its employees.
How Free Speech Prevailed Over Censorship
Sony released the movie online and in other theaters. Independent theatres, movie-goers and Google are keeping free speech alive.
Nobody will tell our citizens what movies they can or cannot see. American liberty will continue to triumph over those who hate our freedoms.
America has a proud history of standing up against terrorist threats. We don’t allow radical groups to intimidate us or compromise our values, rights and freedoms.
Freedom of Speech and the US Constitution
In a powerful piece for The Washington Times, Dr. Ben Carson said it best: “Freedom of speech and freedom of expression are hallmarks of American life, and we must jealously guard these values from both internal and external threats…all of the freedoms guaranteed to American citizens by our Constitution must be steadfastly preserved…Vigilance and courage are necessary…every day if we are to remain a free society.”
Even a satirical movie can have a powerful political impact. But it reminds us how fortunate we are to have our great and free nation. We must be allowed to express what we believe. Our freedom and our Constitution must be protected from all enemies, both foreign and domestic.
Terrorists may try to bring tyranny to our shores, but just by the simple act of seeing a movie, we show that we will not be led astray from our Constitution, the pillar of American life.
The issue surrounding The Interview may not have been handled perfectly, but its release is a victory for freedom of speech in America. As corporations, business owners, and private citizens, we must always fight against threats to our liberty and actively defend our Constitutional Rights.
Creative Commons Attribution: Permission is granted to repost this article in its entirety
with credit to In Search of Liberty and a clickable link back to this website.
At In Search of Liberty, our goal is to restore the Constitution in the hearts and minds of Americans through what can be the most honest form, Filmmaking.
Help us restore the Constitution!
Categories: Constitutional Rights, Free Speech, Freedom, U.S. Constitution Tags: Dr Ben Carson, freedom of expression, freedom of speech, James Franco, Kim Jong-Un, Seth Rogen, Sony Pictures, The Interview movie, us constitution
← Why We Must Teach the US Constitution in Schools
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BI News
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An antibiotic-resistant strain of 'super gonorrhea' is spreading around the globe
Jeremy Berke
Facebook Icon The letter F. Link icon An image of a chain link. It symobilizes a website link url. Email icon An envelope. It indicates the ability to send an email. Fliboard icon A stylized letter F. Twitter icon A stylized bird with an open mouth, tweeting. Pinterest icon The letter "P" styled to look like a thumbtack pin.
'Super gonorrhea' is spreading.
CDC / Joe Millar
The first three cases of ' super gonorrhea' were recorded earlier this year.
Super gonorrhea doesn't respond to the antibiotics normally used to treat the disease.
Other antibiotic-resistant superbugs are spreading around the world.
A strain of antibiotic-resistant gonorrhea has arrived — the first three cases were recorded between February and April of this year.
Two Australian men and one British man contracted the sexually transmitted infection in Southeast Asia, likely after engaging in unprotected sex, according to the European Center for Disease Control (ECDC). The 'super gonorrhea' strain, a bug called Neisseria gonorrhoeae, is highly difficult to treat given its resistance to the antibiotics that are often used to treat the infection.
Gonorrhea is a bacterial infection that's the second most commonly diagnosed STI in the world. Symptoms include painful urination and abnormal discharge in both women and men, as well as painful or swollen testicles in men and lower abdomen pain and irregular menstruation in women. Some people, however, may carry gonorrhea without showing any symptoms.
There was a total of 468,514 gonorrhea cases in the US alone in 2016, according to the Center for Disease Control.
Gonorrhea is normally treated with one of two commonly used antibiotics: azithromycin or ceftriaxone. Getting treatment for the infection is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of the disease, according to the ECDC. Leaving it untreated, however, can lead to serious complications like pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, and increased risk of HIV transmission (not to mention the possibility of spreading it to other people).
Mosquitoes containing treatment-resistant antibiotics are on the rise.
The infected British man is now undergoing treatment with an experimental drug called ertapenem that's usually used to treat infections after colon and rectal surgery. He reportedly has a girlfriend back home in the UK, but his partner hasn't tested positive for the disease, reports National Geographic.
The super gonorrhea is one of many diseases that's becoming increasingly able to resist traditional antibiotics. In some parts of Southeast Asia, mosquitoes carry a strain of malaria that's becoming more resistant to treatment. And in some cases, superbugs — like MRSA, a type of staph infection — are untreatable, leaving doctors with few options for patients.
Superbugs can also spread their genes to other bacteria as they evolve, according to the CDC. According to some studies, antibiotic-resistant bugs could lead to 10 million deaths by 2050 if doctors and policymakers cannot figure out a way to address the problem.
Fears over drug-resistant infections have led to stricter regulations on feeding antibiotics to livestock and have spurred pharmaceutical companies and doctors to research novel approaches to treatment, though far more work is needed.
NOW WATCH: Researchers finally debunked the biggest myth about cranberry juice curing UTIs
More: Gonorrhea Superbug CDC STI
We hired the author of 'Black Hawk Down' and an illustrator from 'Archer' to adapt the Mueller report so you'll actually read it
Horrifying video shows dozens of cockroaches fighting to stay above Tropical Storm Barry floodwaters
5 reasons why you should avoid getting gas at Costco
Jeffree Star called Kylie Jenner's skin-care line a 'complete joke' and 'money grab,' and laughed at her upcoming product launch
Christian Louboutin says he's 'vaguely horrified' by how some people wear his shoes
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Zoë Kravitz, Object of Desire
ZOË KRAVITZ IN IT’S KIND OF A FUNNY STORY.PHOTO COURTESY OF FOCUS FEATURES/K. C. BAILEY.
21-year-old Zoë Kravitz comes with an impressive showbiz pedigree: Dad is rock musician Lenny Kravitz, and Mom is The Cosby Show‘s Lisa Bonet. But Kravitz has been proving her own acting chops over the last few years, with turns in films including No Reservations, The Brave One, The Greatest, and Yelling to the Sky, which co-stars Gabourey Sidibe. She also models (for brands including Vera Wang) and fronts a band, Elevator Fight—all in a day’s work.
In the new film It’s Kind of a Funny Story—a movie about a suicidal 16-year-old who checks himself into a mental facility, directed by Half Nelson‘s Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck—Kravitz plays Nia, the longtime unrequited crush of the protagonist, Craig. The industrious Ms. Kravitz is in London now, filming X-Men: First Class, but we caught her for a few minutes between takes.
ALEXANDRIA SYMONDS: Since we only have a little time, I just want to jump right in, if that’s okay.
ZOË KRAVITZ: Yeah, let’s do it. Cut the small talk.SYMONDS: So what was it like playing an obsession in It’s Kind of a Funny Story?
KRAVITZ: [LAUGHS] Flattering, very flattering! It’s very sweet to be cast as the quote-unquote “hot obsession chick.” I’m like the most approachable person on the planet, which is kind of the opposite of Nia. So it was very flattering.
SYMONDS: So how did you get into the character, if she’s so different from you?
KRAVITZ: I think I knew girls like that in high school, that all the guys are obsessed with and felt kind of untouchable, and acted oblivious but were very much aware of the power that they had. Those girls are around, so it was kind of fun to play one.
SYMONDS: What about in the fantasy sequence?
KRAVITZ: Oh, in the bathtub?
SYMONDS: Yeah, in the bathtub!
KRAVITZ: [LAUGHS] Actually, that was a funny scene, because we shot that on a soundstage and it was really cold outside. And the water was actually cold, and they put in Dr. Bronner’s peppermint soap to make bubbles. So my skin was like on fire, and I was in a freezing soundstage, and I was in a bathtub wearing almost nothing, and I had to act like I was comfortable. So that was definitely a challenging day. It was funny, actually, in retrospect.
SYMONDS: So you weren’t feeling sexy at all.
KRAVITZ: No, not at all. I was literally just trying not to shiver and, like, rip my skin off. [LAUGHS] I’d be like shivering and shivering, then they’d call action and I’d be like, “Hey, Craig! What’s up?” It was pretty funny.
SYMONDS: What was it like to be a character who only exists in Craig’s head space, though? I know it’s a short scene, but how did you prepare for that?
KRAVITZ: I just had fun with it! The cool thing about doing a fantasy scene is that it’s not real, so you don’t really have to worry about realistic ideas or being a little over-the-top: the phone and the room and the bubbles, it’s all kind of much. So it was just fun to be able to be a little over-the-top.
SYMONDS: So in the film your character makes reference to a checklist; presumably of places she would like to have… relations.
KRAVITZ: Intercourse!
SYMONDS: Yes. [LAUGHS] Do you have a checklist?
KRAVITZ: [LAUGHS] No, I don’t. I should probably make one, though, right?
SYMONDS: I mean, yeah! It seems like it was really important to your character…
KRAVITZ: Do you have a checklist?
SYMONDS: Oh my God, no. I’m not the kind of person who makes lists really.
KRAVITZ: Yeah, me either. I’m not a very organized person. I think Nia is a little more organized.
SYMONDS: Is there any one place that, if you did have a checklist, would certainly be on there?
KRAVITZ: [LAUGHS] I think I’d agree with Nia. A mental hospital would be pretty crazy.
SYMONDS: I was actually surprised that was on her list-because it seems like that’s no a…
KRAVITZ: I know, she’s a freak, right? Nia’s a little freak.
SYMONDS: That’s weird. That’s not a sexy place at all.
KRAVITZ: No, it’s not. [LAUGHS] Whatever floats your boat, though, whatever floats your boat.
SYMONDS: So do you want to tell me about what you have coming up?
KRAVITZ: Right now I’m in London shooting X-Men: First Class, so that’s been really fun; I’ve been in London for a month now. It’s cool being in a new environment and working with Matthew Vaughn and all of these amazing actors. And hopefully an indie film I did last year will be going to a few festivals this year, called Yelling to the Sky, with me, Gabourey Sidibe, Tim Blake Nelson, Jason Clark, and this amazing woman Victoria Mahoney, who wrote and directed it. And that’s a Sundance Lab baby, so hopefully it will go to Sundance or something. I’m attached to do Mad Max, but I’m not sure when that’s filming, but when it happens hopefully I’ll be in it.
SYMONDS: Have you had any time to enjoy London while you’ve been there?
KRAVITZ: Oh yeah, I have: I’ve been here for a long time doing pre-production stuff, which luckily gives me a lot of time to hang out. I love London, I could totally live here actually. I’m in New York most of the time and it really reminds me a lot of New York.
SYMONDS: Where do you like to go out in New York?
KRAVITZ: I don’t really go out “go out” that much anymore. I live in Brooklyn, in Williamsburg, so I just like to wonder around. Williamsburg’s such a cool little neighborhood community spot.
SYMONDS: Well, thanks so much—I loved the film.
KRAVITZ: Oh, I’m so glad! Me too!
IT’S KIND OF A FUNNY STORY (FOCUS FEATURES) OPENS TODAY.
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Order A Signed Book
TCU Press Release
Foreword by Deane Beman
Introduction to In the Rough: The Business Game of Golf
Video list with descriptions
Video #1: Inside Golf
Video #2: Ben Hogan's Legacy
Video #3: Ben Hogan Company 1992 Promotional Video
Video #4: The Invention of Hybrid Woods:
Video #5: Hogan’s Secret
Golf Blog
Ben Hogan Videos (click title to view, or use dropdown menu on left sidebar)
Introduction: Top 10: Essential Ben Hogan:
PGA Tour Productions put together a compilation of the Ben Hogan story and his prodigy, the Ben Hogan Company, “Top 10: Essential Ben Hogan.”
Chapter 3: “Hogan Always felt Sorry for Rich Kids”
Ben Hogan Interview: 8-22-90
This video contains the raw footage from an interview with Ben Hogan on October 22, 1990, which was undertaken by ESPN golf commentator, Jim Kelly. It is a rare and a candid discussion with one of the game’s most private personalities. I am sitting off-camera to the right of Kelly, and you can hear me offering some topics for further discussion. This video was produced for the Ben Hogan Company by PGA Tour Productions.
Chapter 9: "Flying High on a Wing and a Prayer”
National Golf Foundation Feature “Inside Golf Program”(1988):
A copy of “Inside Golf,” a nationally syndicated golf show featured the NGF in 1988. Additionally, this program presented one of the television ads produced by PGA Tour Productions that was designed to promote the need for more golf courses, which was also aired by the PGA Tour as a PSA on its golf telecasts in 1989.
Chapter 10: "Hogan's Course Management:
This painting by Don Adair (Copyright © Judy Adair 2010) is reminiscent of Hy Peskin’s photograph, who had positioned behind Ben Hogan when this photo captured the extraordinary one-iron shot onto the 72nd hole of the 1950 U.S. Open at Merion. A silhouette of Hogan’s swing was used as the logo for the Ben Hogan Company and the Ben Hogan Tour. A 1990 PGA Tour promotional video about the Ben Hogan Company and the Ben Hogan Tour can be viewed at: www.mindseyegolf.com
The silhouette of Hogan's swing from the picture at left was used in the design of the logos for the Ben Hogan Company the Ben Hogan Tour.
Ben Chapter 13: "An Unrelenting Pursuit of Excellence"
Ben Hogan Company 1992 Promotional Video with Seven Groundbreaking TV Ads:
Both 1990 and 1991 would be a pivotal years for the Ben Hogan Company. Bolstered by an elite professional staff on the PGA Tour and title sponsorship of the Ben Hogan Tour, as well as a hot selling Hogan Edge irons and expanded distribution in Japan, worldwide sales would more than double. The 1992 promotional video produced by PGA Tour Productions showcased the Hogan company’s higher profile, and featured seven new groundbreaking ads starring Ben Hogan, which can be seen at: www.mindseyegolf.com. The tag line, “No one makes clubs like we do” would prove to be the most effective ad campaign ever produced by the Hogan Company.
Chapter 23: "Meanwhile"
The Invention of Hybrid Woods
The print advertisements for the first hybrid woods, the Middleclubs, which I invented and patented (Imagine Golf Company), appeared in major golf publications such as Golf Digest, Golf, Golfweek and Golf World, as well as the Wall Street Journal. The television infomercials were primarily run on the Golf Channel, which collectively created the new $150 million hybrid wood product category. A copy of the original infomercial can be viewed at: www.mindseyegolf.com.
Epilogue: Hogan’s Secret
Ben Hogan's Swing Footage "Before" and "after" the Secret
A friend who has been helping me edit this book, sent me a video of Hogan swinging a golf club, which based upon the golf equipment (golf bag) he was using and his youthful slim physique, it appears that the film was taken sometime in the early or mid-1930s. The reason why this vintage video of Hogan’s swing is important is that it clearly reveals something very interesting from the rear vantage point, as if you were standing just behind Hogan and watching him swing down the target line.
It is quite evident in this footage that at the top of his backswing, Hogan has a closed clubface and he then lays the club off on the downswing. These swing characteristics flattened his swing plane and explain why he hit the ball so low and had trouble hooking the ball in his early years as professional golfer. This vintage footage is grainy, but when compared with some later footage, it illustrates the evolution of Hogan’s swing “before” and “after,” he discovered and learned the Secret.
So, it was decided to create a video that could make a side-by-side comparison of Hogan’s “before” and “after” swings from the same rear vantage points. So, I asked Craig Hanson, a highly regarded Australian PGA Professional and golf instructor, to make a video analyzing Hogan’s swing “before” and “after” he learned the “Secret.” Hanson specializes in video swing analyses of many great players, as well as offering the video analysis/ instruction to average golfers,
Craig Hanson’s comments and analysis of Hogan’s swings “before” and “after” the swing changes can be found at: www.CraigHansonGolf.com.
To follow is a summary of Hanson’s comments and analysis. Hanson observed in the earlier vintage video that, “Hogan’s swing was much longer, which gave him more time for his arms to catch up to the hips. It's easy to see that his body is outracing his arms compared to later in his career. In those early years, Hogan had a stronger grip, which led to a more closed club face position and a different wrist alignment at the top. This explains why he had problem in hitting low and hooking shots.”
In the side-by-side video analysis, Hanson stated, “It was evident in the “before” video that Hogan laid the club off at the top of the swing, which is often prevalent in swings that have a closed face compared to swings where the face is neutral or weaker. Otherwise, it’s harder to match up the arms and the body on the way down. It’s harder to get the correct or perfect sequence where everything collects at the bottom…and, it’s more difficult to repeat.”
In the “after” video, Hanson said that “Hogan was able to fix this problem by weakening his grip and by cupping the wrist slightly at the top in the newer swing. These seemingly small changes in his grip and wrist angles enabled him to completely eliminate the problems with the unwanted hooks, as well it enabled him to fade the golf ball and to better control the trajectory of his golf shots.”
In conclusion, this video analysis confirms what Hogan said “his” Secret was, as well as what so many other experts also have said. The change in Hogan’s grip and his wrist position at the top of his swing was the Secret to his golf swing. The nuance here was that this is what worked for Hogan, given his swing tendencies and talent. These swing cues enabled Hogan to become the best ball striker of all time.
David B. Hueber, Ph.D
dbhueber@gmail.com
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Glowing Lights - Response Card
Item Number: DW59109FCE
Bring the romance of an outdoor evening to your wedding invitations with the magical string of lights featured on these response cards. The woodgrain background adds a beautifully weathered touch.
Price Includes: Response Cards and Envelopes
Card Type: Flat
Ink Color(s) Shown: White
Font(s) Shown: Copperplate Gothic 32bc (CPG) and Bombshell (BPR)
Wording Shown: E70
Personalization Options: Woodgrain and lights artwork prints as shown. Your wording is printed in white in your choice of fonts.
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V8 Supercars to Sanction iRacing.com Series
August 1st, 2011 by KevinB One Comments
Bedford, MA (August 1, 2011) – iRacing.com and V8 Supercars announced an agreement today that will see the organizers of the successful V8 Supercar Championship officially sanction the popular online racing service’s V8 Supercar series, which will be known as the iRacing.com V8 Supercars Series presented by BigPond. V8 Supercars thus joins NASCAR, INDYCAR and GRAND-AM as partners in sanctioning competition on the iRacing service.
“As the world’s leading online racing service, it’s both appropriate and gratifying to announce our first international sanctioning partner,” said Steve Myers, executive vice president of iRacing.com. “Many of our most enthusiastic members hail from Australia and New Zealand, and iRacing is proud to be associated with V8 Supercars.
“Our NASCAR-, INDYCAR- and GRAND-AM-sanctioned series have introduced new fans to NASCAR, INDYCAR and GRAND-AM and, of course, have been instrumental in the strong growth iRacing has enjoyed since going public in 2008. We fully expect this new partnership to be similarly beneficial to iRacing and V8 Supercars.”
Australia is the fastest growing country within the ranks of the iRacing.com membership. In 2010, iRacing added a second server farm in Australia to its system in order to ensure its members throughout Australia, New Zealand and Asia experience the best and fastest Internet connection possible.
“We’re delighted by the chance to partner with iRacing.com in sanctioning their online V8 Supercar competition,” says V8 Supercars CEO Martin Whitaker. “The iRacing.com V8 Supercars Series presented by BigPond will enable race fans around the world to experience V8 Supercar racing in a dynamic and exciting fashion. Although the V8 Supercar Championship is an Australian and New Zealand-based series, we are always looking to expand our horizons internationally, as witnessed by our existing event in Abu Dhabi and the recent announcement that the V8 Supercars will be racing in Austin Texas, USA at the Circuit of the Americas beginning in 2013. Our new partnership with iRacing.com is another vital component of our efforts to bring the excitement of V8 Supercar competition to our international audience.”
Claire McFarland, Director Online and Mobile Media said, “The BigPond team is very excited about this partnership with iRacing. As the official online and mobile portal of V8 Supercars it’s fantastic for BigPond to be able to bring this experience to Australia’s racing fans. iRacing is such impressive technology, it’s as close to the real thing as you can get, and streets ahead of anything like it in the market.”
iRacing.com introduced the Ford Falcon FG V8 Supercar to its service in 2010. The Ford Falcon has been featured in both the iRacing.com Pro Series (Road Racing) and the iRacing.com V8 Supercar Series, the latter of which has seen more than 500 iRacers regularly competing in the Ford Falcon during 2011. Australia’s scenic and challenging Phillip Island road course is among the more than 50 laser-scanned race tracks available on iRacing. The service also plans to add a digital version of the Oran Park circuit to its catalogue in the near future, a particularly noteworthy fact given that the physical track (near Sydney) was recently demolished to make room for a housing development.
A number of V8 Supercar drivers past present and future, including Marcos Ambrose, Shane Van Gisbergen, Fabian Coulthard, Scott McGlaughlin, are among the growing ranks of iRacers. Although they use the service to help sharpen their skills and prepare to race on unfamiliar tracks, they agree that iRacing is just plain fun.
“iRacing is an amazing simulation system and it has helped me tremendously as I’ve tackled NASCAR Sprint Cup competition,” says Ambrose. “It’s the closest thing to racing in the physical world that you can get. (But) iRacing.com is for everyone . . . a terrific social venue for racers to find like-minded friends from all over the world. It is a fantastic service for individuals or a bunch of mates who want to get together regularly, wherever they are in the world, to race.”
“iRacing is the best racing simulator, hands down,” says Van Gisbergen. “Not only for the accuracy of the laser scanned tracks and cars, but anyone can sign up and be racing against professional drivers from across the world who, like me, use iRacing as a tool to improve driving skills . . . Come take us on!”
Racers can do just that by taking advantage of a special offer for two free months on the iRacing service with the purchase of one month of racing. New members will be just in time to enjoy the host of new features and content (including two cars and tracks) that will be available with the release of iRacing 2.0 in August. For a sneak preview of iRacing 2.0 featuring Dale Earnhardt Jr, Tony Stewart and the iRacing staff, go to http://www.youtube.com/user/iRacingTV.
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wants to win all the races in the v8 super car
July 6th, 2014 at 5:03 am
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An Evening with William Fitzsimmons – Tickets – Jammin Java – Vienna, VA – September 23rd, 2018
An Evening with William Fitzsimmons
GA $20 | Premier $20 | Premier Plus $20
William Fitzsimmons - Second Hand Smoke [Official Video] William Fitzsimmons - Passion Play William Fitzsimmons - "Everything Has Changed" I Don't Feel It Anymore - William Fitzsimmons
Charleroi is the second half of the Pittsburgh story. The Pittsburgh album was about the grandmother William Fitzsimmons knew. Charleroi is about the one he never did.
William’s father was born to a woman who would go on to have 5 children, none of whom she raised. Some were taken into custody of the state of Pennsylvania. Others were placed for adoption. William’s father, as an infant, was returned to the hospital dangerously sick with whooping cough. He was left there for several months. No one from his family would ever return for him. Finally, many months later, he was adopted by a kind doctor who became his father. Never knowing his birth family, or why he was left, it was assumed that mystery would remain forever. And thus this story was written upon William’s father, and from him, written upon William.
In 2015, after over 60 years of wondering and waiting, the family was finally found. William’s biological grandmother having deceived the remainder of the family by telling them the baby died at the hospital, William’s father was never sought out. Sadly his mother passed away several years before having a chance to ever see her lost son again. Or ever meet the sons which came from him.
In the last two years William has lost both of his grandmothers. One died only last year, the other nearly thirty years ago. Yet both losses are fresh. One was a steadfast presence in William’s life from the moment he was born, the other a ghostly figure of a long forgotten story. Yet both have in a way always been there, one in her presence the other, her absence.
Loss, painful though it is, offers a unique and potent opportunity for the kind of emotional clarity that only comes a few times during our lives. It forgets that which doesn’t matter and fans the flame for what does. It burns us with the names of those who gave their good years so that we might have our own.
William never had the opportunity to meet or know his grandmother Thelma. In writing these pieces he hopes to do so in some small way. She was from Charleroi, Pennsylvania. These songs are about her.
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Displaying Items By Tag: New
+ VIDEO Read More
New Acura Mdx And Possible Flagship Sedan Revealed
An Acura RDX owner has reportedly discovered images of two unannounced models hiding in his crossover's infotainment system.
Toyota's New Suv Will Share Components With Mazda, But It Wouldn't Be Badge Engineered
Yesterday, Toyota announced it would build a new SUV at its joint plant in Huntsville, Alabama. While the company was tight-lipped about the upcoming model, new details are starting to emerge.
Toyota Announces New Suv For America, Will Be Built In Alabama
The crossover craze doesn't show any sign of slowing down and Toyota is responding to the shift in demand by announcing plans to build a new SUV in the United States.
Toyota Will Build New Suv At Alabama Plant It's Building With Mazda - Autoblog
WASHINGTON — Toyota Motor Corp said Wednesday it will build a new sport utility vehicle at its $1.6 billion joint venture assembly plant in Alabama rather than produce Corolla cars. The largest Japanese automaker announced in January 2018 it would build the factory in Alabama in a joint venture with Mazda. Toyota said the shift is due to "a growing consumer appetite for light trucks and SUVs." Mazda announced in February 2019 that it would build a new SUV at the plant. Toyota said it still expects the plan to start production in 2021. Construction remains on schedule, and hiring has begun. The plant could create up to 4,000 new jobs and build 300,000 vehicles annually. Corolla production will remain at Toyota's plant in Blue Springs, Miss.
Can The New Suzuki Jimny Keep Up With The Jeep Wrangler?
The new-generation Suzuki Jimny has managed to conquer the hearts and minds of off-road enthusiasts. Unlike other tiny ‘SUVs', it's actually built on a ladder-on-frame chassis, features all-wheel drive, solid axles, low-range gearbox and pretty much everything needed to turn it into a small off-road warrior.
New Sony J8010 'sphinx' Xperia Due To Launch Imminently
Somewhat unexpectedly, a new Sony Xperia smartphone model has just popped up on XperiFirm – a third-party repository to download Xperia firmware. XperiFirm does not host any files themselves, but replicates what they are seeing on Sony's servers. This normally only happens once the phone is due to launch within weeks.
Tokyo's New National Stadium Shown To Media
Tokyo's New National Stadium, the main venue for next year's Olympics and Paralympics, has been shown to media ahead of its planned completion this year.
The stadium is about 90 percent finished. It's scheduled to be completed at the end of November.
New Vehicles For Aging, Shrinking Population
Japanese engineers and industry officials have staged an event in Tokyo featuring ultra-small electric vehicles aimed at seniors. The move comes as the aging population has led to a rise in fatal accidents caused by elderly drivers.
The EVs have maximum speeds of about 60 kilometers per hour. Some are equipped with sensors that detect obstacles. Ministry officials say they may offer subsidies to help the spread of the vehicles.
Do These Patent Images Show A New Electric Honda Sports Car?
A handful of intriguing patent images from Honda have surfaced online and may show the production version of the company's Sports EV Concept – or, maybe, a brand new concept.
2020 Mitsubishi Asx Is Proof That You Can't Teach An Old Dog New Tricks
The Mitsubishi ASX, or Outlander Sport as it's known in North America, is one of the oldest compact SUVs in the market. It was launched in 2010, facelifted in 2015 and refreshed again for the 2020MY.
New Nissan Leaf E+ Reduces Range Anxiety, But Demands A Compromise
The second generation Leaf has welcomed a new version with a longer range that sits on the top of the lineup. Named the Leaf e+ Tekna, is £7,900 ($10,054/€8,830) more expensive than the base Acenta in the UK and comes with a few visual and technical enhancements.
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Junior-cycle reform still hangs in balance
Education: The issue of reform dominated 2015, yet changes will affect a minority of schools
Mon, Dec 28, 2015, 12:08 Updated: Mon, Dec 28, 2015, 12:10
Carl O'Brien
Why are the reforms so important? In a sense, the future of second-level education reform may well hang in the balance. Photograph: Eric Luke / The Irish Times
After all the huffing and puffing, the strikes and the votes, long-awaited junior cycle reforms are due to be rolled out in the spring of 2016. But just one in four schools will be in a position to deliver the changes. That’s because they are either fully or partly staffed by members of the ASTI, which has opposed the measures.
Bizarre situation
Why are the reforms so important? In a sense, the future of second-level education reform may well hang in the balance.
A new focus on classroom-based assessments could lay the foundations for a move away from rote learning and written exams to new types of learning which most agree we urgently need in a highly competitive knowledge economy.
The ability to think critically and creatively, to innovate and adapt, to work independently and be part of a team: all these skills will be vital in the years ahead.
The plan is to roll out the reforms for second-year classes in English next year, followed later by other subjects. If successful, similar changes would likely occur at Leaving Cert in the near future.
The actual reforms, however, are hardly radical. The most eye-catching amendments to the junior cycle, first proposed by former minister Ruairí Quinn, were dropped one by one throughout 2015.
His successor, Minister for Education Jan O’Sullivan, argued that the integrity of the reform remained intact, though senior union officials admitted privately that they secured almost everything they sought.
The plan to abolish State-certified exams, for example, was scrapped in favour of tests which will now take place alongside classroom-based assessments.
The Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) members voted in favour by a 70:30 margin. The ASTI, however, could not get a decision from its teacher representatives and the proposals were sent to members to consider without any recommendation.
Hardline members
The results highlight the dysfunction at the heart of Ireland’s largest secondary teachers’ union. Many members feel its structures are outdated. Retired teachers have a major say in union affairs, while few young members now attend meetings.
The “no” vote, say many, has much more to do with a 15-year-long internal conflict in the union and a chronic distrust of being seen to do a deal with government.
What lies ahead? The reforms are due to go ahead in the spring regardless, though most students won’t benefit.
The union, for now, has boxed itself into a corner on the reforms. While it went to the trouble of closing the State’s secondary schools for two days through strike action, senior members say there is no appetite for further action on the issue.
If a creative solution is found to the standoff next year, it could have profound implications for teaching and learning in the years ahead.
If not, it may well set back reform of education for another decade.
Jan O Sullivan
Ruairi Quinn
Teachers Union Of Ireland
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President of the Family Division releases draft guidance on reporting in the Family Courts
8 May 2019 |Family Court|News
The President of the Family Division, Sir Andrew McFarlane, has released draft guidance, for consultation, on reporting in the Family Courts.
It follows an appeal in Re R (A Child) (Reporting Restrictions) [2019] EWCA 482 Civ heard on 15 February 2019.
The President, who is also Head of Family Justice, said he welcomes people’s views and suggestions to the consultation.
Responses can be submitted to his office by emailing pfd.office@judiciary.uk or by post – marked “Consultation on Reporting” – to: The President of the Family Division, Family Division, Royal Courts of Justice, Strand, London, WC2A 2LL.
The consultation will close on 30 June 2019.
President’s draft guidance on reporting restrictions
R (A Child) (Reporting Restrictions) [2019]
Latest View from the President’s Chambers
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Toxins & Full Body Detox | Natural Health Blog
BPA versus the FDA
A new study, published in The Journal of the American Medical Association found that subjects who had the highest levels of BPA in their urine had nearly three times the incidence of heart disease and two-and-a-half times the incidence of diabetes compared to those with the lowest levels.
If the addict’s first challenge is to overcome denial, one might wonder just what sort of addiction the FDA suffers from–given the agency’s continued denial of the fact that the plastic additive, bisphenol A (BPA), causes serious health problems.
On the very same day that a new study confirmed yet more frightening evidence that BPA causes far-reaching health complications, the FDA reiterated its insistence that the chemical is perfectly safe. The new study, published in The Journal of the American Medical Association a few days ago, assessed 1400 people 18 to 74. The subjects who had the highest levels of BPA in their urine had nearly three times the incidence of heart disease and two-and-a-half times the incidence of diabetes compared to those with the lowest levels. The study also found that high levels of BPA correlated with abnormal levels of three liver enzymes.
Current federal regulations do set guidelines for the amount of BPA considered “safe,” but the so-called safe level exceeds the highest levels found in the subjects in this study — by a country mile. According to an article in US News and World Report, “BPA levels that are slightly elevated but still just one-fifth the safe dose limit established by the Food and Drug Administration trigger an alarming release of insulin in the pancreatic cells of mice — and higher levels lead to pre-diabetes or insulin resistance.”
Disturbing as this latest study is, it’s just one in a line-up of literally hundreds of studies confirming that BPA is deadly, harmful stuff. Just a few weeks ago, I reported on research that had found BPA affects brain structure and brain function in monkeys. In that same blog, I mentioned that over 150 peer-reviewed studies have linked BPA to issues including cancer, Alzheimer’s, Down syndrome, obesity, diabetes, and developmental and reproductive problems. And as I said in that blog, “the weight of evidence hasn’t stirred the FDA to budge from its position that the stuff is safe enough to leave on the shelves.” In an earlier blog (October, 2008), I mentioned that 95-percent of all baby bottles on the market today contain the chemical, which is especially frightening considering that infants are even more vulnerable to the effects. And BPA has been found in the urine of 90% of the population.
Apparently, the latest study also hasn’t stirred the FDA to revise its stance on BPA, but many government representatives are beginning to notice that something is very wrong with the picture. Representative Rosa DeLauro, who chairs the House Subcommittee overseeing the FDA, said after the latest study, “For the FDA to determine that BPA is safe for use in baby bottles is perplexing and dangerous. It is time for the FDA to allow science to guide its decision-making process.” (Makes you wonder what she means by science guiding their decision making process, doesn’t it?)
The Consumer’s Union has called for a BPA ban; the National Toxicology Program has put out a paper asserting that the chemical might pose a threat to infants; and Dr. Anila Jacob of the Environmental Working Group, said of the just released JAMA study, “This is a human study that really calls into question FDA’s assertion that BPA is safe.”
The clamor of criticism has extended to the scientific community, where many question the FDA’s decision to use two industry-funded rodent studies to support their insistence that BPA is safe, while ignoring the dozens and dozens of studies conducted by reputable scientific bodies worldwide that say otherwise.
“The FDA is ignoring all of this research,” says Frederick vom Saal of the University of Missouri, “While it has been doing that, Americans have been at risk.” He insists that the studies the FDA relies on are flawed and useless. (Again, makes you wonder why the FDA would do such a thing.)
Meanwhile, Senator Charles Grassley of Iowa sent a letter to the FDA asking why it chose to honor industry-funded studies. In his letter, he noted that “much of the research rejected by the FDA was paid for by the National Institutes of Health,” and he asked the FDA to provide copies of all communication with the American Chemistry Council, which funded one of the studies the FDA relies on. (Wouldn’t we all just love to see copies of those communications?)
But in spite of all the eyebrow-raising regarding the FDA’s reticence to limit BPA, Laura Tarantino, an FDA spokesperson, held firm. “Right now,” she said, “our tentative conclusion is that [BPA is] safe, so we’re not recommending any change in habits” Predictably, the National Chemistry Council had an equally specious reaction to the latest JAMA study, saying that it had substantial limitations, and calling it flawed and inconclusive.
Any reasonable person would have to be questioning whose interests the FDA is actually serving in this issue: the interests of the public, or the interests of the chemical industry? Unfortunately, the answer in this case, looks less than encouraging. Then again, when dealing with addicts, the answers rarely are.
:hc
Detoxing & Full Body Detox
Designer Baby Bags on September 20, 2008 at 3:04 pm
Glad to see that more and more people are waking up to the FDA turning a blind eye to so many horrible chemicals in our consumables. Keep up the good work!
“Very thorough, thank-you for your work, it is a wonderful resource!”
Jeffrey Bergey
Oil Pulling For Detoxing?
Glyphosate? Again?
The Mainstream Media and Detoxing
Roundup: a Crack in the Wall
Inescapable Toxins
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Our Song and Dance with Tokyo GeGeGay
From left to right: BOW, Miku, YUYU, Marie, Mikey
JPOPROCKS: How did each of you get involved with dancing?
BOW: I first started studying plays, and that led to performing in musicals. Through musicals I started to learn how to dance. From there, I really started to enjoy dancing a lot, and since then I’ve continued to dance.
MIKU: When I was five years old, I really liked Morning Musume, a popular idol group. They inspired me to start learning dance.
YUYU: My older brother started dancing before me and when I was four years old, I went to see his dance class. Since then, I’ve been into dancing.
MARIE: When I was four years old, my mother was really into ballet (as a hobby), which influenced my little sister and I to start dancing.
MIKEY: I was watching MTV for the first time and I saw Janet Jackson’s "Rhythm Nation". After I saw her performance, I learned how to dance like her. I’ve been involved with dancing ever since.
JPR: Tokyo Gegegay’s style has been described as “Kiteretsu Mental World”. How would you define your dance style?
MIKEY: It’s really difficult to define or describe what our genre or category is, because we integrate multiple styles in our dances, like hip hop, and pop. We really like to include freestyle, free expression, and a little bit of acting.
JPR: Your videos feature powerful and expressive street dances, often coupled with satire, parody, or tell an intricate story. Take us through how you weave a theme into your choreography.
MIKEY: Most of our narratives come from our everyday life experiences and when I produce a video I try to interpret those experiences into our work.
JPR: With such precise movements, how much time and practice goes into your performances?
MIKEY: In order to produce one video (which can have a runtime of about 5-10 minutes) we practice for around one month, 2-3 times a week, at 3-4 hours per session.
We used to practice at a friend’s space, but we have recently moved to a new place, which has a big mirror which allows us to practice together in one place.
JPR: We recently saw ONE OK ROCK in concert. What was it like to work with that band on their video “The Way Back”? What elements did you bring to the choreography?
YUYU: So that was a three years ago when I was 18. ONE OK ROCK was my favorite band, and I was hoping to work with them, but at the time our producer wouldn’t say which band we were going to be working with. When I found out who we were working with it was like a dream come true. I was really happy and it was a good experience.
For our collaboration we did the choreography for the, “The Way Back” a song about darkness and the two sides, front and back, in all of us. In the video, two of our members represented the darkness or shade. You couldn’t see their faces because they were wearing masks, but we really tried to display GeGeGay’s style in the choreography. We wanted the audience to feel and sense that this was a GeGeGay performance, so we put elements of our style into the video.
JPR: Your newest video, GEGEGE NO KITARO, has over 2.5 million views on YouTube in only a couple weeks. Why do you think it’s popular and how do you feel about its success?
MIKEY: The first thing I thought was that people were mistaking the title with the famous anime with the same title.
But I realized that wasn’t the reason. Honestly, we thought the video was really boring and we were not going to upload it, but at the same time we also thought that because we spent so much money and time into the video, we should go ahead and upload it. We were surprised at the response and now we believe we shouldn't be negative, just go for it and see what the audience reaction would be.
JPR: I liked it. And I don’t think I’m alone.
MIKEY: Do you know think a lot of people know about GeGeGay no Kitaro in San Francisco? Like two people?
JPR: I would think there are more than two. There is a community of people in the US who are into japanese dance videos. A couple of years ago the Jpop Summit hosted two dancers from Danceroid. I am a fan of japanese dance video and have seen quite a few of your videos. I really liked your video “Funeral”
MIKEY: Oh, the Bruno Mars video!
JPR: Yeah, that had a good story to go along with the choreography.
MIKEY: I heard there is a very large LGBT community in San Francisco’s Castro district. Is it far? Can we bike there?
JPR: It’s a couple of miles from here [Fort Mason]. It’s a bit of a walk, but you could bike, if you are ok with going uphill. Honestly, it probably would be best to take a cab or bus there.
JPR: Speaking of travelling, JpopRocks is heading to Japan for the first time early next year. Do you have any recommendations for us or anyone else wanting visiting Japan?
MIKEY: Shinjuku Ni-chōme. It’s Tokyo’s version of the Castro.
JPR: Is there any special message you would like to say to your fans out there?
MIKEY: We have various performances and videos planned in the future, so please continue to watch our performances on YouTube and if you have a chance to go to Japan, please come and see us live.
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Notes: Christian Yelich is flexing some muscle for the Brewers
The outfielder has a career-high 23 home runs but says he hasn't changed anything as far as his approach at the plate.
Notes: Christian Yelich is flexing some muscle for the Brewers The outfielder has a career-high 23 home runs but says he hasn't changed anything as far as his approach at the plate. Check out this story on jsonline.com: https://jsonl.in/2od5fit
Todd Rosiak, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Published 6:03 p.m. CT Aug. 26, 2018 | Updated 7:17 p.m. CT Aug. 26, 2018
Christian Yelich homered in three straight games before going hitless against the Pirates on Sunday.(Photo: Morry Gash, Associated Press)
If you’re looking for some big secret behind Christian Yelich’s recent power surge, you’re going to be disappointed.
“I’ve changed absolutely nothing,” Yelich said Sunday morning. “Everything’s stayed the same.”
Yelich entered the Milwaukee Brewers’ series finale with the Pittsburgh Pirates having homered in three straight games for the second time in his career. He’d also homered in five of seven and was sitting on 23 for the season, a new career high.
His shot to left-center off Jameson Taillon that accounted for the Brewers’ lone run in Saturday’s 9-1 loss caught the attention of the Pirates right-hander.
"Even my hangers, my curveball doesn't usually get hit like that,” Taillon said. “That just tells me he's in a good spot, to be able to sit back on a curveball and hit to left-center. A bad pitch on me, but usually that's a double or an out.
“He's a great hitter."
ANALYSIS: Long ball continues to be an issue for Chase Anderson
Yelich's homer total ranked him third on the team behind Jesús Aguilar’s 29 and Travis Shaw’s 25, with his .910 OPS second. His 54 extra-base hits were tops.
Yelich’s home run stroke has come into focus in the second half, with 12 in 33 games compared to 11 over 82 in the first half.
Not surprisingly, Yelich has gone deep more often at homer-friendly Miller Park. He has 14 homers and a .996 OPS there, a welcome change from the cavernous Marlins Park that he played in for the first five years of his major-league career with Miami.
His previous career high was 21 homers, accomplished in 2016 when he also drove in 98 runs.
“There’s some balls that are probably doubles off the wall or caught at Marlins Park that get out here, so that could be a factor,” Yelich said. “You’ve still got to hit them here. But at Marlins Park, you really, really had to hit it.”
Looking deeper into the numbers, not much has changed for Yelich, as he suggested. He’s been a slightly more aggressive hitter while making a little less contact overall compared to last year, and pitchers are throwing him fastballs more than any season since 2015.
But all of it had added up to a .311 average, 67 runs batted in and a .910 OPS entering Sunday, and Yelich ranked in the top 10 in the National League in several other offensive categories.
Yelich's 11-game hitting streak ended in Sunday's 7-4 victory, but he did draw a walk to extend his on-base streak to 13 games.
Returning to form: So far, so good for Joakim Soria.
The right-hander made his second appearance Sunday since being reinstated from the disabled list, and he needed to record five outs in what should have been a 1-2-3 eighth.
His outing began with Starling Marte reaching on a throwing error by Jonathan Schoop, then after recording the first out Soria balked Marte to second. After Gregory Polanco popped out, Francisco Cervelli reached on a wild throw by Orlando Arcia.
Soria then needed some reflexes to close out the inning, as he barely got his glove up in time to deflect a rocket up the middle by Corey Dickerson before recovering and making the throw to first to end the frame.
Having the veteran Soria in the mix at the back end of the bullpen along with Josh Hader and Jeremy Jeffress should help the Brewers plenty down the stretch. He's allowed just one earned run in nine appearances since coming to Milwaukee on July 26.
"He’s pitched well since he’s been here. He’s had very good outings," manager Craig Counsell said. "Both outings since the DL he’s thrown the ball really well. It’s almost like it freshened him up a little bit.
"He’s going to be huge down there and we’re going to need big outs from him, and it’s nice coming off the injury that he’s right back in there and doing big things for us."
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SDSU’s Johnston selected to coach at USA Basketball’s U19 team trials
Posted: May 7, 2019 / 08:33 PM CDT / Updated: May 7, 2019 / 08:34 PM CDT
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (SDSU) — South Dakota State University women’s basketball coach Aaron Johnston has been selected as one of four court coaches for USA Basketball’s U19 team trials.
“It is a tremendous honor to be a part of USA Basketball and their storied tradition of excellence,” Johnston said. “I am looking forward to working and learning with the talented coaches, athletes and USA Basketball staff.”
Johnston will be joined on the staff by Lisa Fortier (Gonzaga), Nikki McCray-Penson (Old Dominion) and DeLisha Milton-Jones (Pepperdine).
“Nikki, DeLisha and Lisa are highly accomplished in the women’s basketball community, and I am excited to join them in this opportunity with USA Basketball,” Johnston added.
The 2019 USA Basketball women’s trials, which will be used to select the 2019 USA Basketball Women’s U19 World Cup and U.S. Pan American Games teams, will take place May 16-20 at the United States Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
“These four coaches will bring knowledge and enthusiasm to our women’s trials,” said Jennifer Rizzotti, chair of the selection committee and head coach at George Washington University. “We appreciate their willingness to give their time to help assist the USA U19 and USA Pan Am Games coaching staffs and to help ensure the athletes have a successful trials experience.”
Johnston, the winningest women’s basketball coach in SDSU history, recently completed his 19th season with a career record of 469-156 (.750).
In 2018-19, the Jackrabbits finished 28-7 and 15-1 in the Summit League, claiming their ninth Summit League Championship title. South Dakota State capped the 2018-19 season with a Sweet 16 appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
Johnston has guided SDSU to 13 postseason appearances, including nine NCAA Tournaments since the program turned Division I in 2004-05. He has been named the Summit League Coach of the Year four times (2008, 2009, 2012, 2014) and has guided the Jackrabbits to a winning record in all 19 years at South Dakota State.
In addition to Rizzotti, the USA Junior National Team Selection Committee includes athlete representative and 2008 Olympic gold medalist Kara Lawson, and NCAA representatives Karen Aston (Texas), Tonya Cardoza (Temple) and Wes Moore (North Carolina State).
ABOUT USA BASKETBALL
Based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and chaired by retired Gen. Martin Dempsey, USA Basketball is a nonprofit organization and the national governing body for basketball in the United States. As the recognized governing body for basketball in the U.S. by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the United States Olympic Committee (USOC), USA Basketball is responsible for the selection, training and fielding of USA national teams that compete in FIBA-sponsored five-on-five and 3×3 international competitions, as well as for some national competitions and for the development of youth basketball.
Connect with USA Basketball at USAB.com and on Facebook (USABasketball and USABYouth), Twitter (@usabasketball, @USABYouth, @USAB3x3, @USABJNT), Instagram (@USABasketball) and YouTube (therealusabasketball).
-GoJacks.com-
by University of South Dakota / Jul 15, 2019
VERMILLION, S.D.—South Dakota Athletic Director David Herbster has announced a five-year contract with head football coach Bob Nielson. The announcement follows another milestone year for Nielson, who surpassed 200 collegiate victories last season.
“Bob is a proven leader who has laid a solid foundation for our program as we build a championship culture,” said Herbster. “I look forward to watching his teams push forward throughout these facility enhancements and beyond.”
by Sioux Falls Stampede / Jul 15, 2019
Sioux Falls, S.D. – The Sioux Falls Stampede's 2019-20 United States Hockey League (USHL) regular season schedule was announced Monday. The Clark Cup Champion Stampede open the season at the DICK’s Sporting Goods USHL Fall Classic in Pittsburgh for two games between Sept. 26 and 29 before returning to Sioux Falls for its banner raising home opener on Saturday, Oct. 5, hosting the Lincoln Stars at 7:05 p.m. at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center.
The 2019-20 schedule consists of 62 games with 30 at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center, 30 road matchups and two games at the USHL Fall Classic. The Herd's home schedule features 25 weekend games with 10 on Friday, 13 on Saturday and two on Sunday evening. The start time for most home games will be 7:05 p.m. CT with the exception of Sunday games at 5:05 p.m. CT and Dec. 31 versus the Des Moines Buccaneers at 6:05 p.m. CT.
Full Schedule | Printable Schedule
For the second-consecutive season, the regular season will open with two games, counting towards the regular season standings, at the 2019 DICK's Sporting Goods USHL Fall Classic hosted by the National Hockey League's Pittsburgh Penguins at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry Township, Pa. The USHL Fall Classic schedule and opponents will be released later this week.
by KELOLAND News / Jul 15, 2019
The Dakota Alliance U14 soccer team used wins over teams from Texas, Pennsylvania and California to earn a trip to the National Championship against Century East, Pennsylvania in Tenneessee.
The championship game needed overtime, but Hailee Christensen scored one minute into the first overtime half giving the Alliance the only goal they needed to earn the President's Cup National Championship.
A Twitter List by keloland
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Olafur Eliasson retrospective in London is a sensory feast
Posted: Jul 9, 2019 / 08:13 AM PDT / Updated: Jul 9, 2019 / 01:04 PM PDT
Olafur Eliasson poses at the installation ‘Your Spiral View’ as part of the exhibition Olafur Eliasson: ‘In real life’ at the Tate Modern Gallery in London, Tuesday, July 9, 2019. The Tate Modern has brought together around 40 works of Eliasson. spanning the last three decades, and are on display from July 11, 2019 until January 5, 2020. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
LONDON (AP) — Visitors don’t just view the new London exhibition devoted to Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson. They also feel, smell and taste it.
Eliasson creates large-scale works that draw on the elements and nature: wood, fire, light, water. More than 40 of his pieces feature in a huge retrospective opening this week at London’s Tate Modern .
Visitors can get splashed by a 36-foot (11-meter) waterfall, touch a moss-covered wall, feel a misty rainbow, cast colorful shadows, walk through a mirrored kaleidoscope and inch blindly down a tunnel filled with multicolored fog. Starting later this month, visitors can help construct a giant city out of Lego in Tate’s vast Turbine Hall.
For Eliasson, art is interactive. He wants visitors to “get a sense that the show is really there because (they) looked at it, and not the other way around.”
“When you look at that rainbow, is it in fact you consuming the colors, or is it you producing the colors?” he said Tuesday.
The 52-year-old artist has always loved the challenge of using unexpected and intangible materials in his art.
“How do I touch what is normally considered untouchable, like the air? How do I take something that I don’t understand — data, glaciers — and make it tangible?”
Eliasson’s fascination with nature gives his work a powerful ecological message that has grown more urgent with time.
In the past, he has tried to make climate change visceral by bringing chunks of Greenland glacier to melt in public spaces in streets of London, Paris and Copenhagen. The Tate show includes a series of photos of Icelandic glaciers taken in 1999. Eliasson plans to go back this summer and photograph them again, and the two sets will be hung side by side to illustrate how human-driven climate change is altering the landscape.
“When I was a child, I spent a lot of time in Iceland, in nature, and I thought culture is over here — humankind, human activities — and nature is out there. It’s a wilderness, it’s something untouched,” Eliasson told The Associated Press.
Now he says he realizes “there is nothing that has not been touched” by human activity.
“Not even the atmosphere, not even the air that we breathe, is just to be taken for granted as something natural. It’s a cultural product. It’s a product of our society.”
Climate change has also become a focus for Britain’s Tate, a group of galleries which — like other major art institutions — has been targeted by protesters for taking funding from oil companies and other corporations accused of doing social harm.
Tate is now making efforts to go green, and has held meetings gathering together artists and environmental activists. All the works on display in the Eliasson exhibition were transported to London by sea and land — no airplanes were used.
“We’re all learning, and we (in the art world) have to learn very quickly,” said Emma Lewis, one of the exhibition’s curators.
In Eliasson’s view, there is a natural overlap between art and activism. The Tate exhibition ends with a room showcasing work he has done that goes beyond art into architecture, design — he co-designed a solar lamp that has been distributed in its thousands— and even food. One of the Tate cafes is serving organic, vegetarian food modelled on that served to staff in Eliasson’s Berlin studio.
The exhibition, which opens Thursday and runs to Jan. 5, is titled “Olafur Eliasson: In Real Life.” As the artist sees it, art and life are one and the same.
“When you step into a museum you don’t step out of the real world,” he said. “It’s like seeing reality in higher definition.”
Follow Jill Lawless on Twitter at http://Twitter.com/JillLawless
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Wimbledon makes change in using Miss or Mrs. on court
by: CHRIS LEHOURITES, Associated Press
Posted: Jul 1, 2019 / 02:04 PM PDT / Updated: Jul 1, 2019 / 02:41 PM PDT
Britain’s Heather Watson celebrates after beating United States’ Caty McNally to win their Women’s singles match during day one of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Monday, July 1, 2019. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
WIMBLEDON, England (AP) — Wimbledon has tinkered with its traditional naming titles for this year’s tournament.
Spectators at the All England Club and those watching at home will still hear the chair umpire refer to female players as Miss, Mrs. or Ms., but only at certain times — in the same instances that they will use Mr. for the male players.
The titles will still be used for both women and men when it comes to code violations, medical announcements and player challenges, according to the All England Club.
Heather Watson, a British player who is making her 10th appearance at Wimbledon, didn’t even notice the change while beating Caty McNally of the United States 7-6 (3), 6-2 on Monday in the first round. But she was all for it.
“Equality is always good,” Watson said.
In the past, the chair umpire would use the titles at the end of each game during women’s matches, and at the end of the match. But not for men’s matches.
So when Watson won a game in the past, the chair umpire would announce, “Game, Miss Watson.” But for a men’s match, the announcement would just be, “Game, Federer,” in the case of eight-time Wimbledon champion Roger Federer.
The topic of using the titles came up last year, the first year Serena Williams played at the All England Club as a married woman.
Instead of, “Game, Miss Williams,” it was, “Game, Mrs. Williams.” This year, assuming she wins a game in her first-round match on Tuesday, the chair umpire will say, “Game, Williams.”
Novak Djokovic, a four-time Wimbledon winner and the defending champion, said he hadn’t noticed that the club made the change for this year’s tournament.
“I don’t know, to be honest, how I feel about it,” said Djokovic, who beat Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-3, 7-5, 6-3. “I thought that tradition was very unique and very special. I thought it was nice.”
But after being told that the reason for the change could be in the interest of gender equality, Djokovic was on board.
“I mean, sure, if that is the reason, then why not?” the top-seeded Serb said. “I support that.”
NW Charity Golf Classic raises money for kids
by AJ McCord / Jul 15, 2019
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Research Dog Helps Scientists Save Endangered Carnivores
DNA analysis of more than 900 scat samples collected over several summers allowed researchers to develop detailed maps of the species frequenting habitats across a broad swath of northeastern Argentina
By Gerry Everding--Washington University in St. Louis News Office | September 07, 2017
Washington University researcher Karen DeMatteo and her scat-sniffing dog Train are on a mission to preserve jaguars, pumas, bush dogs, and other carnivores in the forests of Northeastern Argentina.Photo courtesy of Karen DeMatteo/Washington University
Scat-sniffing research dogs are helping scientists map out a plan to save reclusive jaguars, pumas, bush dogs and other endangered carnivores in the increasingly fragmented forests of northeastern Argentina, according to a new study from Washington University in St. Louis.
Published Aug. 25 in the online journal PLoS ONE, the study explores options for mitigating the impact of human encroachment on five predators who cling to survival in isolated pockets of protected forest surrounded by a mosaic of roadways, unprotected forest, plantations, and pastures.
“The study details a least-cost plan for the development of a multispecies biological corridor that connects protected areas in the Upper Parana Atlantic Forest Region of Misiones, Argentina,” said co-author Karen DeMatteo, a biology research scientist and lecturer in environmental studies in Arts & Sciences.
DeMatteo, who has spent 10 years working on the project, said completion of the corridor model will allow researchers and community leaders to begin working with property owners to establish the habitat corridors.
“This plan is exciting not only for the future of the local biodiversity, but also because it involved a lot of collaboration from the local government and universities to make it happen,” she said.
Recent studies have argued that establishing small, protected reserves for endangered species, even in the best of habitats, is not enough to ensure long-term survival because species must move across their range to breed with other scattered populations and maintain genetic diversity.
Train, a Chesapeake Bay Retriever, was trained to sniff out animal scat after being rescued from the Humane Society.Photo Courtesy of Karen DeMatteo
Using dogs trained to detect the scat of specific species, DeMatteo’s team searched for evidence of the carnivores’ presence across a broad swath of northeastern Argentina, including public and private wildlife reserves, privately owned plantations, farms, and pastures, and along roads and pathways leading to scattered communities.
Karen DeMatteo and a provincial park guard at the Reserva de Biosferá Yabotí in Misiones, Argentina, collecting a sample of carnivore scat for DNA testing and analysis.Photo Courtesy of Karen DeMatteoDNA analysis of more than 900 scat samples collected over several summers allowed researchers to develop detailed maps of the species frequenting these habitats, including a sense of how their movements were influenced by habitat quality, topography, roadways, and other human disturbances.
For species such as the jaguar, which rarely crosses into territory disturbed by humans, survival may hinge on the creation of habitat corridors linking isolated population pockets. Because the jaguar is so averse to human interaction, some studies have suggested that habitat corridors designed for it also would cover the needs of other predators.
DeMatteo’s study, which examined the habitat needs of jaguars, pumas, ocelots, oncillas, and bush dogs, offers a more nuanced approach, suggesting that the optimal footprint for habitat corridors should be drawn with the overlapping needs of many species in mind.
While some species were less intimidated by the presence of humans, each had its own unique requirements in terms of what constitutes a suitable habitat and the length and width of possible corridor connections.
“Despite variation in body size, the jaguar, puma, ocelot, oncilla, and bush dog overlap in their ecological requirements,” the study said. “However, this is not without variation in the degree of habitat flexibility. Puma, oncilla, and bush dog have comparatively higher levels of modified habitats in their potential distributions compared to the jaguar and ocelot.”
By combining data on all five of these species, researchers developed a model that provides maximum habitat connectivity for all species while minimizing the cost of establishing these corridors through privately owned lands and communities.
“The findings illustrate the benefit of using multiple species versus a single species to develop corridors, because using only the highly restricted jaguar to develop the corridor would mean that the potential distributions of the other four carnivores would be restricted and decreased by as much as 30 percent,” DeMatteo said. “So, it appears that, at least in the Misiones province, the jaguar should not be modeled as an umbrella species because the results fail to capture the varied requirements of coexisting species across the breadth of potential habitats.”
DeMatteo and colleagues hope the study provides a methodology for identifying the optimal footprint for proposed habitat connection corridors, while incorporating enough flexibility to ensure that the needs and desires of private landholders can be incorporated into the process.
Train, the scat-sniffing dog, scouts for droppings along a rural road in Misiones, Argentina.Photo Courtesy of Karen DeMatteo
“The approach in making a corridor a reality is multi-pronged and involves a strong investment from the local community, especially when developing corridors that use existing protected areas as ‘stepping stones,’ as private land will inevitably be involved to varying degrees in and around the corridor,” the study concludes.
Co-authors on the study are Miguel A. Rinas, Juan Pablo Zurano, Nicole Selleski, Rosio G. Schneider, and Carina F. Argüelles, whose affiliations include Universidad Nacional de Misiones, Instituto de Biología Subtropical, Grupo de Investigación en Genética Aplicada, and Ministerio de Ecología.
Funding was provided by the Conservation, Food & Health Foundation, National Geographic Society Conservation Trust, the Palm Beach Zoo Conservation Fund, a University of Missouri-St. Louis Research Award, the Zoological Gardens of Chester–North of England Zoological Society Conservation and Research Fund, the Jaguar Conservation Fund–Woodland Park Zoo, Phoenix Zoo Conservation & Science Program, Fresno Chaffee Zoo Wildlife Conservation Fund, Kickstarter Fund, Paris Zooand Riverbanks Conservation Support Fund.
Tags: Industry News, Product Resource: Industry News, Environmental, ecology, biodiversity, endangered species, wildlife, feces, DNA analysis, conservation
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The Potentially Deadly Bacterium That's on Everyone's Skin
A close relative of MRSA, Staphylococcus epidermidis, is a major cause of life-threatening infections after surgery, but it is often overlooked
By University of Bath | November 28, 2018
This is professor Sam SheppardCREDIT: University of Bath
Forget MRSA and E. coli, there's another bacterium that is becoming increasingly dangerous due to antibiotic resistance—and it's present on the skin of every person on the planet.
A close relative of MRSA, Staphylococcus epidermidis, is a major cause of life-threatening infections after surgery, but it is often overlooked by clinicians and scientists because it is so abundant.
Researchers from the Milner Centre for Evolution at the University of Bath warn that the threat posed by this organism should be taken more seriously and use extra precautions for those at higher risk of infection who are due to undergo surgery.
They have identified a set of 61 genes that allow this normally harmless skin bacterium to cause life-threatening illness.
They hope that by understanding why some strains of S. epidermidis cause disease in certain circumstances, they could in the future identify which patients are most at risk of infection before undergoing surgery.
They took samples from patients who suffered infections following hip or knee joint replacement and fracture fixation operations and compared them with swab samples from the skin of healthy volunteers.
They compared the genetic variation in the whole genomes of bacteria found in samples from diseased and healthy individuals. From this they identified 61 genes in the disease-causing bacteria that weren't present in most of the healthy samples.
Surprisingly, however, there was a small number of healthy individuals who were found to be carrying the more deadly form of the bacteria without knowing it.
The disease-causing genes were found to help the bacterium grow in the bloodstream, avoid the host's immune response, make the cell surface sticky so that the organisms can form biofilms, and make the bug resistant to antibiotics.
The team published their study in Nature Communications this week.
Professor Sam Sheppard, director of Bioinformatics at the Milner Centre for Evolution at the University of Bath, led the research. He said: "Staphlococcus epidermidis is a deadly pathogen in plain sight. It's always been ignored clinically because it's frequently been assumed that it was a contaminant in lab samples or it was simply accepted as a known risk of surgery.
"Post-surgical infections can be incredibly serious and can be fatal. Infection accounts for almost a third of deaths in the UK so I believe we should be doing more to reduce the risk if we possibly can.
"If we can identify who is most at risk of infection, we can target those patients with extra hygiene precautions before they undergo surgery."
He added: "Because the bug is so abundant, they can evolve very fast by swapping genes with each other. If we do nothing to control this, there's a risk that these disease-causing genes could spread more widely, meaning post-operative infections that are resistant to antibiotics could become even more common."
Professor Dietrich Mack, from the Bioscientia Institute for Medical Diagnostics GmbH, Germany, said: "Prosthetic joint replacement surgery helps many patients to live independent and painfree lives, but can take a catastrophic course through S. epidermidis infection.
"These infections are difficult to diagnose and there is hope that disease-associated genes may help to separate harmless skin isolates from disease-causing S. epidermidis strains in the clinical laboratory. This needs to be addressed in future studies."
Tags: Industry News, Product Resource: Industry News, Life Science, patients, bacteria , antibiotic resistance, Health Care
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Ranking the Telltale games from worst to best
by Marcos Thadani ● Last updated on Jun 20, 2017
4. Sam & Max – Season 2 (Beyond Time and Space)
Santa is no match for Sam & Max in this Telltale video game.
Despite the goofy weirdness and hilarious situations of the final Sam & Max season (the pretty good The Devil’s Playhouse), it is clear that Telltale’s Sam & Max reached a high point during season 2, as it was better overall than the later season 3. Because the antics of freelance police duo Sam & Max were the funniest ever in this season’s episodes, like in episode 2 in which psychotic rabbit Max and canine detective Sam travel to the North Pole to deal with a deranged and violent Santa Claus and his elves…
But perhaps the highlight of the season was the “Chariots of the Dogs” episode, which featured plenty of hilarious situations, including a feisty musical number performed by an extra-terrestrial band of Mariachis on a spaceship… All in all, this was one of the funniest Telltale adventure games released to date, and a must for Sam and Max fans and adventure game aficionados.
Next: 3. Tales from the Borderlands
OR JUMP TO: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
See how France gets an advantage through espionage in Civilization 6
New Final Fantasy 15 Kingsglaive trailer features impressive CGI
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Theodore Roosevelt's Osawatomie Speech
by Robert S. La Forte
Summer 1966 (Vol. 32, No. 2), pages 187 to 200
Transcribed by Tristan Smith; HTML editing by Tod Roberts;
See the PDF Version of this article
ON AUGUST 31, 1910, Theodore Roosevelt delivered what was perhaps the most important speech ever given in Kansas. Surrounded by 30,000 enthusiastic listeners at Osawatomie, he developed a political creed which became a milestone along the road to the modern all-powerful state. This speech, later called the "New Nationalism Address," evoked a wide variety of responses. It was labeled "Communistic," "Socialistic," and "Anarchistic" in various quarters; while others hailed it "the greatest oration ever given on American soil." What then were the circumstances surrounding the address? What was the Kansas role in the drama at Osawatomie? Why was that town chosen for such an auspicious moment in history? And why did an ex-President devise a comprehensive political program such as the "New Nationalism?"
The ostensible occasion for the speech was the two-day dedicatory ceremonies at the John Brown Memorial Park. The park, located at the southwestern edge of Osawatomie in the vicinity of a well-remembered skirmish between Proslavery forces and the men led by Brown during the "Battle of Osawatomie," was a gift to the state from the G.A.R.'s feminine auxiliary, the Women's Relief Corps. It was the brain child of Anna Heacock, Cora Deputy, and the property's former owner, Maj. John B. Remington. Remington, allegedly John Brown's nephew by marriage, had induced Deputy and Heacock to buy the land for their organization and then donate the 22-1/2 acres to the state for the memorial. Not all the ladies supported the proposal as zealously as Commanders Heacock and Deputy. For example, Minnie D. Morgan objected to the way money was subscribed by the corps' leadership without formal approval from the W.R.C. She also argued against the project since the place had "never been owned by John Brown. He never lived on it. The John Brown cabin…[was] not there, and …while Brown and his men fired upon the gang of pro-slavery men from…[the] locality, no Free State men were injured and no blood was spilled" there. [1] But, these details did not deter Heacock. Long before the $1,800 was raised to purchase the site, she, with the help of Gov. Walter Roscoe Stubbs, had secured formal acceptance of the area from the legislature. [2]
Since ceremonies transferring the title to the state took place at the W.R.C's grand encampment in Ottawa on May 13, Osawatomie's sons and daughters were angered over the affair. Traditionally, publicity in connection with Brown was reserved by them as a mean's of boosting their town. Twice before his Kansas activities had been lionized in well-attended ceremonies there. In 1877 John J. Ingalls and lesser state notables had dedicated a monument to Brown. On the 50th anniversary of the battle, the Vice-President of the United States, Charles W. Fairbanks, had spoken to a crowd of approximately 20,000. [3] But an event as awesome as the establishment of a state park in memory of Osawatomie's hero demanded even more attention than it had received. Thus, in March, 1910, Dr. L. L. Uhls, superintendent of the state mental hospital and president of the town's commercial club, proposed a plan to give Osawatomie proper recognition. Aware that Col. Theodore Roosevelt had scheduled a Western trip for the late summer of 1910, Uhls decided the former "rough rider" should be willing to come to Kansas for so patriotic a cause as the dedication. On March 24 he asked Governor Stubbs to invite the ex-President, noting that "the citizens…in…this portion of the state, would be very glad if you could succeed in presenting this matter to Mr. Roosevelt in such was as to secure him for the purpose." [4]
At the time the colonel was slowly making his way out of the jungles of central Africa, where he had been on safari, and was enroute to Europe. His itinerary included a rest stop at Porto Maurizio, Italy, in early April. It was there that Stubbs' telegram reached him. Uncertain that his invitation alone would convince Roosevelt, Stubbs sent an appeal to Gifford Pinchot, who waited at the Italian seaport to discuss his dismissal from the agricultural department with his former patron. Following Roosevelt's audience with Pinchot, he dispatched a one-word message back to Kansas -- "Accept." He also wrote the governor that he "looked forward to visiting…[the state], and especially to seeing you and my old friends there." [5] When Roosevelt was invited, he was still unsure of his future role in American politics and was attempting to appraise Republican party conditions in general.
Roosevelt's immense popularity made him an important force in a gathering storm within the G.O.P. Pres. William Howard Taft's actions in disputes over Cannonism, the tariff, and the Ballinger-Pinchot controversy, had led a small but vocal band of insurgent Republicans to revolt openly against his leadership. This feud complicated Roosevelt's position since the insurgents included his closest political associates. However, he had chosen Taft to be his successor and a majority of Republican leaders were standing resolutely by the President. Since both factions were asking his support, Roosevelt was faced with a dilemma. Privately, he held Taft responsible for defeating policies he had initiated as President, but he did not want an open break with the administration. Until 1912 he believed the Republican party was the only instrument available for progress in America and he did not want to see it disintegrate because of Taft's ineptitude. But, though he cherished the party machinery, he recognized that in the two years since leaving office it had become non-Rooseveltian. In fact, he thought his ideals were currently being championed by many insurgents. Precisely what course he should follow plagued him often in the months after April, 1910.
It was during this period, before the Osawatomie speech was written, that Roosevelt devised a scheme to meet the crisis. In July he was visited by three leading Kansas rebels -- Sen. Joseph L. Bristow, Cong. Victor Murdock, and Rep. Edmund H. Madison. The press interpreted the visit as an indication that Roosevelt was supporting insurgency. Bristow believed the same thing. He wrote a colleague that he had found the colonel in a "very desirable mental temperament." "He seems," he told another friend, "to be more advanced and radical in his progressive ideas than…ever before." [6] This was exactly the reaction Roosevelt wanted. As early as April, he had told Henry Cabot Lodge that he intended to keep insurgency "out of the wrong kind of hands" so that he might be able to guide to the movement. Three weeks before the Western tour he wrote William Allen White that he was endeavoring to keep the insurgents free of a position from which he could not extricate them. [7] Roosevelt had convinced himself by this time that if could appear as the ideological leader of the insurgents and then publicly endorse part of Taft's administration, he would close the Republican split. "The greatest service I can render Taft," he wrote Lodge in early July, "…is to try to help the Republican Party to win at the polls this Fall, and that I am trying to do." His Western tour would aid the cause, but he recognized that expressing his ideas and not appearing critical of Taft would be a difficult job. Nevertheless, he was willing to make the effort. After his Osawatomie speech boomeranged so drastically he pointedly told Lodge it was part of his program of party reunification. [8] What Roosevelt did not say was that he had placed a high price on his services as conciliator. The cost he hoped to charge was the approval of the "New Nationalism" as the fundamental beliefs of Republicanism. "My proper task," he had written Fremont Older, "is clearly to announce myself on the vital questions of the day, to set the standards so that it can be seen, and take a position that cannot be misunderstood; then to cooperate with all others wherever they be who are striving for the same ends, and to cooperate not in a factional sense… ." [9]
By reciting his policies in detail and then closing the chasm which separated Eastern and Western factions of the party, he thought it would be obvious that harmony was possible only because of Theodore Roosevelt and his ideals. In part, the Osawatomie speech was a comprehensive political program because it was meant to be the future platform of the Republican party. He chose Osawatomie as the site for its announcement, since he knew his ideas would be favorably received there due to his personal popularity. Roosevelt did not anticipate the violent reaction his speech precipitated elsewhere. He stressed neither traditional radicalism nor insurgency in the address, but it was interpreted in this manner. In general, the Eastern United States denounced him as "communist agitator" while the West thought he was supporting hostilities towards Taft. No matter how hard he tried to dispel these points of view in later activities, they continued to persist. [10] Thus his plan, and in a sense the Osawatomie speech, were unsuccessful. Not only were his ideas too radical for some, but his purposes were misconstrued by others. Actually, Republicanism was split much too deeply to be solved by so simple a solution. [11]
Since Roosevelt could not manipulate Republican affairs to the degree he desired, his failure is understandable. However, there is no logical explanation for his inability to manage phases of the proposal which he could have controlled. For example, Roosevelt did not write the Osawatomie speech, but allowed Gifford Pinchot to draft it. In early May he reached this decision. The address was not written until late July and early August. Then, Pinchot asked William Allen White to help him compose it. On August 17 Roosevelt accepted the Pinchot version, making a few changes but finding it "substantially satisfactory." [12] Pinchot, even more of an extremist than Roosevelt in upholding strong governmental control over individual activities, tinted the address with radicalism far in excess of what Roosevelt would probably have done alone. Writing in the September 3 issue of the Outlook, Roosevelt was much more lenient towards capitalism than he had been at Osawatomie. Explaining his position further, he said, "If we approach the work of reform in a spirit of vindictiveness -- in a spirit of reckless disregard for the right of others or of hatred for men because they are better off than ourselves -- we are sure in the end to do not good but damage to all mankind… ." [13]
Poster courtesy H. D. Weaver Through F. W. Brinkerhoff
Upper: Looking northeast on Main street, Osawatomie, from the Missouri Pacific railroad depot. The mounted troops were from Fort Riley. Photo courtesy Dike Dickerson.
Lower: Theodore Roosevelt at Osawatomie, August 31, 1910
What did William Allen White add to the speech? Possibly White was responsible for the many specific reforms which Roosevelt demanded in the message. By including these specific provisions, which superficially resembled those of the Kansas Republican platform, White could have been seeking to further his group's political prestige. He, Stubbs, and Bristow had written the Kansas platform during August and had steamrollered it through the party council on August 30. [14] After the speech, it was a factional orthodoxy to stress how much Roosevelt had upheld state progressive Republicans in the address. White repeated this so often he eventually believed it. In his autobiography he writes, "He did get squarely on the Kansas Progressive platform, a position which shocked his friend in the East… ." [15] Of course, there was a big difference in Roosevelt's position and much of the state platform, since Roosevelt's program was national in scope while Kansas Republicans were primarily concerned with state reforms. The substance of the ideas though similar were to be enacted at different levels. Roosevelt had no interest in retaining the ideals of Jeffersonian "state's right" demagogues, as he called them. He was interested in a Hamiltonian concept of power which he described as the "New Nationalism." [16]
We can be certain White did accomplish one thing in the speech. His insistence that Roosevelt limit his remarks on John Brown seems insignificant now, but in 1910 it was vastly important. Oswald Garrison Villard, one of the leading critics of Osawatomie's hero, was afraid that Roosevelt in characteristic half-knowledge would describe the "old fanatic" in terms so favorable that Villard's interpretation would be set back about 30 years. Thus, he asked White to persuade Roosevelt to confine his remarks about Brown. In the finished speech, Brown's name appeared just twice and then only incidentally. The editor of the Osawatomie Graphic commented on this slight, noting that since Roosevelt was asked to consecrate the John Brown park "one would naturally suppose this would necessitate…more than a mere cursory mention of…Brown." Two years later Ed Howe remembered the occasion as the time "Roosevelt dedicated a monument to John Brown without mentioning…Brown's name." [17]
The wording of the speech was only one way in which White intended to make profitable use of Roosevelt's presence. His great public friendship with the colonel prompted a number of organizations to appeal for his help in persuading the ex-President to honor them. Two of the most politically potent bodies which enlisted White's aid were the Kansas Editorial Association and the Kansas Traveling Men's Association. Publicly White plugged for both of these bodies, sending Roosevelt formal invitations for them. However, at the same time "the Sage of Emporia" was placing more important demands on T.R.'s time. While writing these formal letters, White was telling the beleaguered statesman privately that he should spend the hours after the speech at Governor Stubbs' Lawrence mansion, where it would be "nice and quiet." Already, he and Stubbs had planned a huge dinner for Roosevelt for the evening of August 31 and intended to arrange things so that it would be politically beneficial to Stubbs and other progressive Republicans. Both men understood the value of publicity. In working out the invitation list, White stressed the need of having all the factional faithfuls present, as well as moderate Republicans. He urged the governor to have plenty of representatives form the press there. Furthermore, since Stubbs was planning a fight in the next session for a public utilities law, important state legislators had to be invited. [18]
There were some problems confronting the governor and his political associates. While they were determined Roosevelt's itinerary after the speech, arrangements for the Osawatomie ceremonies were being made by the city's commercial club and the W.R.C., neither of whom were sympathetic to the higher demands of progressivism. Stubbs, after convincing Major Remington that for propriety's sake the governor should introduce an ex-President, replaced the major, who had scheduled himself the honor. Both Stubbs and White had received formal invitations from Roosevelt to join his party before it reached the city. However, nothing had been done for other progressive leaders. Actually, Republican National Committeeman David Mulvane, a factional enemy of the progressives, was scheduled to accompany Roosevelt during his entire stay in the state. Since Mulvane was never mentioned in connection with the celebration, he apparently played no part. How this was accomplished is not altogether clear. Nevertheless, every progressive Republican except Vic Murdock, who was out of the state at the time, somehow became a part of Roosevelt's entourage and appeared prominently in connection with the dedication. They joined the ex-President's cavalcade as it crossed Kansas. [19]
Roosevelt's trip through the West received wide coverage in all major news media. From their beginnings his activities became the most important items reported in Kansas and across the United States. But it was in Kansas that he received his warmest reception. His special train entered the state on the mid-morning of August 30, along the Missouri Pacific mainline. Its first stop was in Tribune, where 300 people awaited him, but at Scott City the largest crowds had gathered. There, in a driving rain, western Kansans from all the surrounding towns, including two train loads from Garden City, were on hand to cheer his arrival. From the rear platform he spoke briefly, emphasizing the importance of the average man in government and the filial responsibilities of mankind. All along the route he repeated the performance, making approximately the same five minute remarks. After his train left La Crosse, he retired for the night and crowds of disappointed people waited in vain to see the person one country editor described as "the greatest man that has ever lived since the days of Napoleon," and whom another characterized "as the world's most popular citizen." The next morning when Roosevelt arrived at Ottawa, two thousand people stood in a drizzling rain to listen to him. A little earlier nearly a thousand people had done the same at Osage City. As his train left Ottawa some girls gathered at the southeastern edge of town were heard by a reporter to gush, "isn't he dear?...Yes!...I just love him…He has the dearest face!" [20]
But if Kansas were excited, Osawatomie was enthralled! Never had the city's fathers been so successful in making their town popular. Afraid they would not measure up to their tremendous responsibilities they kept the town newspapers hammering away on the immense significance of the affair. In June one booster wrote, "Is Osawatomie going to allow this celebration in August to be a failure?...Can it be possible that Osawatomie has lost its enthusiasm?...We must not go back on the reputation we have already established." [21] In the following weeks thing came alive. Weds were cut all over town; stinky ditches were filled; electricity and water were extended to the park; brush, trees, and debris were cleared form the area and suddenly the park took form. Other arrangements were also made. Bands were engaged and speakers of state-wide recognition were selected to start the oratorical fireworks on August 30. Over the multitude of little details, Major Remington, the ladies of the W.R.C. and the commercial club labored feverishly. [22] In typical fashion numerous minor disagreements arose which had to be resolved, and each group claimed more credit than it deserved. [23] But a few days before the visit the town was ready. "We've put on our biled shirts," wrote the Graphic's editor, "brought the galluses out of their hiding place, had our better halves darn our socks, put on a smile, and thank you, we are ready for plutocrat and peasant, everybody from you and me to the dignitaries, who will be present…to honor the ground where John Brown made his decisive stand for freedom and where the things began to happen away back…which made…people…set up and take notice of Kansas…and [we've]…been noticed ever since." [24] Then on August 30 it began to rain! The street sprinkler imported from Paola to keep the dust down appeared to be an anachronism. The bunting spread along the route Roosevelt would follow began to droop, the unpaved streets grew muddier and muddier and then the electric lights began to fizzle on and off. Things looked dim! All through the 30th, when the festivities started, people poured into Osawatomie -- "singly…in pairs, by the dozens and scores." They came "on foot, bicycles, motors, buggies, wagons, trains and [in] every manner…possible." Even though it was raining, the Graphic reported, "they had on their sunshine disposition…and were ready to hear 'Teddy' speak." But as the great day dawned the rain diminished and then stopped. And, while acres of people, as one observer described them, waited at the Osawatomie station for his arrival, they sang Moody and Sankey hymns to keep their spirits dry. Then the colonel's train appeared. Pandemonium broke loose! The crown shrieked, whistled, cheered, and cried "hello Teddy!" Roosevelt stepped out onto the rear platform and just smiled, bowed, and looked like he enjoyed it immensely. It was a bully occasion! [25]
All the other political bigwigs joined him on the rear platform and each made brief speeches. When Gifford Pinchot talked about the political "idears" of the West, they literally howled. "Yes," reported the Daily Capital, "he says 'idears!'" More important, he insisted that "Kansas idears" would eventually dominated national politics. [26]
Then the group returned to the coach, leaving it for lunch at the state mental hospital. There Roosevelt, apparently forgetting his grand strategy of healing Republicanism's split personality, took what progressives considered to be a slap at Taft. He later interpolated the same remarks into his prepared speech. "I believe," he said, "…in the political tenets of Kansas, which are that it is just as bad to lie on the stump as off the stump, and that a political promise must be redeemed exactly as an honest man will redeem his outstanding obligations. I came here to find Kansas slightly disturbed, but I have never visited Kansas when this was not true. Perhaps I might put it another way by saying that Kansas seems to be enjoying her usual good health." [27] At 2:15 P.M. Roosevelt was introduced by Stubbs to approximately 30,000 people in the park. Here is a man, Stubbs said, "whose name is synonymous for liberty, justice and righteousness in private and public life and whose power and influence for good is greater than any…ruler in the world today." [28]
Then "Teddy" mounted the kitchen table which picturesquely served as his podium at Osawatomie. High above a surging throng which continually cheered, he spoke for one and one-half hours. The set up, reported in the Daily Capital, was much like a country fair, with booths where sandwiches and drinks were being sold. All during the speech people continued to buy food at those stands and the vendors continued to hawk their wares. Not everyone could hear his high-falsettoed voice, but everyone cheered. [29]
The essence of Roosevelt's speech has been discussed by numerous historians. it was, according to Prof. George E. Mowry, "the most radical speech ever given by an ex-President… . His concepts of the extent to which a powerful federal government could regulate and use private property in the interest of the whole and his declarations about labor, when viewed [with]…the eyes of 1910, were nothing short of revolutionary." [30]
Roosevelt stated:
The American people are right in demanding that new Nationalism without which we cannot hope to deal with new problems. The new Nationalism puts the National need before sectional or personal advantage. It is impatient of the utter confusion that results from local legislatures attempting to treat National issues as local issues. It is still more impatient of the impotence which springs from over-division of governmental powers, the impotence which makes it possible for local selfishness or for legal cunning, hired by wealthy special interests, to bring National activities to a deadlock. This new Nationalism regards the executive power as the steward of public welfare. It demands of the judiciary that it shall be interested primarily in human welfare rather than in property, just as it demands that the representative body shall represent all the people rather than any one class or section of the people… .
I believe in shaping the ends of government to protect property as well as human welfare. Normally…the ends are the same, but whenever the alternative must be faced I am for men and not for property… .
These ideas, plus a very clever comparison between the crisis which Brown and Lincoln faced in the 1850's and the crisis Roosevelt and the American people faced in 1910, constitute most of the speech. Taken with the 17 specific reforms Roosevelt discussed, they are the essentials of the address. [31]
According to Richard Henry Little of the Chicago Daily Tribune, when Roosevelt ended his oration, Governor Stubbs leaped upon the table and shouted, "My friends, we have just heard one of the greatest pronouncements for human welfare ever made. This is one of the big moments in the history of the United States!" [32] The cheers continued long after Roosevelt had left the park and boarded the special train for Lawrence. "Not expecting even Lincoln at Gettysburg," wrote Henry Chamberlain in The Voter, Roosevelt's speech was "the greatest ever delivered by any ancient or modern." [33] That night, at Stubbs' home, progressives were jubilant over what they had heard at Osawatomie, but Stubbs' household was upset. Stubbs and White had invited twice as many guests as his mansion could accommodate! Roosevelt, caught in the enthusiasm he had helped create, smiled broadly as he was photographed eating "salt-rising bread" -- a Stubbs campaign favorite. [34]
The next day newspaper editors across the country reacted to the speech, while in the following weeks the mails were crammed with letters recording various sentiments about the Osawatomie address. The ideologically conservative New York Evening Post branded Roosevelt a "self-seeking, hypocritical, braggart," while its sister journal, the Sun, reported that "the third greatest crisis in the history of the nation has arrived, and warned every honest and patriotic citizen to prepare himself against this new Napoleon who deemed it his mission…to overthrow and destroy in the name of public opinion and…personal advancement." The New York Tribune called the speech "frankly socialistic." The socialists had other ideas. The Appeal-to-Reason at Girard did not bother to report the speech, but it did continue a running argument with correspondents on the questions of whether Roosevelt was an insane maniac or simply ignorant. Its editor thought he was a bit of both!
The Kansas City Star, Chicago Daily Tribune, Topeka Daily Capital, and a host of lesser progressive journals agreed that Roosevelt had left no doubt about where he stood. "T.R. has become a progressive Republican," editorialized Harold Chase in the Capital. The principles are not new, said the Star's editor, but the speech "marks the progress of the leading progressive." It was with good judgment, he continued, that "he reserved his first formal political utterance…along the line of progressive government, for the state that has given him the most striking expression of faith in the policies that bear his name." He had not taken sides, he had been with them all along.
Most regular Republican journals in the state did not emphasize the temper of the speech. W.Y. Morgan's Hutchinson News noted that "Osawatomie will be more renowned as the place Teddy Roosevelt visited than as John Brown's former battleground," but failed to say why. Another regular journal, Charles F. Scott's Iola Register, lamented that "Teddy [is] a Rank Insurgent." B.J. Sheridan's Democratic Kansas City Post agreed. The Pittsburg Headlight, controlled by the old-line Republican sachem "Doc" Moore, reported that Roosevelt spoke at Osawatomie but said that Capt. J. G. Water's eulogy of Brown on August 30 had been the highlight of the occasion. [35]
Individual comments were equally divided. Congressional nominee Fred Jackson noted that he and Roosevelt were in perfect agreement. "I like to hear a man like Roosevelt talk," he said. "He stands for everything good. He has good, wholesome ideas in regard to public life…" Ex-Democrat D. D. Leahy noted, "Roosevelt would make a good Kansan. He thinks like Kansans, acts like Kansans and talks like Kansans… ." To Sen. Jonathan Bourne, Jr., Bristow wrote, "Roosevelt in his Osawatomie speech got on the platform practically. [He] indorsed everything that we said… ." And Henry J. Allen jubilantly agreed, "Either Roosevelt wrote the Kansas platform or the Insurgents wrote the speech." But while some Kansans were happy, others were not. Wichita banker C. Q. Chandler, a former favorite of the defunct Long political machine, wrote Chester I. Long that it seemed clear that "Mr. T. R. has gone 'bag and baggage' to the Insurgents, and is paving the way to be nominated for President of the United States next time. I had hoped…he would pursue a different course… ." William J. Barnes, Jr., the New York Republican committeeman against whom Roosevelt was contesting for leadership in the Empire state, announced that the speech "had startled all thoughtful men and impressed them with the frightful danger which lies in his political ascendancy." Taft, uncertain of Roosevelt's attitude all summer, thought his predecessor had chosen a "peculiar" way to support his administration. "I am bound to say," he wrote his brother Charles, "that his speeches are fuller of the ego now than they ever were, and he allows himself to fall into a style that makes one think he considers himself still he President of the United States." [36]
It is fairly obvious why the Osawatomie speech generated such mixed emotions. Some people were fundamentally frightened by the tone of the address, a fear which continues to be expressed against "big government." Many agreed with Roosevelt's ideals of human welfare. Others reacted for purely personal reasons. If the speech helped them politically they applauded; if it hindered them, they were exasperated. It is impossible to know how the vast majority of Americans reacted. The crowd at Osawatomie was entranced by Roosevelt. Perhaps, F. A. Baker of Lane, Kan., summed up grass roots sentiments superlatively when he wrote Stubbs, "I think that was the greatest speech by the greatest man in the greatest country to a crowd of the greatest people under the Shining Sun." [37]
In 1912 the Osawatomie speech became the basis of the National Progressive party platform. After the stunning defeat of the Republicans in 1910, Roosevelt issued the following statement: "So far as I am concerned, I have nothing whatever to add to or take away from the declaration of principles which I have made in the Osawatomie speech… . The fight for progressive popular government has merely begun, and will certainly go on to a triumphant conclusion in spite of initial checks and irrespective of the personal success or failure of individual leaders." [38]
ROBERT S. LA FORTE, a native of Kansas with B.A. and M.S. degrees from Kansas State College, Pittsburg, and a Ph.D. from the University of Kansas, is an assistant professor of history at East Texas State University, Commerce, Tex.
1. Journal of the Twenty-fifth Department Convention of the Woman's Relief Corps, Department of Kansas, Ottawa, May 11-13, 1909, p. 108.
2. Letters, Heacock to Stubbs, February 19, March 27, 29, May 5; Heacock to J. S. Dawson, April 1; Stubbs to Heacock, May 13; F. H. Stannard to Stubbs, May 14; C. M. Kimball to Stubbs, August 5; D. M. Bender to Stubbs, October, 1909, "Walter Roscoe Stubbs Gubernatorial Papers," state archives, Kansas Historical Society. Although the legislature accepted the park without a fuss, when appropriations for maintenance of the area was before the 1911 legislature, J. W. Brown nearly succeeded in defeating it. "John Brown," said the other Brown, "was never in a proper sense a citizen of Kansas. …He never engaged in any legitimate business or employment while here… . With the instincts of an anarchist and the hand of an assassin, his career in Kansas was one of lawlessness and crime -- the one indelible blot on the otherwise fair free-state record. No Kansan desires to appropriate money to perpetuate the name of a Booth, a Guiteau, or a Czolgosz. Neither will consent to exalt the name of the first anarchist and rebel this country produced." -- Topeka Daily Capital, March 5, 1911.
3. Sam J. Shively, "History of John Brown Monument." -- Osawatomie Graphic, August 11, 1910.
4. Letter, Uhls to Stubbs, March 24, 1910, "Stubbs Papers."
5. Telegrams, Stubbs to Roosevelt, April 9, Stubbs to Pinchot, April 9, Roosevelt to Stubbs, April 11, 1910; letter, Roosevelt to Stubbs, April 11, 1910. "Stubbs Papers." For a brief discussion of Pinchot's activities at Porto Maurizio, see George E. Mowry, Theodore Roosevelt and the Progressive Movement (Madison, Wis., 1946), p. 125.
6. Topeka Daily Capital, July 3, 1910. Letters, Bristow to Jonathan Bourne, Jr., July, Bristow to Richard Lloyd-Jones, July 7, 1910, "Joseph L. Bristow Papers," Manuscripts division, K. S. H. S.
7. Letter, Roosevelt to Lodge, April 11, 1910, Selections From the Correspondence for Theodore Roosevelt and Henry Cabot Lodge, 1884-1918, 2 vols., v. 2 (New York, 1925). Letter, Roosevelt to White, August 9, 1910, "William Allen White Papers," Library of Congress.
8. Letters, Roosevelt to Lodge, July 19, 1910, Selections…Lodge; Roosevelt to Lodge, August 18, September 12, 1910, "Theodore Roosevelt Collection," Library of Congress.
9. Letter, Roosevelt to Older, August 18, 1910, "Roosevelt Collection."
10. Mowry, op. cit., pp. 148-153.
11. Three noteworthy discussions of Roosevelt's summer plans have been published. Henry F. Pringle, Theodore Roosevelt, A Biography (New York, 1931), has a different explanation from that presented here. George Mowry, op. cit., 142-147, was the first scholar to assign a harmony program to Roosevelt, but in overlooking the essential purpose of the Osawatomie speech he missed an important point in Roosevelt's stratagems. Martin Fausold's Gifford Pinchot, Bull Moose Progressive (Syracuse, 1961), uses the "New Nationalism address" as the focal point for a penetrating discussion of Pinchot's contributions to modern liberalism. Fausold also has an interesting summary of other explanations advanced for T. R.'s summer activities.
12. Letters, Pinchot to Roosevelt, May 18, August 18, "Gifford Pinchot Papers," Library of Congress; Pinchot to White, July 14, "White Paper"; Roosevelt to Pinchot, August 17, 1910, "Roosevelt Collection." Also, a letter from Amos Pinchot to his mother, as cited in Fausold, op. cit., p. 21. Pinchot also wrote T. R.'s anti-court speech at Denver. See letter, Pinchot to Roosevelt, August 19, 1910, "Pinchot Papers."
13. Theodore Roosevelt, "The Progressives, Past and Present," The Outlook, New York, v. 96, No. 1 (September 3, 1910), p. 24.
14. "We had a tremendous triumph in Kansas this week," rejoiced Bristow. "The progressives … put out a progressive platform. I wrote the national end of it, Stubbs and his friends the state, and Will White put on the literary touches," -- Letter, Bristow to A. L. Miller, September 2, 1910, "Bristow Papers."
15. The Autobiography of William Allen White (New York, 1946), p. 438. At Osawatomie the crowd, sensing the overt relationship between the speech and the state platform, was reported to have chanted, "Either Roosevelt wrote the Kansas platform or William Allen White wrote Col. Roosevelt's speech." -- Topeka Daily Capital, September 1, 1910.
16. A comparison of the speech and the state platform support this view. For the platform see the Topeka Daily Capital, August 31, 1910.
17. Letters, Villard to White, July 28, White to Roosevelt, August 4; Roosevelt to White, August 9; Villard to White. August 18, 1910. -- "White Papers." Osawatomie Graphic, September 1, 1910. Atchison Globe, June 26, 1912.
18. Letters, Frank Harper to White, July 22; White to Roosevelt, August 4; W. B. Howland to H. C. Sticher, August 12; Sticher to Dave Leahy, August 14; White to Roosevelt, August 15; Howland to White, August 19; White to Stubbs, August 23; White to Pinchot, August 24, 1910; telegrams, C. C. Clevenger to Sticher, n. d. (August, 1910), Clevenger to Sticher, August 13, "White Papers." Letter, Sticher to Howland, August 14; telegram, Sticher to Harper, August 11, 1910, "Roosevelt Papers." White to Bristow, August 26, 1910, Bristow Papers."
19. Osage City Free-Press, August 25, 1910. Topeka Daily Capital, September 1, 1910. New York Times, September 1, 1910. That everyone was not satisfied with the "progressive" way things were handled is obvious from the dispute between Stubbs and Dr. Uhls, which was aired in Roosevelt's presence. "WE have been letting Governor Stubbs play horse with us long enough," said Uhls, "and now we intend to stand pat on our original plans." -- Kansas City (Mo.) Post, August 31, 1910.
20. Not all the towns along the Missouri Pacific mainline reported Roosevelt's passage through their counties. Those between La Crosse and Salina usually did not report the occasion. The following newspapers carried stories describing the scenes at the various cities: Greeley County Republican, Tribune, September 2; Scott City News Chronicle, August26; September 2; Garden City Imprint, September 2; Wichita Beacon, August 31; Hoisington Dispatch, September 1; Council Grove Guard, September 2; La Crosse Republican, September 1; Allen Enterprise, September 1; Bison Bee, September 2; Salina Journal, August 30, 31; Osage City Free-Press, September 1; Ottawa Evening Herald, August 31; Topeka Daily Capital, September 1, 1910.
21. Osawatomie Graphic, June 9, 1910.
22. Ibid., June 16, 30, July 14, August 11, 18, 25, 1910. Osawatomie Globe, July 14, 21, 1910. Letters, D. D. Leahy to Cora Deputy, May 26; Remington to Leahy, June 23; Leahy to Remington, July 1, 9; Frank Travis to Stubbs, August 8; Leahy to Stubbs, July 26; "Stubbs Papers." An interesting development in connection with the celebration was the idea of having the sole survivor of the "Battle of Osawatomie" present -- purportedly Luke F. Parsons of Salina. However, on July 21, the Osawatomie Globe reported it looked like the plan would be scuttled because "the survivors of the battle of Osawatomie might be as numerous as the people who came over in the Mayflower." There were at least six "sole survivors."
23. The Osawatomie Graphic's editor, a member of the commercial club, having his share of trouble in helping to arrange the affair, wrote on August 25 that there was one satisfaction: "It has been announced that his [T. R.'s] most important speech will be made here and it will probably will … if somebody, somewhere don't butt in and cause a change of plans." -- Osawatomie Graphic, August 25, 1910.
25. Ibid., September 1, 1910.
26. Topeka Daily Capital, September 1, 1910.
27. Osawatomie Globe, September 1, 1910.
28. "Governor Stubbs' Introduction," a copy, "Stubbs Papers." There was wide variation reported on the size of the crowd, ranging from 20,000 to 40,000, but most observers thought it was in the neighborhood of 30,000. See Osawatomie Graphic, September 1, Osawatomie Globe, September 1, Topeka Daily Capital, September 1, Kansas City Post, August 31, New York Tribune, September 1, New York Times, September 1, and Chicago Daily Tribune, September 1, 1910.
30. Mowry, op. cit., p. 144.
32. Chicago Daily Tribune, September 1, 1910.
33. "As T. R. Swings Around the Circle," The Voter, Chicago, No. 89 (September, 1910), p. 33.
34. Topeka Daily Capital, and Hutchinson Daily Gazette, September 1, 1910.
35. New York Evening Post, as cited in The Voter (September, 1910), p. 35. New York Sun, as cited in Mowry, op. cit., p. 145. New York Tribune, September 1; Appeal to Reason, August 30, September 3, 10, 17; Topeka Daily Capital, September 1; Wichita Eagle, September 1; Kansas City Star, September 1; Hutchinson News, September 1; Iola Register, August 31; Kansas City Post, August 31; Pittsburg Headlight, September 1, 8, 1910.
36. Jackson's and Leahy's comments were reported in the Topeka Daily Capital, September 3, 1910. Letter, Bristow to Bourne, September 2, 1910, "Bristow Papers." Henry J. Allen. "Roosevelt in Kansas," Kansas Magazine, v. 4 (September and October, 1910), p. 68. Letter, Chandler to Long, "Chester I. Long Papers," Manuscript division, K. S. H. S. Barnes' comment in Topeka Daily Capital, September 3, 1910. Letter, Taft to C. P. Taft, September 10, 1910, "Taft Papers," as cited in W. R. Gwinn, Uncle Joe Cannon (U. S. A., 1957), p. 233.
37. Letter, F. A. Baker to Stubbs, September 5, 1910, "Stubbs Papers."
38. Theodore Roosevelt, "Mr. Roosevelt's Position," The Outlook, v. 96, No. 12 (November 19, 1910), p. 607.
John Brown Museum - Exhibits
Letters of John and Sarah Everett, 1854-1864, 2
John Brown Museum - Plan your visit
John Brown Museum - Kansapedia
John Brown Museum - Programs
http://www.kshs.org/p/kansas-historical-quarterly-theodore-roosevelt-s-osawatomie-speech/13176
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Guests attend a Refugees Welcome dinner at Lapis restaurant in Washington, D.C. The goals of the evening: to bring locals together with refugees in their community and to break barriers by breaking bread.
Becky Harlan/NPR
Learn how to make chicken korma, or murgh qorma, a dish often eaten at Iftar—the meal Muslims eat to break the fast each night during Ramadan—in Afghanistan.
Beck Harlan/NPR
This photo on the wall of Lapis shows Shamim Popal holding her daughter, Fatima, who was 6 months old when the family fled Afghanistan after the Soviets invaded in 1979. This was Shamim Popal's passport photo.
Shamim Popal, co-owner and culinary director of Lapis, didn't start cooking until she moved to the U.S. in 1987. Popal says she wanted to host a dinner for refugees to share a sense of hope.
Zubair Popal, and his daughter, Fatima Popal. The Popal family fled Afghanistan in 1980. Today, they're successful D.C. restaurateurs. He recently hosted a Refugees Welcome dinner at his restaurant, Lapis. "We came here exactly like these people," he says, adding, "I know for these people it's very hard, very hard."
(Top) Chicken korma, or murgh qorma, an onion and tomato-based chicken braise, is traditionally eaten during Ramadan in Afghanistan. (Left) A collection of spices used to make murgh qorma. (Right) Guests were served doogh, a traditional Afghan mint yogurt drink.
Manyang Reath Kher (left) came to the U.S. as a teenage refugee, one of the so-called Lost Boys of Sudan. Today he runs a nonprofit called Humans Helping Sudan. He's pictured with the organization's operations manager, Elvis Hedji.
Originally published on September 20, 2018 12:36 pm
Eventually, the Popals landed in America and rebuilt their lives. Today, the family owns several successful restaurants in Washington, D.C., including the acclaimed Lapis, which serves Afghan cuisine. On a recent evening, they opened up the restaurant to host a free dinner welcoming refugees in their city.
"We came here exactly like these people – we had no place to stay," Zubair Popal recalls. He chokes up and takes a long pause before adding, "It reminds me of the days we came ... I know for these people it's very hard, very hard."
The dinner was part of Refugees Welcome, a campaign that encourages locals across the U.S. to host similar meals for refugees in their community — and to break barriers by breaking bread together.
"The intention is to really humanize the refugee issue and to say, let's meet each other as neighbors. Let's talk about ways that we're similar rather than ways that we're different," says Amy Benziger, the U.S. lead organizer for the dinners, which were launched in February. The campaign is sponsored by UNICEF, among other partners.
The first dinner was held just a few weeks after President Trump signed an executive order barring travelers from several Muslim-majority nations and new refugees from entering America. That ban has since been blocked by courts, but the dinner campaign is still going: More than 30 such events have been held so far in the U.S., and they're now expanding into Canada and Europe, Benziger says.
About 40 people showed up for this D.C. dinner, which was organized by four local female entrepreneurs in collaboration with the Popal family.
"I've been living in Washington for 12 years, and I'm a recent U.S. citizen," says Kalsoom Lakhani, one of the night's organizers and the founder and CEO of Invest2Innovate, which funds entrepreneurs in developing nations.
"I've been conflicted and angry about the recent news about the travel ban and what that meant for how people that were coming into this country felt – especially as a new American citizen," she says.
Guests and hosts mingled for a while before sitting down at one long dining table set up in an intimate, candle-lit space in the lower level of the restaurant. Main courses were served family style – the better to encourage conversation while asking your seat mate to pass the challow, a long-grain Afghan rice dish seasoned with cumin.
Because the dinner took place during the month-long Ramadan holiday, it was presented as an iftar – the meal Muslims eat to break the fast each night. That meant no alcohol on the menu. Instead, the hosts served "mock-tails" and Afghan fare including a mint yogurt drink called doogh and murgh qorma, an onion and tomato-based chicken braise traditionally eaten during Ramadan in Afghanistan.
Ten refugees showed up for the Lapis dinner. They included several young men from Afghanistan and Beza, a journalist who fled Ethiopia last year after being tortured and imprisoned. She asked us not to use her full name to avoid endangering her family still in Ethiopia. "I'm not afraid here anymore," she says of her new life in D.C. "I feel safe. There's a huge Ethiopian community here. I feel like home."
Also present was Manyang Reath Kher, who arrived in the U.S. more than a decade ago as a teenager. He was one of thousands of children, known as the Lost Boys of Sudan, who were orphaned by that country's long-running civil war. "It's real hard 'cause you don't know anyone here," he recalls of his arrival. "You're like, where's my family? First of all, you don't know language. You don't know anyone. It's also cold."
But now, he laughs, "I'm good." And he's doing good, too: He's the founder of Humans Helping Sudan, a nonprofit that runs several on-the-ground programs that teach refugees in Ethiopia and Sudan how to fish and farm and creates employment opportunities there.
Creating opportunities is also one of the goals of this dinner, says Benziger. "We've had amazing outcomes from dinners like this that have happened organically. Jobs have been created, friendships have been made."
She says a connection made at a New York City dinner helped a refugee from Yemen win a scholarship. And two people who met at an event — one of whom was a refugee — are working to launch a pop-up restaurant.
"For tonight, I just want to see people happy, starting to connect, feeling comfortable in their skin and their community," Benziger says.
As for Zubair Popal, he had a simple message for the refugees present — one that was rooted in his own experience: "Things will be OK. They will be OK."
Maria Godoy is a senior editor with NPR and host of The Salt. She's on Twitter @mgodoyh.
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James Berrington
jamesberrington.photography
About James Berrington
I am London-based artist with an interest in the intersection between fine art and socially critical work. I graduated with a First Class Degree in Photography from the University of Westminster in 2015, where I was given the Caparo Award, awarded to the best graduate of the Media Arts and Design faculty. I will commence a Masters in Fine Art at the Slade School of Fine Art, London in September 2018.
Whitburn Orange Multi (from Modern Living) has been selected for the 2018 Royal Academy Summer Exhibition in London. Work from the Modern Living was also selected for Peaches and Cream 2017 and also for Bloomberg New Contemporaries 2016 with work exhibited at Bluecoat Liverpool and the Institute of Contemporary Arts London. Modern Living was also shown in 2016 as part of the group show Topographies of Modern Life in London and Amsterdam.
James Berrington's Projects on LensCulture
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India Corporate Law
Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas
Tender Offers – 2017: The Year that Was
By Gautam Gandotra & Ravi Kumar on January 10, 2018
January to December 2017 saw 56[1] tender offers/open offers made under the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Substantial Acquisition of Shares and Takeovers) Regulations, 2011 (Takeover Regulations), 41 of which have been completed. This compares to 63 open offers made in the calendar year 2016.
For 2017, the total value of open offers made to the shareholders was Rs. 2,015[2] crores as against Rs. 9,676 crores for 2016. In 2017, no open offers were made by a private equity fund as compared to three made in 2016.[3]
Companies in the non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) space saw a particularly high number of open offers (11 in all). Some of these were open offers for Upasana Finance Limited, Capital India Finance Limited, Dhanvarsha Finvest Limited, Golden Goenka Fincorp Limited, Lark Trading and Finance Limited, Chokhani Securities Limited and TRC Financial Services Limited. However, some of these have not closed, probably due to delays in receiving regulatory approval for change in control of the NBFCs.
Direct Acquisitions and Change in Control
Most of the open offers were triggered by direct acquisitions under Regulation 3(1) of the Takeover Regulations (i.e., acquisition of 25% or more of shares or voting rights) and Regulation 4 of the Takeover Regulations.[4] However, there have been instances where open offers were triggered purely as a consequence of Regulation 3(1) – for example, Ishan Dyes and Chemicals Limited, Choice International Limited, UV Boards Limited and Pioneer Agro Extracts Limited.
Two open offers were made under Regulation 3(2) of the Takeover Regulations 2011, in the case of Expo Gas Limited and Choice International Limited, following the conversion of equity share warrants by the promoters.[5]
The open offer in Calcutta Jute Manufacturing Company Limited[6] saw a direct delisting offer being made, i.e., a delisting offer which if unsuccessful flips into an open offer under the Takeover Regulations. CAM advised the Damani family in their direct delisting of Bombay Swadeshi Stores Limited in 2015, the first and only successful direct delisting to date.
Indirect Open Offers and Deemed Direct Open Offers
Two open offers were made under Regulation 5(1) (pure indirect open offer) in the case of Igarashi Motors India Limited and SQS India BFSI Limited. Three open offers were made under Regulation 5(2) (deemed direct open offer) viz. for Tasty Bite Eatables Limited, Accelya Kale Solutions Limited and Saptarishi Agro Industries Limited.[7]
Closing the Underlying Transaction Before the Open Offer
Six open offers saw the acquirers taking advantage of Regulation 22(2) of the Takeover Regulations (depositing in escrow 100% of the total open offer consideration in cash) and closing the underlying negotiated share acquisition deal prior to completion of the open offer. They were Aurum Soft Systems Limited, Sona Koyo Steering Systems Limited, Tasty Bite Eatables Limited, Accelya Kale Solutions Limited, Worldwide Leather Exports Limited and Calcutta Jute Manufacturing Company Limited.
Re-classification of Promoters as Public Shareholders
In certain transactions, promoters were re-classified as public shareholders as their shareholding became insignificant after the open offer in accordance with the procedure set out in the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements), 2015. Examples are Shiva Cement Limited, Sona Koyo Steering Systems Limited, Gokaldas Exports Limited and a re-classification has also been proposed in Combat Drugs Limited.
Amendments to the Takeover Regulations
The Takeover Regulations were amended in 2017 exempting lenders/acquirers of distressed companies from making tender offers if certain prescribed conditions are met.[8]
Changing Paradigm on Open Offers
Xchanging Solutions Limited
Computer Sciences Limited (CSC), a listed company in the USA, indirectly owned 78.77% of Xchanging Solutions Limited (XSL). CSC was considering a merger of equals under the laws of the USA with an indirect subsidiary of Hewlett Packard Enterprise Limited, a listed company in the USA.
The question before SEBI was whether the proposed merger would trigger an open offer. SEBI in its interpretative letter under the SEBI (Informal Guidance) Scheme, 2003, indicated that the proposed merger will trigger an indirect open offer as the exemption for a merger not involving the target company was not available.
SEBI did not proffer any reasons for its views, which is surprising. Interestingly, Xchanging
Technology Services India Private Limited, the promoter of XSL, made a public announcement on November 17, 2017, which was delayed by more than a year as the public announcement should have been made within four working days from May 24, 2016, the date on which the decision or intention of the underlying transaction triggering the indirect acquisition was made available in the public domain. The open offer documents set out an interest of 10% per annum payable to the shareholders of the target company from May 24, 2016, till the date of the detailed public statement to be issued by the acquirer.[9] SEBI might initiate separate proceedings imposing a penalty for the delay.
Broadly, there are two views on this informal guidance:
The SEBI decision was correct since: (a) there was an indirect change in control of XSL since HPE shareholders effectively control XSL; and (b) the fact that there is no identified acquirer doesn’t detract from the change in control which is the trigger for an Open Offer.
The alternate view is that the change in control of XSL was triggered by a set of public HPE shareholders and, therefore, no open offer should be triggered since a change of control, by definition, means that some identified person has acquired control (and that person should make the Open Offer).[10]
Linde India Limited
Linde AG (Linde), a German company, is the ultimate parent of Linde India Limited (Linde India), a listed Indian company. Linde indirectly holds 75% shareholding in Linde India. Linde is proposing to enter into a merger of equals with Paraxir Inc. (Paraxir), an American listed company. The following chart sets out the pre-merger and post-merger structure of Linde and Paraxir.
The query before SEBI was whether this proposed merger is an exempted transaction under Regulation 10(1)(d)(iii) of the Takeover Regulations (merger pursuant to an order of the court) despite the fact that the proposed merger was to be undertaken by way of a merger agreement. SEBI informed the applicant in its interpretative letter under the SEBI (Informal Guidance) Scheme, 2003, that since the proposed merger is not getting approved by a competent court/authority overseas, it is not an exempted transaction.
It remains anybody’s guess as to what SEBI’s reaction would have been if the application had referred to all the arguments set out in the application seeking SEBI’s informal guidance in Xchanging Solutions Limited (i.e. no open offer is triggered since that there would be no change in control of Linde India). We believe that if confronted with this question, SEBI may have taken a different view.
We believe that 2018 will continue to see a fair traction on open offers and M&A in sectors such as NBFCs, retail and healthcare. We expect a slew of takeovers in distressed assets but no open offers given lenders/acquirers of distressed companies have an exemption from making tender offers.
* The authors were assisted by Gagan Sharma, Principal Associate and Upamanyu Talukdar, Associate.
[1] As per the data available on the SEBI website as on January 8, 2018.
[2] Upto November 30, 2017.
[3] 3 last year being: (1) Blackstone for Mphasis Limited, (2) Advent and Temasek for Crompton Greaves Consumer Electricals Limited, and (3) WestBridge for DFM Foods Limited.
[4] Acquisition of control of the target company.
[5] Breaching the annual 5% creeping acquisition limit.
[6] Yet to be completed.
[7] Deemed direct offers follow the same sequence/timing as direct offer even though triggered by an indirect acquisition.
[8] Such as compliance with RBI stipulated guidelines on the purchase price and lock-in of these shares for at least 3 years.
[9] Regulation 8(12) of the Takeover Regulations.
[10] Each of the authors of this article is a proponent of one of the views.
Posted in Corporate & Commercial, International
Gautam Gandotra
Partner in the General Corporate Practice at the Mumbai Office of Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas. Gautam specialises in mergers & acquisitions, private equity investments and exits. He has led various transactions acting for private equity players, leading Indian and multinational corporations across various industry lines including NBFCs, retail, hospitals, mutual funds, insurance and FMCG. Gautam also advises various Indian listed companies on securities laws and corporate governance issues. Gautam holds a Masters’ in Corporate Law from New York University School of Law, where he was a Hauser Global Scholar. He can be reached at gautam.gandotra@cyrilshroff.com
Read more about Gautam Gandotra
Partner in the General Corporate Practice at the Mumbai Office of Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas. Ravi has extensive experience in general corporate and advisory work, primarily focusing on mergers and acquisitions and corporate restructuring. Ravi has been associated with a number of complex acquisitions and restructuring transactions and has also worked on various private equity transactions, advising both on investments as well as exits by private equity investors. He can be reached at ravi.kumar@cyrilshroff.com
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> News & Events>News>2018> 05/08/2018 | Gimv acquires majority stake in Laser 2000 GmbH
We are very proud that the Belgian investment firm Gimv (www.gimv.com) acquired 75 % of the shares from Laser 2000 GmbH. The new investment will be part of Gimv's Smart Industries business unit. This gives Laser 2000 GmbH and its French / Iberian subsidiary Laser 2000 SAS a completely new perspective and lets them look into a successful future. The new development is an excellent solution for all parties involved, for our esteemed customers, our business partners and of course for all our employees.
Gimv is a European investment firm with over three decades of experience in private equity and venture capital. The company is listed on the Euronext. Gimv currently manages around 1.6 billion euros in investments in some 50 portfolio companies.
We are pleased to have found an experienced, strong and entrepreneurial partner who ensures continuity for the company. At the same time, we are working hard to further develop Laser 2000 in the spirit of the Gimv credo "building leading companies" and to continue to be your reliable business partner.
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As the World Keeps Turning
As the world keeps turning, chronic keeps burning
Street sermon, these niggas are determined
Forgot About Dre (clean)
Nas (Interlude)
Forget About Dre (Video Clean)
Nuthin' but a G Thang (radio edit)
Hands On (Intro)
Let's Get H*** - Dr. Dre, Hitman, Kurupt, Ms. Roq
Nuthin' But a G Thank
On Stat Quo (Aftermath)
Slow It Down
www.drdre.com
Twitter (@drdre)
Facebook (DrDre)
André Romelle Young (born February 18, 1965 in Los Angeles, California), better known by his stage name Dr. Dre, is an American record producer, rapper, actor and record executive. He is the founder and current CEO of Aftermath Entertainment and a former co-owner and artist of Death Row Records, also having produced albums for and overseeing the careers of many rappers signed to those record labels. As a producer he is credited as a key figure in the popularization of West Coast G-funk, a style of rap music characterized as synthesizer-based with slow, bass heavy beats. Dr. Dre beg… read more
André Romelle Young (born February 18, 1965 in Los Angeles, California), better known by his stage name Dr. Dre, is an American record producer, rapper, actor and record executive. He is th… read more
André Romelle Young (born February 18, 1965 in Los Angeles, California), better known by his stage name Dr. Dre, is an American record producer, rapper, actor and record executive. He is the founder and current CEO of Aftermath Enterta… read more
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GusGus
Dance You Down
Your Moves Are Mine
Dusted (Tipper remix)
Pearl's Girl
Believe (feat. Kele Okereke)
Something Like a Mama
When No One Cares
Impact (The Earth Is Burning)
Flowerstand Man
Hasta Luego Mr. Fab (Interlude)
www.gusgus.com
Twitter (@GusGusOfficial)
Facebook (pages/GusGus/27595561729)
GusGus, Iceland's leading techno-/soul band saw the light of day for the first time in 1995, during a break in the making of the shortcut "Pleasure". Initially GusGus was as a multimedia collective that combined sexually tinged dance music with visual arts and shorts made by the group's members. The band's name refers to the 1974 German film Ali: Fear Eats the Soul by Rainer Werner Fassbinder A self-titled debut album appeared on their Kjól & Anderson imprint in conjunction with the screening of "Pleasure". The UK label 4AD Records signed the b… read more
GusGus, Iceland's leading techno-/soul band saw the light of day for the first time in 1995, during a break in the making of the shortcut "Pleasure". Initially GusGus was as … read more
GusGus, Iceland's leading techno-/soul band saw the light of day for the first time in 1995, during a break in the making of the shortcut "Pleasure". Initially GusGus was as a multimedia collective that combined sexually… read more
WhoMadeWho
Booka Shade
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Title 37. Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights
Chapter I. UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Subchapter A. GENERAL
Part 5. SECRECY OF CERTAIN INVENTIONS AND LICENSES TO EXPORT AND FILE APPLICATIONS IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES
Subjgrp 156. Licenses for Foreign Exporting and Filing
Section 5.12. Petition for license.
37 CFR § 5.12 - Petition for license.
§ 5.12 Petition for license.
(a) Filing of an application on an invention made in the United States will be considered to include a petition for license under 35 U.S.C. 184 for the subject matter of the application. The filing receipt or other official notice will indicate if a license is granted. If the initial automatic petition is not granted, a subsequent petition may be filed under paragraph (b) of this section.
(b) A petition for license must include the fee set forth in § 1.17(g) of this chapter, the petitioner's address, and full instructions for delivery of the requested license when it is to be delivered to other than the petitioner. The petition should be presented in letter form.
(35 U.S.C. 6, Pub. L. 97-247)
[48 FR 2714, Jan. 20, 1983, as amended at 49 FR 13462, Apr. 4, 1984; 62 FR 53204, Oct. 10, 1997; 65 FR 54683, Sept. 8, 2000; 69 FR 56546, Sept. 21, 2004; 80 FR 17970, Apr. 2, 2015]
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No Hope But Lots of Change: Moving Forward on Immigration Reform with Republican Majorities in Both Chambers of Congress
The election was less than a week ago, and already many are trying to use the results to argue that Comprehensive Immigration Reform ("CIR") now has a real chance of being passed because Republicans will be able to take credit for it. Despite such optimism, the contrary argument made by Raphael Sonenshein in the final two-and-a-half minutes of the below video is more likely the reality:
Indeed, while President Barack Obama is still taking the position that he will implement CIR via executive order, the Republicans in the U.S. Congress continue to state that such unilateral action by the President will have severe political consequences. The President's taking executive action before the end of this year may not appear as a rush because CIR has been debated for years, but the move will nonetheless appear hasty in light of an incoming Republican majority early next year.
Also rushed will be the below rundown of some of the latest published decisions by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ("Ninth Circuit"), the federal appeals court that hears appeals from decisions by U.S. District Courts within the Western States as well as hears petitions for review from decisions by the Board of Immigration Appeals ("BIA") regarding removal proceedings conducted within the Western States.
First, in Nguyen v. Holder, the Ninth Circuit in August of this year found that a Vietnamese mandid commit what is termed a Crime Involving Moral Turpitude when he misused a passport to facilitate international terrorism but nevertheless ordered the BIA to grant him deferral of removal under the Convention Against Torture because of thelikelihood of his being tortured by the Vietnamese government upon his deportation.
Also in August of this year, the Ninth Circuit inBrown v. Holder found that an Indian man has a Constitutional right to U.S. citizenship as a means of avoiding deportation if he could show that the former Immigration and Naturalization Services ("INS") either arbitrarily and intentionally obstructed his naturalization application or that INS was deliberately indifferent to whether his application was processed.
Remaining in August of this year, the Ninth Circuit held in Lai v. Holder that a Chinese man's raising of information, which was not inconsistent to information he previously provided, for the first time only during cross-examination regarding his asylum application could not be subjected to an adverse credibility finding.
Finally, and finishing off the cases for August 2014 and thereby leaving subsequent cases to subsequent posts, the Ninth Circuit held in Singh v. Holder that being persecuted for multiple reasons, some of which may not be for protected grounds while others are for protected grounds, does not render one ineligible for asylum provided that at least one protected ground formed at leastone central reason for the persecution.
Please forgive the rush, but as with the President, I am trying to catch up before the end of the year.
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Police Liability Under Section 1983: The Year in Review
Produced on April 11, 2019
Wayne Beyer
$ 89 Constitutional Law, Litigation, Civil Rights, and Public Interest Law In Stock
Categories Constitutional Law Litigation Civil Rights Public Interest Law
If you litigate or advise on § 1983, get ahead of the opposition. This webinar, presented by litigator Wayne Beyer, will cover new directions on the police use of force, trends, controversies, resources, and much more. It will help you to stay up-to the minute on the latest Supreme Court cases, taser use limitations, body worn cameras, and more.
Summarize Supreme Court cases decided in and pending in 2018-19: Kisela v. Hughes (qualified immunity defense to shooting); District of Columbia v. Wesby (qualified immunity defense to false arrest); Nieves v. Bartlett (probable cause defense to retaliatory arrest); and five others
Know the limitations on Taser use and why Taser (now called Axon) discontinued its high risk X26 model
Examine the most recent deadly force analysis after the Supreme Court’s rejection of the “provocation” theory in County of Los Angeles v. Mendez
Discuss the use of force against EDPs (emotionally disturbed persons); de-escalation; the exigent circumstances exception to the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act); re-thinking the 21-foot edged weapons rule; and defusing situations through ICAT (the Police Executive Research Forum’s Integrating Communications, Assessment, and Tactics) training
Study the IACP (International Association of Chiefs of Police) consensus policy against shooting at vehicles and Supreme Court cases going in a different direction like Mullenix v. Luna and Plumhoff v. Rickard on qualified immunity
Get up-to-speed on the body worn camera (BWC) debate on when officers should view their recordings
Identify resources and links you can use in your practice
Wayne C. Beyer is a litigator, author, presenter, and former administrative appeals judge. He has been lead counsel in over 300 police misconduct cases, including dozens of jury trials, involving Fourth Amendment excessive force, false arrest, illegal search, fatal shootings, positional asphyxia, cell suicide, pursuits, failure to render medical assistance, failure to protect, First Amendment, malicious prosecution, and wrongful conviction. Beyer was an assistant attorney general for the District of Columbia (previously called assistant corporation counsel) and outside counsel to New Hampshire’s Property and Liability Insurance Trust. He has been a presenter at national programs for Georgetown University Law Center, Defense Research Institute, the American Bar Association and the Federal Judicial Center for District and Magistrate Judges, and more recently for numerous webinar providers. Beyer is the author of law review and magazine articles on police misconduct, including the 1,540-page treatise and handbook, Police Misconduct: A Practitioner’s Guide to Section 1983, available from Juris Publishing at http://www.jurispub.com/ Bookstore/United-States/Police-Misconduct.html. He is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, National Sheriffs Association, and Police Executive Research Forum. He was an associate and partner at prominent New Hampshire law firms; chief of staff U.S. General Services Administration; and he rendered 750 final decisions on employment and labor issues for the Executive Branch of the United States Government as member, chairman, chief judge, U.S. Department of Labor Administrative Review Board and member Federal Labor Relations Authority. Beyer holds degrees from Dartmouth College, Harvard University, and Georgetown University Law Center.
michele m.
Kimberly R.
Rogelio P.
good use of case law
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Tom Swarbrick
Minister Plays Down Defence Secretary's Threat To Sweep Theresa May From Power
24 June 2018, 16:48 | Updated: 24 June 2018, 16:58
Gavin Williamson has been accused of stirring up trouble amongst Tory MPs after threatening the Prime Minister
After the government promised a new spending plan for the NHS, the Defence Secretary has demanded an extra £20bn to the Ministry of Defence.
Gavin Williamson has warned the Prime Minister that if she did not commit to the new defence spending then the next budget would be voted down.
The Defence Secretary is reported to have told senior military leaders: "I made her, so I can break her."
But a Health Minister played down the threat to Tom Swarbrick, suggesting it was normal politics oversold by newspapers.
Steve Brine MP noted that the UK is the EU's biggest defence spender.
"So to use the Defence Secretary's words, he needs to go away and shut up?" asked Tom.
But the minister replied: "No, the Defence Secretary is doing what you would expect any cabinet member and and minister to do ahead of a spending review next year.
"I don't think it's a big news story, is it?"
He said: "A government minister speaks up for his department?"
Tom interrupted: "To be fair, a secretary of state saying 'I made her, I can break her' is pretty astonishing."
The minister replied: "I've been doing this a long time and the difference between what somebody says, and what a newspaper says they said, and how they splash it on their front pages are very different."
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By: Khurram Virani
While my students are learning to code at Lighthouse Labs, there is one question I ask more than any other: "Are you enjoying it?" No matter what the task at hand is, this question is more important than any technical skill they'll learn. Although this may seem like an obvious query to some, I had to learn it the hard way.
I was only two semesters into my comp sci degree when I found out that RIM (now Blackberry) wanted to interview me for a summer internship as a quality assurance (read: glorified tester) intern. Having RIM on your resume, especially as a student, was a pretty big deal.
My whole experience with them was quite surreal. When arriving at their offices in Waterloo, Ont. I stepped into a small room with nothing but a desk supporting a sign-in sheet and a telephone. Instructions on the sheet prompted me to sign in and then pick up the phone. The receptionist on the other end said she would send for my interviewer. A few minutes later, two of their junior staff walked in. I've never witnessed such a strong look of tandem disinterest. Apparently my actual interviewer was in a meeting and couldn't make it, so the task was left with two juniors who evidently had no decision-making power.
The entire interview reflected this disinterest. One of them read out behavioural questions from a script, and then stared at me blankly while the other one took notes. There was zero conversation. They looked unhappy to be there - not just in the interview, but at RIM. I think that's what made me realize I didn't want to work there, without even having finished the interview. Their final interview question for me was "What would be the worst possible job to you?". I hesitated for a few seconds while I contemplated my decision, then I responded: "Working at RIM."
That was the first step in realizing my need for a career I could enjoy, however I hadn't fully learned my lesson yet. My first employer after graduating university was Workbrain (currently a part of Infor), where I answered tech support calls from their Fortune 100 clients. It was painful. The team complained about everything: the work, the culture, the clients, the management, and the compensation. From what I remember, complaining is literally the only thing that we did while chatting at work! Yet many of these unhappy employees had been there for two or more years. I quit after two months of it, without even having found an alternative job.
I was young and inexperienced at the time, but I was acting on a crucial career rule that many take decades to learn: If you're not passionate about what you're doing or where you're working, find that exit as soon as possible. Do not try to force yourself to become content with your day job. It's really not worth it.
Although passion is important in all professions, software development in particular demands it. In university, I saw this firsthand: many of my fellow students entered the software program because of the pay grade, the industry demand or because their parents suggested it. You could always tell which students these were. They usually struggled and dropped out within the first year or two. Those that didn't drop out ended up working 9-to-5 corporate jobs, only to quickly transition to a different career.
I strongly believe that software development is a profession you won't survive in unless you love working with code. I don't know a single senior software developer that doesn't love what they do. We live code: we write it at work, after hours at weekly "hack nights", and for side projects on weekends. The same is true for our teachers; they not only have to love to code (that's a given), but also love to teach.
I think that's a major part of what makes bootcamps like Lighthouse Labs special. As a student, not only do you get a great base of skills, but you also have a perfect way to test if you like it. Passion can take time to develop, and 10 weeks is sufficient time to get good enough to know if it's for you.
Some of our students at Lighthouse Labs had a poor experience when beginning to code prior to their arrival in our bootcamp. Perhaps they had a bad teacher, or a lack of encouragement from friends and family. Yet once they give themselves a chance to succeed, I've seen these same students kick ass in our program and move on to join amazing teams at top tech companies in Canada. They loved the program, love their new careers and most importantly, love to code.
At Lighthouse, the most important criteria for our application process is centered around this philosophy. We look for drive and hunger yes, but most importantly we look for the potential of them loving the work and life of a professional coder.
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2009 Custom Motor Show in Farnborough FIVE
2009 Custom Motor Show in Farnborough..
In an industry which is as diverse and ever changing as the limousine industry, it almost seems a shame to have an industry show only once a year. There are always new limousines, new chauffeur technology and new operating systems being launched and released for use, that anyone hiring or hiring out a limousine in the UK is hard pressed to keep up with all of the latest technology, all of the time.
However, when we do have a limousine show we have make it a part of one of the biggest in all of Europe so it will have to be enough that it only comes around once a year because what a show it is! Held in April next year, for the first time, the 2009 Custom Motor Show is set to revolutionise the luxury vehicle industry and the show circuit forever.
And don't think that just because the show showcases the newest limousines, technologies and information for the industry that there is nothing there for you because you'd be wrong. In fact, the Custom Motor Show packs full the Farnborough FIVE with exhibits, demonstrations, interactive displays and information to appeal to industry and passengers alike.
You can wander the halls and exhibits and marvel at the newest limousines in Europe and even from all over the world, some which may not have reached our roads yet, and some just built as concept vehicles which will only ever be seen by a select few. And not only do you get to see up close and inside of the newest and most expensive and extravagant limousines making their debut at the show, you can also find out more about hire contracts, get ideas for hiring a limousine for yourself, and make sure that you have the best information and in turn the best bargaining power when negotiating hire contracts, prices and extras.
So make sure that you make the trip over to Farnborough next April for the 2009 Custom Motor Show, because if you miss it, you'll have to wait another year!
Held in April next year, for the first time, the 2009 Custom Motor Show is set to revolutionise the luxury vehicle industry and the show circuit forever
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The Yellow Star Symbol Analysis
Like other Jewish families living during the Holocaust, Sarah Starzynski and her parents are forced to wear yellow stars on their clothing. (At four years old Michel is too young to wear a star.) Initially Sarah doesn’t like that she must wear a star but her mother, Rywka, tells her she should wear it with pride. After escaping from the internment camp at Beaune-la-Rolande, Sarah and her friend Rachel realize they must remove their stars if they do not want people to recognize them as escapees. Sarah has trouble ripping her star off her clothes because her mother has sewed it on so tightly, but she is finally able to remove it and comments on how “small” it looks. Rachel then deems the stars “dead” and buries them, which makes Sarah laugh. Immediately, Sarah feels guilty for laughing, remembering her mother’s injunction to wear the star with pride, but she puts the thought out of her mind. However, the star eventually plays a role in Julia’s plot, when seeing a photo of his mother wearing the yellow star is the only thing that convinces William Rainsferd that Julia is telling the truth. Discovering the star and the key among his mother’s things then prompts William to seek Julia out again so he can learn the full story about his mother. The yellow star is thus a multilayered symbol. On a large scale, it represents the evil of the Nazi regime, which ordered and carried out the murder of millions of people based solely on one aspect of their identity. Sarah’s dislike for the star shows how she resists the narrowing of her identity. However, the star simultaneously represents the Starzynskis’ pride in their Jewish heritage and their love for one another. Michel cries when his mother tells him he does not have to wear a star, and Sarah feels a sense of shame in shedding her star. In some ways the star is able to transcend its origins as a symbol of discrimination and evil. Because of Rywka’s treatment of the star—and its history as a symbol of the Jewish faith—it becomes a symbol that is also imbued with love. However, the fact that Sarah and Rachel bury the star underscores the fact that the star is not a symbol that can be fully reclaimed and redefined—at least not in their brief lifetimes.
The Yellow Star Quotes in Sarah’s Key
The Sarah’s Key quotes below all refer to the symbol of The Yellow Star. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
). Note: all page numbers and citation info for the quotes below refer to the St. Martin’s Press edition of Sarah’s Key published in 2008.
She had grown up too much to be afraid anymore. She was no longer a baby. Her parents would be proud of her. That’s what she wanted them to be. Proud because she had escaped from that camp. Proud because she was going to Paris, to save her brother. Proud, because she wasn’t afraid.
She fell upon the tar with her teeth, gnawing at her mother’s minute stitches. Finally, the yellow piece of cloth fell away from the blouse. She looked at it. Big, black letters. JEW. She rolled it up in her hands.
“Doesn’t it look small, all of a sudden?” she said to Rachel.
Related Characters: Sarah “Sirka” Starzynski (speaker), Michel Starzynski, Wladyslaw Starzynski, Rywka Starzynski , Rachel
Related Symbols: The Yellow Star
Page Number and Citation: 97-98
Unlock explanations and citation info for this and every other Sarah’s Key quote.
We wandered around the small, plain room, gazing at photographs, articles, maps. There were some yellow stars, placed behind a glass panel. It was the first time I saw a real one. I felt impressed and sickened.
Related Characters: Julia Jarmond (speaker), Bamber
Get the entire Sarah’s Key LitChart as a printable PDF.
The Yellow Star Symbol Timeline in Sarah’s Key
The timeline below shows where the symbol The Yellow Star appears in Sarah’s Key. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
...arena. Sarah asks her father why all the people are there, placing her hand over the yellow star she wears and saying, “It’s because of this, isn’t it?” Although Wladyslaw answers in the... (full context)
...classmate. This, in turn, causes her to remember how badly Michel wanted to wear a yellow star , like his parents and sister, and how her mother had to explain that he... (full context)
...the policeman’s parting words: “Take off your stars.” They both do so and Rachel buries the yellow star s, saying, “They’re dead. In their grave. Forever and ever.” Instead of heading toward the... (full context)
...then deported to Auschwitz.) Lévy also shows Julia a school photo of Sarah wearing her yellow star . Julia asks if Sarah could have possibly escaped the camp and survived the Holocaust... (full context)
...former Drancy internment camp with Guillaume earlier that morning, where she was unnerved by both the yellow star s she saw on display and the fact that the former camp is now filled... (full context)
Grimm, Alexandra. "Sarah’s Key Symbols: The Yellow Star." LitCharts. LitCharts LLC, 16 Jan 2018. Web. 15 Jul 2019.
Grimm, Alexandra. "Sarah’s Key Symbols: The Yellow Star." LitCharts LLC, January 16, 2018. Retrieved July 15, 2019. https://www.litcharts.com/lit/sarah-s-key/symbols/the-yellow-star.
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